Savor

This vivid yellow underground stem has been used as a spice, medicine, and pigment for millennia. Anney and Lauren get into the rhi-zone with the science and history of turmeric.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweet, rich spread is made by cooking down apples until they’re smooth as butter. Anney and Lauren dip into the dairy-free science and history of apple butter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dish of marinated, barbecued beef doesn’t necessarily need to be barbecued, and it doesn’t need to be beef. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and science behind bulgogi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This lightly fermented drink is often made tangy-sweet with pineapple skin, core, and fruit. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of tepache.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweet syrup is a baker’s friend -- and an industrial byproduct of sugar refinement. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and science of golden syrup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nutrient dense and easy to grow, this leafy green was a culinary staple long before it was labeled a superfood. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren dig into the rich history and savory science of kale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These marine invertebrates have excellent skeletons and delicious gonads. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of eating sea urchin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the turn of the 20th century, this French chef, writer, and restauranteur shaped the way that modern restaurants work, from the way kitchens are run to the experience of dining. Anney and Lauren explore the life and impact of Auguste Escoffier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This tart, crunchy salad ingredient morphs into a soft, sweet (and slightly funky) dessert when it ripens. Anney and Lauren peel back the science and history of papaya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this category of cuisine, many (many) types of dishes, teas, and establishments may feature – but all add up to a deliciously communal experience. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of dim sum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This spiced beverage is seasoned with bright fruit and served warm – and, like all of the ingredients, the wine can vary (or be optional). Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of mulled wine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, the holidays! Because nothing is more merry and bright than a marketing campaign, Anney and Lauren present another season's worth of the weirdest gimmicks and co-brandings that the food & beverage industry has to offer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To brie, or not to brie, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the caves to age to the firmness and funk of outrageous Roquefort, or to take weeks to form a rind of yeast poops, and, post-ripening, eat them. (Sorry I borked the meter. This is a classic about brie, y’all. /LV)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This fragrant flavoring has been favored for millennia, and was ubiquitous in American desserts before vanilla became affordable. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and science behind rose water.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Thai-style condiment, popularized in the U.S. by a Vietnamese immigrant, inspires fan loyalty and frustrations alike. Anney and Lauren explore where sriracha comes from, its meteoric pop-culture rise, and the science of why hot sauce burns so good. Plus, an update: Corporate drama and comeuppance!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These airy cookies are made waffle-style in specialized presses with beautiful designs. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of pizzelle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s recap o’clock! Having logged three trips to Vegas this year, Anney and Lauren (and Super Producer Andrew) sampled a lot more excellent cuisine than they’ve had time to discuss on the show. So that time is now! From seafood towers to steak basements, we chat through the dishes and drinks we shared during our Vegas visits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastry is an edible, architectural art form – creating it at a resort-level scale takes a lot of teamwork. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with Jen Yee, the Executive Pastry Chef at the Wynn Las Vegas, about how she helms the resort’s pastry program and helps facilitate everything from room-service cheesecake to showstopping centerpieces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dish (and/or cooking method) reduces a stew completely – and invites infinite iterations. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture(s) that add up to make rendang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This spice blend can contain any number of ingredients – the idea is that they should work together to balance five traditional flavors: bitter, sweet, sour, pungent, and salty. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and science of Chinese five spice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These mild-flavored fruits grow on giant cacti and look like dragon eggs. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and science of the dragon fruit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crayfish (aka crawfish or crawdads) are arguably the tastiest li'l Lovecraftian horrors around. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren dig into the history and seriously strange science behind these curious crustaceans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This shelf-stable powder made from milk, wheat, and barley malt has been everywhere from your milkshake glass to the mountains of the Antarctic. Anney and Lauren explore the cool science and contested history of malted milk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fannie Farmer’s practical, scientific guide to home cooking, ‘The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book,’ changed the way we write recipes amidst a rapidly changing world. Anney and Lauren dig into the life and legacy of Fannie Farmer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This cured pork product is composed almost entirely of fat – no meat necessary. Anney and Lauren get salty about the history and science of lardo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This aromatic sweetened bread welcomes celebrants both living and dead to the festivities of el Día de los Muertos. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture of pan de muerto.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Specialized fields like wine can seem intimidating, but we’re all just here to make connections and have a nice time. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with Jeff Eichelberger, the Senior Manager of Wine for the Wynn Las Vegas, about how he coordinates with winemakers, chefs, and staff to help people navigate the universal language of food and drink – and have a blast doing it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This thick, comforting soup comes in red, white, and clear varieties with countless adaptations. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of chowders, clam and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweet, semiaquatic vegetable stays crisp even when cooked or canned. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of the Chinese water chestnut.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This textured vegetarian protein is fairly new to a lot of the world, but tempeh's history goes way back. Anney and Lauren dig in, plus explore the amazing fungal chemistry that makes tempeh tasty, nutritious, and safe to eat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dark comedy/horror film satirizes fine dining – and tackles some very real issues in the restaurant industry and food media. Anney and Lauren relish the dishes and themes of ‘The Menu’ (2022).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This beverage is more than just drinkable yogurt – it’s fermented with whole colonies of friendly bacteria and yeasts. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of kefir.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As complex to make as it can be to pronounce, Worcestershire sauce is prized for its pungent flavor. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren examine the history and science that make Worcestershire sauce possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This chewy, licorice-type candy is one of the oldest candy brands in the United States. Anney and Lauren unravel the science and history behind Twizzlers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This crisp, golden beer straddles the line between a pale ale and a lager. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of Kölsch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This subspecies of fish has adapted to living in lakes and streams situated in high-altitude deserts – and it’s pretty tasty. Anney and Lauren dive into the ecology and history of Lahontan cutthroat trout.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not all seafood is its best right off the boat. Using preservation techniques that go back centuries, Chefs Christoper Lee and David Middleton have developed a dry aging program for the Wynn Las Vegas Resort's Lakeside restaurant. In this sponsored episode, we chat about how it works, plus other ways they're looking to make traditions modern.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We turn again to stories from you, dear listeners! This bounty includes a lot of stories about stories, from cozy mysteries to kids’ cartoons -- plus tales of other art forms, from kiwi gardening to tomato costuming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweetened root vegetable side dish has so many potentials for personalization that it may be cause for a bit of introspection. Anney and Lauren get to the roots of tzimmes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This type of prepared mustard, though traditionally made with Burgundy wine byproducts, has gone global. Anney and Lauren dip into the sharp science and spreading history of Dijon mustard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This spice is ubiquitous today, but throughout history it was a prized commodity, traded like gold and responsible for family fortunes. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren explore where peppercorns come from, how they're processed, and why they became commonplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This often brown, often fuzzy fruit got its name thanks to a marketing campaign in the 1950s. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and botany of kiwifruit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

amales are an ancient food imbued with limitless possibilities, tastiness, and... chemistry-based nutritional benefits? In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren get wrapped up in the long history and hot science of this Mesoamerican staple/comfort food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scent and flavor can take you back to a place you love -- or off to a place you've never been. As the Master Mixologist of the Wynn Las Vegas Resort, Mariena Mercer-Boarini designs drinks of all kinds meant to take you on a journey. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with her about how she collaborates with some 34 venues across the resort to help its designers and chefs tell stories through drinks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This iteration of sparkling lemonade in a marble-in-gasket enclosed bottle became so popular that the name refers to both the flavor and the bottle type today. Anney and Lauren pop open the science and history of ramune soda (and the Codd bottle).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anney co-wrote a book! To celebrate, we sat down with her co-writer and co-host of Stuff Mom Never Told You, Samantha McVey, to chat about how gathering around food is a love language that can drive personal exploration and social movements alike. (You can order the book at https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canned food existed for almost 50 years before the can opener, and even then it took us centuries to come up with a really good one. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren pop open the history and physics of these finger-saving devices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This poultry has taken a dive in popularity in some places, but it's still considered a delicacy in others. Anney and Lauren swoop through the agriculture and history behind squab (i.e., young pigeon).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This rich, sweet candy owes its smooth texture to sugar science – and stirring. All the stirring. Anney and Lauren don't fudge up the science and history of fudge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This goat- and sheep-milk cheese doesn’t melt when cooked, making it perfect for panfrying or grilling. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of halloumi/hellim.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.