Milk Street Radio

John Whaite takes us behind the scenes of “The Great British Bake Off.” He talks life after winning, the simple pleasures of Eton mess and the importance of listening to your food. Plus, we dive into the crazy world of culinary Facebook groups; Alex Aïnouz tries to reverse engineer Joël Robuchon’s mashed potatoes; and we cook an Indian staple of simmered lentils with spice-infused hot butter.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: John Whaite – Courtesy of John Whaite)

Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley, the team behind Yotam Ottolenghi’s food empire, discuss the world of Palestinian cooking—from za’atar to what makes great tahini. Plus, we chat with Gail Simmons about life behind the scenes at “Top Chef”; we make seared pork tenderloin with smoked paprika; and we discuss hidden food meanings with Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of “A Way With Words.”

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

Sonoko Sakai teaches us about real Japanese home cooking—from the world’s easiest broth to bento boxes to the surprising way she kneads her udon dough. Plus, we investigate counterfeit caviar with David Gauvey Herbert; we share our recipe for a fresh take on the chocolate cookie, and Dan Pashman explains why he’d rather eat alone this Valentine’s Day.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of PBS/ Zero Point Zero)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Matt Goulding – via Milk Street Radio)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

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 discover turkey skin ice cream with Salt & Straw's Tyler Malek; discuss the ethics of cooking lobsters; and whip up molletes, Mexico’s take on grilled cheese.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

We go beyond soda bread and shepherd's pie to discover the new Irish cooking with chef Jp McMahon. We discuss why the Irish ate very little seafood, how leftover cake was turned into a new dessert, the joys of frying with animal fat and the best way to cook any vegetable. Plus, we chat with Dan Pashman about the perfect ice cube; we discover the magic of crispy pasta; and the New Yorker’s Burkhard Bilger asks: Can babies learn to love vegetables?

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here.

(Photo: Chef JP McMahon – Ed Schofield)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Hollywood star and restaurateur Danny Trejo shares his culinary inspirations and his most memorable stories—for example, how he used to act out “The Wizard of Oz” to help him stay sane in solitary confinement. Plus, Gena Renaud of Yume Confections teaches us about the art of wagashi; Alex Aïnouz dives into the world of meatballs; and we roast a chicken the Nigella Lawson way.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here.

(Photo: Courtesy of the author)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo via Milk Street Radio)

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 their Thanksgiving tales of disaster, culinary wisdom and family memories; and Dan Pashman breaks down the pros and cons of hosting a virtual Thanksgiving.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

Kim Severson of The New York Times tells us about the food world’s biggest trends. Plus, we chat with Fuchsia Dunlop about the textures, flavors, and fragrances of Sichuan cuisine; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of “A Way With Words” discuss food names that have a secret, and we put a new spin on an old classic—the pineapple upside-down cake.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here.

Comedian and “Nailed It!” host Nicole Byer breaks down the art of improv, making it in the world of comedy and how to host a baking competition show when you know nothing about baking. Plus, we chat with Karl De Smedt, manager of the world’s only international sourdough library; J. Kenji López-Alt gives us a crash course on the best homemade fried rice, and we learn how to get a good char on Catalonian-inspired grilled vegetables.

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Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

Nigella Lawson discusses her favorite "rhapsodically easy" weeknight traybake, how Kirkegaard influenced her philosophy on food, and why snobbery has no place in cooking. Plus, we share the story of Zubaida Tariq, Pakistan’s Martha Stewart; Dr. Aaron Carroll reveals if coffee really does cause cancer, and we make Spanish Ratatouille.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

We chat with Sam Sifton of The New York Times about the rituals and foods of Sunday supper—from easy duck confit to bacon fried chicken. Plus, we hear from reporter Amy Guttman about a bar in London that was once an underground public loo; we make an herb soup from Sardinia, and Adam Gopnik tells us why he thinks Montreal bagels are the best in the world.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: See You on Sunday by Sam Sifton, cover – Fair use)

Mark Lynas. Via Milk Street RadioJournalist 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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Padma Lakshmi shares stories about her childhood in India, her time in Spain and her new show, “Taste the Nation.” Plus, we get a crash course on Parisian cocktail culture from David Lebovitz; we present a new take on the cheeseburger; and Bianca Bosker teaches us about the history and evolution of wine reviews.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: via Milk Street Radio)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Courtesy of the author/via Milk Street Radio)

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 Belarussian roots. Plus, Dr. Aaron Carroll takes a hard look at the vegan diet; we discover Argentina's surprising secret to perfectly grilled steak; and we meet the man who invented a $10 million strawberry picking robot.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo via Milk Street Radio)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

We chat with Ted Allen about the soaring success of Queer Eye and Chopped, his life behind the scenes and embarrassing encounters with Martha Stewart. Plus, we explore the new German cooking with Meike Peters; Adam Gopnik discusses the role of turkey in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol;” and we whip up an apple cake.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo via Milk Street Radio)

This week, writer Dave Stroup takes us inside the Academy Awards of water, tasting water that is infused with the “frequency of love” and the “pulsations of the universe.” Plus, filmmaker David Gelb talks “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” and Netflix’s “Chef’s Table”; we share our recipe for a coconut milk rice pudding; and Dan Pashman asks one of the most pressing questions of our time—should the pizza emoji have pepperoni on it?

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

Bill Schindler has experienced firsthand how our ancestors survived the unknown. This week, he shares with us the perils of life 40,000 years ago—from confronting hyenas in the night to eating cold bone marrow. Plus, we chat with Ron Faiola about the nostalgic charm of Wisconsin supper clubs; Alex Aïnouz makes instant ramen noodles from scratch; and we travel to Italy to bake an authentic tomato and olive focaccia.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Chris Elliott, who investigated the horsemeat 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 most nearly perfect food.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

This week, we're talking with Edward Lee—chef, independent restaurateur and founder of the LEE Initiative. In response to restaurant closures across the country, the LEE Initiative has formed a nationwide coalition of restaurants that have been transformed into relief kitchens for restaurant workers. Also, on this week’s show, we chat with chef Iliana de la Vega about authentic Oaxacan cuisine; Adam Gopnik discusses the three stages of culinary passion; and we make England’s Eton mess.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

Chef Andrea Nguyen, the 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, explains why a good croissant is straight, not crescent-shaped.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

Chef Diane Kochilas talks real Greek yogurt, how to make great dishes with stale bread and the magical Greek island of Ikaria. 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.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: via Milk Street Radio)

Following a tumultuous year, Erin French returned to her hometown of Freedom, Maine to open what is now one of the most exclusive restaurants in America, where the ingredients can be found in the garden, the waitlist is in the tens of thousands and the menu is always a surprise. Plus, we explore the pumpkin spice lifestyle; we make dump and stir Spanish Almond Cake, and Dr. Aaron Carroll explains the truth about fish and mercury.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

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We explore why Tokyo shoppers spend a fortune on fruits with journalist Bianca Bosker. Plus, Dan Pashman teaches us how to outsmart a buffet; we take a food tour of Lisbon with chef Nuno Mendes; and we share a recipe for Spanish tortillas at home.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of Milk Street Radio)

We chat with flavor chemist Dr. Arielle Johnson about how to eat a tree, how insects use flavor molecules to communicate and the science of taste and smell. Plus, Meathead Goldwyn teaches us how to grill perfect steaks; J. Kenji López-Alt investigates food expiration dates; and we make a no-fuss, all-flavor Spanish Almond Cake.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

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 Austrian Goulash.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

(Photo: Courtesy of the author)

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 creating his own whimsical dessert, and we whip up a delicious Danish Dream Cake.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here.

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 demystifies the latest study on eggs and health. (Originally aired September 13, 2019)

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!

Find our complete programming schedule here. 

(Photo: Courtesy of the artist)

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 demystifies the latest study on eggs and health.

Milk Street Radio can be heard Sunday nights at 7:00 pm on KRCB-FM. / streaming @ norcalpublicmedia.org / Download the FREE KRCB App @ iTunes & Google Play!