Why The Best Food In Tampa Might Be In a Gas Station

Why The Best Food In Tampa Might Be In a Gas Station

Tampa food culture has a secret keeper — and his name is Jeff Houck. From Tampa Bay food trucks to the legendary Columbia Restaurant, this former Tampa Tribune food critic knows where every great bite in Florida is hiding. Now working inside the Columbia Restaurant Group, Jeff is on a mission to give back — literally.

Food is Medicine

Can food actually help cancer survivors heal? A research chef at one of the nation's top cancer centers says yes — and she's putting it to the test in a groundbreaking 12-week clinical study. In this episode, we sit down with Chef Jules, a research chef working in Moffitt Cancer Center's Population Engagement and Research Laboratory (PEARL), designing medically tailored meals specifically for breast cancer survivors battling chemo fog and inflammation. She breaks down the science behind food as medicine, why an anti-inflammatory, high-fiber diet can change outcomes for cancer patients, and what it actually looks like to cook healing food at a clinical level. What you'll learn: - How diet directly impacts cancer recovery and gut health - What the MIND study is testing with breast cancer survivors - Why an anti-inflammatory diet matters more during treatment than most people realize - How to make cancer-fighting foods accessible and affordable at home Whether you're a cancer survivor, a caregiver, or just someone who believes food is medicine — this conversation will change the way you think about what's on your plate.

Why Publix Spent $10 Million to Save Food That Was About to Rot

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of pounds of fresh produce were about to rot in farmers' fields — because the restaurants that bought them had shut down overnight. Then Publix spent $10 million to change that. And they never stopped. That has helped feed thousands of people, through their partnership with the Feeding Tampa Bay food bank. It’s part of their combined efforts to end hunger. In this episode of Stick a Fork In It, we sit down with Brian West, Community Relations Manager at Publix, to hear the story behind one of Tampa Bay's most powerful community partnerships. As of May 2024, Publix has donated over 100 million pounds of produce to families in need — and Brian shares what drives a company that large to keep giving. From their founder's legacy to the moment a child cried happy tears over a carton of milk, this conversation will remind you why community partnerships matter — and how ordinary people inside big companies make extraordinary things happen In this episode: • The behind-the-scenes story of how a $10 million food rescue started in 2020 • Why produce was rotting in fields while families went hungry — and how supply chains failed everyone • The "Cereal for Summer" program and how it reaches kids across multiple counties • Brian's message to any nonprofit: "Don't be afraid to ask. The worst I can say is no." • How Publix's commitment to giving goes all the way back to founder George Jenkins in 1930 Publix and Feeding Tampa Bay have been partners since 2009. This is what that partnership looks like from the inside. If you care about hunger in our community — or you've ever wondered whether big companies can really make a difference — this episode is for you.

She Started a Food Pantry in a Closet. Now She Has 9.

Grace Sepulveda started a food pantry in her closet. She noticed the neighbors in her apartment building struggling to afford basic groceries. Since then, she has expanded it into multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Grace doesn't make a single dollar running her food pantries. She never has. She does it because her mother taught her one truth: "If you put food on someone else's table, the Lord will always put food on yours." Fourteen years and nine pantries later, Grace is still living that legacy — serving thousands of neighbors across Pinellas and Pasco counties with something most food banks don't offer: a choice. No pre-packed boxes. No impersonal handouts. Grace's Pantry sets up like a farmer’s market, because she believes people facing hunger still deserve their dignity. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Feeding Tampa Bay's podcast, Grace and her daughter-in- law Larissa share the real story behind nine pantries, 80 volunteers, and one unforgettable can of ravioli. In this episode: - Why Grace set up her pantries like a farmers market — and why it changes everything - The story of a young man, one can of ravioli, and a hunger that broke her heart - How a 200-car funeral procession shaped everything she does today - What "a good tired" means to the people showing up week after week - The raffle system that turned scarcity into community celebration Grace's Pantry partners with Feeding Tampa Bay to serve nearly one million neighbors facing hardship across West Central Florida. Learn more at https://gracesfoodpantry.com

How a Hospital and Food Bank Are Healing Tampa Bay Together

What if the most powerful prescription your doctor could write wasn't for a pill — it was for food? In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shannon sits down with Lisa Bell, Director of Community Benefit at BayCare Health System, to explore one of Tampa Bay's most innovative healthcare partnerships. BayCare has invested $500 million in community benefit in 2025 alone — and a big piece of that is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to tackle hunger head-on. They're not just talking about it. They're doing it: