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April 25, 2025
This is TASTE 579: Say Yes to Michigan Produce and Spirits with Eli Sussman
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ELI_ARTICLE (1)

The meme can be funny, biting, poignant, and oftentimes ubiquitous. Eli Sussman, a talented chef and cookbook author, has mastered the art of the culinary meme with his IG account, @TheSussmans. Eli is a proud Michigander, and on this special episode, we talk about the state’s bounty and how Michigan’s sustainably farmed, artisanal spirits brand Thatcher’s Organic Artisan Spirits is channeling the state’s produce in its line of liqueurs. We discuss how Eli mixes and cooks with Thatcher’s, and we go over some of his favorite Michigan restaurants.

Also on the show is a fun conversation with Matt DeLong. Matt leads Thatcher’s commitment to organic ingredients and sustainable practices as well as its unique portfolio of flavors. We talk about the process of flavor development—and how hibiscus is actually quite versatile in the kitchen.

This episode was supported by Thatcher’s Organic Artisan Spirits.  

Matt Rodbard

Matt Rodbard is the editor in chief of TASTE and the author of Koreaworld: A Cookbook, Koreatown: A Cookbook, a New York Times Bestseller, and Food IQ, a Publishers Weekly Bestseller and winner of a 2023 IACP Cookbook Award (Food Issues & Matters)