The Nooga Belle Podcast

My guest this week is Rebecca Barron, executive chef of St. John's Restaurant and the Meeting Place, and recently nominated as a James Beard Award semifinalist for the Southeast. We cover lots of bases in our conversation—from the food she grew up eating, her first jobs in the food industry, her travels to India and Thailand, where Chattanooga's culinary scene is going next, and much more. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Rebecca on Instagram @chefrebeccabarron, check out St. John's on Facebook and Instagram, and find the menus for St. John's and The Meeting Place on the website.

It all started in a catering business with his brother, Ryan. Now Luther Cutchins is making Chattanooga's favorite (and best) granola. In this week's episode, Luther tells the story behind Nokes Granola, and we chat about their most popular blends and what's coming down the pipeline later this year. And of course, we throw some love at our local friends Bleu Fox Cheese Shop, Belle Chocolates, Mayfly Coffee, and the Chattanooga and Collegedale Markets.

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Nokes on Facebook and Instagram for news, updates, and new flavors.

Kaleena Goldsworthy was an OG Flying Squirrel-er and helped mold their cocktail program. Now she's a small-business owner and is changing the game with her homemade bitters, tinctures, and cocktails. She launched The Bitter Bottle two years ago, secured manufacturing space in 2018, and is ready to start sharing her products with Chattanooga and beyond. In this episode, Kaleena shares her story coming from upstate New York down to Chattanooga to open a bar, how she learned bartending on the job, what inspired her to work with bitters, her love for classic cocktail and apothecary culture, and much more.

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Kaleena on Instagram @thebittersgirl, and stay up to date on her business at @thebitterbottle.

Chattanooga's local speakeasy London Calling is already a favorite. I sat down with owner James Heeley and principal bartender Mikenzy Smith to chat about the first three months of business and what to expect this spring. Their spring cocktail menu launches March 12, and it's full of flavors inspired by forest, flora, and fauna. I already know which cocktail I'm ordering first.

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow London Calling on Facebook and Instagram @londoncallingbar for more menu and event updates.

This week, I'm joined by Ashley Bottoms, ice cream and pastry chef at the beloved Clumpies Ice Cream Company, right here in Chattanooga. She tells us about her beginnings in the kitchen with her mom and grandmother (and Easy Bake ovens, of course), her time in culinary school in North Carolina, a stint at the historic Biltmore Estate, and some time in Nashville before coming to Chattanooga in 2015. Most importantly, we taste and tease their new spring and St. Patrick's Day flavors, like Lucky Charms, Pina Colada, Irish Coffee, and more. Believe me, y'all are going to LOVE them. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Check out Clumpies' website to see their current flavors and order your own pint pack. Like and follow them on Facebook and Instagram, and follow Ashley on Instagram at @aebottoms. 

BONUS EPISODE! Remember when Shelly, Mary, and I talked about the McCall's article about 129 ways to get a husband? (If you haven't listened to that episode yet, go listen to it now.) We thought it was time to get a gentleman's perspective, so we invited two dear, trusted friends, George and Matt, to talk about it with us. And y'all, this is a good one. Pour yourself a drink and listen along.

Natalie Mason has her hands in so many different businesses and projects around Chattanooga, like Slay Dance Fit and the London Calling speakeasy. You've probably seen or met her and didn't even realize it. 

In this episode, we talk about dance fitness, massage therapy, being a woman in business, supporting local performance art, and of course throw some major love to James and the crew at London Calling.

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Natalie on Instagram @destination.infinite and @slaydancefit, and check out @LondonCallingBar, too. 

If you're interested in auditioning to be a London Calling performer, email Natalie at slaydancefit@gmail.com. 

This week, I'm joined by Jeremiah Kinser and Jacob Henley, and they know a thing or three about coffee and its culture. Jeremiah talks about the Chattanooga Coffee Crawl and cupping, Jacob educates me on what nitro coffee is, and we discuss the importance of making coffee more accessible to everyone. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Jeremiah on Instagram at @coffeewithkinser and @chattacoffeecrawl, find Jacob at @n7coffeelab, and book your spot on the Chattanooga Coffee Crawl on their website.

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This week, I'm talking food trends of 2019 with two fellow food bloggers and wonderful ladies, Jodi Lawrence of The Fashionable Foodie and Shawanda Mason-Moore of Eat Drink Frolic. We dive into trends we loved, hated, and/or didn't understand from 2018, and look ahead to food and drink trends coming in 2019. Topics include Brussels sprouts, CDB foods and drinks, rainbow and glittery foods, Aperol spritzes, food halls, and more. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow Shawanda and Jodi on Instagram @eatdrinkfrolic and @the_fashionablefoodie, and let us know which food trends y'all are excited about in 2019.

This week, I'm joined by Matt Busby, director of The Camp House, one of Chattanooga's most loved coffee shops. Matt and his wife moved to Chattanooga in 2010 and have been involved in the coffee and church communities since day one. In this episode, we talk about The Camp House's beginnings, the relationship between church and coffee, a little theology, a new location for The Camp House, what's on our bar carts (or shelves), and more. 

Thanks so much for listening, y'all! Follow The Camp House on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their website for menu, events, podcast, and more.