What started off in old school bus purchased in Philadelphia has now grown into a soon-to-be-open restaurant in the North Side as The Coop Chicken & Waffles takes flight. Justin Fitzgerald, co-owner and a Texas native, joins the Drinking Partners to talk about his transition to Pittsburgh living and the family recipes that have made their food truck so popular in and around the city. Mr. Fitzgerald offers an inside look into the switch from operating a food truck to opening a storefront and the ups and downs that go along with that change. Both Ed and Day are thrilled when Justin offers to co-host in exchange for chicken. Listen in for clues about what makes their chicken so special (14 ingredients!) and why they insist upon a fresh, made to order, and customer first approach. Keep up with The Coop Chicken & Waffles: www.thecooppgh.com and @thecooppgh across social media.
The Drinking Partners invite Gary Olden and Andy Kwiatkowski of Hitchhiker Brewing back to the podcast, which Ed predicts will be a fun interview, as the paired names of Gary and Andy “sounds like a good time.” The owner/brewer duo stop by to discuss their newest venture: a new Downtown location that will be both a taproom and espresso bar. They celebrate by sipping on Usual Chaos, or as Day puts it, “an 80’s band in a glass,” a kettle sour with blackberries and raspberries. Andy gets specific about current beer trends and how that affects his brewing choices. Midway though, the laughs come as Ed quizzes Andy and Gary about who is the more passive aggressive partner. Next, they sample a blended hop beer, or as Ed calls it, “a mystery spin on Mario Cart.” Listen in as they discuss their goals as a brewery, from national recognition to making their beer better. In the latter half, Gary shares their goals for the newest venture, “Coffee during the day, beer at night.” A must listen episode for beer lovers, especially those who enjoy hearing about what goes into the development behind the scenes with a real focus on brewing, both beer and coffee. Find Hitchhiker Brewing: www.hitchhiker.beer
The Drinking Partners welcome hip hop artist/speaker/activist Brittney Chantele, who introduces Ed and Day to her distinctive style of mixing music and visual art. Her mixed genre approach gets explained as she examines Pittsburgh’s music scene while reflecting on her own story, one that is just as dynamic as the music and art she creates. Listen in as Brittney talks about both the artistic and business side of collaborations and how she chooses which projects to develop and what shows to take. Midway through, Ms. Chantele offers an intimate analysis of her upcoming album (release date: 2/17/2020), “The Golden Opportunity,” and how her military experience impacted it. Listen in for an important discussion that centers on topics raised during that conversation. A fast, fierce, and frank interview that is both enjoyable and valuable. Brittney Chantele’s album release party for “The Golden Opportunity” will be held at the Thunderbird Café on February 22 at 8pm, or find more information about her music, art, and activism at www.brittneychantele.com.
Live from Fresh Fest 2019, the Drinking Partners enthusiastically welcome Brooklyn Brewery’s brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, or as Ed calls him, “Mr. Renaissance.” With an audience as excited as both Ed and Day watching, Mr. Oliver gets right into what he sees as the recovery of the American food industry, one that was deceptive for decades. He effortlessly teaches history to those listening by exploring the rich, multi-cultural history of American cuisine, one that was replaced by “food facsimiles.” The trio then examines how to expand the perimeters of the craft beer scene to allow it to be more inclusive and approachable, a shared goal of everyone on the panel and the purpose behind the Fresh Fest Beer Fest. There’s beer drinking, too, to be sure as Ed and Day taste a smooth 9% Belgian strong golden that was heavily influenced by a Belgian brewer who came to New York to teach Mr. Oliver the re-fermentation process. The story also highlights what can happen when people share their keys. In the latter minutes of the podcast, the live audience gets involved during a question and answer session that is filled with relevant queries and compelling answers. A must listen podcast that glows bright with the interesting, ancient history of brewing, one that began in communities of color. “We were all supposed to be in the same damn room in the first place having a good time,” Mr. Oliver reminds the crowd in the final moments. To learn more about the James Beard award-winning Garrett Oliver, view his remarkable style, and hear his inspiring philosophies, visit: https://brooklynbrewery.com/our-story/