Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio
Milk Street Radio
Every week, Milk Street Radio travels the world to find the most fascinating stories about food—a detective who tracks down food thieves and a look inside the most famous (and often scandalous) restaurant kitchens—and interviews with culinary icons such as José Andrés, Padma Lakshmi, Jacques Pépin, and Marcus Samuelsson. And on Milk Street Radio you can always find the unexpected: the comedian who ranks apples using an elaborate 100-point system, the scientists who study if vegetables have souls, and the journalist who reveals the world’s 10 biggest food lies. We also answer our listeners’ cooking questions, find out how to make the perfect cup of coffee, and share how to eat your way through Italy.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 25, 2025 • 51min
100 Years of Food Writing at the New Yorker: M.F.K. Fisher, Calvin Trillin and A.J. Liebling
Adam Gopnik, a staff writer at The New Yorker, dives into a century of iconic food writing, showcasing gems from M.F.K. Fisher, A.J. Liebling, and Calvin Trillin. He shares A.J. Liebling's tips for finding stellar Parisian restaurants and Fisher's whimsical musings on potato chips. Matt Goulding, the creative director at Milk Street, stirs the pot discussing the heated debate around authentic paella in Spain. The conversation offers rich cultural insights and the secret to a perfect cold oven crème brûlée.
Jul 18, 2025 • 51min
Food Fights: I Love You But I Hate Your Cooking
Forget the bedroom: the kitchen is where relationships are made and broken. Journalist Ella Quittner reveals the many ways the kitchen causes problems in our love lives, and what psychologists say we can do about it. Plus, listeners call in with their own culinary feuds; writer Crystal Wilkinson recalls the kitchen ghosts and family recipes of her Appalachian childhood; and we make Pakistani-style Potato Stuffed Naan at home. (Originally aired June 13, 2024.)Get this week’s recipe for Potato-Stuffed Naan here.Artwork credit: Millie von PlatenListen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
Summer Lollapalooza! Meathead Q&A, BBQ Road Trip and Grilling Pizza
We’re covering everything you've ever wanted to know about grilling and barbecue. First up, a road trip with Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor at Texas Monthly. We taste whole-hog barbecue in Greenville, coffee-rubbed brisket in Nacogdoches and cow-eye tacos in Brownsville. Then, Meathead joins Chris on the phone lines for your toughest cookout questions; Kenji López-Alt makes the case for his favorite backyard dinner; and Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of “A Way With Words” cool us down with summertime treats.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Jul 4, 2025 • 51min
July Fourth Jubilee: Weiner Wisdom, Mustard Madness and Flag Cake Confections!
Fire up the grill: This week, we’re covering all of your July Fourth favorites. We unravel the history of the hot dog with author Bruce Kraig and hear from Hot Dog Ambassador John Champlin about one unforgettable frankfurter. Plus, Ken Zuckerman of the National Mustard Museum touts mustard as the ultimate condiment; J. Kenji López-Alt takes grilled corn to the next level; and Rose Hattabaugh shares new ideas for an old favorite: flag cake. (Originally aired June 25, 2024.)Get this week's recipe for 1-2-3 Frosting here.Song credit: It’s All Right Baby - Assaf Ayalon, courtesy of Artlist.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Jun 27, 2025 • 51min
Who's Your Salsa Daddy? Tacos, Salsas and Avocados!
This week, we travel to Mexico. Rick Martínez shares the salsa that changed his life; Aarón Sánchez answers your Mexican cooking questions; we uncover the secret history of avocados; and we take a food tour of Mexico City. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Jun 20, 2025 • 57min
Moonshine Cake and Cantaloupe Cream Pie: The Secrets of Southern Baking
Cheryl Day is a celebrated Southern baker and author known for her expertise in desserts, while Anne Byrn dives into the rich history of Southern recipes. They reveal tantalizing tales of lane cakes and chess pies, emphasizing the transformative impact of ingredients like baking powder. Kim Severson weighs in on the MAHA organic food movement and its influence on school food systems. Tips for mastering the perfect pie crust and crafting an Almond and Rum Tres Leches Cake provide delicious insights for all baking enthusiasts.
Jun 13, 2025 • 51min
High on the Hog: Black Cooks and the Making of American Cuisine
We chat with Dr. Jessica B. Harris about her seminal book "High on the Hog,'' which offers a diverse and complex history of African American cuisine—from the escape of George Washington’s enslaved master chef to the birth of the catering industry. Plus, we investigate Korean television’s obsession with Subway sandwiches, learn about the origins of egg-based idioms from Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette, and share the secret to making Turkish kebabs on your backyard grill.Get the recipe for Turkish Minced Meat Kebabs here.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Jun 11, 2025 • 28min
Food Science Special: Million-Layer Puff Pastry, Perfect Potatoes, and More!
Arielle Johnson, a flavor chemist and fermentation expert, joins Alex Aïnouz, a YouTube star known for his cooking skills. They dive into the science of cooking, revealing how to enhance potatoes for perfect textures and creating a million-layer puff pastry. Johnson discusses innovative uses of pine needles, exploring the culinary potential of tree parts. The duo highlights the emotional connections we have with flavors and the fascinating fusion of food science and creativity that brings new tastes to life.
4 snips
Jun 6, 2025 • 50min
Betrayal, Revenge and Family Secrets: A Frozen Food "Succession"
This week, we share a story of revenge, betrayal and secrets … at a frozen vegetable empire. John Seabrook investigates why running “the biggest vegetable factory on Earth” led to generations of drama in his family, like a real-life version of the TV show “Succession.” Plus, Brendan Liew gives us a tour of Japan’s incredible convenience stores; Kenji López-Alt finds the best way to crack an egg; and we learn how to make Sri Lankan Spinach and Coconut Dal with Tomato Tarka.Get the recipe for Sri Lankan Spinach and Coconut Dal with Tomato Tarka here.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
May 30, 2025 • 51min
LA's Food Truck King: Up Close and Personal with Roy Choi
In 2008, Roy Choi was fired from his big restaurant job and ready to give up—then he started his food truck, Kogi. He joins us today to discuss the making of his now-legendary food truck, how he taught Jon Favreau to look like a cook for his 2014 film “Chef,” and why there's poetry in lowriding around LA. Plus, we hunt for clams, eels and anchovies with sea forager Kirk Lombard, and Chris and Sara Moulton take your calls—what constitutes the middle rack of the oven, how to make the perfect toum, and much more. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
