One bakery in Manhattan is making it hard not to hate bread. It's called Arcade Bakery, and their "laminated baguette" has eaters in ecstasy. To find out what it is, Brendan met with owner Roger Gural.
Main Course
Carla Hall Fondly Recalls Her Grandma’s Cornbread (And Shares the Recipe!)
Before Carla Hall was known as the co-host of "The Chew," a "Top Chef" finalist, and the author of several cookbooks, the Nashville native was just a girl who was a deep fan of her grandmother's cooking, especially her cornbread. When she got older and became interested in cooking, she tried to sleuth out how to make it for her family and catering clients. Listen as the celebrity chef remembers a staple of her Southern Sunday suppers and get the recipe for her grandmother's cornbread.
A Sober(ish) Exploration of Cannabis-Based Edibles
Since being legalized in several states, the cannabis-based edible business has gotten competitive, especially in Colorado. That's where our producer, Khrista Rypl, traveled to try the confections at Sweet Grass Kitchen, an award-winning small-batch cannabis bakery that distributes to nearly 500 dispensaries in Colorado. Follow along as she learns the ins and outs of the business from founder Julie Berliner and tries a few of those "baked" treats.
Cheese Tea: It’s Real and It’s Spectacular
Cheese tea. Yes, it's a thing. And yes, it really is tea topped with cheese. In fact, Rico sampled some in Downtown L.A. at a cheese tea shop called Little Fluffy Head. Listen as the shop's owner, Jenny Zheng, explains how she stumbled on the tea, what kind of cheese tops the drink, their special lid, and more.
We get our Kvass Handed to Us
What do "The Brothers Karamazov," "Anna Karenina," and "The Cherry Orchard" have in common? They all talk about Kvass. The authors were Russian and Kvass is a popular drink there and all around Eastern Europe. But, until recently, there wasn't much of it available in the States. Listen as Brendan gets a lesson on the Slavic fermented beverage, which is made from stale rye bread, from the folks over at Enlightenment Wines.
A Quick Guide to Portuguese Drinking Culture
So, while on vacation this summer, Rico spent a few days in the Portuguese city of Lisbon -- or as they call it "Lisboa." And to make sure everyone on the staff didn't totally resent his good fortune, he decided to do a little work while he was there. Listen as he learns all about the sour cherry liquor ginjinha and the salty snack tremoços.
Don’t Call ‘Em Dumplings: A Crash Course on Kubeh
Recently, Brendan went to a new restaurant in New York City that serves "kubeh," a Kurdish treat that is essentially a ball of dough made of bulgur or rice and filled with lamb, beef or vegetables. Chef Melanie Shurka, the owner of the restaurant, explains how she meticulously studied the different variations of kubeh to develop her own twist on the dish.
Why You’re Missing Out on Delectable Fish Collars
So, chances are you've heard the phrase nose-to-tail dining, the food movement that encourages eating every part of an animal, not just certain popular cuts. Typically, it's applied to pigs or cows. But increasingly, restaurants are serving the less popular parts of fish. Adam Geringer-Dunn of Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. explains to Brendan why fish collars have been popping up on menus all over the country and why he considers them the spare ribs of the sea.
Rico Gets a Primer on Pierogies
We've sampled many a dumpling on this show, but somehow, we haven't talked about the dumpling of Rico's youth: the Polish pierogi. Listen as he goes back to his hometown of Pittsburgh to visit a shop renowned for their take on the treat and learns a little more about the dish from Beth Kracklauer of the Wall Street Journal.
Rico Gets a Taste of Food History with Birria
Los Angeles has an insane bounty of Mexican food. And that's the subject of a new book by the James Beard award-winning food writer Bill Esparza. Listen as he and Rico take a trip to an underappreciated food gem in Los Angeles to learn a little more about the Zacatecas community and the braised goat dish.