Charlie visits Fiddleheads in Lake Leelanau, MI, to speak with co-owner Chef Joshua Deters, who also runs the historic VI Grill in Suttons Bay, MI. They discuss Joshua’s Cincinnati roots, culinary training, and long restaurant career, which led to his ownership and rebranding of the VI Grill.

The episode covers opening Fiddleheads during the pandemic, its breakfast-to-dinner menu, local sourcing, live music and vinyl culture, pop-up dinners, community programs like the Mockingbird Foundation, and the chef’s commitment to mentoring and second chances.

The episode features Fiddleheads Wagyu Corned Beef Reuben, which Charlie and Joshua sampled while chatting about the food scene in Leelanau County, MI.

You can watch the YouTube video of this episode here - https://youtu.be/UBqWB-8GnpI

Join Charlie and Chef Joe Parajecki as they cook Bigos, Poland’s national dish — a hearty blend of pork, beef, kielbasa, sauerkraut, dried mushrooms, prunes, and spices — and let it simmer to perfection.

Along the way, they discuss the Polish Center of Wisconsin, Polish Fest, Joe’s culinary work, and an upcoming foodie tour in Poland, then taste the finished dish.

You can watch the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/A79kQ7OQ3FM

You can find the recipe for Bigos here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/07/24/bigos-hunters-stew-polands-national-dish/

“Local Chef Go International” podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/.

Local Chefs Go International: Charlie teams up with top local Milwaukee Chefs each month to create recipes from a single chosen country.

In this episode of Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits Momo Mee and talks with owner Himanshu Makansa about the pan-Asian restaurant’s focus on handmade soup dumplings (momo) and noodle dishes (mee), plus its local awards and loyal following.

The episode highlights Momo Mee’s steamed soup dumplings, Korean spicy noodles, craft cocktails, large portions, newly added halal options, and the owner’s strategy of preserving consistency while carefully improving the operation.

Himanshu gives Charlie a tutorial on the proper way to enjoy the soup dumplings.

You can watch the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/dDbW8jNhYRo

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. 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.

Live from Studio D, host Charlie welcomes Megan Seppmann, Chief Commercial Officer of the Wisconsin Center District. Megan shares her family spin on a spicy, veggie-forward bolognese-style sauce, featuring chicken meatballs, ground beef, roasted poblano peppers, and jalapeño-stuffed olives.

Between cooking steps, Megan discusses her Minnesota roots, hospitality career, and how the Baird Center and other venues are driving Milwaukee’s growth as a convention destination.

The episode blends cooking, community leadership, and local pride as the hosts taste the finished dish and talk about the city’s culinary scene, events, and the personal stories behind the recipe.

You can watch the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/V1-AZmr-b3M

You can find the recipe here: https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/08/07/homemade-bolognese-style-pasta/

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. 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.

Hi, and welcome to another international YouTube club. Please watch and find out where in the world we are this month.

Join Milwaukee Chefs Go International at Eldr+Rime in Milwaukee, where Chef Jose Gonzalez and Chef David Cook showcase Swedish-inspired dishes: a smoky whitefish and trout dip with Scandinavian chips and pickled vegetables.

The fire part of the Swedish recipe includes wood-fired Swedish lamb chops finished in a pizza oven with roasted broccolini and garlic aioli. The episode blends traditional Scandinavian techniques with local and Mexican influences for a unique taste.

Tune in next month for another country spotlight — Poland — and more global flavors from Milwaukee’s chefs.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/SCc1fMenX0Y

You can see the recipe here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/06/27/lamb-chops-smoked-whitefish-dip-from-sweden/

“Local Chef Go International” podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. Charlie teams up with top local Milwaukee Chefs each month to create recipes from a single chosen country.

On Munching Around Milwaukee, Capt. Rhianna Macon hosts Charlie at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, Station Milwaukee. They discuss the Coast Guard's missions on the Great Lakes, search and rescue and ice-rescue training, jurisdictional coordination, and her career path from Hawaii to command after 9/11.

The episode also highlights daily life aboard the station with a galley lunch prepared by CS1 Thomas Mildrum —fresh fish tacos, smoky chipotle red beans, and house-made tortilla chips — underscoring the unit’s community and service.

If you would like to watch that interview, you can see it here on YouTube – https://youtu.be/5hkQWrcXzz0

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. 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 Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, Angela Adams joins host Charlie to discuss her journey from Gary, Indiana, through Florida A&M and corporate roles to founding Sage Business Advisors and leading AALAM.

They explore leadership, family, and community service, then prepare a simple one-pan sweet-and-spicy roasted salmon with sweet potatoes and asparagus.

The episode combines personal stories, career insights, and an easy, flavorful recipe perfect for weeknights or a casual brunch.

You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/ODTzu3vos40

You can find the recipe on our website - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/06/21/sheet-pan-salmon/

“Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. 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 Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits Bayview to celebrate Lulu Cafe & Bar’s 25th anniversary with co-owners Sarah Jonas and Cam Roberts, tracing their start as a catering business to becoming a neighborhood anchor.

The episode covers their early $200-a-month lease, the evolution of their menu and space, community building in Bayview, and upcoming anniversary events, including a big street bash on August 29.

We get to munch on the Loaded Lulu chips and the Paisiano Pizza while we chat at Lulu Cafe.

“Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/. 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.