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
Oct 30, 2026 • 51min
Our Haunted Podcast! Witches' Brew, the Candy Store Ghost and the Secret History of Jack-o'-Lanterns
Candy historian Susan Benjamin, owner of True Treats Historic Candy, shares candy’s rise from medicine to Halloween favorite and recounts ghostly shop encounters. Pastry chef and food writer Stella Parks, author of BraveTart, tackles autumn baking questions. The hour also explores jack-o’-lantern folklore, Oaxaca’s Day of the Dead traditions, and the mysterious medicinal roots of Macbeth’s Witches’ Brew.
7 snips
Oct 28, 2026 • 51min
The Perfect Cup: Great Homemade Coffee with James Hoffmann
James Hoffmann, former World Barista Champion and coffee educator, explores what makes coffee exceptional, from bean selection and water quality to his refined French press method and unusual brews. Chef Sara Moulton shares practical fixes for cookies, garlic, chili flakes, cheese, and canning. Don and Petie Kladstrup recount “Champagne Charlie’s” rise, while Adam Gopnik weighs in on the food debates that make everyday eating fascinating.
11 snips
Oct 23, 2026 • 51min
Killer Kitchen! Cartoonist Roz Chast Fears Her Undersink Cabinet of Doom (and More)
Roz Chast, the New Yorker cartoonist behind The Two Saddest Kitchens, turns kitchen anxiety, clutter, and household disasters into comedy. Food writer Kristen Miglore tackles the great condiment-storage debate, from ketchup to mayo. Historian Cindy Ott traces pumpkin’s journey from humble crop to American icon, spanning Halloween, Thanksgiving, nostalgia, and more.
Oct 22, 2026 • 51min
The Dog-Eat-Dog World of Ballpark Vendors
Angela Dimayuga, a Filipino American chef, artist, and author, explores regional Filipino flavors, coconut vinegar, adobo, MSG, and mango turmeric chiffon cake. Nick Fountain reveals the competitive strategy behind Fenway’s food vendors. The program also unpacks quirky outdoor-dining words and celebrates Swedish cardamom buns.
Oct 16, 2026 • 51min
Ask Yotam Ottolenghi
Yotam Ottolenghi, the acclaimed Israeli-British chef and cookbook author, answers cooking questions about potato-chip omelets, leeks, za’atar, chicken livers and egg-free toum. Rosie Grant, author of To Die For, explores recipes preserved on gravestones and food’s role in grief. Tim Glazner, tiki-culture historian, recounts the wild life of Don the Beachcomber and the secret origins of tiki cocktails.
Oct 15, 2026 • 32min
Welcome to The Hong Kong Diner!: Extended Cut
Lucas Sin, a chef, cookbook author, and educator specializing in Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine, explores the lively world of cha chaan tengs. He recalls Yale dorm-room pop-ups, lightning-fast breakfasts, sizzling beef, deep-fried French toast, and the cultural history behind Hong Kong’s East-West flavors. He also dreams of bringing authentic milk tea and diner camaraderie to Manhattan.
10 snips
Oct 9, 2026 • 51min
Welcome to The Hong Kong Diner! Black Pepper Spaghetti and Deep-Fried French Toast
Lucas Sin, chef and author of Cha Chaan Teng, reveals the speedy magic of Hong Kong diners, from deep-fried peanut butter French toast to black pepper spaghetti and “human emotion flavor.” Jessica Sidman, a Washington food journalist, investigates the National Mall’s shadowy food-truck network. Whisky writer Ian Buxton uncorks Scotch’s smoky peat, island origins, aging and ideal serving style.
Oct 7, 2026 • 51min
Pink Margarine?! America’s Greatest Food Fight
Chris Berube, a 99% Invisible producer, reveals margarine’s bizarre American past, from Supreme Court fights and smear campaigns to pink and black dye laws and Eleanor Roosevelt’s endorsement. Folu Akinkuotu, creator of Unsnackable, explores how local tastes inspire surprising snacks worldwide. J.M. Hirsch spotlights Brazil’s lavish pizza culture, while Sara Moulton shares practical cooking tips. Canned foods get their due, too.
9 snips
Oct 2, 2026 • 51min
Steakhouse Secrets: What Nobody Tells You About The Perfect Steak
Kenji López-Alt, chef and author of The Food Lab, investigates Seattle’s chicken teriyaki tradition and the pursuit of perfect charring. Tim Hayward, food writer and author of Steak: The Whole Story, explores steak’s journey from elite clubs to modern steakhouses, Argentina’s brine-grilling ritual, and the surprising appeal of steaks from very old Spanish cattle. Plus, Georgian sunflower hummus and practical cooking calls.
Sep 30, 2026 • 31min
Alexis Nikole Nelson Eats the Weeds: Extended Cut
Alexis Nikole Nelson, the forager, cook, author, and creator known as Black Forager, explores wild flavors hiding in plain sight. She discusses mugwort, magnolia flowers, dandelion root, garlic mustard, and mushrooms, transforming them into pickles, syrups, candy, and coffee alternatives. She also shares urban foraging adventures, safety essentials, and her memorable habit of gathering plants in gowns.
