The TASTE Podcast

Eric Sze is the chef-owner behind the Taiwanese restaurants 886 and Wenwen in New York City. He's also working on a debut cookbook, Taiwanese?, and he recently returned from a whirlwind trip conducting research and taking photos for the book. Eric is one of our favorite voices in food, and it's so fun having him in the studio to unpack his culinary career, the tricky task of defining Taiwanese food, operating restaurants in NYC, and more.Also on the show Matt catches up with journalist Elizabeth Dunn to talk about her terrific story in the New York Times about the protein bar arms race. What is up with the David bar, and the age protein era we are living in? Elizabeth has many thoughts and we had a great time talking esterified propoxylated glycerol. Wild stuff.Read: The Protein Bar Arms RaceSubscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What a special episode we have today with Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market's ambassador of food culture and a world-renowned cheese expert, buyer, and consumer packaged goods tastemaker, among many other things. Matt invited Cathy to join in a walk around Whole Foods' Columbus Circle location. We wanted to get her take on several categories of groceries, including beverages, snacks, and, of course, cheese. We go over what's exciting her lately and how she thinks about the future of groceries. After our walk, Cathy joins us in the studio to talk about her amazing career, which spans both pre- and post-Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods nearly a decade ago.Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Claire Dinhut is known as Condiment Claire online, but as we find out in this entertaining conversation, Claire's knowledge about food goes well beyond spotting the perfect mustard for sandwiches (though, of course, she has thoughts). She is the author of a terrific book, The Condiment Book, which is sneaky in its brilliant discussions on food science, terroir, history, and flavor pairing. The book is really great, and it was fun to talk with Claire about her life in and out of the kitchen.Also on the show we catch up with Anna Hezel to discuss her latest writing on TASTE, a close look at the exciting, multidimensional tinned fish era we are currently living in. Anna is this show's former co-host, and the co-editor of Best Food Blog and it's always great catching up with her.Read: The Tinned Fish Backlash Was InevitableSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Does Padma Lakshmi really need an introduction? The Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and New York Times best-selling author is in a league of her own, and she recently joined us for a live conversation at the Bell House in Brooklyn. She shared her take on how Top Chef has impacted food culture, shooting Taste the Nation, and writing her new cookbook, Padma's All American—plus her memories of '90s New York, her epic cookbook collection, and the rush of doing stand-up comedy.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: It's corn ice cream season at Malai, Campo Grande is selling exceptional Ibérico pork, a Canadian pizza pop-up at F&F in Brooklyn, Fungi Decoded by Britt A. Bunyard is the mushroom book for us. Also: Leggio's Deli in Bayshore, Long Island makes the perfect beach sandwich, and America's Sweethearts Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is so much more than we expected. Preorder: Padma's All American See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Annie Shi is the co-owner and beverage director of the West Village's French-Italian restaurant King and its uptown Rockefeller Center sibling Jupiter. Now she's opened a spot of her very own: Lei, a Chinese wine bar on the historic Doyers Street in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown. Lei is such a special and singular spot, and it's great having Annie in the studio to talk about growing up in New York, pairing wine with Chinese food, and the evolution of Manhattan's Chinatown.Also on the show Matt has an amazing conversion with Austin Hennelly. He's the bar director at the Taiwanese restaurant Kato in Los Angeles. Kato is one of the most well-reviewed and respected restaurants in America, and the bar program shines with innovation and style. We talk about how Austin thinks deeply about NA beverage service before we hear about this wild professional career. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Akhtar Nawab is today's guest, and we dig into his influential career in New York City dining. He's the chef-owner of the terrific restaurants Wayward Fare and Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and he previously ran the kitchen at La Esquina. Akhtar moved to New York in 1998 and worked under chef Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern for several years. He was part of the opening staff of Craft, and in 2002 he helped open Craftbar, later serving as executive chef. He's mentored many stars in the industry, including David Chang, who credits him as a major influence. While he'd never say it himself, those who follow NYC restaurants understand that Akhtar is a giant in the industry. Humble and hardworking, it was a real pleasure to have him in the studio to talk about his amazing work.Also on the show we have a great conversation with Javier Cabral. He's the editor in chief of L.A. Taco. We discuss the publication's important work covering Los Angeles ICE activity, while offering readers a needed resource to stay safe. We also talk about how he balances breaking news coverage with deep dives into LA taco culture. It's a must read, and you can subscribe today.Read: What To Do If ICE Stops You In a Car, On a Bus, Or In a TrainListen: Tom Colicchio on the Birth of Gramercy Tavern, Top Chef Favorites, Running For CongressSubscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube 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 are talking all about one of the world's great foods: Maine Lobster, harvested directly from the cold waters of Maine, which give it its unique and sweet taste. First up is a great conversation with Ham El-Waylly. Ham is the chef-owner of the buzzy Brooklyn restaurant Strange Delight, and he tells us how Maine Lobster has been a big part of his culinary career. We talk about how he thinks about cooking with lobster and where he is spotting it on menus around the world. We also sent Ham a box of Maine lobsters to cook with at home. The results were pretty amazing.Also on the show, we speak with journalist Luke Pyenson. Luke traveled to Maine to report a story for TASTE, and we find out where he went and who he met—and, of course, hear about all the Maine Lobster he ate. We discuss Maine Lobster's deep commitment to sustainability and how chefs both in Maine and around the world are cooking the sweetest lobster on earth in an exciting way.Finally we catch up with a Maine lobsterman, Curt Brown. Curt is a marine biologist, and he shares what life is like on a lobster boat as well as how he actually cooks with lobster at home. Curt has some real kitchen skills.Read: Maine Lobster in TechnicolorThis special episode is supported by the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. Get Maine Lobster delivered directly to your door by visiting lobsterfrommaine.com/how-to-buy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jess Eng is a food writer based in New York City. She's a regular contributor here at TASTE alongside a great roster of publications like the Washington Post and the New York Times. It's so fun to have her on the show to expand on some of her favorite stories, her latest experiments with home fermentation, and her recent reporting trip in Fuzhou, China.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: It's fall cookbook season and Matt previews Measure with Your Heart by Hannah Taylor, The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro, Script Notes by John August and Craig Mazin, and Obsessed With the Best by Ella Quittner (not fall but worth a mention). Aliza jumps in with a visit for Thai chicken wings at Sam Yan in Clinton Hill, a preview of Ruby Tandoh's new book, All Consuming, and a special shoutout to LA Taco's ongoing coverage in Los Angeles. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube READ MORE FROM JESS:Flavors of Fujian [Substack]Kombucha's Pét-Nat Moment [TASTE]The Fluidity and Fun of Chino Latino Cuisine Reaches New Fandoms [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt was so excited to invite his friend Maurizio Leo to New York City to walk the streets and eat a lot of pizza. Maurizio is the author of The Perfect Loaf, an incredible cookbook and online community dedicated to all things sourdough. Matt and Maurizio visited seven pizzerias and, along with lead producer Clayton Gumbert, tasted their way through the city's best (and maybe not best) slices. So what did they think of Joe's, L'industrie, Mama's TOO!, Lucia, Upside, Scarr's, and F&F? Tune in!Also on the episode, Matt catches up with Anthony Falco. Falco is a global pizza consultant and a true pioneer in the pizza world. He just returned from a three-week trip to Italy, and we talk about all the pizza styles and trends he spotted there. We also move beyond pizza to discuss the modern trattoria scene, good and great gelato, and how Anthony's appreciation for art dovetails with his interest in the culinary world. For more, listen to This Is TASTE 344: Pizza Week with Anthony Falco.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever eaten prune whip pie? How about pickle cheesecake? Well, B. Dylan Hollis absolutely has. The popular TikTok and YouTube creator has racked up millions (and millions) of views by baking his way through vintage cookbooks that fit his “three Ws”: wacky, weird, and wonderful. Dylan is back with a new book, Baking Across America, which had him visiting dozens of states to track down recipes and stories from America's amazing baking past. We talk about the crazy travel that went into this unique book project and what he's baking in his Montana kitchen. We loved catching up with one of the sharpest minds in the baking game.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marc-Kwesi Farrell is the founder of Ten to One, a contemporary Caribbean rum brand. Born in Trinidad, he's passionate about broadening and celebrating global perceptions of rum through premium blends and storytelling, including drawing from his experience as the youngest vice president in Starbucks history. Today on the show, Marc goes deep on rum distillation and culture, bringing on the legendary singer Ciara as a co-owner, and plans for the future of the brand.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Blueberries from West Michigan, a visit to Harana Market in Accord, NY, new water discoveries: Freebird Southern Spring Water and Yuzu Mandarin Spindrift. Also: Hailee Catalano's cold shrimp rolls with celery salad is perfect for right now, Three Cheers is a refreshing new cocktail book, Lei is a very cool new wine bar in NYC's Chinatown, and it's Tour de France season! Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It's available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, Matt invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole.On today's episode, we have an amazing conversation with Mahira Rivers. Mahira is a journalist and former Michelin Guide inspector. She's also the author of the must-read Substack Sweet City, which covers the bakery and dessert scene in New York City with a critical eye. In this episode we discuss so many terrific recent stories in the food world, including Mahira's epic quest to name the 21 best croissants in New York City right now. We go behind the scenes on her five-plus years at Michelin and talk a bit about writing on Substack. We're all big fans of Mahira's work, and it was a joy having her in the studio.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.Featured on the episode:The 21 Best Croissants in New York City Right Now [NYT]TikTok Chefs Have Upstaged Their Clients [NY Mag]You Asked for My Restaurant Recommendation. Now Go to the Restaurant. [Food Time with Matt Rodbard]Liquid Death: From Hardcore to Cringe [Snaxshot]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jodi Moreno is a chef, culinary consultant, and food stylist based in Mexico City. She's the author of the James Beard–nominated cookbook More with Less and a new cookbook, Simple Pleasures. It's so fun to have Jodi on the show to talk about developing Simple Pleasures in Mexico City, the joys of summer salads, entertaining, and more.Also on the show is Tim Spector. He's a professor of epidemiology at King's College London, a cofounder of the science and nutrition company ZOE, and the author of The Food for Life Cookbook, a guide to the science of living well for home cooks. Tim addresses all our burning food science questions: probiotics, ultraprocessed foods, protein maxxing, and more.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is such a great conversation with Max Shapiro, co-host of the Air Jordan podcast and a guy who knows what he likes. We've enjoyed Max's very active, and sometimes blessedly candid, Instagram reviews of restaurants around the world. While he's based in Los Angeles, his recent trip to Spain, particularly a dozen stops at legendary restaurants and new places around San Sebastián, got us interested. Max shares an action-packed road trip around the Basque region, including stops at Gresca, Casa Julián, Asador Etxebarri, and Kaia Kaipe. And why you should most certainly not book at Arzak. He also tells what is good in his hometown of Los Angeles including Dunsmoor, Budonoki, Horses, Shunji, and Muse. Read more about Air Jordan and the Los Angeles podcast scene. It's interesting.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leo Schaltz is a cofounder of BonBon, a Swedish candy store with four locations in New York City and a cult following on TikTok. The pick-and-mix bulk candy selection is entirely imported from Sweden, from salty licorice to sour strawberry cream skulls. Today on the show, Leo talks about growing BonBon's candy empire, meeting viral demand, and building a candy library.And before that, Matt shares some of his discoveries from the recent Fancy Food Show in New York. These aren't the “best” products at the show per say, and lord was it a big show. These are simply some of Matt's favorites, including: Vietnam's Marou Chocolates, Baris frozen dipped raspberries, Gamsa Foods savory instant oatmeal, Rotten “better for you” candy, Long Weekend freeze-dried instant soup, Pari zero-proof, Michigan pies in the grocery store from Achatz Pie Company, Salad Sprinkles is really smart.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hailee Catalano is a trained chef, a former restaurant cook, a recipe developer, and one of our favorite voices in all of food. She is the author of a great new cookbook, By Heart. In this episode, we talk about her early years in Chicago, growing up in an Italian American household, and her later years working the line as a cook before launching her social media account on a lark. If you follow Hailee, you know her unique take on home cooking is absolutely mesmerizing, and we discuss how she thinks about developing recipes for Instagram Reels and TikTok. We also chat a bit about our live event in Brooklyn on July 23. Matt will be speaking with Hailee and her partner, Chuck Cruz, onstage. It's going to be a really special evening, and tickets are on sale now. Also on the show we have a great conversation with David Nayfeld. He's the chef and co-owner of Che Fico in San Francisco, among other restaurants, and the author of a great new book, Dad, What's for Dinner? We talk about restaurant life and how cooking for his daughter inspired him to write this unique book.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aimee France is a cake baker and internet personality based in Brooklyn. Her distinctly bumpy cakes and elaborate eating habits have won over many fans online, and it's so fun to have her in the studio to go deep on her singular perspective on food, from her three-drink-minimum breakfasts to her unexpected sources of inspiration.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: An amazing meal at Ultramarinos Marin in Barcelona, Santo Taco in NYC is really exciting, Vila Viniteca is a great non-tourist food shop in the Barcelona tourist center, Tashkent Halal Supermarket in Brighton Beach caused a blackout in the pastry section, Thattu in Chicago is the place for Keralan food, Natoora does amazing event catering.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jerry Williams Jr. has performed under the pseudonym Swamp Dogg since 1970 and has been described as “one of the great cult figures of 20th century American music.” I would agree, and it was an absolute honor to welcome the R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer to the studio to talk about visiting restaurants on the road while touring in the Jim Crow South and working with iconic artists like Patti LaBelle, Doris Duke, and Dr. Dre. We also discuss his new cookbook, which is a real treasure. It's called If You Can Kill It I Can Cook It, and I absolutely love it. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Swamp Dogg.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Norma Listman and Saqib Keval are the chefs and co-owners of Masala y Maíiz, a Mexico City restaurant rooted in a mestizaje exploration of culinary traditions from India, East Africa, and Mexico. It was great to have them in the studio to talk about creating a more equitable restaurant that puts their workers first, expanding into a new location, shooting an episode of Chef's Table, and their favorite spots in Mexico City.Also on the show, Aliza shares her first visit to Houston! What a town. Stops included: Tacos Tierra Caliente, Nam Giao, Truth BBQ, Ninfa's on Navigation, Tiny Champions, Basket Books, and the Eldorado Ballroom.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've all long been major fans of Ligaya Mishan, who last month was named co–chief restaurant critic at the New York Times. Working alongside Tejal Rao, Ligaya will be reviewing restaurants in New York City as well as around the country—and compiling the now iconic (and much-debated) 100 Best Restaurants in New York list. So what does it feel like to take over for Pete Wells? We went right to the source for this wonderful conversation. We discuss personal taste, mining history books, and what exactly makes a one-star restaurant. We also go back to Ligaya's days writing the Hungry City column and talk about how this big job was truly more than a decade in the making. We love this fresh direction for the NYT Food section and were happy to have one of its new chief critics in the studio.Read some of Ligaya's memorable writing:Taking a Turn in the Restaurant That Makes New York Go Round [NYT]A Bid to Maintain One of the World's Oldest Culinary Traditions [T]Let Them Eat Fakes [T]Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eddie Huang hardly needs an introduction, but here's a shot. Eddie is a gifted writer, rap encyclopedia, film director, podcast host, best-selling author, and a pretty nice chef, too. Matt has known Eddie since his days coming up in New York City in the 2000s, running the iconic Baohaus and shaking up the food writing world in the process. Today he's back living in New York after spending years in California, and we get into his new restaurant project, Gazebo, which is running as a monthly pop-up series at The Flower Shop. We also talk about NYC dining culture then and now, and Eddie takes the TASTE Check. Legendary. Read some of Eddie's recent writing on Canal Street Dreams:The Long Island Iced Tea Can Save UsThe Restaurant Review ThingGazebo July MenuGet your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.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 a great conversation with Austin Tedesco. Austin is head of business development at Substack, but we think of him even more as an infinitely curious restaurant superfan. He's worked as a line cook and dines out with the frequency of our best critics. He writes about it all on his own Substack, Bangers & Jams, and we talk about his journey from NBA reporter to restaurant professional to helping promote the growth of authors on the Substack platform. Is Substack the future of food media? It's still early to say, and Austin gives some insight into how it all works. Read: Knife myths and realitiesSUPPORT A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE FOOD SUBSTACKS:SnaxshotThe Party CutDavid Lebovitz La BriffeSweet CityHome Cook with Karolyn PhoVittlesEverything CookbooksThe AngelRobert Sietsema's New YorkNonglutenA Newsletter by Alison RomanExpress CheckoutKitchen ProjectsCake ZineFood Time with Matt RodbardGet your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a lot of fun having Bill Oakley in the studio. Bill is a writer and “professional food enthusiast,” as he says. He's also a former head writer for The Simpsons and has also written for The Cleveland Show and Portlandia and created the series Mission Hill. We loved talking with Bill about all kinds of food topics and his latest obsessions. We discuss writing food into memorable episodes of The Simpsons and his unique way of touring the country for highly entertaining live events. Bill is a real original.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Larry's Ca Phe does refreshing matcha right, Chicago's Lula Cafe served the perfect asparagus dish, Aliza visited L'Industrie Pizzeria for the first time, Gary He, author of McAtlas, was on fire at the James Beard Awards. Also: Aliza is reading Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder, and Matt had a great time at The Great Nosh and recaps the amazing food.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly Mencin is the pastry chef and owner of Radio Bakery, a cult-followed destination for filled croissants and focaccia sandwiches with two locations in Brooklyn. Radio's offerings—and its lines—are legendary, and today on the show Kelly talks about opening Rolo's, transitioning to Radio, and their continued efforts to try and meet demand.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Noor Murad is a Bahrain-born, New York–trained, London-based chef and the author of the wonderful new cookbook Lugma. You may know her recipes from her time running the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen and contributing to the books Falastin, Shelf Love, and Extra Good Things. Now it's time to get to know Noor herself through this delicious collection of traditional and re-imagined dishes from Bahrain and beyond.Also on the show we catch up with Brian Voll, the creative force behind the innovative cookbook series Menus By Brian.Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was so much fun having Chris Morocco in the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about cooking, media, and his nearly two decades working at Condé Nast. Chris is the food director of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, overseeing the test kitchen team and the recipes they develop. In this episode, we go back to Chris's early career working at Vogue before landing an assistant job in the BA Test Kitchen. We go over how he currently leads the team and how they think about seasonality, taste, and getting people to cook more in this rapidly changing world. We're big fans of Chris's work, and it was exciting speaking with him.We're hosting a really cool live podcast event in Brooklyn on July 23, featuring Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic, visit the Bell House website.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Giusti is the founder and CEO of Brigaid, an organization bringing restaurant chefs to school cafeterias and senior centers. Formerly the head chef at Noma, he's now dedicated to providing delicious and healthy meals to 40 institutions across the country. This year alone, Brigaid expects to serve over a million meals. It's so special to have Dan in the studio to talk about growing up on Italian American classics, pivoting from Noma to Brigaid, and how all the work happens.Also on the show we have a terrific conversation with Adrian Miller. He's the author of a groundbreaking new book: Cooking to the President's Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History. We talk about how lesser-known Asian chefs have helped shape the food in the White House, and possibly policy.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's episode is really special: an eating and drinking survey of the wonderful city of Portland, Oregon. Matt visited recently and shares all his dining experiences, which span regional Thai, tasting menus, incredible pour-over coffee, and some '90s nostalgia. He also catches up with two legendary Portland chefs who share why their city is one of the nation's best.First up is Gabriel Rucker. He is the chef-owner of Le Pigeon and Canard and the winner of two James Beard Awards. He's also a cookbook author and a runner and has some nice skills on the links. We talk all about Le Pigeon's evolution over its nearly two decades in Portland.Next we speak with Earl Ninsom. He's the chef behind some of the city's top Thai restaurants, including Eem, Hat Yai, Yaowarat, and Langbaan, which was the winner of the 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. We talk about his early life in Portland and how tapping into specific Thai dishes, served with flair and ambition around the city, has brought him great success.Save our Google Map of all the places mentioned in the episode. This episode was supported by Travel Portland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rebecca Firkser is a writer, recipe developer, and food stylist based in Brooklyn. Her debut cookbook, Galette!, celebrates the highly riffable, always buttery pleasures of free-form tarts. In this episode, Rebecca and Aliza go deep on developing foolproof pastry recipes for nervous bakers like me, making a debut cookbook after years of working on others, and more. Also on the show, Matt catches up with Mitchell Davis to talk about the Great Nosh, a Jewish food and culture festival taking place on June 22 in New York City. They talk about the incredible lineup of chef collaborations, including Thai Diner x Katz's Deli, Caroline Schiff x Junior's Cheesecake, JP Park of Atoboy x Apollo Bagels, and Zahav x Ed Szymanski of Dame.While The Great Nosh is sold out, the festival has opened up additional tickets for the 2pm entry. Use the code TASTE to access the tickets at: thegreatnosh.comDo you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. 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 covering the nonalcoholic beer scene at TASTE for a minute, and it was a lot of fun having one of the most exciting names in the industry, Tate Huffard, in the studio. Tate is the founder of Best Day Brewing, which makes one of our favorite NA beers available today. Tate shares the story of the company, and how he's bringing NA versions of Kolsch and IPAs to the masses. We also zoom out and talk about the future of NA drinking and how craft beer drinkers are embracing cans and bottles and kegs of beer. If you were ever interested in how nonalcoholic beer is made and why you are starting to see more of it around, this is the episode for you.Also on the show, we have a great conversation with Rob Jensen. He's the co-founder of Chicago-based Visitor and we learn about the company's unique approach with NA beer. Think: Less is more. So much more. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Read more:It's Cool to Care About NA Beer [TASTE]The 9 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers to Stock Right Now [Seven Fifty Daily]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It's available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, Matt invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole.On today's episode, we have an amazing conversation with Tammie Teclemariam. Tammie writes as the Underground Gourmet at New York magazine and combs the city for the most exciting new and historical restaurants. We cover so many topics in this episode, including New York City's frozen yogurt boom, international chain restaurants, and whether Gen Z is really opposed to keeping a bar tab going. We also talk about the recent New York Times 100 Best Restaurants list as well as what Tammie is enjoying in the NYC food scene.Featured on the episode:7 New York City Slices in 5 Hours [Food Time with Matt Rodbard]This City Is Ready for Some Fro-Yo [New York Magazine]Gen Z Doesn't Want to Start a Bar Tab [NYT] A Chain Opening That's Worth Getting Excited About [New York Magazine] 100 Best Restaurants in New York City [NYT]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Woldy Reyes is a New York–based chef and founder of the boutique catering company Woldy Kusina. He's become known for creating modern, fashionable, plant-based food, and now he's sharing it in a debut cookbook: In the Kusina: My Seasonal Filipino Cooking. Today Woldy talks about the inspiration behind In the Kusina, his Filipino pantry essentials, karaoke, and more.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: The Meadow in Portland is our perfect store, a visit to Brooklyn's Taquería El Chato, Mush peanut butter and an overnight oats conversation. Also: Exceptional Thai tea at Nuar in Manhattan, In for Dinner by Rosie Kellett is out in August and giving 1990s Jamie Oliver, and Coqodaq knows what people want in NYC. 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 very fun episode highlighting one of the country's emerging culinary cities: Traverse City, Michigan. Located in Northern Michigan on the stunning shores of Lake Michigan, Traverse City has a restaurant and wine scene that attracts visitors from around the globe. And this August marks the debut of the Traverse City Food & Wine, running August 20–24. In this episode, we speak with some of the people who make Traverse City such a special place.First up we speak with Sarah Welch, a Top Chef finalist who ran the acclaimed restaurant Marrow in Detroit before moving to Traverse City to open a forthcoming restaurant with her husband, Cameron Rolka of Detroit's Mink. Next, we hear from Traverse City Food and Wine director Whitney Waara about the amazing event, with a lineup of chefs including Tyler Florence, Ji Hye Kim, Mei Lin, and Kate Williams. To close, we learn about Traverse City's growing wine region from Patrick Brys of Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery.For Traverse City Food & Wine tickets visit traversecityfoodandwine.com. This very special episode is supported by Traverse City Tourism and Pure Michigan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Roberts is back on the show, and we couldn't be happier to speak with him about his terrific debut novel, Food Person. You may know Adam from his pioneering food blog (now on Substack), The Amateur Gourmet, but we know him now as a fiction writer digging into the world we talk about often here on the show: food media, cookbooks, collaborations, and all the behind-the-scenes drama that can pop up therein. Adam has written an incredible universe in the novel, and we discuss how he wrote it and how cookbooks truly informed the writing process.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Chicago's Lao Peng You has an incredible house noodle soup, Overcompensating is our favorite new show, Betweener is an interesting energy drink alternative. Also: A visit to the new Mission Chinese in Manhattan's Chinatown, Lula Cafe remains a Chicago legend, Askinosie Chocolate is a favorite new chocolate company and puts the farmer front and center. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mehreen Karim a Brooklyn-based pop-up chef, recipe developer, and food writer. You may know her from seeing her compete on Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef, but today she's coming back on our show to talk about writing her first cookbook, Make It Plant-Based! Southern, and editing a larger plant-based cooking series. I always have so much fun catching up with our friend Mehreen, and this episode is no exception.Also on the show, TASTE contributor Vrinda Jagota stops by the studio to talk about two of her recent stories about the real-world effects of going viral: The Expansive, Absurdist Canvas of Tiramisu and Indian Pizza Is Extremely Online.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thank you to all of our listeners for helping us get to 600 episodes. If you like what we are doing, drop us a review on Apple or Spotify. Besha Rodell is a restaurant critic, columnist, and freelance reporter based in Melbourne, Australia. She is a James Beard Award winner and served as a critic at Creative Loafing, LA Weekly, and The Age. It was really great to have Besha in the studio to talk about her life as a critic, which she details in all its guts and glory in a terrific memoir, Hunger Like a Thirst. We talk about her time working in New York City restaurants and writing in the shadow of Jonathan Gold, who she followed as critic at LA Weekly during her time in Los Angeles. We also discuss the current restaurant reviewing scene and so much more.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Nepali Bhanchha Ghar is our momo rec in Queens, AOOA is our go-to Hudson Valley farm stop this summer, Aliza shares a home cooking update. Also: Blue Cove Preserves is doing great tinned branzino, we're pro-honey in a salad dressing, and Yes Plz and Camber is the coffee you should be subscribing to.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Read more:Leave Beets and Goat Cheese Alone [TASTE]Peanut Butter Beautiful [TASTE]How We Chose the World's Best Restaurants [Food & Wine]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is queer food? Today we're having a special roundtable discussion with the authors of two great new books unpacking the topic in exciting and unexpected ways: John Birdsall is the author of The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard and the wonderful new book What Is Queer Food?: How We Served a Revolution. Erik Piepenburg is a reporter and the author of Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants. I loved both of these books, and I'm so grateful for this lively conversation that looks to the past, present, and future of queer community.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It's available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, Matt Rodbard invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole.On today's episode, we have an amazing conversation with Jaya Saxena. Jaya is a correspondent at Eater, covering many topics including labor, queer food culture, and “why American potato chips are so boring.” She also serves as the series editor for the Best American Food and Travel Writing anthology, which has a new edition edited by Bryant Terry dropping in the fall.In this great episode, we talk about Jaya's career writing about the world of food, including her memorable piece for Eater, “The Food That Makes You Gay.” We also go over some recent stories and play the game “What would you pitch 1997 Graydon Carter?” That is, Jaya considers her dream no-budget reporting assignment.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Featured on the episode:Thomas Keller asked me to leave the French Laundry [SF Chronicle]We've All Been In Thomas Keller's Courtyard [Substack]The 22 Best Pizza Places in New York Right Now [New York Times]The Food That Makes You Gay [Eater]The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2025TASTE on YouTubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ali Domrongchai is a writer, recipe developer, and baker in Brooklyn. She's passionate about researching and uplifting Thai culinary traditions, from teaching luk chup workshops to popping up with pandan lemongrass mochi cake and other treats at restaurants around the city. It's so fun having Ali on the show to talk about the exciting state of Thai food in NYC, including her upcoming Thai Takeover at New York's Museum of Food and Drink on May 29.Also on the show we have a great conversation with Geraldine DeRuiter, author of a terrific essay collection, If You Can't Take the Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury. We talk about Mario Batali's cinnamon rolls, writing food into video games, and her truly unique way of writing about food and culture. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tasteland is a very cool podcast that offers creative takes on media, marketing, and technology from Daisy Alioto and Francis Zierer. Daisy is the CEO of Dirt Media, a next-generation entertainment brand using emerging technology to tell the coolest stories about culture and collecting. Francis is the editor of Creator Spotlight, a weekly newsletter about creators across the world of newsletters. Matt joins Daisy and Francis to talk all about media, the power of the podcast, and some of the work we do at TASTE.On this episode we hit many topics, including: Robert Sietsema on Substack, our fondness for Eater's editorial, the fast death of “text on the page”, the podcast is blogging/newsletters, Rob Martinez on YouTube, MacKenzie Chung Fegan's work at the San Francisco Chronicle, caring about “text on the page”, TASTE's Horses story, Big Art, MONEY, How Long Gone is a great food podcast, Camilla Marcus on payroll tax, cool NYC restaurants, visiting a restaurant week three. Also: Restaurant pop-up culture, old (good) evergreen stories, The Most by Jessica Anthony, Bad Waitress by Becca Schuh, Stissing House, Jordan Michelman's novel. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Betsy Andrews is a James Beard Award–winning journalist who edited at Saveur magazine during some of its most fruitful years. She's been traveling the Central California coast and staying there with family since childhood, and these travels are the topic of the terrific book she coauthored with the chef Scott Clark. Coastal: 130 Recipes from a California Road Trip is a wonderful read, and we talk about how Betsy turned road-tripping into such a colorful book. We also dig into Betsy's journalism career, reviewing restaurants for the New York Times, and her work at Saveur.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: A very special salad, Primis Imports is selling incredible Greek products, Momofuku Soy & Scallion Noodles leads to many possibilities. Also: Non-alcoholic sparkling cider from Rose Hill Farm, The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse playing off-Broadway is a riot, and Nice Cans is a new tinned fish of the moment.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Check out more episodes:This Is TASTE 323: We ❤️ Saveur with Dorothy KalinsThis Is TASTE 324: We ❤️ Saveur with Colman AndrewsThis Is TASTE 325: We ❤️ Saveur with Kat Craddock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We had a great time catching up with Leah Cohen. She's the chef-owner of the terrific Pig & Khao restaurants in New York City, with locations on the Upper West Side and Lower East Side. On this episode, we talk about her career and appearing on an early season of Top Chef. We also get into her struggles with identity as a kid, and how her Filipino and Jewish upbringing made her the chef she is today.Also on the show we have a great conversation with Barbara Costello. She of the popular @BrunchwithBabs social accounts and the new cookbook: Every Day with Babs: 101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the Week: A Cookbook.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Casey Elsass is a food writer, recipe developer, and cookbook author living in Brooklyn, New York. Known among his collaborators as the cookbook doula, Casey has helped birth over twenty titles, as co-author, ghostwriter, friend, and unlicensed therapist. He is the author of a terrific new cookbook, What Can I Bring?: Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life.Also on the show is chef and TV fixture Michael Symon. He's the author of Symon's Dinners Cooking Out: 100 Recipes That Redefine Outdoor Cooking. Yes, my guy has some really smart ideas on how to cook outside when hosting, or just cooking solo. We talk about about getting into a grilling practice at home. Smart stuff. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meera Sodha is a cook and food writer based in London. Meera's best-selling cookbooks and weekly Guardian column, The New Vegan, are some of my favorite sources of cooking inspiration, but like many people, she experienced burnout that led her to fall out of love with food. Today on the show, Meera talks about finding her way back into the kitchen and how that experience inspired her new book, Dinner, an honest and helpful guide to getting the most important meal of the day on the table. Also on the show we have a conversation with Susan Dominus. Susan is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine the author of a terrific new book, The Family Dynamic. We talk about how parents—and siblings—shape and fuel individual success, and focus on family a story with a Chinese restaurant at the center. We also talk about some of Susan's food-related work at the Times.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meredith Hayden is the author of the new bestselling The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook and she has quite the story to tell, which we get into in this great conversation. While working at Conde Nast, Meredith attended night culinary school and lived a double life of sorts—publishing worker during the day, line cook at night. We get into how she walked the tightrope and eventually landed as a private chef before launching a memorable, and might I say incredibly popular, TikTok account. The rest is history and it was a delight hearing Meredith talk about her story on the show.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: An i'm donut ? report, the Hudson Valley's Stissing House is as good as it's ever been, Jakarta Munch is a must-visit Urban Hawker stall in Midtown. Also: We book-clubbed The Most by Jessica Anthony in a weekend, it's lychee season, The Condiment Book is super smart, and some Portland, Oregon restaurant recs. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nina Compton is the chef and owner of three highly regarded restaurants in New Orleans: Compère Lapin, BABs, and Nina's Creole Cottage. Born in Saint Lucia, she honed her chops at many notable restaurants before appearing as the fan favorite on season 11 of Top Chef. Nina's new cookbook, Kwéyòl / Creole, written with Osayi Endolyn, is a true standout, tracing her culinary journey from growing up in Saint Lucia to Jamaica, Miami, and her adopted home of New Orleans. It's so special to have Nina in the studio to talk about making this book and her culinary career.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Pig & Khao, from Leah Cohen, is doing really interesting things on the Upper West Side, get to AbuQir in the Little Egypt section of Astoria, Menus By Brian is the coolest cookbook series. Also: A development in Aliza's kitchen and it's steaming, the great Yuzu Co. has a new line of drinks, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wants to open city-owned grocery stores. And as a P.S.: I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong is one of the most-representative restaurant culture novels in recent times. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It's available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, cohost Matt Rodbard invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole. On today's episode we have an amazing conversation with David Farley. Farley's a longtime food and travel writer with stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Afar, and many other publications. He's the author of An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's Oddest Town and we talk about some recent food writing and David's many travels. We also played “What would you pitch 1997 Graydon Carter?” That is, David considers his dream no-budget reporting assignment. Featured on this episode:This Is the Secret Michelin-Star Capital of the World [Afar]Is This the New Cocktail Capital of Europe? [NYT]The Dish Worth Traveling to Vietnam For (and It Isn't Pho) [Afar]Welcome to Reno, the Mighty Mecca of All-You-Can-Eat Sushi [NYT]Lucien Smith Gets a Job [NY Mag]Everyone Who Invented the Everything Bagel [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was really amazing to have Enrique Olvera in the studio. Olvera is the acclaimed Mexican chef behind Pujol in Mexico City, Cosme in New York (celebrating its 10th anniversary), and other acclaimed restaurants around the world. In this episode, Enrique shares his honest thoughts on how a global chef stays fresh, especially in the highly competitive restaurant scenes of New York and Mexico City. We also talk about the business of restaurants, which is always a hot topic with those running them. Also on the show, we catch up with Ken Concepcion, from the terrific Los Angeles bookstore Now Serving. We discuss the busy spring season and what types of books Ken is most excited about. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hawa Hassan is a chef, the founder of Basbaas Foods, and the author of the James Beard Award–winning cookbook In Bibi's Kitchen. She's spent the past several years writing an ambitious new book, Setting a Place for Us: Recipes and Stories of Displacement, Resilience, and Community from Eight Countries Impacted by War, and we had her in the studio to talk about her research and reporting process. Also on the show we have a great conversation with Maryam Jillani talking all about her amazing debut cookbook, Pakistan: Recipes and Stories from Home Kitchens, Restaurants, and Roadside Stands.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Read more:Hawa Hassan Shares the Spicy Somali Pasta [Vogue]Maryam Jillani: TASTE Cook In Residence [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Scarr's the best pizza in New York? Some may debate this, but if you ask anybody in the industry, Scarr Pimentel's shop on Orchard Street takes the prize. In this episode, Scarr joins us in the TASTE studio to talk about his deep NYC pizzeria history, his dedication to ingredients (to an extent many may not recognize), and his new cookbook, The Scarr's Pizza Cookbook.Also on the show, we have a great conversation with Craig Mod. Craig is a prolific writer, photographer, and author of a terrific new memoir, Things Become Other Things. Craig's walks around rural Japan are legend, and we talk about how walking allowed him to tap into a much deeper story. This interview was recorded live at Rizzoli Bookstore in New York City, and part of our ongoing live interview series with the bookseller.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar are partners in life and in two amazing New York City taquerias: Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint and Carnitas Ramirez in the East Village. Formerly professional photographers, the duo is dedicated to making some of the most delicious tacos in New York's ever-expanding scene, and it's so fun to have them on the show today to talk about how it all happens.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: The Observer's Guide to Japanese Vending Machines, coffee drinks with fruit at Not As Bitter in the East Village, How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea, Wenwen in Greenpoint is sprinkling the Taiwan dust. Also: A great new Substack, NONGLUTEN, tackles gluten-free cooking in a cool way, the Americano Bianco at Bar Americano is our spring drink. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. Read more:Taqueria Ramírez Brings a Mexico City Specialty to Brooklyn [New York Times]Our Gluten Rumspringa [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.