Good Food

The South Side of Chicago has a rich barbecue heritage, but only half the city seems to know. Chef Nyesha Arrington’s restaurant Native pays homage to the city that made her. Jonathan Gold shares his favorite restaurants in Koreatown. A touching biography of cookbook author Paula Wolfert wins a best cookbook award. And it turns out, many of this year’s Oscar-nominated films are actually all about food.

Brian Boitano shares the struggle that many figure skaters have with food. Kim Severson talks about Chef José Andrés’ humanitarian work in Puerto Rico. Pete Wells asks why restaurateurs and chefs are issuing tepid responses to sexual harassment scandals. Meanwhile, Jonathan Gold ventures a review of The Hearth & Hound in Hollywood. And we’re checking out a different market this week: Smorgasburg LA.

We’re looking inside the modern home kitchen. Cookbook authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg are unleashing creativity. Deb Perelman looks back on Smitten Kitchen and talks everyday meals. Amy Trubek says home cooking has come a long way. And food historian Rachel Laudan explains why ‘easy cooking’ is far from it. Finally, there’s puntarelle at the market and Jonathan Gold finds superlative dim sum.

Curtis Stone’s new theme for Maude takes eaters around the world. A new Netflix series explores crime in the food industry. Koreatown serves up an intimidating dish. Simran Sethi tells us how sound can change the taste of chocolate. Tết celebrations kick off with bánh chưng at Good Girl Dinette. We’ll talk mushrooms at the market and hear just how spicy Jonathan Gold likes his ramen at Killer Noodle.

Will Guidara talks hospitality after opening The NoMad Hotel in LA. Former Good Food producer Gillian Ferguson heads to Oaxaca for a lesson on mezcal. Thomas Lennon’s “Knife Skills” earns an Oscar nom. We’ll hear how the Whole Foods diet began with hippies and long-hairs, and we’ll see if Laura Avery can get a date at the market. Also, Jonathan Gold visits Newport Beach for French food.

On January 1, recreational marijuana became legal in California. Although still federally illegal, the state is facing a major period of transition as it begins to regulate the substance. Looking particularly at cannabis cuisine and the farmers supplying the state with its crop, we are getting into California’s canna-business.

Food is evocative. For Phil Rosenthal, it’s worth traveling for. Andrea Nguyen says that not only does MSG make pho crave-worthy, it’s a negligible risk. Jonathan Gold waxes nostalgic about Thomas Ortega’s Doritos chilaquiles. Ex-Noma chef Dan Giusti gives kids something to smile about with his fresh take on school lunches. And Meyer lemons: not just for lemonade stands. Also, the soundtrack of Evan Kleiman's life.

Farmers serve as the backbone of our society. As policy, the climate, and the country’s needs change, we are shining a spotlight on some of the greatest challenges facing the agricultural community: new legislation, modern farm life, escalating suicide rates amongst farmers, and more. Join us.

Find out more about the woman behind Eataly in Century City. Jen Agg isn’t pulling punches about harassment in the restaurant industry in ‘I Hear She’s a Real Bitch.’ Jonathan Gold confesses to loving the imported pasta at Uovo. Cauliflower at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market is a hit in Silver Lake. Got a layover in PDX? Try the Russian flavors of chef Bonnie Frumkin Morales.

As we launch into 2018, we’re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the past year. Amid lots of change, one thing remained constant throughout 2017: that there were many fantastic food stories to be told, far more than we could fit into a single show! Here’s a sampling of some of our favorites.