Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz are two of our favorite social media follows (@haileecatalano and @chuckycruz). The two chefs, who met in culinary school, cooked at Chicago restaurants like Dos Urban Cantina and Cellar Door Provisions before starting to share recipes on TikTok and Instagram. Their inventive recipes and laid-back vibe have won many, many fans, and it’s so fun to have them both in the studio to talk about their shifting careers. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, GoogleMORE FROM HAILEE CATALANO AND CHUCK CRUZEarl Grey Buckwheat Chocolate Cake [Hailee Catalano]Chicken Adobo Au Poivre [Chuck Cruz’s Substack]Chuck’s Spotify Playlist

367: Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz

The hamburger god George Motz is back on today’s show, and it doesn’t disappoint. George is a writer, a TV host, and the guy with the cool hair and an endless well of knowledge about the hamburger. On this episode we talk about the opening of his wildly popular new NYC restaurants, Hamburger America. The first few months has brought long lines and introduced a very opinionated city to one of the finer burgers around. He hear about it all, as well as George's take on the modern burger scene.Also on the show, Aliza and Matt talk about the rebirth of the terrine in NYC restaurants. Terrine is an unquestionably dated dish, firmly stuck in time, a relic of 1970s dinner parties and the pages of a favorite vintage cookbook. But clearly there is new energy, a compulsion to slice off a little culinary history for eager diners. Aliza ran with the idea in a recent story on TASTE.Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, GoogleMORE FROM GEORGE MOTZ:A New Luncheonette Serves the Hamburgers America Deserves [Eater]The Carolina Slaw Burger [Garden and Gun]How George Motz Spends His Sundays [NYT]The Terrine Fan Club Is Now Recruiting [TASTE]

366: George Motz

Today on the show we have a great double episode with two serious dudes in the restaurant game. Arjav Ezekiel is co-owner of Birdie’s, a beloved restaurant and wine bar located in Austin, Texas. On this episode we talk about Arjav’s immigrant upbringing in Portland, Oregon, and what brought him to the exciting world of wine.Also on the show we have a really great conversation with Harris Mayer. Harris is a New York City chef and the owner of Pulkies, a really terrific restaurant serving Jewish-style barbecue to go—that would be ’cue centered around the smoked turkey leg. His “I can’t believe it’s not pork” pulled turkey leg sandwich is one of my favorite things in all of NYC.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.  MORE FROM ARJAV EZEKIEL & HARRIS MAYER:The 2023 Restaurant of the Year [Food & Wine]The Powerhouse Duo Behind Birdie’s [Austin Monthly]Harris Mayer-Selinger Puts His Own Stamp on Jewish Barbecue [Tablet]

365: Arjav Ezekiel & Harris Mayer

Kanchan Koya will forever change how you look at your spice drawer. The chef, author, podcast host, and nutrition coach has a PhD in biomedical sciences from Harvard Medical School, which she uses to champion the science-backed benefits of ancient spices. We invited her into the studio for a truly fascinating conversation answering our many questions about health claims around spices—such as, what is inflammation, actually? Find out now.Also on the show, Matt shares some highlights from his recent trip to Seoul, including stops at Buto, Sancheong Sutbul Garden, Flavourtown (100% free of spikey blonde hair), Meal-do, Honeybee, Magazine F. To name just a few! The full list will be dropping later this year.        Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.  MORE FROM KANCHAN KOYASpice Spice Baby [official]Radical Vitality [Apple Podcasts]

364: Spice Spice Baby with Kanchan Koya

Matthew Schneier is currently the chief restaurant critic at New York magazine and previously reported on fashion and culture at The Cut and the New York Times. Matthew joined us in the studio to talk about the job he took over a little more than six months ago. We discuss putting his own unique stamp on the coverage, what he looks for in both old and new NYC restaurants to review, and how he came to the job in the first place. Matthew is one of our favorite writers around, and it was so great catching up.Also on the show, Aliza and Matt catch up about three things they each are into right now, including: Patita at Spoon & Pork in Los Angeles, the forthcoming cookbook from Los Angeles restaurant Kismet, Kismet: Bright, Fresh, Vegetable-Loving Recipes, clam kalguksu at Hangari Kalguksu in Los Angeles, Mom’s Touch Lab in Seoul, Little Fatty in Los Angeles, and come to France this summer with Matt and Marissa Mullen!  Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.      MORE FROM MATTHEW SCHNEIER:Will Four Twenty Five Kill the Grill [NY Mag]Not-So-Plain Slices [NY Mag]Keith McNally, to Go [NY Mag]The Good Used Book Edition [WITI]

363: New York Magazine Restaurant Reviewing with Matthew Schneier

Himanshu Suri is best known by his rap name Heems. We wanted to have Heems on not just because we are a fan of his former group Das Racist (you may remember their song “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell”) but because we wanted to talk to him about Punjabi food. About growing up in Queens. About his new passion for gardening. Check out his very cool new album, Lafandar. Also on the show is James Harris, one half of Throwing Fits, a very funny podcast and online community dedicated to all things menswear. We wanted to invite James in not just to talk about chef fashion but also to find out about where he’s eating and drinking around his hometown of New York City. We also get into Fanelli vs. Lucien, not being able to get into Gem Wine thanks to TikTok, eating fried prawn heads, Japanese food at home vs. in restaurants, and eating the miso black cod at Nobu as a kid. We also get the Throwing Fits line on Dimes Square. This is a great talk with James, a real one-of-one guest.MORE FROM HEEMS AND THROWING FITS:Dosa Hunt! [official]Heems on Rap, Race and Identity [NPR]Throwing Fits for Men’s Fashion [NYT]From Nike to Nautica, Here Are the ’90s Brands that Defined the Decade [Complex]

362: Heems & Throwing Fits

You’ve spotted their iconic squeeze bottle on the shelves of Whole Foods and seen it used by your favorite food influencers and chefs on Instagram. But do you know the story behind Spanish olive oil company Graza? On this episode, we welcome back Graza’s charismatic cofounder Andrew Benin to talk about the ups and downs of running a quickly growing food company. We hear about public drama, exploding growth, critical reviews, and how Graza remains one of the most exciting brands in not just olive oil, but all of food.Want to partner with TASTE? Send us a note at: partner@tastecooking.com. MORE FROM GRAZA:The Best Olive Oil You Can Buy at the Store [Wirecutter]This Is TASTE 182: Graza [TASTE]Olive Oil Has Never Been Cooler [Eater]This Week’s Tiniest Social Media Drama Is About Olive Oil [NYT]This Is TASTE 351: Aura Bora [TASTE]

361: Graza Returns!

Christina Chaey is a writer and recipe developer based in Brooklyn. A former Bon Appétit food editor, she’s currently writing the newsletter Gentle Foods, where she shares essays and recipes rooted in cooking how you want to feel. It’s so special to catch up with Christina in the studio about her background working in magazines, expanding the concept of wellness food, and making her very own cookbook. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM CHRISTINA CHAEY:Gentle Foods [Substack]Green Curry Lentil Soup [Bon Appetit]

360: Christina Chaey

Andy Baraghani started his professional cooking career as a teenager at the legendary Berkeley, California, restaurant Chez Panisse, and he was truly just getting started. After working as a line cook at Estela in New York City, he was hired as the food editor at Tasting Table and eventually found his way to the Bon Appétit test kitchen, where he worked for over six years and won the hearts of many with his exceptional cooking instruction and his own kind heart. Andy’s rich story and sharp recipe writing chops come together so beautifully in his book, The Cook You Want to Be, published two years ago. So what has Andy been up to? It turns out, plenty—both online and offline. Here we catch up about what is good in the Baraghani universe, and it’s clear Andy is the guy he wants to be.Also on the episode, we hear from Christian Reynoso about the recent TASTE feature he wrote describing his time working at San Francisco’s Zuni Café and the legacy of the cookbook that remains an absolute classic.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM ANDY BARAGHANI:Andy Baraghani’s Essential Kitchen Tools [Bon Appetit]Kimchi Udon With Scallions [Bon Appetit]How Andy Baraghani Became the Internet Boyfriend of Our Dreams [Out]The Zuni Café Cookbook Is Canon [TASTE]

359: Andy Baraghani

What a great conversation here with David Kamp, a journalist of the highest order and author of one of Matt’s favorite books about food ever, The United States of Arugula: The Sun-Dried, Cold-Pressed, Dark-Roasted, Extra Virgin Story of the American Food Revolution. In this episode we talk about the book’s legacy some 15 years after its publication. We also find out what David is working on now, including a Broadway musical. It’s great catching up with David Kamp, a real legend in the game.Also on the show, Aliza and Matt talk discuss three things they are most interested in, including: A NYC pop-up report (Wizard Hat Pizza, Chrissy's, Shy's Burger), Hand Hospitality in the NYT, Unified Ferments Nilgiri Coomor kombucha, a great new cookbook: Vegan Mob: Vegan BBQ and Soul Food, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and happy birthday to TASTE!Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM DAVID KAMP:Faces for Radio [Air Mail]I’ve Told My Last Trump Joke [NYT] The Hunger Artists [NYT]The Elusive Restaurant Group Redefining Korean Dining in New York [NYT]

358: David Kamp

Rachelle Hampton is a culture writer and the cohost of ICYMI, a digital culture podcast from Slate that provides funny and deep insight into the weird, wide world of the perpetually online. It’s so fun to have Rachelle in the studio to unpack some of the most pressing online food questions of the moment—Stanley cups, The Bear thirst—plus her own food media consumption, and much more.Also on the show, Matt catches up with Suzy Karadsheh, a good friend of TASTE and the author of The Mediterranean Dish: 120 Bold and Healthy Recipes You'll Make on Repeat. They talk about an upcoming trip to Greece and some more exciting plans on the horizon.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM RACHELLE HAMPTON & SUZY KARADSHEH:Restaurant Wars: Keith Lee vs Atlanta [Slate Podcasts]The Orwellian World of Vintage Fast-Food Training Videos [Slate Podcasts]TASTE Travels Greece: Cooking and Eating Through Athens and Crete [TASTE]White Bean Shakshuka [The Mediterranean Dish] 

357: Rachelle Hampton & Suzy Karadsheh

We enjoyed having Jamila Robinson in the studio. Jamila is the editor in chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, the storied Condé Nast food publications that she took over in September. There are big plans and changes afoot at One World Trade Center, and we talk about Jamila’s vision for the future and the publications’ ongoing labor dispute, while looking back at her career working in newspapers in Detroit and Philadelphia. This is a really great talk!Also on the show, Matt shares some highlights from his recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, putting fresh eyes on one of America’s great food cities. Stops include: Vern’s, Lewis Barbecue, Palmira Barbecue, Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, The Spectator Hotel, Fig, 167 Raw, Kultura, Little Jack’s Tavern.   Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM JAMILA ROBINSON:Jamila Robinson Is Named Next Editor of Bon Appétit Magazine [NYT]This Is TASTE 262: Lyndsay C. Green [TASTE]The Balthazar Cookbook: My Personal Cooking School [TASTE]Charleston CVB [official]

356: Jamila Robinson

Today we are excited to welcome award-winning director Trần Anh Hùng to the studio. His latest film, the lush and food-centered The Taste of Things, is in theaters now. It stars Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel, who cook (and cook and cook!) for friends and visitors with a passion that transcends the idea of “foodie,” Detailed, painstaking process cooking and late-19th-century suiting are major threads, with food scenes guided by the eye of legendary international chef Pierre Gagnaire. We speak with the director about bringing this universe to life, and about the food of his childhood growing up in Da Nang, Vietnam. It’s really a great talk, and we hope you enjoy it.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM TRAN ANH HUNG:‘The Taste of Things’ Review: Love, Loss and Loins of Veal [NYT] ‘The Taste of Things’ Is a Kitchen-set Love Story. It Was Made by Exes [LA Times] Our Growing Hunger for Food on Screen [FT]

355: The Taste of Things with Director Trần Anh Hùng

Today we have a great double episode of the show. Alex Prud’homme’s new book, Dinner with the President, is a history of American food, politics, and 26 presidents, from George Washington starving at Valley Forge in 1777 to Donald Trump’s burger banquets. It was such a good time having Alex on the show to talk about how food has been used as a diplomatic tool since the founding of the United States, and also dig into the legacy of his famous great aunt - Julia Child.Also on the show we welcome Ali Rosen to the studio. Ali is a cookbook author, TV food host, and successful rom-com novelist, having published the hit novel Recipe for Second Chances. She is also the author of the new cookbook, 15 Minute Meals. On this episode we talk about what makes a 15 minute meal, and how she writes her food-focused fiction. It’s such a fun talk, I hope you enjoy it.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM ALEX PRUD’HOMME & ALI ROSEN:Diplomacy Is Best Conducted at the Dinner Table [NYT]Alex Prud’homme Wishes He Was in the Room Where It Happened [NYT]Potluck with Ali Rosen [official]

354: Alex Prud’homme & Ali Rosen

Rose Wilde is the pastry chef and owner of Red Bread in Los Angeles, a pioneering microbakery that’s been championing whole grains and sustainable baking for over a decade.  She's headed the bread and pastry programs at Michelin-starred Rustic Canyon, Manuela, and Mother Wolf, and now she’s sharing her wisdom in the wonderful baking book Bread and Roses. We loved having Rose on the show to talk about the joys and challenges of baking with whole grains, her flock of chickens, and more. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM ROSE WILDE:Red Bread Bakery [official]Rose Wilde's 'Bread and Roses' [Wordloaf]Buy: Bread and Roses

353: Rose Wilde

It was a lot of fun having PJ Vogt in the studio. PJ is a recognizable figure in the world of public radio and podcast. He’s currently the host of one of our favorite shows today, Search Engine, and we talk about his recent food-related episodes, digging into sushi fraud and airplane coffee. We also chop it up about so many topics in food, including his ongoing coffee journey and some of PJ’s favorite NYC restaurants. What a great talk—we hope you enjoy it!Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.  MORE FROM PJ VOGT:Why Are There So Many Chicken Bones on the Street? [Apple]Am I the Victim of an International Sushi Scam? [Apple]Search Engine Is the Spiritual Successor to Reply All [Vulture]

352: PJ Vogt

Aura Bora is a sparkling water that pushes the limits of sparkling water. Founded by Paul Voge, it’s a company that prides itself on spiking its cans of water with herbs, fruits, and flowers for earthly tastes and heavenly feelings. (True to the claim, we certainly had some feelings when we tried their green bean casserole concoction.) Paul, a guest on today’s show, has incredible taste and is bursting with passion for his waters. We talk about his journey and how he comes up with flavors that include chai cranberry, persimmon clove, and peppermint watermelon. If you haven’t tried Aura Bora, you don’t know what you’re missing. Also on the show, Matt is back from a California road trip and gives some of his highlights, including The Duchess and The Summit in Ojai, Bell’s in Los Alamos, Ad Astra Bread in Monterey, Cat & Cloud Coffee in Santa Cruz, Itani Ramen and Fentons Creamery in Oakland, the cafe at Chez Panisse in Berkeley(!), Ad Hoc and Mustards Grill in Yountville, and El Molino Central in Sonoma.Want to partner with TASTE? Send us a note at: partner@tastecooking.com. MORE FROM AURA BORA:We’ve Hit Peak Beverage [TASTE]Dry Guys Olive Oil Martini [official]This Is TASTE 303: Olipop [TASTE]

351: Aura Bora

We’re thrilled to finally have Angelo Sosa on the show. Angelo is one of the most talented chefs we've gotten to know, and he’s currently the chef at two really great restaurants in Phoenix: Tia Carmen and Kembara. Angelo was also the runner up on Top Chef and has worked with some of the biggest names in the game, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Alain Ducasse, Stephen Starr, and Masaharu Morimoto. On this episode we talk about Angelo’s TV past and dig into his passion for Asian cuisine, including his deeply creative work with Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese flavors and techniques at his latest opening, Kembara. We really loved catching up with Angelo and hope you enjoy this conversation.Also on the show, Matt gives his highlights from a recent trip to Phoenix. Stops include: Unos Tacos y Birria, Tacos Chiwas, the greatness of Monsoon Market, Wagyu beef rendang at Kembara, and Pizzeria Bianco.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.      MORE FROM ANGELO SOSA:Angelo Sosa’s Kembara Is a Love Letter to His Asian Travels [Forbes]Must-Try Restaurants in Phoenix with Angelo Sosa [A Taste of AZ]This Is TASTE 251: Dale Talde [TASTE]

350: Angelo Sosa

DeVonn Francis is a chef, recipe developer, and events producer based in Brooklyn. His culinary events studio, Yardy World, has developed a cult following around vibrant, lush experiences rooted in Caribbean cuisine with some of the best vibes and playlists around, and now they’re joining the CPG boom. It’s a joy to have DeVonn in the studio to talk about his distinctive POV, starring in the second season of High on the Hog, his dream dinner party lineup, and more.  Also on the show the return of three things, where Aliza and Matt go over some of the books, restaurants, and citrus fruits they are most excited about. This includes: Flan at Nenes Taqueria, al bap at AriAri, crispy shallots and fish roe from Ignacia Valdes pop-ups, Priya’s Kitchen Adventures, PSA: The pomelos are hitting in NYC right now, Pizza Night: Deliciously Doable Recipes for Pizza and Salad.﻿Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. MORE FROM DEVONN:Welcome to the DeVonn Francis Dinner Party Multiverse [TASTE]The 2021 Feel Good Food Plan [Bon Appetit]Yardy World [official]

349: DeVonn Francis

Our friend Jamie Oliver returns to the show, this time live from Rizzoli Bookstore in Manhattan as part of our TASTE Live at Rizzoli reading series. It was so great catching up with the chef and healthy eating advocate to discuss so many topics, and to dig into his great new book: 5 Ingredients Mediterranean: Simple Incredible Food.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. MORE FROM JAMIE OLIVER:Jamie Oliver Does Mediterranean [All Of It]Jamie Oliver Shares 5-ingredient Meals [GMA]How Long Gone: Jamie Oliver [Apple]

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