In this episode, I am joined by John LoScalzo, owner and chef of LoKo Cuisine.
LoKo Cuisine is best known for their pop-up meals in collaboration with the Tampa Bay area’s craft breweries, called “Eggs & Kegs.” On scheduled Sunday mornings, John and his wife Stephanie Kojima are hard at work cooking inspired meals for the culinarily curious (and hungry) food and beer enthusiasts.
And LoKo’s meals always have a food, beer, or cultural “twist.” Whether it’s a meal themed after the flavors of Cigar City’s Jai Alai IPA, or New England IPA with New England Surf & Turf, or his latest inspiration Bibimbap & Hip Hop, John always finds a creative theme for his meals.
In our interview, John talks about how LoKo Cusine got started, his inspiration for LoKo’s pop-up meals, and his thoughts on beer and food pairing.
In this episode, you will again hear a segment I am calling “The Six Pack.” These are six questions to conclude the episode, all related to the beer industry and what the guest has learned in the industry. The “six pack” gives a little more information about Joe and his beer beliefs.
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Thanks for joining us in the journey of the BeerWise Podcast, hosted by Mark DeNote – editor of Florida Beer News.
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About LoKo Cuisine
John LoScalzo inherited the spirit of hospitality. His father operated the New Orleans landmark Elmwood Plantation, hosting myriad celebrities. LoScalzo’s grandmother passed down her love of Sicilian culture, and his mother introduced him to the comforts of Southern cooking. And in Tampa, his uncle owned eateries and nightclubs, including the 1980s-era jazz club Brother’s Lounge. LoScalzo also cultivated his understanding of hospitality after stops in California, Arizona, and Georgia; he settled in Tampa and honed his skills over 15 years in the bar and restaurant scene, including a stint at Mise en Place Bistro.
But hospitality, it turned out, was not his true calling in life. LoScalzo has taught for Hillsborough County Schools for over twenty-two years, helping adult students with disabilities learn skills for life after high school. Still, the kitchen draw was too strong for LoScalzo to completely give up the hospitality industry. He needed a hobby, though not a career. With his responsibilities to his students, he felt a restaurant or food truck would be too much of a time commitment. So, he began catering pop-up events as LOKO Cuisine.