Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

Bon Appétit columnist Maggie Hennessy helps us navigate the new rules of dining out. Is it ever OK to take out your phone? What’s the best way to grab your server’s attention? And how fussy is too fussy? Plus, Irene Yoo throws a soju party, and Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of A Way With Words share the stories behind your favorite pasta shapes. Photo credit: Bon Appétit / Getty Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

For Pati Jinich, there was a right way and a wrong way to make authentic Mexican cuisine. That was until she journeyed across the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. From cowboy candy to green spaghetti, she joins us to share the foods and lessons she learned from both sides of the border. Plus, Milk Street Radio producer Sarah Clapp visits the 2026 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards and meets the winners; and Mo Rocca prepares a funeral breakfast for accordionist Lawrence Welk. Photo credit: Jennifer Chase Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

This week, we’re revisiting one of our all-time favorite episodes—our 2020 interview with Claire Saffitz, in which she describes the trials and tribulations of creating famous snack foods on the Bon Appétit YouTube series “Gourmet Makes.” Plus, we talk to Ed Currie, the creator of one of the world's hottest pepper: the Carolina Reaper; we make Greek-style braised chickpeas; and Alex Aïnouz brews beer at home using only ingredients found in a supermarket. Get the recipe for Greek-Style Braised Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Orange here . Photo credit: Alex Lau, Bon Appétit Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

He cooked for the czar of Russia and the Rothschilds, and even made Napoleon Bonaparte's wedding cake. He invented the chef’s hat and published the first recipes for soufflé and meringue, but you’ve probably never heard his name. This week, it’s the story of the world’s first celebrity chef: Marie-Antoine Carême. Plus, we’re joined by one of today’s best chefs, Enrique Olvera; Kenji López-Alt returns with a brand-new way to fry an egg; we make Indonesian Beef and Sweet Soy Sate; and Chris and Sara take your calls and tell us how to organize handwritten recipes, why we season everything with pepper, and much more. Get this week’s recipe for Indonesian Beef and Sweet Soy Sate here . Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

For this week's bonus, we have an all-calls special! We look back on our favorite plant-based calls, including how to cook with carrot tops, how to master eggplant, and how to make kids—or anyone—fall in love with vegetables. Photo credit: Nina Luong Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Former "Great British Bake Off" judge Prue Leith talks about finding the love of her life at 70, a jazz musician’s review that put her restaurant on the map, and recounts one of her most viral moments: "Tell us about your beaver." Plus, Kimmie Mcintosh honors Filipino history and flavors at her pop-up bakery, Milkfish Bakeshop; and Alex Aïnouz has a life-changing meal at his local bistro. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

This week, we're revisiting one of our all-time favorite episodes–it's our 2018 interview with Erin French. Following a tumultuous year, Erin French returned to her hometown of Freedom, Maine to open what is now one of the most exclusive restaurants in America, where the ingredients can be found in the garden, the waitlist is in the tens of thousands, and the menu is always a surprise. Plus, we explore the pumpkin spice lifestyle; we make dump and stir Spanish Almond Cake; and Dr. Aaron Carroll explains the truth about fish and mercury. Get this week's recipe for Spanish Almond Cake here . Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

When Justin Davies cuts into a piece of wood, he wonders what it tastes like. Today, he shares his adventures in crafting desserts out of trees, from the bark infusion that made his tongue go numb to the ice cream concocted from an infamously smelly tree. Plus, Lidia Bastianich returns to answer your questions on pasta and pesto; we eat through the backroads of Vietnam with chef Anaïs Ca Dao van Manen; and writer Jenny Linford meditates on cooking’s most elusive ingredient. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

In this special episode, we’re sharing an extended cut of our interview with food safety experts Ben Chapman and Don Schaffner. They give their best tips for avoiding foodborne illnesses, including the safest way to cool down food, the hidden dangers of potato salad, and the foods they refuse to order from restaurants. Photo credit: Laura Ohlman Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

This week, we take a look at the hazards lurking in our kitchens. Food safety experts Ben Chapman and Don Schaffner give their best tips for avoiding foodborne illnesses, including their protocol for cooking raw meat, the diseases hiding in your salt, how to actually clean a sponge, and the foods they refuse to order from restaurants. Plus, we take a burger road trip with George Motz; Genevieve Taylor returns to the phone lines to take your grilling calls; and Kim Severson reflects on 250 years of American cooking. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

For this week's bonus, we have an all-calls special! We look back on the ingredients that have stumped you most—rooster, alligator, squid ink, even sparrows. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Adam Gopnik takes us on a tour of great food writing from the New Yorker in celebration of the magazine's centennial. We hear A.J. Liebling’s tip for finding a good restaurant in Paris, M.F.K. Fisher’s fantasy about potato chips and Calvin Trillin’s obsession over constructing the perfect bagel. Plus, Matt Goulding shares why paella is a hotbed of controversy; we explain why a cold oven is the secret to the best creme brûlée; and Christopher Kimball and Sara Moulton answer your questions and share their favorite things to do with tomatoes. Get this week’s recipe for Cold-Oven Crème Brûlee here . Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

In this special episode, we’re sharing an extended cut of our interview with Kerry Howley about the surprising history of L.A.’s favorite food store, Erewhon.

Andrea Hernández, founder of Snaxshot, is back to share her 2026 grocery store predictions—complete with holy water and sour pineapple sperm worms. Plus, reporter Kerry Howley reveals the surprising history of Erewhon, L.A.’s favorite food store; A Way With Words gets metaphorical about food and our bodies; and Stella Parks returns to answer your baking questions. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

For this week's bonus, we have an all-calls special! We look back on some of your best calls all about summer eating. Chris and Sara Moulton answer your garden questions, from mint varieties to sun pickles; they offer a few ideas for hot weather desserts (can cake frosting survive without air conditioning?!); and Meathead steps in for a grilling question session. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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. (Originally aired July 11, 2025.)

This week, we're revisiting one of our all-time favorite episodes–it's our 2018 interview with Stella Parks about the secret history of chocolate chip cookies and how she reverse engineers everything from Oreos to McDonald’s Apple Pies. Plus, we learn about barbecue around the world, from boodog to hāngi; Dan Pashman visits LA's Cambodian donut shops; and we make Austrian Plum Cake. Get our recipe for Austrian Plum Cake here . Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Will Guidara transformed Eleven Madison Park from a struggling two-star brasserie to the number one restaurant in the world. His secret? Unreasonable hospitality. From DIY beaches in the dining room to sledding in Central Park, Will shares stories—some of which inspired scenes on FX's The Bear— about his climb to the top. Plus, Luke Fortney examines restaurant gap relationships; and Emily Monaco describes the art of the French picnic. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

We’re rewinding a few of our favorite movie magic interviews. Eddie Muller, host of TCM’s Noir Alley, breaks down some of film noir’s most memorable quotes and cocktails; horror movie food stylist Janice Poon makes vampire meat and edible amniotic fluid; and foley artist Marko Costanzo creates sound effects out of coconuts, cornstarch and lettuce. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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 Paco de Santiago takes us on a food tour of Mexico City. (Originally aired June 27, 2025.) Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify