This article previously featured in the March 18 edition of The Tribune's Weekend section.
Lent is almost over, and as people
prepare to end their fasts, we turn our ears to podcasts
concentrating on food.
The Splendid Table
This is a podcast where the rest of the
website is worth exploring just as much as the podcast section. It
boasts recipes, stories about food and more. Their latest episode
starts off talking about brain food – foods you can eat to help
with mental health and in psychiatry. It's a fascinating discussion,
including how seafood is a great source of vitamin D and Omega 3 fats
to build a better brain, with expert Dr Drew Ramsay on hand to say
how food can boost your physical and mental health. The show runs to
nearly an hour, with further segments looking at food in the Ukraine,
and also a look inside a culinary school. There's passion for food
here, and wit and knowledge to go with it. By the time you're done,
you'll be sure to have a rumbling stomach.
A Taste Of The Past
Host Linda Pelaccio takes a different
angle on her podcast about food – exploring the history of cuisine.
I'll confess I wasn't taken with the first podcast I listened to,
about the changing face of Italy's cuisine, as it seemed to skim
across the surface and only gave glimpses of the rich history behind
the modern culinary world. There were stories of how oil used to be
shipped to restaurants by individual dealers, and discussions on how
pasta went from a cheap staple to an expensive choice – but these
details were often mentioned rather than explored. Far more
interesting, though, is the discussion of the history of mac and
cheese – and black chefs serving in the White House. Here, food and
cultural histories combine into a remarkable slice of history, well
worth the indulgence.
NPR: Food
If you just have time for a bite-size
broadcast, then NPR: Food fits the bill nicely. With episodes less
than ten minutes long, you can quickly breeze through a number of
episodes – be it listening to the song Raisins In My Toast from the
Waffle House's very own record label to the scientific guide to
making the perfect pumpkin pie, or from the health risks of peanuts
in children's food to what the White House chef is serving for a
Canadian state visit. The show crams a lot into a little time and is
well worth a dabble.
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