Bitchin' About Food

Ciao! Kath and Jan revisit the past, the ancient-long-ago-BEFORE-COMPUTERS-AND-THE-INTERNET-past when they are joined by their dear old friend and mentor, Eugene Ferraro, who was teaching film at Stephens College where Kath and Jan met in 1978. Gene has always supported both of their artistic endeavors for decades now and so it was a real treat to get him on the podcast. We talk of course of….Italy! Boston! Italian food in both places! Gene reveals a restaurant in New York City that still makes things the old way. We talk about the evolution of Italian food in America. Kath revisits an old tripe trauma from her youth. Gene remembers food from his past and how his kids both enjoy cooking, but in totally different ways. A wonderful conversation with our most ardent supporter – listen in!

New York, New York, it’s a toddlin’ town, as Kath and Jan visit with a dear pal (a true New York transplant) Francesca Rollins. We discuss New York vs. LA food, her parents’ busy showbiz careers and how they entertained and cooked. We talk about delicatessen vs. appetizing, Zabar’s vs. Russ & Daughters, and how her mother Jane had a special guy who helped her at Zabar’s when it came time to throw an impromptu party for celebrities. Jan remembers a time when she unsuccessfully tried to shortcut a fruit salad for Jane.  ‘Cesca shares favorite family recipes from her past and also the secret to her Dad’s ‘dreck’ sandwich. She also reveals that she has scored a husband who does all the cooking, causing much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Kath & Jan. Nonetheless, a fantastic and lively conversation – listen in!

The amazing Sheila Linderman (Judy’s pal) joins the podcast for a spirited and lively conversation about many far-ranging topics: how a background in science really does help when it comes to baking and pastry in general. Growing up Orthodox and Kosher. How Chicago’s Pickle Barrel restaurant started her on the road to non-kosher foods. Ditching medical school for a culinary arts degree from LA Trade Tech. Then, France, and what it was like being one of only 5 female pastry chefs in Paris when she was younger, and the only American. Los Angeles and how she met and befriended Judy. Her foray into Madagascar Vanilla. Why restaurants seem to all serve the same five desserts. Her cookbook and her many ventures, including helping companies and farmers get organic certification. The Dordogne region of France (again!) and how wonderful small town life is there. Kath and Jan manage to score an open invitation there. A wonderful visit with a true entrepreneur. Listen in!

It’s all about the rolls in the latest episode of Bitchin’ as Kath and Jan are visited by Jan’s work pal Lou. Kath is under the weather, but motors through with Jan’s help as Lou talks about getting notes on cooking from her 5 year old daughter and how this same daughter, now grown, is an ace cook and does all the holidays! Kath reminds everyone that Thanksgiving is only 6 months away. Lou talks about her family’s legendary rolls that only one surviving family member even bothers to make. We discuss generational skipping of food passion and what it's like cooking for one when you don’t feel like cooking. We discuss food from Puerto Rico, Belize and local BBQ. A delicious conversation for sure – listen in!

The future looks bright with nomadic adventurers Sarah and Dana at the helm. Kath and Jan are visited by two young (so damn young) girls who are pretty much the future of everything: antiques dealing, documentary filmmaking and best of all, food. Have you heard of Regenerative Organic Gardening? Yeah, neither had we. Learn all about it and how Sarah and Dana came literally sliding into Los Angeles after their harrowing escape from the largest landslide in California coastal history. Jan chimes in with her own narrow escape story from her bohemian youth while traveling in Tunisia. Kath talks about her fear of moving anywhere. An amazing and informative conversation that could have gone on forever! Find them on Instagram @backtoedengardening and @losagelessart, on eBay @losagelessart and on YouTube @danasarahfilms. Listen in!

Kath and Jan are visited by dear old pals Ralph Flores and Tom Carroll. Like Kath and Jan, they have known each other for over 40 years. Also, like Kath and Jan, only one of them does the cooking (Ralph). We talk of how we all came up together in Chicago and how Ralph inspired Kath early on with his incredible creative recipes and amazing parties. We hear stories of Ireland (Tom) and Mexico (Ralph). Kath tells a story about chocolate chip cookies with pine nuts and surprise tamales. Ralph encourages Kath to veer away from Excel and embrace improvisation (not bloody likely!) and also challenges Kath and Jan to rethink their general apathy and vitriol against Los Angeles food. Ralph gives them both a list of places to try, which Jan quickly steals. A wonderful visit with old friends who love food as much as we do! Listen in! 

Jan’s dear pal Judy Hing joins the podcast to discuss her long history of Asian food in California. From her grandfather’s Chinese restaurant in San Diego to her grandmother’s Chinese stall in the original Farmer’s Market, Judy tells a tale of growing up surrounded by food. We discuss the dichotomy between what Judy’s family would serve to American customers vs. what they actually ate at home, Judy’s shared cooking duties with her current partner, what she learned from the French and how she basically improvises a lot of her meals. Kath recalls her recent trip to Mexico and Jan tells a long story about Judy and the painstaking raspberries in a dessert. Kath also bemoans missing out on Judy’s recent cupcakes. A tasty conversation – listen in!

When you lose weight, where does that fat go? Big Fat Myths by Ruben Meerman. Energy Density. Carbon Credits. Listening to your body. Losing weight, keeping it off and eating whatever you want, without the help of Big Pharma. Kath and Jan are joined by old friend and antique dealer extraordinaire Lynne, who takes them on her fascinating journey with food, weight loss, the American epidemic of obesity, the availability of food all the time, how our bodies are actually wired and what our complex relationship with food really boils down to: (hint: eat less and exercise more). Kath and Jan make some corrections to a previous podcast, Jan shares her childhood cookbook and Kath talks about a recent trip to Omaha and her obsession with a crostini appetizer that she had at a wedding feast! A powerhouse of a conversation – listen in!

Do you believe in elves? Kath and Jan do. We are joined by Kath’s old elf pal (long story) and fellow Capricorn Tom Hall, who became Jan’s instant BFF when he showed up with cookies. We discuss Tom and Jan’s shared Kentucky roots, we revisit the unfortunately named Hot Brown, we talk about San Diego Mexican vs. Los Angeles Mexican food and how the San Fernando Valley is an untapped treasure in the LA food scene. A great and lively conversation – listen in!

Kath and Jan are flying solo today without a guest! We discuss many topics. Kath makes amends to Jan for constantly interrupting her. We talk about food recommendations that go nowhere, toughest recipes, easiest recipes, restaurants we miss in LA, Jan’s massive weekend of cooking for beloved family, how Jan almost burned down the house and herself, Kath’s bacon-taters moment and cooking for 40 people when you are only having 10 people over. Plus lots more. Listen in!