It's Been a Minute The best American food of 2025
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Aug 4, 2025 
Louisa Kung Liu Chu, a Chicago Tribune restaurant critic, takes listeners through the rich history of the Chicago-style peanut butter egg roll, emphasizing its cultural significance. Nicole Taylor, a food writer from Athens, Georgia, discusses how fried green tomatoes reflect Southern culinary traditions and personal histories. They share heartfelt connections to these iconic dishes, exploring their emotional ties and the stories that shape communities through food. This delicious conversation unpacks the flavors that define American culinary heritage.
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Louisa Chu's Peanut Butter Egg Rolls
- Louisa Chu grew up making peanut butter egg rolls in her family's Chicago restaurant.
- She remembers the texture and aroma vividly, highlighting the peanut butter's subtle but essential flavor.
Customer Shift in Peanut Butter Egg Rolls
- Peanut butter egg rolls were created by Chinese-American restaurants aimed at a predominantly white clientele.
- Over time, their customer base shifted mostly to Black communities in Chicago's South and West Sides.
Tracking the Egg Roll Inventor Story
- Louisa tracked down the oldest chef still making peanut butter egg rolls in Springfield, Missouri.
- Although he didn't invent them, the interaction brought Louisa personal closure before his passing.