Spill & Dish: An SFA Podcast

What makes a specialty food special? At the Specialty Food Association, we like to say that every member has a story. Spill & Dish brings you the stories of the entrepreneurs, makers, and sellers who are shaping the future of food. Listen and discover the inspiration, recipe, craft, culture, ingredients, and production methods that make a true specialty food and get a deeper understanding of the people and motivation behind the products—beyond what you’ll read on a label. If you have a recipe you’ve thought about bringing to market or a brand you are launching, if you are a buyer in the trade, or simply a food lover, this podcast is for you.
  • Episode 40
    30:26
    Sep 21, 2023

    Developing Fruit Oils With Salute Santé

    Cold-pressed grapeseed oil produces a high-quality, nutrient-rich product that can be used to bake, sauté, top salads, and more. Salute Santé’s upcycled, chef-inspired grapeseed oil is a recent 2023 Gold Sofi Award winner and has been a leader in the alternative oil category for decades. The company also makes infused oils and grapeseed flour.
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  • Episode 39
    37:08
    Sep 07, 2023

    Craft Chocolate & Global Kinship: The Ultimate Pairing with Shawn Askinosie, Askinosie Chocolate

    In this episode, Megan Rooney, Program Development Manager at SFA, chats with Shawn Askinosie, the visionary founder & CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, about being a bean-to-bar chocolate trailblazer, making a positive impact on the lives of cocoa farmers worldwide, his upcoming Chocolate University trip to Tanzania, and how SFA was pivotal in connecting him with buyers.
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  • Episode 37
    24:21
    Jul 31, 2023

    The Mystery Ingredient With Xinca Foods’ Cynthia Duran and RIND’s Dina DiCenso

    Cynthia Duran, owner of Xinca Foods, had been seeking a vegan cheese to accompany her pupusas when, at the 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show, she met fellow exhibitor Dina DiCenso, cofounder of RIND by Dina and Joshua, who was debuting RIND's Carrot Cheese. In this episode, recorded on the 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show Big Idea Stage, Julie Gallagher, SFA’s director of content development, delves into how their serendipitous meeting led to the launch of Carrot Cheese and Loroco Pupusas.
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  • Episode 38
    17:52
    Jul 27, 2023

    Growing a Family Business With Patrick Ford, Bone Suckin’ Sauce

    Patrick Ford is the vice president of Ford’s Gourmet Foods, the family-owned brand that makes Bone Suckin’ Sauce, rubs, and seasonings, and is constantly innovating flavors and recipes to bring a dynamic breadth of products. In this episode, George Hajjar, associate editor at the SFA, speaks with Ford about working in a family business, and how it developed from humble origins into an award-winning brand.
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  • Episode 36
    18:34
    Jun 29, 2023

    Better-for-You Lifestyle with Emre Imamoglu, CiboVita

    Emre Imamoglu saw an opportunity to bring healthy eating habits from the Mediterranean to a U.S. audience in the form of CiboVita. In this episode, George Hajjar, associate editor at the Specialty Food Association, spoke with Imamoglu about the company’s health-first approach, its sofi award-winning product, and the business strategies that enabled its success.
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  • Episode 35
    22:44
    Jun 14, 2023

    Hard Learned Lessons With Jonathan Milo Leal, Milo’s Whole World Gourmet

    Twenty years ago, Jonathan Milo Leal launched Milo’s Whole World Gourmet, an Ohio-based specialty food maker of Sofi Award winning products, that also offers boutique co-packing services. In this episode, Julie Gallagher, director of content development at SFA, chats with the entrepreneur about how he got his start, the business lessons he’s learned through the years, and the unique perspective he brings to the co-packing world.
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  • Episode 34
    28:37
    Jun 01, 2023

    Using Cheese as a Force for Good with David Gremmels, Rogue Creamery

    In this episode, Megan Rooney, Program Development Manager at SFA, chats with David Gremmels of Rogue Creamery about the kismet that led him to cheese making, how gardening led to flavor innovation, his commitment to sustainability, and how SFA helped him jump start distribution.
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  • Episode 33
    26:01
    May 18, 2023

    The Magic Ingredient with Marisol Villalobos, AMASAR

    Marisol Villalobos grew up on a coffee farm and she is an expert in agriculture, microbiology, and delicious specialty food. Her one-ingredient product was the first sofi award winner from Puerto Rico! On this episode of Spill & Dish, host Gretchen VanEsselstyn talks with Marisol about the triumphs and challenges of creating and selling her plant-based, gluten-free, sustainable and eco-friendly product.
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  • Episode 32
    27:42
    May 04, 2023

    “Send Hot Sauce” with David Schmunk, African Dream Foods

    In this episode, Megan Rooney, Program Development Manager, chats with David Schmunk of African Dream Foods, about delivering authentic flavors while promoting wildlife conservation through their hot sauces and spices. The 2023 SFA Leadership Award – Emerging Leader recipient discusses the curiosity that drives his career, packaging pains, and his love of trade shows.
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  • Episode 31
    17:01
    Apr 06, 2023

    “Caffeinated Goodness” With Luke Schneider, Fire Department Coffee

    In this episode, Megan Rooney, Program Development Manager, chats with Luke Schneider of Fire Department Coffee, a veteran-owned business dedicated to providing great-tasting coffee to people everywhere. The 2023 SFA Leadership Award – Citizenship recipient discusses his Navy and firefighting background, roasting coffee in between shifts, and the importance of building good teams.
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