Good Food

Phillip Vowles talks about growing armchair-sized vegetables in Wales, then Christian Schwarz gives us a primer on California mushrooms and reporter David Jackson discusses his investigation into the hog business in Illinois. We also get tips for cooking and growing tomatoes from The Bazaar's Holly Jivin and Pernille Carpenter of Coastal Organics. Plus, Jonathan Gold's favorite Asian fried chicken spots and Sonoko Sakai's recipe for bacon and scrambled egg onigiri.

We head to Chinatown to make isamadas with Chef Isa Fabro before tasting kinilaw and pancit with Jonathan Gold at LASA. The Grape Whisperer, Ruben Solorzano, updates us on the harvest along California’s Central Coast. The author of Devoured, Sophie Egan, discusses the factors that define our eating habits. Plus: Moruno’s baby eggplant rescoldo recipe and the final installment of Burned.

At the Hollywood Farmers Market, Simbal chef Shawn Pham schools us on what to do with cilantro roots. Jonathan Gold shares his favorite dishes at Salazar and chef Esdras Ochoa instructs us on how to craft the perfect taco. Plus, the next installment of Burned, a Q&A with the director of Unbroken Ground and the New Republic's Ted Genoways clues us in on a vegan mayo scandal.

Ahead of our October 2 pie contest, here's the first installment of KCRW's 2016 Good Food PieCast. It's a podcast about pie, a piecast -- get it?! -- dedicated to our love of pie. We're going to take you on a delicious journey in three parts to meet pie lovers, pie eaters and expert pie makers across the country.

Food writer Fuchsia Dunlop explains how Sichuan cuisine is changing in Chengdu. Investigative reporter Karen Foshay unveils disturbing findings about restaurants in LA. The Reverend Shawn Amos is striving to keep the blues alive in kitchens around town, one gig at a time. Plus, how grass-fed beef is raised at Rancho San Julian and what to try at Kali in Hollywood, per Jonathan Gold.

Marion Nestle explains what's in the GMO labeling bill on President Obama's desk. Simran Sethi examines her loss of taste from taking antidepressants. Dianne Jacob gives tips on how to write about food and the Ans discuss their latest venture, a cookbook. Plus: pickling pointers from Little Dom's and a new hot chicken spot to try, per Jonathan Gold.

LA Magazine food critic Patric Kuh gives us a history lesson on artisanal food and beekeeper Jodi Helmer reports on hive heists in almond groves. Then we discuss the revival of regional grain production with food writer Amy Halloran and Nan Kohler of Grist & Toll. Plus, a watermelon gazpacho recipe to beat the heat from 1212 chef Walter Greenwood and a recommendation for bulgogi, Gangnam-style, per Jonathan Gold.

Cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor explains the importance of preserving Green Book sites. EP & LP Chef Louis Tikaram gives us a primer on Fijian cuisine and jackfruit. The Atlantic’s Olga Khazan schools us on a synthetic shrimp start-up. Plus: Shishito peppers hit the market and Jonathan Gold eats popcorn ice cream at Paley.

Chuck Reece gets to the heart of our love affair with the cast iron skillet. Peggy Lowe discusses the perilous work in slaughterhouses. We talk Azerbaijani cuisine with Feride Buyuran and fermented ice cream with Tyler Malek. Plus: French and Vietnamese spots to try and corn at the market.

City University London’s Tim Lang gives his take on the impact of Brexit on the UK food system and Michael Pollan looks back at what’s changed in food in the last decade. Pascale Beale shares recipes for savory dishes that use fresh fruit. Then we shop for edible flowers at the market and get a hangover cure from Jonathan Gold before Nigella Lawson takes over the KCRW turntables.