📝 Episode Description

Mushrooms are having a moment—but most people still don’t fully understand what they are, how they grow, or what they’re actually doing for our health.

In this episode of Midwest Meets Mediterranean, Chef Laura Bonicelli sits down with Josiah Christensen, owner and producer of Pleasant Valley Mushrooms, to explore the fascinating world of fungi—from foraging and cultivation to nutrition, flavor, and the future of indoor agriculture.

Josiah’s path into mushroom farming began with a lifelong fascination with biology and the outdoors. After studying aquaponics and working at one of the...

🎙️ Episode 5

Ashley Nathe: The Season Starts Here

📝 Episode Description

For generations, the Minneapolis Farmers Market has been more than a place to buy produce—it has been a meeting place, a community hub, and a living connection to Minnesota’s agricultural roots.

In this episode of Midwest Meets Mediterranean, Chef Laura Bonicelli sits down with Ashley Nathe, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Farmers Market, to explore the history, culture, and evolving future of one of the region’s most iconic public spaces.

Ashley’s connection to the market runs far deeper than...

Description

Salt is one of the most fundamental ingredients in the kitchen—and one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode of Midwest Meets Mediterranean, Chef Laura Bonicelli sits down with Mary Lower, creator of Hacking Salt, to explore how salt shapes the way we cook, taste, and think about food.

Mary shares her journey from a career in public relations and storytelling into the world of sodium awareness, and how a personal health shift led her to rethink flavor from the ground up. Together, they explore how reducing salt doesn’t mean sacr...

Olive oil is something many of us use every day—often without a second thought. But behind every bottle is a story shaped by land, timing, and generations of care.

In this episode of Midwest Meets Mediterranean, Chef Laura Bonicelli sits down with Elaine Trigiani, a master olive oil producer in Tuscany, to explore what truly goes into making exceptional olive oil.

Elaine took it to heart when her aunt told her, “You don’t buy olive oil—you make it.” Years later, she now produces award-winning olive oils in both Tuscany and Sicily.

This con...

In this first episode of Midwest Meets Mediterranean, Chef Laura Bonicelli introduces the heart behind the show—blending seasonal Midwestern ingredients with Mediterranean inspiration in a way that feels simple, grounded, and doable in everyday life.

If cooking has started to feel overwhelming, complicated, or disconnected from how you actually want to live, this episode offers a different perspective. Laura shares the “why” behind the podcast, what listeners can expect, and how a more thoughtful, seasonal approach to food can bring both ease and meaning back into the kitchen.

This is not about perfection. It’s about...

In this short trailer episode, Chef Laura Bonicelli introduces Midwest Meets Mediterranean — a fresh, flavorful podcast that blends seasonal Midwestern ingredients with Mediterranean inspiration. Learn what you can expect from upcoming episodes, meet some of the voices you'll hear from, and get excited to cook with heart, soul, and seasonal simplicity.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

About Your Host:

Chef Laura Bonicelli is a cookbook author, cooking club founder...