Hear from Grace Bonney's mentor and friend, Rena Tom, on this week's installment of After the Jump. Rena is a California native who has been involved in everything from consulting, to jewelry design, to founding the collaboration-minded Makeshift Society. Tune into this episode to hear Rena talk about her upbringing, and how her family pushed her to start her own business. Learn about Rena's time in Park Slope, and her experiences owning the jewelry design store, Rare Device. How do small businesses and creative circles differ in San Francisco and Brooklyn? Also in the studio is architect Bryan Boyer. Listen in to hear Rena and Bryan talk about her newest venture, Makeshift Society, and how it has grown and expanded to the East Coast. This program has been sponsored by Fairway Market.

"It's been a lot of fun dreaming and trying to bring the vision of Makeshift to more people." [18:10]

-- Rena Tom on After the Jump

Meet your metal-maker! On this week's episode, Rachel Wharton in joined in the studio by Erin Daily and Brian Weissman of Brooklyn Metal Works. Tune into this episode to hear Rachel, Erin, Brian talk about getting started in working metal. Find out how Erin and Brian toy with the delicate balance of form and function to create truly unique pieces of tableware. How do Erin and Brian use metal to make statements about disposable culture and functionality? Hear how Brooklyn Metal Works collaborated with Brooklyn Glass for an event called Brooklyn Creates! Find out what materials Erin and Brian use, and how using certain metals in food applications affect the look of the object. This episode has been sponsored by Fairway Market.

"I like to riff on the concepts and ideas behind disposable culture and methods of eating. I've done a series on disposable utensils used Japanese lacquer to build up the layers." [12:40] -- Erin Daily on Meet Your Maker

This week on Chef's Story, Dorothy Cann Hamilton sits down and chats with one of the founders of New American Cuisine, award-winning chef Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar and Grill. Listen in as Alfred remembers his Italian-American upbringing in Buffalo, NY and explains how he fell in love with food through French cookbooks and found his way to culinary school and eventually in a kitchen in France. Hear how Gotham Bar & Grill was born and how it challenged the way fine dining was viewed in New York City. Find out why quality of ingredients is so important to Alfred and how art, architecture and design all inspire him in his creations. From his achievements in the kitchen to his endeavors in jewelery and furniture making, discover the brilliance of Alfred Portale on this episode of Chef's Story. This program was sponsored by Fairway Market.

"Nowadays - there are so many excellent chefs in this country that it's not as critical to [spend time in France]. That wasn't really the case when I graduated culinary school."

"At the time Gotham opened - the well reviewed restaurants were formal. If you didn't know a lot about wine or pronounce certain things you were sneered at. What I thought back then was why not create a dining experience with excellent food and service that doesn't have all that pretension?"

"Now more than ever, it's all about the quality of ingredients and modern technique which fortunately have gotten better and better."

"After 26 years, we continually analyze the operation, work on menu, work on who we are and how to improve. Our early success was because we figured out what customers want and we continue to ask ourselves that same question."

--Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar and Grill on Chef's Story