This Is TASTE

Tom Colicchio is a longtime chef who has operated some of America’s iconic restaurants, including Craft, Gramercy Tavern, and dozens more. He’s also the head judge on the show Top Chef. We welcomed Tom back to the studio to talk about the current restaurant landscape as well as the release of Think Like a Chef, the 25th anniversary edition of his debut cookbook. The book is a classic and so worth reading today. Tom talks about his technique and the mistakes home cooks often make that are easily fixable. And before that, we have a great conversation with Johanna Hellrigl. She is the chef-owner of Ama in Washington, DC. Ama is a special restaurant with exceptional Northern Italian cooking and a mission to further sustainability practices in a living, breathing restaurant. Johanna completes the Resy Questionnaire as part of a memorable conversation. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabrielle Hamilton is the chef/owner of Prune restaurant in New York’s East Village and is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef and the cookbook Prune. Her moving new memoir Next of Kin is an unflinching portrait of her dynamic family and its dramatic dissolution through death, betrayal, and time. It is a chef’s memoir with barely any food but plenty of propulsive writing. Today on the show, Gabrielle shares how she wrote this deeply personal book, how Prune is operating as a private restaurant today, and much more. Also on the show, we catch up with Nicola Olivieri, the CEO of Italian bakery Olivieri 1882. The topic is panettone, which is one of our favorite holiday traditions. Nicola runs the bakery with his brother Andrea and has an amazing story about growing their business and making our favorite panettone around. The Wirecutter agrees.    Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames. https://on.auraframes.com/TASTE. Promo Code TASTE at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the return of Food Writers Talking About Food Writing. Every couple of weeks, Matt invites a journalist to talk about some favorite recent food writing as well as their thoughts on the industry as a whole. In today’s episode, we talk with Maggie Hoffman. Maggie is a cookbook author, editor, and founder of the terrific Substack The Dinner Plan (and podcast). We talk about her days working at Serious Eats and Epicurious, and we dig into some recent food writing that got us talking. Featured on the episode: What Does a 6-Foot-8 Pro Wrestler Eat? The Entire Menu [NYT] I Made Hundreds of Fried Chicken Batches as a Line Cook—Here’'s the #1 Way to Keep It Crispy and Juicy [Serious Eats] Peak Private Label [New Fare Partners] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cha McCoy is an entrepreneur, educator, and sommelier from Harlem. She is the founder of the wine event series the Communion and, later, the brick-and-mortar bottle shop the Communion Wine & Spirits. Now she’s sharing her wine knowledge in her first book: Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. It’s an invaluable guide to pairing wine with food, anchored by Cha’s own experience traveling in wine regions across the globe, and today on the show, we dig into the process of bringing the book to life. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Matt shares about his recent trip to Korea, including stops at Bium and Superpan in Seoul, a visit to Sokcho and Sokcho Kappo, and discovering a very special cafe, Cafe Gid. And Aliza shares about a visit to Kiko, her thoughts on Korea's Fritz Coffee, and the very cool Apartamento Cookbook #10: APHRODISIACS. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we have a great conversation with Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and Tock. Along with running Resy and Tock, Pablo is a passionate supporter of the restaurant industry and a prolific diner. We hear about the recent Resy Retrospective and what the Resy team is spotting across the United States. We also get into Pablo’s personal history with restaurants as well as some of his favorite places to dine around the country.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Archibald and Kevin Serai are the couple behind Cabagges World, an online platform where they share recipes, travel guides, and more lifestyle inspiration.  Their respective backgrounds in graphic design and marketing helped turn a few viral home cooking videos into a career, and today on the show, we go deep on their backgrounds and perspective on creating cooking content online—plus what’s inspiring them today. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dorie Greenspan’s Dorie’s Anytime Cakes marks her 15th cookbook, which is a remarkable achievement in the world of cookbooks. Dorie is a former New York Times columnist and prolific recipe developer, particularly in the world of cookies, cakes, pies, and all things sweet. It was so much fun having Dorie in the studio to talk about her history and to dive into why cake might just be the most special dessert of all. And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: An early look at Carbone Riviera in Las Vegas, opening today, as well as a visit to Carbone at Aria. Also: Autumn vibes in New York, Samin Nosrat's buttermilk-brined roast chicken is the perfect recipe, Hamnet is worth reading before the movie drops, a great fundraiser for One Love Community Fridge is being held at Honey's on November 16. Get your tickets. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Salcito is an award-winning sommelier turned entrepreneur based in Paris. After working as a somm at Eleven Madison Park and overseeing the beverage programs for the Momofuku group, she launched the canned spritz brand Ramona. Now, she’s sharing all her considerable wine wisdom in a new book: Smart Mouth. It’s so special to have Jordan in the studio to talk about her career and her distinct point of view on all things wine.  Also on the show we have a great conversation with Ari Kolender. Ari is a 20-year veteran of some of the top seafood restaurants in America, and opened his first restaurant, Found Oyster, in Los Angeles in 2019. Found Oyster is a Los Angeles sensation. Casual and precise, the cooking hones Ari's deep passion for serving some the finest seafood available, paired with interesting wines and service that is at the same time casual and finely pointed. He also operates Queen's Raw Bar & Grill and joins the show to talk about the Top Five restaurants that inspired his career.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea Fagan is the CEO and cofounder of the Financial Diet, a must-read newsletter that helps people get better in touch with their finances. Chelsea is also a passionate dinner party host (and guest), and she has now written a savvy ode to having people over called Having People Over. In this great conversation, we talk about etiquette and cooking tips for hosting, and we dip a little into personal finances, too. Check out Chelsea's podcast, The Financial Confessions. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cassie Yeung is a wildly popular food content creator known for her straight talk and delicious, approachable recipes. Her debut cookbook, Bad B*tch in the Kitch, is a New York Times Bestseller and one of the season’s buzziest titles. Formerly a professional dancer and a member of the NBA’s Brooklyn Net’s dance team the Brooklynettes, Cassie decided to share her love for Asian cuisine on social media and her cooking videos quickly went viral. She was a contestant on Season 2 of the reality cooking show Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay and joins Matt in the studio for a highly entertaining conversation. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hetty Lui McKinnon is one of our favorite recipe developers, and she writes a mean Substack to boot. She’s the author of a fun new book, Linger, which smartly bridges her love for plant-based cooking, dinner parties, and salad artistry. In this episode, Hetty returns to our studio to discuss her viral tomato and dumpling salad, and why a party at her house might include a photo shoot.  Also on the show we have a great conversation with Toni Chapman. Toni is a passionate home cook and recipe developer and the creator of Toni’s Recipes and TheMoodyFoody, where she shares bold, comforting dishes made for real life. Inspired by childhood favorites, takeout classics, and family traditions, her recipes are designed to impress, without the stress. She’s the author of a great new book, Everything’s Good, and we talk about what is exciting her in the kitchen and her life both on and offline. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Tamburo and Nikita Malhotra are the chef and wine director of Smithereens, a New England-style seafood spot in the East Village. Their thoughtful, imaginative takes on regional culinary traditions and their own cravings result in a totally singular restaurant—and today on the show, we’re unpacking how food and drinks combine at Smithereens. And at the top of the show, we have a great conversation with Will Thompson. He’s co-owner of the modern steakhouse Sunny’s in Miami. He gives us his top five meals that have inspired his long career working in bars and restaurants. This is part of a new recurring segment with Resy, where Resy editors, writers, and partner chefs discuss compelling stories and discuss the latest in food and dining culture. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiki Couchman is the cofounder of Sourmilk, a well-positioned yogurt company with more hustle than the average start-up. We found Sourmilk on social media and was impressed even before we tried the creamy and probiotic-rich yogurt. It’s good stuff, as is Kiki’s story about how she quit her finance job to start a yogurt company with her best friend—a refrain often repeated in Sourmilk’s savvy marketing. What’s it like bootstrapping in the highly competitive perishable consumer packaged goods world? This conversation is absolutely illuminating.      Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael W. Twitty is an acclaimed culinary historian and the author of the two-time James Beard Award–winning book The Cooking Gene as well as Rice and Koshersoul. His encyclopedic new book, Recipes from the American South, is a deeply researched, home cook’s guide to the vast genre of Southern cuisine, offering historical insight alongside a diverse array of recipes. It’s a delight having him on the show to talk about bringing this book to life.   And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: A visit to Ceres in New York. Is the pie worth the hype? Also, Long Island Bar is serving elite fried cheese curds, Michigan’s Madcap Coffee is one of America’s finest roasters, and sampling some great teas from Brooklyn’s Raazi Tea. Plus, Spicewalla is now selling Umbrian olive oil, and Big Night has a new uptown location. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nite Yun was born in a refugee camp after her parents escaped from war-torn Cambodia. Her family eventually moved to California, where she grew up listening to her father’s Khmer rock and roll music and learned to cook traditional Cambodian dishes from her mother. Inspired by trips to Cambodia to learn about her heritage, Nite dedicated herself to bringing the flavors of Cambodian food back to the Bay Area. She opened her first restaurant, Nyum Bai, in Oakland in 2018 and now runs Lunette, located in San Francisco’s Ferry Building. In this episode, we talk about Nite’s amazing journey and her terrific new cookbook, My Cambodia. It’s one of our favorites of this busy season, and we hear some great stories from the road. Also on the show, we have a really fun conversation with best-selling romance author Sarah MacLean. We talk about Rhode Island foods and what makes a great food scene in romance writing. What a fun talk! Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Sherman is an award-winning chef, educator, author, and activist. A member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe, he is dedicated to reviving Indigenous food traditions through his Minneapolis restaurant Owamni, the nonprofit NATIFS, and cookbooks like the fantastic new book Turtle Island. Today on the show, we talk about the years of research that resulted in Turtle Island, decolonizing Indigenous food traditions, and much more. Also on the show Matt has a great conversation with Natalia Rudin, author of the new cookbook, Cooking Fast and Slow.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one has been a long time coming! The one and only Alice Waters joins us in the studio for an amazing conversation. We naturally talk about her legacy at Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California, that opened in 1971 with California farmers front and center. There would be no farm-to-table movement without Alice. We also talk about her work bringing regenerative farming to school kitchens and her new book, A School Lunch Revolution.  Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Wareheim is an actor, director, winemaker, and writer based in Los Angeles. You may know him as one half of the comedy duo behind the cult-followed Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, but in recent years, he’s been making a foray into food and wine, starting with the New York Times Best Seller cookbook Foodheim. His new book, Steak House, chronicles his freewheeling, exhaustive search for the ultimate steak house. It’s a heady mix of recipes, interviews with legendary servers, and his own very funny essays—and today on the show, we go deep on his steak house fixation and reporting process.  And, at the top of the show, it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: The Great Community Bake Sale is New York’s big weekend event, Katie Parla has a very cool new book out, Rome: A Culinary History, Cookbook, and Field Guide to the Flavors that Built a City, it’s soup season and Andy Baraghani’s Golden Potato and Greens Soup is a great option. Also, a recap from the fun Los Angeles Chef’s Conference, a visit to the Tiny Dollhouse Store, and Matt is heading to Korea. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re taking a break from food conversations to highlight another love of ours: Great music. In ⁠Fela Kuti: Fear No Man⁠, Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton’s America—tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained "colonial boy" traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat. Subscribe to ⁠Fela Kuti: Fear No Man For years, the world’s biggest stars made pilgrimages to Nigeria to experience Fela’s Shrine, the epicenter of his musical revolution. But when the mix of art and activism got too hot, the state pulled out its guns, and literally opened fire. Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is an uncategorizable mix of oral history, musicology, deep dive journalism, and cutting edge sound design that takes listeners deep inside Fela’s life, music, and legacy. Drawing from over 200 interviews with Fela Kuti’s family, friends, as well as scholars, activists, and luminaries like Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and former President Barack Obama (just to name a few), Fela Kuti: Fear No Man journeys deep into the soul of Afrobeat to explore the transformative power of art and the role artists can play in this current moment of global unrest. An Audible Original presented by Audible and Higher Ground. Produced by Western Sound and Talkhouse. ©2025 Higher Ground, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Bonné is Resy’s managing editor, and the author of The New French Wine and other books, and a winner of awards from most major food organizations. We always love having Jon in the studio, and today we talk in detail about the Resy 100, a decisive and illuminating list of restaurants around the United States that define dining today. The list has a very strong point of view and highlights restaurants in both big cities and smaller communities that serve exceptional food that might be alternately comforting and daring, traditional and completely new. It’s a fantastic list, and we cover many of the entries while also zooming out to discuss interesting examples of Mexican cuisine, the New Nordic moment, and, naturally, the modern wine bar scene. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy—and do not constitute professional advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices