On today's episode of Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, Teach for America Milwaukee Executive Director Mike Nguyen chats with host Charlie. Mike shares his family's immigrant story, his educational journey, and his leadership work in the city. You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/sixKRmw24x0

In the cooking segment, Mike demonstrates his favorite childhood recipe—homemade pork and shrimp egg rolls—while discussing TFA’s mission, funding challenges, and the importance of coaching and community.

Mike's sons, Apollo and Russell, are willing participants and help prepare the Vietnamese egg rolls.

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

On this episode of Munching Around Milwaukee, Chef Kyle Knall joins host Charlie to talk about his award-winning Birch restaurant, directing Stone Bank Farm’s culinary program, and opening a 190-seat French brasserie called Cassis in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. They cover Kyle’s career from Alabama, New York and stops in between before ending up in Milwaukee.

Kyle shares his cooking philosophy of using simple, high-quality ingredients and collaborates with the local chef community. Kyle has helped transform Milwaukee’s food scene.

He is a three-time James Beard Award nominee, and Birch was on The New York Times' “The Restaurant List” in 2023.

You can see the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/v42IM2hPkvg

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On the Munching Around Milwaukee Podcast, host Charlie talks with Lori Fredrich, senior food and dining editor at OnMilwaukee.com, about her path from classical studies to food writing and her storytelling approach to covering chefs, restaurants, and the people behind the food.

The episode explores Lori's annual 52 Restaurants list, her City Tins curation, which emphasizes women in food, her cookbooks (including Wisconsin Field to Fork), and the collaborative, farm-to-table relationships that define Milwaukee’s vibrant food scene.

You can see the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/3Xxi8dKm-rw

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On this episode of Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie sits down with Diana Bilstrom, a Mexican-born community leader who has worked extensively in nonprofit family services and is the Senior Director for Growth and Strategic Partnerships at the Wisconsin Latino Chamber. Diana shares her personal journey, career path, and her mission to build trust and partnerships that support Hispanic businesses and the wider community.

The episode also features a hands-on cooking segment where Diana demonstrates her chicken enchiladas with a guajillo-ancho tomato sauce, offering simple tips for making quick, family-friendly meals while discussing inclusion, community engagement, and her vision for the Chamber.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/fHyBwEV_UX4

You can find the recipe here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2025/11/27/mexican-chicken-enchiladas-or-enchiladas-rojas/

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

On this episode of Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie sits down with chef Austin Vetter, founder of Fresh Chef Meal Prep and the newly opened Fresh Chef Cafe in West Allis. Austin discusses his weekly rotating menu, gluten-free options, and popular dishes like chicken marsala, loaded potato chili bowls, and cacio e pepe.

Austin explains how Fresh Chef works—no subscription, order weekly through an e-commerce platform, and delivery within a 75-mile radius—and shares how the business scaled from a few dozen meals a month to roughly 10,000 meals at peak. He also talks about the cafe’s weekday hours, retail pesto made with 100 Acre basil, and the team behind the operation.

Charlie and Austin touch on his personal journey from early kitchen jobs to working with local chefs and building Fresh Chef while balancing a busy family life. The episode highlights Austin’s focus on quality, consistency, and bringing restaurant-style meals to busy Milwaukee households.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/FdwaOQPxZLU

This Podcast is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. “Munching Around Milwaukee” is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On the Munching Around Milwaukee podcast, host Charlie sits down with Britt Buckley of family-owned Buckley’s in downtown Milwaukee. They discuss the restaurant’s journey from a tiny kitchen to a larger dining space, the family-run operation, and the menu of American classics with global influences.

You can watch the full video here - https://youtu.be/y0JoXfYBOEw

The episode highlights seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, Britt’s approach to menu changes and pasta, her mother and sister’s desserts, and how Milwaukee’s collaborative restaurant scene helped Buckley’s grow into a neighborhood favorite.

This Podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network. Munching Around Milwaukee is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

On “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie cooks up Disney-shaped pancakes with Ian Abston, co-founder of Light the Hoan, Forward 48, and NEWaukee. They discuss Ian's journey from Elkhart Lake to Milwaukee, the creation of community events like Light the Hoan, and his work connecting young leaders across Wisconsin.

The episode blends local storytelling with a family-friendly cooking segment featuring bacon, fresh fruit, and kid-approved Mickey Mouse pancakes. Ian’s 5-year-old son, Bo, joins the fun and has Mickey Mouse pancakes too.

You can see the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/9Mkq-vFMZLs

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the "Milwaukee Podcast Network." This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.

We have a short interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

Munching Around Milwaukee host Charlie chats with John Ludwig, co-owner of Riley’s, about launching Riley Sandwich Company, Riley Social House, and Riley Bar + Burger across Milwaukee. They discuss opening during the pandemic, the decision to build a dog-friendly concept, and how the couple built a loyal community.

The episode highlights Riley’s signature dishes — the Raleigh double Wagyu smash, a spicy black bean option, and the Cali-style steak burrito with fries — as well as their commitment to fresh ingredients, collaboration with local businesses, and plans for future growth.

You can watch the full video here - https://youtu.be/y0JoXfYBOEw

This Podcast is part of the “Milwaukee Podcast Network”. “Munching Around Milwaukee” is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.

We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.