Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

The Science of Food: Steaks, Bugs and Expiration Dates

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

Moose and Cake Mix: Inside The Alaskan Diet

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

The Mystery of Taste: Beyond Sweet, Sour, Salty & Bitter

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

Food Trends 2026 with Kim Severson of The New York Times

This week we ask: What will be the hottest food trend of 2026? Kim Severson returns with her predictions for the year ahead, where grandmothers, vinegar, and ASMR will reign supreme. We also get caught up on the latest in food lingo — "swangy" is the new flavor to watch out for. Plus, author Sho Spaeth gives us a lesson in homemade ramen and John T. Edge reckons with life, legacy and food in the American South. Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

The World’s Most Difficult Fruits

Author Kate Lebo introduces us to the world of rare fruits that are hard to find, harvest, prepare or just plain love. Plus, we study the staples of Gabonese cooking with chef Anto Cocagne, we get a lesson in the language of bread from Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette, and we learn about the history of Hungarian Chicken Paprikash.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify