The Four Top: Wine News and Culture

From the trading post to Costco, the grocery shopping experience has changed over time. What does the future of food retail hold? Next, could cured meats and raw milk really kill you? And finally, are cooking shows finally starting to show the reality of life as a chef?

Keeping us in the loop on this episode are Michael Ruhlman, a cookbook author and fiction and nonfiction writer; Camas Davis, a food writer and the founder of the Portland Meat Collective, the Good Meat Project, and the Good Meat Breakdown; and Heather Arndt Anderson, culinary historian, botanist, and food writer.

Since when did a year consist of six seasons? Since a chef and his co-author took a close look at the phases of seasonal cooking. Next, why is salmon the most important fish to travel from ocean to plate? And finally, a new film on food provocateur James Beard has us thinking about this big man’s great legacy.

Joining us are Kathleen Squires, a freelance food and travel writer and the co-producer of the documentary “America’s First Foodie”; Diane Morgan, the award-winning author of eighteen cookbooks and counting; and Martha Holmberg, a cookbook author and the former CEO of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).

Some restaurateurs have begun to declare that their businesses are “sanctuaries” for people of every race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. We explore what is behind the movement to create safe spaces for all. We segue into the topic of undocumented workers in the food industry, and ask how these workers and their employers navigate the choppy waters of illegal labor. We end this episode with hungry stomachs and minds after diving into the delicious world of Peruvian cuisine.

Our guides this week are Roxy De La Torre, a freelance reporter and producer who formerly covered immigration for Oregon Public Broadcasting; Hannah Wallace, a freelance food and wine journalist for Bloomberg Businessweek, Civil Eats, Food and Wine, and SevenFifty Daily; and Peter Platt, an expert in social entrepreneurship and the owner of the groundbreaking Peruvian restaurant Andina in PDX.

We’re all a little obsessed with the women of the internet who cook, craft, and wear cute outfits, but are we really enjoying their content, or do we secretly hate their glossy kitchens and perfect hair? After we’re done indulging our pettiness, we discuss the subjectivity of taste. How can we describe food when the sense of taste is so personal? Finally: Are wine clubs the personal sommeliers we’ve dreamed of, or are we getting ripped off?

Diving into the details this week are Bianca Bosker, a certified sommelier, contributing writer at The Atlantic, and the New York Times bestselling author of Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste. Also: Juneau DeMelo, a food and health writer for publications such as Marie Claire, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and Vogue; and Ivy Manning, a food educator, cookbook author, and contributor to publications such as Cooking Light and Fine Cooking.

Restaurant owners may claim to be progressive, but some may be feeling bullish about former President Trump’s policies right now. Next, we take you to the elusive and endangered midsized American farm. Lastly, what do hospitals, jails, and schools all have in common? It’s institutional dining, and it may be making us sick.

This episode’s sage wisdom comes from Amanda Oborne, the President and Executive Director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network; Greg Astley, the Director of Government Affairs at the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA); and Virginia Gewin, an award-winning journalist covering food security and agriculture for publications such as Nature, Popular Science, and Modern Farmer.

“Sponcon” is influencing our food-purchasing decisions. Do we notice when it starts creeping into our newsfeeds? And with co-branding on the rise, what do we make of Carhartt-brand beer and Tabasco-sauce-flavored Jelly Bellies? Finally, why is it so hard to get a decent meal at a brewpub?
Answering the hard questions this week are Jeff Alworth, an award-winning writer and podcaster covering beer, cider, and occasionally, politics; Lucy Burningham, Certified Cicerone, food and travel writer, and author of two books on beer; and Andy Kryza, a journalist and a former senior editor at Thrillist.

Is that classic checkout line question—“How’s your day going?”—intrusive or endearing? Is the dinner party dead? Lastly, who exactly is the “average” home cook?
Gathering around the mics this week are Megan Scott, editor, recipe developer, and project manager for The Joy of Cooking; Laura Russell, cookbook author, food writer, and recipe developer; and Heather Arndt Anderson, culinary historian, botanist, and food writer.

What’s really happening behind the scenes at the Food Network? (Yes, you really do have to bake 1,000 cupcakes.) Are so-called “laptop squatters'' bad for business or good for café culture? And could a cooking class improve your child’s test scores?

Helping us answer these questions are gluten-free pastry chef Kyra Bussanich, owner of Kyra’s Bake Shop and the only four-time winner of “Cupcake Wars” on the Food Network; Danielle Centoni, a James Beard Award-winning food journalist, cookbook writer, and recipe developer; and Laura Russell, a cookbook author, food writer, and recipe developer.

Are four-star restaurants serving narcotics? In this episode we talk truffles, which, according to Italian researchers and news reports, have provoked gunfights and might get you high. Next, we debate the merits of soothing violins vs. sonically dynamic restaurant background music. Finally, microwaves: We think outside the box.

Joining us at the Oregon Truffle Festival are Harold McGee, a world-renowned food science expert, author of three books, and a former columnist at The New York Times; Dave Arnold, the founder of the Museum of Food and Drink, owner of Booker and Dax, and an author; and Peter Meehan, an author and the former editorial director for Lucky Peach

First, we deconstruct the phenomenon that is “Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party,” starring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. Next, we get to know the hardline rules restaurants are laying down for customers to follow. Finally, what's the appeal of the single-subject cookbook?

Our panelists this week are Heather Arndt Anderson, culinary historian, botanist, and food writer; Jacob Grier, a prominent mixologist who is also a political writer for publications such as The Washington Post; and Ivy Manning, a food educator, cookbook author, and contributor to publications such as Cooking Light and Fine Cooking.