This Is TASTE 722: What Eric Kim Really Thinks About Food52
Jan 28, 2026
Eric Kim, New York Times columnist and author of Korean American, shares stories from his life and writing. He talks about Korean family meals, jeon and chon cooking techniques, his forthcoming essay collection Spaghetti Junction, memories of working at Food52, AI and the value of human culinary creativity, and favorite restaurants and writing spots.
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Everyday Food At Anton's
- Eric narrates taking a pregnant friend to Anton's for comforting, 'everyday' food like roast chicken and anchovy pasta.
- He values neighborhood restaurants that feel like a chef cooking at home and provide comforting, familiar meals.
Hard Memoir Born From Therapy
- Eric describes writing his essay collection Spaghetti Junction as the hardest thing he's done and a product of deep therapy and reflection.
- The essays trace life-changing moments from his 20s and culminate in personal resolution and growth.
AI Reveals Value Of Human Nuance
- Eric sees AI as a language tool that exposes what we lose when robots substitute creative labor.
- He hopes AI's limits will reveal the value of professional recipe developers and culinary nuance.
