All Of It with Alison Stewart

Nick Quah, podcast critic for Vulture and founder of Hot Pod, joins us for our ongoing “Review/Preview” series to discuss the best new podcasts to listen to this month.

[REBROADCAST FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2019] Esmé Weijun Wang joins us to discuss her book, The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays.

A new documentary looks at thirty years of Middle Eastern peace negotiations from the perspective of American negotiators. Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Dror Moreh joins us to discuss “The Human Factor,” now playing in theaters.

Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas, who are collectively known as Deux Femmes Noires, join us to discuss their second curatorial project together titled, Brand New Heavies. The exhibition is on view at Brooklyn's Pioneer Works through June 20 and features monumental, site-specific installations by three artists: Abigail DeVille, Xaviera Simmons, and Rosa-Johan Uddoh.

Acclaimed poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib joins us to discuss his new book of essays celebrating Black performers titled, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance.

New York Times food reporter Eric Kim joins us for a call-in segment ahead of Mother's Day. He writes about moving home to Atlanta to live with his mother during the pandemic, how they cooked together and what he learned.

[REBROADCAST FROM NOVEMBER 10, 2020]Hawa Hassan, the Brooklyn-based founder and CEO of the Somali hot sauce line Basbaas, joins us to discuss her new cookbook, In Bibi's Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries That Touch the Indian Ocean. The book draws on the recipes and stories of bibis -- Swahili for grandmothers -- from eight African nations that touch the Indian Ocean.

ndizi Kaanga (FRIED PLANTAINS) 

As Ma Vicky taught us, plantains are a huge part of Tanzanian cooking, and there are tons of varietals and different ways of preparing each. These simple fried plantains are best made with bright yellow plantains that are somewhere in between the firm, starchy-green under- ripe plantains and the super-soft, super-sweet, almost-black overripe plantains. Fried in a little butter (or ghee) and finished with a splash of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of both salt and nutmeg, these plantains ride the line between sweet and savory. Serve on their own for a snack or alongside Zanzibar Pilau (Rice Pilaf, page XX), cooked vegetables, and grilled meat or fish for a complete meal. You could even sprinkle them with a bit of brown sugar as they cook, finish them with a splash of rum, and serve with vanilla ice cream for a Tanzanian version of bananas foster.

SERVES 4

3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or ghee)

2 large yellow plantains, peeled and cut into 1-inch-thick pieces on the diagonal

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Place the butter in a large nonstick skillet set over medium- high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the plantain pieces and cook until dark brown on the undersides, about 2 minutes. Carefully turn each plantain and cook just until the second sides are lightly browned, about another minute.

Transfer the plantains, cut sides up, to a serving platter and drizzle with the lemon juice and sprinkle with the salt and nutmeg. Serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for up to a few days and warmed in a skillet before serving.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren joins us to discuss her new book, Persist.  

A new memoir tackles grief, identity, and really good food. Writer and musician Michelle Zauner, known by the stage name Japanese Breakfast, joins us to discuss her memoir Crying in H-Mart, which centers on the death of her mother in 2014. 

Director Sian-Pierre Regis joins us to discuss his documentary, “Duty Free,” which tells the story of his mother, Rebecca Danigelis. After she was fired at age 75 from her job as a hotel housekeeper, Regis decides to take her on a bucket-list adventure to reclaim her life. As she struggles to find work, he documents a journey that uncovers the economic insecurity shaping not only her future, but that of an entire generation. The film is showing at IFC through May 13 and available in virtual theaters starting May 7.