Fell Into Food

This week, I sit down with Chef Adina Mullen—a culinary artist, TV host, and author of Vegan Flavors of the World.Adina didn’t just stumble into plant-based cooking; she was pushed there by severe allergies to casein and eggs. But instead of seeing limitations, she saw a blank canvas. We talk about her journey from aspiring wedding cake decorator to traveling the globe, researching cuisines from Brazil to Ethiopia, and translating those memories into accessible plant-based recipes.We dive into the "food as art" philosophy behind her cookbook (and that stunning pepper cover), why texture matters more than taste when mimicking meat, and how she sneaks "tiramisu cheesecake" past unsuspecting dinner guests. Adina also shares why home cooks shouldn't be afraid of vegan substitutions and gives us a peek into her upcoming volume two.If you’ve ever been curious about plant-based cooking but felt intimidated by the ingredients—be sure to listen.Guest: Chef Adina Mullen Website: adinasdelicacies.comCookbook: Vegan Flavors of the World: Part 1 (Available on Amazon ) https://a.co/d/j2ofZVvSocialsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/adinasdelicacies?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091552262717Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adinasdelicaciesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adinasdelicacies?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcListen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.YouTube -  https://lnkd.in/gQM3S5mr Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g_5kFXieApple Podcast - https://apple.co/41RoTm4Pandora - https://lnkd.in/gS-wu_YJFollow Jeff:YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@FellIntoFoodLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/fell-into-foodInstagram: http://instagram.com/fell_into_foodFacebook: https://facebook.com/fellintofoodFellintoFood.com

This week, I sit down with Stephanie Lind—a sales powerhouse and the founder of Elohi Strategic Advisors. Stephanie is a veteran of the food and beverage industry who has led strategy for giants like PepsiCo and Impossible Foods, but her story starts way before that. We talk about her "fell into food" moment selling Girl Scout cookies at age five, and how a lesson from her mother about getting "nine nos to get to the yes" shaped her entire career.Stephanie shares her path from driving a Frito-Lay truck to telling Impossible Foods they were "doing it wrong," and eventually building her own firm to help brands navigate the chaotic food landscape. We dive into why so many emerging brands fail by chasing the wrong customers, the "two-week contract" reality of corporate employees, and why she believes the distribution world is about to be rocked. Real talk on integrity, sales logic, and why the supply chain is where the real opportunity lies.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:36 Aha Moments in Sales05:41 Career Progression and Early Experiences08:28 The Importance of Integrity in Sales11:03 Navigating Corporate Politics13:54 Transition to Alohi and Impossible Foods16:53 The Challenges of Selling Emerging Brands19:45 The Dynamics of Employee vs. Consultant Perspectives22:43 The Freedom of Entrepreneurship27:49 The Rise and Fall of Plant-Based Brands34:48 Transitioning to Consultancy: A New Path41:36 Navigating Client Relationships and Networking48:11 Guiding Emerging Brands: Where to Start53:45 Consumer Trends and the Future of FoodWebsite: https://elohi.usElohi LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elohi-strategic-advisorsElohi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elohistrategicadvisorsElohi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elohi.us/Elohi X: https://x.com/elohiofficialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephlind/Listen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.YouTube -  https://lnkd.in/gQM3S5mr Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g_5kFXieApple Podcast - https://apple.co/41RoTm4Pandora - https://lnkd.in/gS-wu_YJFollow Jeff:YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@FellIntoFoodLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/fell-into-foodInstagram: http://instagram.com/fell_into_foodFacebook: https://facebook.com/fellintofoodFellintoFood.com

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Melissa & Noelle from Governess. We dove into the fascinating world of consumer product goods (CPG), exploring their journey, the critical role of brand voice, and how design shapes impactful brands. We also tackled the challenges and opportunities within the CPG space, discussed AI's influence on copywriting, and highlighted the power of storytelling in brand building.Melissa BlaserFounder, Chief Creative OfficerMelissa spent 17 years at ad agencies TBWA\Chiat\Day, David&Goliath, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky writing campaigns for Old Navy, Pepsi, Gap, and Sephora before founding Governess in 2018 to work directly with CPG brand founders. She started as a messaging agency and has since built brands for Clio Snacks, Kopari Beauty, Diana’s Bananas, and Joon Foods. She’s an award-winning copywriter who’s language-obsessed and unapologetically biased toward brave brands. Melissa leads the Governess writers room and brings strong opinions about exclamation points and copy toolkits founders swear by.Noelle RothHead of DesignNoelle has 12+ years of experience designing brands across food, beauty, and services. She started her career at Pentagram and Mullen, then moved into restaurant branding in Chicago at Grip before transitioning into CPG food and beverage branding in Los Angeles with Governess. Her work has won two 1st place Dieline Awards and featured in “top pick” roundups across multiple categories. She specializes in creating packaging systems that scale across product lines and stand out on shelf. Her approach combines strategic thinking with design excellence, ensuring packaging doesn’t just look good—it performs.Governess Website – https://www.wearegoverness.comInstagram @wearegoverness – https://www.instagram.com/wearegovernessMelissa  Blaser Email – [email protected] Roth Email – [email protected] Mentions from the Episode:June Pistachios – www.eatjoonfoods.comKelsey’s Brownie Bites – www.kelsiskitchen.comRealm Snacks – www.realmfoods.comDOT Foods – https://www.dotfoods.comClio Snacks – https://www.cliosnacks.comListen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.YouTube -  https://lnkd.in/gQM3S5mr Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g_5kFXieApple Podcast - https://apple.co/41RoTm4Pandora - https://lnkd.in/gS-wu_YJFollow Jeff:YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@FellIntoFoodLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/fell-into-foodInstagram: http://instagram.com/fell_into_foodFacebook: https://facebook.com/fellintofoodFellintoFood.com

This week, I sat down with Aaron Sharpe from Testo. Aaron started his journey wanting to decorate cakes — and ended up helping operators across the country rethink how they handle food safety. We talked about how a passion for pastry turned into a career that now bridges the gap between chefs, data, and smarter kitchen tools.Aaron breaks down how tech can actually make things simpler, why we’re always five years behind Europe, and what it means to truly invest in food safety instead of just reacting to health inspections. We also get into TPM, cool gadgets, white chocolate slander, sous vide steak, and why it’s time to kill the clipboard once and for all.Guest: Aaron SharpeTopics Covered: • His culinary school journey and pastry obsession • The food-safety connection most chefs overlook • What TPM means and why oil monitoring matters • Why food safety tools should be fun, fast, and functional • How Testo’s gadgets help teams stay compliant and proactive • Why clipboards are dying and what’s replacing them • Digital monitoring, AI, and what’s next for smart kitchens • How to sell safety without sounding like a “rep”⸻🔗 Resources & Mentions • Aaron Sharpe on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronsharpe/ • Testo Websitehttps://www.testo.com/en-US/ • Testo 270 Fryer Oil Testerhttps://www.testo.com/en-US/testo-270/p/0563-2700 • Testo Saveris Food Safety Systemhttps://www.testo.com/en-US/products/saveris-food-safety • Aaron’s Side Hustle (Bakery IG)https://www.instagram.com/twindelightbakeryListen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.YouTube -  https://lnkd.in/gQM3S5mr Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g_5kFXieApple Podcast - https://apple.co/41RoTm4Pandora - https://lnkd.in/gS-wu_YJFollow Jeff:YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@FellIntoFoodLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/fell-into-foodInstagram: http://instagram.com/fell_into_foodFacebook: https://facebook.com/fellintofoodFellintoFood.com

What happens when a bartender-turned-line-cook sees a better way to organize a walk-in cooler? You get Michael Smith — an operator, inventor, and all-around hospitality grinder. In this episode, Mike shares his path from small-town Ohio to the kitchens of Columbus to running concessions for The Ohio State University, and how a simple idea turned into a full-blown product: Rameking.We talk about finding your purpose, managing stadium events, and the power of creating something useful (and simple) in an industry full of over complication. We also get into his LinkedIn innovation group, the emotional rollercoaster of product launches, and why collaboration beats competition.Guest: Mike Smith, Founder of RamekingTopics Discussed: • Mike’s early days in hospitality and how a banquet setup job led to a career • His time in the military and the shift from stress-heavy careers to foodservice • Bartending burnout and finding purpose in the kitchen • Why he took a 50% pay cut to follow his gut • The epiphany moment that started Rameking (hint: it involves a fridge door) • Lessons from managing concessions at The Ohio State University • How he learned public speaking under pressure • The importance of having people around you who believe in your idea • Prototyping over two decades with trial, error, and persistence • Creating a LinkedIn group for food & hospitality innovators • His next product idea: portion cup automation • Collaboration over competition and building something bigger than yourselfRameking https://rameking.comRameking on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ramekingdomMichael Smith on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-smith-5a52a938/00:00 – Kicking off with grit, grind, and trade show chaos01:10 – Mike’s start in hospitality & why the bar lifestyle lost its shine03:30 – The leap to cooking: 50% pay cut, 100% inspiration05:45 – The walk-in cooler epiphany that led to Rameking08:00 – Learning by asking: Mentorship in the kitchen10:30 – Becoming a banquet chef and rising to exec12:00 – Managing 800 employees at OSU football games17:00 – Leadership styles in stadiums vs. restaurants22:00 – Learning public speaking by fire (literally)27:00 – Burnout, meditation, and why boredom is worse than pressure30:00 – What a 23-year product journey really looks like37:30 – The moment Mike knew it worked: NRA Show 202341:00 – Advice for inventors solving problems in foodservice47:30 – What’s next? Mike’s new idea for automating portion filling50:00 – Building the Global Nova Group to help others succeed54:00 – Where to find Mike and how to connectListen to the full episode and more! It would mean the world to me if you could leave a 5 star review on your listening platform to help grow and expand the Podcast.YouTube -  https://lnkd.in/gQM3S5mr Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g_5kFXieApple Podcast - https://apple.co/41RoTm4Pandora - https://lnkd.in/gS-wu_YJFollow Jeff:YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@FellIntoFoodLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/fell-into-foodInstagram: http://instagram.com/fell_into_foodFacebook: https://facebook.com/fellintofoodFellintoFood.com