MNN - Mother Nature Network

When my husband surprised me a couple of years ago with an iPod for a Valentine’s Day gift, I wasn’t sure that it was going to be something I would use a lot. I love music, but I already had ways to listen to music.

 

Then I discovered podcasts and I found that my iPod was invaluable. I found all sorts of podcasts to educate me on topics that I am interested in, including food. From time to time, I’ll be introducing you to some podcasts that I find educational and entertaining.

 

Today, lets talk about The Restaurant Guys. Mark Pascal and Francis Schott are two New Jersey restaurateurs. Their podcasts give listeners the “inside track on food, wine and the finer things in life.”

 

Pascal and Schott start off each podcast just talking to each other – they have a natural repartee, bouncing off of each other’s conversation. They are having fun which means I have fun listening to them. I'm not going to waste my time listening to a podcast if I'm not enjoying it no matter how knowledgeable the hosts are.

 

These guys know their food and wine, but there is no pretension here. They are skilled at bringing what they know to the average person who is looking to learn more. That’s what I look for in a podcast – one that is hosted by people who know more than I know about a topic and are capable of explaining it in a manner that is accessible and entertaining to me.

 

After their introductory banter, they usually interview chefs, wine experts, cookbook authors, and other experts in the food industry. In their latest podcast, they interview Tanya Wenman Steele, author of Real Food for Healthy Kids. It’s a great interview because they go past the book and get into a conversation about how we feed our children in America. Pascal and Schott are talented and gracious interviewers.

 

Each podcast is 40 minutes long – the perfect length for a morning walk, a commute to or from work, or listening to as you’re preparing a meal. You can download the episodes right from their website or from iTunes.