Good Food

Artist and community activist Ron Finley discusses how he’s changing South LA, one garden at a time. Chef Jeremiah Tower talks about starring in “The Last Magnificent,” a new documentary about his role as one of the defining figures in the early days of California cuisine. Plus: Laura Avery stuffs her “Good Food” tote full of green garlic, while Evan and The Sporkful’s Dan Pashman get into a heated dough-bate about donuts.

Jonathan Gold seeks out Yucatecan seafood at Holbox in the Mercado La Paloma. Raghavan Iyer gives us a tutorial on taters from his new book, “Smashed, Mashed, Boiled and Baked — and Fried Too!” Then Laura Avery talks to farmer Meredith Bell and Terra Cotta chef Danny Ye about spatchcocking free-range chickens. Plus: Phoebe Wood shares a recipe for her baked ricotta, orange blossom and date pie.

Chef Jeremy Fox turns vegetables into true expressions of seasonal flavors at Rustic Canyon, Julia Sherman documents artists making salads in “Salad for President,” and Deborah Madison shares meatless meal tips. Then Laura Avery shops for spring veggies at the market while we get a peek at Stacy Michelson’s design for KCRW’s “Good Food” tote bag. Plus: Jonathan Gold digs into the Redneck Platter at Manuela.

Esquire’s Jeff Gordinier weighs in on the pros and cons of tasting menus. Alec Lee of Ava Winery explains the science behind producing wine without a single grape. Food and travel writer Shane Mitchell shares stories from her new book, “Far Afield.” Plus: Jonathan Gold recommends Filipino dishes to try at Irenia, and Charlotte Druckman serves up a cast-iron skillet pistachio-cherry Danish recipe.

Frank Shyong explains how Cambodians got into LA’s fried chicken game. Clara Polito shares vegan baking tips from her new book, and Leena Saini says boost the flavor of your baby’s food with spices. Martha Rose Shulman talks up a nifty kitchen gadget that will take your produce for a spin, and Jonathan Gold does lamb barbacoa at Maestro in Pasadena. Plus, a closer look at how bees make honey and wasps pollinate figs.

Historian Andrew Coe explains how the Great Depression altered the 1930s food landscape, and contributor Sam Brasch witnesses a kosher slaughter. Artist Sofika Zielyk shows us how to decorate Ukrainian Easter eggs, Sandor Katz discusses his latest fermentation projects, and Dana Cree introduces her new book, “Hello, My Name is Ice Cream.” Plus: Laura Avery finds Swiss chard at the market, and Jonathan Gold dines at Kismet.

In honor of Passover, we follow author Joan Nathan on a culinary exploration of the Jewish diaspora and consider kosher wine options with Lou Amdur. An unlikely aficionado takes us on a chocolate chip cookie crawl, and we stop by the Santa Monica Farmers Market for celtuce and mustard greens with Zak Walters. Then journalist Lee van der Voo takes us on a deep dive into the dark waters of the commercial fishing industry.

This week, zoologist Bill Schutt considers the implications of culinary cannibalism, and we visit Tony Danza’s cheese shop in New York City. We also find hundreds of different cheeses on offer at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills and make a pitstop for Swedish meatball sandwiches at Olson’s Scandinavian Delicatessen before heading to Van Nuys for Syrian kobee.

Melissa Clark switches up the dinner game with her latest cookbook, “Dinner,” and George Geary shares stories of the iconic restaurants where’s Tinseltown’s elite once dined. Jonathan Gold treats himself to meat from the butcher shop at Gwen, and Michael Cimarusti makes a pitch for a new seafood tracking system called Dock to Dish 2.0. Plus: Chef Casey Thompson shops for cardoons at the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

We devote this week’s show to the most important meal of the day: breakfast. April McGreger of Farmer’s Daughter gives us a historical account of biscuits, and Chef Josef Centeno serves up his spin on Japanese breakfast at Orsa & Winston. Then Big Bad Breakfast Chef John Currence talks up cornmeal, and Carolyn Phillips shares tips on ordering dim sum. Plus: We’re all about eggs from the farmers market.