Chasing Stars

In this episode... This week we celebrate all things pub snack with the classic Scotch Egg from Chef Dominica Chapman. Boak, Jessica, and Ray Bailey. “What’s the History of Bar Snacks?” Boak & Bailey’s Beer Blog, 15 Jan. 2015. Agha, Huma. “Plight of the Pickled Onion: How Pub Snacks Went from Simple Nosh to Properly Posh.” The Guardian, 30 Sept. 2021. “Exceptionally Well-Preserved Snack Bar Un...

In this episode... In this episode of Chasing Stars join on a unique savory pancake journey to Japan. It's got cabbage. It's got fish. It's got a ton of sauce, it's okonomiyaki. “Okonomiyaki History.” Okonomiyaki World. “Okonomiyaki: Japan’s Savory Pancake.” Nippon.com. “About Rekishi Monogatari.” Sengoku Daimyo. McMahon, Jeff. “Beyond the Bomb: Hiroshima’s Beloved Okonomiyaki...

In this episode... Join us for pancakes two ways - Palascinta from Jeremy Salamon and a blueberry pancake cocktail from The Aviary.  Hubbell, Diana. “‘Second Generation’ Makes Recipes That Survived World War Sparkle.” Atlas Obscura, 18 Sept. 2024 Jeremy Salamon. jeremysalamon.com “Heston’s Pancakes with Bacon-Infused Maple Syrup.” Waitrose, archived 13 Feb. 2016 “Jeff Galvin’s Pancake Recipe.” MIC...

In this episode... we pit a traditional Russian marshmallow against a Michelin star one. Join Sarah and Doug as they do their best to make a light, sticky and tasty marshmallow treat. “The History of Marshmallows (Plus 2 Recipes to Try).” Forgotten Skillz, 2023. “Marshmallow.” A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition, edited by David A. Bender, Oxford University Press, 2014. Kawash, Samira. Candy: A Cen...

In this episode... Doug and Sarah are back for Season 2. It's a new year and the same us and on this weeks episode we talk about one of the oldest new years resolutions and make the rather dubious 1980's dessert: Jello 1-2-3.  Cooper, Peter. "Improvement in the Preparation of Portable Gelatine." United States Patent, no. US4084A, 20 June 1845. Google Patents. “Anyone Remember t...

In this episode Sarah and Doug recap the best and the worst of what they've made this year - and we finally manage to crack open the fruitcake we made for our Christmas in July episode. Tune in to hear what we liked the best and least from this years recipes and where we might take things in the future. Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right Producer: Will Ellesson Audio Consult...

In this episode Doug and Sarah delve into the history of this fiery dessert and work on recreating Stu Deeley's Baked Alaska - a delicious orange and ginger ice cream enrobed in lusciously torched Italian meringue. This is absolutely the perfect showy dessert for the holiday season! Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right Producer: Will Ellesson Audio Consultant: Ben Staub Cover...

In this episode... Nothing says holiday season baking quite like cookies. Join us for two cookie recipes - Polvorones from Katie Button and Holiday Spite Cookies from our own Doug, who wishes you all a very Merry Spitemas. This special recipe is based on a Christmas Pudding Crunch biscuit originally sold at Marks and Spencer. Bernstein, William J. A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World. A...

In this episode... Doug and Sarah celebrate the Scandinavian holiday of St. Lucia Day (December 13) with traditional saffron buns.  O’Brien, Sam. “Detangling the Devilish Origins of Scandinavia’s St. Lucia Buns.” Atlas Obscura, 11 Dec. 2020. “Saffron Buns.” British Food: A History, 20 June 2025. “St. Lucia’s Day.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2025. Samuelsson, Marcus. “Saint Lucia Saffron Roll...

In this episode... The carrot may be humble but we have elevated it to a holiday star of the show in the final episode of our Sides That Don't Suck series. Bender, David A. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2009. Touwaide, Alain, and Emanuela Appetiti. “Herbs in History: Carrot.” American Herbal Products Association, Sept. 2024. Coe, Kevin, et al. “Carrot D...

In this episode... A bonus mini episode featuring a recipe from Jimmy Protitt's new cook book, check it out now! Proffitt, Jimmy. The Appalachian Tale [@theappalachiantale]. Instagram, 2025 Proffitt, Jimmy. The Appalachian Tale. The Appalachian Tale, 2025. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025. Proffitt, Jimmy. “Jimmy Proffitt Turns Out Something Sweet.” Southern Cast Iron, 9 Nov. 2021. Accessed 26 Sept. 20...

In this episode... Get ready to elevate your holiday game on our second episode in the Sides that don't suck series - stuffing. It's a holiday classic with origins in Ancient Rome. Join Doug and Sarah for stuffing, or is it dressing, to wow your guests this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tomczak, Sylvia “The Ancient Roman Origins of Stuffing” Tasting Table, 11 Nov 2022 “Dressing, Stuffing o...

In this episode... The first ep of our mini series sides that don't suck - helping you elevate your holiday side dishes. This week? Potatoes! “Horrific Tales of Potatoes That Caused Mass Sickness and Death” – Smithsonian Magazine “How the Potato Changed the World” – Smithsonian Magazine “Potatoes Were Not Just a Symbol of the Elite in Ancient Peru” – Forbes “Potato History and the Legacy of M...

In this episode... It's our first halloween episode and what better way to celebrate than with hors d'ouvers and satanism? Tune in as Sarah and Doug talk all about deviled eggs. "Deviled Eggs" article from The Republic “Sauce for Soft-Boiled Eggs” from Apicius 7.17.3 Dalby, Andrew. Food in the Ancient World. Routledge, 2003. Faas, Patrick. Around the Roman Table. University of...

In this episode... We hope this 70's classic gets stuck in your head because yes, we are still singing it. McLaughlin, Martyn. “The Scots Family Who Owned 10,000 Slaves.” Martyn McLaughlin, https://martynmclaughlin.com/columns/the-scots-family-who-owned-10000-slaves/ Glasse, Hannah. The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy. 1784. Archive.org, https://archive.org/details/artcookerymadep00glasgoo...

In this episode... What does comfort food mean to you? For the people of South Africa, it's arguably a heady mix of spices, fruit and custard. Did we mention this dish is actually savoury?  "Jan Hendrik." JAN Online, janonline.com. . Accessed 16 July 2025. "JAN." MICHELIN Guide, guide.michelin.com. . Accessed 16 July 2025. "Patina of Fillets of Hake." Romans in B...

In this episode...Did Sarah and Doug find the perfect finger food? Tune in to listen to more cheesy goodness and see how fancy finger food can get. “Revealed: First Three Michelin-Star Female Chef.” The Telegraph, 2008. Core by Clare Smyth. Clare Smyth, www.corebyclaresmyth.com. . Accessed 9 July 2025. Smyth, Clare, et al. Core. Phaidon Press, 2022. Prospect Books. “PPC 073 July 2003.” Prospect Bo...

In this episode... Is it possible to make any dish vegan? On this weeks episode Sarah and Doug do their best to recreate this dish from 11 Madison Park. Power, R. C. , Salazar-García, D. C. , Straus, L. G. , Gonzalez Morales, M. R. , & Henry, A. G. (2015). Microremains from El Mirón Cave human dental calculus suggest a mixed plant-animal subsistence economy during the Magdalenian in Northern I...

In this episode... What can be more classically American than milk and cookies? Join us for a twist as we explore Corn Cookies and Cereal Milk Ice Cream from Chef Christina Tosi. Momofuku Noodle Bar – New York. MICHELIN Guide Tosi, Christina. “Christina Tosi’s 5 Rules for Baking.” The Kitchn, 6 Dec. 2011 Tosi, Christina. Christina Tosi. Tosi, Christina. Milk Bar Life: Recipes & Stories: A Cook...

In this episode... Is creme brulee actually English or is it Spanish? Join Sarah and Doug as they investigate the various claims and see if the outcome happens to be as tasty as we can expect. Massialot, François. Le nouveau cuisinier royal et bourgeois. Widow Prudhomme, 1738 "Crème Brûlée." Coquinaria "Raphael." Le De Sales "Chef Raphael Francois: Michelin Stars in London...

In this episode... Today we celebrate the feast day of polymath saint Hildgard von Bingen with her recipe for Cookies of Joy, and a more palatable modern version. Cadden, Joan. “It Takes All Kinds: Sexuality and Gender Differences in Hildegard of Bingen's Book of Compound Medicine.” Traditio, vol. 40, 1984, pp. 149–174. Cambridge University Press Maddocks, Fiona. Hildegard of Bingen. Faber &a...

In this episode... Join us for a celebration of Basque food and culture with a modern classic - Basque Cheesecake. Sarah and Doug make two versions - the original recipe from Santiago Rivera and a Chasing Stars version with smoked rhubarb. "Basque Heritage: Who Are the Basques?" MyHeritage Education, MyHeritage "Basque Country (greater region)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia...

In this episode... we dive into some medieval madness as our hosts attempt to make something that reseambes fruit, but is actually made of meat. Join Doug and Sarah for part two of our exploration of foie gras as we make Heston Blumenthal's Meat Fruit.  "Meat Fruit" Signature Dishes, signaturedishes.net The Heston Blumenthal Team. Instagram Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne. History of Fo...

In this episode... Join Doug and Sarah for a special two part episode featuring Faux Fois Gras from LG Han as we prepare for Heston Blumenthal's showstopping Meat Fruit. Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne. History of Food. Rev. ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 1994 Ginor, Michael A. Foie Gras: A Passion. Wiley, 1999 Athenaeus. Deipnosophistae. University of Chicago, penelope.uchicago.edu. Toaff, Ariel. "O...

In this episode... Doug and Sarah celebrate the National Lentil Festival with Lentils a la Française from Chef Michael Caines, no not the actor guy. Emett, Josh. The Recipe: Classic Dishes for the Home Cook from the World's Best Chefs. Hardcover ed., Rizzoli Universe Promotional Books, 22 Mar. 2022. Great British Chefs. "Chicken with Lentils à la Française Recipe." Great British Che...