Food with Mark Bittman

The Pulitzer finalist and James Beard award winning journalist talks to Kate and Mark about how restaurant critics have to "split themselves"; being "accidentally anonymous" and how she became comfortable with telling that story; chasing curiosity; and how she went from a born and bred New Yorker to loving Detroit. Read Lyndsay's piece, "My year in review as Free Press restaurant critic: Accidenta...

The innovative chef talks to Kate about the importance of cultivating one's own identity, notably when it comes to food; why he's not in the business of nostalgia; his unique ability to read the taste of food; and his new memoir,  Good Taste.  PLUS: More from food stylist Barrett Washburne, who talks to Kate about wasted plate space, giving props to prop stylists, and how to style b...

The wildly popular chef and champion of good food talks to Mark about what's changed in his almost 25 years of cooking in the public eye, big picture food advice, and why there's room for optimism.  Find the recipes from today's episode at bittmanproject.com/recipe/jamie-olivers-charred-brussels/ and bittmanproject.com/recipe/jools-chocolate-dreams/ Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Appl...

Chef David Nayfield (and author of  Dad, What's for Dinner ?) and author and educator Aliza Sokolow join Kate to chat about the quirks of cooking for (and with) and feeding kids. On the table: simple ways to get kids involved and interested in cooking (and eating good food), remembering when ketchup counted as a vegetable in schools, and understanding your roles in your kids' eating habits an...

Impact/Justice's Leslie Soble, an internationally recognized voice on the carceral eating experience, talks to Kate and Mark about what eating in prison is really like. The three discuss food as an active form of punishment, the deep connection between the critical problems of hunger and food waste, creative things incarcerated people do to stay nourished, and the good work that select organi...

The chef and host of PBS's  Spirit Plate  talks to Kate and Mark about the moment she realized she didn't feel connected to the food she was cooking—and what she did to fix that, a dinner party that changed everything, why and how her conversations about food and culture with Native American youth around the country are so important, and one of her favorite Indigenous food traditions—coo...

In this episode from late 2022, the beloved restaurateurs behind New York's Via Carota and I Sodi talk to Kate and to guest host Melissa McCart about being a purist vs a regionalist, the supreme reign of artichokes, and how to buy good olive oil. Get Via Carota's recipes for Roasted Carrots, Spiced Yogurt, and Pistachios:  https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/carote-roasted-carrots-spiced-yogurt...

The director—and the first Indonesian-American filmmaker to qualify for an Oscar!—chats with Kate and Mark about his new autobiographical short film,  Daly City.  Nick talks about what his parents thought about the film, why the biggest challenge of making the film was finding the actors, and the themes within—notably the internal conflict of the model minority and the bittersw...

Bestselling—and much beloved—food writer Dorie Greenspan (new book: Dorie's Anytime Cakes) talks to Kate and her old pal Mark. Get ready for lots of reminiscing about the "old days" of food writing—when there was no internet! The three also talk about finding the ultimate end-of-day joy in cooking and baking, trying unexpected ingredients in baking, and the creativity that can be found in a s...

In this unreleased episode from 2023, Mark visits Diane Kochilas at her home in Greece; the two talk about Ikaria eating, how Greek cooking and cuisine has changed over the last couple decades—and where it seems to be heading, and why chefs in Greece have less emotional baggage (which could be a good or a bad thing, depending on which way you look at it). Read an excerpt from Diane Kochilas's&nbsp...

The chef and activist talks to Kate and Mark about how school lunches have changed over the years—and how they haven't, why (and how) there shouldn't be a "middle man" when schools purchase food for lunches; the "most important people in this country"—teachers and farmers; and how we can realistically make her longstanding vision for kids' relationship with food a reality. Subscribe to Food with M...

In this revisiting of a 2024 episode, chef and author Fadi Kattan talks to Mark and Kate about the dangers of simplifying reality; why we should recognize and champion origin, and how doing so is a lesson in humility; the effect the Israeli conflict has had on agriculture; and his cookbook, Bethlehem.  We're sharing two recipes from Bethlehem on the Bittman Project – Fig Salad,...

Paul Schiefer, President of Amy’s Kitchen, and Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder of Environmental Working Group, talk to Kate and Mark about scaled organic as a sustainability solution; what, specifically, makes Amy’s cooking stand out; how conventional agriculture weakens prices; and making organic easier and more accessible to all. Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,...

The writer and food historian talks to Kate and Mark about the "secret" language that belongs to Southern people, the problem with fantasizing about your Bubby's recipes, the two-sidedness of Southern cooking, and where to find the best food in the South.  Read an excerpt from Michael Twitty's  Recipes from the American South  on  The Bittman Project :  https://bittmanproj...

Journalist Julia Belluz and scientist Kevin Hall talk to Mark about their new book,  Food Intelligence:  why there's such a big gap between food science and diet fads, how the effects of our 'food environments' determine how much we eat and how much it changes our biology, and how our public outcry over the unjustness of our food system is apolitical—but is made political. Subscribe...

The founder of Late July Snacks and Nixie talks to Mark and Kate about why it's so important to create brands that stand for something meaningful; why she walked away from so many sales opportunities; how her parents' (her father founded Cape Cod Potato Chips and her mother owned a natural food store) beliefs and morals are deeply ingrained in her brands; and being the kid who went on a macrobioti...

In recent years, the state of Iowa has had the second-highest rate of cancer in the US; it's also one of only two states where cancer rates are increasing. This alarming rise in disease is the crux of a new initiative that is pinpointing agricultural chemicals as a key suspect in this uptick. Today, Mark talks to Adam Shriver, Director of Wellness and Nutrition at the Harkin Institute (and head of...

Mavis-Jay Sanders, Culinary Director of the new nonprofit restaurant Community Kitchen (launching September 19!) and Mark Bittman, Founder of Community Kitchen (and, of course, co-host of this podcast) talk to Kate about how they're bringing awe and joy to their dining room; the specifics around how the team collaborates; the supreme importance of ingredients; and Community Kitchen's potential to...

Rae Gomes, Executive Director of the new nonprofit restaurant Community Kitchen (launching September 19!) and Mark Bittman, Founder of Community Kitchen (and, of course, co-host of this podcast) talk to Kate about the revolutionary restaurant's launch: exactly how they're making top tier chef prepared meals accessible, what success in the self described "money losing" venture would look like, how...

Andrea Nguyen and her mom, Clara, talk to Mark and Kerri about what it was like coming from Vietnam to the US in 1975, rediscovering how people ate in the past—but doing so with a modern twist, why the Mediterranean diet is problematic, and rice paper gamechangers. Get Andrea's recipe for Char Siu Roasted Cauliflower on the Bittman Project:  https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/andrea-nguye...

Founder and President of Community Grains Bob Klein and biochemist David Killilea—both self-professed "wheat nerds"—talk to Mark about a pioneering study conducted by David that examines whether food labeled as "whole grain" is, actually, whole grain (and which company is actually doing it right); why you're probably not eating actual whole wheat when you think you are; the meaning of "dead wheat"...

The founder of Fair Trade USA talks to Mark about why he consciously chose the world of commerce as his vehicle for change—and why it's relatively easy to move companies in the right direction; why the glimpses of future behavior being showcased by Millennials and Gen Zers should be viewed positively; how to dissect conscious capitalism; and how, without being too Pollyanna-ish, we should be takin...

In this revisited episode, from last year, the thoughtful and talented chef Lelani Lewis talks to Mark and Kate about why she named her dinner series and cookbook Code Noir, after a monstrous set of French regulations put into effect by Louis XIV; why some island cultures gradually veer towards the cultural homogeneity of the US; why pulling on heartstrings is sometimes the best way; and her showb...

The up and coming queen of ice cream talks to Mark and Kate about how her ice cream brand, Malai, mimics her childhood; what it means to build your own culture; sourcing intentionally with no shortcuts—and why having a values-driven business is so important to her; and why her parents are the best people ever (and her #1 fans).  The Bittman Project is featuring three recipes from Pooja Bavish...

The CEO of Whole Foods Market and VP Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores talks to Mark and Kate about growing up as a 4H kid and how that's influenced him; how he's trying to change grocery shopping; how Gen Z is going to shift demand and interest in more sustainable practices; and Whole Foods and MAD Agriculture's new initiative—one that aims to change biodiversity at a macro level and strengthen the...