Special Sauce with Ed Levine

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Serious Eats' podcast Special Sauce enables food lovers everywhere to eavesdrop on an intimate conversation about food and life between host and Serious Eats founder Ed Levine and his well-known/famous friends and acquaintances both in and out of the food culture.

Serious Eats


    • Jun 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 410 EPISODES

    4.1 from 317 ratings Listeners of Special Sauce with Ed Levine that love the show mention: kenji, carrie, rick, volume, based, conversation, guests, family, keep up the good, questions, interviews, talk, wonderful, great, host, love this podcast, enjoy, funny, interesting, show.


    Ivy Insights

    The Special Sauce with Ed Levine is a truly fascinating and enjoyable podcast that delves into the personal histories and journeys of chefs and cooks. The host, Ed Levine, shows a great deal of respect for his guests and allows them to tell their stories in a relatable way. Even for those who may not be avid cooks or food enthusiasts, this podcast is still highly engaging and informative. Levine does a commendable job of connecting cuisine with culture, showcasing his sincerity in every word he says. The guests he brings on are clearly individuals that he is genuinely excited to share with his listeners. Overall, it's a fantastic podcast that will make you feel like you're sitting at the table with these incredible people.

    One of the best aspects of The Special Sauce is its focus on the people behind the food rather than just the food itself. While there may be thousands of podcasts solely dedicated to cooking, this podcast stands out by allowing listeners to connect with the individuals who have dedicated their lives to creating culinary masterpieces. Through insightful interviews, Levine successfully pulls out interesting stories and provides valuable tips on techniques and recipes. Additionally, his thorough research comes across in his well-crafted questions, making each episode highly informative.

    Despite its many strengths, one potential drawback of The Special Sauce is its tendency to delve into politics alongside discussions about food. Some listeners have expressed frustration with this aspect, hoping for a more focused conversation solely about food. However, it's important to recognize that food and politics are inherently intertwined, as our entire food system is shaped by political decisions regarding access, marketing, farming practices, and more.

    In conclusion, The Special Sauce with Ed Levine is an exceptional podcast that offers an intimate look into the lives of chefs and cooks while exploring the cultural significance of food. With its engaging conversations and genuine enthusiasm from both Levine and his guests, it's truly a standout show within the culinary genre. While some may prefer a more strictly food-focused discussion, the incorporation of politics provides a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding our food system. Overall, it's a must-listen for anyone interested in the stories behind the food we all love.



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    Latest episodes from Special Sauce with Ed Levine

    Trump's Cruelty Toward Farmworkers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 37:18


    Serious eaters have watched with horror and dismay as President Trump has tasked ICE agents with carrying out his grand mass deportation scheme. Why are we so upset? Because this cruel scheme has impacted the lives of millions of farm workers all over the country. Here to offer his invaluable perspective on all these genuinely existential issues facing immigrants, both documented and undocumented, is Antonio De Loera-Brust, Communications Director for UFW. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    California Avocado Growers In Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 47:03


    On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to avocado farmer Norm Kachuck and Los Angeles Times reporter Daniel Miller about the crisis facing California avocado growers as they try to compete with Mexican avocados.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Marcella Hazan: The Italian Food Whisper

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 41:16


    The late, truly great Marcella Hazan taught many of us what real Italian food is and how to cook it. And yet many people, including me, didn't know much about this remarkable woman. But now there's a terrific documentary about her life and work, 'Marcella'. We talk to Pete Wells of The New York Times and the director of 'Marcella', Peter Miller, about the many aspects of her life that have gone unnoticed until now.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Meat's Improbable Comeback w/Kim Severson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 31:28


    The The New York Times's national food correspondent Kim Severson gives us the 411 on meat's improbable comeback. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Now Serving: L.A.'s Serious Eaters HQ

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 34:50


    It's only 450 Square Feet, but L.A.'s Now Serving Cookbook Store is so much more than a place to buy food books. Its co-founder Ken Concepcion explains how his tiny bookstore became home base for Serious Eaters in LA. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    An International Pizza Consultant Explains All

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 42:13


    Is being an international pizza consultant the world's best job? Anthony Falco explains all. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Why Chili's and Red Lobster Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 39:09


    On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Meghan McCarron and Adam Chandler about the surprisingly important role casual sit-down dining chains like Chili's and Olive Garden play in Americans' lives. I know, I know, I was skeptical, too.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Lalo Garcia Redux

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 38:54


    On this episode of Special Sauce, we revisit our extraordinary conversation with the great Mexico City-based chef Lalo Garcia and the journalist Laura Tillman, who chronicled his extraordinary journey from undocumented migrant farm worker to world-famous chef. Given everything that's happening right now in the world of immigration, we thought this episode might resonate anew.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Karen Washington Redux

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 42:40


    On this episode of Special Sauce we revisit our provocative conversation with the food activist, farmer, and force of nature Karen Washington, one of the stars of the terrific documentary 'Food and Country'. In times like these, when many of our cherished institutions are coming under attack, we need more voices like hers. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    The Future of Farming with Will Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 41:26


    On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to White Oak Pastures' Will Harris about nothing less than the future of farming. Harris has become one of the leading voices of the regenerative farming movement.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Asheville After the Flood with Pete Wells

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 38:32


    Last September Asheville, North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene. The damage is estimated to be $60 billion. Especially hard hit was the close-knit food community that has attracted millions of visitors to Asheville every year. The New York Times's Pete Wells did some stellar reporting last fall when he spent a few days interviewing chefs and farmers in the picturesque western Carolina city. Now, six months down the road, Special Sauce checked in with Pete and James Beard Award-winning chef-restaurateur Meherwan Irani to update us on the state of Asheville's recovery.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Bob Jones of The Chef's Garden on Farming's Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 39:24


    When the documentary Food and Country came out last year, we had Ruth Reichl on Special Sauce to talk about the film as a whole and the farmers that are actually the stars and heroes of the movie. One of those farmers is Bob Jones, CEO of The Chef's Garden in Ohio. Given the various extraordinary challenges farmers are set to face in the coming years, we thought it would be great to have Bob on the podcast to tell us his story and to tell us what the future might hold for all farmers. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Remembering New Orleans' Pableaux Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 36:21


    The great street photographer, red beans and rice cook, and New Orleans food community organizer Pableaux Johnson died recently while doing what he was put on this earth to do: taking pictures of a second line parade. Here to talk about Pableaux Johnson and what he meant to the hundreds of people who called him a friend and the thousands of people who admired his work are my old friend New York Times food writer, Brett Anderson, and television and food writer, my good pal, Lolis Eric Elie.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Is the L.A. Smorgasburg the best street food festival in America?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 40:20


    Is the L.A. Smorgasburg the best street food festival in America? We talk to the two people most responsible for it, Zach Brooks and Fernando Lopez. Zach has the dream job of tasting all the food and choosing the vendors; and Fernando runs the beer garden at Smorgasburg in Los Angeles and also helps run his family's famous James Beard Award-winning Oaxacan restaurant Gualaguetza.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Laurie Woolever on Bourdain, Batali, and Herself

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 38:55


    Today on Special Sauce we welcome back writer and former assistant to both Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever. Laurie has just published 'Care and Feeding', a candid, funny, and often devastating memoir about her adventures and misadventures making her way through the food world while navigating addiction, motherhood, a cultural reckoning, and an unexpected tragedy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Remembering the Pizza OG Patsy Grimaldi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 37:46


    With the passing of legendary pizzaiolo Patsy Grimaldi, the pizza world has lost one of its true giants. I discuss his legacy with Scott's Pizza Tours founder and pizza scholar Scott Wiener, and another great pizzaiolo, Una Pizza Napoletana's Anthony Mangieri on this episode of Special Sauce. For more on the show, visit thespecialsaucepodcast.com. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    pizza grimaldi special sauce scott wiener anthony mangieri una pizza napoletana
    Food in the Aftermath of the L.A. Fires

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 38:45


    On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to the Los Angeles Times' Bill Adddison and Jenn Harris about the calamitous effect of the recent devastating fires on the L.A. food community. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Adam Chandler on Work in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 37:32


    On this episode of Special Sauce, Adam Chandler talks about his new book '99% Perspiration' which explores the history of work in America.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    'Reheating' Hot Chocolate With Jacques Torres

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 24:25


    On this episode of Special Sauce we revisit our chocolate-centric conversation with Mr. Chocolate himself Jacques Torres just in time for Valentine's Day. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Kenji on Super Bowl Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 31:00


    The Super Bowl is coming up, so for Super Bowl party food advice who better to turn to than Kenji. The man loves chicken wings and pizza and he gives us some sage advice about making them at home. But he does not love football.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Robert Lang On Becoming A Vintner in Italy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 29:55


    After falling in love with Italy, my good friend engineer and serial entrepreneur Bob Lang and his wife, environmental writer Alice Outwater, decided to buy a three acre vineyard called La Collina Delle Amici (The Hill of Friends) in Piedmont in 2021. How's it going for them so far?  Well, we're going to find out in this week's episode of Special Sauce. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

    Karen Washington, Food Warrior

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 42:40


    On this episode of Special Sauce, grassroots food activist and farmer Karen Washington joins us to spread her message of food justice, the concept that healthy, nutritious food is a human right.

    Scott Wiener on the New York Pizza Slice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 40:39


    On this episode of Special Sauce we go deep into the definition, history, and evolution of the New York pizza slice with Scott's Pizza Tours founder Scott Wiener. 

    Raghavan Iyer: The Tribute Reheat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 45:21


    On this episode of Special Sauce we pay tribute to the great author, chef and cooking teacher Raghavan Iyer. He introduced much of America to the joys of cooking and eating Indian food.  We talked to Raghavan last in March of 2023 about his life, his work, and the last book he ever wrote, "On The Curry Trail". Raghavan talked openly and movingly about his terminal Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the work he was doing on healing comfort food. His voice occasionally wavered -- you could hear the pain in it -- but he was clear-headed and just as articulate as ever. Raghavan had so much to say, we devoted two episodes to his story, which we have condensed into one. Tragically, he died just as the two episodes dropped. So give a listen to the wit and wisdom of Raghavan Iyer. 

    Michelle Zauner and Kenji, Reheated

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 46:21


    With the new year fast approaching we thought we would help bring it in by re-releasing -- or should I say reheating -- one of our favorite 'Special Sauce' episodes of all time. It features both my extraordinary conversation with  Michelle Zauner and a great talk about the relationship between food and music with Kenji. Michelle is the founder and lead singer of the great indie rock band Japanese Breakfast. And her NYT best-selling memoirist is titled 'Crying in H Mart'. 

    Roy Shvartzapel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 35:15


    On this episode of Special Sauce serious eaters will meet Roy Shvartzapel, who makes transcendent panettone at his LA online bakery From Roy. 

    Erin McDowell On Holiday Cookies

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 30:10


    With the holiday season in full swing, this serious eater's attention turns to eating and baking cookies. And who better to shoot the breeze with on this rich topic than author and baker Erin Jeanne McDowell, who has been called the fairy godmother of baking. She's got some tricks for us.

    Eric Asimov Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 26:58


    As we go about planning our upcoming holiday feasts, it's a pretty good bet that at some point we're going to pick up a bottle of wine or two to share with family and friends. That's why I'm returning to my conversation with someone who's been a guiding light for wine connoisseurs and beginners alike, Eric Asimov, the wine critic for The New York Times.

    Kenji and Deb Thanksgiving Leftovers Reheat

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 19:08


    Thanksgiving leftovers can sometimes be a freighted topic for serious eaters. Last year, trying to quell my own Thanksgiving leftovers anxiety and confusion, I had Deb Perelman and J. Kenji Lopez Alt, longtime friends and co-hosts of their own podcast The Recipe, on Special Sauce. We covered a lot of ground in our discussion, everything from the joys of eating leftover cold pie for breakfast to the wisdom of waffling your leftover stuffing. We had so much fun that I decided it was worth reheating and serving to serious eaters again this year. Enjoy!

    Erin McDowell On Pie

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 31:43


    Thanksgiving and the holiday season are upon us and that means this serious eater's thoughts turn to pie! And so I thought I would perform a public service by inviting perhaps our greatest pie baking teacher, Erin Jeanne McDowell from the YouTube series 'Happy Baking', to come on Special Sauce and talk about all things pie.

    Deb Perelman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 29:52


    If you're like me, you're probably already worrying about holiday dinners and parties that you might have to bring stuff to. And at least some of us might be a little punchy at the thought of cooking or baking for friends. So to the rescue comes friend of Special Sauce, Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman. 

    Eric Asimov: The NYT wine writer's democratic approach to his subject.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 27:49


    On this episode of Special Sauce The New York Times's wine writer Eric Asimov shares his democratic and unsnobby approach to both food and wine, which invites newcomers and longtime enthusiasts to explore their own wine experiences.

    50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant's Love Letter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 25:57


    On this episode of Special Sauce I talk to author and fellow pie lover Stacey Mei Yan Fong about her new book '50 Pies, 50 States, An Immigrant's Love Letter to the U.S. Through Pie'.

    Ruth Reichl Part 2: The Politics of Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 21:48


    In part two of our discussion, Ruth Reichl and I get into how the American government has played a major role in corrupting our food system.

    Ruth Reichl on her first movie Food and Country

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 23:08


    On this episode of Special Sauce legendary food critic Ruth Reichl talks about the documentary film "Food & Country" which she stars in and co-produced.  

    Jim Lahey's No Knead Bread Explained

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 38:43


    On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Sullivan Street Bakery founder Jim Lahey about his revolutionary no-knead bread making technique.

    Kenji's Almost Foolproof Pan Pizza Recipe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 25:57


    On this episode of Special Sauce, Kenji and I dig deep into his (almost) foolproof pan pizza recipe. 

    An African-American Rice Farmer Who's Reclaiming His Roots

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 26:53


    On this episode of Special Sauce we meet Rollen Chalmers, a third-generation African-American rice farmer based in South Carolina, who is reclaiming his roots one grain of Carolina Gold rice at a time. 

    Ozempic for Food Writers with Adam Platt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 41:46


    What happens when food writers take Ozempic? New York Magazine's Adam Platt and I discuss our experiences with the weight loss drug on this episode of Special Sauce. 

    Kenji Potatoes Reheat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 14:49


    Ah potatoes! How do we love them? Let me count the ways. Perfectly crispy, salty french fries, golden brown herb coated roasted potatoes, creamy smooth mashed potatoes. The not so lowly spud has  been an intense field of inquiry for our friend Kenji Lopez Alt for years now.  For this week's re-heated episode, he and I take a deep dive into some of the now famous posts he wrote for Serious Eats back in the day. In one, he delves into the mystery of McDonald's French fries and in another he unlocks the secrets of oven roasted potatoes.

    The Pasta Whisperers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 39:14


    For this episode of Special Sauce Sasha Marx and Katie Leaird return for more pasta wisdom and pleasure.

    Special Sauce Re-heated: Veggie Grilling with Kenji

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 19:57


    For this episode of Special Sauce we're re-heating our conversation with Kenji Lopez-Alt from last summer about veggie grilling tips. And we'll be back this fall with fresh episodes featuring Alice Waters, Kenji, and the latest trends in pizza.

    Everything You'd Want To Know About Pasta

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 39:50


    On this episode of Special Sauce we're talking all things pasta with Chefsteps.com's editorial director Sasha Marx and Martha's Vineyard Pasta's Katie Leaird, who makes the best fresh bucatini I have ever tasted. 

    Lior Lev Sercarz: Spice Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 26:05


    The Spice Whisperer Lior Lev Sercarz is back on Special Sauce this week to school serious eaters on how to spice up our food in our own kitchens. You can find all our episodes at thespecialsaucepodcast.com.

    Kim Severson on Kamala Harris and Presidential cooking

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 30:56


    This week on Special Sauce the NYT's Kim Severson gives us the lowdown on Kamala Harris' passion for cooking. Plus we discuss the history of presidential cooking in the White House.

    Special Sauce Re-heated: Anajak Thai

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 24:13


    This week we're re-sharing our episode with Justin Pichetrungsi, chef-owner of the award-winning Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, California. There was a technical glitch the first time we published it, so here's another chance to listen to it. Enjoy!

    Lior Lev Sercarz, the Spice Whisperer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 34:17


    This week on Special Sauce we talk to the Spice Whisperer, chef and owner of the online spice store La Boite NY, Lior Lev Sercarz. Lior is on a mission to inform people about where spices come from, how they grow, what they look like in their natural environment, and ultimately, how to be inspired by them in the kitchen.

    Tony Gemignani: 13 Time World Pizza Champion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 39:40


    This week on Special Sauce you'll meet 13 time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani, who is determined to spread his good pizza gospel to every corner of the U.S. 

    James Ehnes - Seattle CMS: Tasting Notes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 36:44


    This week on Special Sauce violin virtuoso Jame Ehnes dishes on his live cooking and musical collaboration with Kenji that's coming up in Seattle on July 19th. 

    Laura Tillman and Lalo Garcia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 38:54


    This episode of Special Sauce is particularly special. You'll hear the remarkable life story of celebrated Mexican chef Lalo Garcia as told by Lalo himself and his biographer Laura Tillman. 

    Antonio De Loera-Brust - California Farm Workers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 36:55


    Ever wonder what's happening with the United Farm Workers union? I did, so I interviewed the UFW Communications Director Antonio De Loera-Brust. It turns that there's a lot happening, actually. 

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