The Local Farey Tale of Chicken Bog

October 19, 2023 — Leave a comment

People’s Choice 2 oz sample variety at the Loris Bog-Off Festival

I conducted my first interview for this episode in September 2022 – prior to attending that year’s Loris Bog-Off Festival. At that point, I had no idea a Historic Marker was in the works. Had I completed the episode by the end of 2022 as intended I would have completely missed including it. So although it took much longer than I would have liked to get this episode out I guess I’ll chalk it up to everything happening for a reason!

That typed, when you listen to the episode you may hear people saying “this year” regarding the Festival. Just know they are actually speaking of last year. The 2023 festival is happening this Saturday, Oct 21. (So listen to the episode and quickly plan a visit!)

Much like my last episode (The Local Farey Tale of the Garbage Plate), I had some patient Tale Tellers waiting for it to arrive and I thank them for their contributions. A special shoutout to Jay Williams for being a Tale Teller for a second time on my podcast! Happy he wanted to be a part of another episode.

You can listen to the episode here or anywhere you stream podcasts.

Note: The top photo is from my stack of 2 oz samples at the 2022 Loris Bog-Off Festival. As you can see, I didn’t clean out each sample but I was STILL full! I was excited that the Chicken Bog cook I voted for won People’s Choice – Rico Bellamy. Even before he won, I had handed him my card as I had hoped to interview him but we didn’t end up connecting.

See more photos from my Festival visit here. And check out the bonus photo below of (Fried) Chicken Bog Balls – a creation from Chicken Bog Tale Teller Samantha Norris’ Brother at Ritchie’s. They were delish!

The Local Farey Tale of the Garbage Plate

June 4, 2023 — Leave a comment

Photo provided by Mike “Thunder” Warren, Trash Plate Guy

Remember that pivot I mentioned in my blog entry for the Coffee Milk episode? Welp, this was the episode I had initially intended to complete. I began conducting interviews in March 2022 and was able to record my final interview by August 2022. The snag? My schedule had less time for podcast episode editing at that point. BUT I kept chipping away at it and FINALLY have a finished episode to share!!!

I have missed researching, conducting interviews and putting episodes out more frequently and I’m hoping to pick the pace up again! (Another episode is already slowly but surely in progress….)

Back to the Garbage Plate… when I pursued this episode I didn’t know all the details regarding the trademark. It was important to me to speak to Alex Tahou of Nick Tahou Hots so he could “tell it like it is” rather than have it be hearsay. I’m incredibly thankful and honored that he trusted me with properly sharing this tale.

And thanks to ALL of the Tale Tellers who have contributed to this episode and have patiently waited for it to arrive!

You can listen to the episode here or anywhere you stream podcasts.

Note: I’m embarrassed to type that when I was in Rochester years ago, I unknowingly ate a copycat…and had it without meat sauce! Thankfully, Mike “Thunder” Warren shared a photo from Trash Plate Central of an actual Garbage Plate for me to use. Learn from my mistake by listening to this episode to know what and where to order!

The Local Farey Tale of Coffee Milk

June 13, 2022 — Leave a comment

Photo provided by Christopher Martin, Quahog.org

Woohoo! An ice-cold caffeinated beverage cheers to the arrival of Season 2, Episode 2! I had to pivot along the way and unfortunately, that meant a delay. But I’m so happy to share that the season has (finally) continued with “The Local Farey Tale of Coffee Milk”!

This episode marks the first time I’ve formally acknowledged my “independent podcast” status in an ask for support. It feels weird but I know it’s a necessary step that I needed to embrace to keep the podcast going.

One of the many things on my wishlist to bring Local Farey Tales to the next level is to take a course on sound editing. I’m self-taught so far. I know a class would likely help me improve more quickly and also give you, the listener, an improved listening experience, too! There’s one particularly troublesome edit in this episode that makes me cringe. You may notice it and you may not. (We are our own harshest critics after all.) But I’m hopeful more editing knowledge will reduce cringing, too! 🙂

Back to Coffee Milk, this is the first local fare I have featured that I haven’t experienced myself. But you will learn in the episode that the majority of us have experienced a version of it without realizing it. (How’s that for a tease?) As always, I was extremely grateful to all of the Coffee Milk Tale-Tellers for participating but I felt especially lucky to get to speak with Richard Field and John Barr. Two people who played pivotal roles in helping Coffee Milk become the Rhode Island State Beverage. (What a story!)

You can listen to the episode here or anywhere you stream podcasts.

Note: Since I haven’t experienced Coffee Milk firsthand, this was the first time I didn’t have a reference photo, too. Thankfully, Coffee Milk Tale-Teller, Christopher Martin helped me out with that.

The Local Farey Tale of Knoephla Soup

April 2, 2022 — Leave a comment

Knoephla Soup at Kroll’s Diner in Fargo, ND

One year ago I launched Local Farey Tales. And it’s been an incredible labor of love. I’ve loved getting to “meet” all the Tale-Tellers over Zoom or phone and then sharing their tales with people far and wide.

While I took a break to regroup for Season 2, I’m happy to announce that the new season has officially begun with the release of “The Local Farey Tale of Knoephla Soup”.

When I first spoke to the artist, Jonathan Reich, about creating the Local Farey Tales logo, he revealed he was from North Dakota. I remembered trying “lumpy yellow soup” when in Fargo but couldn’t remember the official name. Jonathan was quick to inform me about it and the soup was put on the list for a future episode. When the time finally came to start interviews, I knew I had to include Jonathan and I’m happy to say he agreed to contribute to this episode.

This episode is the shortest one yet but no less filled with lots of info & anecdotes!

You can listen to the episode here or anywhere you stream podcasts.

Note: The photo is from the first time I had Knoephla Soup. It was at Kroll’s Diner in Fargo, ND where it’s also known as “Lumpy Yellow Soup”. 🙂

The Local Farey Tale of the Pasty

December 6, 2021 — Leave a comment

Pasty from UP North Sandwich & Pasty Co, Richland, MI

Phew! This episode marks the end of Season One!

And what an episode it is! It is the longest episode to date and I must admit, it could have been much longer! As always, my Tale-Tellers provided me with an abundance of wonderful content. Take your time with this one. Lots of potential rabbit holes of info to go down. 🙂

This episode features the Pasty. A local fare I first heard about when visiting Michigan. I had zero clue at the time of how far-reaching yet still distinctly regional this fare was at the time. But when I started research for this episode it soon became clear. While I’ve kept my previous episode interviews within the U.S., this time the tale couldn’t be told without international voices and I’m delighted that so many agreed to contribute!

You can listen to the episode here (or anywhere you stream podcasts). BUT if you stream elsewhere, be sure to check out the supplemental content via that same link.

Note: The pasty photo is from the only time I’ve had a pasty so far. However, thanks to a recommendation from David Oates, I’ll be headed to Grass Valley, CA for their Cornish Christmas and trying another one soon!

The Local Farey Tale of Loco Moco

September 2, 2021 — Leave a comment

Just in time for Labor Day Weekend listening, it’s a new episode of Local Farey Tales!

This episode (6!) features Loco Moco. Although the dish has escaped it’s original borders of Hilo, Hawaii, and can be found here and there around the globe, it is still very much a beloved local fare.

As I listened to the Tale-Tellers speak about the dish, I couldn’t help but think about doughburgers/slugburgers/Dudie Burgers as the Hawaiian-style burger was described. And wondered…has anyone created Southern fusion Loco Moco? Which then had me wondering about other local fare fusions/mash ups. As the podcast grows its audience, I would love to have live shows interviewing people about iconic food at different state fairs. Perhaps I’ll just have to add a food truck to that plan and offer some of these local fare fusions. 🙂

You can listen to the episode here (or anywhere you stream podcasts). BUT if you stream elsewhere, be sure to check out the supplemental content via that same link.

Note: The photo is from the only time I’ve had Loco Moco so far. I had wanted to try it and the cafe at this tour stop was my only opportunity. It was okay but after hearing everyone speak of all the other options in Hawaii, I can’t wait to go back and properly sample a few!

The Local Farey Tale of Berger Cookies

August 3, 2021 — Leave a comment

(DeBaufre Bakeries) Berger Cookies from Baltimore, MD

Introducing episode/chapter 5…The Local Farey Tale of Berger Cookies!

The goal is to always get a new episode out the first of every month BUT sometimes the information doesn’t surface on my timeline. I had the wonderful opportunity to have a 2nd interview with Berger Cookie Tale-Teller, Dean Krimmel, as he had gone further down the research rabbit hole of the Berger family history since our first interview. And I just couldn’t pass up the chance to include this additional information…even if it meant the episode was released a little later.

When editing this episode, I thought of a scrapbook class I took years ago. The instructor spoke about over cropping. Sometimes you can be so focused on cropping to the main subject of the photo that you end up cropping out some treasures that linger in the background. So always be mindful of what is around that subject as that may add another layer/memory to the story. That has always come into play when editing the Local Farey Tales episodes but particularly with this one. I’m lucky to always have an abundance of information to sort through but it does mean constantly walking that line of not “over cropping” but yet not getting too “into the weeds”. (I intentionally aim to keep each episode to an hour or under as another way to keep that balance, too.) And now, even though it is out in the world, my brain still buzzes with editing thoughts… so that means supplemental content may be coming soon. 🙂

You can listen to the episode here or anywhere you stream podcasts.

Note: The photo is from the second time I’ve had Berger Cookies. On a recent visit to see my Brother and Sister-in-Law, I discovered that despite living in Baltimore for a handful of years, they had never tried a Berger Cookie! So as an unofficial representative of Local Fare, I felt obligated to fix that. Of course, the bonus was that I got to have one, too.

The Local Farey Tale of Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing

July 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

8 oz “beginner size” bottle of Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing

Episode 4 pays tribute to one of my homestate’s favorite local fare: Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing.

I haven’t lived in Nebraska for over a decade but assembling this episode definitely brought back memories of visiting or passing through many of the towns mentioned…and of course having Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing readily available. Like many of the Tale-Tellers in this episode I didn’t immediately realize why so many restaurants didn’t have Dorothy Lynch when my Dad would request it (and then get a bit irritated when they suggested French Dressing as an alternative). I just figured these restaurants were either out of the dressing because it was so popular or oddly chose not to carry it. As I grew older, I realized how unique Dorothy Lynch was to the state and how amazing it was when restaurants and stores actually did carry it in and outside of the state. It’s kept going all these years based on it’s taste/reputation and whether you’re a Nebraskan or not, there will definitely be some unique tales to uncover about the person, Dorothy Lynch and her namesake dressing in this episode. You can listen to it here.

And keep an eye on the “Dorothy Lynch Home Style Dressing Tale-Teller” posts! Mena Sprague kindly shared some family photos that include a youngster Dorothy and I’m excited to share them with you.

Note: The photo is of a bottle of Dorothy Lynch that I won during a drawing at Nebraska Coast Connection. While I was tempted to keep it for myself, I decided to send it (and a branded magnet clip) to my now retired-to-South Carolina Dad. As seen in the photo below…I think he was pleased. 🙂

The Local Farey Tale of the Date Shake

June 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

Date Shake at Hadley’s Fruit Orchards in Cabazon, CA

Episode number 3 is complete! (And I’m already working on number 4!)

I encourage you to keep an eye on the “Date Shake Tale-Tellers” posts as I’ll be sharing some photos from Russell Schubert’s archive soon. I feel incredibly honored that he shared these Valerie Jean Date Shop related photos and articles with me and I look forward to sharing them with you!

Also, I’ll be offering “bonus” audio with “Date Shake Tale-Teller” posts on the Local Farey Tales Podcast Facebook and/or Instagram pages. I often end up with too many wonderful soundbites (a good problem to have) and so this is one way I can still share some with you! 🙂

In the meantime, you can listen to the episode under “Listen Here” on the menu or click this link. Then learn more via the hyperlinked Episode Notes.

Note: The photo is from the first (and only so far…) time I tried a Date Shake. As it becomes safer to travel, I look forward to properly exploring the “Date Shake Region” more thoroughly soon!

The Local Farey Tale of the Slugburger

May 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

Slugburger (mustard, pickle, hold the onions) at Borroum’s Drug Store, Corinth, MS

Whew! Made it to Episode 2 – The Local Farey Tale of the Slugburger!

I love interviewing Tale-Tellers but sometimes it just takes time to gather their stories. While I’d like to provide episodes more often, once a month feels like a pretty big accomplishment right now. I do hope you stick with me – and spread the word as I build momentum! 🙂

Be sure to follow Local Farey Tales Podcast on Facebook and/or Instagram to see featured Slugburger Tale-Teller posts and to share your own Slugburger Tales or tales of another local fare favorite.

In the meantime, you can listen to the episode under “Listen Here” on the menu or click this link. Then learn more via the hyperlinked Episode Notes.

Note: The photo is from the first (and only so far…) time I tried a Slugburger. Now that I know even more about them, I can’t wait to go back and explore the Slugburger Trail!