In this episode of Jenn Seasly’s Foodlore, Dr. Jenn Seasly sits down with Chef Michael Elefante — third-generation chef and owner of Mama Louisa’s, the Tucson original his family has run for 70 years — to talk about the two dishes that hold his heart: Joe’s Special, the plate of fresh linguini the family name is built on, and brisket, the fire he tends on his own time.

Then Dr. Jenn asks which chef he’d cook with, past or present — and Michael answers with someone who isn’t famous at all.

It’s a warm, smoky, generous episode about family legacy, open fire, and the people we’re still cooking for.

Michael is a co-founder of Tucson Knife Fight, the city’s underground chef-versus-chef competition, which raises money for people in the local food community.

Follow Michael Elefante & Mama Louisa’s: Instagram • Facebook • mamalouisas.com