Who the Folk?! Cincinnati is Cincy Jewfolk’s new podcast spotlighting the diverse voices shaping Jewish life in the Queen City. 

Hosted by Cincy Jewfolk’s editor Sam Fisher, the series features conversations with notable and fascinating Cincinnati Jews—from artists and entrepreneurs to community leaders and culture-shapers. 

Each episode dives into personal stories, passions, and perspectives, showing that Jewish life here is anything but one-size-fits-all. The Who the Folk?! Cincinnati podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network and a product of Jewfolk, Inc. 

If you have suggestions for Who the Folk?! Cincinnati podcast guests, please fill out this form.

Be sure to check out the entire series and follow along as Sam interviews and features notable Cincy Jews & Jews doing interesting things in the Queen City!

Introducing this week’s WTF?! Cincinnati’s guest

Lainey Paul Richler was born and raised in Cincinnati. After graduating from Sycamore High School, she moved to Israel, where she served in the army for seven years. During that time, she met and married Yair. In 2019, Lainey earned her certification in Nutritional Medicine and decided to travel the world with Yair. When Covid hit, she decided to move back to Cincinnati and opened Café Alma with Yair in 2022. Lainey and Yair have three beautiful kids. 

Listen to this podcast episode

A note for you

Below, you’ll find a full transcript of this interview. We provide these so that you can read along, catch anything you might have missed, or revisit your favorite moments. 

We do our best to make sure everything’s accurate, but if you spot a typo or mistake, that’s on us. We hope you’ll enjoy listening — and reading — along!

Show transcript

Lainey: Thanks for asking me onto the podcast.

Sam: You’re welcome, and we’re gonna start with the easiest of easy questions. Where are you from?

Lainey: That isn’t easy of easy questions, I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio, born and raised Amberly village, but went to Sycamore High School. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re deep in deep in 100% I know I feel like my life has really come full circle. I remember growing up here in Amberly and now and coming out to Pleasant Ridge as, like a middle schooler, as, like our Hangout. And here I am living in Amberly again, and my second home is pleasant ridge. So full circle.

Sam: Absolutely. I mean, you went out and you were essentially, you’re a classic Boomerang. You went out and you came back.

Lainey: in 100% to the exact same spot. Though, that’s what’s so crazy. That is what’s funny.

Sam: You moved away for a long time, like we just said, you were a boomerang. So where did you go first? You left Cincinnati at a certain point,

Lainey: When I left Cincinnati after high school to do the very traditional trajectory of a gap year in Israel. While I was on that gap year, I decided that I wanted to stay and make Aliyah and join the IDF. And so I went through all the processes to do that, and basically that summer, I ended up making Aliyah, did gareen sabar joined the army, and somehow found myself staying in Israel for about the next 10 years. 

Sam: And what was the thing that led you on that cap gear trip? What’s grabbed you, what made you want to make that leap?

Lainey: I very involved in USY. And I did the Nativ Gap Year program, which is through the uscj, it’s essentially just kind of the next step of us. Why? Once you’ve done it all through high school, it just felt very natural that I definitely wanted to spend year in Israel. The majority of my friends were doing the teeth, so it felt natural to just choose that one instead of all the other varieties and options that there were. And I definitely felt very passionately about taking that year between high school and college. So yeah, I felt like it was kind of just what all my friends are doing.

Sam: So you lived in Israel for 10 years. You met your husband in Israel. 

Lainey: Yeah, I did, yes. You know what was it like after spending 10 years building a life in Israel, a full life in Israel, with friends and a husband and and people who became like, family. What was it like leaving that and coming back to Cincinnati as an adult? Because it’s a different experience from, like, going from zero to 18 here and then coming back at, I’m not sure how old you were back. I’m not gonna, I’m not I was like, not gonna throw it out.

Sam: I was 28. Yeah, 28 and you were about to have a baby.

Lainey: Or I was five months pregnant.

Sam: So what was that like, readjusting to being back in Cincinnati after being gone so long, coming back a completely different person than when you left.

Lainey: Totally and I remember, like, right when we were moving back, I kept, like, finding myself telling it year that I feel like I’m reverting back to my high school self. It was all of a sudden, like, I’d have a check, and I’d be like, Dad, how do I cash a check at a bank? And like, little things that I feel that like as a kid, it’s like you always have your parents doing for you. And then all of a sudden, I lived my entire adult life, I don’t want to say alone, but like, away from my family and very independent for 10 years, and then and felt very independent and able to take care of myself. And then all of a sudden, I find myself in Cincinnati, and then, like, everything’s taken care of for me. And it just like felt this, like crazy reversion back to my high school self. I think it really was only when we started, when we opened the business and the cafe, that it kind of felt that I was now kind of paving my own path here in Cincinnati.

Sam: Was it nice to sort of have that things being taken care of after having me so hyper independent, because Israel, you have to be totally hyper independent. Have to have that foot spot to go out and tell people that, like, No, I am first in line.

Lainey: We’re doing it this way. Yeah, it was, I think it felt very just like homey and reassuring coming back to that. And it did feel really good. I think then it kind of just went to the other extreme. And especially, like I said, I moved right back to Amberly, right back to the show I grew up in, right back to the neighborhood I grew up in. And it felt very like I’m not my own person that I had found myself to be in the last 10 years. And it felt like really a decade of my life was erased, yeah, and I just came back to OH. Oh yeah, lady, never left, like, you’re still the US by President and like, that was 15 years ago, but great. And so that’s why I really feel that kind of having that disconnect in the cafe, that’s like, really our own thing, and doesn’t have to do with my parents being Nina Eddie Paul, and being part of this organization, in that organization, and CAFA Alma has really become like Laney and yet year, so that definitely has felt like a great transition into Yes, being back in my hometown, yes, being around my family that I missed very much, and having that close connection, but also being able to kind of have our own path in life as well.

Sam: And you’re saying that you didn’t feel that independence that you had once felt until you started the cafe, which we are at right now. That is right. What was the thought process, what led you both to kind of push to create this cafe. What was, what was the impetus?

Lainey: It feels like this cafe has been so many years in the making. It’s kind of crazy how it’s all of a sudden three years into like the manifestation of Cafe Alma almost, and in March three years but it really started with I got very into, like, health and food and wellness. While I was in Israel, ended up taking courses in nutritional medicine, getting, like, a certification in nutritional medicine, really how to utilize food to cure chronic illness. It’s like, why do people have to live with the diabetes and live with high blood pressure when there are so many things that you can eat and just change in your lifestyle to prevent and cure these chronic illnesses that are so prevalent in our society now? So that was kind of my passion and background. And then get year with his parents having muffin boutique, that’s a cafe bakery in Israel. He was very passionate about, like, the whole business side and food service side and things like that. I also just very much love hospitality and and originally had actually thought about studying hospitality in college, I ended up doing a part time degree in restaurant management, but same thing, well, it makes it makes sense. Yeah, I was thinking more like hotel hospitality, though. But honestly, it’s, it’s all kind of the same. You’re walking, welcoming someone into your space and wanting them to feel at home and comfortable. So that kind of fuse together. And we were like, Why does eating out have to be something that’s so unhealthy? Like, why can’t we create something that like people feel that they can go nourish their bodies out at a restaurant and not feel like they’re getting all this excess sugar, salt, sodium, what carbs, whatever it is that they’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle. And we spoke a lot about actually transforming muffin boutique, kind of franchising muffin boutique, and making our own cafe with that COVID happened. Came back to the States. We were like, Okay, we’re here, and we need something to do, so we’re opening a restaurant, and here we are. Fast forward four years, and here we are.

Sam: And because you haven’t just been opening a restaurant, which is life changing, you also have had three kids between when you open the restaurant right, when you opened it, till now.

Lainey: Yes, we opened the restaurant when our oldest was nine months old, I was already pregnant with our second when we opened six months in, had our second, and now Yadin is almost nine months old. So I’ve heard it’s been busy, you know? It honestly, I think has created this family friendly vibe of the cafe, I feel like we’ve really found our niche in that, not only health and wellness, but people that really care about feeding their kids healthy and doing things with their kids and being able to go out to places that they feel comfortable bringing their kids. I see a lot in different Facebook forums and mom groups and things like that. And questions are like, Where can I go with my kid that I’m not going to disturb everyone? Yeah? And so really kind of finding that niche. I mean, I’m here nursing my kids like all day, and it’s just like a very comfortable feeling, I hope to and it’s one of those things where you are creating this welcome environment for everyone.

Sam: Because sometimes community is so welcoming that it has caused some controversy in the community. Interesting. Yeah, exactly. That’s right. I don’t know if you want to speak to it. We don’t have to speak about it, but it’s something worth noting.

Lainey: Yeah, we can if you want. Me to get into it. I don’t want to push you to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. So no, I’m happy to I think that, like you said, I really wanted this to be, and want this to be currently, a place that everyone, specifically within the Jewish community, but all across the spectrum, feel comfortable in at home. I think that the instance that you were referring to is right? When we opened, we hosted, like, a big breakfast with for the Jews of conservative views here in Cincinnati, which they’re a group that have conservative views and views that don’t necessarily align with my own, but I’m not going to agree with everyone, and we don’t all have to have the exact same views. And they wanted to have a breakfast here. And of course, I was going to allow them to have a breakfast here. And then a year later, we hosted a drag show, because a charity wanted to host a drag show here, and I wanted to be inclusive of all of our staff members and even Jewish staff members that were part of the LGBTQ community, and we have definitely been a haven for people within the LGBTQ community, also within the Jewish community, and so it felt very much aligned with our values to host an event like this, and specifically the Jews with conservative views got very upset about the fact that we were hosting this program, but at the end of the day, it kind of just turned into, I’m not going to agree with everything that you’re doing. You’re not going to agree with everything that I’m doing, as long as we can respect each other and respect to this is my place of business, and I’m going to host events at my place of business, then hopefully with that mutual respect, we can all have some understanding and get along exactly.

Sam: Because a welcoming environment is based on mutual respect.

Lainey: Totally, that’s the base. And I’m not going to have an event for you and not have an event for someone on the opposite side of the spectrum. Um, that wouldn’t make you maybe that would make you feel welcome, but not the vice not the other and vice versa. And so I do think that it was handled nicely, and everyone kind of came to a conclusion of, okay, this is my place of business. And this doesn’t necessarily mean that this is my view, and this is not my view. This is just an event we’re hosting, and that’s definitely been very interesting. Specifically, post October 7, trying to be this place that not only is very progressive and wanting to be extremely inclusive and welcoming, one of our core values I really say all the time, is inclusivity and making sure that everyone feels welcome. And it has definitely been, I don’t want to say, an isolating experience, but a very interesting experience that all of a sudden we here. We are a cafe that hosted a drag show, hosted a petition signing for abortion rights, hosted many other events that I would, quite honestly put on a more progressive spectrum, but I now put out a sign that says an ally against anti semitism and hostage posters on our community wall to raise awareness for innocent civilian hostages that were taken and all of a sudden, I’m Not a progressive welcoming place to the community anymore. That I didn’t necessarily feel that from the Jewish community, but I definitely felt that a little bit at the beginning from the broader community. And I think that that’s just also like a national problem that we have, that Jews in general feel pretty isolated from the progressive spectrum when you believe that Israel has a right to exist, but I think that’s an issue that all of us kind of are dealing with as progressive Jews. But, um, but yeah, I definitely still don’t think that our values have ever been compromised of at the end of the day, we’re here to be supportive and supporting of everyone. 

Sam: Because since, I mean, since October 7, you personally, not just Cafe all, but you personally have been very involved locally in advocating for the hostages and advocating for Israel’s right to exist. How has it felt to kind of go from someone who is just, I’m a cafe owner. I’m running this cafe is enough kind of being a voice in the Jewish community, advocating for the hostages and advocating for Israel, even within our own community. Has that been a tough ship, or did it feel like that was just sort of a natural thing, that kind of you fell back on your experiences in Israel and your experiences in the IDF.

Lainey: Right? I definitely think that it it was much easier for me to find that voice and and have that voice just by sharing my lived experiences and things that I know and personal connections that I have with certain things that are going on. One, and so that part definitely felt natural for me. I think what was a very interesting slope to navigate, or however you want to say it is, I really felt passionate about utilizing our business as a voice and as like an advocacy platform. But on the other hand, we’re a restaurant, and we’re not an advocacy platform, and at the end of the day, I am here to serve people healthy, nutritious food and make them feel good and make them feel welcome, and I’m not here to necessarily push an agenda. And so that was very interesting to navigate, because while I do feel very passionately about certain viewpoints, like we said, not everyone is gonna share the same viewpoints, and I’m not here to alienate anyone. And I think that riding that fine line of just doing things that feel like basic human dignity, like that felt good to do, but all of a sudden pushing any other kind of agendas, or I think this plan should happen, or that plan shouldn’t happen, or anything that got too political, just that was like a very interesting slope to kind of navigate.

Sam: Yeah, because I mean, part of what what you like to do is you like to you like to feed people, and you like to take care of people. Just want to hate to voice those two very positive qualities onto you. But it’s sort of one of the reasons that you run a restaurant, and it’s one of the reasons that people love coming to your house for Shabbat. You invite people over Shabbat, you invite them over for all the parties. So part of what you is, from my perspective, one of the things that you like to do is you like to bring people together even when they don’t agree. Yeah, sort of what we’ve been talking about for the last couple minutes.

Lainey: Yeah, and I and I think that that was something that I really tried to utilize the cafe as the space. I feel that like right after October 7, a few of the YP communities or organizations came together and wanted a host, just like, let’s all talk about our perspective circles, and we hosted those, and it felt really good. And so I do think that you’ve kind of nailed it. I really feel that my passion is, is hosting, welcoming, bringing people together that wouldn’t necessarily come together without a reason to like be hosted and like find that community within one another. 

Sam: So I don’t want this to come up. But what was harder being in the idea for running this restaurant?

Lainey: Oh, interesting. Um, I quite honestly sometimes say, running this restaurant, being in the IDF, it’s very structured. It’s very it’s very hard, but it’s very much like, you just have to be like, put your head down, hunker through and and do the thing. Yes, you’re in sometimes life threatening situations, which is extremely stressful, but the restaurant is just so crazy dynamic. Every day is completely different. You’re always thrown curveballs. You can’t just say, oh, today I’m going to serve 50 customers and have to make this much food. And it’s like you’re relying on people to just wake up every day and be like, You know what? I’m going to go to go to cafe Alma today? Yeah, and it’s kind of this, like, unreliable and always changing, like, denominators that are like, you can’t ever plan for anything. And I really think that’s why people say the restaurant industry is so hard, because you’re just, you’re always on high alert. I always feel on high alert, like, what am I going to expect today? And while it’s extremely fun and and I love, like you said, like welcoming everyone in the cafe and seeing who are the new faces, who are the old faces, how did you hear about us? Why did you decide to come to cafe, Alma, today? It’s, it’s still a little like, Rocky, yeah. And just what’s gonna happen today. I don’t know.

Sam: Every day is a new adventure. 100% when you are not working at the restaurant, but you’re every time I come, you’re here, but when you’re not at the restaurant, what? What are you working on? What are you What are you doing on your on your day off? What does a restaurant do on their day off?

Lainey: Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of time off. I could probably take more time off, but I’m always in my head of like, well, what if we get up walking to 15 people, and they really need me at the cafe, but I really like going around Cincinnati and exploring other coffee shops, brunch places, other restaurants like ours, a to support local Cincinnati businesses, and B, to kind of understand the landscape of what Cincinnati has to offer now we’re really always trying to offer something that Cincinnati isn’t currently offering. I think that our lived experience of living in Israel and being very passionate about cafe culture in Israel has helped a lot. In what we try and bring here to the cafe, which no one else is going to ever have our lived experience. And so I don’t necessarily worry about other people doing what we’re doing here at the cafe, because we’re really Cafe is like, is us? Yeah, like we put our everything and any little idea vision. Our chef special last week was a pasta dish that just happens to be my favorite pasta dish in Israel ever. I’ve been begging it here for the past three years to put on the menu. One day he wakes up, he’s like, You know what? Lainey, I finally tried the pasta Monem. I’m like, Oh my God, yes, it’s a water chest. It’s like a creamy water chest on a mushroom pasta. And it happens to be like the most popular Cafe pasta dish, I would say, in Israel. But it’s like little things like that that, like, we just wake up one morning and we’re like, you know what? I really like that aspect of that cafe in that city. Like, let’s bring it here. 

Sam: So even when you look at your menu, your menu is like a history of the two of you and your life experiences, and not only that, of your family’s history as well.

Lainey: Yeah, no. And exact like, we brought in miras power bowl, Mira while we were developing that dish. Mira was nine months old, like I was saying, and happened to love lentils and loved sweet potatoes. And it was a lentil sweet potato salad. And so it just felt very natural to be like, You know what? This is your power bowl, yeah. And so little things like that, or my mom begged us, begged us, begged us to have green shukran the menu. So I’m like, Okay, fine, Mom, you will be named the Green Goddess shukle be named after you. Yeah, so little things like that that I really feel give the menu some character. I do think that, like, as we grow and as we expand and kind of revamp menus here and there, I think that we’re gonna slowly cut that back, yeah, just not necessarily to take away from our story, but more so to kind of just like, make more of a streamlined menu, and we’ll tell the stories as they Go, like, we could never get rid of the goals bagel and schmegels bagel is because yet your dad’s nickname is Smigiel. Like, it’s just crazy all but little connections, or Jake and Taylor being obsessed with our hummus. They were always obsessed when I made hummus, so we made hummus and  called it Jake and Taylor hummus. Anywho, there is a lot of history and a lot of stories, but we’ll see. We’ll see where it takes us. 

Sam: So what is you said as as the cafe kind of expands and changes what’s what’s next?

Lainey: For what’s in the works? Um, we were going back and forth a lot between whether or not it made sense to take Cafe Alma as is, like we’re we’re a brunch place, we’re a lunch place, we’re a gathering place. And do we kind of replicate that into another location and do kind of what we’re already good at, and make another brunch place like a second location of Cafe Alma? Or do we hone in on what we have here, which is a building that we’ve put everything into, every little thought detail, whatever it is we have this place, we’re building out a private event room, which is really exciting. That’s our next little project, yeah. But we actually have recently decided that we will open for dinner.

Sam: Very exciting. Folk exclusive. 

Lainey: Yeah, do you do folk exclusive? I know we haven’t even made the official announcement yet. 

Sam: When is when do you think the announcement is going to be? I, depending on when this comes out, this might have already been announced. It might have already happened.

Lainey: Yes, so we’re planning on making, hopefully, hopefully, the official announcement next week, like on our social media and stuff like that, and then within the up the coming weeks, we plan on opening March 12. Is kind of the trajectory at the moment, but, but from the time that we make our social media post, I plan on kind of getting some like, foodie influencers the upcoming weeks, like, get in kind of hype up until the official opening, and then it’s actually also our third anniversary. And so, like, the cafe is anniversary, yes, which is March 13, but that happens to be a Thursday. So the following Sunday, we open March 13 to the public the heights of March. Yes, exactly. So that’s 16th that Sunday after we’re gonna do we’ve done like a birthday party for the cafe every year. So we’ll do like an afternoon one and kind of hype up the dinner service. So that’s the current trajectory. But I think when you were asking, like, what’s our next step, I think that it kind of just felt very natural to take everything we have here, and we’ve always been saying anyway, that our passion is like cafe culture in Israel. And cafe culture in Israel is Cafe all day, literally open from 7am to 2am if you wanted to go out at 10 o’clock at night, you can go get a coffee. Or go get a pasta, whatever you want. And so we’re not gonna We’re not there yet, but we’re gonna start till eight o’clock at night, and really just keep our menu. We’re gonna revamp our menu to add some of those extra pasta dishes and things like that. But it’s gonna be Cafe all day. We know we’re already good at the food that we’re currently making. Might as well just let it continue throughout the afternoon, evening, and I think that it’ll really catch on.

Sam: I can’t wait to come for dinner. Yay. Is the cafe haunted? No, I’m scared, all those weird Juju stories.

Lainey: It’s, it’s former location was, but I don’t think, I think I’ve earned enough sage here to get rid of all that. I think it isn’t anymore. 

Sam: So now we’re on to our questionnaire. Okay, you know the first question, do you have a favorite Jewish teaching quote? Teacher? Did you come back to again, again? 

Lainey: I don’t know if it’s necessarily like a Jewish teaching, or a Jewish quote, but I strongly root myself and specifically bringing it like full circle to the cafe in Jewish values. I think that, like probably my, my favorite, most substantial one that, like I continuously come back to, is Love your neighbor as yourself like I really, truly believe in an empathy and really understanding other people and really trying to to emulate that there are so many different perspectives. There are so many different understandings, and everyone is going to be feeling something about something at any given time. And so truly trying to take that into perspective and loving your neighbor as yourself/

Sam: And that’s part of what running feeding people is, right?

Lainey: Totally. And I want every single person to be here and to feel that they are loved and welcomed and not thought of differently for any reason, and just feel that they can be themselves here and do their thing and have delicious food, and that’s all we’re trying to do. So I would say that’s probably one of my favorite Jewish teachings and values, also like tikkun olam, really doing our part to repair the world, whether or not it’s sustainability, composting all the food waste, things like that, trying to live more sustainable lives, specifically here at the cafe, doing clothes and toy drives for those in Need, I think that kind of just always finding ourselves rooted in these Jewish values, inclusivity, always picking up, like making sure that every single aspect of society is taken care of, especially the weaker members of society, tzedakah, we do a lot of like charity and giving donations and being a part of school fundraisers, things like that. Like, I never say no to those things, and I really believe that it’s just at then, at the end of the day, like finding our roots in our Jewish values.

Sam: It’s all about just coming back to the beginning. Yeah. What is your favorite way to celebrate Shabbat. Shabbat celebration.

Lainey: Ideal Shabbat celebration. Well, you definitely alluded to this before, in a perfect world, in a perfect world, but we love hosting. I think that it just gives us so much joy to like Shabbat can be very isolating if you’re just alone, it’s great time to be with your family. But I think that the beauty of Shabbat is really lost when you’re not able to share it with with more than just your family. And I think that especially my kids, like, I feel like they get so much out of like, Oh, our friends coming over for Shabbat today. Like, do we get to play with people today and like, just knowing that that community is being built around this, like one day that we just have to like, be together as family, friends, community. So I think my ideal Shabbat would be having time with my kids, time with my family, hosting people for meals, just being able to like, sit and talk and and gather, because in a day to day, there’s no time to just sit and talk and chill, yeah, and not being on my phone or things like that, just giving you time to really, like be with people. It’s being in the moment. That’s what when, uh, one of the Jewish teachers, I had said that Shabbat is just mainlining the moment for 24 hours. I love that. 

Sam: Your favorite Jewish holiday?

Lainey: Oh, favorite Jewish holiday. I think I want to say Pesach. I think on the one hand, it’s probably like the hardest Jewish holiday and the one that. Like, gives me the most anxiety, keeping Pesach, cleaning my house for Pesach.

Sam: Really, not hosting, not hosting the Seder. That’s not stressful?

Lainey: But so kind of it’s stressful because you now have to, like, completely Kasher your house, use all new dishes, all new ingredients, all the things like that is very stressful. 

Sam: So far, it’s the most stressful. What things about it do you find not stressful?

Lainey: What why I think it’s my favorite holiday, and like, I think I’m only realizing this now that I have kids, is that, like Pesach, has one holiday that, like, you can really tailor it to kind of tell whatever story you feel is right for you in that moment, I think that there’s, like, so much of the Passover story from like leaving slavery becoming free, like that whole like teaching really, and how that can translate into, like, modern day issues. I feel like that’s really powerful. And with kids like, you can make it as kid friendly or not kid friendly as you want. And I think that while they’re obviously like, still like the halachic things that you need to get through in a Seder, I think that I’m like, slowly, really loving the fact that, like, I feel Pesach is like this one holiday that you can really like on this whole spectrum, utilize the teachings in modern day, make it really interactive and fun for kids. Something that I do feel, that I don’t know, is gonna turn into, hopefully, something fun as my kids get older. 

Sam: Is there something that you really like to take from yourself into modern day? Like one of those lessons that we’re kind of talking about before, is there something like, specifically, just one thing that you like to bring for Pesach into your life after Pesach?

Lainey: I think that the most powerful thing for me is that at the end of the day the Passover story is 1000s of years old. We sit down and we have a Seder and talk about something that happened 1000s of years ago. And like, I just think that, like that is mind blowing, and just having that second to, like, sit down and be like, Hey, kids, I don’t know if you understand this yet, but like, this is a story that happened so many years ago, and kind of just putting in a perspective, like, who we are in this world, like who the Jewish people are, kind of bringing that into, like, today’s perspective of like, we’ve been around for a long time, we’ve been through a lot, and like we’re still here, and we’re still kicking and, and kind of just like understanding that, like we were slaves in Egypt, and now we’re free and, and, really, how do we, like, manifest that freedom? Like, what do we do now that we’re free? Sorry, is it getting really loud? 

Sam: No, we’re good. We’re good. We’ll wrap up soon. It is getting it is getting loud because the lunch rush is beginning here at Cafe Alma. But go, keep going. There’s only two more questions. There’s only two more questions.

Lainey: Perfect. I think that’s really doesn’t like how do we now be the best people that we can possibly be, and really use this freedom that we have in this day and age and be the best that we can be.

Sam: What’s your favorite thing to do? What’s your ideal day off in Cincinnati? It can be with kids or without kids. Could just be. It can just be a Laney day, no no kids involved. But what’s your ideal Cincinnati outing?

Lainey: My parents, specifically my dad, are like, huge UC fans, and so a lot of family time does revolve around, like, going to UC games and things like that. So definitely, like, an ideal evening would be, like, go with my family, watch the basketball game. Like, that’s kind of like our family bonding time, especially with my dad, and, like, being really into that. I love the Cincinnati food scene, yeah. Like, we have a really fun, like, it’s fun that I funny that I’m in the industry, but I think in general, I don’t it’s funny, because I really don’t consider myself in consider myself an industry, like, we’re a breakfast place at the end of the day. Like, what are we doing, right? But we went out to this, like, insane restaurant. Well, they’ve been doing pavos, but wild weed, and they have this whole chef’s counter and, like, it was just, like, a really cool experience. I’ve been to Michelin restaurants before and done that, but like to have that right here in Cincinnati, not necessarily Michelin, but like, kind of the style of the chef’s counter and things like that. It was just really fun that, like, we’re able to do that here. We’re also super into the Aranoff with, like, have a really nice dinner, go to go to a show like, spend time, yeah, Aaron. I also took a day off the other day and went to perfect north, which is so fun that we had that like, 40 minutes away. But, yeah, hang out and eat. You know, am I Jewish or what?

Sam: Skyline Will you eat it? Have you? If so, What’s your order, and do you have a blessing for skyline?

Lainey: So interesting. I’ve actually been to Skyline once in my life, in my life, and always kept kosher. I’ve always kept kosher, and the only thing that I’ve had there is just like plain noodles with oyster crackers. And that was the one time I’ve ever been to Skyline gives the experience, but I have to say those oyster crackers are probably the best crackers so I’ve had in my life. 

Sam: And have you ever made it at home? 

Lainey: Skyline, no, I’m not a chili person. I’ve never really been a chili person. 

Sam: I hate to break it to you. It is not chili. It is not chili. Oh, it is like a mutated meat sauce, essentially, okay, it’s like a Greek bologna. 

Lainey: So worth it, not worth it? I still don’t eat meat out, so.

Sam: That’s fantastic. Okay, maybe make it at home if you’re afraid to eat it out. 

Lainey: Okay? 

Sam: I mean, or have a friend make it.

Lainey: Or try the new skyline chili graters flavor.

Sam: Or, you know, you could do it. You could make it here. 

Lainey: With our Beyond Meat? Honestly …

Sam: Yours would probably be awesome. You probably could.

Lainey: Interesting. 

Sam: You should.

Lainey: But we could.

Sam: But you do have a dinner menu coming up?

Lainey: I like that. Maybe we’ll do a collab with Skyline.

Sam: That would be, what could be better, a kosher restaurant collaboration. 

Lainey: I think it could work. Put me in touch with the owners of skyline.

Sam: I don’t know them, but hey, if any of you do, let us know, and we’ll get this started. 

Lainey: I love that. 

Sam: Well, thanks so much for taking the time today. Yeah, welcome me to cafe ALMA to hang out for a little bit. I want to mention right now maybe, should they follow Cafe Alma Instagram? Should they be looking out for any events in the future?

Lainey: Yes, definitely follow Cafe on Instagram. Um, we currently have comedy at the cafe in the evenings, which is also really fun. It’s traditionally the first Tuesday of every month. Once we open for dinner, it’ll probably move to Wednesday, but I will keep everyone posted. 

Sam: Is that a stand up comedy night here at the cafe?

Lainey: That is stand up comedy. It is a curated show. So performers are brought in. We might do an open mic night, who knows, but it is family friendly, clean comedy that’s pretty nice.

Sam: Well. Laney, thanks so much for taking the time today, and if you haven’t already go to cafe Alma and demand that they make Kosher Skyline.

Lainey: Done.