Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio
PRX
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.
Location:
Boston, Massachusetts
Genres:
Food & Cooking Podcasts
Networks:
PRX
Description:
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.
Twitter:
@177MilkStreet
Language:
English
Contact:
9148379732
Episodes
Welcome to Our Cocktail Hour! Bourbon Myths, Martini Crawls and Mixology Tips
8/1/2025
It's a very happy hour of Milk Street Radio: Chef Edward Lee returns for a tour of Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries, where the water is sweeter, the barrels are (accidentally!) charred, and the rickhouses are sacred territory. Plus, Gary Shteyngart recounts his wet, dry, twisted and dirty martini tour of New York City; Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of “A Way With Words” reveal the surprising origin of the word “cocktail”; and J.M. Hirsch offers an innovative mixology tip. (Originally aired July 25, 2024.)
Get this week’s recipe for Lemon Grass Martini here.
Cover image credit: Landon Nordeman, The New Yorker.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:04
100 Years of Food Writing at the New Yorker: M.F.K. Fisher, Calvin Trillin and A.J. Liebling
7/25/2025
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
Duration:00:51:01
Food Fights: I Love You But I Hate Your Cooking
7/18/2025
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 Platen
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:05
Summer Lollapalooza! Meathead Q&A, BBQ Road Trip and Grilling Pizza
7/11/2025
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 Goldwyn 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
Duration:01:01:16
July Fourth Jubilee: Weiner Wisdom, Mustard Madness and Flag Cake Confections!
7/4/2025
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
Duration:00:51:01
Who's Your Salsa Daddy? Tacos, Salsas and Avocados!
6/27/2025
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
Duration:00:51:03
Moonshine Cake and Cantaloupe Cream Pie: The Secrets of Southern Baking
6/20/2025
Author Anne Byrn scoured the South, uncovering the stories behind the region’s best bakes. She found lane cakes in Georgia, chess pies in North Carolina and a shocking twist on chocolate cake in Arkansas. Plus, Kim Severson offers a timely report on the MAHA organic food movement; we whip up an Almond and Rum Tres Leches Cake; and Cheryl Day returns to take your baking questions.
Get the recipe for Almond and Rum Tres Leches Cake here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:57:09
High on the Hog: Black Cooks and the Making of American Cuisine
6/13/2025
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
Duration:00:51:03
Food Science Special: Million-Layer Puff Pastry, Perfect Potatoes, and More!
6/11/2025
In this special episode, we share a few of our favorite moments about getting experimental in the kitchen. Kenji López-Alt shares the perfect way to make potatoes; Alex Aïnouz attempts to create a 1 million-layer puff pastry; and we chat with flavor chemist Dr. Arielle Johnson about how to eat a tree.
Duration:00:27:54
Betrayal, Revenge and Family Secrets: A Frozen Food "Succession"
6/6/2025
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
Duration:00:50:17
LA's Food Truck King: Up Close and Personal with Roy Choi
5/30/2025
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
Duration:00:50:42
White House Noshes: What Presidents Really Eat
5/23/2025
Jefferson ate capon, Eisenhower craved squirrel soup and Grant had a habit of throwing bread across the table. This week, we go into the White House with Alex Prud’homme to hear culinary stories from presidential history, like how Julia Child charmed her way into a state dinner and why Eleanor Roosevelt may have used Jell-O salad to get revenge on FDR. Plus, the late Raghavan Iyer reflects on curry, Indian cuisine and his legacy as a culinary educator; Alex Aïnouz experiments with AI in the kitchen; and we learn a recipe known as “killer spaghetti.” (Originally aired May 25th, 2023.)
Get the recipe for Spaghetti all’Assassina here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:02
Secrets of Restaurant Design: An Insider Tells All
5/16/2025
Famed architect and designer David Rockwell shares the best, worst and most hidden aspects of restaurant design. He recalls his favorite projects, from Sushi Zen to Union Square Cafe, and the tiny details you should pay attention to the next time you go out to eat. Plus, Nathalie Cooke takes us on a quirky journey through the history of menus; Adam Gopnik pays tribute to the legendary achievements of Alice Waters; and we prepare a no-cook Tiramisu.
Get the recipe for Tiramisu here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:02
The Woman Who Discovered Julia Child: The Secret Life of Judith Jones
5/9/2025
Sara Franklin shares the life story of Judith Jones, the legendary editor behind some of the greatest cookbooks of the 20th century. We hear how she discovered Julia Child, why Edna Lewis sent her a box of squirrels and what happened when she was told to reject the diary of Anne Frank. Plus, historian Stephen Puleo recounts the sticky disaster that was Boston’s Great Molasses Flood of 1919, and we head to Paris for the world’s greatest ham and cheese sandwich. (Originally aired May 16, 2024.)
Get the recipe for Oven-Baked Three-Layer Croque Monsieur Sandwiches here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:01
Behind the Scenes of Top Chef with Kristen Kish
5/2/2025
We get real with Top Chef host Kristen Kish. She speaks out about her career, her show and what bugs her most about restaurant goers. Also on the show—we chat with Reya Hart about eating and traveling on tour with her father, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart; Kim Severson explains why meat is on the rise again; we make Puff Pastry Khachapuri; and Chris Kimball and Sara Moulton answer listener calls.
Get the recipe for Puff Pastry Khachapuri here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:51:01
Beer at The Pyramids: The Strange History of the World’s Favorite Beverage
4/25/2025
This week, we’re wetting our whistles with an array of historic, rare and homemade drinks. Journalist Jonny Garrett tells the true story of beer, including its use as a dietary supplement for children, a religious rite in prehistoric caves, and as a form of Ancient Egyptian currency. Plus, Aaron Goldfarb tells us about the collectors who hunt for very old bottles of booze; Alex Aïnouz cries over a sip of his homemade red wine; and JM Hirsch shares a delightfully salty cocktail tip.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:50:59
Inside the Great British Bake Off with Paul Hollywood
4/18/2025
We chat with Great British Bake Off judge and author of “BAKE” Paul Hollywood about the best and worst parts of his job, his secret to perfect scones and what a bin lid is—and why it's so delicious. Plus, journalist Alex Beggs tells us about cookbooks for pets; J. Kenji López-Alt takes wok cooking outdoors; and we make Spicy Chinese Beef Skewers. (Originally aired July 22nd, 2022.)
Get the recipe for Spicy Chinese Beef Skewers here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:50:34
Lidia Bastianich Hotline Plus Rome's Best Unknown Eateries
4/11/2025
Lidia Bastianich joins Christopher Kimball to answer our listener's Italian cooking questions—from the best recipe for ravioli to tips for avoiding soggy lasagne. Plus, The Great British Bake Off's Giuseppe Dell'Anno shares the joys of Italian baking, from cannoli cake to sfogliatelle; culinary guide Arianna Pasquini takes us on a tour of Rome's hidden food gems; and J.M. Hirsch reveals secrets from a Neapolitan trattoria.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:50:33
The Perfect Cup: Great Homemade Coffee with James Hoffmann
4/4/2025
YouTube coffee expert James Hoffmann shares the best, worst and weirdest coffee in the world—from his tried-and-true recipe for the ultimate cup at home to the time he tasted 70-year-old beans in Japan. Plus, Don and Petie Kladstrup tell us the story of the man who taught America to love Champagne; we make Beef Chili Colorado Tacos; and Adam Gopnik discusses the greatest food debates of our time. (Originally aired May 20, 2022.)
Get the recipe for Beef Chili Colorado Tacos here.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:50:33
Gut Check: Is the Stomach Your Second Brain?
3/28/2025
This week, we uncover everything you never knew about the stomach, including its ability to think. Author Elsa Richardson also reveals ancient medical practices for quieting a gurgling gut, and we find out just how similar human and dog stomachs are. Plus, Florence Fabricant of The New York Times discusses the best and worst in food writing; and Kim Severson untangles the recent rise in egg prices.
Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Duration:00:50:36