Savory, chewy, and, above all, slurp-able, a delicious bowl of ramen is one of the triumphs of Japanese cuisine. That's also a bit odd, because, for most of Japanese history, heavy, meaty, wheaty noodle soup would have had no place in the archipelago's otherwise bland and mostly pescatarian cuisine. This episode, we bust ramen myths and reveal ramen secrets, ... Show More
Jun 23
Bringing Home the Bacon: From Shakespeare to the Baconator
For many Americans, bacon is an essential element of the perfect breakfast—not to mention a welcome addition to everything from cheeseburgers to doughnuts. But bacon hasn't always been beloved. Ancient Egyptians elites looked down on pork, Judaism and Islam banned it entirely, an ... Show More
48m 10s
Jun 9
What the Shell? Cracking the Lobster's Mysteries
Consider the lobster roll: tender chunks of lobster bathed in butter or mayo, sandwiched between two slices of a squishy bread roll… Have we caught your attention yet? Lobster is a summertime staple in New England, a fixture on casino and cruise ship buffets, and a steady partner ... Show More
44m 2s
May 19
A Dog's Dinner: What Should We Really Be Feeding Our Pets?
In millions of homes, humans aren’t the only creatures sitting down to dinner. So what's on the menu for pets—and what impact does it have on their health, as well as the environment? This episode, we go back thousands of years to figure out what our first furry friends ate, how ... Show More
50m 3s
Aug 2023
Noodles: The World's Convenience Food
Nissin Chikin Ramen (日清チキンラーメン), the first marketed brand of instant noodles, launched in Japan on 25th August, 1958.
The product was created by Momofuku Ando, who developed the production method of flash frying noodles after they had been made, thereby drying them and extending ... Show More
12m 3s
Apr 2022
694: Japanese home cooking with Ivan Orkin and Chris Ying
<p>We are talking about Japanese home cooking this week, and not ramen or sushi! Think curry, omelets, and quick fried noodles. Tomoko Imade Dyen, culinary director of Japan House in Los Angeles, shares the everyday foods enjoyed by Japanese families. Sonoko Sakai, author of <em> ... Show More
49 m
May 2023
163. A Bowl of Tokyo Ramen: Discovering Language and Etiquette | 東京のビジネス街のラーメン屋での気づき
<p>Join us on a delicious journey as we explore Tokyo's bustling ramen scene, delving into the language and unique dining customs that set these eateries apart. In this episode, I recount their ramen experiences in the city, comparing them to those in other countries, and sha ... Show More
13m 54s
Sep 2022
Instant Noodles Changed The World, Part One: An Origin Story
Today, instant noodles are ubiquitous. You can find them in almost every grocery store, in any number of flavors sold by any number of brands -- but where did they come from? In part one of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the story of Momofuku Ando, and how a su ... Show More
31m 15s
Sep 2021
Sushi: The Japanese dish with an ancient tradition
It’s one of the most popular dishes in the world today, but the story of sushi can be traced back more than 2,000 years. The earliest records document a preserved fish dish in ancient China and it later became a medieval luxury in Japan, before evolving into a variety of differen ... Show More
39m 53s
<p>This week, we're revisiting one of our favorite older episodes from the past. We’re going to learn a little bit about the history of noodles--and how to make them!<br>
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We’re joined by <a href="http://www.jenlinliu.com/about-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jen Lin-Liu</a ... Show More