583: Double Dating with the Obamas with Journalist Michele Norris
Apr 30, 2025
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Michele Norris, a groundbreaking journalist and host of Your Mama’s Kitchen, shares her insights on the intersection of food and storytelling, revealing how her journalist roots influence her culinary narratives. Erin Gleason, the creative force behind The Watercolor Feast series, discusses her artistic journey and encourages everyone to explore painting as a way to connect with food. They dive into how food culture has evolved, especially during the Obama administration, while discussing the role of storytelling in understanding diverse identities.
Michele Norris discusses the power of storytelling in journalism, using food as a lens to explore cultural identity and social dynamics.
Erin Gleason's latest project, The Watercolor Feast, combines cooking and art, promoting creativity through engaging watercolor tutorials and simple recipes.
Hosts Matt and Eliza share exciting highlights from the food world, emphasizing culinary trends and personal experiences that shape contemporary dining culture.
Deep dives
Exciting Culinary Travel Experiences
The upcoming Taste Travels events highlight immersive culinary experiences in Spain and Italy. On June 15th, participants will join cookbook author Susie Carace in Barcelona for a week filled with culinary tours, cooking classes, and tastings of local delicacies such as wine and jamón. On September 15th, an adventure in northern Italy awaits with author and baker Mauricio Leo, featuring visits to artisanal producers of Parmigiano-Reggiano and balsamic vinegar, as well as a masterclass in panettone. Both trips emphasize rich culinary exploration and are almost sold out, creating an urgent opportunity for food enthusiasts to join.
Insights from Renowned Journalists
Michelle Norris, a respected journalist and podcast host, shares her compelling career journey and her passion for storytelling within the food industry. Having co-hosted NPR's All Things Considered, she discusses how journalism can reveal societal narratives, using food as a lens to explore cultural identity. Through her experiences, she emphasizes that food acts as a reflection of social dynamics and a medium to connect diverse stories. Norris's unique perspectives provide valuable insights into the intersection of race, culture, and cuisine.
Creative Expressions with Watercolors
Erin Gleason introduces her latest project, The Watercolor Feast, which merges cooking and art through accessible watercolor tutorials. The book features 40 tutorials that guide readers in painting fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers while incorporating simple recipes to enjoy. Each tutorial encourages readers to engage in a creative process, highlighting the joy of experimentation rather than perfection. Gleason's work promotes mindfulness and creativity, appealing to both art and food enthusiasts alike.
Three Things in the Culinary World
A lively discussion among hosts Matt and Eliza centers around their highlights in the world of food, starting with Eliza's recent adventures in New Orleans. She recounts her experience at Parkway Bakery, a landmark po'boy stop, and shares a local tip about adding potato salad to gumbo instead of rice, which enhances the dish's creamy texture. Matt dives into his current read, a novel where the protagonist wakes from a two-year coma, revealing thematic connections to food and culture, particularly within a family’s restaurant. Their engaging exchanges showcase the evolving nature of the culinary landscape and personal experiences.
Exploration of Food Trends
The podcast includes conversations about new culinary trends and exciting visual projects emerging in the food industry. Insights into the protein bar market highlight new brands like David's Protein and Hornbull's Chornbull's, which cater to health-conscious consumers with innovative flavors and macronutrient profiles. Additionally, there is a discussion about the resurgence of artisanal and homemade food products within local communities, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and quality. This segment encourages listeners to explore and appreciate new culinary innovations while remaining aware of essential trends.
Connections Through Food Experiences
The conversation includes personal reflections on how food experiences shape memories and relationships among people. Michelle Norris reflects on her upbringing and the role food played in her family's dynamics, noting how meals served as a venue for learning about culture and societal values. Sharing stories about food creates connections and enhances social interactions, reminding listeners that food is not just sustenance but a pathway to understanding one another. This narrative reinforces the idea that food is a window into society and encourages everyone to cherish their culinary experiences.
It was really fun having Michele Norris in the studio. Michele is the host of the great podcast Your Mama’s Kitchen and the founder of the Race Card Project. A respected journalist, Michele cohosted National Public Radio's evening news program All Things Considered from 2002 to 2011 and was the first African-American female host for NPR. In this episode, we talk about Michele’s journalism career and what draws her to stories in the food orbit.
Also on the show, we have a great talk with cookbook author and artist Erin Gleeson. Erin is behind the best-selling Forest Feast series, and she’s the author of a really cool art book: The Watercolor Feast. It’s a guide to painting fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and it leads to a great conversation about Erin’s career and why more of us should buy a set of watercolors and just paint.
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: Bayou Saint Cake, potato salad in the gumbo at Parkway in New Orleans, I Leave It Up to You is a great food novel. Also: Sinners, taste testing the hot new “protein” bars of the moment, David and Hormbles Chormbles, Big Night’s big expansion, and checking out Kung Fu Bros Dumplings on the westside of Detroit.
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