Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

We chat with chef David Chang about golf, the brutal first months of Momofuku and why he loves really good cheap food. Plus, we dive into the bizarre history of drinking around the world; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of “A Way With Words” give us a lesson on food names that double as cooking instructions; and we share a recipe for the best stewed beans you’ll ever make. (Originally aired September 18, 2020.) Get the recipe for Mexican Stewed Beans with Salsa...

Author Danielle Dreilinger tells us the surprising history of home economics. We hear about its origins as a scientific movement that wanted to change the world and find out how it brought us Betty Crocker, astronaut food and the Rice Krispies treat. Plus, listeners share their Home Ec memories, lessons and tales of disaster. Also on the show: Kim Severson of the New York Times explores the rise of hydroponic farming, we get a lesson in Palestinian home cooking from Nadia Gilbert, and we...

We ride the railroads of India with Maneet Chauhan to sample chaat: snacks like warm carrot pudding and chili-fried potatoes served at street stalls and train stations. Plus, Shannon Mustipher gives us a taste of tiki cocktails and culture; Bianca Bosker explains the appeal of ultra-peaceful cooking shows; and we make hearty Ethiopian-Style Chickpea Stew. (Originally aired October 9, 2020.) Get the recipe for Ethiopian Chickpea Stew:...

Science writer Nicola Temple tells us that processed food isn’t just a modern invention responsible for Wonder Bread and Pringles. She breaks down the history of food processing, from the first time our ancestors cooked with fire to the cutting-edge technology of today. Plus, we chat with sixth-generation farmer Matthew Raiford about oyster roasts, reezy-peezy and other staples of Gullah Geechee cuisine; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette give us their favorite apple-based expressions; and we...

Writer Daniel Genis tells us how he learned to cook in prison with limited tools and ingredients, from fried fish and dumplings to pasta cooked on a rewired hot pot. Plus, spirits expert Yolanda Shoshana reveals how cognac became a part of Black history, Dr. Aaron Carroll tells us why coconut oil might not be as healthy as we think, and we make chicken fricase from Puerto Rico. Get this week's recipe, Chicken Fricase with Tomatoes, Potatoes and Carrots:...

Journalist Rebecca Rosman tells us about the feuds and lawsuits surrounding France’s top-secret steak sauce. Plus, we chat with Saturated Ice Cream founder Lokelani Alabanza, who invents new ice cream flavors, from peanuts and coke to Nashville hot chicken; we make Mexican Sweet Corn Cake; and Alex Aïnouz tells us why we should forget homemade sourdough and bake white bread instead. (Originally aired August 27, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Mexican Sweet Corn Cake:...

This week, we chat with TikTok star and expert forager Alexis Nikole Nelson about the most delicious weeds in your backyard, the joys of mushroom jerky and her cross-country journey to make seaweed panna cotta. Plus, Kevin Fortey takes us inside the competitive world of giant vegetable growing, J. Kenji López-Alt reveals the secret to perfect French fries, and we make Italian Flourless Chocolate Torta. Get this week's recipe for Italian Flourless Chocolate...

This week, Hollywood star and restaurateur Danny Trejo shares his culinary inspirations and tips for amazing tacos. Plus, Gena Renaud of Yume Confections teaches us about the art of wagashi, Alex Aïnouz dives into the world of meatballs, and we roast a chicken the Nigella Lawson way. (Originally aired July 10, 2020.) Get this week's recipe, Coriander-Roasted Chicken: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/coriander-roasted-chicken We want to hear your culinary tips! Share your cooking...

On this week's dessert-themed show, we chat with Nadiya Hussain about her quest for the perfect brownie, a hack for bread pudding and how she almost faked her death to avoid going on “The Great British Bake Off.” Plus, chef Ana Sortun brings us the story of Turkey’s greatest baklava bakery, Adam Gopnik analyzes amusing dessert names, and we learn to make Plum Cake with Spiced Almond Crumble. Get this week's recipe for Plum Cake with Spiced Almond Crumble:...

This week, we explore the cooking of Colombia with Mariana Velásquez, from homemade arepas to the influence of Middle Eastern ingredients like sesame and labneh. Plus, we explore the secret world of creating food emojis with artist Yiying Lu, Adam Gopnik ponders the elements of dinner, and we present a recipe for Spicy and Sour Julienned Potato Salad with Sichuan Pepper. Get this week's recipe for Spicy and Sour Julienned Potato Salad with Sichuan Pepper:...

Al Roker cooks for Daniel Boulud, talks about on-set disasters at the “Today” show, explains why sandwiches are his go-to conversation starter and wonders why Goofy wears pants but Pluto doesn’t. Plus, we dive into the world of pies and baking competitions with Chris Taylor and Paul Arguin; we get a lesson in the language of leftovers from Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette; and we present a recipe for a sweet and tangy Austrian Plum Cake. (Originally aired July 31, 2020.) Get this week's...

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. See...

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....

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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 See acast.com/privacy for...

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...

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...