Good Food

KCRW

4.6 (1K)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED WEEKLY

Everything you wanted to know about good cooking and good eating from LA chef, author, radio host and restaurateur Evan Kleiman.

14 HR. AGO

Kwanzaa, Shabbat, meat pies, cake

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants. Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa. Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel. Chef Brian Polcyn knows his way around a meat pie. Rose Levy Beranbaum preaches the glory of cake.

1 hr
DEC 13

Aged eggnog, women and cocktails, liqueurs

Food scholar Darra Goldstein traces the lineage of early fermented beverages, which were offered to deities and used in rituals. Sociologist Nicola Nice takes a look at how women brought the cocktail home. Lesley Jacobs Solmonson explains how liqueurs went from the hands of the apothecary to those of the mixologist. Balo Orozco shops the farmers' markets to make seasonal shrubs.

48 min
DEC 6

Gifting cookbooks, Southern foodways, Japanese cooking

Reporter Jessica Roy delivers the bad news about those plastic kitchen utensils. Anne Byrn composes an exhaustive guide on Southern baking. Chef Ashleigh Shanti goes beyond cast iron fried chicken and cornbread in exploring Black influences on Southern foodways. Local cooking instructor and food writer Sonoko Sakai explains the deep meaning of "Japanese in style" cuisine. Celia Sack of Omnivore Books reveals her favorite cookbooks of the year for everyone on your list.

1 hr
NOV 29

Vegging out over the long weekend

Director Tran Anh Hung and actress Juliette Binoche discuss the recipe for subtle seduction in The Taste of Things. On the 20th anniversary of Sideways, Hitching Post owner Frank Ostini reflects on changes in the Santa Ynez Valley. Filmmaker Jason Wise joins Vahe Keushguerian in a conversation about making wine from Iranian grapes for the first time in half a century. Zimbabwean winemaker Tinashe Nyamoduka strives to demystify the vine and promote inclusivity. Nathan Park talks about the link between the Academy Award-winning film Parasite and fried chicken.

1 hr
NOV 22

Turkey, wine, pumpkin pie – it must be Thanksgiving

Evan Kleiman taps flavor scientist Arielle Johnson to co-host Good Food's annual Thanksgiving episode. Food science writer Harold McGee breaks down brining, spice, and the best way to prep that giant Thanksgiving bird. Khushbu Shah forgoes the turkey for squash filled with biryani, a tikka masala-inspired mac and cheese, and Mexican food. Homemade cranberry sauce is all about the crackle and pop for Harold McGee. Sommelier Ian Krupp goes beyond Beaujolais in his Thanksgiving wine pairings. Arielle Johnson opts for two types of cardamom in her pumpkin pie recipe. Brian Polcyn assembles the perfect pot pie with turkey leftovers.

1 hr
NOV 15

Wild turkey, baking ingredients, Chinese breakfast

Austin-based chef Jesse Griffiths is on the hunt for the majestic wild turkey. Pastry chef Nicola Lamb sifts through the essential ingredients of baking — flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Memo Torres runs down his top five tacos in Los Angeles. Having eaten his way around China, Michael Zee recreates breakfast favorites at home. Courtney Storer of The Bear joins Gillian Ferguson at the farmers market to shine a light on winter squash.

1 hr
NOV 8

Cookies, millennial farming, fast food and the African American community

Food writer and recipe developer Ben Mims scours the world for great cookie recipes. Former professional basketball player Laurent Correa is turning out some of LA's best croissants. Dr. Naa Oyo Kwate unveils the insidious relationship between fast food and the African American community. Lindsey Beatrice explores the creative ways millennials are acquiring land they can farm. Food Access LA raises funds to keep two farmers' markets afloat, and Nick Fisher of Fluffy McCloud's is drawn to fuyu persimmons for their shape.

1 hr
NOV 1

No-knead bread, see-through mice, soda science

Anthropologist Susan Greenhalgh describes how soda companies have influenced the science around sugary drinks. Health and nutrition reporter Alice Callahan breaks down "ultra-processed foods," a newish term to describe the evil that lurks on supermarket shelves. National Park guide Joseph C. Ward explains how a Cheetos bag altered the ecosystem in a New Mexico cavern. Physician and journalist Bryce Y. Lee reveals how scientists are using the food dye found in Doritos to make see-through mice. Breadmaster Jim Lahey reminisces on the 15th anniversary of his revolutionary no-knead bread-making book. Chef Aric Attebery shares tips for incorporating seasonal farmers market ingredients into the bowls we make at home.

1 hr

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Evan Kleiman

Host

4.6

out of 5

1,020 Ratings

An excellent exploration of all things related to food

Aug 7

AlisonEugene

I don’t live in LA - I’ve actually never lived in LA - but I love listening to this podcast. I read, listen and watch a lot of food related media but this podcast stands out because of its scope. With a friendly, sincere and knowledgeable air, Evan Kleiman delves into all sorts of stories related to food, some which are generally ignored, such as how prison labor is used in food processing and how a registered nurse from the Philippines started a restaurant that doesn’t charge doctors, nurses, clergy and others who work to help people. It’s got breadth and depth and does it all with a light touch.
Outstanding Show + Podcast!

Jan 26

De-bling

Evan’s expansive interests in all things food, including how and where it’s grown and cultivated, as well as the environmental, cultural, political, religious, and economic factors surrounding food offer us an informative, entertaining, and thought-provoking experience. Frankly, I’d love Evan to run for Congress and help re-set our priorities, as well as bring both sides to a table filled with nourishing, good food and reconcile our differences.
Life Antidote

10/19/2023

Classical NPR

This uplifting podcast is my favorite antidote for today’s anxious media. The voices are authentic, practical, and thoughtful. The focus on quality content rather than ads, music, or sound effects is a huge gift. Thank you for this heartwarming, informative public podcast related to a raison d’etre - good food!
Food fan

01/07/2023

alexpom

Been listening to the pod for several years now, ever since seeing Evan on the chef show! Loved the most recent episode about tech and food!