The Aimless Cook Podcast

In this episode, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of my favourite food movies of all time - Tampopo. Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: @theaimlesscook TikTok: @ricedaddyeats or email me: @theaimlesscook@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast, I am talking about the history of the iconic Canadian restaurant, Edo Japan. This Japanese-inspired fast casual restaurant was founded in 1979 in Calgary by a Buddhist Minister. Learn all about the origins and history of this popular food court institution, its evolution, and the history of teppanyaki cooking in North America. Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram...

It's been a minute. Sorry for the long hiatus, but I'm back! Today, let's catch up on what's been happening. My new work. Sandwiches. Places I've been eating. Rosie's Burgers Bridgeland Perfect Meat Bowl Cal's Noodle Hut Orijins sneak peek Kin Dee Street Kitchen Thanks for listening. I've missed you so much. If you wanna watch the videos for all these spots, follow me on Instagram @theaimlesscook...

This week, we explore and debunk the subject of "White People Food" by looking at the origins, perceptions, and histories of the different factors that form its foundations. We'll talk about: The concept of race. Factors that may have contributed to building the stereotype of "white people food" The Norwegian cultural tradition of Matpakke The Chinese social media phenomenon of "Bai Ren Fan" (whit...

This week, I am continuing our Canadian food feature by looking at some of our favourite Canadian snacks and treats. We will talk about the history of popular snacks like: Hawkin's Cheezies Hickory Sticks Ketchup Chips Pizza Pops, a Winnipeg invention. Coffee Crisp Eat-More Big Turk Lucky Elephant Popcorn Jos Louis So sit back and listen as I unwrap the stories behind our favourite Canadian snacks...

This week, I talk about 3 Canadian fast-food brands and their histories, the nostalgia behind these brands, and I ask what it means to be Canadian in this day and age. Also, what happened to Tim Hortons? Please rate and share. Thanks for listening! DM me @theaimlesscook on Instagram for episode suggestions, stories, comments, or just to say hello! Peace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

This week, we talk about the most beloved of Asian ingredients...Spam. On this episode: a brief history of Hormel's innovative pork and ham product that was introduced in 1937 Spam's growing popularity and it's rise to worldwide fame Spam in Asia and the iconic dishes that were born from post-war necessity The story of Barb Funamura and the invention of Spam Musubi Thanks for listening! Please rat...

This week, I talk about Struggle Food. We often think about it as that starving college student food, but it's so much more. I talk about how a lot of our favourite dishes and even cuisines came from struggle. Thanks for listening! Please rate, review, and share. Follow The Aimless Cook on Instagram: @theaimlesscook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Freestyle Friday, I talk about Bastion Burger, Influencers, and the eye-opening experience of being thrust into a brand new social media platform after hearing about what Americans are seeing on the Chinese platform, Rednote (Xiaohongshu). Join me and thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big thanks to my special guest, Alice Lam from Friends Of Chinatown YYC. I will include all her socials on the show notes. Instagram: @friendsofchinatownyyc http://www.friendsofchinatownyyc.org Calgary Chinatown Context Paper https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/pda/pd/documents/current-studies-and-ongoing-activities/tomorrows-chinatown/chinatown-context-paper.pdf Interactive Chinatown Map https...

In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of food trends: Why they pop up, how they shape what we eat, and what they tell us about the world around us. We’ll explore how food trends influence culture, health, economy, and sustainability—and why they matter. Also, our long overdue Calgary small business shout-out of the week. Thanks for listening! Links: The Aimless Cook Podcast (Jay...

Summary This podcast episode explores the powerful connection between food and nostalgia.  I talk about the cultural phenomenon of KFC becoming a Christmas tradition in Japan , illustrating how marketing can shape food-related memories and create new traditions.  Then, I examines the science of food nostalgia , explaining its multisensory nature and its impact on mood, identity, and well...

Chef Erin Boukall and I had the opportunity to share a meal with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. It was a good chance to get to know someone we often see behind a podium, or as the subject of some article or another praising or criticizing her work. Whatever the case, I know that being the Mayor of a growing city with as many complexities as Calgary can’t be easy. That being said, I wanted to ask ques...

Hi everyone! Sorry for the hiatus, but I’m back with a brand new episode about the Calgary Stampede food. This is a recap of the dishes I got to try during my first year as a judge for the Best Midways Foods. I’ll go over the top 5 best dishes, the bottom 5 dishes, as well as talk about your thoughts from your comments on social media during the duration of the Stampede. Enjoy! Shout outs to: Shab...

In this episode: Eats of Asia is back for more pop-ups. A look at future interviews. ELYMI opening and the buffet people we hate. I read one of the most horrific AHS inspection reports from a recently closed Calgary restaurant and talked about basic expectations of Alberta’s Food Regulation. Thanks for listening. Rate, review, and share with your friends if you love this show. Be kind to one anoth...

In this episode of The Aimless Cook Podcast, special guest, Chef Erin Boukall talks about her career as a high school foods teacher. Chef Boukall shares her experiences as she moved through the stages of her time as a goldsmith, culinary student, and educator and how these facets have helped her in her work today. Chef Boukall is also a food stylist, writer, and creator of the popular blog, Culina...

This week on The Aimless Cook Podcast: The Eats Of Asia countdown is on Going back to school Best toppings for a bowl of rice The Chili Crunch Backlash and Momofuku's official response YYC Asian lunch specials True World Foods @trueworldfoodscalgary 6a Snack Bar @6a.snackbar.yyc Fat Kee Noodle House 3132 26 St NE Link to the podcast with David Chang and Momofuku CEO Marguerite Mariscal: https://po...

In this week's Freestyle Friday: The return of Eats of Asia Our favourite Calgary Mom-and-Pop restaurants A visit to Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodle Thanks for listening! If you love this show, please rate, review, and share with your friends! Peace! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Chef Jay talks about the history of instant ramen from its development and introduction to the world by its inventor, Momofuku Ando. Jay also talks about how his legacy changed the culinary landscape forever and launched a multi-billion-dollar industry. Listen to how countries worldwide enjoy instant noodles and a few recipes while you’re here. Enjoy the show! If you love the show...

On this week’s edition of Freestyle Friday, Jay talks about: work/life balance Mama’s Rice Roll Review Hyper-regional Western-style Chinese dishes April Events “Struggle Food” Listener Mail Mitzi’s Closing: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video/c2889559-end-of-an-era-for-winnipeg-restaurant Tokyo Chopsticks Private Chef Series. DM Chef Keisuke if you would like to book a special dinner in April. ...

This week we continue with part 2 of our Chinatown special. Gabe and I finally try Mama Rice Roll, walk through some empty spaces reminiscing about better times, and share some final thoughts about our hopes for this amazing place.  History notes: Chinatown Historical Context Paper We Are Here: http://www.wahvoice.ca Special thanks to Gabriel Yee: @gabe.director Views From Chinatown Podcast M...

This week on The Aimless Cook Podcast, it's our Chinatown Special Part 1 with my special guest, founder of Lotus Media, host and producer of Views Of Chinatown Podcast, Gabriel Yee. This week, Gabriel and I talk about this amazing place, full of history and community spirit on location from Calgary Court Restaurant. We talk about the complex challenges that Chinatown faces today as it evolves with...

In this episode, Jay talks about a few of your favourite Canadian culinary creations. Of course, Poutine is the topic of this episode and Jay goes over a little history of this famous dish, the makings of the ideal poutine, and the neverending debate on the perfect plate. It’s all here on The Aimless Cook Podcast. Special thanks to: Chef Steve Glavicich of the Youth Culinary Arts Program at Woods...

Today we’re gonna talk about what’s been happening, what I’ve been eating, our YYC Restaurant Review Of The Week, the latest from Instagram and Tiktok, AI imagery in social media, and 5 of my favourite food scenes in movies. Thanks for listening. If you like the show, please rate, review, and SHARE with your friends! If you have any questions or comments for me, please DM me or email me at: jay@th...

On this episode, we begin a series on iconic dishes in Canada starting with Butter Chicken! Jay talks to Chef Deepak Singh Kalsi from Deepak’s Dhaba to learn a little history of this Canadian favourite and talk about Deepak’s own journey of being a cook, coming to Canada, and starting his restaurant business.  Deepak's Dhaba: @deepaksdhaba Thank you for listening. If you like, please rate and...