

This Is TASTE
Aliza Abarbanel & Matt Rodbard
If you're a fan of smart and lively conversations about food, home cooking, and culture, this is the place. We interview the most interesting characters in the world of food, media, and cookbooks and release episodes several times a month. The program is hosted by TASTE editors Aliza Abarbanel and Matt Rodbard, and is sometimes recorded live at Rizzoli Bookstore in New York City. Visit TASTE online: tastecooking.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 16, 2024 • 53min
464: How Cute Food Took Over the Internet with Elyse Inamine
Elyse Inamine is a writer and editor based in New York. A former restaurant editor at Bon Appétit and Food & Wine, she’s now writing some of our favorite food stories across the internet, including here at TASTE. It’s so fun to have Elyse on the show to talk about her TASTE story on the rise of cute food, her view on restaurant reporting, and more.Also on the show it’s the return of three things where Aliza and Matt discuss exciting food and drink on their radars. These include: A visit to Funke in Los Angeles, Untitled Art is maybe the best NA beer on the market today, Fluffy McCloud’s is the ice cream of our dreams, thoughts on the new memoir from Griffin Dunne, The Friday Afternoon Club, tacos at Lincoln and Rose, Industry season 3 is the best things on TV.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM ELYSE INAMINE
Food Is Identity. For Korean Chefs Who Were Adopted, It’s Complicated. [New York Times]
Everything You Need to Make Hot Pot at Home [Bon Appetit]
It’s Cool to Care About NA Beer [TASTE]
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5 snips
Sep 13, 2024 • 55min
463: Restaurant Hype Man with Eater, Resy, Blackbird Founder Ben Leventhal
Ben Leventhal, cofounder of Eater and Resy, dives into his latest venture, Blackbird, a loyalty program revolutionizing the restaurant experience. He shares insights on NYC's dynamic dining scene, revealing the community spirit of the Burger League. The conversation also touches on navigating hype in the restaurant industry, the challenges of modern dining culture, and the evolving landscape of food media and its impact on culinary narratives. Plus, there's a lively discussion on exciting new fall cookbooks celebrating global cuisines.

Sep 11, 2024 • 57min
462: Building an Apron Empire with Ellen Marie Bennett
Ellen Marie Bennett, founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, dives into her journey of reinventing the apron and building a beloved kitchen gear brand. She shares insights on culinary education in Mexico City and the evolution of home cooking during the pandemic, inspired by social media. The chat also touches on exciting culinary trends, including hidden gems like a new Cantonese restaurant in NYC and the upsurge of outdoor cooking. With personal anecdotes, Ellen infuses humor and practicality into her relatable culinary adventures.

Sep 9, 2024 • 46min
461: It's a Big Fall Cookbook Preview with Eater's Rebecca Flint Marx
Fall cookbook season has arrived, and there’s nobody better to talk about the busy time than Rebecca Flint Marx, editor of Eater at Home. Rebecca just dropped Eater’s thoughtful fall cookbook preview, and we go over a number of her selections in this episode. We also talk about Rebecca’s journalism career and what she has been excited about in the world of restaurants, home cooking, and product trends as well as the changing face of food media.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM REBECCA MARX:
Cooking’s New Minimalism [TASTE]
The Untold Story of the Lady From Louisville and the Bubbe Who Wasn’t There [TASTE]
SF Chron Critic and His Partner Become the Subject of a Major Takedown [Eater SF]
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Sep 7, 2024 • 1h 17min
460: Giada De Laurentiis & Julius Roberts
Giada De Laurentiis, an Emmy-winning TV personality and bestselling cookbook author, joins chef and farmer Julius Roberts, who thrives in the idyllic English countryside. They discuss the vital connection between farming and cooking, share personal culinary journeys, and expose the challenges faced by female chefs in the industry. The duo dives into Southern Italy's culinary treasures, the joys of seasonal cooking, and even sprinkle in humorous tales about chickens on the farm. Their passion for food and community shines through!

Sep 6, 2024 • 49min
459: The Weekday Vegetarian Game Is On with Jenny Rosenstrach
Join Jenny Rosenstrach, a talented writer and editor known for her delightful cookbooks and newsletter, as she shares insights from her latest book, The Weekday Vegetarians Get Simple. Discover how to make vegetarian meals exciting and accessible, featuring delicious recipes like crispy polenta with broccoli pesto. Dive into the joys of being a 'weekday vegetarian' and hear about culinary adventures at the US Open and in Flushing, NYC. Jenny also discusses upcoming travels to Mexico, blending personal stories with food writing.

Sep 4, 2024 • 50min
458: Whole30 Starts Over with Melissa Urban
Melissa Urban is the cofounder and CEO of Whole30, a megapopular 30-day elimination diet program. She’s a six-time New York Times best-selling author and just released a new book: The New Whole30. We had Melissa on the show to reflect on the Whole30 universe and how it’s evolved alongside food culture over the past 15 years.Also on the show, it’s time to talk about cool new cookbooks. All fall Aliza and Matt are previewing some of their favorites, category by category. First up is baking and desserts, featuring: Desi Bakes by Hetal Vasavada, Crumbs by Ben Mims, Richard Hart Bread by Richard Hart and Laurie Woolever, Breaking Bao by Clarice Lam, and The King Arthur Big Book of Bread. Tune in for more great new cookbooks.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.
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Sep 2, 2024 • 39min
457: Fresh Food TV with Matt Goulding
Matt Goulding is in the studio, and we have a great chat about his new series on Apple TV+, Omnivore. Matt has known Matt for years and really love his writing, which came to life in a series of memorable travel books as well as in the online magazine he cofounded, Roads & Kingdoms. We talk about Spain, Italy, Japan, and how he covered each country with memorable prose. And we discuss his extremely cool collaboration with René Redzepi. Omnivore is food TV at its most visually stunning, and we talk about the process of getting the show made. It’s a fun conversation with Matt, and I hope you enjoy it.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We’d love to hear from you.MORE FROM MATT GOULDING:
This Is TASTE 435: René Redzepi
Rice Noodle Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture [KAL]
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Aug 30, 2024 • 39min
456: Cook Like a Food Stylist with Pearl Jones
Pearl Jones, a seasoned food stylist from New York City, shares insights from her decade-long career in transforming food into visual masterpieces for shoots and publications. She dives into the art of creating lifelike desserts like a sweet potato cake using innovative techniques. Listeners learn about the balance between aesthetics and edibility, as well as the importance of collaboration in food styling. Pearl also reveals her go-to tools, including the versatile hulken bags, emphasizing practicality in her creative process.

Aug 28, 2024 • 44min
455: It’s Jell-O But Better with Oddball’s Sophia Cheng
Sophia Cheng, the visionary founder of Oddball, is on a mission to revolutionize jelly snacking with her innovative vegan superfood product. She shares her journey from selling pouches at a trade show to creating a healthier alternative to traditional gelatin snacks. The conversation dives into overcoming marketing challenges, the powerful role of consumer feedback, and the joy of entrepreneurship. With anecdotes about refining flavors and textures, Sophia illustrates the delightful blend of nostalgia and modern snacking.