

Special Sauce with Ed Levine
Ed Levine
Serious Eats' podcast Special Sauce enables food lovers everywhere to eavesdrop on an intimate conversation about food and life between host and Serious Eats founder Ed Levine and his well-known/famous friends and acquaintances both in and out of the food culture.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2021 • 1h 1min
Best-selling writer Laura Lippman Talks About Her New Books + Kenji Weighs in on Kids' Eating Habits
The terrific crime writer Laura Lippman (My Life as a Villainess, Dream Girl) talks about why she's afraid of not being afraid when she writes. Plus Kenji and Laura both weigh in on how they get their kids to eat their vegetables.
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Aug 20, 2021 • 45min
Food, Music & Memoirs with Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner and Kenji
On this week’s episode of Special Sauce, we talk about joyful music and an incredibly moving memoir with Michelle Zauner, the leader of the band Japanese Breakfast. She’s the author of the heart-rending Crying in H Mart. Plus, Kenji weighs in on the relationship between two of his favorite things, food and music.
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Aug 6, 2021 • 47min
Celebrating Colombia with Author Mariana Velásquez and Kenji Lopez-Alt
On this week’s Special Sauce, we’re joined by Colombiana author Mariana Velásquez who talks about the incredible cultural and culinary diversity of her beloved native country. Plus, Kenji shares his love of Colombia, gained from his many trips there with his Colombian wife, Adriana.
There's much love for Colombia on this week’s episode!
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Jul 23, 2021 • 1h 5min
Katie Quinn and Kenji Lopez-Alt on Fermentation
On this episode of Special Sauce, we’re joined by the incredible youtuber, podcaster and Cheese, Wine and Bread author Katie Quinn who says that metaphorically speaking, people ferment just like cheese wine and bread. Plus, Kenji adds his two cents about Katie and fermentation.
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Jul 9, 2021 • 57min
Author Reem Kassis on Palestinian Cooking, Plus Kenji on Making Falafel at Home
On this week’s episode of Special Sauce, we’re joined by Reem Kassis, the thought provoking author of The Palestinian Table and her new book, The Arabesque Table. Plus, Kenji gives us some helpful tips of making falafel at home, courtesy of the chef Einat Admony.
Kenji’s falafel recipe video on youtube can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/kenjisfalafelrecipe
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Jun 25, 2021 • 53min
NY State Senator Jessica Ramos, Plus Kenji on his Wife's Favorite Colombian Dish
On this week's Special Sauce, we're joined by NY State Senator and Colombian-American Jessica Ramos who talks about her fearless approach to food activism as she fights for both her diverse constituents and the rights of migrant farm workers.
Plus, Kenji weighs in on his Colombian-American wife Adri's favorite dish and tells us about Temblores, an NGO that monitors state violence in Colombia.
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Jun 11, 2021 • 29min
Susie Essman on Pandemic Cooking and Comedy
On this week’s episode of Special Sauce, we’re joined by the brilliant and hilarious comedian, actor, writer and producer Susie Essman. Essman explains how her pandemic cooking increased her husbands ardor, plus she gives us a special sneak peak of what’s coming up on the upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
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May 28, 2021 • 56min
Chef Nina Compton on Women of Color in Restaurant Kitchens & the dire situation in her native St. Lucia, Kenji on Jerk Chicken
On this week’s episode of Special Sauce we’re joined by Chef Nina Compton who talks about her experience working in fine dining as a woman of color, how her restaurants have grappled with the pandemic, and the imperiled hospitality industry in her beloved St. Lucia. Plus, Kenji stops by to share a nifty hack for making jerk chicken, one of Nina’s favorite dishes at home.
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May 14, 2021 • 55min
Nigella Lawson As You've Never Heard Her, Plus Kenji Gives Her Major Props
On this week's episode of Special Sauce legendary food writer and television cook Nigella Lawson gets real about both her new book "Cook, Eat, Repeat," and the remarkable arc of her life and career. Then Kenji stops in to sing Nigella's praises and reveals what happened when Nigella cooked at his restaurant.
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Apr 30, 2021 • 1h 2min
Rodney Scott & Lolis Eric Elie on BBQ And Fathers & Sons, Plus Kenji’s Pork Shoulder
On this week’s Special Sauce, we’re joined by the great pit master and James Beard Award-winning chef Rodney Scott and his coauthor Lolis Eric Elie talking about their new book "Rodney Scott's World of BBQ." They talk about whole hog BBQ, fathers and sons, and a whole lot more. Plus, Kenji weighs in with his approach to smoking a pork shoulder.
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