From the Kitchen to Congress with Dirt Candy’s Amanda Cohen

Radio Cherry Bombe

The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network

Restaurants, 591312, Business, Arts, Food Radio, Interviews, Kerry Diamond, Female Chefs, Radio Cherry Bombe, Entrepreneurs, Society & Culture, Women, Careers, Women In Food, Food, Cherry Bombe Magazine, Talk Radio, Chefs, Restaurateurs

4.6 • 592 Ratings

🗓️ 19 July 2020

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

“I’ve been incredibly surprised by where my career has taken me,” says Amanda Cohen, chef/owner of the vegetable-focused Dirt Candy restaurant in New York City. “I never would have expected it would take me to Congress.” Earlier this week, Amanda testified before the Small Business Committee of the House of Representatives on behalf of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. Amanda is part of the leadership of the IRC, which is working to get Congress to pass the $120-billion Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund. We talk to Amanda about her work on behalf of the 500,000 independent restaurants and 11 million restaurant workers in the U.S., as well as the steps she’s taking to keep her own restaurant alive. She also updates us on Lekka Burger, the Tribeca fast-casual spot she’s involved with, her thoughts on food media, and why she’s not moving back to her native Canada any time soon.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everyone,
0:07.0	Hey, everyone.
0:10.0	Hey, everyone.
0:11.0	Welcome to Radio Cherry Bomb, and Food that's all about women and food. I'm your host,
0:24.2	Carrie Diamond, coming to you from Brooklyn, New York. Today's guest is Amanda Cohen. She's the chef and
0:29.9	owner of Dirt Candy, a vegetable focus restaurant in New York City, known for its magical way with carrots,
0:36.0	portobello mushrooms, broccoli, and more. Like almost all restaurateurs,
0:40.9	Amanda has been in survival mode for the past several months, trying to figure out how to keep
0:45.1	dirt candy alive. Amanda isn't just focused on her own welfare. Those who know Amanda,
0:50.6	know that she is always fighting and speaking out on behalf of others in the industry,
0:54.7	on everything from Me Too to the problems with tipping.
0:58.1	Earlier this week, Amanda testified before the Small Business Committee of the House of Representatives.
1:03.1	Can you believe?
1:04.1	She was speaking on behalf of the Independent Restaurant Coalition in support of the $120 billion
1:09.6	independent restaurant revitalization fund.
1:13.9	The IRC is doing everything akin to save indie restaurants.
1:17.2	Later in the show, Amanda talks about ways that you can help, so get ready for some homework.
1:22.3	The restaurant industry needs you.
1:24.4	We chat about a lot of other things, too, from food media complicity to her native
1:28.4	Canada, so don't go anywhere. Let's do some housekeeping. Thank you to the folks at Breyer's Carb Smart
1:33.9	and Sonos Move for supporting today's show. Be sure to check them out. Music and ice cream is what
1:39.6	summer is all about. Also, check out a new Radio Cherry Bomb miniseries we just launched in collaboration
	...

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