868: Maureen Petrosky Produced for Food Network, Judged Iron Chef America, and Now Spikes Her Hot Cocoa

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Matt Rodbard (0:32)

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Maureen Petrosky (2:07)

Imagine someone whose brain isn't working, eyes aren't processing. I pick up a knife and I like almost chop my hand off at one point. I can't, I'm not processing what I'm doing. Usually I have the stove on, I've got a sauce going here. I've got, I'm doing 10 things at once in the kitchen, right? That's what we do to get the meal, all the parts put together.

That was like not happening. I was burning things, I was like, it made me slow down.

Matt Rodbard (2:31)

This Is TASTE, I'm your host, Matt Rodbard. Before Maureen Petrosky was a Today Show regular, she was behind the camera at Food Network, styling and producing shows like Good Eats, Emeril Live and Semi-Homemade. Her new book, Après, is a celebration of spritzes, like Cocos and shot skis, no skiing required. On this episode, Maureen and I talk about her career, her interest in alpine drinking, and about surviving a near-fatal stroke and getting back her sight and her ability to read and write. Maureen is a true inspiration, and I hope you enjoy hearing her story.

Maureen Petrosky, welcome to This Is TASTE, how are you doing?

Maureen Petrosky (3:12)

I'm so good, I'm so happy to be here, Matt.

Matt Rodbard (3:14)

I'm excited to chat with you.

I had a whole plan to talk about, I'm going to talk about Après, your wonderful new book, and we'll talk about that, but then, you know, we know each other, but don't know each other. Yes. We've been in the industry for like 20 plus years each.

Maureen Petrosky (3:28)

Definitely. It's one of these things where we're like almost in the same space at the same time, but until we sat down today, we haven't been.

Matt Rodbard (3:34)

And you founded Food Republic, and I worked there for four years.

Maureen Petrosky (3:37)

Yes, I did, with Marcus.

Matt Rodbard (3:39)

Marcus Samuelsson and Richard Martin, and that was like 12 years ago, 14 years ago.

Maureen Petrosky (3:44)

God, you're dating me. But yes, it was. Super fun project. I named it. I always feel good about that name.

Matt Rodbard (3:51)

Great name and great branding too. It still is today.

I think it feels slightly AI now.

Maureen Petrosky (3:57)

Yes.

Well, it's scary this time. It doesn't feel slightly AI.

Matt Rodbard (4:01)

Exactly. I mean, listen, I haven't checked out Food Republic in years, but last time I peaked at it, it was feeling AI. But if you work at Food Republic, I apologize.

Maureen Petrosky (4:12)

Yeah, we don't mean it.

Matt Rodbard (4:13)

We don't mean it.

But I want to talk about your career. You have a really good one. And you go back to television. You worked with Alton Brown. You worked at the Food Network. You've worked at BA, Free Rapoport. So go and eat for the back of that. Before we get to all that, though, when you're dining out, New York City, you live in Bucks County. What's on your list right now?