Podcast

Here are two classic conversations from This Is TASTE featuring two literary titans. George Saunders is the author of many works, including the Booker Prize–winning Lincoln in the Bardo. Here we talk about pizza and Italian delis on the South Side of Chicago, as well as lunch in the Texas oil fields. We discuss success in the kitchen and how intuition crashes together with luck, and we speculate on the shape of food in the year 2300. Also on the show is Gary Shteyngart, a New York Times best-selling novelist and food writer who has written memorable books including The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Super Sad True Love Story, and his most recent work, the rollicking pandemic satire Our Country Friends. In this episode, we talk about some of Gary’s world travels, both as a hired gun and for fun, as well as what he’s eating and drinking in his Upstate New York home. We also remember New York City restaurants from the 1990s and early 2000s, including fond memories of the long-lost Meatpacking District bistro Florent, which plays a role in Gary’s most recent novel. More from George Saunders & Gary Shteyngart: Story Club with George Saunders [Substack]Eat, Memory: The Absolutely No-Anything Diet [New York Times Magazine]I Watched Russian Television for Five Days Straight [The Atlantic]

Today we have an amazing conversation with Naama Shefi. Naama is the founder of the Jewish Food Society, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve, celebrate, and revitalize Jewish cuisine to build and promote a meaningful connection to Jewish and Israeli culture. She is also the chair of Asif Culinary Institute of Israel. Also on the show, Aliza and Matt discuss three things they each are interested in right now. These include: Piñas at Connolly’s, Emily Sundberg’s Feed Me newsletter, Abi Balingit’s rose water meringue, Cherry Bombe is doing a WeFunder, Eric Kim tomato furikake sandwich, LA Chef Conference is October 30.    More From Naama Shefi:Schmaltzy [Apple]The Legacy of a 1970s Bar Mitzvah Cake [JFS]The New Magazine Taking a Different View on Jewish Food Culture [Vogue] Pre-order: Shabbat

Brandy Clark is an eleven-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and artist, who became a Tony Award-nominated Broadway composer earlier this year. Her recently released self-titled fourth album was produced by Brandi Carlile, and she discusses the journey that led her to sharing her most vulnerable work to date with host Carmel Holt.

A very mellow conversation that also touches on "angry yoga" and the joy of chokeholds.

Nate, Dave, and DEM interview rapper Murs LIVE at San Jose Jazzfest (8.11.23)

All Mixed Up: Righting Our Wrongs with Utopian Optimism

Dirt Candy is a vegetarian restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side that has become famous over the past decade for making eggplant tiramisu, kimchi donuts, and tomato fruit leather. But its chef, Amanda Cohen, makes one thing very clear—the restaurant’s mission is not about vegetarianism or health or politics. It’s just about making vegetables taste really good. In this episode, we talk with Amanda about the 15-year run of one of New York’s most important restaurants. We discuss her early experiences working with Moby and her deep understanding of how to run a restaurant in these modern times. Also, cookbooks! Will she write another one? We find out. MORE FROM AMANDA COHEN:Dirt Candy: A Visual Veggie Cookbook With a Memoir Mixed In [NPR]For Chef Amanda Cohen, Everything Is Out in the Open [NRN]This Is TASTE 33: Amanda Cohen [TASTE] FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW:instagram.com/dirtcandynycinstagram.com/mattrodbardinstagram.com/taste