"If you're going to express your individuality, you've gotta be willing to accept other's individuality as well". ~Sean Barrett"You have a voice, stand up and come join us". ~ Francine BeppuSean Barrett & Francine Beppu are two powerhouse people that have come into my life, as with most of my favorite people, through FOOD. They started as customers and have become dear friends who are incredible at their day jobs in the military and as a network strategy director, but also manage to be at the helm of the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation which is committed to HOPE, EQUALITY & UNITY.Not only are they doing great things in their community but they are also lovers of sexy food and sexy drinks! For these reasons and so many more, they are THE SEXY PEOPLE, you'll see why...For more information on the Hawaii LGBT Legacy foundation head to their website: http://www.hawaiilgbtlegacyfoundation.comIf you would like more information about Swigs & Grinds, come say hi at:https://www.swigsandgrinds.com

Danielle Shemesh is the force of nature that is the brains, heart and soul behind the business of Drink Gazoz, based in Honolulu Hawaii. Not only does she create the sexiest fizzy beverages, she is also an archaeologist, an activist, and definitely an expert in sexy food and drinks. We talk about life growing up in Israel, years spent traveling through Central America, and bringing farm to cup drinks to Hawaii. You can find her on Instagram @drinkgazozand also find out more about the work she does with sustainable coastlines @sustainablecoastlineshawaiiTo find out the latest going on at Swigs & Grinds, follow us on Instagram @swigsandgrindsor on our website www.swigsandgrinds.com

Back in October of 2009 I wrote a blog post titled “Sexy Food”.It was the first time that I had written about the question posed to me by my food-loving sister: Can food be sexy?Of course it can, was my answer waaaay back then, before I really  knew just how much sexy food would become a part of my future.  This conversation started when, while eating a pomegranate, my sister declared to her boyfriend that pomegranates are a sexy food. He didn't understand & said, "How can a pomegranate be sexy"? And so our conversation began.I entered the arena by considering foods that I deemed definitely UNsexy; pickled pigs feet, liver…  and reasoned, thankfully, that there was an even greater list of foods that made the “sexy” list.  We went back and forth from raspberries floating in champagne, to carnivorous platters of bbq ribs, the obvious oysters and dark chocolates, to oozing melty cheese. And so began my quest and my conversations surrounding the sexiness of food and drink. A few years later I started cooking professionally and sexy food became my culinary point of view, as they say.  I practiced creating beautiful food that you eat with your eyes first. I began to dabble in unorthodox combinations of sweet, spicy, herbaceous and savory. Black Sesame Ice cream as an appetizer, lavender roast chicken, brie and apple pizza with a green pea puree sauce, candied beets over strawberry-guava sorbet with balsamic reduction for dessert, and on and on.And let’s not forget about the sexy beverages!   My first cocktail recipe, such as it was, that I posted on the blog was a Lemon Rosemary Cocktail, which was soon followed by a Lychee and then a Ginger Martini, a Boozy Shave Ice, my deep dive into Australian wines, and even a non-alcoholic Chai. Eventually I began to write about local distilleries, breweries and watering holes, and finally began to travel the world with a thirst for a Brunello de Montalcino in Tuscany, a flaming cocktail in Barcelona, and Mezcal south of Oaxaca.And now, I get to dive into more juicy conversations and explorations of sexy food and drinks here on the Swigs & Grinds PODCAST! For this first episode, I thought it would only be right to begin by introducing you to the person that not only put sexy food into my head all those years ago, but is one of my biggest inspirations, and all around favorite people, My big sister, Sandra Bailey!!! Pull up a chair! Cheers!!