Special Sauce with Ed Levine

In this engaging conversation, Hamisi Mamba, a Burundian chef and owner of Baobab Fare in Detroit, shares his inspiring immigrant journey. He discusses his challenges after leaving Burundi, including adjusting to life in a new country and the harsh realities of refugee living. Mamba delves into the importance of community and food, recounting how his family connected farmers to buyers. He also reflects on what true wealth means, emphasizing generosity over materialism, and the impact of their ventures like Waka by Baobab and Soko on preserving East African culture.

ICE invaded Charlotte a couple of weeks ago and have wreaked their usual havoc on the vibrant food community there. Charlotte food business owner (Manolo's Bakery) and immigration activist Manolo Betancur courageously shared his own experiences dealing with ICE. ICE has completely devastated what is a thriving immigrant population in Charlotte. Joining Manolo is the terrific food writer Kathleen Purvis, who was the longtime food editor of the Charlotte Observer.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this insightful discussion, food critic Pete Wells from The New York Times, renowned for his expertise in restaurant trends, dives into the matcha phenomenon. He explores how matcha's vibrant color and unique flavor led to its Instagram fame. Pete shares its significant role in Japanese tea ceremonies and its evolution into trendy desserts. He also touches on the rising demand and supply challenges, the issue of counterfeit matcha, and how major coffee chains are now embracing this green delight. Will matcha be a fleeting trend or a lasting staple?

Tim Carman, a seasoned food reporter at The Washington Post, and Warren Rojas, a local dining expert, dive into the heavy impact of ICE raids on immigrant restaurant workers in D.C. They discuss the precarious choices workers face between safety and employment. The duo also reveals how fear and enforcement tactics are reshaping the city’s vibrant food scene, with stories of community resilience amid turmoil. Listeners get a glimpse of the chilling effects of policy on the faces behind beloved eateries and learn ways to support these vital community pillars.

Kenji Lopez-Alt and Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman discuss (what else) how they deal with Thanksgiving leftovers in this classic Special Sauce episode from 2023. Leave the meat on the bone or in the fridge or slice it off right away? Stuffing waffles, anyone? Is pie the only thing to have for breakfast after Thanksgiving? They don't always agree, but Kenji and Deb always have a great time when they get together.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Join culinary wizards Kenji Lopez-Alt and Stella Parks as they tackle Thanksgiving cooking dilemmas! Kenji shares tips on the reverse-sear technique for turkey and warns against stuffing it with the bird. Stella offers invaluable advice on perfecting pie crusts, recommending optimal salt and butter choices. They also discuss ingenious ways to manage holiday cookie decorating and reduce sweetness with toasted sugar. Tune in for expert insights that'll elevate your Turkey Day feast!

Many beloved candy bars are now being made without cocoa butter and here to tell us why and how the likes of Rolo, Mr. Goodbar and Almond Joy have been reformulated to exclude the plant-based fat is The New York Times climate reporter, Claire Brown. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Over the summer we checked in with LA Taco's Javier Cabral about the scary ICE raids  in L.A. and their terrifying effect on the food community there. But the situation in Chicago is in many ways equally dire. ICE raids as part of Trump's Operation Midway Blitz have terrified Latino neighborhoods in Chicago. Street vendors are scared to set up shop and many restaurants find themselves with many empty tables that were previously filled. Here to keep us up to speed about what's happening in the Windy City is the Chicago Tribune's Zareen Syed and Marcos Carbajal, the second generation Mexican-American owner of Carnitas Uruapan. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Are Yemeni coffee shops the next big thing? On this episode serious eaters will meet Mokhtar Alkhanshali, who has braved gunfire and jail and AK-47s as he tries to bring single origin Port of Mokha Yemeni coffee to the world. His story is the stuff of movies.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Kenji Lopez-Alt and his partner concert violinist Tessa Lark about their Reese's obsession. Just in time for Halloween.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices