Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

Carlos Rafael ran one of the biggest fishing operations in New England. He was successful. Almost too successful. Probably because his seafood empire was built through fraud. This week, reporter Ian Coss brings us to the story of The Codfather. Plus, Natasha Pickowicz invites everyone to hot pot, and Christopher Kimball and Sara Moulton answer your questions on Norwegian pancakes, Julia Child’s Gâteau de Crêpes, and more.

Want to hot pot at home? Get the blog post featuring Natasha's equipment recommendations and shopping guide here.

Listen to Catching the Codfather on the Big Dig Podcast from GBH here.

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Something surprising happened earlier this month: Five intrepid journalists brought Gourmet magazine back from the dead after they discovered Condé Nast let its trademark lapse. This week, we revisit our episode from 2019 with Gourmet’s final editor-in-chief, Ruth Reichl. She shares stories about the magazine’s glory days, its final days, and the perks of being an editor in the golden age of publishing. Plus, Vicky Bennison takes us behind the scenes of Pasta Grannies, her YouTube channel that documents Italian grandmothers making pasta the old-fashioned way; we get lessons in hotel room cooking from Alex Aïnouz; and we make Mini Almond Cakes with Spiced Chocolate. (Originally aired May 17, 2019.)

Get the recipe for Mini Almond Cakes with Spiced Chocolate here.

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For a throwback, we’re looking back at one of our all-time favorite episodes—our science episode from 2020. We chat with flavor chemist Dr. Arielle Johnson about how to eat a tree, how insects use flavor molecules to communicate and the science of taste and smell. Plus, Meathead teaches us how to grill perfect steaks; J. Kenji López-Alt investigates food expiration dates; and we make a no-fuss, all-flavor Spanish Almond Cake.

Get the recipe for Spanish Almond Cake here.

Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Photographer Riley Arthur reports on a New York City icon: the old-fashioned diner. She goes beyond the club sandwiches and coffee to reveal the mob meetings, FBI stings and dramatic family moments that happen within a diner’s walls. Then, author Julia O’Malley provides a true taste of Alaskan cuisine, where stolen peaches, fresh caught salmon and boxed chocolate cake all are served at the same table. Plus, Adam Gopnik travels back in time to visit the New York restaurant scene of the 1980s.

Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Are humans the only species that loves sour? Does everyone taste bitter the same way? And could there be flavors we can’t even comprehend yet? Emily Kwong and Aaron Scott from NPR’s “Short Wave” join us to explore the amazing science of taste, from the mysteries of salt to why dolphins can’t taste sweet. Plus, chef Khánh-Ly Huynh shares Vietnamese street food from Paris; Adam Gopnik investigates what it takes to become a culinary maestro; and we go to Bangkok for Thai Cashew Chicken. (Originally aired March 23rd, 2023.)

Get the recipe for Thai Cashew Chicken here.

Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify