On a special episode of Taste Matters, guest host Karen Karp is joined by President/CEO of The New York State Restaurant Association and George Weld, Chef/Owner of Egg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Together they discuss how chefs, restaurateurs and their trade associations can work together for clean, healthy and delicious menus on every table. Find out what makes the restaurant scene in New York so significant and unique, and how the demand for local foods has increased in recent years. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"75% of restaurants today will either go out business or change hands."

"There is not an industry I know today that gives back to neighborhoods like restaurants do."

--Rick Sampson, President/CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association

"The idea of local food is really a way of wrapping up a trend towards good food in a recognizable package."

"When you come in to work as a dishwasher, prep cook or a server - you're doing work that's genuinely important."

--George Weld, Owner/Chef of Egg Restaurant

This week on Straight, No Chaser host Katy Keiffer takes on the crisis of hunger with guest Anthony Butler, Executive Director of St. John's Bread and Life. Learn about how the federal cuts of the Reagan years left many people in a state of food insecurity that still lingers today and how the current Farm Bill is working its way through the Senate and could leave millions of people hungry with looming cuts to the SNAP program. Tune in to find out how, despite these challenges, Anthony and St. John's Bread and Life are helping millions of hungry New Yorkers by integrating technology, such as their innovative digital food pantry, to streamline costs and get more people fed the right food. This program is sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

" What's happening right now to SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] is that the Senate is proposing over 10 years to cut over $4.5 billion dollars in SNAP money. 40% of those who are hungry will be affected by that, that's around 800,000 families who will lose $90 a month on groceries. The biggest people who will be hurt are people who are receiving other federal subsidies, so the biggest people who will be hurt are working families and seniors."

"Food stamps supports farmers-- that's the purpose of it! This money goes back into farms. Food stamps also dramatically support local economies. "

--Anthony Butler of St. John's Bread & Life on Straight, No Chaser

This week Hot Grease gets competitive as Nicole Taylor talks to Lea Kone of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of New York about their September eventNY Locavore Challenge. Learn how simple and easy it can be to local and how you can sign up today! Later on tune into the Hot 5 for more New York food and national food news, events, and conferences coming in September. This episode is sponsored by none other than NOFA-NY Locavore Challenge.