On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with sisters Amy and Nancy Harrington, cofounders of The Passionistas Project, a global community of women.

"It's all about elevating women who don't often get the support and attention that they need," Amy explains. It's also about helping them tell their stories.

Storytelling and food go hand-in-hand, especially in the case of the Harringtons, who have Italian and Jewish roots.

"That's really embedded in both cultures," Nancy says. "And I think that the best way to learn anything from each other is to tell stories and listen."

The sisters, who were raised in an Irish Italian Catholic family - Sunday dinners, a big pot of spaghetti and testing the pasta to make sure it was cooked - recently discovered that they were Jewish. They weren't too surprised, as they already had plenty of Jewish connections.

And then there's the food.

"There's noodle kugel and then there's the Italian pastas; there's just so much overlap," Amy says. "I always associate New York Jews with New York cheesecake, and in Italy we have pizza dolce, which is just a sweeter, less tart version." You can get the recipe at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

Amy and Nancy Harrington share The Passionistas Sisterhood backstory, how they discovered their Jewish heritage, and their connections to Judaism over the years. The sisters also mention Santa Monica's Cafe Lovi owner Benedetta Jasmine Guetta and her cookbook, "Cooking Alla Giudia: A Celebration of the Jewish Food of Italy," as well as the crossover between Italians, Jews, and community.

Learn more at thepassionistaproject.com and follow @ThePassionistasProject on Facebook and Instagram. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri Rosenberg, owners of New York Bagel Deli and Bakery - aka NYBD and Bakery. The husband-and-wife team also own Bea's Bakery in the Valley, as well as star in "It's a Sweet World" on JLTV and have a cookbook by the same name.

NYBD and Bakery combines Lenny's Jewish, baking and restaurant roots with Adaeze's Nigerian culture and design (interior, exterior, presentation) expertise.

"It's a really classic bakery that's based with Jewish products, but also is multicultural," Lenny explains. "We wanted to merge cultures; that's what we're all about."

He adds, "We realized, going through all the bakery products that I've made over the years, they're all multicultural: rainbow cookies are Italian, Danish are from the Danish … almost every single recipe is from another culture."

These foods all have a story behind them, along with cultural significance. For instance, the kola nut in their red velvet cupcakes are from Adaeze's Nigerian background, and it is as significant in their rituals as breaking bread (challah) is in the Jewish culture.

Whether you are embracing different cultures or getting ready to bake, it's important to be open-minded, curious and always willing to learn.

"Our brand is It's a Sweet World," Adaeze says. "Always think positive … live, laugh and eat."

Lenny and Adaeze Rosenberg share the NYBD and Bakery backstory, as well as some of their favorite multi-cultural treats and tips for baking success. They also share their recipe for Italian rainbow cookies, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

Learn more at ItsASweetWorld.com and JLTV.com, get It's A Sweet World at your favorite book store and follow @Its_a_sweetworld and @nybdbakery on social media.

For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Dan Raskin, the fourth-generation owner of Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen. The legendary Chicago institution, started by his grandfather and great uncle, has been serving classic deli fare since 1942.

"[When the deli first opened] our customers were primarily Jewish - I would say 95 or even 100 percent," Raskin says. "And now maybe 10% of our customers are Jewish."

Raskin believes that's likely common for the delis in larger cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, and he attributes it in part to a love of old-school European, house-made food.

"I see a lot of the different cultures come in here, not just for corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, but for the short rib and the liver and onions and the dishes that are homemade that you can't get everywhere," he explains. "I think that people want to continue to have this type of food, but they want to make sure it's authentic and the highest quality."

Then there's the nostalgia factor.

"Everybody is happy when they're eating, especially when [it's] something that's nostalgic to them," Raskin says. "Whether you're eating a bowl of matzo ball soup here, or eating it at home, you think of the people that surrounded you when you ate it."

Even growing up, Raskin, one of four siblings, knew he really wanted to follow in his family's footsteps. He definitely has mustard - never ketchup - running through his veins.

Dan Raskin talks about Manny's origin story, his deli favorites, and their commitment to creating consistent quality food. He also shares his recipe for sweet kugel, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

Learn more at MannysDeli.com and follow @MannysDeli on Instagram and TikTok and @MannysChicago on Facebook.

For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.