KQED's Forum Samin Nosrat on Nourishing Food, Community and All the ‘Good Things’
Oct 2, 2025
Samin Nosrat, renowned chef and author of the bestselling cookbook 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat', opens up about her journey of discovering joy in cooking and community after feeling lost. She delves into the rituals of shared meals, discussing her new book 'Good Things', which emphasizes cooking as a transformative experience. Samin also offers tips on daily food rituals, interactive dishes like fondue, and the importance of accommodating diverse cooking preferences, all while celebrating the essence of communal dining.
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Finding Joy Through Small Dinners
- Samin describes being lonely and depressed after her success and finding meaning again through regular shared dinners.
- Those small communal meals became the foundation of her new book, Good Things.
Recipes As Transformative Rituals
- Recipes promise exact repeatability but cooking variables make that impossible.
- She reframes recipes as rituals that transform and teach principles rather than dictating exact outcomes.
Use Technique Plus One Condiment
- Learn basic techniques (roast, boil, sauté) and combine simple condiments to transform any vegetable.
- Use the book's flowchart approach to choose one condiment and avoid overloading dishes.
