The Best Meal I Ever Had. A Podcast

Asking Alex McKenna the best meal she’s ever had is, essentially, asking her the best moment of her life. The two exist only together in her world. In this episode, Alex illuminates the essential human elements that accompany any memorable meal– the hospitality that grounds us in the moment, the company that surrounds us, the circumstances that bring us to the table, and even the beauty of a space. While delicious food is always on the table at a best meal, these “ingredients” are what can transform a meal into a core memory.  Her stories paint the picture of a life well lived, combining deep appreciation for wanderlust, hospitality, flavor, connection, beauty, friendship and family.  

Before the days of celebrity chefs pop-ups and insta-worthy interiors, restaurants relied on one simple thing to get customers in the door: consistently delicious food. This week, Tony award winning actor, writer and comedian Dan Fogler celebrates that version of dining, recounting meals at infamous dining establishments from New York to New Orleans. The names might be familiar and the meals might be predictable, but the stories are anything but tired. 

In a time when most emails end with a quick “thanks,” comedian Judy Gold takes the time to close hers with “Sent while thinking about my next meal.”  But in this episode, Judy does quite the opposite: with unencumbered joy, she takes us back in time to her parents’ kitchen and backyard garden in New Jersey, where it wasn’t just a love of food that was born–it was a love of loving food. The predictability of everyday meals we love to hate. The thrill of the unexpected. The cultivation of a family bond. The honoring of tradition. The sense of comfort that comes over us from just a whiff of that certain meal. Judy’s stories are a reminder of the joy that comes from keeping food at the center of our lives.

Katie Parla is living the foodie dream. The Jersey girl has called Rome home for the past 20 years, where she is a food and beverage writer, culinary guide, and cookbook author.  While you might share her passion for pizza and pasta, the similarities likely end there: Katie has an art history degree from Yale and master’s degree in Italian Gastronomic Culture, not to mention she’s a certified sommelier and archaeology specialist in the city of Rome. Her approach to food is so deeply intertwined with her expertise on Italian history and culture that the two have become one. In this episode, Katie takes us all over Italy, to answer not only what, but why, the food of Italy is so beloved all over the globe. Prepare for a little pizza fomo inside what is an incredible lesson on Italy’s regionality, seasonality, and multicultural expression of food. Katie’s Italy is not only delicious, but complex, technical, and unexpected.

As born-and-bred Jewish and Italian New Yorkers, Peter Shelksy and Lewis Spada (we’ll let you sort out the Jewish and Italian part) naturally gravitate toward food. They are the duo behind Shelsky’s of Brooklyn, where they preserve two of New York’s most prized dining traditions: the appetizing store and the delicatessen. From fine-dining to tavern food, this episode unfolds as a dining guide to the city from two guys you will immediately trust with your tastebuds.

Since 2010, Austin food blogger Jane Ko’s life has been packed with restaurant visits and weekend jaunts, all of which she chronicles through her blog, A Taste of Koko, and on social media. In this episode, Jane takes us to Sante Fe, where a simple meal was so good it brought her to tears and dishes a crash course on the Austin BBQ scene. In a time when we love getting whatever we want whenever we want it, Jane reminds us of how special an “you can only get that here” experience can be.

Jake Cohen is a NYT bestselling cookbook author and NJB from NYC. He has amassed a celeb-filled social media following in the millions, who he charms with his modern take on traditional Jewish recipes. He has paved a new world way to preserve the past, one viral video at a time. And while things might look a little different in Jake’s world than it did in his ancestors (who probably didn't make challah in a swim brief on Fire Island) one thing remains true: hospitality is a life force for those who give and receive it. In this episode, Jake’s reverence for his Jewish identity, culinary expertise, and penchant for fun just might inspire you to invite your neighbor over for coffee and cake.

Celebrity-backed tequila might be all the rage these days, but those aren't the bottles you'll find behind Seth Millard's bar. In this mini-episode, Seth breaks down what is a mezcal, how he curates the mezcal menu at Comedor, and offers some suggestions for anyone ready to dive in (well, sip in) to the good stuff at home.

Rocco DiSpirito has had his share of life-changing moments. He’s been named Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, earned 3 stars from NYT food critic Ruth Reichl, and even graced the pages of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. But it was in the backyard garden of his grandmother’s house where his life-changing love of food began–and perhaps still resides. In this episode, Rocco takes us from Long Island to the Lower East Side, from the hills of Campagnia to tables of Paris with stories that reveal an essential truth about food: our connection to ingredients, process, people, and place are at the core of any unforgettable meal.