Here's The Scoop

Just in time for the winter holidays, we’re talking about the quintessential holiday cookie: gingerbread. First, we take a bite out of the history of gingerbread with Tori Avey (who wrote all about the history of gingerbread). Then, Pay Chen interviews famed pastry chef Anna Olson about the ebb and flow of gingerbread trends, and her professional opinion on the key to the *perfect* recipe. Finally, we end with Regina-based chef Dickie Yuzicapi who owns Sioux Chef Catering and has been putting an Indigenous spin on this traditional holiday cookie for decades.

It’s our most controversial episode yet. We ask the experts: is Hawaiian pizza an abomination, or the perfect combination of flavours? We start off at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, where Sam Panopoulos claims to have invented this classic pizza topping combination. Then, host Pay Chen interviews Chicago-based chef Malika Ameen, author of cookbook “Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice,” to discuss why sweet-and-salty really is the perfect pairing—even on pizza. Finally, we look at the statistics with Mario Conseco, president of Research Co., who recently studied Canadians and our preferences for controversial foods.

Whether or not you have fond memories of licking red-stained fingers as a kid, many consider ketchup chips to be a Canadian classic. But why is the flavour so popular here compared to the rest of the world? We ask Janis Thiessen, history professor and author of Snacks: A Canadian Food History, about where the potato chip comes from. Then, we chat with Kathlyne Ross, VP of Food Product Development & Innovation for President’s Choice, about how well the flavour sells in Loblaw stores across the country—including which province is home to the most ketchup-chip fans. Finally, we hear from international snack expert Monique Bernstein, who tells us the one other country where you can find ketchup chips readily available—and names some of the other interesting chip flavours out there.

When sourdough starter and avocado toast take over your social media feed—what’s the result IRL? We speak to Shira McDermott, co-founder of Vancouver-based artisan flour mill Flourist, about how demand skyrocketed when bread baking went viral at the beginning of the pandemic. Pay speaks with culinary stylist Rossy Earle about where these trends start—and what impact they have in the world of food media. And Eden Hagos, founder of popular Instagram account @blackfoodie.co, shares her community-based experience of engaging with food trends.

We talk a lot about what we eat – but what about how we eat? In this episode, we’re looking at eating habits and dining routines across Canada. Michael Burt, executive director at the Conference Board of Canada, shares how Canadians typically spend money on food – and what’s changed since the pandemic. Pay Chen speaks with Anne Fishel, family therapist and co-founder of the Family Dinner Project, about how important it is to sit around the dinner table together. And Janet Music, research program coordinator at Dalhousie University’s agri-food analytics lab, highlights the three top trends we can expect to define the future of Canadian dining.

We’re delving into the origins of ice cream – and learning about the surprising origins of the banana split: the retro dessert that always seems to be making a comeback. Food scientist Maria Depenweiller takes us through the history of ice cream, dating back to 618 A.D. Pay Chen interviews President’s Choice product developer Ben Holland about the process of inventing (or re-inventing) an ice cream flavour. And Melissa Di Fonzo, a clinical therapist with a specialization in food, explains why ice cream can trigger feelings of joy and nostalgia in all of us.

What makes a great burger? In our first episode, we hear from Robert Kim, the marketing manager of Fran’s – an Ontario diner chain that coined the term “banquet burger” back in 1945. Pay Chen asks Michael Olson, chef and author of Living High Off the Hog, how peameal bacon got its name and what makes it such a Canadian burger topping. And Na’eem Adam, cofounder and operator of Le Burger Week, a Canada-wide competition for the country’s favourite burger, shares what’s next for the festival and the future of burger innovation.

Get ready for a new podcast all about food. We're going to dig into what we eat, how we eat it and why. Join food writer Pay Chen as she takes a bite-sized look at the evolution of food and trends from a uniquely Canadian perspective.