Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio - podcast cover

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

Milk Street Radiowww.177milkstreet.com

Every week, Milk Street Radio travels the world to find the most fascinating stories about food—a detective who tracks down food thieves and a look inside the most famous (and often scandalous) restaurant kitchens—and interviews with culinary icons such as José Andrés, Padma Lakshmi, Jacques Pépin, and Marcus Samuelsson. And on Milk Street Radio you can always find the unexpected: the comedian who ranks apples using an elaborate 100-point system, the scientists who study if vegetables have souls, and the journalist who reveals the world’s 10 biggest food lies. We also answer our listeners’ cooking questions, find out how to make the perfect cup of coffee, and share how to eat your way through Italy.

Episodes

High on the Hog: Black Cooks and the Making of American Cuisine

We chat with Dr. Jessica B. Harris about her seminal book "High on the Hog,'' which offers a diverse and complex history of African American cuisine—from the escape of George Washington’s enslaved master chef to the birth of the catering industry. Plus, we investigate Korean television’s obsession with Subway sandwiches, learn about the origins of egg-based idioms from Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette, and share the secret to making Turkish kebabs on your backyard grill. Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Jul 09, 202151 min

Is Junk Food Addictive? The Science of Food Cravings

We talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss about why foods such as Cheetos and Oreos can be more addictive than cigarettes. Plus we explore the history of West African cookbooks, J. Kenji López-Alt teaches us different ways to use alcohol in the kitchen, and we learn to make Glazed Sour Cream and Brown Sugar Bundt Cake. Get this week's recipe for Glazed Sour Cream and Brown Sugar Bundt Cake. https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/glazed-sour-cream-and-brown-sugar-bundt-cake This ...

Jul 02, 202151 min

Maine Summer Cook-Off! Clambakes, Grilling, Oysters and More

We chat with Mike Wiley of Eventide in Portland, Maine, who tells us how to shuck an oyster, the rules for the perfect clambake and his favorite often-ignored fish. Plus, we talk with chef and poet Omar Tate, who explores Black American culture and literature through food; Dan Pashman explains why he thinks grilling is overrated; and we find a fix for flavorless tomatoes. (Originally aired July 3, 2020.) Get this week's recipe for Tomato-Herb Salad With Sumac: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recip...

Jun 25, 202151 min

Inside the Experimental Kitchen with Shola Olunloyo

We chat with research chef Shola Olunloyo about the cutting-edge culinary projects he undertakes at his experimental food laboratory, Studiokitchen. He tells us about mashing up tortellini and soup dumplings, how to make bread that tastes like a malted milkshake and why he looks to jazz musicians for culinary inspiration. Plus, New Zealand chef Monique Fiso teaches us about Māori cuisine, Dan Pashman shows us how to make better pasta salad, and we make Shrimp, Orzo and Zucchini with Ouzo and Min...

Jun 18, 202151 min

From Asia with Love: Guangdong Meets Sydney

This week, cookbook author Hetty McKinnon tells us about her Chinese-Australian upbringing, Vegemite brownies, and why her mother calls to FaceTime her wok. Plus, we talk to the Trappist monk running the only Trappist Brewery in the U.S., learn to make the original Fettuccine Alfredo and get a lesson from Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette about all the sausage idioms used in Germany. Get this week's recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/fettuccine-alfredo This Week...

Jun 11, 202151 min

The Science of Food: Steaks, Bugs and Expiration Dates

We chat with flavor chemist Dr. Arielle Johnson about how to eat a tree, how insects use flavor molecules to communicate and the science of taste and smell. Plus, Meathead Goldwyn teaches us how to grill perfect steaks; J. Kenji López-Alt investigates food expiration dates; and we make a no-fuss, all-flavor Spanish Almond Cake. (Originally aired June 12, 2020) Get this week's recipe, Spanish Almond Cake: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/spanish-almond-cake-tarta-de-santiago This Week’s Spon...

Jun 04, 202151 min

Nigella Lawson Is Not a Domestic Goddess

This week, we chat with Nigella Lawson about recipe writing as literature, the sublime art of eating chocolate in bed and how the simplest meals can become the basis for our most cherished memories. Plus, we get a barbecue lesson from pitmaster Rodney Scott, Dan Pashman orders takeout through the mail, and we cook polenta with shrimp and tomatoes. Get the recipe for polenta with shrimp and tomatoes: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/polenta-shrimp-tomatoes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

May 28, 202151 min

Cooking Over Fire: Lessons From the Levant

This week, the husband-and-wife team behind London’s Honey & Co. tell us about chasing the smell of smoke through the alleyways of Jordan and the markets of Egypt in search of the secrets of grilled food in the Middle East. Plus, pizza consultant Anthony Falco shares tips for making great pizza at home, Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette explain why we say “soup to nuts,” and we learn to make Honey & Co.’s recipe for Almond-Coconut Cake with Cherries and Pistachios. Get the recipe for Alm...

May 21, 202151 min

Heat, Meat, Rice and Veg: Welcome to Hmong Cuisine!

We learn the elements of Hmong cooking from chef Yia Vang. He tells us about traditional dishes such as stuffed chicken legs and braised mustard greens, how to make 60 gallons of hot sauce and how his father escaped through the jungle at the end of the Vietnam War. Plus, we find out how Renaissance art can save fruit from extinction; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette reveal the linguistic connection between food and cities around the world; and we top whole roasted cauliflower with spiced tahini...

May 14, 202151 min

Zen and the Art of Cooking Vegetables

Chef Eric Ripert teaches us how to make vegetables the star of the plate. Plus, we take a deep dive into the food and cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean, Adam Gopnik reveals his five food heresies, and we learn how to make Japanese Milk Bread. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 07, 202151 min

Nailed It! Nicole Byer Bakes Funny

Comedian and “Nailed It!” host Nicole Byer breaks down the art of improv, making it in the world of comedy and how to host a baking competition show when you know nothing about baking. Plus, we chat with Karl De Smedt, manager of the world’s only international sourdough library; J. Kenji López-Alt gives us a crash course on the best homemade fried rice; and we learn how to get a good char on Catalonian-inspired grilled vegetables. (Originally aired July 24th, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Spani...

Apr 30, 202151 min

The Secrets of China's Tea Mountains

Tea expert Shunan Teng tells us about tea that costs $1,000 per ounce and the notion that tea is more like wine than coffee. Plus, we learn about forgotten fast-food chains, Alex Aïnouz debunks the myth of hollandaise as a mother sauce, and we learn how to make Vietnamese Braised Lemon Grass Chicken. Get this week’s recipe for Vietnamese Braised Lemon Grass Chicken: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/vietnamese-braised-lemon-grass-chicken This week’s sponsor: Visit Sitka Salmon Shares dot com...

Apr 23, 202151 min

Padma Lakshmi in Search of America

Padma Lakshmi shares stories about her childhood in India, her time in Spain and her new show, “Taste the Nation.” Plus, we get a crash course on Parisian cocktail culture from David Lebovitz; we present a new take on the cheeseburger; and Bianca Bosker teaches us about the history and evolution of wine reviews. (Originally aired June 26, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Garlic-Rosemary Burgers with Taleggio Sauce: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/garlic-rosemary-burgers-taleggio-cheese-sauce...

Apr 16, 202151 min

1,001 Bites: The Wonders of the Arab Table

Palestinian cookbook author Reem Kassis discusses her latest cookbook, “The Arabesque Table,” which takes a fresh look at defining Arab cooking. Plus, we learn how food is used to create Hollywood sound effects, discover what people 80 years ago thought food would look like today and make pasta sauce out of tomato paste. Get this week’s recipe for Pasta With Tomato, Garlic and Basil: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/tomato-garlic-basil-pasta This week's sponsor: Visit Sitka Salmon Shares do...

Apr 09, 202151 min

Sri Lanka, Meet Kentucky!: Sam Fore Mixes It Up

Sam Fore, the chef behind the pop-up Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites, tells us about the similarities between Sri Lankan and Southern cuisine. Plus, Analiese Gregory teaches us how to hunt and forage in the wilds of Tasmania, Dan Pashman tells us about his mission to create a new pasta shape, and we learn how to make the Portuguese Sponge Cake known as pão de ló. Get this week’s recipe for Portuguese Sponge Cake (pão de ló) https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/portuguese-sponge-cake-pao-de-lo This wee...

Apr 02, 202151 min

Alpine Cooking: A Culinary Adventure at 3,000 Feet

Meredith Erickson takes us on an Alpine journey to discover the food and pleasures of the little-known huts and lodges above 3,000 feet. Plus, we chat with Josh Scherer of Good Mythical Morning about the internet’s fascination with taste-test videos; we learn the secrets to the perfect Neapolitan meatball; and Adam Gopnik tells us why sugar sales are declining. (Originally aired January 10, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Neapolitan Meatballs with Ragù: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/neapo...

Mar 26, 202150 min

Giada De Laurentiis Hates Cauliflower Rice

Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis tells us about the importance of moderation, her hatred of cauliflower rice, and her initial reluctance to go on TV. Plus, we hear about how a beer archeologist revives ales from antiquity, discover how a wine opener can be a symbol of your mortality and learn to make a recipe for the Venetian dish of rice and peas known as risi e bisi. Get this week’s recipe for Venetian Rice & Peas (Risi e Bisi): https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/risi-e-bisi This week...

Mar 19, 202151 min

Beyond Gochujang: The Bold Flavors of Korea

Hooni Kim explains many of the foundations of Korean cuisine (including gochujang), how to make perfect rice, what 135-year-old soy sauce tastes like and why he loves making fermented soybean stew. Plus, we hear the curious story behind America’s most prolific fruit inventor; Bianca Bosker combs through her grandma’s recipe cards; and we make one of France’s easiest desserts. Get this week’s recipe for Yogurt Loaf Cake with Coriander and Orange: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/coriander-or...

Mar 12, 202151 min

Inside and Outside “The Great British Bake Off”: Winner John Whaite Speaks Out

John Whaite takes us behind the scenes of “The Great British Bake Off.” He talks life after winning, the simple pleasures of Eton mess and the importance of listening to your food. Plus, we dive into the crazy world of culinary Facebook groups; Alex Aïnouz tries to reverse engineer Joël Robuchon’s mashed potatoes; and we cook an Indian staple of simmered lentils with spice-infused hot butter. (Originally aired on April 10, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Dal Tarka: https://www.177milkstreet.com/r...

Mar 05, 202151 min

Harold McGee Busts Food Science Myths

Food science expert Harold McGee helps us separate food science fact from fiction and explains why smell can reveal more about food than taste. Plus, we learn about 30-foot longevity noodles from Jason Wang, the co-founder of New York’s Xi'an Famous Foods; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette tell us who lobster Newburg and chicken tetrazzini were named after; and make pork in Veracruz sauce. Get this week’s recipe for Pork in Veracruz Sauce: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/pork-veracruz-sauc...

Feb 26, 202151 min

Soul Food Love: Five Kitchens, Four Generations

Mother and daughter Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams tell us what studying the cooking of four generations of women in their family has taught them about the origins of soul food. Plus, we speak with international bagel consultant Beth George; Dan Pashman explores cold-weather cocktails; and we make pesto out of lemon zest, not basil. Get this week’s recipe for Spaghetti with Lemon Pesto: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/spaghetti-lemon-pesto This week’s sponsor: Get unlimited ac...

Feb 19, 202151 min

Jam Roly-Poly and Giant Gingerbread: The Strange History of British Baking

We step into British baking history with Regula Ysewijn for boiled jam roly-polys, three-foot-tall gingerbreads and fruitcakes that take months to ripen. Plus, we sample Estonia’s fake chocolate bar; consider dining outdoors with Adam Gopnik; and make passatelli in brodo, a simple supper from Bologna. Get this week’s recipe for Passatelli in Brodo: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/passatelli-in-brodo This week’s sponsor: Proven quality sleep is life-changing sleep. Save $1000 on the Queen S...

Feb 12, 202151 min

Yewande Komolafe's Nigerian Kitchen

We explore culinary secrets from Yewande Komolafe to change the way you cook. Plus, Gustavo Arellano takes us on a journey down the great American chile highway; we make a hearty beef stew from central Mexico; and Adam Gopnik tells us how a trip to Italy spawned an epiphany. (Originally aired September 28, 2019.) Get this week’s recipe for Mexican Beef and Tomatillo Stew (Entomatado de Res): https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/mexican-beef-tomatillo-stew-entomatado-de-res Hosted on Acast. See ...

Feb 05, 202151 min

Cooking for Space Aliens and Vampire Queens: Meet Food Stylist Janice Poon

We enter the world of intergalactic sushi joints and cannibal banquets with food stylist Janice Poon. She tells us about her work on horror and sci-fi films, from feeding vegan vampires to wrangling snails to make arm escargot. Plus, we learn hamburger history with burger scholar George Motz; Bianca Bosker explores the origins of the PB&J; and we make a fragrant beef stew from Vietnam. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jan 29, 202151 min

Heat, Meat, Rice and Veg: Welcome to Hmong Cuisine!

We learn the elements of Hmong cooking from chef Yia Vang. He tells us about traditional dishes such as stuffed chicken legs and braised mustard greens, how to make 60 gallons of hot sauce and how his father escaped through the jungle at the end of the Vietnam War. Plus, we find out how Renaissance art can save fruit from extinction; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette reveal the linguistic connection between food and cities around the world; and we top whole roasted cauliflower with spiced tahini...

Jan 22, 202151 min

Eat, Work, Love: Up Close and Personal with Aarón Sánchez

We chat with superstar chef Aarón Sánchez about finding food, finding love and finding himself. Plus, we discover the history and nuance of the martini cocktail; we share our recipe for Norwegian salmon; and Dan Pashman makes a case for picky eaters. (Originally aired on January 3, 2020.) Get the recipe for Baked Salted Salmon with Dill: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/norwegian-baked-salted-salmon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jan 15, 202151 min

Frontiers of Food Science: Do Sound and Color Affect Flavor?

Experimental psychologist Charles Spence introduces us to gastrophysics, the science of how the brain melds color, smell and sound to create powerful multisensory taste experiences. Plus, Nicola Twilley investigates the rise of alternative sugars; Alex Aïnouz goes on a hunt for the ultimate knife; and we offer a recipe inspired by Tel Aviv’s Shlomo & Doron, where hummus gets a Mexican twist. Get the recipe for Hummus with Chipotle Black Beans and Tomato Salsa: https://www.177milkstreet.com/r...

Jan 08, 202151 min

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Big Flavors

Chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi chats about cooking soup for his aging father, why he pours pancake batter with gochujang over asparagus and how his sense of food presentation was inspired by food stalls in Jerusalem. Plus, we hear from Rev. Heber Brown III about the historical relationship between Black churches and Black farmers; Bianca Bosker discusses the everlasting reign of Cheerios in the breakfast world; and we share our recipe for Slavonian-style Shepherd's Stew. Get the recipe f...

Jan 01, 202151 min

Meet Maangchi: The Korean Julia Child

Many of us still miss Julia Child, but YouTube star Maangchi is an excellent substitute. Today, we discuss Korean home cooking, the best way to clean an octopus and her favorite food, the sea squirt. Plus, we discover what and how ancient Minoans cooked; Alex Aïnouz wonders if we should all have a 3D printer in our kitchens; and we share our recipe for Savory Bread Pudding. (Originally aired December 13, 2019.) Get this week’s recipe for Savory Bread Pudding with Mushrooms, Gruyère and Tarragon:...

Dec 25, 202051 min

Jamie Oliver Speaks Out on Nutrition, Restaurants and Toad-in-the-Hole

This week, Jamie Oliver chats about how drumming kept him out of trouble as a teenager, what his dad taught him about hard work and how his cooking is heavily influenced by traditional English fare. Plus, Nick Hall investigates the world of novelty potato chip flavors; we whip up a chocolate-hazelnut cream cake; and Dan Pashman rethinks s’mores. Get the recipe for Chocolate-Hazelnut Cream Cake: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/chocolate-hazelnut-cream-cake This week’s sponsors: Go to kingar...

Dec 18, 202051 min