110. Olive Oil: Karen Akunowicz and Joanne Lacina of Olive Oil Lovers | Holiday Miniseries

In this episode of Ingredient Insiders, hosts John and Andrea from Chef’s Warehouse welcome Karen Akunowicz, James Beard Award–winning chef and owner of Fox & the Knife in Boston, Massachusetts.

Karen shares how she developed her bold, crave-worthy style of cooking, blending Italian inspiration with her own creative flair. They discuss her experiences on Food Network competition shows like Tournament of Champions, what drives her love of competition, and how that spirit continues to push her and her culinary team to new heights. Karen also has a new cookbook, Crave: Bold Recipes That Make You Want Seconds.

In the second half of the episode, John and Andrea are joined by Joanne Lacina, President and Founder of Olive Oil Lovers. Joanne offers an insider’s look into the fascinating world of olive oil, explaining the meaning of olio nuovo and how expert tasters can identify an oil’s region just by its flavor. She also shares insights into what makes truly exceptional olive oil—and why freshness, origin, and care matter so much.

From the thrill of culinary competition to the subtleties of olive oil craftsmanship, this episode serves up flavor, expertise, and inspiration in equal measure.

Find Ingredient Insiders on YouTube HERE!

Follow @chefkarenakunowicz @oliveoillovers @ingredientsinsiders @wherechefsshop

In partnership with The Chefs’ Warehouse, a specialty food distributor that has been purveying high-quality artisan ingredients to chefs for over 30 years. https://www.chefswarehouse.com/

Produced by Gotham Production Studios. Find them on Instagram: @gothamproductionstudios