Love Bites

Weddings are magical, and many people dream of that singular day from a young age. Pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel and his team at Ron Ben-Israel Cakes play a fundamental role in that celebration for their clients, creating massive cakes with cascading sugar flowers, models of New York's most iconic buildings, and pretty much anything else their hearts desire, layered with artistry, geometry, architecture, traditional, precision, and love. On today's show, Ron shares what he's learned from this intimate relationship with his clients. Have the successes and failures he's witnessed taught him anything about lasting love that he's then pulled into his own romantic life? How have gay weddings, specifically, flourished since the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York five years ago on June 24th, 2011? As a gay man, what is Ron observing in his community after the recent horrific events in Orlando? What has being a food celebrity taught him about communication in romantic relationships? And does he think true romance is dead?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're on a food-obsessed radio station, with shows solely focused on cheese, farming, Japanese food, hospitality, food tech, school food programs... you name it. We take a slightly broader approach on Love Bites, focusing on a breadth of relationships in the food field: between our minds and how we feed our bodies, between diners and restaurant staff, and between what we're cooking and where it came from etc.. On today's show, we welcome author Ina Yalof, whose recently-released Food & The City collects first-hand stories from chefs, purveyors, and street vendors, whittling them down into first-person narrative. How did the journalist -- who has no inside relation to the hospitality field -- get inside the heads of her subjects? What was her learning curve like? What was her greatest takeaway? And does she wish her foodie husband, who passed away six years ago, could most experience through it now? But before we even get to that, Jacqueline shares why she's embarking on a 40-day social media cleanse, starting tomorrow! That's right - no Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or dating sites like OKCupid, Bumble or Tinder. She's out. Why? Listen to the show to find out, or read her Huffington Post piece for Heritage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yeehaw for Texas! Today is our first Love Bites on the Road show! Jacqueline recently traveled to San Antonio for the Culinaria festival, asking folks in food and drink at restaurants, bars, wineries, boutique hotels, and the barbecue and Grand Tasting events at Culinaria how they love and eat well in Texas. She picked brains about first dates, what people are looking for in their love lives, how they seduce through food, and what their favorite date restaurants are in the city they adore so. She discovered that love bites a little differently in Texas than it does in good ol' NYC. So after having spent the day downing pork and brisket at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park this past Saturday, Jacqueline and Ben sat together to discuss what she learned, and how her findings apply to their own dating scenarios. Have a listen to our first podcasty-cut show. And thanks to the team at Culinaria, the folks at La Cantera Resort and Spa, and the 13 pit masters and their teams who brought the best barbecue the country has to offer to the city we still love to call home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Last season, private chef and nutritionist Ariane Resnick came on our Ladies Who Lyme show to talk about how Lyme disease and chemical poisoning affected more than just her health. On that episode, she started to get into intuitive eating -- how she guides clients to listening to what their bodies want them to eat rather than prescribing a "diet" that's "good for their condition". Today, Ariane returns to delve into this idea more fully. How do we calm our minds enough to listen to our bodies? What correlation between what we eat and how we think or feel might we be missing? How can we instinctively reach for something better when all we want is the sweet or salty or alcoholic quick fix? And before we even get to that – how does what we eat affect how we date? Jacqueline has a plethora of food restrictions, despite her field – how would Ben want them to be presented on a first date? What foods do we avoid before sexy time, and what does how one eats speak to compatibility? Have a listen to find out. Our Spring/Summer Theme Song is Josh Dion‘s GIVE LOVE! We both fell hard for Josh‘s insane drumming skills and deliciously expressive vocals (smooth like honey, ladies, and then wild and raucous as hell) way back when we first moved to NYC, dancing our hearts out to the Josh Dion Band all over town. Now he performs all over NYC (and in residency at Rockwood Music Hall) as Paris Monster. Find, chat, listen, and buy on Twitter and iTunes."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's something to be said about being single in your thirties. There's the rush of not knowing who you're gonna kiss next, and the freedom to do whatever the hell you want whenever the hell you want. But looking for your counterpoint on the Earth can be exhausting and annoying, too. On today's show, we explore this dichotomy. What romantic wins from the last six weeks – the last time the two of us were together live in the studio before Ben took off to perform in Maine – can we celebrate? What challenges have arisen from breaking out of the patterns we usually function within? Then we're joined by Kristin Newman, the author of the memoir What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding. While many of her friends got hitched and started popping out babies, Kristin traveled the world, pushing herself into experiences that she would never dare embrace at home. What did overcoming fears, meeting people from around the world, and "doing the thing you're supposed to do in the place you're supposed to do it" teach her about love? Have a listen to find out. Our Spring/Summer Theme Song is Josh Dion‘s GIVE LOVE! We both fell hard for Josh‘s insane drumming skills and deliciously expressive vocals (smooth like honey, ladies, and then wild and raucous as hell) way back when we first moved to NYC, dancing our hearts out to the Josh Dion Band all over town. Now he performs all over NYC (and in residency at Rockwood Music Hall) as Paris Monster. Find, chat, listen, and buy on Twitter and iTunes."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's show marks the second in our series, OUR BODIES, OURSELVES, where we explore the connection between what we want from life, and how to get it in the bodies we live in. What kinds of impressions do we want to make on a date, and what's most important about how a date presents themselves to us off the bat? How do we think we're presenting our best selves, and what might the reality look like from the other side of the table? We discuss what these questions mean to us personally and then are joined by Kim Dower, the owner of the literary publicity company Kim-From-LA. Kim shares what she's learned from coaching clients into presenting themselves to the public, and what we might not understand about how others see us. She gives her top tips for getting our best selves out there, and where she wishes we would cut ourselves some slack. Have a listen, and remember to email your questions about dating to us or any upcoming guests at [email protected]! Or Tweet them to as at @lovebitesradio! Our Spring/Summer Theme Song is Josh Dion‘s GIVE LOVE! We both fell hard for Josh‘s insane drumming skills and deliciously expressive vocals (smooth like honey, ladies, and then wild and raucous as hell) way back when we first moved to NYC, dancing our hearts out to the Josh Dion Band all over town. Now he performs all over NYC (and in residency at Rockwood Music Hall) as Paris Monster. Find, chat, listen, and buy on Twitter and iTunes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some jobs are just more physical than others. Actors, dancers, chefs and bartenders beat the shit outta our bodies doing what we love. But we don’t have to. Today's show is the first in our OUR BODIES, OURSELVES series, where we explore how our bodies can help or harm our work and how they affect our romantic relationships. Joined by returning guest co-host chef Daniel Holzman, we discuss the physicality of kitchen work, and how your body changes with many years spent over a hot stove. Then we're joined by occupational Pilates instructor Marcia Polas and one of her students, bartender Russell Dillon of Ba'Sik in Williamsburg, who's just gone through Marcia's THE BARTENDER'S PILOT PROGRAM with Rutte Distilleurs. What wisdom can we steal from how she trains chefs and beverage folks to work more healthfully? And has the 10-week program really helped Russell at work? Have a listen! Our Spring/Summer Theme Song is Josh Dion‘s GIVE LOVE! We both fell hard for Josh‘s insane drumming skills and deliciously expressive vocals (smooth like honey, ladies, and then wild and raucous as hell) way back when we first moved to NYC, dancing our hearts out to the Josh Dion Band all over town. Now he performs all over NYC (and in residency at Rockwood Music Hall) as Paris Monster. Find, chat, listen, and buy on Twitter and iTunes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Going to an Ex's Wedding: Sweet and supportive -- or scary and just plain weird?! On today's show, we share our craziest weddingscapades, then dig into the deep stuff: When you're going to an ex's wedding, what do you want to happen, and what should be prepared for in case it happens without your instigation? Hopefully, Ben's insight from being on the male side of a bridal party where an ex was the bride will fortify Jacqueline for when she watches her first boyfriend get married, showered by all of their still-mutual friends. Then we're joined by Daniel Neiden, a Jewish Cantor and wedding officiate, who's going to offer up some general wedding know-how gleaned from his many years of being the guy who literally stands between couples on their big day. What kinds of questions does he suggest couples ponder before they say "I do"? What does he personally think about the institute of marriage? And what does he suggest we keep in mind when the pressure of the wedding occasion starts to build? Finally, we come full circle as Daniel shares his own craziest wedding experience...as a guest. Tune in.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can you really be friends with an ex? What challenges arise when romance shifts to platonic affection? And if you’re fighting hard to keep the friendship going, are you truly over the loss of the mate? On this week’s show, Jacqueline discusses the intricacies of being friends with an ex with her guest co-host, Jonathan Wiener, who’s currently struggling with how to be friends with the man who hurt his heart. What steps does he need to complete to get himself to a better place? And since Jacqueline’s headed next week to the wedding of the ex she dated for almost a decade, what advice can she share? Then the team is joined by Steve Viksjo and Lukas Volger, two of the threesome behind Jarry Magazine, a biannual mag that celebrates the art of gay domesticity. What holes in the food media world did they see needed filling? How sustainable are professional relationships in a world where food and drink easily make things feel personal? Have a listen to find out. Today’s wine sponsor is Simi Winery’s 2014 Dry Rose! This beautiful rose is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon finished with Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. Shell-pink with notes of citrus, strawberry, and tart cherry, it’s the perfect pairing for summer fried chicken or raw mussels. More at SimiWinery.com. Our Spring/Summer Theme Song is Josh Dion‘s GIVE LOVE! We both fell hard for Josh‘s insane drumming skills and deliciously expressive vocals (smooth like honey, ladies, and then wild and raucous as hell) way back when we first moved to NYC, dancing our hearts out to the Josh Dion Band all over town. Now he performs all over NYC (and in residency at Rockwood Music Hall) as The Paris Monster. Find, chat, listen, and buy on Twitter and iTunes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've spent a lot of time on this show talking about how hard dating is in your thirties and, according to Shari Bayer, it doesn't get a whole lot easier once you've slipped into your fourth decade. But as we celebrate the final show of our second season, we're lightening it up a bit and discussing why it's awesome to be a single professional in New York City, and why coupled up kids should be jealous of all the things we can do that they can't. So for today's show sit back, singletons, and get ready to celebrate. Grab two drinks and get ready to glug them down - because you can! Paint the town red, sleep 'til noon, get into trouble, and pick up a nasty habit - because you can! DVR your favorite guilty pleasure and dig into that disgusting food you don't want anyone else to know about - because you can! And then Tweet us, email us, Facebook us, flirt with us, make out with us, do whatever the hell you like with us - BECAUSE WE CAN! Have a listen, and come back April 25th when we kick off Season Three with even more love bites and stories about how love BITES!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Food is sexy. Books are sexy. So a fair about food and books? Super sexy. On this week's show, Jacqueline and Ben go old-school Love Bites, reconnecting on their past month of insanity with Jacqueline's dating conundrums (break-offs and flirting and abstinence, oh my!) and Ben's having gone off to Paris to perform in a surrealist play in Yiddish...which he doesn't really speak. Then they're joined by Amanda Dell and Kimberly Chou, the directors of the Food Book Fair coming up May 1st and 2nd in New York City. They dish on the challenges and triumphs of pulling off such a gigantic feat, how it affects their single-and-dating lives, and maybe a few rounds of never-have-I-ever will be introduced to the show. Plus! The team gets giddy on the 2013 "Alemannia" Trosseau Gris from Lush Wine and Spirits owner and winemaker Mitch Einhornn. Never heard of a Trosseau Gris before? Neither had we. But it's from a small California vineyard and promises a sleek mouthfeel with notes of melon and dried straw flavors. So, yum.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dating is hard enough, and we all bring baggage into new relationships. For some, baggage comes in the form of an illness that leaves you with little power over how your body moves in the world. On today's show, Jacqueline and Ben are joined by Allie Cashel and Erica Lupinacci, the co-founders of Suffering the Silence, an online community supporting the struggles of millions of Americans who live with chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, Lupus, Crohn's disease and others. They discuss the basics of their experiences, how their struggles and triumphs have affected their relationships of all sorts, and what they wish healthy people knew about how to communicate with those who have long-term illnesses. Then, the team is joined via phone by Chef Ariane Resnick. Chef Ariane healed her late-stage Lyme disease and chemical poisoning primarily through holistic methods, and now uses her healthful, healing recipes to help her clients live their fullest, most robust lives possible. How did her experience with Lyme affect her physically-demanding career? What insight does she have now that has made her better at her job? And what has she learned about healing foods that all of us can use to our benefit?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pondering why you’re single? Well, you could peruse the Self Help section of Barnes and Noble (if you can find one still standing), spending your hard-earned dough on stacks of weepy books about how you’ve gotta Get Out There, Girl! or why life is really better without a mate. Or….. you could laugh it off. Which is what Angela Spera and Laura Lane want you to do by seeing their sketch show, reading their book, or listening to their podcast. So this week, we’ve got the THIS IS WHY YOU’RE SINGLE team on to chat about how neither of them is single, what they’ve learned from their quickly-growing empire, and how they use humor to get where others dare not tread. But before we even get into that, Jacqueline mourns Ben’s absence with a single guest co-host, Daniel Holzman, the chef/owner of the Meatball Shops in NYC. What have they learned about why they’re single from reading Laura and Angela’s book? Is it because they date within the food industry–or don’t?! Is it because they have sex too soon, are too picky, or are just too awesome for the current mid-thirty-something dating pool? Have a listen and find out. “I would like to say, first of all, I love a good, smooth bald head.” [13:10] – Laura Lane See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s show, Jacqueline grills Ben and their guests, Jonathan Wiener and Joel Ruben Ganz, about the challenges of being a professional actor in your thirties, and the strain it puts on all sorts of relationships. How do you commit when you’ll cross the country for months for a good gig? How do the fluctuations of artistic fulfillment (and their often pathetic paychecks) affect confidence in dating? What sacrifices to personal relationships are made for the sake of art? And how does all this affect their jobs as waiters and bartenders over the years? Then, after the break, she picks their brains about all things manly, like how their body parts work and how they define true sexual intimacy. “You don’t want to get stuck doing what you don’t want to do just to pay the bills.” [5:20] – Jonathan Wiener “The nature of our work is one of constant self-examination and evaluation.” [10:30] – Joel Ruben Ganz See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is relationship baggage, and how responsible are we for losing it before we start something new? On today’s show, hosts Jacqueline and Ben explore the experiences that stay with us from one dating relationship to another, and how we can move on from it. Should we wait until we’re fully ready to immerse ourselves in someone new? How open should we be with a potential mate about negative experiences we may still be holding onto? And what does it take to really, truly get over someone? Then, the team is joined by pastry chef Thiago Silva – the creator of the Cinnamon Roll Donut – who, fortunately for him, hasn’t had to worry much about past relationship baggage; he met his wife when they were teenagers. How has his relationship grown alongside his pastry career? What road bumps did they hit, and what sacrifices have they made? And what does he see for his professional future, when he’s in between restaurants and has baby #2 on the way? Tune in to find out, and stay on board through the end of the show, where they each share their best bite or drink of the week, and where you can snag it. © 2013 Brent Herrig Photography “I don’t think that emotional baggage is something that you get rid of, it’s something that shpaes you, and it informs who you are and the choices you make and the way you react to things moving forward in, I think, a permanent way, which is sometimes negative, but also can sometimes be positive.” [8:00] – Ben Rosenblatt “I would rather try to have a real deep, big love and get hurt again than to play it safe.” [14:00] – Jacqueline Raposo “The question I always ask myself is, what would I be without her and my son in my life, and honestly I can’t picture it happening, so I would never put myself in the position to allow that to happen.” [24:00] – Thiago Silva See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nowadays, working in the food world does not equal a private life. Chefs are no longer chained to their stoves, critics have lost their anonymity, and writers can’t hide behind their computer screens. Instead, we all charge our Instagram posts and Twitter feeds with salacious words and images, paired with hashtags that will get us even more exposure. But how does this affect dating and finding love? On today’s show, Jacqueline and Ben discuss how exploring relationships on Love Bites is affecting their emotional hunt for something real, and how Jacqueline describes what she does to prospective dates without giving too much away, since she’s unavoidably oh-so-Google-able. Then the team is joined by Leiti Hsu, the host of Heritage’s Word of Mouth and a culinary connector who’s gone beyond food writing to connect big brands and startups with people in the hospitality field. How does she navigate dating when she travels so much, and spends a vast majority of her time with food royalty? Finally, the team shares something they read / ate / drank / saw and listened to this week in the dating and food fields,all the while sipping an American-made Brut f rom Gruet – a French family of winemakers in New Mexico – sent over by David and Michael Robinov of Farm to Table, an online specialty market bringing the best of local, small-batch and artisan products right to your door. Have a listen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you send out almost 40 online dating messages in one week? Oftentimes, nothing. On today’s show, Jacqueline and Ben share their insights, lessons learned, and greatest takeaways from critically looking at online dating correspondence. Then they’re joined be Andre Mack, owner of Mouton Noir Wines and former sommelier at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry and Per Se. As the #1 African American winemaker in the country, they discuss minority representation in the hospitality world, finding love where you work, and how artistic collaboration never stops fueling us. “You can really be into wine and not wear a suit.” [22:00] – Andre Mack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s our VERY FIRST VALENTINE’S DAY SHOW! And in celebration, we’re getting cozy in the studio… just the two of us. First, we tackled some super serious questions that experts (pulled together by the New York Times) suggest every couple face before a potential walk down the aisle. What do they tell us about our compatability as friends, and how might they help those taking a very serious step. Then we hit up the stinky side of sex: the kinds that get into your sheets, saturate your mattress, and don’t wanna leave. How can we free our burdoires of those kinda memories, and what can we buy to make sure playtime in the bedroom is a bit neater from here on out? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all experienced some sort of unrequited love; pining over someone who doesn’t quite realize the romantic possibilities we can so clearly see. But what happens when affection turns into obsession? When our desires have so much control over us that we can’t see the world clearly? On today’s show, we talk about our own experiences with unrequited love, and how periods of longing teach us how to love ourselves and others more securely. Then we’re joined by Lisa Phillips, whose book Unrequited: Women and Romantic Obsession was just re-released by Harper Collins in paperback. Lisa shares how her own experience with unrequited love turned into romantic obsession, what she’s learned by studying its history, how we can best identify if our passion has crossed a dangerous line, and how to assess our chances of it happening again in the future. Finally, we share a Valentine’s Day offering from our sponsor, Virgola Wine Bar, a few tasty thoughts on Mark West Wines‘ new Black Pinot Noir, our experience chowing on chocolate at the recent Top Ten Chocolatiers of 2015 awards by Dessert Professional Magazine, and why we love sipping Scotch at North End Grill. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After subsequent shows on embracing our imperfections, facing our relationship patterns and moving boldly into the future with that knowledge at hand, it’s time for the team to apply what we’ve learned to our dating lives. So in our first segment, we catch up on our recent dating scenes, and discuss a shared hatred: boring first-date conversations (which, fittingly, was the subject of last week’s Modern Love column). How can we be bolder in sparking engaging conversations? How can we apply what we’ve learned from our live therapy sessions to maybe change our path a smidge? Then we’re joined by the boldest, brassiest pastry chef we know, Paulette Goto. She was the supportive force behind our Why We Didn’t Work series, and is the kind of friend everyone should have when they need a bit of (not too subtle) prompting for living without shame or apology. Paulette shares how she became so self assured, what vulnerabilities she deals with still, and how this all plays into pastry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you were in your last relationship, were you always honest with your feelings? Did you relay them openly to your partner? What about while breaking up? Has the story about why you broke up changed with some and hindsight, and could you be more honest with that ex now than maybe you were during the time you were together? On last week’s show, therapist Vienna Pharaon guided Ben through some patterns that came to light in his correspondence with two of his ex-girlfriends. Today, Diana Gasperoni of BeHER walks Jacqueline through if the communication she shared between her exes was as strong and open as she thinks it was, with the five questions each ex answered as fodder for their explorations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Breaking up is hard to do,” goes the old Neil Sedaka song. But when you’ve got a radio show about establishing new and long-lasting relationships, sometimes you’ve got to push past any lingering “what ifs?” and get to the root of the issue. So on today’s show, Ben presents a list of questions he’s asked a few of the past women in his life: Why did they breakup? What did and didn’t work about them as a couple? What do they think of when they think of him now? And do they have any regrets? Guided by therapist Vienna Pharaon of Mindful Marriage and Family Therapy, Ben talks through the answers his exes sent him alongside the answers he wrote about the relationships, exploring if any of the “good” or “bad” about them might be affecting his chances of finding new love now. Plus, Jacqueline updates on what happened after she reported an abusive guy on OK Cupid, and what the site could have done to make the transaction a bit clearer. And the team sets up what Jacqueline will explore when her own therapist comes on to guide her through her “We We Didn’t Work” answers on next week’s show! Have a listen. “We don’t just do things to do them. We do them for a reason – we’re protecting ourselves, protecting others.” –Vienna Pharaon on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For our first show of the new year and to kick off our second season (!), we’re recapping what we learned about dating in 2015 and setting dating goals for the upcoming year. Then we’re joined by It’s Not You author Sara Eckel, whose book dispels 27 myths single women have thrust at them constantly. Are you too negative, too liberated, too picky, too intimidating or too desperate? Do you “not really want a relationship” or should you “have married that guy”?! Find out what Sara’s learned from her studies of relationships and relationship self help books, and then stay tuned for the return of the “Online Dating Ass of the Week” awards, where we pull up some particularly sad exchanges we’ve had of late. “I think the thing that most struck me was that the older the women were the more relaxed they were. They didn’t take every date personally, they could enjoy the date for its own sake regardless of what happened.” [29:00] –Sara Eckel on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We welcome back Antony Raymond of Elsinore County and Andrew McLeod of Union Beer – the guests on our two unaired pilots – for our last show of 2015! In a festive and celebratory mode, we talk what we’re drinking and eating this week, and then break down some dating cliches to get at the root of their truth. Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? Do you only find love when you stop looking? Or do you have to be out in the light in order to have love find you? Hear four opinions – for better or for worse – and get a sneak peak at what’s to come in 2016! “It tough for someone to love you if you walk around like a miserable f*** all the time.” [15:15] –Andrew McLeod on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re all for crazy love. The kind that kisses and consumes you. The kind the flames quickly and dies, and the kind that burns on embers indefinitely. There is no right kind of way to love (well, stalking and dangerous stuff aside, of course). Loving is loving, and we wanna hear stories of it in all forms. Which is why we’ve asked Heritage Radio’s own Erin Fairbanks to join us on the show. Erin once shared a story with us of discovering a boyfriend’s insanely dark, hidden secret… and staying with him anyway. Longer than her loved ones wanted her to. We don’t want to give away too much. So let’s just say the story will be juicy, and we’ll all learn a bit from her trials and tribulations. “It’s nice to know that you have such a range of emotions. There’s some power there. I learned a ton from that relationship.” [27:25] “It’s simple. From sun up to sun down out in your life, on the subway, in the grocery store, at work, walking down the street, five times a day make eye contact with someone you think is interesting.” [30:00] –Erin Fairbanks on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes you have sex, sometimes you don’t. Sex can be one thing in your twenties, another in your thirties, and a new thing entirely depending on the person you’re having sex with. So what does sex mean to our hosts right now, today? Jacqueline and Ben share what having (or not having) sex does for them at the present moment, and what they hope for the future. Then they’re joined by Samuel Abrahams and Tom Greaves, the filmmaker and lead of the short film, Offline Dating. How did Samuel feel watching Tom walk up to strangers and ask them out? What was Tom feeling while he got rejected over and over again? And what they have learned from the process that we can take into our dating lives. Listen to find out.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Jacqueline swaps her general positivity for crank (as she wrote recently for BlogHer). So Ben grills her about dates canceling the day of, how ghosting is socially acceptable now, and how singletons keep their cool with friend after friend pairs off and disappears. What can we be doing to date better, or at least own our being single? Then they’re joined by Jesse Hirsch, the editor of Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn. He recently ended a 6-year relationship… because of his job (somewhat, he says). What happens when your schedule is dominated by work events? When your significant others doesn’t want to join? Or when they really don’t give a shit about why you think kohlrabi is the new cauliflower (which was the new kale). Have a listen for the crankiest show of this season. “I feel like in the next relationship it would be just knowing how to keep things distinct and not letting work bleed into every single aspect.” [21:30] –Jesse Hirsch on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s show, Jacqueline and Ben talk confidence. How do you own it on a first date? In a relationship? Where is the line between confidence and ego? And is “owning yourself” enough? Then they’re joined by Lauren Resler, the pastry chef of Empellon restaurant and the mothers to 9-month old Jaxon Alexander Stupak, the #TacoPrince! She dishes about the challenges of motherhood in the industry, and how it’s a little different for women than men. Listen up, ladies. “I’m happy to say that I’m blessed with a very easy going child so the stress of a restaurant is much harder but with mommy work you never shut your brain off!” [25:30] –Lauren Resler on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On last week’s show, Ben prepared for a date with a woman he’d been hooked up with via a listener! Was he more or less nervous? Where was he gonna take her? This week, we get the scoop on how it went, and how a first date moves on (or doesn’t) to a second. Then the team is joined by Lisa Mendelson, the Senior PR Manager for design and restaurant group, AvroKo. Lisa (single) shares why she’s okay NOT dating right now, and how handling publicity for a super-creative group affects whether or not she’ll start again any time soon. Have a listen. “I’m a little notorious for meeting bartenders and dating them.. because I find it easy to be at a bar and have a conversation.” [20:00]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s show, Jacqueline and Ben explore how putting a call out to listeners for dates has manifested in ACTUAL DATES, and the benefits of getting setup by friends. How does it work? DOES it work? What can we gain from going offline and letting friends of friends set us up?! Then, they’re joined by Jamie Feldmar and Sarah Zorn, two local food writers. Jamie’s single, Sarah’s married, but neither of them are immune to the pressures a very social work life puts on the absence or existence of a significant other. How does eating for a living trump a dating life, or what do you do when your spouse doesn’t wanna join you for yet another walk-around tasting? The ladies spill. Then the team shares the best thing they ate / read / watched or listened to regarding dating and dining this past week. “To me, date night is staying home with my husband…” [10:30] -Sarah Zorn “Because I love what I do, when I’m looking for a partner, I always look for someone who also loves what they do…” [16:45] -Jamie Feldmar See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, Jacqueline published an article on Cosmopolitan about why she doesn’t want kids, and how that doesn’t make her any less of a woman or partner. So on today’s eposide, the team delves into how kids play into the dating scene: when do you bring up that you do or don’t want them? Would you date someone with kids? How does this change as we grow older? They pull in some thoughts from readers and listeners, too. Then they’re joined by Will and Julie Horowitz, the chef/manager – brother/sister team behind New York’s Ducks Eatery and Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Co., which has recently taken the city by storm with their pastrami and insane smoked and fermented meat-fish-veg menu. How do they survive working together when they’re closer than a chef and manager might ever be otherwise? How does dating a coworker work when your sibling is already around? Find out on this week’s episode. “As a woman, almost 30, I definitely feel like there is an obligation to pro-create…” [30:00] –Julie Horowitz on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author Jessica Tom’s debut novel, Food Whore, takes readers on a ride through the sexy, messy underbelly of the NYC food scene. Hosts Jacqueline and Ben pick her brain about how much of the scraping and clawing she shares come from real life experiences, as well as what she learned from two years of working at the dating app, How About We… “Nothing about love really shocks me anymore.” [19:30] “I think my book is a lot about the scene of New York and being cool and knowing the hottest places and my fiance is like, the opposite of that!” [22:15] –Jessica Tom on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kat Kinsman is the Editor of Tasting Table and the author of the upcoming book – Hi, Anxiety – that’s coming out in April. She shares her own history with overcoming anxiety as a New York food writer, and hosts Jacqueline and Ben chime in with how anxiety has affected their dating and dining lives on this episode of Love Bites. This program was brought to you by Fire Cider. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk with Ben’s former employer, Abigail Hitchcock about running her restaurant with her spouse and the romantic encounters she’s witnessed in her cozy French Bistro, Camaje. Abby also shares the meaning behind the name, Camaje, and the stories of the three men who inspired it. “My feeling is if you want to maintain any kind of relationship then go for it, and if you don’t, then don’t!” [21:00] –Abigail Hitchcock on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tune in as we get an update on Ben’s most recent date as Jacqueline plays devil’s advocate while discussing the dating euphoria versus the dating reality. Later, Colicchio and Sons pastry chef Stephen Collucci joins in! He made his own wedding cake, and last year guided host Jacqueline with making one, too. On this episode, he shares tricks of the trade for making your special day simply sweet. “For me and my dating life, [food] is a big thing!” [30:00] –Stephen Collucci on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Love Bites, hosts Jacqueline Raposo and Ben Rosenblatt debate why the process of finding love online can be so exhausting, and why women should feel more empowered to talk about sex without shame. Then chef Shane Lyons of New York’s Distilled joins to spill about how hard cooking professionally is on heart, and whether those women hanging around the chef’s counter are there for the food… or to take home to the man under the toque. “I don’t have a plan about how I’m going to meet that perfect person!” –Shane Lyons on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Virgola owner, Joseph Marazzo, is taking over the city with his super sexy, intimate wine and oyster bars. On this episode of Love Bites, hosts Jacqueline Raposo and Ben Rosenblatt are talking with him about scandalous romances in his bar, plus why he doesn’t kiss too close to home. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “I’ve spent the night with a fraction of the ones that I could have!” [23:23] –Joseph Marazzo on Love Bites See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.