William Shakespeare, brine, scurvy, kosher, garlic, the Weihnachtsgurke, and more.

Audio pick of the week: Empress Orchid: Love is Survival, Seduction is Power, and Treachery is a Way of Life, Abridged, By Anchee Min, Narrated by Pik-sen Lim. For a free audiobook, visit AudiblePodcast.com/munchcast.

Look for detailed show notes at Munchcast.com.

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Hosts: Cammy Blackstone and Leo Laporte