Recent Episodes

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

Inbal Baum

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennett Jacobstein

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

Try a Food Tour

Taste your destination! Food tours are a great way to sample the local culinary scene.
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Top 5 Lists

*Give or take.
 

When you find yourself in Los Angeles with only a fin in your pocket, here is the list of the top 5 places to get the most bang for less bucks! The Los Angeles dining scene is hot on the heels of New York City and Chicago, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot to get a great meal! These 5 restaurants are where you can taste the essence of multicultural L.A. for less than it costs for the cab ride there.
 
 

1. Chego

Only the father of the food truck movement, Roi Choi, could bring us such Korean goodness and for such little money! His beer battered ooey gooey fries for $6 will keep you coming back!
 

2. Pink’s Hot Dog

An L.A. Institution since 1939 that began with a couple of Pink’s selling hot dogs on the corner, and morphed into an L.A. Landmark! Pink’s Hot Dogs is still a place you can go and have an original chili dog for $3.85. Plus with an ever changing menu of “super star dogs” you can keep coming back to Pink’s to taste the celebrity dujour!
 

 RELATED: Where to Eat in Los Angeles.

3. Ink Sack

Surprising low prices for such a hot chef, Michael Voltaggio’s Ink Sack feeds the masses with his well priced “sandos” My personal favorite is the Jose Andres aka “the spanish godfather” made with ham, tomato, chorizo and manchego for $6 dollars. Another great find is the cold fried chicken, and with a $5 price tag you can afford to have 2.
 

4. Porto’s Bakery

Although this restaurant is technically in the valley, it’s worth the drive for some of the best Cuban food in the city (and as a Cuban girl I should know!) A freshly pressed “Medianoche” will only cost you $4.25…possibly less than the cost of the gas it took to get you to Glendale!
 

 RELATED: The inside scoop on the Los Angeles food scene.

5. In-N-Out Burger

No list of affordable LA eats would ever be complete without a nod to the food that has kept it classy since the beginning. Even with a recent 10 cent price hike, you can still get a cheeseburger “animal style” off the not so secret menu for less than $4.
 

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About Caroline Gelabert-Noh

Caroline Gelabert-Noh is a cultural anthropologist who enjoys the finer things in life while still finding frugal ways to do it. Read more from her at EatDrinkLA.com.

Whether I am skiing the sweet powder slopes or climbing a cliff face in the majestic Banff National Park I need my coffee shop hour to prepare the body and soul for the Albertan Rockies majesty. As an emigrant to North America from a rural Irish farming area, the mountains and Canadian coffee houses have enchanted my heart. These are the Albertan Rocky Coffee Shops that I recommend for a local and inexpensive culinary pleasure.
 
 

1. Harvest Cafe

If you have more than 15 minutes to spare and you want to eat and drink coffee where the local ski bum and climber eats, you need to visit Harvest Cafe. It is even located adjacent to a used mountain gear shop. Reservations are not required and it is a short walk from Canmore town center. It is best to park in Canmore town center. Word of month from another climber is what brought me to this hidden treasure. Casual dress is essential, the more mountain rugged you look the more you will fit in. The walls are ever painted with images of skiers, climbers and mountains. The staff dress as casual as the customers however they have the differential of being from the French speaking region in Canada that brings a rare French-Canadian culinary experience to the English speaking province of Alberta. Coffee in the cafe is sourced from Mountain Blend Coffee Roasters which is locally based in Canmore town. The breakfast menu and lunch menu are written on a large chalk board and center mainly on healthy options including the sunrise (scrambled egg, avocado, mango salsa and mozzarella) and cowboy (scrambled egg, bacon, salsa)breakfast wrap which my boyfriend and I chose on our most recent visit. Both were priced at about $7. The daily coffee special was a coconut latte and the pastry was a cinnamon bun with cream cheese.
 

2. Beamer’s Coffee Shop

Are you looking for some local coffee shop history? Have you a desire to titillate your coffee taste buds? Are you time constrained for your coffee hit? If yes to any or all of these I would thoroughly recommend a visit to one of the two Beamer’s Coffee Bars in Canmore. The first Beamer’s Coffee Bar was established in 1994. Free parking is available adjacent to both locations. I love Beamer’s as it has amazing coffee blends with delicious breakfast/ lunch wraps, sandwiches and pastries. These are all available for a quick grab and go or to stay and all for a reasonable price. You can be in your ski gear or office clothes and you will fit in here. Foodies Top Tip: If you bring in your own travel mug your chosen brewed coffee is only $2 and they often have day old muffins for $1.
 

RELATED: Top 5 Bistros in Calgary

3. Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.

As the name strongly suggests if you want a freshly baked bagel with a brewed coffee this is the premier place to visit in the Albertan Rockies. Even if you didn’t read this review you would be able to understand from the crowds that queue at the weekend at the downtown location the appeal of these bagels. The cafe has two locations with the most popular being the downtown Canmore location, however if your goal is for a quick stop for quality coffee blends on the way to a mountain I strongly recommend the Bow Valley Trail Location in the town. Parking at the downtown location is limited so walking is best from a town parking lot whereas the Bow Valley Trail location as amble parking adjacent to the premises. The clientele range from mountain guides to wealthy Canadian retirees.
 

4. Whitebark Cafe

Do you want to go where the Banff Ski bum goes for coffee? Do you want to avoid the Banff tourist crowds? Do you want damn good coffee at a reasonable price then the WhiteBark Cafe is the place to go. The White Bark Cafe was recommended as a medicine to my Banff coffee woes by a friendly local who indicated that it was established by an ex-Olympic Ski Athlete who used to train in the area. The cafe is located at the edge of Banff town center in the Banff Aspen Lodge Hotel. Parking is very limited unless you are staying at the hotel so walking here is best. Please be aware the Banff Parking Officers are very active and the author has purchased a $50 parking ticket along with her 2 minute coffee stop. Staff are formally dressed but the customers range from people in their ski gear to higher end formally dressed visitors. It is best to grab a coffee and as the White Bark has limited space but if you have time to site at the bar facing the window you can admire beautiful views of the local Tunnel Mountain. Additionally if your belly is empty you can dine one homemade treats such as their homemade granola cereal and bars or savory dishes such as Foccacia bread which was the daily special on my most recent visit.

5. Wild Flour Bakery

Do you love art, photography and baking? Then a visit to Banff’s Wild Flour Bakery is essential. It is located one block off the main drag in Banff yet on a Saturday morning this bakery is a hive of activity due to famous bakery and the freshly baked smell emanating from within. On my first visit several years ago I even found my way here by following the aroma down Banff’s Bear Street. My recommendation for a visit is to grab a beverage and admire the art adorning the walls before purchasing food. The beautiful things in life need to be savored and there are too many good things at once. You need to appreciate the smooth coffee (coffee is sourced from fantastic Fratello roastery which is located in Calgary city) you need to appreciate the fantastic mountain art for sale on the walls and you need to savor the delicious food. Parking is limited though there is a parking lot across the street which as of 2016 is free, though it does fill up quickly. Walking here is best as you really need to follow the aroma. Foodie Tip: You can buy loaves of bread freshly baked in store. My favorite purchase was a Walnut and Cranberry bread loaf.
 

About Aislinn Deenihan

Aislinn Deenihan loves the Rocky Mountains and the local cafes in the environs.

With a reputation as a multicultural city, the gastronomical offerings in Vancouver and its surrounding neighborhoods (the Lower Mainland) cement this claim. There is no shortage of exceptional dishes to be found here, and a quick search on the internet can instantly direct you to any number of lists, links and accolades heaped on the numerous restaurants in the Lower Mainland. So I offer you a different perspective:

The best of the unexpected.

These are the ‘supporting cast’ dishes that shine so brightly they threaten (and in many cases overthrow!) the stars of the menu. Starting from breakfast in the morning to a late night dessert, I present: 5 unexpectedly phenomenal dishes of Vancouver.

1. Buttermilk pancakes at Kingston Taphouse

As a bar, you can expect the usual array of comfort food at Kingston Taphouse and alcohol as expected of such an establishment, but one bite of these pancakes would change your mind on coming here just for the booze. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the center, these pancakes rival (and surpass!) many of the other fine dining or brunch-dedicated restaurants I frequent in Vancouver. Pancakes are easy to make and aren’t the most sophisticated item on any menu, but to be truly phenomenal… now that’s unexpected, and least of all in a bar. FYI, these pancakes are on the brunch menu only and brunch is currently only served from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. A narrow window to sink your teeth into what should deservedly be available 24/7, but so worth it to pencil this visit down in your schedule.

2. Cold ramen at Motomachi Shokudo

The only ramen on the menu with no broth, needless to say this bowl of noodles faces tough competition against its hot counterparts. But the texture! Oh the texture of these noodles! A really bouncy, elastic pile of noodles with the perfect al dente mouth feel. The complementary side kicks, the tororo (grated taro potato) and the perfectly poached egg lends a slipperiness that just works with this particular type of ramen, that no broth could hope to imitate. A seasonal item (May to October), almost in sync to every new season broadcast of Game of Thrones (guess who’s a fan), equally addicting.

3. Foie gras nigiri at Octopus Garden

Octopus Garden’s focus is on à la carte nigiri sushi. Whilst it offers an array of the usual suspects of salmon, hamachi, etc. (all very, very tasty), an unusual option co-exists on this restaurant’s menu: the foie gras nigiri. Although its price tag is predictably one of the highest on the menu, its flavor more than exceeds the equally high expectations associated with same. The foie gras is buttery and rich, but not heavy, looking quite unassuming on the rice (which is also well made, you can practically taste each plump grain in your mouth), and – at the risk of sounding cheesy – melts in your mouth. The sliver of sweet, fresh mango on top cuts through just enough of the richness without stealing the show. Far too often, many a restaurant would slap on ‘foie gras’ on its menu in an attempt to raise its calibre, but execution of same doesn’t always succeed. I am most happy to report that Octopus Garden raises the bar in the quintessential world of Japanese cuisine by reigning in a traditionally French ingredient and perfectly balancing this with the foundation of all nigiri. How’s that for multicultural?

4. Octopus carpaccio at Lupo

Strictly speaking, octopus carpaccio isn’t entirely a foreign item (though rare) on an Italian menu, but with the level of difficulty in making octopus even half-way edible, I thought this dish deserves its time in the spotlight. Octopus is notoriously tough, chewy and rubbery if prepared incorrectly, and is so easy to get wrong. ‘Boil it’ is the usual way to go, but an insufficient time in the pot and the octopus remains hard and indigestible; overdo it and you now have rubber to gnaw through. At Lupo, the octopus carpaccio was shaved so thinly that it was completely see-through but was presented in a mille-feuille-like fashion. With several layers of this super thin octopus, the texture on biting through a forkful was one-of-a-kind. Cooked just right, not rubbery, chewy or tough in the least, this was an octopus that got shaved to a near-impossible width and put back together with a sauce in the right amount of acidity to create a dish that lingers in the memory long after the last wisp is consumed.

5. Chocolate chip cookies at Pourhouse

And finally we arrive at dessert. The most ordinary of all the dishes featured above, the most easily attained item at just about at every cafe, supermarket and gas station, so ‘vanilla’, that it came as a surprise when I first saw this on the menu at a sit-down restaurant because, well, no self-respecting restaurant would offer something so pedestrian right? As a butter enthusiast and a fan of anything rich and sweet, I can assure you I have had quite the spread of cookies in my lifetime, from gourmet cookies at high-end patisseries to the ones at the corner store, and I affirm that not a single one of them hold a candle to this ‘plain Jane’. Served piping hot fresh from the oven, these cookies are crisp all around on the outside, with the slightest crunch on the very edges, yet fluffy – oh! the airiness – inside, and the little nuggets of chocolate chips simply oozing, “addiction” has a whole new meaning. A comfort dessert like no other, this is THE dish to end the night on.

 
Do you have a favorite Vancouver dish?

About J Evans

J is a food enthusiast resident in Vancouver, Canada, tasting, logging and rating dishes across the Lower Mainland in search of the yummiest morsels. Track J’s food adventures @ Vanbrosia.