This Is TASTE

Drew Nieporent is the guy behind legendary New York City restaurants Montrachet, Tribeca Grill, Nobu, and nearly 40 more, and he joins me in the studio today for an amazing conversation. He’s written a memoir, I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches, and it’s one of Matt's favorite restaurant books in recent years. In our conversation, we cover a lot of ground: opening in Tribeca in the early ’80s, collaborating with Robert De Niro on multiple restaurants, and why Keith McNally isn’t the only New York City restaurant man with a good story to tell. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to build a buzzy food brand in 2025—a brand gushed about online, used by legit chefs around the country, and found on the shelves of Erewhon? It’s a tough question, but Zab’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce cofounder Miles Soboroff is pretty qualified to answer it. In this great conversation, Miles shares how he discovered the datil pepper by near accident and how he think about growing his amazing company. Matt is a major fan of Zab’s as well as of Miles, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. Also on the show Matt has a great conversation with Tyler Sharp, editor in chief of Modern Huntsman. The award-winning publication has released a really terrific cookbook and they talk all about it, as well as what it means to hunt and fish today. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sally McKenney is the creator of the wildly popular website Sally’s Baking Addiction. She is known for providing clear, concise instructions, tips, and tutorials to make every recipe approachable for home bakers of all skill levels. In this episode, we talk about her great new cookbook, Sally's Baking 101, and what she is excited to bake this fall. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: We visited some New York City restaurants! Checking in on I Cavallini, Eel Bar, Cervo’s, Bridges, and Bong. Also: Jason Diamond’s debut novel, Kaplan’s Plot, gives Boardwalk Empire chased with a glass of prune juice, checking out Greensickle green juice popsicles, and a great visit to Traverse City, Michigan including visits to Common Good Bakery and Mode’s Bum Steer. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Khushbu Shah is one of our favorite writers online, and she’s the voice behind the great Substack Tap Is Fine. She’s the former restaurant editor at Food & Wine, and we go over so many topics bubbling over in the world of food, media, recipes, restaurants, and her hometown of Los Angeles, where we recorded this interview. We could speak with Khushbu for hours, and we actually do that when we hang out offline. But here’s our on-the-record conversation, and you shouldn’t miss it. Also on the show we have a great conversation with Julie Wolfson. Julie is an editor and writer covering the exciting California coffee scene. We talk about roasters, cafes, cold coffee, and her new Golden State of Coffee work on Substack. Read: 26 Of My Strongest Opinions About Food Read: Are You a Restaurant Regular? Listen: Los Angeles Coffee Professionals Spill All Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cake Zine is an independent literary food magazine cofounded by pastry chef Tanya Bush and TASTE contributing editor Aliza Abarbanel. The newest issue, Forbidden Fruit, explores how fruit fuels temptation, transgression, and fantasy. Today on the show, Aliza invites Tanya into the studio to talk about the editorial process behind this seventh issue and fruit’s many cultural meanings. Pre-order the new issue of Cake Zine: Forbidden Fruit Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was so fun having Jeff Gordinier in the studio. Jeff is a journalist, an author, and one of the more prolific writers in the food world. He’s currently Esquire’s food and drinks editor, leading their restaurants and bars coverage. Before that he was a reporter at the New York Times and held various roles at Entertainment Weekly. In this episode we have a great conversation about his work, the current dining scene, and his award-winning article in Food & Wine about rice in Charleston that he cowrote with George McCalman. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was truly a blast to have Danny Meyer in the studio. Danny is a great spokesperson for the restaurant industry and a hell of a storyteller. In today’s episode, we focus on his most near and dear restaurant, New York’s Union Square Cafe, which turns 40 this year. We talk about the early years, the legendary customers, and what it was like to pack everything up and move a couple of blocks over in 2016. What a great conversation. Also on the show, I have a great talk with Lena Ciardullo, the current executive chef of Union Square Cafe. We talk about what it’s like to shepherd this iconic restaurant, and we get into her own personal style and tastes. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yasmin Khan is an author, broadcaster, and human rights campaigner based in London. After releasing The Saffron Tales, Zaitoun, and Ripe Figs, she has a new cookbook: Sabzi, a collection of over 80 vegetarian recipes drawing from her travels and her Iranian and Pakistani heritage. It’s so special to have Yasmin on the show to talk about adapting traditional recipes for a plant-based diet, motherhood and the power of culinary lineage. Shop: Canaan Palestine Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosie Kellett is a chef, food writer, and supper club host based in London. She’s the author of a terrific debut cookbook, In for Dinner, and we really enjoyed catching up with her about the current London restaurant scene, her deep interest in pain au chocolat, and what cooking in a shared space in East London taught her about her own cooking skills. Read: Rosie Kellett on Substack Watch: London's Best Pain Au Chocolat Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fly By Jing is one of the most exciting brands in food today, and we were lucky to have the company’s founder, Jing Gao, return to the studio for a great conversation. We talk about the company’s incredible trajectory, and how growth (and expansion into new product lines) comes with its own challenges. We also tap into what it’s like to make chili crisps in China, and how the yo-yoing tariff dynamic is keeping the company on its toes. I have so much respect for what Jing is building at Fly By Jing. Also on the show we have a great conversation with Hailee Catalano and Chuck Cruz, recorded live at The Bell House. We talk about softboy foods, beach sandwiches, and what the DMs are looking like. Buy: The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami Tamimi is a Palestinian chef and cookbook author based in London. He is the cofounder of the Ottolenghi restaurant group and the coauthor of the award-winning cookbooks Jerusalem and Falastin, and now he has a new cookbook of his very own: Boustany: A Celebration of Vegetables from My Palestine. It’s a pleasure to have Sami in the studio to talk about his path to writing Boustany and the rich Palestinian traditions of agriculture and foraging. Read: The Musakhan Queens of Ramallah Read: Sami Tamimi Wrote the Book He Wanted to Write Watch: Foragers Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How fun it was to have Tejal Rao in the studio. Tejal is the co–chief restaurant critic at the New York Times, a role where she shares the mic with Ligaya Mishan. Newly elevated to this important job, we talk about how she views her role as a critic and go over many of her memorable stories. We also look back on her days working at the Village Voice and discuss how that era of internet reporting (or, dare we call it, blogging) informed her well-respected journalism career. Tejal is one of our favorite voices in food. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Zimmi’s knows its way around aioli, Melissa King’s Cook Like a King is a true standout in a busy cookbook season, and Samin Nosrat knows how people want to eat with her new book, Good Things. Also: Ed Park’s new short story collection, An Oral History of Atlantis, is such a trip to the ’90s. Speaking of a trip, we made one to Edmond Hong’s restaurant pop-up, Stones, and it was impressive. Finally, Steak House, by Eric Wareheim with Gabe Ulla, is documentary cookbook writing at its finest. Listen: Meet Your New New York Times Restaurant Critic, Ligaya Mishan Read: Omakase Isn’t Always Worth the Hype. Our Critic Says This One Is. Read: The Hard-Shell Taco Deserves Your Respect Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jinwoo Chong is the author of the novels I Leave It Up to You and Flux, a New York Times Editor’s Choice and a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. We really enjoyed I Leave It Up to You. It’s a family story set in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and it features a Korean family working in a Japanese-Korean restaurant, with a family dynamic that feels quite realistic. Jinwoo talks about the research that went into writing so colorfully about restaurant culture as well as his own food memories from growing up in New Jersey. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: David Lebovitz has revised Ready for Dessert, a visit to Pavé NYC, Coffee Project NY is roasting exceptional coffee. Also: One Love Community Fridge launched a CSA, Van Leeuwen is king of non-dairy, and Muteki Udon is serving one of our favorite salads. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hunter Lewis joined us in the studio for an entertaining conversation about his career working in food media. Hunter has led Food & Wine as editor in chief since 2017, and before that he held editorial roles at Cooking Light, Southern Living, Bon Appétit, and Saveur. That is some résumé, and we talk through his various stops as well as digging into the terrific work currently being done at Food & Wine. We also asked him about the general health of editorial in 2025. It’s an interesting time to be doing what we do, and he doesn’t hold back. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Sze is the chef-owner behind the Taiwanese restaurants 886 and Wenwen in New York City. He’s also working on a debut cookbook, Taiwanese?, and he recently returned from a whirlwind trip conducting research and taking photos for the book. Eric is one of our favorite voices in food, and it’s so fun having him in the studio to unpack his culinary career, the tricky task of defining Taiwanese food, operating restaurants in NYC, and more. Also on the show Matt catches up with journalist Elizabeth Dunn to talk about her terrific story in the New York Times about the protein bar arms race. What is up with the David bar, and the age protein era we are living in? Elizabeth has many thoughts and we had a great time talking esterified propoxylated glycerol. Wild stuff. Read: The Protein Bar Arms Race Read: Consumed Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a special episode we have today with Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market’s ambassador of food culture and a world-renowned cheese expert, buyer, and consumer packaged goods tastemaker, among many other things. Matt invited Cathy to join in a walk around Whole Foods’ Columbus Circle location. We wanted to get her take on several categories of groceries, including beverages, snacks, and, of course, cheese. We go over what’s exciting her lately and how she thinks about the future of groceries. After our walk, Cathy joins us in the studio to talk about her amazing career, which spans both pre- and post-Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods nearly a decade ago. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Claire Dinhut is known as Condiment Claire online, but as we find out in this entertaining conversation, Claire’s knowledge about food goes well beyond spotting the perfect mustard for sandwiches (though, of course, she has thoughts). She is the author of a terrific book, The Condiment Book, which is sneaky in its brilliant discussions on food science, terroir, history, and flavor pairing. The book is really great, and it was fun to talk with Claire about her life in and out of the kitchen. Also on the show we catch up with Anna Hezel to discuss her latest writing on TASTE, a close look at the exciting, multidimensional tinned fish era we are currently living in. Anna is this show’s former co-host, and the co-editor of Best Food Blog and it’s always great catching up with her. Read: The Tinned Fish Backlash Was Inevitable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does Padma Lakshmi really need an introduction? The Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and New York Times best-selling author is in a league of her own, and she recently joined us for a live conversation at the Bell House in Brooklyn. She shared her take on how Top Chef has impacted food culture, shooting Taste the Nation, and writing her new cookbook, Padma’s All American—plus her memories of ’90s New York, her epic cookbook collection, and the rush of doing stand-up comedy. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: It’s corn ice cream season at Malai, Campo Grande is selling exceptional Ibérico pork, a Canadian pizza pop-up at F&F in Brooklyn, Fungi Decoded by Britt A. Bunyard is the mushroom book for us. Also: Leggio's Deli in Bayshore, Long Island makes the perfect beach sandwich, and America’s Sweethearts Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is so much more than we expected. Preorder: Padma’s All American Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annie Shi is the co-owner and beverage director of the West Village’s French-Italian restaurant King and its uptown Rockefeller Center sibling Jupiter. Now she’s opened a spot of her very own: Lei, a Chinese wine bar on the historic Doyers Street in the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Lei is such a special and singular spot, and it’s great having Annie in the studio to talk about growing up in New York, pairing wine with Chinese food, and the evolution of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Also on the show Matt has an amazing conversion with Austin Hennelly. He’s the bar director at the Taiwanese restaurant Kato in Los Angeles. Kato is one of the most well-reviewed and respected restaurants in America, and the bar program shines with innovation and style. We talk about how Austin thinks deeply about NA beverage service before we hear about this wild professional career. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Akhtar Nawab is today’s guest, and we dig into his influential career in New York City dining. He’s the chef-owner of the terrific restaurants Wayward Fare and Alta Calidad in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and he previously ran the kitchen at La Esquina. Akhtar moved to New York in 1998 and worked under chef Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern for several years. He was part of the opening staff of Craft, and in 2002 he helped open Craftbar, later serving as executive chef. He’s mentored many stars in the industry, including David Chang, who credits him as a major influence. While he’d never say it himself, those who follow NYC restaurants understand that Akhtar is a giant in the industry. Humble and hardworking, it was a real pleasure to have him in the studio to talk about his amazing work. Also on the show we have a great conversation with Javier Cabral. He's the editor in chief of L.A. Taco. We discuss the publication's important work covering Los Angeles ICE activity, while offering readers a needed resource to stay safe. We also talk about how he balances breaking news coverage with deep dives into LA taco culture. It's a must read, and you can subscribe today. Read: What To Do If ICE Stops You In a Car, On a Bus, Or In a Train Listen: Tom Colicchio on the Birth of Gramercy Tavern, Top Chef Favorites, Running For Congress Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we are talking all about one of the world’s great foods: Maine Lobster, harvested directly from the cold waters of Maine, which give it its unique and sweet taste. First up is a great conversation with Ham El-Waylly. Ham is the chef-owner of the buzzy Brooklyn restaurant Strange Delight, and he tells us how Maine Lobster has been a big part of his culinary career. We talk about how he thinks about cooking with lobster and where he is spotting it on menus around the world. We also sent Ham a box of Maine lobsters to cook with at home. The results were pretty amazing. Also on the show, we speak with journalist Luke Pyenson. Luke traveled to Maine to report a story for TASTE, and we find out where he went and who he met—and, of course, hear about all the Maine Lobster he ate. We discuss Maine Lobster’s deep commitment to sustainability and how chefs both in Maine and around the world are cooking the sweetest lobster on earth in an exciting way. Finally we catch up with a Maine lobsterman, Curt Brown. Curt is a marine biologist, and he shares what life is like on a lobster boat as well as how he actually cooks with lobster at home. Curt has some real kitchen skills. Read: Maine Lobster in Technicolor This special episode is supported by the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. Get Maine Lobster delivered directly to your door by visiting lobsterfrommaine.com/how-to-buy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess Eng is a food writer based in New York City. She’s a regular contributor here at TASTE alongside a great roster of publications like the Washington Post and the New York Times. It’s so fun to have her on the show to expand on some of her favorite stories, her latest experiments with home fermentation, and her recent reporting trip in Fuzhou, China. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: It's fall cookbook season and Matt previews Measure with Your Heart by Hannah Taylor, The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro, Script Notes by John August and Craig Mazin, and Obsessed With the Best by Ella Quittner (not fall but worth a mention). Aliza jumps in with a visit for Thai chicken wings at Sam Yan in Clinton Hill, a preview of Ruby Tandoh’s new book, All Consuming, and a special shoutout to LA Taco’s ongoing coverage in Los Angeles. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube READ MORE FROM JESS: Flavors of Fujian [Substack] Kombucha’s Pét-Nat Moment [TASTE] The Fluidity and Fun of Chino Latino Cuisine Reaches New Fandoms [TASTE] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt was so excited to invite his friend Maurizio Leo to New York City to walk the streets and eat a lot of pizza. Maurizio is the author of The Perfect Loaf, an incredible cookbook and online community dedicated to all things sourdough. Matt and Maurizio visited seven pizzerias and, along with lead producer Clayton Gumbert, tasted their way through the city’s best (and maybe not best) slices. So what did they think of Joe’s, L’industrie, Mama’s TOO!, Lucia, Upside, Scarr’s, and F&F? Tune in! Also on the episode, Matt catches up with Anthony Falco. Falco is a global pizza consultant and a true pioneer in the pizza world. He just returned from a three-week trip to Italy, and we talk about all the pizza styles and trends he spotted there. We also move beyond pizza to discuss the modern trattoria scene, good and great gelato, and how Anthony’s appreciation for art dovetails with his interest in the culinary world. For more, listen to This Is TASTE 344: Pizza Week with Anthony Falco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever eaten prune whip pie? How about pickle cheesecake? Well, B. Dylan Hollis absolutely has. The popular TikTok and YouTube creator has racked up millions (and millions) of views by baking his way through vintage cookbooks that fit his “three Ws”: wacky, weird, and wonderful. Dylan is back with a new book, Baking Across America, which had him visiting dozens of states to track down recipes and stories from America’s amazing baking past. We talk about the crazy travel that went into this unique book project and what he’s baking in his Montana kitchen. We loved catching up with one of the sharpest minds in the baking game. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc-Kwesi Farrell is the founder of Ten to One, a contemporary Caribbean rum brand. Born in Trinidad, he’s passionate about broadening and celebrating global perceptions of rum through premium blends and storytelling, including drawing from his experience as the youngest vice president in Starbucks history. Today on the show, Marc goes deep on rum distillation and culture, bringing on the legendary singer Ciara as a co-owner, and plans for the future of the brand. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Blueberries from West Michigan, a visit to Harana Market in Accord, NY, new water discoveries: Freebird Southern Spring Water and Yuzu Mandarin Spindrift. Also: Hailee Catalano’s cold shrimp rolls with celery salad is perfect for right now, Three Cheers is a refreshing new cocktail book, Lei is a very cool new wine bar in NYC’s Chinatown, and it’s Tour de France season! Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It’s available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, Matt invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole. On today’s episode, we have an amazing conversation with Mahira Rivers. Mahira is a journalist and former Michelin Guide inspector. She’s also the author of the must-read Substack Sweet City, which covers the bakery and dessert scene in New York City with a critical eye. In this episode we discuss so many terrific recent stories in the food world, including Mahira’s epic quest to name the 21 best croissants in New York City right now. We go behind the scenes on her five-plus years at Michelin and talk a bit about writing on Substack. We’re all big fans of Mahira’s work, and it was a joy having her in the studio. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Featured on the episode: The 21 Best Croissants in New York City Right Now [NYT] TikTok Chefs Have Upstaged Their Clients [NY Mag] You Asked for My Restaurant Recommendation. Now Go to the Restaurant. [Food Time with Matt Rodbard] Liquid Death: From Hardcore to Cringe [Snaxshot] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jodi Moreno is a chef, culinary consultant, and food stylist based in Mexico City. She’s the author of the James Beard–nominated cookbook More with Less and a new cookbook, Simple Pleasures. It’s so fun to have Jodi on the show to talk about developing Simple Pleasures in Mexico City, the joys of summer salads, entertaining, and more. Also on the show is Tim Spector. He’s a professor of epidemiology at King’s College London, a cofounder of the science and nutrition company ZOE, and the author of The Food for Life Cookbook, a guide to the science of living well for home cooks. Tim addresses all our burning food science questions: probiotics, ultraprocessed foods, protein maxxing, and more. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is such a great conversation with Max Shapiro, co-host of the Air Jordan podcast and a guy who knows what he likes. We’ve enjoyed Max’s very active, and sometimes blessedly candid, Instagram reviews of restaurants around the world. While he’s based in Los Angeles, his recent trip to Spain, particularly a dozen stops at legendary restaurants and new places around San Sebastián, got us interested. Max shares an action-packed road trip around the Basque region, including stops at Gresca, Casa Julián, Asador Etxebarri, and Kaia Kaipe. And why you should most certainly not book at Arzak. He also tells what is good in his hometown of Los Angeles including Dunsmoor, Budonoki, Horses, Shunji, and Muse. Read more about Air Jordan and the Los Angeles podcast scene. It’s interesting. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leo Schaltz is a cofounder of BonBon, a Swedish candy store with five locations in New York City (six total) and a cult following on TikTok. The pick-and-mix bulk candy selection is entirely imported from Sweden, from salty licorice to sour strawberry cream skulls. Today on the show, Leo talks about growing BonBon’s candy empire, meeting viral demand, and building a candy library. And before that, Matt shares some of his discoveries from the recent Fancy Food Show in New York. These aren’t the “best” products at the show per say, and lord was it a big show. These are simply some of Matt’s favorites, including: Vietnam’s Marou Chocolates, Baris frozen dipped raspberries, Gamsa Foods savory instant oatmeal, Rotten “better for you” candy, Long Weekend freeze-dried instant soup, Pari zero-proof, Michigan pies in the grocery store from Achatz Pie Company, Salad Sprinkles is really smart. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hailee Catalano is a trained chef, a former restaurant cook, a recipe developer, and one of our favorite voices in all of food. She is the author of a great new cookbook, By Heart. In this episode, we talk about her early years in Chicago, growing up in an Italian American household, and her later years working the line as a cook before launching her social media account on a lark. If you follow Hailee, you know her unique take on home cooking is absolutely mesmerizing, and we discuss how she thinks about developing recipes for Instagram Reels and TikTok. Also on the show we have a great conversation with David Nayfeld. He’s the chef and co-owner of Che Fico in San Francisco, among other restaurants, and the author of a great new book, Dad, What's for Dinner? We talk about restaurant life and how cooking for his daughter inspired him to write this unique book. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aimee France is a cake baker and internet personality based in Brooklyn. Her distinctly bumpy cakes and elaborate eating habits have won over many fans online, and it’s so fun to have her in the studio to go deep on her singular perspective on food, from her three-drink-minimum breakfasts to her unexpected sources of inspiration. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: An amazing meal at Ultramarinos Marin in Barcelona, Santo Taco in NYC is really exciting, Vila Viniteca is a great non-tourist food shop in the Barcelona tourist center, Tashkent Halal Supermarket in Brighton Beach caused a blackout in the pastry section, Thattu in Chicago is the place for Keralan food, Natoora does amazing event catering. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jerry Williams Jr. has performed under the pseudonym Swamp Dogg since 1970 and has been described as “one of the great cult figures of 20th century American music.” I would agree, and it was an absolute honor to welcome the R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer to the studio to talk about visiting restaurants on the road while touring in the Jim Crow South and working with iconic artists like Patti LaBelle, Doris Duke, and Dr. Dre. We also discuss his new cookbook, which is a real treasure. It’s called If You Can Kill It I Can Cook It, and I absolutely love it. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Swamp Dogg. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Norma Listman and Saqib Keval are the chefs and co-owners of Masala y Maíiz, a Mexico City restaurant rooted in a mestizaje exploration of culinary traditions from India, East Africa, and Mexico. It was great to have them in the studio to talk about creating a more equitable restaurant that puts their workers first, expanding into a new location, shooting an episode of Chef’s Table, and their favorite spots in Mexico City. Also on the show, Aliza shares her first visit to Houston! What a town. Stops included: Tacos Tierra Caliente, Nam Giao, Truth BBQ, Ninfa’s on Navigation, Tiny Champions, Basket Books, and the Eldorado Ballroom. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all long been major fans of Ligaya Mishan, who last month was named co–chief restaurant critic at the New York Times. Working alongside Tejal Rao, Ligaya will be reviewing restaurants in New York City as well as around the country—and compiling the now iconic (and much-debated) 100 Best Restaurants in New York list. So what does it feel like to take over for Pete Wells? We went right to the source for this wonderful conversation. We discuss personal taste, mining history books, and what exactly makes a one-star restaurant. We also go back to Ligaya’s days writing the Hungry City column and talk about how this big job was truly more than a decade in the making. We love this fresh direction for the NYT Food section and were happy to have one of its new chief critics in the studio. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Read some of Ligaya’s memorable writing: Taking a Turn in the Restaurant That Makes New York Go Round [NYT] A Bid to Maintain One of the World’s Oldest Culinary Traditions [T] Let Them Eat Fakes [T] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eddie Huang hardly needs an introduction, but here’s a shot. Eddie is a gifted writer, rap encyclopedia, film director, podcast host, best-selling author, and a pretty nice chef, too. Matt has known Eddie since his days coming up in New York City in the 2000s, running the iconic Baohaus and shaking up the food writing world in the process. Today he’s back living in New York after spending years in California, and we get into his new restaurant project, Gazebo, which is running as a monthly pop-up series at The Flower Shop. We also talk about NYC dining culture then and now, and Eddie takes the TASTE Check. Legendary. Read some of Eddie’s recent writing on Canal Street Dreams: The Long Island Iced Tea Can Save Us The Restaurant Review Thing Gazebo July Menu Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, we have a great conversation with Austin Tedesco. Austin is head of business development at Substack, but we think of him even more as an infinitely curious restaurant superfan. He’s worked as a line cook and dines out with the frequency of our best critics. He writes about it all on his own Substack, Bangers & Jams, and we talk about his journey from NBA reporter to restaurant professional to helping promote the growth of authors on the Substack platform. Is Substack the future of food media? It’s still early to say, and Austin gives some insight into how it all works. Read: Knife myths and realities SUPPORT A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE FOOD SUBSTACKS: Snaxshot The Party Cut David Lebovitz La Briffe Sweet City Home Cook with Karolyn Pho Vittles Everything Cookbooks The Angel Robert Sietsema's New York Nongluten A Newsletter by Alison Roman Express Checkout Kitchen Projects Cake Zine Food Time with Matt Rodbard Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a lot of fun having Bill Oakley in the studio. Bill is a writer and “professional food enthusiast,” as he says. He’s also a former head writer for The Simpsons and has also written for The Cleveland Show and Portlandia and created the series Mission Hill. We loved talking with Bill about all kinds of food topics and his latest obsessions. We discuss writing food into memorable episodes of The Simpsons and his unique way of touring the country for highly entertaining live events. Bill is a real original. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Larry's Ca Phe does refreshing matcha right, Chicago's Lula Cafe served the perfect asparagus dish, Aliza visited L'Industrie Pizzeria for the first time, Gary He, author of McAtlas, was on fire at the James Beard Awards. Also: Aliza is reading Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder, and Matt had a great time at The Great Nosh and recaps the amazing food. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Mencin is the pastry chef and co-owner of Radio Bakery, a cult-followed destination for filled croissants and focaccia sandwiches with two locations in Brooklyn. Radio’s offerings—and its lines—are legendary, and today on the show Kelly talks about opening Rolo’s, transitioning to Radio, and their continued efforts to try and meet demand. Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noor Murad is a Bahrain-born, New York–trained, London-based chef and the author of the wonderful new cookbook Lugma. You may know her recipes from her time running the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen and contributing to the books Falastin, Shelf Love, and Extra Good Things. Now it’s time to get to know Noor herself through this delicious collection of traditional and re-imagined dishes from Bahrain and beyond. Also on the show we catch up with Brian Voll, the creative force behind the innovative cookbook series Menus By Brian. Get your tickets to our live event on July 23 at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Featuring conversations with Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic. Ticket sales benefit One Love Community Fridge. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was so much fun having Chris Morocco in the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about cooking, media, and his nearly two decades working at Condé Nast. Chris is the food director of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, overseeing the test kitchen team and the recipes they develop. In this episode, we go back to Chris’s early career working at Vogue before landing an assistant job in the BA Test Kitchen. We go over how he currently leads the team and how they think about seasonality, taste, and getting people to cook more in this rapidly changing world. We’re big fans of Chris’s work, and it was exciting speaking with him. We're hosting a really cool live podcast event in Brooklyn on July 23, featuring Padma Lakshmi, Hailee Catalano & Chuck Cruz, and a live taping of Bon Appétit Bake Club with Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic, visit the Bell House website. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Giusti is the founder and CEO of Brigaid, an organization bringing restaurant chefs to school cafeterias and senior centers. Formerly the head chef at Noma, he’s now dedicated to providing delicious and healthy meals to 40 institutions across the country. This year alone, Brigaid expects to serve over a million meals. It’s so special to have Dan in the studio to talk about growing up on Italian American classics, pivoting from Noma to Brigaid, and how all the work happens. Also on the show we have a terrific conversation with Adrian Miller. He’s the author of a groundbreaking new book: Cooking to the President’s Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History. We talk about how lesser-known Asian chefs have helped shape the food in the White House, and possibly policy. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is really special: an eating and drinking survey of the wonderful city of Portland, Oregon. Matt visited recently and shares all his dining experiences, which span regional Thai, tasting menus, incredible pour-over coffee, and some ’90s nostalgia. He also catches up with two legendary Portland chefs who share why their city is one of the nation’s best. First up is Gabriel Rucker. He is the chef-owner of Le Pigeon and Canard and the winner of two James Beard Awards. He’s also a cookbook author and a runner and has some nice skills on the links. We talk all about Le Pigeon’s evolution over its nearly two decades in Portland. Next we speak with Earl Ninsom. He’s the chef behind some of the city’s top Thai restaurants, including Eem, Hat Yai, Yaowarat, and Langbaan, which was the winner of the 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. We talk about his early life in Portland and how tapping into specific Thai dishes, served with flair and ambition around the city, has brought him great success. Save our Google Map of all the places mentioned in the episode. This episode was supported by Travel Portland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Firkser is a writer, recipe developer, and food stylist based in Brooklyn. Her debut cookbook, Galette!, celebrates the highly riffable, always buttery pleasures of free-form tarts. In this episode, Rebecca and Aliza go deep on developing foolproof pastry recipes for nervous bakers like me, making a debut cookbook after years of working on others, and more. Also on the show, Matt catches up with Mitchell Davis to talk about the Great Nosh, a Jewish food and culture festival taking place on June 22 in New York City. They talk about the incredible lineup of chef collaborations, including Thai Diner x Katz’s Deli, Caroline Schiff x Junior’s Cheesecake, JP Park of Atoboy x Apollo Bagels, and Zahav x Ed Szymanski of Dame. While The Great Nosh is sold out, the festival has opened up additional tickets for the 2pm entry. Use the code TASTE to access the tickets at: thegreatnosh.com Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been covering the nonalcoholic beer scene at TASTE for a minute, and it was a lot of fun having one of the most exciting names in the industry, Tate Huffard, in the studio. Tate is the founder of Best Day Brewing, which makes one of our favorite NA beers available today. Tate shares the story of the company, and how he’s bringing NA versions of Kolsch and IPAs to the masses. We also zoom out and talk about the future of NA drinking and how craft beer drinkers are embracing cans and bottles and kegs of beer. If you were ever interested in how nonalcoholic beer is made and why you are starting to see more of it around, this is the episode for you. Also on the show, we have a great conversation with Rob Jensen. He’s the co-founder of Chicago-based Visitor and we learn about the company’s unique approach with NA beer. Think: Less is more. So much 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. Read more: It’s Cool to Care About NA Beer [TASTE] The 9 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers to Stock Right Now [Seven Fifty Daily] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the return of a special video podcast series: Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. It’s available on the TASTE YouTube channel, so make sure to subscribe and check out the video version of this podcast. Every couple of weeks, Matt invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole. On today’s episode, we have an amazing conversation with Tammie Teclemariam. Tammie writes as the Underground Gourmet at New York magazine and combs the city for the most exciting new and historical restaurants. We cover so many topics in this episode, including New York City’s frozen yogurt boom, international chain restaurants, and whether Gen Z is really opposed to keeping a bar tab going. We also talk about the recent New York Times 100 Best Restaurants list as well as what Tammie is enjoying in the NYC food scene. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Featured on the episode: 7 New York City Slices in 5 Hours [Food Time with Matt Rodbard] This City Is Ready for Some Fro-Yo [New York Magazine] Gen Z Doesn’t Want to Start a Bar Tab [NYT] A Chain Opening That’s Worth Getting Excited About [New York Magazine] 100 Best Restaurants in New York City [NYT] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Woldy Reyes is a New York–based chef and founder of the boutique catering company Woldy Kusina. He’s become known for creating modern, fashionable, plant-based food, and now he’s sharing it in a debut cookbook: In the Kusina: My Seasonal Filipino Cooking. Today Woldy talks about the inspiration behind In the Kusina, his Filipino pantry essentials, karaoke, and more. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: The Meadow in Portland is our perfect store, a visit to Brooklyn’s Taquería El Chato, Mush peanut butter and an overnight oats conversation. Also: Exceptional Thai tea at Nuar in Manhattan, In for Dinner by Rosie Kellett is out in August and giving 1990s Jamie Oliver, and Coqodaq knows what people want in 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we have a very fun episode highlighting one of the country’s emerging culinary cities: Traverse City, Michigan. Located in Northern Michigan on the stunning shores of Lake Michigan, Traverse City has a restaurant and wine scene that attracts visitors from around the globe. And this August marks the debut of the Traverse City Food & Wine, running August 20–24. In this episode, we speak with some of the people who make Traverse City such a special place. First up we speak with Sarah Welch, a Top Chef finalist who ran the acclaimed restaurant Marrow in Detroit before moving to Traverse City to open a forthcoming restaurant with her husband, Cameron Rolka of Detroit’s Mink. Next, we hear from Traverse City Food and Wine director Whitney Waara about the amazing event, with a lineup of chefs including Tyler Florence, Ji Hye Kim, Mei Lin, and Kate Williams. To close, we learn about Traverse City’s growing wine region from Patrick Brys of Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery. For Traverse City Food & Wine tickets visit traversecityfoodandwine.com. This very special episode is supported by Traverse City Tourism and Pure Michigan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Roberts is back on the show, and we couldn’t be happier to speak with him about his terrific debut novel, Food Person. You may know Adam from his pioneering food blog (now on Substack), The Amateur Gourmet, but we know him now as a fiction writer digging into the world we talk about often here on the show: food media, cookbooks, collaborations, and all the behind-the-scenes drama that can pop up therein. Adam has written an incredible universe in the novel, and we discuss how he wrote it and how cookbooks truly informed the writing process. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Chicago's Lao Peng You has an incredible house noodle soup, Overcompensating is our favorite new show, Betweener is an interesting energy drink alternative. Also: A visit to the new Mission Chinese in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Lula Cafe remains a Chicago legend, Askinosie Chocolate is a favorite new chocolate company and puts the farmer front and center. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mehreen Karim a Brooklyn-based pop-up chef, recipe developer, and food writer. You may know her from seeing her compete on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, but today she’s coming back on our show to talk about writing her first cookbook, Make It Plant-Based! Southern, and editing a larger plant-based cooking series. I always have so much fun catching up with our friend Mehreen, and this episode is no exception. Also on the show, TASTE contributor Vrinda Jagota stops by the studio to talk about two of her recent stories about the real-world effects of going viral: The Expansive, Absurdist Canvas of Tiramisu and Indian Pizza Is Extremely Online. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you to all of our listeners for helping us get to 600 episodes. If you like what we are doing, drop us a review on Apple or Spotify. Besha Rodell is a restaurant critic, columnist, and freelance reporter based in Melbourne, Australia. She is a James Beard Award winner and served as a critic at Creative Loafing, LA Weekly, and The Age. It was really great to have Besha in the studio to talk about her life as a critic, which she details in all its guts and glory in a terrific memoir, Hunger Like a Thirst. We talk about her time working in New York City restaurants and writing in the shadow of Jonathan Gold, who she followed as critic at LA Weekly during her time in Los Angeles. We also discuss the current restaurant reviewing scene and so much more. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Nepali Bhanchha Ghar is our momo rec in Queens, AOOA is our go-to Hudson Valley farm stop this summer, Aliza shares a home cooking update. Also: Blue Cove Preserves is doing great tinned branzino, we're pro-honey in a salad dressing, and Yes Plz and Camber is the coffee you should be subscribing to. Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you. Read more: Leave Beets and Goat Cheese Alone [TASTE] Peanut Butter Beautiful [TASTE] How We Chose the World's Best Restaurants [Food & Wine] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices