Connecting Communities - Feed Me Kzoo: Helping You Find Good Local Food

Updated 2 days ago

EB Precopia shares about her passion for food and how it led to her building her blog and food tours in Kalamazoo.

Chapters

Introduction to Public Media Network (00:00:04)
Introduction to the Public Media Network in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The program begins with a brief introduction to the Public Media Network in Kalamazoo, Michigan, encouraging viewers to learn more at publicmedianet.org.
Introduction to the Show and Hosts (00:00:13)
David Bak introduces the show's focus on Kalamazoo and introduces co-host Jill Byers.

David Bak introduces himself and the show, which is about Kalamazoo and its people, with an emphasis on environmental issues. He introduces co-host Jill Byers.
Interview with Eeb from Feed Me K Zoo (00:00:32)
Introduction of Eeb from Feed Me K Zoo, who will discuss the origin and evolution of the initiative.

The episode features Eeb from Feed Me K Zoo, who is introduced to discuss the start and development of Feed Me K Zoo.
Origin of Feed Me K Zoo (00:00:46)
Eeb explains the beginnings of Feed Me K Zoo, starting as a blog about local restaurants.

Eeb describes how Feed Me K Zoo began as a blog where he would visit local restaurants, enjoy meals, and write about them, though initially the blog had little readership.
Transition to Social Media (00:01:19)
Eeb talks about shifting to social media during the pandemic to help people find good food.

Eeb explains how the pandemic forced a shift from restaurant visits to social media, using platforms like Instagram to help people find good food and support local businesses during difficult times.
Starting a Walking Food Tour (00:01:52)
Eeb describes starting a walking food tour in downtown Kalamazoo.

Eeb felt the need for a new challenge and started a walking food tour in downtown Kalamazoo, allowing participants to visit and experience local eateries.
Community Engagement Through Food Contests (00:02:08)
Eeb discusses food contests like Best Pizza in Kalamazoo and their community impact.

Eeb highlights how food contests such as Best Pizza and Best Burger engage the community, allowing followers to vote and discuss passionately, enhancing community ties and interest in local cuisine.
Impact of Feed Me K Zoo (00:03:02)
Eeb shares a story where his contest helped a family business gain new customers.

Eeb recounts how a family-owned business, Pizza Catarina, benefited from winning a contest, which brought them new customers and saved a job, illustrating the positive impact of Feed Me K Zoo.
Monthly Restaurant Support and Gift Cards (00:03:54)
Eeb describes his initiative to support local restaurants monthly by encouraging followers to visit them.

Eeb talks about selecting a restaurant each month that needs support, encouraging followers to visit, and offering a gift card as an incentive to increase patronage and support the local food scene.
Food as Art and Reality TV Influence (00:04:27)
Discussion on food as an art form and the influence of cooking shows like those by Gordon Ramsey.

The conversation touches on the artistic nature of food and how reality TV shows about cooking have influenced perceptions and understanding of the culinary industry, even for those not professionally involved.
Details of the Walking Food Tours (00:05:14)
Eeb explains the structure and experience of his walking food tours in Kalamazoo.

The tours are held on Saturdays, starting with a meet and greet at Pop City Popcorn, followed by visits to four other restaurants where participants enjoy meals and learn from restaurant staff.
Encouraging Connections During Tours (00:06:21)
Eeb describes how his tours encourage social connections among participants.

Eeb observes that participants often start out quiet but become more engaged and social as the tour progresses, with many making lasting connections and exchanging contact information.
Selection of Restaurants for Tours (00:09:18)
Eeb explains how he selects locally owned restaurants for his tours, focusing on variety and quality.

Initially, Eeb chose restaurants based on who would participate, but now he selects based on local ownership, diversity of cuisine, and quality, rotating them to provide varied experiences.
Tour Logistics and Participant Experience (00:10:16)
Details on the walking aspect of the tours and how participants of all ages enjoy them.

The tours involve walking a mile to a mile and a half with short distances between stops, making it accessible to participants of all ages, while enjoying good weather.
Memorable Tour Interactions (00:10:47)
Eeb shares stories of memorable interactions and the impact of the tours on participants.

Eeb recounts seeing past tour participants revisiting restaurants and a story of a solo traveler from Indiana who made connections during the tour, highlighting the social impact.
Pandemic's Influence on Feed Me K Zoo (00:12:41)
Eeb discusses how the pandemic shifted his focus from reviews to supporting restaurants.

The pandemic forced Eeb to change his approach from restaurant reviews to actively supporting struggling local restaurants by promoting takeout options and helping them communicate with the community.
Personal Impact of Running Feed Me K Zoo (00:16:30)
Eeb reflects on how being a small business owner affected his life and mental health.

Running Feed Me K Zoo has been rewarding despite being busy, as it improved Eeb's mental health by connecting him more deeply with the community and providing a sense of purpose.
Involvement in Food Events and Judging (00:18:29)
Eeb describes his involvement in food judging events and other local initiatives.

Eeb has participated as a food judge in events like a Girl Scout cookie competition and a mac and cheese contest, enjoying the community engagement and charitable aspects of these events.
Supporting Local Farming and Sustainability (00:20:35)
The importance of supporting local farms and sustainable practices to combat climate change.

The conversation emphasizes the value of sourcing food locally to reduce environmental impact and how many local restaurants are increasingly adopting these practices, which resonates with customers.
Trends in Local Food Scene (00:21:41)
Discussion on food trends like charcuterie boards and increasing vegan options.

Current trends include the popularity of charcuterie boards and the growing availability of vegan and vegetarian menu items as restaurants respond to customer demand for diverse dietary options.
Future of Feed Me K Zoo Tours (00:25:53)
Eeb discusses plans to expand and diversify his food tours.

Looking forward, Eeb plans to introduce themed tours, such as vegan tours and singles tours, to add variety and appeal to different audiences while maintaining the tours as a passion project.
Desire for More Culinary Diversity (00:26:53)
Eeb expresses a desire for more diverse cuisine options in Kalamazoo.

Eeb hopes to see more ethnic and regional cuisines available throughout Kalamazoo County, recognizing the progress made but also the potential for further growth in culinary diversity.
Expanding Tour Horizons (00:27:57)
Discussion on future possibilities for expanding tours beyond downtown Kalamazoo.

There is interest in potentially including transportation to reach farms, farmer's markets, and niche grocery stores, providing broader experiences and connections with local food producers.
Introduction to Lynn Houghton's Tours (00:30:39)
Discussion about Lynn Houghton and her popular architectural and local history walking tours.

The speakers express interest in having Lynn Houghton, who is known for her architectural history and local history walking tours, on the show. They discuss her popularity and the large crowds she attracts to her tours.
Halloween and Valentine's Day Themed Tours (00:31:06)
Ideas for themed tours around Halloween and Valentine's Day are discussed.

The conversation shifts to themed tours, particularly those around Halloween and Valentine's Day. One speaker mentions running tours from April through October and considers doing a special tour in October.
The Appeal of Walking Tours (00:32:19)
The benefits of exploring cities on foot through walking tours are highlighted.

One speaker shares their love for walking tours and how they offer the best way to explore and understand a city. They mention how walking around a city during conferences or trips helps them connect with the place.
Creating a Local Food Tour (00:33:01)
The process of starting a local food tour and learning from others is described.

One of the speakers talks about starting a local food tour, inspired by a similar tour in Grand Rapids. They mention receiving advice from a mentor named Kate, who has been supportive throughout the process.
Community Engagement and Food Tours (00:34:13)
Engagement with the community and other food tour operators is discussed.

The speaker explains how they stay connected with restaurant owners and receive ideas from their Instagram community. They use social media to network and gather suggestions for new places to include in their tours.
Best Of Competitions and Community Reactions (00:35:06)
The speaker describes organizing 'best of' food competitions and the passionate community reactions.

The discussion covers the speaker's experience organizing community-driven 'best of' competitions, such as for burgers and breakfast places. They recount how the community reacts passionately to the results.
Future Ideas for Food Competitions (00:36:42)
The speaker discusses future ideas for food-related competitions and engaging the community.

The conversation includes brainstorming future competition ideas, such as desserts or ice cream, and how the speaker engages their Instagram followers to suggest and vote on new categories.
Exploring Homemade Ice Cream Alternatives (00:37:33)
The conversation explores homemade ice cream alternatives using frozen bananas and other ingredients.

The speakers share recipes for making homemade ice cream alternatives by blending frozen bananas with ingredients like chocolate, peanut butter, and almond milk, discussing the results and variations.
Cooking and Baking During the Pandemic (00:39:32)
The speaker shares their experiences with cooking and baking during the pandemic.

One speaker talks about spending time during the pandemic experimenting with cooking and baking, including making sourdough bread and focaccia, and how these activities became a form of creative expression.
Wrap Up and Future Plans (00:40:46)
The speaker discusses future plans for tours and the importance of community.

The speaker outlines their plans for finishing the current tour season and taking a break in the winter to focus on social media engagement. They emphasize the importance of community in their work.
Finding and Connecting with the Speaker (00:42:24)
Details on how to find and connect with the speaker's work online are provided.

The speaker provides information on where to find them on social media and their website, where they sell tickets and share blog updates, inviting listeners to engage with their content.