The Off The Menu Podcast

What started with a beer fridge on a front porch and homemade chocolate Buckeyes has grown into a thriving candy business selling thousands of Buckeyes a week—and even serving fans inside Ohio Stadium.
In this episode of The Off The Menu Podcast, we sit down with Alicia Hindman, founder of The Buckeye Lady, to hear how she went from working as a high school guidance counselor to building a business around one of Ohio’s most iconic treats.
Alicia shares how she started selling Buckeyes during the pandemic, how her signature stuffed Buckeyes came to be, and how she grew the business from her home kitchen to a storefront of her own.
We also talk about the risks of leaving a secure career, growing a food business without growing too fast, her appearance on NBC Sports, selling Buckeyes inside Ohio Stadium, giving back through Bucks for Pups, and her effort to make the Buckeye Ohio’s official state candy.
It’s a story about taking a chance on an idea, believing in what you’re building, and turning a simple chocolate-and-peanut-butter candy into something much bigger.

Barbecue is one of America’s most beloved foods—but how did it become the barbecue we know today?
In this episode of The Off The Menu Podcast, we sit down with two-time James Beard Award winner, food historian, and author Adrian Miller to explore the history of American barbecue and the enormous influence Black pitmasters, cooks, and entrepreneurs have had on its evolution.
Adrian takes us from barbecue’s Native American roots through the American South, where enslaved African Americans became the cooks behind massive community barbecues and helped develop traditions that would spread across the country. After emancipation, Black pitmasters turned those skills into businesses and helped establish barbecue cultures in communities throughout America.
We also explore how regional styles developed, why Kansas City, the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas, and Chicago all approach barbecue differently, and the great sauce-versus-no-sauce debate.
 

That extra virgin olive oil in your pantry. The Parmesan you sprinkle on pasta. The honey in your tea. Even the seafood you order at your favorite restaurant. How sure are you that you're actually getting what you paid for?
This week on The Off the Menu Podcast, Wal, Joel, and Tom sit down with award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Larry Olmsted, author of Real Food, Fake Food, to uncover the surprisingly lucrative world of food fraud.
Larry explains how everyday foods can be mislabeled, adulterated, diluted, or completely counterfeited—and why some of the foods we pay a premium for are among the biggest targets. We dig into olive oil, honey, seafood, coffee, Parmesan cheese, wine, and more, while learning what consumers can do to spot the real thing.
It's an eye-opening look at what's really on our plates—and fair warning: you may never look at your pantry the same way again.

Grocery prices have climbed dramatically in recent years—but why are we paying so much more, and is there anything shoppers can actually do about it?
In this episode of The Off The Menu Podcast, Wal, Joel, and Tom sit down with Andy Ellwood, founder of Stretch AI, to unpack what’s really happening with grocery prices. Andy explains why prices have risen so quickly, how grocery stores determine what you pay, why the same product can cost more at one location than another, and how loyalty programs, coupons, electronic price tags, and shopper data all factor into the equation.
We also explore how Stretch AI is using technology to compare the cost of your entire grocery list across nearby stores—and potentially help families save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.
If your grocery bill keeps getting bigger and you’re wondering where all that money is going, this episode is for you.

In Part 2 of this special two-part conversation, Denny Lynch takes us beyond the Wendy's success story and into the deeply personal legacy Dave Thomas wanted to leave behind. Denny talks about the creation of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, an organization that has helped thousands of children find permanent, loving families. In addition, we discover Dave’s biggest regret.
It's a heartfelt and inspiring conclusion that reveals the man behind the Wendy's brand and the legacy that mattered most to him.
Whether you're a Wendy's fan, an entrepreneur, a business leader, or simply appreciate stories of purpose and impact, this episode offers an unforgettable look at one of America's most admired business icons.
 

Dave Thomas built one of the world's most successful restaurant brands—but the real story behind the founder of Wendy's is even more remarkable.
In Part 1 of this special two-part episode, we sit down with Denny Lynch, Dave Thomas' longtime communications executive, trusted confidant, and author of Call Me Dave. Drawing from decades spent traveling alongside Dave, Denny shares never-before-told stories about the humble entrepreneur who transformed the fast-food industry.
Discover how Dave's difficult childhood shaped his values, what he learned from Colonel Harland Sanders, why authenticity made him America's most trusted restaurant spokesman, and how one small hamburger stand grew into the Wendy's empire.
Whether you're a Wendy's fan, a business leader, an entrepreneur, or simply love stories about extraordinary people, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most beloved business icons.
 

We're taking a short summer break, but before we hit the road, we're talking about one of our favorite subjects: vacation food. In this special mini-episode, Wal and Joel share their picks for the top food destinations to visit, the dishes that make those places worth the trip, and the meals they're most excited to enjoy on their own upcoming vacations.
From iconic local specialties to can't-miss restaurants and food traditions, it's a lighthearted conversation about the meals that turn a good trip into a great one. Grab a snack, start planning your next getaway, and join us for a quick serving of food-inspired wanderlust.
The Off The Menu Podcast will return soon with new guests and new stories. Until then, happy travels and happy eating!

In this episode of The Off The Menu Podcast, Wal, Joel, and Tom sit down with Jim Varney, co-founder of Wavelength Coffee Roasters, to uncover the surprising journey coffee takes from a tropical coffee cherry to your morning cup. Jim explains what coffee actually is, how processing and roasting impact flavor, why coffees from different regions taste so different, and how consumers can make better choices when buying coffee.
The conversation also explores one of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry today: climate change. Jim shares how rising temperatures are shrinking coffee-growing regions around the world and why sustainable farming practices are becoming increasingly important. Along the way, you'll learn the differences between light, medium, and dark roasts, whether expensive coffee is worth it, and the biggest mistakes coffee drinkers make at home.
If you love coffee—or simply can't start your day without it—this episode will change the way you think about every cup.

In the first-ever Off The Menu Food Fight, Wal, Joel, and Tom throw out the facts and lean into pure opinion as they tackle some of the most divisive food debates around. Is Skyline Chili a regional treasure or a culinary disaster? Does pineapple belong on pizza? Should fish ever be microwaved at work? And where exactly does ketchup belong?
The debate only gets hotter during a rapid-fire lightning round covering chocolate bars, cilantro, White Castle, blue cheese, veggie burgers, cereal, scrapple, spicy chicken sandwiches, and more.
If you've ever argued with friends or family about food, this episode is for you. Expect strong opinions, questionable logic, plenty of laughs, and absolutely no chance of reaching a consensus. Based on a listener suggestion, this episode proves that food isn't just what we eat—it's something we're willing to fight about.

What makes a truly great pasta sauce? Is it the tomatoes, the family recipe, or the way it's preserved?
In this episode of The Off The Menu Podcast, we sit down with Melaina Balbo, founder of BIS Pasta Sauce, to explore Italian food traditions, family recipes, entrepreneurship, and why frozen pasta sauce may deliver a fresher, more authentic flavor than shelf-stable jars.
Melaina shares stories of growing up in a large Italian family in New York, receiving homemade sauce care packages while away at school, learning food traditions in Sicily, and launching a food startup inspired by generations of family cooking. The conversation dives into San Marzano tomatoes, pesto, marinara vs. pomodoro sauce, the infamous "sauce or gravy" debate, and the challenges of building a specialty food brand from scratch.