MJ’s guest is veteran Sommelier, author and Co-Founder, and Chief Imaginator at Kalamata’s Kitchen, Sarah Thomas. Sarah was sommelier at acclaimed Le Bernardin. She is now the co-founder and Chief Imaginator at Kalamata’s Kitchen, where she brings together her lifelong passions for both food and books. The daughter of two south Indian immigrants, Sarah grew up in the rural town of Somerset, Pennsylvania, and was surrounded by food from a young age. She would spend summers in Kerala visiting her grandparents, forming some of her earliest food memories. While working at various restaurants in Pittsburgh and then at Le Bernardin, Sarah obtained the prestigious Advanced Sommelier certification and was featured in the popular SOMM film series. Through her storytelling work with Kalamata’s Kitchen, Sarah hopes to create a confident character that other children of color can see themselves in, while also encouraging all kids to look at different foods and cultures with a sense of curiosity and compassion.

Sarah’s incredible passion for food, her Indian heritage and upbringing, shines through in her Kalmata’s Kitchen books, events, online travel guides and when she speaks, to children and adults alike. In this episode, MJ and Sarah talk about her chance encounter with sommelier and co-owner of the highly acclaimed Le Bernardin, alongside Chef Eric Ripert, Aldo Sohm... and how she landed a job that very day! The two also discuss her summers growing up in Kerala, India, how Kalamata’s Kitchen came to life, and the exciting projects she and co-founder Derek Wallace have in the works with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment. This episode is packed with inspiration, jaw-dropping encounters and more. Grab a beautiful tall one and let’s toast to this! 

A huge thank you to Sara Thomas! 

Follow him on IG @ess_thomas

Check out Kalamata’s Kitchen

https://www.kalamataskitchen.com/ 

Follow them on Instagram @kalamataskitchen

This episode’s in studio wine:

Chantereves Bourgone Hautes Cotes De Beaune 2019 ‘Paris L’Hopital’

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers and wine drinkers! 

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