What does it look like to build a creative life before algorithms and stay true to yourself as everything changes?

Justin Burke chats with Adam Roberts, the voice behind The Amateur Gourmet and now the author of the debut novel Food Person. Long before food blogging was an industry, Adam was writing into the void. That blog led to Food Network, a writers’ room on The Real O’Neals, two cookbooks, and now fiction.

They talk about the early days of food media, writing before SEO drove content, and the freedom of finding your voice without having to optimize it. But they also talk about queerness; not as performance, not as branding, but as something steady. Present. And in Food Person, Adam shares what it means to write characters, especially queer characters, who feel human and specific, not symbolic.

This is a conversation about staying curious, staying human, and letting queerness exist in all its forms.

Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s):

• Adam Roberts - connect on Instagram
• The Amateur Gourmet - check it out here, or subscribe to Substack
• Food Person - Get your copy here

Queer Food Stars Adam wants you to know:

• Jeremy Salamon
  • Agi’s Counter, Pitt’s
  • Jeremy’s cookbook, Second Generation
• Renato Poliafito
  • Ciao, Gloria, Pasta Night
  • Renato’s cookbook, Dolci!

Go follow, support, and spread the love.

That Ate:

• Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode.
• Follow Justin on Instagram
• Want to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

What if fine dining didn’t come with exclusivity, hierarchy, or a single way to belong?

Justin Burke sits down with Telly Justice, co-owner and chef of HAGS, a trans-owned, queer-focused fine dining restaurant in New York City’s East Village that’s redefining what fine dining can be—and who gets to belong. Built on care, access, and intention, HAGS makes sliding-scale meals a core part of its model, proving that excellence and equity can coexist.

Telly shares how queerness and transness shape HAGS’ approach to food, creativity, and survival; the importance of chosen family; and building a restaurant culture rooted in mentorship, softness, and collective care. This conversation explores power, hospitality, and what it truly means to feed people well while treating people well.

Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s):

• Telly Justice - connect on Instagram
• Camille Lindsley - connect on Instagram
• HAGS - learn more, make a reservation at HAGS, and follow on Instagram
• John Birdsall - subscribe to John’s Substack, Shifting the Food Narrative, follow on Instagram, or visit John’s website.

Queer Food Stars Telly wants you to know:

• Luna Vela
  • Neighborhood Molino
• Silver Iocovozzi
  • Neng Jr’s

Go follow, support, and spread the love.

That Ate:

• Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode.
• Follow Justin on Instagram
• Want to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.

Did you know there’s an organization dedicated entirely to queer food workers?

Justin Burke sits down with Vanessa Parish, co-founder + Executive Director of the Queer Food Foundation.

Vanessa reflects on coming up in the food industry during the early, rule-less days of food media, what it meant to be publicly queer in that moment, and the real costs of visibility. Together, they unpack why the Queer Food Foundation (QFF) exists, how lived experience shaped its mission, and the resources QFF is building to support the queer and trans community across the food industry today. Plus, they get a little nerdy (in their feels) and talk about what queer comfort food looks like.

This first episode sets the tone for That Ate: queer food, real stories, and community care!

A Note From Justin: This episode reflects on the Big Queer Food Fest, where Vanessa and I first met—a gathering that also included the incredible Elle Simone Scott. We honor her memory and the lasting impact she had on the culinary industry, food media, and our community, which she held with such care.

Below are the people, businesses, and organizations mentioned in this episode, including this week’s guest(s):

• Queer Food Foundation — learn more at www.queerfoodfoundation.org and follow on Instagram.
• Vanessa Parish — connect on Instagram.

Queer Food Stars Vanessa wants you to know:

• Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman
• D Anderson
• Selasie Dotse
• BABE Wine Bar

Go follow, support, and spread the love.

That Ate:

• Subscribe to Taste This, Justin’s newsletter, to catch every episode.
• Follow Justin on Instagram
• Want to collab or have a suggestion for a future guest? Visit the website.