Homemade Biscuits, Fried Catfish, All Your Favorite Soul Food with Lem Gonsalves

World traveler, biscuit connoisseur, and soul food aficionado Lem Gonsalves joins the show this  week! Lem makes us drool over his favorite soul food dishes, and tells us the best spot to get fried chicken in the United States. We talk about the BLM Movement, and how Lem is using his voice in Hollywood to speak out against social injustice. We get some inside scoop on the drama that unfolded on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’, and we dish a little about our time together at Maria Menounos’s network, Afterbuzz TV. 

What’s in this episode:

• Lem and Ashley’s shared Hosting background 
• How Lem is involved in the BLM movement 
• Lem’s take on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’ drama
• The first food Lem remembers tasting? His Mom’s biscuits. 
• Lem’s family dynamic; his mom was the cook
• The true roots of soul food 
• Lem’s favorite soul food dishes 
• What exactly ARE chitlins? 
• Hot water cornbread versus regular cornbread 
• The best fried chicken Lem’s ever had. Gus’s fried chicken in Chicago
• The holy trinity of fried chicken
• White girls’ PR campaign for quinoa
• Lem’s mom has some interesting eating habits 
• A special ‘Love, Listeners’ call: a story about carbonara
• What Lem’s up to now and where you can find him 
• Lem’s  Dream Dinner is sushi in Japan with Chef Jiro

About Lem:
Lem “Saint” Gonsalves first began his poetic journey reciting poems at his father’s church. Since then, he has performed internationally and produced CD’s and documentary films.  

He uses humor and passion to inspire and entertain his audiences. In addition to performing spoken word poetry, he is also an accomplished host working with television networks like VH1, FOX, MTV and online network Afterbuzz TV.  He has opened for artists like Kirk Franklin, Lupe Fiasco and Common! He was also selected to be on Seasons 3&5 of the NAACP Image Award nominated show, “Verses and Flow”. 

Lem was one of the first ever podcast hosts for the television show “Love and Hip Hop” which is VH1’s most popular show. Lem can also officiate your wedding! He’s an ordained minister who has  traveled domestically and internationally, conducting personalized wedding ceremonies. He has recently begun an acting career and has starred in commercials for Apple and Bosch. He has studied improvisational comedy and performed on the Upright Citizen Brigade’s stage in Hollywood.

Connect with Lem:
Lem's Website | Lem's Instagram | Email Lem

Quotes from This Episode:
“I’m a connoisseur of biscuits.” - Lem

“We would hate it when Dad cooked. It was just like, ugh, dad’s cooking again.” - Lem

“You have to have the right consistency of the crispy skin, versus the juicy inside. So there has to be a good marriage. And then bonus points on flavor. It sucks to have people who fry chicken and don’t season it. That’s the cardinal sin.” -Lem

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