The Pay Chen Show

'Tis the season to be jolly but it's not an easy time of year for everyone. Therapist Tenniel Rock shares tips and advice on how to reach out to friends or coworkers who might be having a difficult time during the holidays. Plus what you can do if this time of year is stressful or difficult for you. Find out how sharing a story about your food hero can help raise money for the Community Food Centres Canada and what great work is being done with the donations. Chef Andrea Buckett gives us a peek at the new food and eating trends we'll see more of in the new year - bugs? Food delivery? Seaweed? Get the details!

Do you love your coffee machine with the pods and you think you're doing a good deed by recycling them? Guess what? They're ending up in the landfill. Find out why your recyclable coffee pods aren't being recycled at all when the guys behind Go Java join the show to tell you how they will pick up your old pods and get them recycled properly. Chef and restaurant owner Stefano Faita chats bout the new foodie subscription box called Food Trip To...and how he selected the products for the box featuring Italy. Registered dietician Carol Harrison talks about the mistakes you're probably making with food this holiday season and the free hotline by Eat Right Ontario you can call to ask RD's any food related question - like, is that turkey still safe to eat? And  how long can you leave food out at a buffet?

Everything you need to know about whiskey from Irish Whiskey Ambassador Conor Timmons as you get ready for the holidays (or just want to know what other people are talking about.) Chef Lynn Crawford with entertaining tips to make the holidays easier and less stressful, and Sandra Oldfield from Tinhorn Creek Winery in British Columbia talks about her recent award and work in the wine industry.

Pay is back from British Columbia and her first visit to Whistler (psst...winter is not the most popular season there.) Find out what new oddities and unbelievable stories have been added to the new Ripley's Believe it or Not book....from one of the senior researchers who has to verify that these stories and photos are true! If you're looking for a high-impact holiday gift - consider a gift basket from FoodShare...they're a great organization that works to make healthy food affordable and accessible for everyone. Buying a gift basket from them not only provides you with a stellar gift - but helps fund their amazing programs. Lifestyle expert, Shoana Jensen, joins the show to share her essential holiday tips that will make entertaining easier for you this season.

John Catucci from You Gotta Eat Here co-hosts this show! Find out what it's been like shooting 5 seasons of the hit Food Network show - and what dishes have stood out to John as they shoot around the world. Plus, tune in for details on where you can see him in person!

Two entertaining and inspirational writers and cookbook authors join the show today! And both of these fabulous cooks have been short listed for the Taste Canada Cookbook Awards! Tara O'Brady of Seven Spoons (name of the blog AND her popular cookbook) talks about growing up in southern Ontario with Indian flavours at home, Canadian foods around her and the mix of other cultural spices and ingredients that influenced her cooking today. With dishes that are easy to make and simple tips to update old favourites, Tara has ideas for making meals delicious. Plus, THE chocolate chip cookie recipe that will blow all others out of the water - a BuzzFeed blind taste test of top recipes even says so. Professional Home Economist Mairlyn Smith chats about the challenges and the perks of cooking with Canadian-grown ingredients, which she highlights in her cookbook, Homegrown. With healthy tips on shopping, storing and cooking, this cookbook will get you to eat better and support local growers.

Explaining Halloween to new Canadians...it's ok to take candy from strangers one day of the year. Find out how you can meet some of your favourite designers and bid on a one-of-kind piece of furniture decorated by some of the city's best...including Norm Kelly! All to support the great work done by the Furniture Bank. Food + Film = the Eatable Film Festival...in its second year, the festival co-founder explains what delicious things there are to eat and drink along with the screenings. Toronto Star food writer Karon Liu visits the newly opened Poop Cafe. Yep.

It's Thanksgiving weekend and what better way to give thanks than to support Restaurants For Change? Ruby Watchco chef, Lora Kirk, joins the show to tell you why you should dine out on Wed. October 19th at some of the best restaurants across Canada. Confused about what sustainable seafood is? Do you know if you're really getting the more expensive fish you paid for or if it's been swapped with a cheaper variety? Learn about seafood fraud, how to make sure you get what you pay for and how to support sustainable fisheries around the world.

Is Toronto ready for a new kind of plant-based restaurant? Chefs David Lee and Tyler Shedden think so. The two chefs talk about the new restaurant Planta, and why they chose not to use the word "vegan to describe it. What kind of food is on the menu and can it satisfy the most die-hard carnivore? The chefs share some tips and and ideas for going meatless and talk about their inspiration and what they learned by living a plant-based diet.

Away of for the next two weeks so everything is packed into this show! Pay chats with Richard Goldhar (a licensed insolvency trustee and debt expert), as he shares some surprising ways you could be wasting money without knowing. And the monthly that you might not realized is affecting your credit rating. Plus...are you paying more for those loyalty or reward points...?  The Toronto Garlic Festival is back with the garlic breath contest and all the different kinds of garlic and garlicy foods you could dream of. Find out how to grow your own (it's very easy) and learn why you should be cooking with local garlic. 

Poke is popping up all over Toronto restaurant menus and neighbourhoods - but what is it? The owners of the new Pokito restaurant at Queen and Spadina stop by the show to talk about the origins of poke, what's traditional and what new flavours they've brought to the city. Registered nutritionist Lianne Phillipson, shares tips for getting back to your routine in September and prepping for back to school for the kids. And Ikea's DIY dinner parties...

It's another week with some awesome women. Pay is joined by actress and comedian Anne Marie Scheffler who is launching her one-woman comedy show MILF LIFE CRISIS for a two week run in Toronto. Anne Marie shares her personal story of getting married, having kids, getting divorced and realizing she's a MILF and should embrace it. Parenting writer Sam Kemp-Jackson write a story calling for Home Ec. to be brought back because kids aren't learning the practical things they need! But, why learn when you can just hire people to fix things and make food?

This podcast is for people who love dogs and who love food. Hopefully you fall into this category. Do you love dogs but don't feel like you can commit to having a pet? Pay chats with Coveted Canines about their need for foster homes when they rescue dogs. It's a 2-4 week commitment and they provide everything! Find out more about the dogs they rescue and how you could be a foster parent to a dog before they are adopted. EnRoute Magazine has once again launched their Canada's Best New Restaurants list - and you can vote from a list of nominees. Vote for your favourite new spot and you could also win a trip for 2 with Air Canada. Food writer and cookbook author Amy Rosen joins the show to talk about the judging process and what it takes to make the list. Plus a preview of her new cinnamon bun business. Plus a list of discontinued Olympic sports!

It's the awesome ladies show! Talented comedy writers and performers Ashley Comeau (Second City,  Best Female Improviser 2015 - NOW Magazine) and Rhiannon Archer (Canadian Comedy Award nominee) join the show to talk about getting kicked out of traffic court, why you shouldn't offer Ashley beer, and what it's like doing stand-up and improv. Keep your eyes out for Mnandi Pies...these savoury Zimbabwean pies are finding a permanent home in Toronto and you'll want to try them. Hear why Evis Chirowamhangu wanted to bring these flaky treats to Toronto.

Interested in taking your outdoor cooking one step further? Why not experiment with smoking your own food? Kevin Castonguay from catering and events company Provisions T.O, shares tips on how to get the best smoked meat with the simplest equipment. And world famous coffee artist, Michael Breach, shares his story of being discovered on social media and now traveling the world being hired by clients to do intricate coffee art. If you get confused by gluten-free and what's ok if someone suffers from celiac versus a gluten sensitivity, Dr. Dina Kulik tells you what you need to know and what to look for when you're shopping. Plus, someone celebrates their lonely birthday on Mars. Find out who.