In March, the United States saw the highest rate of inflation in over 40 years. Coupled with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, like supply chain shortages, forced shutdowns and labor retention, restaurants are one of, if not, the most hardest hit demographic. Nearly 20% of New York City’s restaurants shut down forever as a direct result of the pandemic and others are struggling to get back to normal. In this particular climate – How can restaurants survive inflation?

This year, avian influenza has caused the deaths of over 40 million birds in the United States, mostly commercial poultry. Those losses show up as higher prices on eggs and meat at the grocery store, but the disease also casts light on the highly industrialized way poultry is produced in this country. The changes needed to reduce the risk of bird flu could also improve animal welfare, environmental protection, and maybe even taste. Have a question you want answered? Email us at...

In the third episode of our mini-series on the state of labor, Harry Rosenblum, host of Feast Yr Ears and Time For Lunch, talks to Fred Mattera. Fred is currently the Executive Director at the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island, and has been a commercial fisherman for over 4 decades. Harry and Fred discuss how equipment innovation (or degradation) affects workers, and how consumer education and consumer-facing technology could help revitalize the industry and protect its workers....

In the second episode of our mini-series on the state of labor, Sother Teague, host of The Speakeasy, talks to Maria Bastasch. Maria is a Partner at Disco Mary, a cocktail bar and collective of individuals passionate about plants, people, and partying like there IS a tomorrow. Sother and Maria discuss the challenges that bar and restaurant owners are facing when it comes to hiring for this busy holiday season. Along the way they discuss more than just hiring, including: how her organization...

In the first episode of our mini-series on the state of labor, Katy Keiffer, host of What Doesn't Kill You, talks to Magaly Licolli. Magaly is the Co-Founder and Director of Venceremos, an organization that advocates for poultry workers' rights in Arkansas, the home of Tyson Foods. On this episode, Katy and Magaly discuss the idea of worker-driven social responsibility, in addition to fighting for poultry employees to get Covid-19 protections at the workplace and the taboo of talking about...

Follow along with a special mini-series of The Big Food Question that investigates labor issues across the food system. HRN hosts from across our network will sit down with expert guests to  take a look at workers’ rights and organizing efforts, exploring big picture questions and practical solutions. From bartenders to delivery workers to commercial fishermen, our aim is to gain a new perspective on the intersection of labor issues with current events, climate change, and the food industry...

“Regenerative Agriculture Needs a Reckoning,” wrote Joe Fassler, Deputy Editor of The Counter. Joe started out writing a short news piece, and ended up with a 13,000-word investigation on how regenerative agriculture is being defined, who is defining it, and who gets left out from the debate. Kat Johnson talks to Joe about his reporting and the wider conversation that it kick-started. This episode is produced in collaboration with The Counter – a nonprofit, independent, nonpartisan newsroom...

After closing Meme’s Diner in November 2020, co-owner Libby Willis wanted to preserve the sense of community the restaurant fostered but wasn’t ready to open another traditional restaurant. Instead, she has transformed what restaurant operations can look like. Her new enterprise, KIT, is operating as an incubator of sorts, sharing the burden of business ownership with a cohort of owner-operated businesses while creating a cohesive experience for diners. Gain insight into how KIT is operating...

The challenges presented to restaurant owners during the pandemic have been countless. Some businesses have closed. Others have opted to ditch in-person dining and opted for take-away or delivery models. Both local meal delivery and nationwide shipping of meal kits and pantry staples have gained popularity. A rarer take is shifting a business that solely offered online orders and pivoting to brick and mortar service. But that's exactly what Chef Surbhi Sanhi did. While most restaurants were...

New York City’s mandated lockdown presented overwhelming challenges for bars, clubs, and restaurants in New York City. The city’s nightlife industry is made up of 25,000 establishments that support nearly 300,000 jobs with $13.1 billion in wages, and $35 billion in economic activity. (Source.) Many of these businesses turned to NYC’s Office of Nightlife for guidance and support during the pandemic. The Office of Nightlife (part of Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment) is a liaison...

Worker cooperatives are worker owned and democratically controlled businesses. They have been shown to lower pay disparities and demonstrate resilience in the face of crisis. But how do they run on a day-to-day basis? How can you start one or transform an existing business into a cooperative model? What potential do cooperatives have for strengthening our economy and our food system? This episode addresses these questions and more. Commissioner Jonnel Doris of New York City’s Department of...

As pandemic relief funds (like PPP and EIDL) are exhausted, many small businesses are still in need of grants, loans, and other financial services.  In this episode, produced in partnership with TD Bank, we discuss new rounds of relief available through the American Rescue Plan. Plus, there are myriad evergreen opportunities through the Small Business Administration and nonprofit organizations like Acendus and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation.

During some of the most harrowing months of the pandemic, journalist Simran Sethi set out to explore the definition and dynamics of food insecurity in the US. Simran’s piece doubled and then tripled in word count as she uncovered the complexities of how we define, track, and address food insecurity. She shares what she learned and informs listeners about what shifted during the pandemic, where our response fell short, and the potential to create change in the face of crisis. Read her...

Bartending has existed since, well…. forever. For as long as people have been drinking, there have been people who have made, sourced, and poured those beverages into cups in front of people for money. On this special episode hosted by Greg Benson (bartender and host of Back Bar and The Speakeasy), we look at education for the bar industry. Greg welcomes Nonna Titulauri, a Diageo Bar Academy World Class Finalist who lives and works in San Francisco. She’s been behind bars since she was a 21...

Native enterprises and nonprofits are working to ensure food sovereignty for their communities and neighbors. Land access and capital are key to this mission, and philanthropic grants are often a major source of funding. However, grant money often comes with many strings attached and reporting requirements that bog down the organizations they’re trying to help. Marilyn Noble’s reporting in The Counter examines how philanthropies (often private foundations with large endowments) currently...

As the United States rolls back pandemic era restrictions, many restaurants are welcoming eaters back and expanding their seating capacity. After more than a year of isolation, reopenings offer a sorely missed space to connect. Doug Mack discusses an article he wrote for The Counter, which examines the social and cultural benefits of gathering spaces like restaurants by drawing on the academic concept of a “third place.” Plus, enjoy anecdotes from eaters about what they have missed most...

The global pandemic has restricted and eliminated the in-person experiences the hospitality industry relies upon to survive. Many are turning to virtual events as a way to continue to engage their customers and create new revenue streams. A successful virtual event can open up a geographic market far beyond a local customer base, while offering the same intimate experience to every  single person, whether the audience is 10 or 100,000. On this episode of The Big Food Question, Tech Bites host...

Cities across the country have struggled with the speed, efficiency, and equity of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. This episode examines the logistics, workplace politics, and questions of fairness that have accompanied the vaccine distribution for restaurant workers. Hear from people with intimate experience navigating questions of safety, immunity, and personal choice among restaurant staff. Then get the perspective of one chef who has filled out New York’s vaccine application thousands of...

Covid-19 put school lunch in flux, as cafeteria trays were reconceptualized as brown bags and meal boxes. USDA waivers freed school cafeterias from former limitations about who they can feed and what food they can serve. Previous episodes have covered the effect of these waivers on accessibility and school funding. Today, with the help of The Counter writer Sam Bloch, we investigate how the trajectory school food has been heading in for the past decade was dramatically altered during the...

This week, we have an update on school lunch, as we mark one year of Covid-19’s impact on our food system. Jessica Fu from The Counter is back to explain some unexpected ramification of the USDA waivers that made school lunch free for all children under 18. Due to this change, free lunch applications are down and this could have a negative impact on future school funding. This episode is produced in collaboration with The Counter – a nonprofit, independent, nonpartisan newsroom investigating...

Undocumented and formerly incarcerated Americans have been left out of federal pandemic relief payments. New York is home to about half a million undocumented residents, many of whom are essential workers. One year in, they’re going on a hunger strike. On Tuesday, March 16th protestors gathered at St. John The Divine in Manhattan on the first day of the "Fast for the Forgotten''. Demonstrators are calling for government relief for New Yorkers passed over by federal pandemic relief. Jessica...

Listen in as Katy Keiffer, host of HRN’s What Doesn’t Kill You, interviews journalist Greta Moran. Their conversation was inspired by a recent article Greta wrote for Civil Eats, titled “Questions Remain about Big Food’s Influence on the New Dietary Guidelines.” Greta argues that the most surprising thing about these new guidelines is how similar they are to the ones issued five years prior. Her takeaway is not what has changed, but what hasn’t, and she has some ideas about what should....

At a time when many people are struggling with their psychological well-being, we’re taking a close look at the structural and cultural issues that make restaurant workers especially vulnerable. Producer Hannah Fordin starts with the big picture, in conversation with Hassel Aviles co-founder of Not 9 To 5. They look at the restaurant industry and the ways deeply ingrained hierarchies and structures need to shift, as well as widely accepted destructive coping methods, need to shift. Then we...

As the pandemic has pushed all of us deeper into the virtual world, brick and mortar institutions have struggled to survive. This episode spotlights a subscription service restaurants are using to bring hospitality into people’s homes, while diversifying revenue streams and expanding profit margins. The co-founder of Table 22, Sam Bernstein speaks to the long standing issues his platform is trying to tackle in the restaurant industry, while Jonah Miller shares his experience introducing this...