Proof

In a matter of months, Kelli Nevarez went from first-grade music teacher to pitmaster of the Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue joint La Vaca Barbecue. Reporter Eliza Rothstein shares the story of how Nevarez is reshaping the future of barbecue. Craving more barbecue tips? Join our grilling expert, Morgan Bolling, as she takes a deep dive into smoke rings. This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold: IndieBound America's Test Kitchen Store Amazon Special thanks to our intern Jonny Leonidas who helped make this series a success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transporting a Southern tradition to the North might seem like a tall order, but Cook's Country grilling expert Morgan Bolling knows just how to do it with her annual whole hog roast. Producer Alex Curran-Cardarelli shares the history of whole-hog roasts and Morgan's own story of growth and resilience. Try a taste of Morgan's home state with her recipe for North Carolina Barbecue Pork. This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold: IndieBound America's Test Kitchen Store Amazon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ninfa Laurenzo, or Mama Ninfa as many called her, was a trailblazer and an icon in the city of Houston, Texas. She helped introduce a Tex-Mex classic to the United States with her business savvy, food knowledge, and understanding of people. In this episode, we learn about the life that made Ninfa Laurenzo into the legend she's known as today. Reported by Eliza Rothstein. Make your own Tacos al Carbon with our tried and tested recipe. This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold: IndieBound America's Test Kitchen Store Amazon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where barbecuing is considered "dude food" and men's work, Helen Turner is an institution. She's steadily nurtured her style of Tennessee barbecue the traditional way; by using only smoke to flavor her meats over a fire pit. But this style of barbecue is back-breaking work, and Helen may consider retiring. But is she ready to let go? And who would she pass Helen's Bar BQ down to? Find out on the first episode of our miniseries: When Southern Women Cook: The Barbecue Trailblazers. This episode was reported by Maya Kroth. This podcast miniseries is an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America's Test Kitchen called When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold: IndieBound America’s Test Kitchen Store Amazon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For far too long, the art of barbecue and grilling have been considered “men’s work.” But women were cooking with fire since the earliest days of American history, too. In our next miniseries on Proof, hosted by Cook's Country magazine's Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling, we profile four women who have been stoking embers and bringing the heat to Southern cuisine. The first episode drops Thursday, August 1! This series is also an audio companion to a forthcoming book from America’s Test Kitchen called Women Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes from Every Corner of the American South. You can preorder the book where books are sold: IndieBound Amazon America’s Test Kitchen Store See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The cocktail emerges from the dark ages and enters the modern era. In this episode: We meet more innovative mixologists pushing the bounds of what a cocktail can be. And we'll explore the latest installment in the cocktail's long evolution: the zero proof movement. What should you be looking for when buying non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails? Check out our review of Non-Alcoholic Spirits and Cocktails. Further Reading: "After DUI, she quit drinking and opened a bar" by Alexa Juliana Ard, Washington Post "AN INTERVIEW WITH AQXYL STORMS, OWNER OF MINUS MOONSHINE" by Sam Bail, Third Place Bar blog A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1950s to the 1990s are often dubbed as the cocktail's Dark Ages where drinks like Long Island Iced Teas and Midori Sours reined supreme. The drinks from this time are often reviled or ridiculed, but they made important contributions to cocktail history, too. In this episode: How TGI Fridays, Madonna, and the Cosmopolitan helped define this era of the American cocktail. Further Reading: A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson "1970s Ockctails & Disco Drinks" Difford's Guide "History of the Nightclub" American Nightlife Association "How TGI Fridays Has Influenced Modern Craft Cocktail Culture" in The Thrillist by Kevin Alexander Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters by Derek Brown with Robert Yule Straight Up or on the Rocks: The story of the American cocktail by William Grimes "TGI Fridays Was Once The Hottest Bar In America—What Happened?" in Delish by Hannah Selinger "The Legacy of Joe Baum" in Edible Manhattan by Nancy Matsumoto The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum) "The Soviet Union Paid Pepsi With Vodka and Warships in Decades-Long Barter" in Vinepair by Ashlie Hughes (Illustrated by Gerry Selian) "This is the Story of the Rainbow Room" in Punch by Joshua David Stein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was Prohibition really the Gilded Age utopia that it's made out to be? In this episode: Cocktail innovation happening in unlikely places under unlikely circumstances. We feature the Bees Knees and the Bloody Mary. Further Reading: A Spiritous Journey by Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller "A Study of the Great Immoralities: Saloons in Chicago Before WWI" Ohio State University "Bootleggers and Bathtub Gin" The Mob Museum Lost Recipes of Prohibition: Notes From a Bootlegger's Manual by Matthew Rowley Prohibition's Greatest Myths: The Distilled Truth About America's Anti-Alcohol Crusade, Edited by Michael Lewis & Richard F. Hamm Smashing the Liquor Machine: A Global History of Prohibition by Mark Lawrence Schrad "The Dangers of Common Ownership in an Uncommon Industry" by Jessica Starns Attorney At Law, LLC "The FBI and the American Gangster, 1924-1938" The Federal Bureau of Investigation "The Man in the Green Hat" The United States Senate See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the Industrial Revolution, immigration--and maybe Winston Churchill's mother--give rise to the Golden Age of cocktails in America? We explore the story of the Martini, the Manhattan, and the Daiquiri. Make yourself a cool Gin Martini with our customizable recipe. Further Reading: A Spirituous Journey: A History of Drink by Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers Imbibe! by David Wondrich Rise of Industrial America, 1876 to 1900, Library of Congress SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY DIGITAL EXHIBITS Spirits, Sugar, Water,Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World by Derek Brown with Robert Yule "The First American Hotels," JSTOR by Livia Gershon The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail with Recipes by Philip Greene The New Craft of the Cocktail by Dale DeGroff The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum "This influential Cuban bartender wants to preserve the elegant tradition of the island’s cantineros" Washington Post by M. Carrie Allan See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cricket World Cup started this week, and fans in New York are celebrating the wickets, the fast bowlers, and biryani. How did the rice dish become the meal of the match? Journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid reports. (100 Proof will be back on June 20.) Make Biryani at home with our tested recipe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where does the word "cocktail" come from? Who invented it? We explore these questions and the backstories of two drinks from America's early days as a nation: The Mint Julep and the Sazerac. (Special thanks to Joe Gitter and Yiorgos Tsivranidis for their voice acting in this episode.) Try making our Mint Julep and Sazerac recipes at home! Further Reading: "A Brief History of Bitters" Smithsonian Magazine by Peter Smith Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers Drink & Learn "The Ice King was a Tudor" Wall Street Journal by Eric Felten Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs & Juice - Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin "NEW ORLEANS: A TIMELINE OF ECONOMIC HISTORY" Tulane University by Richard Campanella The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum) Travels of four years and a half in the United States of America by John Davis Whenham Great Pond by John C. Phillips from The Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts "Who Is the Real Father of the Cocktail?" The Daily Beast by Philip Greene See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we kick off Proof's first-ever miniseries. Episode 1 explores how we got to our modern cocktail renaissance. Why were cocktails in the 90s and early 2000s shells of the well-crafted drinks we see today? It took a renegade group of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts to resurrect drinks from the cocktail's heyday. Hosted by Cook's Country Editor-in-Chief Toni Tipton-Martin, and reported by Proof's managing producer, Yumi Araki. Looking for a new cocktail shaker? We've tested over a dozen types to find the best options that will fit your home bar. Further Reading: A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson Difford's Guide for Discerning Drinkers Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs & Juice - Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin Straight Up or On the Rocks - The Story of the American Cocktail by William Grimes Ted Saucier's Bottoms Up - Ted Saucier "The born-in-Detroit cocktail that has spawned countless variations," Washington Post by M. Carrie Allan The New Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Think Like a Master Mixologist by Dale DeGroff The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum) Special thanks to the following recording studios: Brooklyn Podcasting Studio Signature Sound Studios See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before the Stone Age, our ancestors were thinking about what happens when we combine one flavor with another, both in the primordial kitchen and behind the prehistoric bar. Fast-forward to today, and the carefully crafted cocktail is all around us. But what if we told you it wasn’t always this way? Welcome to Proof's first-ever miniseries: 100 Proof: The Journey of the American Cocktail. Over six episodes, we’ll look at the rise and fall--and subsequent resurgence--of the American cocktail, and contemplate what forces led to our modern cocktail renaissance. We'll also share some recipes along the way. Hosted by Cook's Country Editor-In-Chief Toni Tipton-Martin, and reported by Proof's managing producer, Yumi Araki. Episode 1 drops May 23. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can saliva change the way our food tastes? Does it affect our cooking? In our Season 16 finale, reporter Jacklyn Kim digs into the unexpected ingredient that we end up adding to every meal. Proof will be back later in May with a 6-part miniseries on the history of cocktails! Until then, stimulate your taste buds and break out the cast iron with the Test Kitchen recipe for Cast Iron Margherita Pizza. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1951, the Explorer's Club hosted an extravagant banquet that had 250,000-year-old woolly mammoth on the menu. The dinner raised eyebrows back then as it does now. What does it mean to seek out "exotic" foods? Why do we do it? And was it really wooly mammoth that was on the menu? Reporter Doug Mack digs in. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're headed to the riverbanks of the Magdalena River to experience a Colombian tradition of eating stew, called the paseo de olla. Journalist Camilo Garzón shares how the mighty river and the stew have been at the center of Colombia's past and present. Hear more of Camilo's work at Cuentero Productions. Invite some friends over to enjoy Colombia's signature three-meat stew, Sancocho at home with our tested recipe. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you have to boycott your favorite food? Reporter Makepeace Sitlhou travels to her home to North East India to confront this reality with her favorite dish: The Manipuri Thali. Heads up: This episode includes descriptions of violence. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off Season 16 with a new episode that traces Horiatiki, or the Greek salad's journey from Athens to American tables. Our reporter digs into how tax evasion shaped the humble Horiatiki, and how a star ingredient wasn't incorporated until much later than you might think. Check our top picks for Feta Cheese to make your own Horiatiki at home. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before we return next week with new episodes of Proof, we're sharing an episode of Your Mama’s Kitchen, a podcast about cuisine and culture, ingredients and identities, and the meals and memories that make us who we are. In this episode, host Michele Norris interviews TV’s funniest redhead, Conan O’Brien. The comedian talks about how he first learned to be funny at the kitchen table. We also learn about why Halloween is his favorite holiday, and he reveals his favorite childhood meal: fried ham. Learn more about Your Mama’s Kitchen here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're bringing you the first episode from a new, four-part series from our friends at The Sporkful. Host Dan Pashman shares the inside story of creating his first cookbook, Anything’s Pastable — from the highs and lows of recipe testing, to a research trip across Italy, to the agonizing decisions over the design of the cover. By the end, you'll never look at a cookbook the same way again. Episode 2 is available in The Sporkful feed right now! See if Dan is visiting a city near you on his tour of book signings and live podcast tapings with special guests. And follow Dan on Instagram to see photos and videos from the Anything’s Pastable journey! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We wrap up awards season with our Signal Award-Winning episode that asks: Will hot-boxing a lobster before it's cooked alleviate its pain? Science reporter Sarah Vitak takes us to a lobster shack in Maine to find out. Bring a taste of Maine home and make your own New England Lobster Rolls. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Hannah Kirshner takes us on a captivating journey into the woods of rural Japan alongside boar hunter, Sakura Yoshida. In our IACP Award-winning episode, Hannah shares her experience and the history of meat eating in Japan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporter Jason Strother shows us what it’s like to navigate the supermarket while visually impaired. Listen to our Signal award-winning episode to learn what a more navigable world might be like. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chartreuse, a beloved liqueur among bartenders, defies the test of time. We recount the history of this drink that wouldn't die in our 2022 IACP Award-Winning episode on this potent elixir created by Carthusian Monks. Ready to shake or stir? Read our Review Team's recommendations for best cocktail shakers. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The plan: To extract dormant yeast from the nooks and crannies of ancient Egyptian pots stored in the vaults of the world’s most prestigious museums and bake bread with it. Can it be done? Find out on this week’s episode from our archives. (New episodes will be back in April!) Make your own sourdough loaf at home (without the need for ancient yeast!) with our fail-proof recipe. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulitzer-prize winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain returns to share the story of Brady Keys, a former NFL star and Black entrepreneur whose franchise, All-Pro Chicken, was hailed as the gold standard for Black capitalism in the 1960s. Try making Batter-Fried Chicken at home with our fail-proof recipe. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulitzer-prize winning historian and fast food detective Dr. Marcia Chatelain explores the cases of three American franchises that disappeared from the American landscape without a trace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we replay our award-winning episode inspired by the food in FX's "The Bear". We get to the meat of the matter on how family can be the secret ingredient to creating (what we think) is the world’s greatest Italian beef sandwich. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com Try making an Italian beef sandwich at home with our foolproof recipe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the Philly Cheesesteak make its way to Lahore, Pakistan? Journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid traces the transcontinental journey. Try Ayesha Sarwar’s recipe for Desi Philly Cheesesteak or America's Test Kitchen's version of the classic Philly style. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're spilling the tea on the origins of boba, or bubble tea. Cookbook author Clarissa Wei reports. Did this episode make you thirsty? Try making our Matcha Fauxba Tea Smoothie, inspired by boba tea! Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, Georgia, is in a battle against time. Every year, storms, salt water, and construction threaten the land. But Sapelo resident Maurice Bailey is fighting to protect the island by reviving Geechee agriculture. Will he succeed? Claire Reynolds reports. To learn more about Maurice Bailey’s efforts on Sapelo Island, go to saveourlegacyourself.org. Try our recipe for Hoppin' John. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ABC, or almond boneless chicken, is a popular Chinese-American dish from Detroit. But it's not as well known outside the Motor City. In this episode, author Curtis Chin investigates whether or not his grandmother's claim of having invented the dish, is true. Try making Almond Boneless Chicken at home with our tested recipe. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How far would you go to ensure the hops in your fresh hop IPAs are as fresh as humanly possible? The answer for one Denver-based brewery? Take advantage of the brewers’ pilot licenses. It’s a race against time in this week’s episode of Proof. Kate Bernot reports. Have an extra can of beer at home? Use it for dinner tonight to make a Grill-Roasted Beer Can Chicken. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite its rich coffee and cafe culture, Italy doesn't produce its own coffee beans. One man is trying to change that, against all odds. Producer John Last reports. Thirsty for some coffee? Check out ATK's recommended Espresso Machines. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why aren't Italians drinking Italian coffee? What's the story behind ABC--a.k.a. almond boneless chicken? How did Philly Cheesesteaks become a popular sandwich in Pakistan? Find out the answers to these questions and so much more on Thursday, November 9 when the new season of Proof from America's Test Kitchen drops! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last 'Best of Proof' episode of the year, we bring you a story from 2021 that gives new meaning to the question: How did host Kevin Pang's father end up becoming an unlikely YouTube star? Today, the duo are the stars of Hunger Pangs and authors of A Very Chinese Cookbook, but it didn't start out that way. Want to try a Pang family recipe? Check out this sticky, crispy spare rib recipe. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preparing for doomsday might not be as crazy as we think. This week, we bring you an episode from 2019 that takes you inside the culinary minds of people who are ready and prepped for the worst. Stockpiling wheat at home? Try making ATK’s recipe for Whole-Wheat Sandwich Bread. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s apple-picking season, and one man, Tom Brown, is on a mission to find an elusive variety called the Junaluska before it’s too late. Will Tom succeed? Claire Donnelly reports. Gone apple picking? Check out ATK’s recipe for Classic Apple Pie. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is nixtamalization, and why is it so important when preparing corn-based dishes like tortillas and pupusas? Navajo reporter Andi Murphy walks us through her journey of nixtamalizing blue corn, and embarks on an Indigenous information exchange with chefs, scholars, and poets in the process. Want to make your own corn tortillas? Check out ATK’s recipe for Homemade Corn Tortillas. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re starting autumn off right with one of our all-time favorite episodes: Fair Foods. Chris Siege reports. Craving that sugar cream pie from the Indiana State Fair? Check out ATK’s recipe for Hoosier Pie. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For hundreds of years, Japanese soy sauce was made in wooden barrels, but now, most are made in steel tanks. And some argue: It’s made it less delicious. Can a group of brewers and carpenters save the art of traditional brewing? Hannah Kirshner reports. Curious about all the different varieties? Check out ATK’s reviews on Soy Sauce. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Pakistan, alcohol is banned for Muslims, who make up around 97% of the population. But, people drink, and there’s even a renowned beer brewery. How do they get around the ban? Kunwar Khuldune Shahid reports. Looking for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options? Check out ATK’s collection of recipes from How to Cocktail. Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Proof team presents bite-size stories on snacks and snacking. Want a snack while you listen? Check out ATK’s reviews on potato chips. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proof contributor Eliza Rothstein heads to Broadway to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the pies from Sweeney Todd are made. We hear from the actor playing Mrs. Lovett, and dive into the history of food props. Want to learn how to make one of the best pies in town? Check out ATK's recipe for Natchitoches Meat Pies. Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Butter Cow draws enormous crowds every year at the Iowa State Fair. But who came up with the idea to sculpt with butter in the first place? Des Moines Register reporter Courtney Crowder uncovers the forgotten history of the woman who pioneered the art of butter sculpting. Get a 14-day free trial for an America’s Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com Want to know the best way to store butter? Check out our reviews on butter storage containers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporter Sarah Baik explores the history of Koryo Saram cuisine (Korean Soviet cuisine) and learns about the importance of morkovcha--a carrot dish--to one Koryo Saram family. Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Comedian Nick Lavallee is on a mission to make Manchester, New Hampshire the chicken tender capital of the world. Will he succeed? Read reporter Caleb Jagoda's original article from New Hampshire Magazine. Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. Hungry for some tendies? Make your own Puritan Backroom–Style Chicken Tenders. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the U.S. military create a pizza that warfighters could eat on the battlefield? The Proof team follows the 5-year journey to create the world's most shelf-stable pizza. Get a 14-day free trial for an America's Test Kitchen digital subscription at atkpodcast.com. Craving pizza now? Check out ATK's reviews on Frozen Pepperoni Pizza. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does beer thrive in a country that bans it? Who's behind the worst pies in London? What does a Danish tale of a blind princess have to do with America's first butter sculptor? The answer to these questions and much, much more on Season 14 of Proof from America's Test Kitchen. Episode 1 drops Thursday, August 3! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the Season 13 closer, we bring you two stories on the theme of fusion food. We look at a JamAsian specialty--Jamaican Pepper Steak--and ask: How did a dish with Chinese roots become a celebrated Jamaican staple? We then head to Vietnam where MasterChef France winner Khanh-Ly Huynh falls hard for the banh mi. (Dionne Reid wrote the story on Jamaican Pepper Steak, and you can find her recipe for it online and in Cook's Illustrated magazine. Reporter Rebecca Rosman reported on Khanh-Ly Huynh's journey and the history of the banh mi.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices