About this podcast
Hot food takes, cool food people, never a lukewarm moment. Welcome to The Dishcourse, where three food industry and trend experts come together to dish and debate the hottest topics in food innovation. Each episode kicks off with a deep dive into current trends—from the latest restaurant menus to viral social media dishes— setting the stage for a lively discussion. When the occasional guest drops by with their own bold food claim (like “Is a toaster pastry a ravioli”), plates could start flying—or brand-new menu concepts could be invented in real-time. Every episode wraps with a fresh recipe idea, blending creativity and controversy in the tastiest way possible.
Episodes
- “It’s Alive!” How Trends Die, Come Back, and Live Another Day · 36 min · Season 2 Episode 8On this episode of The Dishcourse, we are digging up past trends and exploring which food and drink fads have officially expired, which ones have risen from the dead, and how…
- What’s for Lunch: Back-to-School Menus and Foodservice Careers · 48 min · Season 2 Episode 7On Episode 6 of The Dishcourse, we dive headfirst into one foodservice segment’s most high-stakes season: back-to-school for K-12, colleges and universities. We unpack why August…
- The Birthplace of Cool: Where are Food & Beverage Trends Born? · 44 min · Season 2 Episode 6Episode 6 dives into a question that’s more contested than it used to be, who actually gets credit when a trend hits, foodservice or retail? (Dirty sodas now come in a can, for…
- Sugar Rush: The Sweetest Flavors & Formats for Today’s Treats · 34 min · Season 2 Episode 5Finally! The Dishcourse is back, and getting sticky about a seriously sweet topic: dessert. Cali, Chef Cam, and Chef Renee sit down with Rick Petralia, Senior Director of Menu…
- All You Can Eat: Total Protein Domination · 44 min · Season 2 Episode 4All You Can Eat: Total Protein Domination is so meaty, it counts as 25g of lean protein. Jk, but you’re invited to snack on your favorite protein-packed treat while watching…
- Fiber to the Maxxx: Functional Food’s Final Frontier · 32 min · Season 2 Episode 3All of a sudden, beans are sexy, and this episode Fiber to the Maxxx: Functional Food’s Final Frontier, Cali, Chef Renee, and Chef Cam explore this new rising trend that stems…
- Swing Low, Sweet Carrier: How the Right Bun, Bread, or Wrap Brings Sandwiches Home with Chef Gregg Brickman · 43 min · Season 2 Episode 2Calling all menu innovators! Now airing Swing Low, Sweet Carrier: How the Right Bun, Bread, or Wrap Brings Sandwiches Home with Chef Gregg Brickman from Zaxby’s. Sandwiches and…
- Get Your Fix in 2026 · 43 min · Season 2 Episode 1The Dishcourse is BACK, which means second helpings of invaluable foodservice trends and insights, hot takes, impromptu chef riffs, and so much more, all washed down with a…
- The Dishcourse Special Episode: Holiday Flavors · 9 min · Season 1 Episode 11The Dishcourse is here to celebrate the winter season and wish you a Happy New Year with a wish list of CPG, restaurant favorites and the best flavors to celebrate the season!
- Hot Takes - Thanksgiving Edition · 14 min · Season 1 Episode 10The Dishcourse is back with a special Thanksgiving Episode to dish all the Hot (and Cold) Food Takes! The team will help you decide if you are a Butterball Hotline caller or a…
- Sum, Sum, Summertime Sips & Snacks · 28 min · Season 1 Episode 9Sum, Sum, Summertime Sips & Snacks is our last episode before we take a few weeks off and hit the ground running for season two. Cam, Cali, and Renee talk about blue food and…
- A Dive into Dot Show Data · 60 min · Season 1 Episode 8Is there anything better than feeling like you’re actually on top of all the biggest food crazes? We’re right there with ya. Cam, Renee, special guest Renee, and Cali talk about…
- The Smoke Show: Primal Love of BBQ · 48 min · Season 1 Episode 7Our very own culinary alum Jessica Bograd is this week’s special guest; she’s the Senior Director of Culinary at City Barbeque in Plain City, Ohio. Does Chef Jess have thoughts…
- Potato Lovers, This One's for You! · 48 min · Season 1 Episode 6There’s no denying that potatoes are heading up a little bit of a carb renaissance in foodservice, so Chef Cam, Cali, and Chef Renee unearth some surprising ways they’re showing…
- The Cluck Heard Around the World: the Chicken Sandwich War · 49 min · Season 1 Episode 5Love chicken? Join the club. Our latest episode features special guest Bryan Fisherkeller, Culinary Innovation Manager at Popeye’s. Chef Renee, Chef Cam (aka ”Poultry Prince”)…
- Sauce on the (In)side: The World of Dips, Sauces, and Spreads · 52 min · Season 1 Episode 4Love sauce? You’re definitely not alone; it’s a delicious way to introduce new flavors and cater to the latest foodservice trends, too (looking at you, customization). This…
- QSR, PDQ · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 3QSR, PDQ digs deep into the delicious, craveable world of quick-serve restaurants (aka ”fast food”). We also welcome our first guest, Brian Brindza, Director of Culinary and Menu…
- Say Cheese! A gooey dive into (almost) everyone's favorite ingredient · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 2In Episode 2, The Dishourse will explore all the ways beloved dairy and non-dairy products show up across trends and on menus in exciting new ways.
- Macro Trends to Watch in 2025 · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 1The Dishcourse is LIVE. This inaugural episode is all about 2025 TRENDS, including kidulting (yes, that’s a word), taking ”high-brow” food down a notch or two, and a few other…
- The Dishcourse: Teaser Episode · 1 min · Season 1Craving some food industry insights? Three of our savviest (and chattiest) industry experts gotchu. Join Chef Renée, Associate Director of Culinary, Chef Cam, Culinary R&D…
