Breaking Bread

This week, join Michelle and Jasmine for a talk with Rob Bragagnolo, chef and owner of Toronto’s Labora Restaurant & Bar. Inspired by Chef Rob’s time in Mallorca, Spain, his restaurant offers simple and rustic Spanish cuisine.

Rob talks about witnessing a revolution of cooking in Spain, and Michelle recalls the first time she met Rob, who made a lasting impact on her with the first bite of his food.

Plus, hear how Rob prioritizes teaching the importance of food to his staff, guests and community.

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Stay up-to-date with Rob and his restaurant, Labora, below:

This week, Michelle and Jasmine sit down with Franco Stalteri, founder of Toronto’s underground dining experience Charlie’s Burgers. Franco and Charlie's Burgers have collaborated with chefs recognized by The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the Michelin Guide and Relais & Châteaux in eight different countries around the world.

Just seven years ago, Charlie's Burgers launched “The CB Wine Program,” sending beloved members different wines to try out every month. Hear how the popular program adapted to fill the need of wine lovers staying at home this summer due to the pandemic.

Plus, listen as Franco tells the heartwarming story of how the restaurant industry is ultimately about one spectacular thing – people.

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Michelle and Jasmine hang out with Carl Heinrich, winner of Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, Carl Heinrich. Carl is the executive chef and co-owner of Richmond Station, a neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Toronto.

Focusing on hospitality both inside and outside of Richmond Station, Carl and his team work with a talented team of passionate farmers and other members of the community to keep his restaurant busy. Find out more about how his team is now taking their learnings to a larger scale, hoping to expand environmental and community sustainment in the hospitality industry.

Plus, hear why Carl lives by the principles of good food, family, and taking care of each other.

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Check out Chef Heinrich’s work:

Michelle and Jasmine chat with Nuit Regular, the first Thai Select Ambassador for Canada, in this week’s episode.

Born in northern Thailand, Nuit started cooking at a young age. She moved to Canada in 2006 after meeting and marrying her husband Jeff, and has become a staple in Canadian Thai cuisine. But it wasn’t an easy process settling here, and Nuit discusses the road to becoming more than a chef, working her way to being a guest judge on Masterchef Canada and a current judge on Food Network Canada’s Wall of Chefs.

Plus, hear about Nuit and Jeff’s steep uphill battle balancing life as restaurateurs and parents, and adjusting to living in Toronto with her family.

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Learn more about the executive chef and co-owner of PAI, Kiin, By Chef Nuit Pop-up, Sabai Sabai, and Sukho Thai:

This week, Michelle and Jasmine sit down with the “The Hunter Chef” himself, Michael Hunter, and talk about his personal relationship with food, his connection to the wild and what it means to truly celebrate local.

Hear about Michael’s first foray into the hunter-forager lifestyle and get to know what it was like getting kitchen experience in his early years, before heading off to the Humber College Apprenticeship Chef Program.

Plus, hear about the challenges and triumphs of sourcing food for a restaurant locally.

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This week, Michelle and Jasmine sit down with the “Hospitality Hero” Trevor Lui, and chat about his career journey, deciding to walk away from a corporate job and break the bread for his passion – cooking.

Hear about how the social and racial movements impacting the world right now are shaping the future of cultural understanding, and how food could be the key to bringing people together.

Plus, hear Trevor’s own childhood memories of his dad making food dance on the wok line in his restaurant, and how his own kids are now inspiring him to do better every day.

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Michelle and Jasmine dive deep this week with award-winning chef and restaurateur Alida Solomon.

After working in Tuscany for six years, Alida brought her vast knowledge and wild fascination of Italian gastronomy directly to Toronto – opening her own restaurant, Tutti Matti in 2002. Hear from Alida on truly breaking the bread, defying gender gaps as one of only a few women chefs and restaurant owners in Canada.

Plus, Alida talks about how she and her staff are taking steps to ensure equality happens from top to bottom in the restaurant business. Tune in!

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This week, Michelle and Jasmine chat with Eden Hagos, the founder of Black Foodie – an exploration of food through a Black lens, spotlighting the best of African, Caribbean and Southern cuisine.

Also, hear about how the conversation around Black food goes beyond just ingredients and taste – including talk about microaggressions like restaurant employee handbooks banning certain hairstyles and clothing.

Plus, get fantastic suggestions for Toronto’s best African, Caribbean and Southern food from the Black Foodie expert. Check it out!

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After moving to Montreal in 1995, Diala Canelo’s real obsession with food began after immersing herself into the vibrant cultural food scene. With over 600 cookbooks and more magazine clippings than you can count, Diala decided to begin traveling the world learning different food-preparation techniques from cities like Barcelona, Paris, Melbourne, Mexico City, Florence, and Santo Domingo.

Travel through Diala’s journey from building an Instagram community of more than 140k followers, to releasing her first printed vegetable-forward, pescatarian-friendly cookbook in this week’s episode.

Plus, dive into the rising conflict of whitewashing food, and how cultural credit is necessary to the conversation around food innovation. Don’t miss out!

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Growing up in a Jamaican-Chinese household, Craig Wong was afforded a unique childhood in Toronto — it’s no wonder why he now specializes in Carribean-Asian soul food.

After learning how to cook from his girlfriend (and now wife!), Craig found himself breaking bread across the globe, working his way up from a beginner to working in Michelin-starred restaurants in France and the United Kingdom.

Plus, learn how Craig’s restaurant family bounced back from tragedy, and how Covid-19 has affected the hospitality industry worldwide. Don’t miss hearing from the culinary expert in merging great food with various cultures in Episode 2!

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In the inaugural episode of Breaking Bread, Michelle Jobin and Jasmine Baker sit down with Afrim Pristine, the co-owner of what Michelle dubs, “The Happiest Place In The World,” the Cheese Boutique in Toronto, Canada.

Hear from Afrim about how cheese brings people together, becoming the youngest Maître Fromager (or master cheese maker) at 32-years-old, and growing up in an immigrant family trying to break the bread on Bloor Street in the most populous city in the country.

Plus, get a sneak peek at Afrim’s upcoming docu-series on Food Network and take an insider’s look at the brains behind “For The Love Of Cheese,” Afrim’s bestselling cookbook. You won’t want to miss this one!

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