Eating at a Meeting

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating trailblazing women who are reshaping the way we think about food, community, health, and inclusion on the Eating at a Meeting Podcast.

This week, I’m introducing you to Jin-Ya Huang—a social entrepreneur, artist, and community leader using food to break down barriers and build bridges.

A social practice artist turned “accidental entrepreneur,” Jin-Ya is the founder of Break Bread, Break ...

In celebration of Women’s HERStory Month, I’m honored to highlight Femeika Elliott, a powerhouse in food justice, maternal health, and community empowerment, on the Eating at a Meeting podcast.

How do we reclaim access to fresh, nutritious food and create healthier futures for our communities?

Femeika is on a mission to transform food justice, maternal health, and sustainability in Knoxville and beyond. As the founder of Meik Meals...

Food has the power to nourish, heal, and connect—and this Women’s HERStory Month, I’m honored to celebrate Ally Smith, a woman making a profound impact at the intersection of food and foster care. As Development Director at Partnerships for Children, a private chef, and the creative force behind the “Gather With” cookbook project, Ally is redefining what it means to support vulnerable children and families through the power of food...

This Women’s HERStory Month on the Eating at a Meeting Podcast, I’m shining a spotlight on incredible women who are reshaping how we think about food, sustainability, and culture. 

The third woman I want you to meet is Chef Asantewaa E. L., a culinary powerhouse and advocate for food sustainability in San Antonio.

As the founder of Food Horizons and the Secret Food Stories initiative, Chef Asantewaa is bridging gaps between food, c...

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating women who are using food to build community, preserve culture, and spark meaningful change. One of those incredible women is Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon , the founder and co-owner of Mingle + Graze, a cheese shop and eatery in downtown Chandler, Arizona, that is so much more than a place to eat—it’s a space for connection, learning, and inclusion.

Mahfam’s journey from selling marinated olives...

Women’s HERStory Month on Eating at a Meeting

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating trailblazing women who are reshaping the way we think about food, community, health, and inclusion on the Eating at a Meeting Podcast.

To kick it off, I'm talking with Denise Baron Herrera, Co-Founding Chef and Chief Culinary Officer for Burtons Grill & Bar and Red Heat American Tavern !

Denise is a powerhouse in culinary leadership, setting ...

To close out 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 I’m sat down with Chef Deborah VanTrece, a culinary visionary 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝. From her days as a flight attendant exploring global cuisines to becoming a 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐟, restaurateur, and 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, Deborah has built a legacy on honoring tradition while pushing boundaries.

🎙️We dish on:

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...