That Was Delicious – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of That Was Delicious, host Brooke welcomes the iconic Debbi Fields, the founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies, to discuss her journey from a young cookie enthusiast to becoming America's Cookie Queen. Debbi shares her story of growing up in a modest household, the challenges she faced while building her cookie empire, and how her determination and passion for quality ingredients led to her success. Listeners will gain insights into Debbi's entrepreneurial spirit, her innovative approach to overcoming business challenges, and the importance of perseverance. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply love a good success story, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiration.
Key Takeaways

• [07:58] The Power of Passion and Quality Ingredients: Debbi shares how discovering butter as a key ingredient transformed her baking and led her to commit to using only the best ingredients.
• [13:01] Facing Rejection and Persevering: Despite numerous rejections from investors, Debbi's relentless pursuit of her dream helped her secure the funding needed to start Mrs. Fields.
• [21:20] Innovative Marketing Techniques: On the first day of business, Debbi's innovative approach of giving away free cookies to attract customers helped her turn failure into success.
• [25:01] Building a Brand Around Customer Experience: Debbi focused on creating a memorable customer experience, believing that customer satisfaction would naturally lead to financial success.
• [29:18] Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges: Balancing her role as a mother of five and a businesswoman, Debbi talks about the importance of finding support and staying true to one's personal and professional goals.
• [36:34] Empowering Employees and Creating a Positive Culture: Debbi discusses her unique hiring process, emphasizing the importance of passion for the product and the ability to create a fun and engaging environment.
• [44:58] Adapting to Change and Knowing When to Let Go: Debbi reflects on the difficulty of selling her company and the importance of staying true to one's values, even when faced with challenging decisions.

Notable Quotes

• (08:15) "Butter changed my life. At 13, I decided I would never use margarine again. Quality is affordable."
• (16:30) "The chance will never come if you give up. Keep knocking, keep asking, because someone out there wants to say yes to you." 
• (25:10) "I never focused on money. The only register that matters is you want to register happiness."
• (39:25) "When you're building a company, you need people willing to move mountains, to do something fun, different, and even embarrassing." 

Resources:

• Visit the official Mrs. Fields website
  
  
• Purchase Debbie’s Cookbook, Mrs. Fields Cookie Book
  
• Follow Debbi Fields on Instagram
  
• Follow Female Foodie on Instagram

In this episode, Dr. Annie Fenn, a renowned expert in brain health and the founder of the Brain Health Kitchen, joins us to discuss how our dietary choices can significantly impact cognitive function and the prevention of dementia. Dr. Fenn, who transitioned from a career as an OBGYN to a focus on brain health, shares invaluable insights from her latest research and her cookbook dedicated to brain-healthy recipes. Listeners will gain practical tips on how to incorporate brain-boosting foods into their diets, understand the science behind cognitive health, and learn how to make simple but effective changes to their daily routines for long-term brain health.  
Key Takeaways

• [13:00] The Impact of Diet on Cognitive Health: Dr. Fenn explains how specific dietary patterns, like the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by over 50%.
• [31:00] Understanding Ultra-Processed Foods: Why eliminating ultra-processed foods is crucial for brain health and how they contribute to inflammation and cognitive decline.
• [16:00] Brain-Healthy Food Groups: A focus on the ten food groups essential for brain health, including berries, leafy greens, and nuts, with practical advice on incorporating them into everyday meals.
• [21:30] The Role of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Why extra virgin olive oil should be a staple in your diet and how it protects both brain and heart health.
• [38:00] Mindful Eating Practices: How to build a brain-healthy diet by making strategic food swaps and paying attention to the diversity of foods consumed.
  
  

Notable Quotes

• (31:15) "Brain health begins in the kitchen. The foods we choose to eat directly impact how our brains age and function."
• (13:50) "The Mediterranean diet isn’t just about what you eat—it’s about how you live, how you gather, and how you enjoy food."
• (22:00) "Even small swaps in your diet, like replacing butter with olive oil, can have a profound impact on your long-term brain health."
  
  

Resources:

• Get Annie’s  cookbook, The Brain Health Kitchen
•  
• Check out Annie’s website at Brain Health Kitchen
• 
  Follow Annie on Instagram
  
• Follow Female Foodie on Instagram

Kacie Rose had always dreamed of coming to Italy, but when she finally took the plunge and visited for the first time on a solo trip in 2018, she had no idea that as she says, in true Lizzie McGuire fashion, she would meet the love of her life. Fast forward to 2024 and Kacie is now a full-blown content creator and Italy expert, sharing her wisdom and day-to-day life with over a million of her adoring fans online.      Today in this episode of That Was Delicious, we discuss Kacie’s story of how she ended up living full-time in Italy, some of the culture shocks she had (and still has) living in Italy, tips for travelers coming to Tuscany, and her brand new book: You Deserve Good Gelato.     Resources:  

• Cascine Market (Tuesdays)
• Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio
• Vivoli
• La Sorbettiera
• Pino’s Sandwiches
• Trattoria Marione
• Osteria Cinghiale Bianco
• Osteria e Vinaino Cicalone
• Check out Kacie’s website, Kacie Rose Travel
• Get Kacie’s new book, You Deserve Good Gelato
• Follow Kacie on Instagram
• Follow Female Foodie on Instagram

Julia Scarpaleggia is a Tuscan-born and bred food writer, cookbook author, podcaster, and cooking class instructor. She learned to cook from her grandmother and mother and lives in the countryside in her family house with her husband Tommaso, their beautiful daughter Livia, and two rescue dogs, Noa and Teo.   Today on That Was Delicious, we discuss how JulsKitchen.com came to be, what it’s like being a food blogger in Italy, how she started cooking classes, Italian food culture, and so much more.   Resources:  

• Check out Giulia’s website, Juls’ Kitchen 
• Get Giulia’s latest cookbook, Cucina Povera
• Follow Giulia on Instagram
• Follow female foodie on Instagram

Natalie Kennedy is a Californian who has been living in Rome since 2010. Although she initially came to the Eternal City for graduate school to study Economics, she shortly after met her now Irish husband, and the rest is history. She regularly contributes to guidebooks, magazines, and her own social media and website, An American in Rome, sharing her love of la dolce vita between pizza slices and gelato breaks.

Today, on the show, we discussed why she decided to live in Rome, her favorite parts of being in the Eternal City, what it’s like to live in Rome with children, and things she wishes she could tell every tourist that decides to visit Italy.

Resources

• Forno campo de fiori (http://www.fornocampodefiori.com/)
• Antico forno Roscioli (https://www.anticofornoroscioli.it/)
• Piatto Romano (https://piattoromano.superbexperience.com/)
• Otaleg (https://www.otaleg.com/)
• Gunther gelato (https://www.gunthergelatoitaliano.com/punti-vendita/gunther-gelato-italiano-via-dei-pettinari/)
• Check out Natalie’s website, An American in Rome (https://anamericaninrome.com/)
• Follow Natalie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/anamericaninrome/)
• Follow female foodie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/femalefoodie/)

Ruth is a New Yorker and dual Italian American citizen who has lived in Italy for 25+ years with her husband and two children. She is the co-founder and president of the nonprofit Save Vernazza, a founding member of the tourism board for Visit Vernazza, and the owner of Cinque Terre Vacation Rentals where she and her husband have lovingly converted two seafront apartments into stunning properties that guests from all over the world come to stay in.    In this episode of That Was Delicious, Ruth and I discuss her serendipitous story of meeting her now husband in the Cinque Terre decades ago, transitioning her life from the US to Italy, and all things Cinque Terre. If you have dreams of visiting the Cinque Terre or have plans to go there soon, this episode is a must-listen!    Resources

• Stay at one of Ruth’s properties in Italy: Cinque Terre Vacation Rentals
• Follow Ruth on Instagram
• Follow Female Foodie on Instagram
• 7 Best Cinque Terre Restaurants

Gabriel Rucker is a chef, husband, father, and has lived in the Portland area for over 20 years. He is a two-time James Beard Award winner and is known nationwide and particularly in Portland for his restaurants Le Pigeon and Canard. On this episode of the chow, Chef Gabriel shares his story of becoming a chef, what the most pivotal steps were in growing his successful restaurants, and several relatable stories about his childhood, personal food preferences, and even his experience with being a completely sober chef.

 

 

Resources

40 Best Restaurants in Portland (https://www.femalefoodie.com/restaurant-reviews/portland-restaurants/)

Canard Funfetti Pancake Recipe (https://www.femalefoodie.com/recipes/canard-funfetti-pancakes-recipe/)

Canard Steam Burger Recipe (https://www.femalefoodie.com/recipes/canard-steam-burgers-recipe/)

Le Pigeon Website (https://www.lepigeon.com/)

Canard Website (https://www.canardrestaurant.com/)

Follow Gabriel Rucker. on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ruckergabriel/)

Follow Female Foodie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/femalefoodie/)

Tom Douglas is a husband, father, grandfather, and one of the most beloved chefs not only in his home of the Pacific Northwest but across the entire country. He’s a multiple time James Beard Award winner, the owner of 10 businesses, and a four-time cookbook author. Today on That Was Delicious, we discuss some of the culinary highlights of Tom’s life including his family and home life growing up, how he became one of the best chefs in the country, and the stories behind two of our favorite Dahlia Bakery recipes— the triple coconut cream pie and the Nora Ephron cookies. 

 

 

Resources

Tom Douglas & Co.

Triple Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

Follow Tom Douglas and Co. on Instagram

Follow Female Foodie on Instagram

Headed to Austin soon? Today on That Was Delicious, Austin local Jillian Fox walks us through her curated three-day guide to some of the best restaurants in ATX, including three breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations (plus several incredible dessert recommendations) so you can sample some of the best that Austin has to offer.

 

 

Resources: 

Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in Austin

All Female Foodie Austin Guides

30 Best Restaurants in Austin

Ovenbird 

Best Breakfast & Brunch in Austin

Interstellar 

Leroy and Lewis

Best Barbecue in Austin

Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Churro Co.

Best Dessert in Austin

Veracruz All Natural

La Santa Barbacha

Best Tacos in Austin

Carpenters Hall

Best South Austin Restaurants 

Best Burgers in Austin

Evangeline Cafe 

Bésame 

Best Ice Cream in Austin

Bird Bird Biscuit 

Best East Austin Restaurants

Launderette 

Suerte 

ThoroughBread 

Follow Female Foodie on Instagram

Headed to Washington DC soon? Today on That Was Delicious, Ellen James walks us through her curated three-day guide to some of the best restaurants in The District, including three breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations (plus several incredible dessert recommendations) so you can sample some of the best that DC has to offer.

 

 

Resources: 

Bucket list of 100 Best Restaurants in Washington DC

All Female Foodie Washington DC Restaurant Guides

Unconventional Diner

Best Brunch in DC

Good Stuff

Best Capitol Hill Restaurants in DC

Best Burgers in DC

We The Pizza

Best Pizza in DC

Georgetown Cupcake

Baked & Wired 

Sprinkles

Levain Bakery  

Filomena Ristorante

Best Italian Restaurants in DC

Best Bakeries in Washington DC

South Block 

Surfside

Rasika

Thomas Sweet

Best Ice Cream in Washington DC

Market Lunch

Eastern Market DC

Capitol Hill Books

Sweetgreen

Un je ne sais Quoi

Le Diplomate

Follow Female Foodie on Instagram