Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

July 4th Special! Grilling Call-Ins, Hot Dog Contests, and Cherry Pie

This week, we journey through 250 years of American cuisine. Author Jason Fagone digs into the history of competitive eating, from the man who transformed the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, to the spectacle that was the Glutton Bowl. Plus, reporter Anna Van Dine meets the Whitcomb’s Rangers: Revolutionary War re-enactors who are committed to eating like it’s 1776; Adam Gopnik crowns a winner for The Most American Food; and live fire cooking expert Genevieve Taylor joins Chris to take your summer grilling calls.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

4th of July Bonus! A Pie for Every State, Grilling with Meathead, The History of Oscar Mayer

As we finish preparing our July 4th special coming out this Friday, we’re remembering a few of our favorite Independence Day interviews. Stacey Mei Yan Fong bakes an elaborate pie for each of the 50 states (Las Vegas buffet pie, anyone?); historian Bruce Kraig recounts the history of the hot dog; and Meathead shares some of his secret grilling tips and techniques.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

L.A.'s Food Truck King: Up Close and Personal with Roy Choi

In 2008, Roy Choi was fired from his big restaurant job and ready to give up—then he started 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, and why there's poetry in lowriding around L.A. Plus, we hunt for clams, eels and anchovies with sea forager Kirk Lombard; and Chris and Sara Moulton take your calls, explaining 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

Adam Conover Ruins Detox Diets, Bacon and Avocados

For this week's special rewind, Adam Conover, host of the truTV series “Adam Ruins Everything,” challenges the myth of killer Halloween candy, bogus detox diets and the rise of bacon. Plus, David Burtka transforms parties into events; we throw together an amazing Andalusian Tomato and Bread Soup; and Adam Gopnik stumbles across the perfect meal on vacation in Greece.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Ice Cream Flavors Go Wild! Meet The New Queen of Ice Cream

Lokelani Alabanza has created over 300 wildly inventive ice cream flavors. She shares the triumphs (strawberry pretzel salad), the disasters (barbecue) and the flavors she still hopes to bring to life (…crystal store?!). Plus, Mindy Merrell and R.B. Quinn share how country and bluegrass music stars contributed to the rise of self-rising flour; and Will Coley travels to Palermo to sample pastries invented by Sicilian nuns, from the Triumph of Gluttony to the Chancellor’s Buttocks.Listen to Milk Street Radio on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify