Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders

Lulu Cafe & Bar: 25 Years Anchoring Bayview

On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits Bayview to celebrate Lulu Cafe & Bar’s 25th anniversary with co-owners Sarah Jonas and Cam Roberts, tracing their start as a catering business to becoming a neighborhood anchor.   The episode covers their early $200-a-month lease, the evolution of their menu and space, community building in Bayview, and upcoming anniversary events, including a big street bash on August 29.   We get to munch on the Loaded Lulu chips and the Paisiano Pizza while we chat at Lulu Cafe.   “Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/ [https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/]. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.   We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

Sofrito & Education Solutions: Vincent Lyles on Community, Education, and Arroz con Ganduless

On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders,  host Charlie sits down with Vincent Lyles, Executive Director of Milwaukee Succeeds. They discuss his Milwaukee roots, varied career, and the organization’s focus on improving early childhood education across the city.   The episode ends in the kitchen as Vincent prepares a vegan-friendly arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), sharing cooking tips and community stories over a shared meal.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/Trujb-q3qvE [https://youtu.be/Trujb-q3qvE]    The recipe can be found here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/06/15/arroz-con-gandules/ [https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/06/15/arroz-con-gandules/]    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/ [https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/]. This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.

The Blocks of Becher Street: From Gummy Bears to a Foodie Empire

On Munching Around Milwaukee, host Charlie visits West Allis to meet Mark Lutz, the owner behind a cluster of connected food businesses on Becher Street. Known as the Blocks of Becher, they include West Allis Cheese & Sausage, Becher Meats, Archie's Flat Top, Scratch Ice Cream, The Bake Sale, and Station No. 6.   The episode follows how childhood memories grew into an integrated food destination—touring kitchens, pop-up events, and the people who helped revitalize the neighborhood into a must-visit Milwaukee spot.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/L3N-uJRYaFw [https://youtu.be/L3N-uJRYaFw]    “Munching Around Milwaukee” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/ [https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/]. It is an Interview show with local Milwaukee chefs, restaurateurs, foodies, and food influencers.   We talk about the Milwaukee food scene and what makes it so special. We talk while munching on some of the best food Milwaukee has to offer. Join us each week as we Munch Around Milwaukee.

Coq au Vin with Charlie & Julia Child — A French Classic

Join Charlie and guest Julia Child as they take you through coq au vin, a classic French chicken braised in red wine. This episode of International YouTube Club highlights France and walks viewers through a comforting, flavorful recipe.   The hosts season and brown the chicken in bacon fat, sauté the pearl onions and mushrooms, flame the cognac, then add red wine, beef stock, thyme, bay leaves, and tomato paste. The sauce is finished with a butter-and-flour thickener, combined with the braised chicken, and served with the mushrooms and onions.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/CnY8K6aJmq4 [https://youtu.be/CnY8K6aJmq4]    You can find the recipe here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/30/coq-au-vin-with-charlie-julia-child/ [https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/30/coq-au-vin-with-charlie-julia-child/]    “Local Chef Go International” podcast is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network (https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/ [https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/]).

Los Tres Golpes: Marianne Jimenez’s Dominican Mangú and Mission

On Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders, host Charlie talks with Marian Jimenez, a BMO Harris treasury consultant and Latino community advocate. Marian shares her journey from the Dominican Republic to Canada and Milwaukee, and discusses her work advancing diversity, mentoring employees, and supporting small businesses. That work earned her a spot on the Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 list.   In the kitchen, she prepares mangú (green plantains) with fried Dominican salami, fried cheese, and fried eggs—Los Tres Golpes—sharing family memories, practical cooking tips, and how food connects to community and culture.   You can watch the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/5ROdatiVZNI [https://youtu.be/5ROdatiVZNI]    You can get Marian's recipe for Mangu here - https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/29/mangu-iconic-dominican-recipe/ [https://cookingsecretsformen.com/2026/05/29/mangu-iconic-dominican-recipe/]    “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is part of the Milwaukee Podcast Network - https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/ [https://milwaukeepodcastnetwork.com/]. This show is an Interview and cooking show with Milwaukee Community Leaders.   We have an interview about their work in the community, then we cook something, and then we eat it. From our elected leaders to those working at the grassroots, we talk with people trying to make Milwaukee a better place.