Rachel Wharton's former HRN co-host is her guest on today's Meet Your Maker! Matt Timms has been responsible for the food competitions The Takedowns for the past ten years. Matt's next event is the Meatball Takedown, taking place on January 27th, 2013 at Brooklyn's The Bell House. Hear why Matt decided to start hosting food competitions, and some of the roadblocks he hit during his earliest Takedowns. Find out why roller girls are the ideal contestants in Matt's competitions. Listen in to hear Matt and Rachel talk about the world of food professionals and enthusiasts, and why Matt wants to make his events accessible to everyone. What ideas for Takedowns have been failures, and what cities are great for food competitions? Find out on this installment of Meet Your Maker! This program has been brought to you by 360 Cookware.

"I like the term 'fooder' (as an alternative to 'foodie') because it implies something active. Pushing food through your face - anyone can do that!" [3:50]

"At the end of the day, all I've ever wanted to do is throw parties. And it's worked out very well!" [8:30]

-- Matt Timms on Meet Your Maker

This week on Cooking Issues Dave gets on point in teaching you how to sharpen your fine kitchen knives from all over the world-- from Japan to the West. Did you know that Japanese knives are traditionally only right-handed? Later on, all your questions about dry aging fish and poultry, venison sausage, and the usefulness of spherical ice cubes are answered. Learn all about how war made food evolve, Dave's new bar at Momofuku Ssam, as well as his thoughts on Yelp! reviews. This episode is sponsored by The Modernist Pantry.

"Fish is best when fish is best, not necessarily when it's the freshest."

--Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues

Kansas City and its surrounding towns are at the center of animal genetic diversity in the food movement. On this week's installment of The Main Course, Patrick Martins talks with Jonathan Justus, the chef at Justus Drugstore. Tune in to hear Patrick talk about the food landscape hundred of years in the future. How will the restaurant scene change, and how will farmers and chefs interact? Later, hear Patrick and Jonathan talk about the terroir of Little Dixie, and the uniqueness of the area's flora and fauna. Listen in to hear Jonathan talk about how the events of World War II changed the role of pigs in our society. Find out what other chefs in the Kansas City area are cooking innovative and delicious food, and why Jonathan hopes to stay true to Midwestern food. This program has been brought to you by White Oak Pastures.

"The area where we live was formed by the edge of the last great glacier, and it was like a giant bulldozer... As the glacier receded, it dropped all sorts of stone and seed that were not from this area. There are flora that exist here that don't in any other places." [20:10]

"If you take out the squash, peppers, and corn, most of what we eat is not from here." [23:30]

-- Jonathan Justus on The Main Course