Proof

Food & Cooking Podcasts

A disappearing food franchise. The story behind how a Vietnamese spring roll ended up on the menu of Senegalese restaurants. We take America's Test Kitchen's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking narratives about food and drink. This is not a recipe show. And this is not a show about celebrity chefs or what they like to eat. Proof plunges into history, culture, science, and the psyche to uncover the hidden backstories that feed your food-obsessed brain. Hosted by Kevin Pang. A production of America's Test Kitchen.

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Location:

United States

Description:

A disappearing food franchise. The story behind how a Vietnamese spring roll ended up on the menu of Senegalese restaurants. We take America's Test Kitchen's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking narratives about food and drink. This is not a recipe show. And this is not a show about celebrity chefs or what they like to eat. Proof plunges into history, culture, science, and the psyche to uncover the hidden backstories that feed your food-obsessed brain. Hosted by Kevin Pang. A production of America's Test Kitchen.

Language:

English

Contact:

6172321000

Episodes

Going Deep on Italian Beef on City Cast Chicago

2/2/2023
Kevin gives City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran a behind-the-scenes look at the making of our Proof episode on the World’s Greatest Italian Beef. Catch City Cast Chicago every weekday and wherever you get your podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:14:46

The World’s Greatest Italian Beef

1/12/2023
One of the hottest TV shows of the past year was FX’s The Bear, about a fine-dining chef who takes over the family Italian Beef sandwich business in Chicago. Host Kevin Pang is a former food critic in the Windy City, having consumed hundreds of Beefs. In this episode, Kevin attempts to engineer the World’s Greatest Italian Beef sandwich. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:58:57

The Amazing Adventures of Poppop’s Bread

12/15/2022
Reporter Halley Bondy came upon an autobiography written by her grandfather, who she called Poppop. His life was astonishing: Poppop grew up in the grips of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, escaping fascism to create a new life for his family. As part of his new life in America, Poppop brought over a semi-sweet braided bread called vanocka eaten every Christmas Eve. In Proof's holiday episode, an amazing story about family, war, escape, and a very special bread. Proof will be back in January...

Duration:00:50:54

The Proof Intervention of Brian Franklin

12/8/2022
America's Test Kitchen PR Director Brian Franklin's job? Spread the good word about the delicious food the company creates. There's just one problem: Brian has the palate of a 5-year-old (his words!). On this episode, the producers of Proof stage an intervention. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:54:21

Food Accidents

12/1/2022
A breakfast cereal created by religious leaders. Chicken wings, infidelity, and revenge. In this episode, two foods we know and love born from accidents. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:49:20

When Old-Fashioned Candy Was New

11/17/2022
Travel writer Doug Mack felt trapped. Winter was approaching in Minnesota. Another surge of lock-downs and travel restrictions loomed. Staring at his blank passport pages, Doug turns to his keyboard and encounters a Twitter post about ... strawberry bon bons. In this episode, we take a trip into the colorful world of old-timey candies. Voice acting by: Darlene from The Voice Realm, Kevin Pang, and Jon McCormack. The “King William” recording is from the John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection...

Duration:00:46:55

Should I Cook For My Dog?

11/10/2022
We think long and hard about what we feed our families. What about our canine friends? In this episode, reporter Varud Gupta goes on a quest to feed his Jack Russell Terrier mix, Luna. Not satisfied with standard dog food, Varud wants to know: Should I cook for Luna? He talks to eccentric dog parents, dog chefs, vets, and pet influencers to navigate the dizzying world and history of pet food. (Please consult a vet before making any decisions about your dog or pet’s diet.) See Privacy...

Duration:00:49:48

Season 12 Starts November 10!

10/27/2022
In Season 12 of Proof from America's Test Kitchen, we're bringing you stories from wartime Czechoslovakia to an Italian beef shop in Chicago. Meet eccentric dog owners and pet personalities as we investigate whether or not we should cook for our dogs. We search for connection down a rabbit hole of old-fashioned candies. The Proof staff stage an intervention to expand an America's Test Kitchen's colleague's food repertoire. All that, and so much more on the new season of Proof. Episode 1...

Duration:00:01:18

Best of Proof: Cheater Cheater Chili Eater

10/13/2022
This week, we bring you a story of a major scandal in 2003 at a Texas chili cook-off. A newcomer turns in a cup of chili to the judges filled with samples of everyone else’s chili mixed together. And then, he wins first place. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:42:26

Best of Proof: Oyster Mushroom Revolution

10/6/2022
This week, we bring back another all-time favorite episode about a fungi and its critical role in one of the fastest growing economies in Central Africa. Set in the thriving tech hub of Rwanda, oyster mushrooms are at the center of this story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:38:34

Best of Proof: The Plan to Kill the Chinese Restaurant

9/29/2022
This week, we bring back a listener favorite that dives into the consequences of a legislation that tried to prohibit young white women from eating at chop suey houses. This episode tells the story of an organized effort to wipe out Chinese eateries altogether and how these restaurants survived in spite of it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:38:21

Best of Proof: Celery

9/22/2022
This week, we bring back Proof's very first episode, which takes a deep dive into the former “it” vegetable of the Victorian era: Celery. Before it was relegated to a bloody Mary garnish, celery was considered a status symbol and displayed proudly on restaurant menus and well-to-do families’ tablescapes. So what caused the vegetable’s fall from grace? And is it poised for a comeback? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

Duration:00:38:45

Proof's Guide to Hangovers

9/15/2022
What's actually going on in our bodies when we experience a hangover? In this last episode of the season, host Kevin Pang takes you through a Bill Nye The Science Guy-esque journey. Got an idea for a story you want us to cover in a future episode? Got a suggestion? Let us know by filling out our Season 11 survey! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6979373/Proof-Season-11-Survey Proof listeners will get 10% off their order when they go to saffifoods.com/proof. Get their Zero-Waste line of...

Duration:00:40:38

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Meals

9/8/2022
Bigma's Blackberry Pie. A warming bowl of chicken pho. Diner coffee, and a nostalgic meal at a Chinese restaurant in Japan. On this episode of Proof, the staff bring you stories of their ultimate favorite foods and meals. We here at Proof are always thinking of ways to make our show better. Got an idea for a story you want us to cover in a future episode? Got a suggestion? Fill out our Season 11 survey here! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6979373/Proof-Season-11-Survey Proof listeners...

Duration:01:12:42

The Food Court is Now in Session

9/1/2022
Ever wish you could settle--once and for all--the question of whether triangular-shaped pizzas are better than square-shaped pies? The Court of Historical Review in San Francisco once decided pressing cases on pop culture, sports controversies, and of course, food. Where was the fortune cookie created? Does the San Francisco bagel live up to its rival, the New York bagel? Reporter Eliza Rothstein talks to judges, experts, and plaintiffs as the gavel hits the sounding block. See Privacy...

Duration:00:53:44

15 Dapper Acres

8/25/2022
What does it mean to be a dapperqueer homesteader? Author M Shelly Conner explores this question as she recounts her move from the city life in Chicago, Illinois to Conway, Arkansas, where she begins her journey of living off the land. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:40:00

Chicago's Original Fried Chicken

8/18/2022
Host Kevin Pang takes a trip to the Southside of Chicago to tell the story of Chicago's most famous culinary exports--and it's not about deep-dish pizza or hot dogs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:38:44

Dungeons and Dragons and Deviled Eggs

8/11/2022
Ever wish you could spend the day immersed in the fantasy worlds from your book, show, or game? Meet the characters, travel the land - or if you’re like most of us at Proof - eat the food? From the Legend of Zelda to Dungeons and Dragons, reporter Sarah Vitak talks to the fan cookbook authors who are transforming pixelated foods into irl dishes you can serve on your plate. Check out Aimee’s cookbook, The Unofficial Legend of Zelda Cookbook. Learn more about Ashley and Isaac's Dungeons and...

Duration:00:42:01

The Vanishing Ants

8/4/2022
Leafcutter ants have been a traditional Colombian food for millennia, long predating Spanish colonization. But the ants, eaten by Colombians since the indigenous Guane peoples inhabited the area of Santander, are now in peril. What does the future hold for this ancient food source? Reporter Camilo Garzón reports. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duration:00:38:37

Strawberry Fields, Forever?

7/28/2022
As one of the most commonly consumed berries in the world, strawberries are a beloved household snack. But this soft, sweet fruit has a rocky history. From immigration to incarceration, Japanese Americans are integral to the California Strawberry origin story. Through three generations of Japanese strawberry farmers, reporter Hannah Kirshner brings us a story of ingenuity and resilience. To learn more about Japanese Americans and Strawberry farming, read: A Taste for StrawberriesStrawberry...

Duration:00:49:56

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