Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

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 connecti...

We chat with superstar chef Aarón Sánchez about finding food, finding love and finding himself. Plus, we discover the history and nuance of the martini cocktail; we share our recipe for Norwegian salmon; and Dan Pashman makes a case for picky eaters. (Originally aired on January 3, 2020.) Get the recipe for Baked Salted Salmon with Dill:  https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/norwegian-baked-salte...

Experimental psychologist Charles Spence introduces us to gastrophysics, the science of how the brain melds color, smell and sound to create powerful multisensory taste experiences. Plus, Nicola Twilley investigates the rise of alternative sugars; Alex Aïnouz goes on a hunt for the ultimate knife; and we offer a recipe inspired by Tel Aviv’s Shlomo & Doron, where hummus gets a Mexican twist. G...

Chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi chats about cooking soup for his aging father, why he pours pancake batter with gochujang over asparagus and how his sense of food presentation was inspired by food stalls in Jerusalem. Plus, we hear from Rev. Heber Brown III about the historical relationship between Black churches and Black farmers; Bianca Bosker discusses the everlasting reign of Cheerios i...

Many of us still miss Julia Child, but YouTube star Maangchi is an excellent substitute. Today, we discuss Korean home cooking, the best way to clean an octopus and her favorite food, the sea squirt. Plus, we discover what and how ancient Minoans cooked; Alex Aïnouz wonders if we should all have a 3D printer in our kitchens; and we share our recipe for Savory Bread Pudding. (Originally aired Decem...

This week, Jamie Oliver chats about how drumming kept him out of trouble as a teenager, what his dad taught him about hard work and how his cooking is heavily influenced by traditional English fare. Plus, Nick Hall investigates the world of novelty potato chip flavors; we whip up a chocolate-hazelnut cream cake; and Dan Pashman rethinks s’mores. Get the recipe for Chocolate-Hazelnut Cream Cake:  h...

Cookbook author Durkhanai Ayubi tells us how the Silk Road shaped the food and history of Afghanistan, from Mongolian dumplings to the life-changing braised eggplant at her family’s restaurant, Parwana. Plus, we sample Cajun seafood from the coast of Louisiana with chef Melissa Martin; Adam Gopnik waxes poetic about New York’s greenmarkets; and we make a dish inspired by Palestinian maftoul. Get t...

Linguist Dan Jurafsky investigates the language of food, from the hidden meaning of adjectives on restaurant menus to the psychological attraction of brand names like Cheerios and Pop-Tarts. Plus, we hear how gospel star Mahalia Jackson became famous for her fried chicken franchise; J. Kenji López-Alt gives us tips on how to get young kids to eat adventurously; and we make crispy German Pork Schni...

Can your significant other’s food preferences become a nonstarter when searching for marital bliss? Reporter Emily Thomas of “The Food Chain” introduces us to three couples who are learning to make peace despite their domestic culinary wars. Plus, we explore kaiseki with Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama; Dan Pashman rails against avocado toast; and we share our recipe for Chewy Molasses Spic...

We’re celebrating Thanksgiving with friends old and new. Andrea Nguyen shares her family traditions, inspired by the Vietnamese Moon Festival; pie experts Chris Taylor and Paul Arguin put a new spin on classic desserts; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette give us a language lesson on Thanksgiving Day; Rachael Ray, Maneet Chauhan, Maangchi, David Lebovitz and more chefs, authors and friends recount t...

We chat with chef and TV host Marcus Samuelsson about his childhood in Ethiopia, his adoption by Swedish parents and the rich complexity of the Black experience in America, from cooking to culture. Plus, Joe Berkowitz reveals secrets from the little-known world of cheesemaking; Bianca Bosker gives us a history lesson on the humble fork; and we make hearty Soupe au Pistou.  Get the recipe for Soupe...

This week, we’re talking carnitas, barbacoa and al pastor with Javier Cabral, associate producer for the Netflix documentary series “Taco Chronicles.” He describes some of the more unusual tacos he has encountered as a “taco scout,” how to eat a dozen tacos a day and the rise of the $15 gourmet taco. Plus, we get an in-depth look at the life and legacy of James Beard; Adam Gopnik walks us through...

Every day, zoo chef Stacy Kyles prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner for 600 animals at the Oakland Zoo. This week, we chat about how she feeds the pickiest eaters, how she celebrates birthdays at the zoo and what everyone eats—from watermelon-licking lions to smoothie-guzzling primates. Plus, we discover Tokyo’s Neapolitan pizza scene; we make a Greek-style risotto; and Dr. Aaron Carroll demystif...

We get a lesson in the science of flavor from Nik Sharma. He explains why he might consider fat to be its own flavor—just like sweet, sour, salty and bitter—and reveals the chemistry behind some of his best recipes, like spareribs in malt vinegar. Plus, Kim Severson explains how the pandemic has changed the way we shop for food; Dan Pashman reflects on 10 years at The Sporkful; and we make Austria...

We go behind the scenes with Bren Smith, who lived the dangerous life of a fisherman on the Bering Sea. He talks about his transformation from chasing big fish on the high seas to growing sustainable sea greens. Plus, Ana Roš shares Slovenian cuisine from the Soča Valley; Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett decode the meaning of edible flower names; and we whip up silky Maple-Whiskey Pudding Cakes....

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 Chickpea Stew. Get this week’s recipe, Ethiopian Chickpea Stew:...

Rachael Ray tells Milk Street how she almost killed Tony Bennett, set fire to Emeril’s kitchen, endured wardrobe malfunctions and why she still believes in the power and dignity of hard work. Plus, Brooke Jarvis takes us behind the $10 million launch of a new apple variety; we learn Sardinia’s secret to five-minute handmade pasta; and Dr. Aaron Carroll reveals the health effects of chocolate. (Ori...

Chef Marianna Leivaditaki transports us to the Greek island of Crete. She gives us a masterclass in seafood, explains why fish heads are delicious and tells us stories of her fisherman father. Plus, we learn about the Food Timeline, the internet’s oldest and largest collection of food history; we make chef Angie Mar’s Chèvre Cheesecake; and Dr. Aaron Carroll explains a new way of thinking about nu...

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. Get this week's recipe,...

Pastry chef Briana Holt teaches us how to make exceptional baked goods. Plus, we hear how a Lost Generation novelist became a pioneer of organic agriculture; Dan Pashman admits he is eggplant-phobic; and we learn how vinegar and garlic come together to make tangy, spicy Chicken Vindaloo. Get this week's recipe, Chicken Vindaloo:  https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/chicken-vindaloo This week's s...

We chat with Von Diaz about the flavors of Puerto Rican cooking and the world’s best breakfast sandwich. Plus, Molly Yeh moves to Minnesota and trades Sichuan take-out for hotdish and beet farming; we present a recipe for chocolate-almond spice cookies; and Dr. Aaron Carroll says "no" to a new study on alcohol. (Originally aired November 23, 2018.) Get this week's recipe, Chocolate-Almond Spice Co...

Journalist Rebecca Rosman tells us about the feuds and lawsuits surrounding France’s favorite 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. Get this w...

Tom Papa tells us about learning to bake bread between comedy gigs, the question he always gets asked about sourdough starters and why his favorite food memory isn’t his grandmother’s cooking, but her jars of gherkin pickles. Plus, we chat with Mark Diacono about all things bitter, fermented and sour; journalist Bianca Bosker shares the history of supermarkets; and we learn a Vietnamese technique...

We travel to the summer kitchens of Ukraine with Olia Hercules. She explains how to pickle a watermelon, the history of borscht and why pigs' ears are so deliciously crunchy. Plus, we meet NASA rocket scientist and whole-hog pitmaster Dr. Howard Conyers; Dan Pashman tells us how to achieve snacking perfection at the beach; and we share a recipe for Taiwanese Grilled Corn. Get this week's recipe, T...

Chef Andrea Nguyen, author of "Vietnamese Food Any Day," discusses her early life in Vietnam, Hostess fruit pies and why chicken stock is better with an apple. Plus, we chat with filmmaker Andrew Rodgers about Kinder Surprise, a chocolate egg that’s beloved worldwide but illegal in the United States; we make a simple dump-and-bake Lemon-Almond Pound Cake; and our Paris correspondent, Alex Aïnouz,...