Helen Rosner returns to the TASTE Podcast, and we couldn’t be happier. Helen is a journalist, Twitter commentator, and staff writer covering food at the New Yorker. We wanted to have Helen into the studio to talk about some of her recent stories, including writing about roasting duck at home, the Chicago-style hot dog, and the busy fall cookbook season. We also discuss the epic Twitter thread, bursting with wisdom and common sense, that she wrote on her 40th birthday. But we mostly just wanted to catch up with one of our oldest friends from food media. More from Helen Rosner:Things I’ve Learned [Twitter]The Unbreakable Rules of the Chicago Hot Dog [The New Yorker]Sunday Reading: The World of Helen Rosner [The New Yorker]Food Is Stupid [Substack]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was with great anticipation, and some unknowns, that we spoke with George Saunders, the author of many works, including the Booker Prize–winning Lincoln in the Bardo. This is a really great conversation that switches gears often. We talk about pizza and Italian delis on the South Side of Chicago, as well as lunch in the Texas oil fields. We talk about success in the kitchen and how intuition crashes together with luck. We talk about food in the year 2300. We talk about the near future and mustard collections in a short story from his new work, Liberation Day. We talk about perfectionism, Santa Cruz coffee, and time traveling to find out how dinner has been prepared over thousands of years. The great George Saunders is on the show. Enjoy it.More from George Saunders: Ghoul [The New Yorker]Story Club with George Saunders [Substack]Eat, Memory: The Absolutely No-Anything Diet [New York Times Magazine]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes, Gideon Glick joined us in the studio for one of our favorite conversations in recent memory. Gideon is a prolific actor, having starred in memorable roles on Broadway (including in Little Shop of Horrors, in To Kill a Mockingbird, and in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening) and on television, including the mysterious magician Alfie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, currently filming its final season. Gideon is the coauthor of the excellent new cookbook Give My Swiss Chards to Broadway: The Broadway Lover's Cookbook, and we talk about the art of creating a great theater-themed recipe pun. We also talk about the food situation on set and during the marathon-like eight-shows-per-week Broadway schedule. Having Gideon join us in the studio was such a ray of sunshine, and we hope the theater lovers out there enjoy this conversation with a living legend.Also on the show we catch up with Brian Noyes, author of The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook and a certified pie master.More from Gideon Glick:The Queer, Half-Deaf Actor Redefining the Idea of a Leading Man [New York Times]‘Spring Awakening’ Cast Reunites at Tony Awards [TV Insider]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Genevieve Ko is a deputy editor of New York Times Cooking and the Food section, as well as a prolific cookbook author and collaborator. Here we have such a great time catching up about all things cookbooks, food media, and what it’s like to help run one of the best, and most popular, sections at the New York Times. We talk about Genevieve’s collaborations with chefs like George Mendes, Pichet Ong, and many others. We also discuss the problem with calling an ingredient “trendy” and share some thoughts on the recipe reply guy. I really loved catching up with Genevieve, and I hope you enjoy this talk.Read more from Genevieve Ko:Pulled Pork Is Easier Than You Think [New York Times]The Irresistible Thrill of Kung Pao [New York Times]The Endless Torment of the ‘Recipe?’ Guy [New York Times]Read: My Portugal: Recipes and StoriesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tokyo-based journalist Craig Mod is part journalist, part ethnographer, and part performance artist, and we’re really happy that he stopped by the studio for a lively chat. While he may not be a household name (yet), those in the know about such topics as digital book publishing, Japan, and multiday walks around Japan respect Craig’s incredible body of work. This is a wide and deep conversation about food trends in Japan, where you should visit in the country outside Tokyo, and Craig’s unique style of publishing—all based around his Special Projects membership program. It was such a pleasure to get to know Craig Mod, and we hope you enjoy this conversation. And subscribe to Craig’s latest walk around the Kii Peninsula, taking place October 4-17.More from Craig Mod:Electric Bike, Stupid Love of My Life [official]I Walked 600 Miles Across Japan for Pizza Toast [Eater]The Life of One Den [Ridgeline]A Long Walk in a Fading Corner of Japan [New York Times]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reem Assil’s cookbook, Arabiyya, shows that great hospitality is easy to pull off—as long as you have enough pomegranate molasses to go around. In this lively episode, we talk to the Bay Area chef and activist about her inspiring career, which has taken her between the kitchen and the community—and sometimes to the poker table. Yes, Reem is a hell of a poker player, and we dive into that. We also talk about her zaatar hookup and how she is crystallizing  a “Pali-Cali” (that would be Palestinian-Californian) style of cooking. Get to know Reem Assil a little better on this fun episode.More from Reem Assil:Sumac Spiced Chicken and Muhammara [Today Show]Reem’s California [official]Telling the Story of Arab Home Cooking, from Beirut to the East Bay [TASTE]Ramy [Hulu]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s not often that we get to speak with an NBA legend on the show, but Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is no average NBA legend. He’s a coffee geek, just like us, and we talk about his exciting new company, BIGFACE, and what inspires Jimmy’s love for all aspects of coffee, including the farming, cupping, and barista work. We also talk about food in the NBA and hear about the coffee orders of some of his Heat teammates. Also on the show, we catch up with Ashley Rodriguez. Ashley is the boss barista behind the popular podcast and newsletter Boss Barista, and we welcome her to the show to talk about all things coffee. We learn about Ashley’s long history working in coffee—as a writer and leader in a movement toward education and equality. We talk about the idea of “sweetness” in coffee, and together we go through her method in tasting and grading coffee. We also tackle the big topic of espresso. Is it a net positive for coffee? I loved catching up with Ashley and hope you learn a little bit more about one of the world’s most popular beverages.More from Jimmy Butler and Ashley Rodriguez:Jimmy Butler Wants to Sell You a $100 Cup of Coffee [Fast Company]Loyalty Isn't Real [Boss Barista]How to Actually Taste Coffee and Forget About Those “Notes of Blueberries” [TASTE]The Coffee Issue [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve long been fans of cookbook author and creative thinker Molly Baz, and many of you have, too. With a signature voice and absolutely wild recipe development skills (as well as years of professional cooking under her belt), Molly has won over millions of fans worldwide. Her book Cook This Book was a New York Times Best Seller, and we talk about some of the many things she’s been up to since its release a little over a year ago. We find out about her move from New York to the West Coast, as well as what it was like growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley. We really enjoyed catching up with Molly on this really great episode.Also on the show, contributing editor Aliza Abarbanel joins Matt to talk about what’s on their minds: Quarter Sheets, late-summer apples, samgyetang roasted chicken, A24 merch, the great B. O. Boys podcast. They also play a game involving Chex Original Party Mix and ASMR. More from Molly Baz:The Club by Molly Baz [official]Hit the Kitch [Youtube]Baz to Basics [TASTE]Into It With Sam Sanders [official]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stefano Secchi is a modern pasta master and the chef behind New York City’s hit restaurant Rezdôra. In this entertaining episode, we dive into the ins and outs of making hundreds (sometimes thousands) of fresh tortellini, ravioli, and gnocchi a day. We also talk about what it’s like running the restaurant attached to one of New York’s most difficult reservations, and how screening an episode of the TV show The Bear might hit a little too close to home for the chef. We loved getting to know Stefano, and we hope you do, too.More from Stefano Secchi:At Rezdôra, a Fresh Voice in Italian Cooking for New York [New York Times]Make Fresh Pasta in Literally 5 Minutes [Youtube]Where to Eat in Piedmont, According to a Chef Who Mastered His Craft There [Bon Appetit]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bettina Makalintal is a reporter at Eater who previously served as associate print editor at Bon Appétit and a staff writer at VICE’s Munchies. We’re big fans of Bettina’s erudite and internet-first journalism, and we wanted to have her on the show to discuss it all. We talk about her home cooking feeds on Instagram and TikTok, and we dive into how her natural curiosity drives her to find answers to the most esoteric food and cooking questions. Why are so many cakes shaped like domes? Why are reservations for hot tables so impossible to land these days? This is such a great conversation with one of food media’s strongest voices today.Also on the show Matt catches up with Contributing Editor Aliza Abarbanel to talk about two recent New York Times articles that got them thinking.More from Bettina Makalintal and NYT Food:The Unlimited Potential of Meat-Free Asian Cookbooks [Eater]The Return of the Hot Table [Eater]It’s Time to Take Suburban Food More Seriously [Vice]Does Anyone Drink Hot Coffee Anymore? [NYT]The Endless Torment of the ‘Recipe?’ Guy [NYT]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Bear. We all love The Bear, the hit restaurant drama from FX. And we love The Bear for good reason. The show was the talk of TV this summer, and it’s still gaining popularity. Courtney Storer is a Los Angeles–based chef and the show’s culinary producer. That means she’s behind the show’s hyperrealistic cooking scenes that are now legendary. On the show today, we find out how Courtney translates her decade of professional cooking experience for the actors, and how growing up in Chicago informed the way she thinks about food. Get to know Courtney Storer on this entertaining episode of the TASTE Podcast.More from Courtney Storer:The Bear Glossary [Uproxx]At Home with Courtney Storer [L&G]TASTE Podcast 123: Ayo Edebiri [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you found your way into the world of Suzy Karadsheh and the megapopular YouTube channel and website The Mediterranean Dish? We sure have, and it’s changing the way we cook. Born and raised in the cosmopolitan Mediterranean city of Port Said, Egypt, Suzy was just a boat ride away from countries like Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece, and Israel. In this episode, we hear Suzy’s unique story that had her leaving Egypt to attend college in the United States and eventually settle in Atlanta, Georgia. We talk about her new cookbook, The Mediterranean Dish, and what excites her in the kitchen today. Also, loud hummus!Also on the show, we catch up with Salvadoran poet and author Javier Zamora about his remarkable new book, Solito. This is such a great episode, and we hope you enjoy it.More from Suzy Karadsheh:Kofta-Seasoned Ground Beef Pita Sandwich [Mediterranean Dish]Mediterranean Cooking Expert Suzy Karadsheh’s Favorite Things [Barrons]Buy: The Mediterranean Dish and Solito.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alice Feiring is our guest today, and we have a great conversation that goes to some unfamiliar places. Alice is a journalist and celebrated wine writer, and she’s also the author of many great wine books, including 2019’s Natural Wine for the People, a prophetic look at the natural wine movement that has swept the drinking world away. She also wrote The Battle for Wine and Love: or How I Saved the World from Parkerization. That would be a reference to wine critic Robert Parker, and we talk about major shifts in the wine world over the past decade, as well as Alice’s interest in the wines of the country of Georgia. But we mostly talk about her incredible new memoir, To Fall in Love, Drink This. We read it in two sittings, and it has so many great stories to cover. What a fun episode.More from Alice Feiring:The Feiring Line [official]How a Wine Writer Spends Her Sundays [NYT]So Everything’s a Natural Wine Bar Now? [PUNCH]Buy: To Fall in Love, Drink This See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We welcome one of our favorite chefs in the game, JJ Johnson, back to the program. JJ is the James Beard Award–winning chef behind the fast-casual restaurant Field Trip and a coauthor of the cookbook Between Harlem and Heaven. In this episode, we catch up about JJ’s time attending the Culinary Institute of America and what it was like being one of the few Black chefs in the program. Then we fast-forward to the present day and talk about JJ’s big ambition with food television and his growing empire of rice-focused restaurants. We love chatting with JJ whenever we can, and we hope you enjoy this conversation.More from JJ Johnson:Chef JJ Johnson Is Making Rice Cool Again [Nations Restaurant News]JJ Johnson’s Field Trip To Malliouhana [Forbes]JJ Johnson Is a Young Chef on the Rise, to a Hip-Hop Beat [New York Times]TASTE Podcast 62: JJ Johnson [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How fun to have Paula Forbes on the show! Paula is a longtime journalist covering the cookbook publishing industry, among many other topics, and is the founder of Stained Page News. On this episode, we find out what draws Paula to review, critique, and obsess over cookbooks—as well as what she enjoys cooking at home. We also dive into the busy fall season and find out what Paula is most looking forward to. It’s a great time catching up with our old friend.Later on the episode, we speak with chef Tanya Holland, author of the new cookbook Tanya Holland’s California Soul. It’s a beautiful tribute to the Black food traditions of California. We find out some of Holland’s own personal history and what drove her to write about this incredible topic.More from Paula and Tanya:Fall Preview 2022: Chef & Restaurant Books [Stained Page News]Fall Preview 2022: Baking and Pastry [Stained Page News]Time to Put Equity on the Plate in Our Restaurant Industry [Newsweek]Buy: Tanya Holland’s California SoulSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you introduce Melissa Clark, a prolific cookbook author, longtime New York Times columnist, and one of the most respected food writers around? Well, first you must know that one of our absolute favorite cookbooks of all time is her 2017 tome Dinner: Changing the Game. In this episode, we talk about what inspires her weekly recipe column in the paper of record and how her latest book, Dinner in One, may be one of her most personal books yet. We also go back to her days collaborating with great chefs including Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, and Claudia Fleming. We hope you enjoy getting to know Melissa Clark a little better. Also on the show Matt catches up with Contributing Editor Aliza Abarbanel to talk all about this McTorta moment we are all living in, as well as ranking the top fast food menu items of the land.More from Melissa Clark:Take Your Cakes to the Upside Down [New York Times]   Elbowing for Scallops With Melissa Clark [TASTE]How to Roast the Perfect Chicken [Youtube]The McTorta Moment [TASTE]Buy: Dinner in OneSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a cookbook editor actually do day-to-day in the year 2022? It turns out, more than you could ever imagine. On this episode of the show, we catch up with our old friend Raquel Pelzel. She’s the editorial director at Clarkson Potter and has authored more than a dozen cookbooks of her own. It’s clear that Raquel has tremendous respect for her authors, including Eric Kim, Rick Martinez, and Claire Saffitz, and we find out how she allows her authors’ voice to shine through. We also talk about the way she edits a recipe, which goes back to her time working at the demanding Cooks Illustrated. Was her mom “the worst cook in the world”? Yes, she was, and we find out about Raquel’s interesting upbringing living on the North Side of Chicago. This is such a great conversation about making and loving cookbooks!More from Raquel Pelzel:High Cuisine: How I Wrote a Serious Pot Cookbook [TASTE]Thank You, WhatsApp. Or, How to Crowd-Source an Israeli Family Recipe. [TASTE]What Cookbook Author and Publishing Maven Raquel Pelzel Cooks for Her Family in a Week [Epicurious]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Mission Chinese opened in New York in a crowded, slightly dank subterranean space on Orchard Street a decade ago, the food world collectively paused to praise the inventive and fully out-there cooking of a young chef named Danny Bowien. On this episode we catch up with Danny to hear about the up-and-down decade that followed and what it was like to recently close his last Mission location in NYC. We also talk about the 2020 Grub Street article that painted a portrait of abuse in the kitchens run under his watch. And we dive into his great new cookbook, Mission Vegan. This episode is a long time coming, and we hope you enjoy it.More from Danny Bowien:Goodbye to Mission Chinese Food and Its Complicated NYC Legacy [Bon Appetit]The Nightmare Inside Mission Chinese Food [Grub Street] Danny Bowien on the Hard-Partying Chef Life—Now Fueled by SoulCycle and Spirulina [Vogue]Twice-Cooked Bacon is the Best Kind of Bacon [Saveur]Buy: Mission VeganSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Journalist and cookbook author Eric Kim is back on the show, and we had such a great time catching up with him. So much has happened since we had him in last fall, and we talk about so many things, including his recent work at the New York Times and the release and warm reception of his NYT bestseller, the cookbook Korean American. We also talk about the Chicago hot dog, one of our favorite foods, and his and Matt’s complicated feelings behind the assertion that “Korean food is having a moment.” Eric has an open invitation to be on the show, and we’re so glad he accepted again.Also on the show, the return of 3 things! Contributing editor Aliza Abarbanel joins Matt to talk about what’s on their minds: donut peaches, eating out in Portland, Oregon, the forthcoming cookbook Rambutan, the best peanut butter, and Spago Rock.      More from Eric Kim:Welcome to Chicago, Hot Dog Town, U.S.A. [New York Times]A Chocolate Cake for the Queen of ASMR Eating [New York Times Magazine]What’s in Your Second Fridge? [TASTE]Cake Zine [Official website]The Melt [Substack]Buy: Korean American See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s really fun having Alex Delany on the show and getting to know the food and drink (and menswear and rare book) writer and collector a little bit better. You may know Alex from his time working at Bon Appétit as a writer covering home cooking, wine, cocktails, and naturally processed coffee (respect), as well as a series of memorable YouTube videos. But since leaving BA in early 2021, Alex has been busy working as a consultant, podcaster, wine educator, and most recently as the author of a really cool city guide called “Everything Good.” As the name suggests, the free Google Doc notes the good things happening in neighborhoods around New York City. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about his time working at Details (RIP) and later BA, where he rose to become drinks editor and write exhaustive guides about amaro, coffee subscriptions, and regional pizza styles. We also go over some of Alex’s favorite places on his beloved Lower East Side (aka Dimes Square, aka one of NYC’s most vibrant and controversial neighborhoods). It’s really fun catching up with Alex.More from Alex Delany:Everything Good on the Lower East Side [Google Doc]Everything Good in Soho and Noho [Google Doc]I Never Thought I Would Say This: I’m Into This Non-Alcoholic Beer [BA]Sound Radio [Spotify]What Is Natural Process Coffee? [Sprudge]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A writer, editor, illustrator, cookbook author, children’s book author, and really fun guy to get to know, Joshua David Stein really has all the goods. In this truly epic episode we cover Joshua’s long and interesting career, from the early days of Gawker and the New York Observer to writing cookbooks with Kwame Onwuachi, Wilson Tang, and Joe Campanale. We talk about why writing about restaurants is such a compelling act of cultural anthropology, and why writing cookbooks was the natural progression for Joshua. And how the years-long process of writing a cookbook is the type of project, a huge one at that, that is both satisfying and an exercise of letting go. We also talk about the hustle required to hack it in food writing today. This is an amazing talk with one of our favorites.More from Joshua David Stein:When Jacques Pépin Made All the World an Omelet [TASTE]Chef Michael White's New York Comeback [Esquire] This Is the Story of the Rainbow Room [PUNCH]Buy: Vino: The Essential Guide to Real Italian WineSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We don’t talk much about the wine world on the show, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to have the legendary wine critic and big-ideas person Jancis Robinson in the studio. Wine talk can be a real snooze, but this wide-ranging chat is hardly the audio version of swirling and spitting. We talk about Jancis’s pioneering wine show on the BBC and how she translated wine to a wide audience. We also discuss what it’s like to select wines for Her Royal Highness and how the wines are highly scrutinized by the press and “royal watchers” (and we debate the accuracy of The Crown). We talk about natural wine and how the conventional wine world has been challenged by a seismic change in the industry. We learned a great deal from this conversation!More from Jancis Robinson:The 24 Hour Wine Expert [Talks at Google] What Wine Twitter Taught Me About Wine [PUNCH]What Does It Take to Be a Great Wine Reference Book Today? [PUNCH]Visit Jancis online at: jancisrobinson.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What a thrill to have Stephen Satterfield on the show. Stephen has many layers in his long career in journalism, wine, and television—and we discuss them all. He is the founder of Whetstone, a media company founded in 2017 that produces journals, podcasts, and an anchor magazine that is one of our favorites on the rack. He’s also the host of the Netflix series High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, winner of a Peabody Award for documentary. This conversation is wide-ranging and dips into Stephen’s sommelier past, as well as digging into his approach for producing the magazine Whetstone. It’s a really great conversation.More from Stephen Satterfield:  F&W Game Changers: Stephen Satterfield [Food & Wine] The Lasting Impact of ‘High on the Hog’ [Eater]The Profound Significance of ‘High on the Hog’ [New York Times]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emily Schildt wants food shopping to be a more fun and mind-expanding experience, and with her company, Pop Up Grocer, she’s getting customers closer to the destination. As the name suggests, PUG travels the country and sets up shop for 30-day runs in cities like Miami, New York, and Washington, DC. Each pop-up sells hundreds of the most interesting and emerging food brands around (some of which we’ve covered on the TASTE Podcast), all heavily curated and many run by women and BIPOC founders. We speak with Emily about the company’s big ideas, even bigger plans, and some of the products she is most excited about selling. What a great conversation with Emily!More from Emily Schildt:Emily Schildt on Rethinking the Grocery Experience [Modern Retail]The Utopian Promises and Novelty Cheese of a Discount Grocery Store [TASTE]How Pop Up Grocer Curates its Aisles with Emerging Food Brands [Forbes]Pop Up Grocer [official website]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yay, Adam Roberts is here for a very special episode. You may know Adam from his pioneering food blog Amateur Gourmet, or from his stint doing videos for the Food Network, which he talks about candidly in this episode (spoiler: it didn’t go so well). What has gone well is Adam’s new newsletter, naturally called the Amateur Gourmet, which is so worth checking out. We touch on many topics, including gossip about his early blogging days, some Food Network memories, his time working in television, his love of British cookbooks, the Broadway cookbook he wrote with Gideon Glick, what he’s cooking, and where to eat in his hometown of Los Angeles. It’s action-packed with Adam Roberts!More from Adam Roberts:Blow-Your-Mind Baked Beans [Amateur Gourmet]Homemade Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting [Youtube]The Amateur Gourmet Podcast Pre-order: Give My Swiss Chards to BroadwaySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the show, we welcome Linda Holmes. Linda is a pop culture correspondent for NPR and the host of the popular Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. She’s also a novelist, and we talk about her recent book release, Flying Solo. We also discuss some cool topics in the crossover of food and pop culture, including meal kits, olestra, The Flavor Bible, macaron rules that need to be broken, food on TikTok (specifically cinnamon rolls covered in apple pie filling), the New York City diner breakfast that needs no notes, the supremacy of Is It Cake?, and wrestling with the legacy of Anthony Bourdain.More from Linda Holmes:Love in the Time of Hollering: The Age of Enthusiasm [NPR]After Beanie Feldstein's departure, can Lea Michele really save 'Funny Girl'? [NPR]Buy: Flying SoloSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She calls herself the Bob Ross of salads, and for very good reason. Jess Damuck is the salad freak behind the new cookbook Salad Freak and a really fun guest on our show today. Of course, we get into the Xs and Os of salad making, but we also find out about her journey—which included working closely with Martha Stewart for over a decade. We learn about the best way to store salad greens, the best way to use a salad spinner, serving salad hot, and the single mistake that most salad preppers are making. It’s a revealing conversation.More from Jess Damuck:Working for Martha Stewart Turned This Cookbook Author Into a ‘Salad Freak’ [Time]A Self-Proclaimed Salad Freak’s Kitchen Leads Right to the Garden [Domino]Essential Tools for a Better Salad [Food Network]Buy: Salad FreakSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we're speaking with actor and comic Ayo Edebiri. Have you checked out The Bear, a new show on FX that is one of the finest representations of the white-knuckle restaurant world in popular culture since, well, Kitchen Confidential was first published? Ayo joins us to talk about her important role on the show and how she prepared to play the role of Sydney Adamu. We also find out about Ayo’s real-life work in restaurants, and we get into some behind-the-scenes talk about filming on location in Chicago. Last, we learn about shooting what many (us, at least) consider the greatest episode of television to air this year. This is such a great conversation!  More from Ayo Edebiri: Meet Ayo Edebiri, the Breakout Star of FX’s Intense New Show The Bear [Glamour] The Bear Renewed for Season 2 at FX [Variety]In The Bear on Hulu, a Kitchen Staff Is Nearly Eaten Alive [New York Times]Watch: The BearSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bartees Strange is one of the most promising and confident voices in music today, and we wanted to have him on the show to talk about his new album, Farm to Table. The title suggests an interest in food and cooking, and we dive into some of the dishes he enjoyed growing up around the world in Oklahoma, Europe, and most recently living in Washington DC. He makes a strong case for Ben’s Chili Bowl and for traveling to Northern Virginia for Chinese seafood. But we also find out about what his food life is like on the road. We loved getting to know Bartees Strange during this lively conversation.Also on the show Matt is joined by producer Pat Stango to talk about The Bear, a new restaurant world drama on FX/Hulu that has exploded on the scene in recent weeks. We love it. How does the show get restaurant life oh so right? Matt and Pat chop it up.  More from Bartees Strange:Bartees Strange Ponders Success in Dire Times [New York Times]Bartees Strange Explores His Journey [NPR]Kelly Rowland [Youtube]Buy or stream: Farm to TableSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes, yes, yes! Dana Brown is here for an entertaining and mildly gossipy episode. We’ve long followed Dana’s career at Vanity Fair, where he served many roles during his more than 20 years at the magazine. Dana has published a page-turning memoir, Dilettante, and we dive into his story, which starts with him working at the legendary “Conde Nast cafeteria” Forty Four, where he was scooped up by a young magazine editor, Graydon Carter, to serve as his assistant in 1992. Dana talks about so many things: editing A. A. Gill, food at the legendary VF Oscar party, NYC sushi in the ’90s, trashing the restaurant 66, the “Graydon Carter lunch order,” the power of a Waverly Inn reservation, Keith McNally vs. the world (including Graydon Carter). We also hear about Dana’s recent meal at the Noma pop-up in Brooklyn. What a fun conversation!    More from Dana Brown: Bonfire of the Vanity Fair [Book & Film Globe]Graydon Carter Hosts a Vanity Fair Ancien Régime Reunion [NY Mag]Tour De Gall [Vanity Fair]Divine Intervention [Air Mail]Buy: Dilettante: True Tales of Excess, Triumph, and Disaster See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer, podcaster, and cookbook collaborator Andrew Friedman has a unique vantage in talking about chefs and food writing as a profession. He’s worked with some of the more interesting voices in the restaurant world (particularly going back a decade and longer), including Daniel Boulud, Alfred Portale, Michelle Bernstein, Bill Telepan, and David Waltuck. In this episode, we talk to Andrew about collaborating vs. full authorship, and about his most recent work, Chefs, Drugs and Rock & Roll, a sweeping account of the chef world in 1970s and 1980s America. Andrew also talks about the chef “takedown” piece—a particular style of article that litigates a wide variety of behaviors in and out of the kitchen. Are they all merited? We have an open conversation about the responsibility of writers, chefs, and the many judgment calls being made by journalists and editors covering the industry. Also on the show, Clarkson Potter’s Bianca Cruz returns to talk about her journey in culinary school. We hear about her current section, pastry, and how one might study for an exam. We also discuss the recent book she worked on, As Cooked on TikTok. More from Andrew Friedman:Who Let the Cool Chefs Write Cookbooks? [TASTE]The Secret Lives of Private Chefs [TASTE]Listen to: Andrew Talks to ChefsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever wondered how chefs rise from relative obscurity to the pages of your favorite glossy magazine or online publication? Longtime food writer Kate Krader has the answer. Kate worked at Food & Wine for over two decades and served as the magazine’s restaurant editor for years, overseeing the Best New Chefs program that spotted talent from New York City to Honolulu. We talk about Kate’s career, from studying at La Varenne in Paris to her current position as food editor at Bloomberg. Kate will soon be moving from New York to London, and we talk about some hot food topics, including Tesla moving into the restaurant business and why nobody can land a restaurant reservation these days. We also talk rivalries: Eater vs. Grub Street. Bon Appétit vs. Gourmet vs. Food & Wine. And with Kate’s pending move to the UK, naturally, Blur and XTC were discussed. It’s a great conversation.More from Kate Krader:The Best Restaurant in the UK Isn’t in London. It’s in Wales. [Bloomberg]Snagging a Table at a Hot Restaurant Will Be Even Tougher This Summer [Bloomberg]Talking Italian Restaurants [Charlie Rose]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is Nicole Enayati Day on the TASTE Podcast, and we’re so happy to welcome one of our favorite voices in food to the program. Nicole is one half of the popular food podcast A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich, and she can be found all over the Mythical Kitchen YouTube page serving as senior culinary producer. We debate and discuss some of food’s biggest controversies, and we dig into her background as a young eater growing up in Los Angeles. We also talk about “geriatric cereals” and the book she wrote, Bake Up!, a baking cookbook geared toward teens and tweens. Nicole tells us the single recipe that can unlock the joy of baking for any young cook. It’s a wild ride with Nicole Enayati, and we’re really happy to welcome her to the show.Also we are joined by chef Alon Shaya and 91-year-old Holocaust survivor Steven Fenves. The pair struck up a friendship over an effort to preserve and digitize the recipes of Steven’s youth before his family was taken to Auschwitz. The journey of this family cookbook is absolutely remarkable. More from Nicole Enayati: Is Cold Brew a Scam? [A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich]Cooking With The Internet's Worst Food Crimes [YouTube]TASTE Podcast 08: Alon Shaya [TASTE]United States Holocaust Memorial Museum [official website]Buy: Bake Up: Kids Cookbook: Go from Beginner to Pro with Recipes and Essential TechniquesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we have a really fun conversation with Jonathan Kung, a Detroit-based chef and TikTok creator we’ve fallen hard for over the past couple years. We wanted to reach out to Jonathan to talk a little bit about TikTok, but also to get to know a bit about his history with Chinese home cooking and with working and living in one of America’s great food cities: Detroit. We talk about the bounty of Michigan agriculture, which can be a chef’s secret weapon. We also discuss the cookbook he’s writing, the ownership of kimchi, and how Jonathan wrote a recipe that he calls a “solidarity dish,” which merges kimchi jjigae and mapo tofu. What? It’s such a great story. Please get to know this rising star in food!More from Jonathan Kung:I Have COVID So I Made Garlic Soup [YouTube]Jonathan Kung’s Guide to Making Dumplings Blow Up on TikTok [Interview]Kung Food Market Studio [official]@chefJonKung [TikTok]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the show, we have the pleasure of getting to know cookbook author and food TV icon Alton Brown. Brown is behind popular and pioneering food television shows like Good Eats and Iron Chef America, which has returned with a new season on Netflix. We talk about how Alton has evolved over the years as a writer and food educator, and what inspired his unique play-by-play announcer style. We also discuss his background in theater and how Pee-Wee’s Playhouse has inspired both his live shows and TV performances. What a great episode!More from Alton Brown:20 Second Scrambled Eggs [Alton Brown online]We Test an Air Fryer [Youtube]PK Grills [official site]Buy: Good Eats: The Final YearsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is Jesse Sparks day on the TASTE Podcast. Do you know Jesse Sparks? Do you love Jesse Sparks? We certainly do. Jesse is a senior editor at Eater and the host of a really terrific new podcast, The One Recipe, a sister to the long-running Splendid Table. We talk about Jesse’s life growing up in Houston and how his college days in Chicago molded him as both a writer and an eater. We also discuss his weekend baking projects and what excites him about food and restaurants today. This is such a cool conversation!More from Jesse Sparks:Tammie Teclemariam’s Minty Pork Meatballs [The One Recipe]For These LGBTQ+ Creatives, Home Is a Source of Pride and Celebration [BHG]Real Talk: Do You Need A Stand Mixer? [Bon Appetit]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we have a really cool conversation with Andrea Nguyen, the author of many popular cookbooks, including Vietnamese Food Any Day, The Pho Cookbook, The Banh Mi Handbook, Asian Dumplings, and Asian Tofu. Andrea is a writer we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the years, and this conversation dives into her incredible history as a cookbook author and food educator. We talk about the story behind her first book, Into the Vietnamese Kitchen, with then indie publisher Ten Speed Press, and her interaction with the enigmatic Ten Speed founder Phil Wood. We also hear Andrea’s candid thoughts on the loneliness of cookbook writing, and how her thirst for community inspired her excellent new podcast, Everything Cookbooks. It’s a really amazing chat.Also on the show, we catch up with Bianca Cruz. Bianca is an editorial assistant at Clarkson Potter and also currently attending culinary school. We wanted to have her on to talk about the ins and outs of her culinary education and what it’s like to take an actual culinary school exam. More from Andrea Nguyen:One Bottle of Fish Sauce Is Not Enough [TASTE]Killer Tofu [Chef Steps]Photographing Your Cookbook [Everything Cookbooks]Buy Andrea’s books!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re excited to welcome Dawn Davis to the show. Dawn is the editor in chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious and a really fun person to get to know a little better. Before joining Condé Nast in August 2020, she was a longtime book editor, most recently at Simon & Schuster. So what was it like to move from the relatively glacial world of books to always-on digital and print media? It’s been a transition, no doubt. We find out how Dawn edits a modern food publication and what the modern home cook actually looks like (spoiler: there are many modern home cooks). We also find out about Dawn’s childhood in Los Angeles and what food was like growing up in one of the world’s most interesting food cities. Finally, what is Dawn’s go-to busy mom dinner? Find out.Also on today’s show, we have a great conversation with Hanna Raskin, the well-regarded journalist behind The Food Section, a Substack covering the food and culture of the American South. We talk about the ups and downs of independent publishing, and how one food reporter is driven by scoops and sunshine laws over recipe aggregation.         More from Dawn Davis and The Food Section:The Five Courses of Giancarlo Esposito’s Fantasy Garden Soirée [BA]A Restaurant Called JewFro [BA]A community over The Barrel [The Food Section]Taking down a mammy complex [The Food Section]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re so excited to be speaking with the Michigan chef Ji Hye Kim. We’ve followed Ji Hye’s incredible career in Ann Arbor, where she runs the wonderful Korean restaurant Miss Kim. Ji Hye is a Food & Wine Best New Chef and has been nominated for multiple James Beard Foundation Awards. But what makes Matt most excited about this conversation on Korean food is the chef’s deep knowledge of Korean food’s modern (and less modern) history. We talk about some of our mutual favorite Korean dishes—gamjatang certainly comes up—and we discuss how Ji Hye worked her way through the Zingerman’s training program and eventually opened her own place.Also on the show, we catch up with Jane Kelly and Jenny Hartin, two dedicated cookbook fans behind the active online community Eat Your Books. We talk about some of their favorite books from the busy spring season and the types of books they wish they saw more of in cookbook publishing.More from Ji Hye Kim:5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became a Restauranteur [Medium]Ann Arbor Chef Named One of America’s Best [Detroit Free Press]Best New Chef 2021 [Food and Wine]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the show, we welcome Molly Stevens into the studio. Molly is the cookbook author behind the “All About” trilogy—that would be All About Braising, All About Roasting, and All About Dinner. Molly is also a food educator and one of the cohosts of an amazing podcast, Everything Cookbooks, that covers the ins and outs of writing cookbooks—the highs, the lows, and the many edits. Stevens has great insight into the cookbook industry, and we were thrilled to share the mic with her.Also on today’s show, we have a talk with Lorenzo Carcaterra, the writer behind the book Sleepers, which was adapted into a 1996 film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. We talk about what food was like when he was growing up in Hell’s Kitchen and about his latest book, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride.More from Molly Stevens:Grown-Up Chicken Nuggets with Herb and Radish Salad [Food and Wine]Molly Stevens Makes Roasted Carrots [YouTube]Buy: All About Braising, All About Roasting, All About Dinner See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we have some serious pizza talk—Chicago pizza talk, specifically—with a legitimate Chicago pizza expert. His name is Steve Dolinsky, and in Chicagoland, he’s known simply as the “Food Guy” (formerly the “Hungry Hound”). Steve is an absolute legend in the food writing game, and Matt talked to him about his two books on Chicago pizza, as well as diving into some other cool spots in the Windy City, one of America’s greatest food cities. We also smash a slight beef between Dolinsky and TASTE’s Anna Hezel while clearing up some misinformation about the Chicago pie (or is it a “casserole”?) that might be on your mind. More from Steve Dolinsky:A Chicago Tradition for 75 Years and Counting [NBC 5]Tavern-style Chicago Pizzas in the Pacific Northwest [Pizza City Podcast]Buy: The Ultimate Chicago Pizza GuideSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the show, Matt is speaking with Rick Martínez, a chef, Youtube food creator, and author of the wonderful New York Times Bestselling book Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture From My Kitchen in Mexico. We’ve long followed Rick’s career at Bon Appétit and Food52, but we got to know him a lot better during this candid conversation. We talked about what food was like growing up in Austin, Texas, and how he switched from working a high-flying career in advertising (and living a very Mad Men–style existence, by Rick’s account) to dropping everything to work in restaurant kitchens, including at ABC Kitchen. That’s when things got interesting.Rick began working in food editorial at the Food Network and later Bon Appétit, where he worked in and out of the test kitchen—and on and off camera. We also talk about his book, which makes a great cookbook and an even better travel book. Plus, we dig into some of the regional dishes he channeled in his fresh and flavorful recipe writing. More from Rick Martínez:Regional Mexican Cooking, the Rick Martínez Way [TASTE]Author Rick Martinez on Traveling 20,000 Miles Through Mexico [CN Traveler]Rick Martínez Is on a Mission to Smash Misconceptions About Mexican Cuisine [Today]Diana Kennedy Says Goodbye to her Cookbooks [TASTE]Buy: Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture From My Kitchen in MexicoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Yellow Rose opened shop in the East Village in 2020, the fresh flour tortillas and silky bean-and-cheese filling took the city by storm—never mind the early-pandemic limitations that left restaurateurs juggling between takeout and outdoor dining. In this episode of the TASTE Podcast, we talk to co-owner and chef Dave Rizo about some of these challenges, and why he and co-owner Krystiana Rizo decided to bring their style of Texan cooking to the East Village.Also on this episode, hosts Anna Hezel and Matt Rodbard make a special announcement, and producer Pat Stango joins us for a brief departure from regular programming.More from the living legend Anna Hezel:The New Rules of Nonstick [TASTE]The Great Camp Cooking Boom [TASTE]Wait, Canned Salmon Is Good? [TASTE]Why Does This One Couch From West Elm Suck So Much? [The Awl] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve long admired the work of chef and author Einat Admony, who is behind one of America’s best falafels (New York’s Taïm) and the cookbooks Balaboosta and Shuk. In this lively conversation, we talk about Einat’s life growing up in Israel and the fine-dining career that led her to working at some heavy institutions in New York City. We also discuss her frequent television appearances and why she is the ultimate balaboosta, which is the Yiddish word that translates to “perfect housewife.” What a great talk.More from Einat Admony and Israeli food on TASTE:Chef Einat Admony Cooks From Home – and the Heart – in Kerhonkson [HV Mag]A Pita Is Born in New Jersey [TASTE]The Israel Issue [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To the Last Bite is home cook and Tasty video star Alexis deBoschnek’s homage to her home region of New York, the Catskills! In this really fun episode, we talk about Alexis’s life growing up in a rural mountain town and how that upbringing informed the way she cooks. We also discuss her career at Tasty, where she worked on some of the internet’s most popular cooking videos of all time, including the legendary “Can This Chef Cook a 3-Course Meal With Power Tools?” video stunt. Spoiler: The chef (Alexis) most definitely can.Later in the episode, hosts Anna Hezel and Matt Rodbard talk about the weird and wonderful interactions of the chocolate chip cookie and why theses recipes and technique make for such great content.Buy: To the Last Bite     Additional Reading:Can This Chef Make a 3-Course Meal in a Coffee Maker? [Youtube]My Favorite Brussels Sprouts Recipe [Youtube]Welcome to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Wars [TASTE]Looking for Cookies in All the Wrong Places [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Peter Reinhart, life is just one big pizza quest—a journey of flavors and textures that he encapsulates in his latest cookbook, Pizza Quest. The book offers at-home riffs on some of the most inventive, original pizzas from around the country, remixing classic regional styles with lowcountry seafood boils, bagel toppings, and (why not) potato chips. We talked about the convivial, collaborative nature of the pizza community and the pitfalls of trying to pick a favorite pie.Also on the show, hosts Anna Hezel and Matt Rodbard talk about some of the ingredients, coffee news, and vintage reality TV that’s been fueling their cooking lately.Buy: Pizza Quest and Perfect Pan PizzaAdditional Reading:The Future of Pizza Is Crunchy and Square [TASTE]The Flour Tortilla Has Ascended [TASTE]Morgan Eckroth’s 2022 US Barista Championship Winning Routine [YouTube]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andy Baraghani started his professional cooking career as a teenager at the legendary Berkeley, California, restaurant Chez Panisse, and he was truly just getting started. After working as a line cook at Estela in New York City, he was hired as the food editor at Tasting Table and eventually found his way to the Bon Appétit test kitchen, where he worked for over six years and won the hearts of many with his exceptional cooking instruction and kind heart. Andy’s rich story and sharp recipe writing chops come together so beautifully in his new book, The Cook You Want to Be. In this episode, we talk about the book and some of the recipes inspired by his Iranian heritage, as well as learning some of Andy’s golden cooking rules. We also find out about the three-course tasting menu that he cooked to land his gig at BA so many years ago. What a great conversation!Buy: The Cook You Want to Be Additional Reading:Andy Baraghani’s Essential Kitchen Tools [Bon Appetit]How Andy Baraghani Became the Internet Boyfriend of Our Dreams [Out]Andybaraghani.substack.com [Substack]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve been talking a lot about food TikTok in the office, and we’ve written about TikTok, too, but we haven’t had a bona fide TikTok star on the show until now. Eitan Bernath has over two million followers on the platform, and we talk about what makes a great TikTok video, what he ate growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and how his first cookbook, Eitan Eats the World, expresses his love of many foods, including a deep interest in Indian cuisine. It’s a really great conversation.Buy: Eitan Eats the World  More from Eitan Bernath:  @eitan [TikTok] $500 Wagyu Steak: Amateur vs. Chef [YouTube]Spaghetti & Meatballs | Brother vs. Chef: Cooking Challenge [YouTube]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.