Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

This week, Adam Conover, host of the truTV series “Adam Ruins Everything,” challenges the myth of killer Halloween candy, bogus detox diets and the ethics of buying avocados. Plus, David Burtka transforms parties into events; we throw together an amazing Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup; and Adam Gopnik stumbles across the perfect meal on vacation in Greece. For this week's recipe, Andalusian Toma...

Travel Channel host Andrew Zimmern has visited more than 170 countries in search of bizarre foods and fascinating people. We chat with him about coconut grubs, barbecued lizards and the happiest man on earth. Plus, we travel to Nablus and discover what may be the world’s best tahini; Dan Pashman ponders the etiquette of salt; and we make our new favorite dessert, Vivian Howard’s Sweet Fresh Corn P...

This week, we talk to Michael Twitty, author of “The Cooking Gene,” about his fascinating journey of self-discovery through food and DNA. Plus, we chat with Vince Dixon about why foods go viral; Stephen Meuse reveals the best questions to ask the next time you buy a bottle of wine; and we find a fix for flavorless tomatoes. (Originally aired August 31, 2018.) For this week's recipe, Tomato-Herb Sa...

This week, Boris Fishman tells his family's astonishing story—from the exploits of his grandfather, a barber/black marketeer who escaped the Soviet Union draft on the roof of a train, to his family's arrival in Brooklyn, where they rediscovered the dishes of their Belarusian roots. Plus, Dr. Aaron Carroll takes a hard look at the vegan diet; we discover Argentina's surprising secret to perfectly g...

Bugs are the future of food, according to Daniella Martin, from waxworm taco filling to chirp chips to fried shrimp (or, fried sago grub that tastes like shrimp). Plus, Serious Eats founder Ed Levine gives us an inside look at how to start a food media empire; Alex Aïnouz investigates the art and science of making mozzarella; and we share our recipe for Barbados Grilled Fish with a local hot sauce...

Matt Goulding, author of “Pasta, Pane, Vino,” lets us in on Italy’s best-kept secrets. Plus, Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz present “The Gefilte Manifesto,” a definitive guide to modern Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine; we prepare Taiwanese Grilled Corn; and Dan Pashman tells us about his trip to the Library of Congress Cooking Club. (Originally aired Aug. 2, 2018.) For this week's recipe, Taiwanese Gri...

Chef Jeff Henderson tells us about his underground catering business behind bars, what it was like to cook for Rosario “Sal” Gambino, and what he makes for his vegan kids at home. Plus, Yara Elmjouie unpacks the history of MSG-phobia in America; we discover the real Sicilian Caponata; and Adam Gopnik discusses the world’s most challenging dishes to make at home. For this week's recipe, Sicilian Ca...

This week, we chat with José Andrés about how he helped organize more than three million meals in Puerto Rico, why he would choose a pineapple over a steak, and what he would do if he ever got a day off. Plus, we talk military rations with YouTube star EmmyMade in Japan; we bake Chocolate Ginger Scones; and Dan Pashman delves into one of the workplace’s most divisive issues: office fridge theft. F...

From soaking wood chips to grill marks, Meathead Goldwyn is here to set the record straight on grilling’s biggest myths. Plus, Christina Ward tells the story of American advertising cookbooks, complete with recipes such as Ham Banana Rolls and Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake; we discover a two-ingredient cheese sauce; and Alex Aïnouz explains the Japanese art of kintsugi. \ For this week's recipe, Garli...

Andrew Friedman chronicles the stories and misadventures of the pioneering chefs and motley crew of misfits who cooked (instead of Instagrammed) their way to innovation. Plus, are supermarket leafy greens dangerous?; inside Brooklyn's Aska Restaurant; and olive oil bundt cake from Italy. (Originally aired July 27, 2018.) \ For this week's recipe, Orange-Anise Bundt Cake, visit: https://www.177milk...

Lidia Bastianich grew up under Tito's communist rule, escaped to a refugee camp in Trieste and finally made it to Queens, where she learned to love Spam, Jell-O and Wonder Bread. She talks about the early years on her grandmother's farm, where she slept on a corn-husk mattress, ate pig's blood sausage and fresh fig jam, and realized that the secret to happiness is having less, not more. Plus, we d...

Journalist Mark Lynas campaigned against genetically modified foods. Then in 2008, he changed his mind. On this week's episode, we talk to Lynas about his journey from anti-GMO activist to pro-GMO advocate. Plus, we discuss the strange eating habits of the world’s most infamous dictators; Dan Pashman teaches us how to outsmart a buffet; and we grill up pork skewers from Thailand. For this week's r...

Pastry chef Stella Parks talks about the science of baking and the secret history of iconic American desserts. Plus, we learn about barbecue around the world, from boodog to hāngi; Dan Pashman tells the history of LA's Cambodian donut shops; and we offer up a simple and summery Austrian plum cake. (Originally aired August 23, 2018.) For this week's recipe, Austrian plum cake, visit: https://www.17...

Chef Carla Hall is here to change the way we think about soul food. Plus, we explore cooking with cannabis; Adam Gopnik tells us how to cope when our favorite restaurants close; and we serve up Mashed Avocados with Sesame and Chili. For this week's recipe, Mashed Avocados with Sesame and Chili, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/mashed-avocados-with-sesame-and-chili This week's sponsor:...

We chat with Ruth Reichl about the glory days and final days of Gourmet magazine. Plus, Egyptian street food in Berlin; Alex Aïnouz's hotel room cooking hacks; and Mini Almond Cakes with Spiced Chocolate. \ For this week's recipe, Mini Almond Cakes with Spiced Chocolate, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/mini-almond-cakes-with-spiced-chocolate \ This week's sponsor: \ Go to www. KingArt...

Chef Diane Kochilas talks real Greek yogurt, what Americans get wrong about cooking at home, and how to make great dishes with stale bread. Plus, we explore the art and nostalgia of Jell-O molds; we present a fresh new take on Spaghetti Puttanesca; and Dan Pashman untangles the legal definition of a sandwich. For this week's recipe, Spaghetti Puttanesca, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipe...

20 years ago, Gonzalo Guzmán left everything in his home country of Mexico and became a dishwasher in San Francisco. Now the chef in his own restaurant, Guzmán divulges the secret to the perfect ceviche and says the story of Mexican cuisine begins and ends with tortillas. Also on this week's show: How to cut up a cow, with New York butchers Erika Nakamura and Jocelyn Guest; Armenian grilled pork c...

We chat with curator Samuel West about the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö, Sweden, where the tickets are vomit bags, the exhibits feature fermented shark, fruit bats, and root beer, and visitors walk away with a new understanding of what disgust really means. Plus, we try cocktail hour the French way; we learn how to build a better meatball in Belgium; and Dr. Aaron Carroll demystifies alcohol ca...

Chef Andrea Nguyen, author of "Vietnamese Food Any Day," uses American supermarket ingredients for an authentic take on the food of Vietnam. Plus, we investigate why the Kinder Surprise Chocolate Egg is illegal here in the USA; we make a simple dump-and-bake Lemon-Almond Pound Cake; and our Paris correspondent, Alex Aïnouz, explains why a good croissant is straight, not crescent-shaped. For this w...

Mary Giuliani, the author of catering tell-all “Tiny Hot Dogs,” falls in love with Alec Baldwin, raises a murderous turtle and has a solution for any and every party disaster. Plus: We visit a Bhutanese Senior Lunch in Vermont; Adam Gopnik sells the role of coffee in civilization; and we dig into Soupe au Pistou from Provence. For this week’s recipe, Soupe au Pistou, visit: https://www.177milkstre...

Zach Dyer travels to St. Louis to eat the once-conventional fried brain sandwich. Plus, we chat with chef Özlem Warren about the spices and cuisine of Southern Turkey; Dan Pashman talks TV dinner etiquette; we offer a recipe for three cup chicken; and we give a quick tip to make homemade chile oil. (Originally aired May 10 – May 17, 2018.) For this week’s recipe, Three-Cup Chicken, visit: https://...

Author Sharon Hudgins writes a love letter from post-Soviet Vladivostok. Plus, IBM’s supercomputer creates flavor combinations; Dan Pashman lies to his kids about food; and we test cooking oils over high heat. For this week’s recipe, Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crisped Onions (Mujaddara), visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/lebanese-lentils-and-rice-with-crisped-onions-mujaddara This w...

Chris Elliott, who investigated the horse meat scandal in the United Kingdom, talks about fake oregano, cardboard in parmesan and the multibillion dollar business of food fraud. Plus, we investigate the curious case of “Q” (a Taiwanese obsession with chewiness); we travel to Milan for risotto; we uncover clever culinary uses for yogurt; and Dr. Aaron Carroll asks whether cow’s milk is nature’s mos...

Andres O’Hara on why wine labels matter. Plus, the new Harlem fusion cooking; corks or screwcaps?; and pasta with broccoli sauce. (Originally aired June 1, 2018.) For this week’s recipe, Rigatoni with Roman Broccoli Sauce, visit: 177milkstreet.com/recipes/rigatoni-with-roman-broccoli-sauce This week’s sponsor: Go to FergusonShowrooms.com to browse the Inspiration Gallery and request an appointment...

Matt Goulding, author of “Grape, Olive, Pig,” discovers the original paella, finds out-of-the-way Spanish eateries, falls in love and recounts his one meal at El Bulli. Plus, we travel to Paris for gnocchi; J. Kenji López-Alt double-fries chicken; and Mark Bittman talks about “Dinner for Everyone.” For this week’s recipe, Potato Gnocchi, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/potato-gnocchi...