Today’s guest is Padma Lakshmi—TV host, executive producer, bestselling cookbook author, and longtime friend of Cherry Bombe. Padma has a brand new show debuting Wednesday on CBS—“America’s Culinary Cup.” Not only is she the host, but she’s also the creator and executive producer of what she hopes will become America’s most prestigious culinary competition. One talented chef contestant will not only take home bragging rights, but a $1 million prize and a gleaming gold trophy.

Padma joins host Kerry Diamond to discuss her return to culinary competitions after 19 seasons of “Top Chef,” the unique touches that make “America’s Culinary Cup” distinctive, how she chose judges Michael Cimarusti and Wylie Dufresne, and why you won’t see her on “Survivor” any time soon.

Click here for Padma’s Tagine-Inspired Chicken recipe from her new cookbook, “Padma’s All American.”

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More on Padma: Instagram, "America's Culinary Cup", “Padma’s All American” cookbook
More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guest is Ella Quittner, journalist, mom-to-be, and the author of the wildly inventive cookbook “Obsessed With the Best: 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-to-Head Tests.” Ella is known for her rigorous (some might say obsessive) recipe testing and her sharp, funny writing, which has appeared everywhere from The New York Times and New York Magazine to Food52, where her “absolute best” tests first gained a cult following.

Ella joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about leaving a high-powered Wall Street career for food media, why arguing about the “best” way to make something is actually a gift to curious cooks everywhere, and how her brilliant and quirky cookbook came together.

Ella also shares about writing screenplays, working in a TV writers’ room, growing up with journalist parents, her lifelong tendency toward obsession, and the joyful chaos of promoting a debut cookbook while expecting her first baby.

Ella’s Braised Tomato-Butter Cabbage recipe
Our new Mom’s the Bombe issue
The Jubilee Business Owners Pass application

Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, tickets to upcoming events, and more.

More on Ella: Instagram, “Obsessed With The Best” cookbook
More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today, we’re re-airing one of our favorite Radio Cherry Bombe episodes. Ina Garten joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her memoir, “Be Ready When The Luck Happens.” Ina shares what she learned about herself while writing the memoir, why she included stories about her unhappy childhood, overcoming hardships with her husband Jeffrey, and their decision not to have children. She also talks about her “leap before you look” philosophy, how Oprah Winfrey inspired the title of the book, the early Barefoot Contessa days in the Hamptons, and why she’s “the worst kind of childless cat lady.”

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More on Ina: Instagram, website, “Be Ready When The Luck Happens” memoir
More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” essay

Today’s guest is Alyse Whitney, the author of “Big Dip Energy,” a celebration of dips for parties, dinner, dessert, and everyday life, and a host and judge on food TV shows including “Easy-Bake Battle,” “Pressure Cooker,” and “Chopped.” Alyse joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her path from entertainment journalism to food media and how her love of hosting and feeding people became the foundation for her career.

They also discovered on air that they both went to the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh (go, Cardinals!), and they reminisce about college life near the Canadian border, Montréal adventures, and, of course, poutine. Alyse shares the story behind her cookbook, what it was like working on Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings, her signature joyful style, and her approach to entertaining that’s all about fun, flavor, and not taking things too seriously.

In the second half of the episode, we’re sharing Alyse’s powerful solo talk from Cherry Bombe’s first-ever Jubilee conference in Los Angeles, where she opens up about identity, perception, fatphobia, and what it means to take up space—on the page, on TV, and in real life—exactly as you are.

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More on Alyse: Instagram, “Big Dip Energy” cookbook
More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” essay

Today’s guest is Nyesha Arrington, one of the stars and judges of Fox’s hit competition series “Next Level Chef.” Nyesha is one of the most inspiring chefs in the culinary world today—known not only for her talent and leadership, but also for her commitment to wellness, longevity, and changing the way chefs think about mental and physical health. Season 5 of “Next Level Chef” just kicked off, and if you haven’t seen the show’s iconic three-level set (yes, it’s real, not AI), you’re in for a treat.

Nyesha joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the show, past standout contestants (and Cherry Bombe pod alums) like Gabrielle “Gabi” Chappel and Reenie Karim, the practical tools she uses to keep wellness “top of mind and top of calendar,” their California farmer’s market obsessions (citrus! avocados! dates!), her award-winning LAX restaurant Native by Nyesha, and the hobby she’s fallen in love with: golf.

Order The Cake Issue
Pre-order our Galentine’s Day Issue
Bombesquad Bazaar tickets here
Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here
Subscribe to our Substack
Check out Cherry Bombe on ShopMy

Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, tickets to upcoming events, and more.

More on Nyesha: Instagram, "Next Level Chef", website
More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” essay

Today’s guest is Natasha Pickowicz—pastry chef, author, community builder, and one of Cherry Bombe’s most beloved cover stars. Natasha is back on the show to celebrate her brand-new cookbook, “Everyone Hot Pot: Creating the Ultimate Meal for Gathering and Feasting,” a deeply personal and joyful exploration of hot pot as food, ritual, and a way of bringing people together. Known for her iconic cakes and her debut book “More Than Cake,” Natasha’s move into savory cooking is a surprising and meaningful next chapter.

Natasha joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about why hot pot felt like the right subject for her second book, how growing up with a Beijing-born mom shaped her relationship to food, and why communal meals matter more than ever right now. They discuss what hot pot actually is (and how easy it can be to do at home), the magic of interactive cooking at the table, and how hot pot adapts effortlessly to different cultures, diets, budgets, and occasions. Plus, Natasha shares what’s always in her fridge, her love of playlists and long walks, her journaling habit, her collaboration with her artist mother on the book’s illustrations, and why mistakes are essential to growth.

Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here

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More on Natasha: Instagram, website, "Everyone Hot Pot" cookbook
More on Kerry: Instagram

Today’s guest is India Doris, the chef and co-owner of Markette, one of Manhattan’s most exciting new restaurants. Born and raised in West London, India has been cooking in professional kitchens since she was 15 and has built a remarkable career defined by ambition, grit, and deep respect for craft. After honing her skills in European fine dining kitchens and working closely with the late, beloved chef James Kent in New York, India is now stepping fully into her own with Markette—and its late-night cocktail bar downstairs, The Argyle.

India joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her journey from knocking on alley doors for a kitchen job as a teenager to opening her first restaurant in New York City. They discuss being one of the only women in professional kitchens early in her career, learning leadership and empathy from James Kent, and why staying humble is essential, no matter how much success comes your way. India also shares how sports shaped her competitive drive, why teamwork matters more than ego, and her mantra for young cooks.

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More on India: Instagram, Markette, The Argyle
More on Kerry: Instagram

Happy New Year, Bombesquad! For our first episode of 2026, we’re kicking things off with Wishbone Kitchen’s Meredith Hayden, the cookbook author, recipe developer, and private chef who happens to be one of the biggest culinary stars around right now. Meredith is known for her intuitive approach to home cooking, her seasonal sensibility, and her thoughtful way of blending food, style, and everyday life.

Meredith joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the success of her debut cookbook and why she’s focused on work-life balance as she heads into a milestone birthday—Meredith turns 30 this month. They also discuss her meal kit collaboration with Home Chef, the story behind the name Wishbone Kitchen, her love of farmers markets, the best meal she ate in 2025 (hello, Firenze), and whether she relates more to Martha or Ina. Plus, Meredith shares what she’s streaming, what’s always in her fridge, and what she can’t wait to eat on her upcoming trip to Japan.

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Check out Meredith's Home Chef collab on ShopMy

More on Meredith: Instagram, Home Chef x Wishbone Kitchen, Substack, “The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook”
More on Kerry: Instagram