Eating at a Meeting

This Black History Month, I sit down with my friend  Tie Whittaker, owner of Buttermilk Boutique. A professional pastry chef with over 13 years of experience, Tie blends her Southern roots and culinary expertise to create stunning pastries and elevated Afternoon Tea experiences that are redefining hospitality in North Carolina.

Afternoon Tea may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Southern food, but Tie is...

This is episode 300 of Eating at a Meeting! After five year and 300 episodes, one thing is clear—food and beverage are never just about what’s on the plate. They’re about safety, inclusion, transparency, and creating experiences where everyone feels valued.

For this milestone episode, I’m bringing back some of the most insightful and impactful guests to unpack the biggest lessons we’ve learned about making food and beverages safer,...

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon—it was also a showcase of unforgettable food and beverage experiences. For the last three U.S. stops and her grand finale in Vancouver, Sodexo Live! delivered the perfect menu to celebrate the end of an era, crafting mocktails and drinks as iconic as the music itself.

This week, Tracy is thrilled to welcome Sam Stewart, Senior Director, Beverage Alcohol for Sodexo Live!, to...

Ready to go Behind the Plate? This week on Tracy chats with Sufi Karaien, Executive Chef at the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCC), where he leads culinary operations for one of the busiest convention centers in the United States. 

Chef Sufi is redefining event catering by incorporating innovative, plant-based dishes into large-scale menus that cater to diverse dietary needs. From portobello mushroom "pulled pork" to al...

Food safety isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about protecting everyone who gathers to share a meal. This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE, join me as I chat with food safety expert Francine Shaw, CP-FS, FMP, about one of the most contagious viruses threatening events today: norovirus. 
 
Francine’s expertise spans the globe, with projects from Peru to Dubai. She’s worked with household names like Target, Marriott, ...

Unity at the table is more than gathering people; it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Reflecting on my December commitment to make every table safe and welcoming, I recognize that intentionality isn’t just an ideal—it’s a responsibility and it requires action. 

In this solo episode of Eating at a Meeting, Tracy discusses how we can take the lessons of 2024—like the importance of thoughtf...

The way we eat, drink, and celebrate at events is evolving, and the numbers prove it. This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE — the first episode of 2025 —  I’m sitting down with Hugo Campbell, co-founder of Togather, to talk about their new report tracking food and drink trends at over 100 UK festivals attended by 10 million people in 2024. 🌱🍹 
 
➤ Vegan food sales rose 28% compared to last year, with plant-based burgers a...

David T. Stevens and I will recap the "Beyond the Bar" panel discussion he led and I participated in during IMEX at the Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club in Las Vegas. During the discussion, we dove into the growing trend of non-alcoholic and wellness-focused events. We discussed everything from authentic mocktails to the importance of inclusivity in today's social and corporate gatherings. Whether you're sober or just health-conscious, it'...

I’m thrilled to welcome Psyche Williams-Forson, cultural food scholar and author of “Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America,” to the podcast! 🖤🍽️ 
 
Food is so much more than what’s on our plates—it’s identity, belonging, history, and survival. In her groundbreaking work, Psyche unpacks the deeply rooted biases and shaming that often surround Black food traditions, shedding light on how mass media, public policy, an...

Tracy chats with Jami Paronto, Senior Global Account Director at HPN Global, about creating accessible food and beverage experiences for all attendees. 
 
I met Jami at a recent event and was struck by some of the barriers she faced to simply participate. To enter the room, Jami, who uses a wheelchair, had to be taken outside in the rain to access an exterior door because the main entrance was a flight of stairs. Once inside, the c...

How are workplaces adapting to meet the needs of the "food allergy generation"?

In this conversation, I sit down with Professor D'Andra Shu, a law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, to explore the growing legal challenges and opportunities that food allergies present in professional environments. We dive into how addressing food allergies as both a legal and societal issue can promote safer, more equitable workplaces—...

Did you know that beer, wine, and spirits can contain allergens like wheat, nuts, or even milk—and that most bottles don’t disclose this information? Consumers are often left guessing with no mandatory labeling for allergens or ingredients, putting health and safety at risk. 
 
This week, I'm discussing transparency in alcohol labeling with Eva Greenthal, Senior Policy Scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSP...

Tracy talks with Emily Broad-Lieb, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, diving into the game-changing Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA). 

Many of us as planners hear “we can’t donate the food” or “we’ll be sued” from venues, but this new legislation signed into law in January 2023 breaks down those barriers by providing crucial protections, empowering event planners, hotels...

What does it take to feel safe eating at a meeting? In this episode, individuals with food allergies, celiac disease, and other dietary needs share their personal stories and actionable suggestions for creating safer, more inclusive dining experiences.

From clear ingredient labeling and cross-contact prevention to having knowledgeable staff or chefs available to answer questions, these insights highlight the critical steps that can...

Registered Dietitian Jessie Gibson from UT Health East Texas joins Tracy to discuss whether event breakfasts are helping or hindering attendee success. Are the meals served setting attendees up for a productive day—or leaving them sluggish and distracted? Jessie shares how better breakfast options could boost energy, focus, and overall wellness.

We discuss how event planners could provide safe, sustainable, and inclusive food choic...

On this week’s Eating at a Meeting Live, I’m sit down with Ali Cox, the Founder & CEO of Noble West, an award-winning marketing consultancy specializing in the entire agricultural ecosystem to explore how event professionals on both sides of the table — planners and food service teams — can bridge the gap between farm and table.  

As a fifth-generation farmer, Ali combines her deep-rooted understanding of farming with cutting-edge ...

At IMEX America 2024, Tracy hit the show floor and stopped random event pros—some she knew, some she didn’t—to ask: What’s your best tip for managing food and beverage at events? Their answers? Pure gold!

From the importance of low-sodium options to creative uses of lighting and signage, the insights from these 15+ event professionals are packed with inspiration to take your events to the next level. In under 20 minutes, learn how ...

At IMEX America 2024, Tracy hit the show floor and stopped random event pros—some she knew, some she didn’t—to ask: What’s your best tip for managing food and beverage at events? Their answers? Pure gold!

From the importance of low-sodium options to creative uses of lighting and signage, the insights from these 15+ event professionals are packed with inspiration to take your events to the next level. In under 20 minutes, learn how ...

🚀 Join me as I take an elevator ride with Devon Pasha, an expert in event planning and inclusivity! 🎙️ 

Devon and I delve deep into the pivotal role of offering diverse food options at events rather than simply replacing items.

We discuss how to craft inclusive menus that cater to everyone’s needs, from ensuring dietary restrictions are respectably met to enhancing customer experience and loyalty. 🥗🍰 Devon shares intriguing rea...