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The Restaurant GuysAuthor: The Restaurant Guys
Mark Pascal and Francis Schott are The Restaurant Guys! The two have been best friends and restaurateurs for over 30 years. They started The Restaurant Guys Radio Show and Podcast in 2005 and have hosted some of the most interesting and important people in the food and beverage world. After a 10 year hiatus they have returned! Each week they post a brand new episode and a Vintage Selection from the archives. Join them for great conversations about food, wine and the finer things in life. **To subscribe for extra episodes, bonus content and special events, click below!**https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/support Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Mary Ann Esposito on Authentic Italian Cooking Before It Was Cool
Episode 165
Thursday, 15 January, 2026
This is a Vintage Selection from 2005Episode DescriptionMary Ann Esposito, pioneering host of PBS’s Ciao Italia, the longest running cooking show, joins the Restaurant Guys to discuss authentic Italian cooking before it was trendy. The conversation explores traditional Italian cuisine, regional cooking, food television, and how Italian food in America drifted from its roots.The BanterThe Restaurant Guys open with a candid—and humorous—discussion of dieting culture in America, demonized foods, and what happens after a few months of eating sausage and whipped cream. The ConversationThe Guys welcome Mary Ann Esposito, the host of PBS’s Ciao Italia and one of the earliest voices of authentic Italian cooking on American television. Mary Ann reflects on teaching traditional Italian cuisine, the foundations of regional cooking, and how Italian-American food evolved away from its origins. She also shares practical insights on bringing authenticity back into everyday cooking—without turning weeknight dinner into a chore.The Inside TrackMark and Francis reconnect with Mary Ann, recalling a memorable visit at their New Brunswick, NJ restaurant in 2005. They revisit her long-running culinary tours to Italy—and discover she’s still hosting them in 2026—proving that some food traditions don’t just endure, they keep evolving.Timestamps01:12 – What’s Wrong with a Pasta Dinner? 02:07 – Bad Diet Trends and Misunderstood Italian Food 06:35 – Mary Ann Esposito and Family Recipes 12:15 – The Cuisine of Sicily and Regional Italian Cooking 20:00 – The Quest for the Perfect Cannoli 24:30 – Preserving Authentic Italian Cuisine 29:30 – Finding Time to Cook Well at Home 32:00 – Leaving a Legacy in FoodBioMary Ann Esposito is the longtime host of PBS’s Ciao Italia and a leading voice in Italian cooking in America. An award-winning author and teacher, she has spent decades sharing traditional Italian cuisine and shaping how home cooks understand regional Italian food.InfoMary Ann’s recipes, tours and other infohttps://www.ciaoitalia.com/Become a Restaurant Guys' Regular!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribeMagyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Withum Accounting https://www.withum.com/restaurantOur Places Stage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/ Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/ Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/ To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguysReach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**Click Below!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe
