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What happens when a line cook falls in love with magazines—and refuses to choose between the stove and the story? We sit down with Chandra Ram, celebrated food writer, cookbook author and former editorial leader at Plate and Food & Wine, to chart a career built on craft, curiosity and a relentless commitment to serving readers as well as diners.

We dig into the early days that shaped her taste for pace and hospitality, the consulting and PR pivots that revealed how media really works and the unexpected phone call that led to years steering a chef-focused magazine. From there, Chandra explains how she helped a legacy brand honor icons like Julia Child while welcoming weeknight cooks who just want perfect pancakes and fewer half-used cans. You’ll hear how real-time traffic, search behavior and reader pain points inform recipe development, and why small choices—like using a full can of coconut milk—build trust.

We also confront the forces remaking food media: social platforms with shifting rails and AI that answers before a click. Chandra makes the case for direct relationships through newsletters, the enduring power of cookbooks you can smudge and dog-ear, and a smarter approach to inclusivity that goes far beyond token dishes. Expect candid insights on developing a strong writer’s voice, creating entry points that invite readers into a story, and trends worth keeping—hello, crunchy sauces packed with seeds and nuts.

If you care about where recipes come from, whose stories get told, and how to cook better tonight, this conversation is for you. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share with a friend who loves food media, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Chandra’s Substack newsletter: Another Bite
• Chandra’s Instagram (@chandrasplate)
• Chandra’s LinkedIn
  
  
• Cookbooks by Chandra Ram
  – The Complete Indian Instant Pot Cookbook
  – Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces (with Bill Kim)
  – The Eiffel Tower Restaurant Cookbook (with Jean Joho)
  – Women in Food (contributor)
  – The Chicago Food Encyclopedia (contributor)
  
  
• Zuni Café Cookbook by Judy Rodgers
  
  
• Dianne Jacob's Will Write for Food