Food has always been a place of comfort for me. One of my favorite childhood memories is the smell of cranberry orange muffins filling my family’s tiny apartment. Years later, I turned finals week stress into baking over 100 sugar cookies for my classmates. And throughout my life, the taste of my mom’s Indian cooking has always taken me back home.
In 2020, I turned to food yet again to find comfort in some seriously bizarre times. But instead of sourdough starters and dalgona coffee, I dove into learning about the people behind food. Chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, home cooks-turned-authors, and anyone else with a culinary career. I listened to cooking podcasts on my daily walks, read chefs’ memoirs before bed, and watched food competitions during dinner. My favorites helped me understand what it means to see food as so much more than what we eat.
Podcasts
Radio Cherry Bombe: Probably my favorite podcast, food-related or otherwise. Focused on women in food, Radio Cherry Bombe tells the personal and professional stories of truly incredible women touching all aspects of the culinary world. The conversations are equal parts engaging, calming, and educational, and I get so excited every time I see a new episode.
- Resy CMO Victoria Vaynberg on Menus, Marketing, and Motherhood
- From Stephen Colbert to Camembert: The Journey of a Cheese Board Queen
- Cheers to Cha McCoy, Trailblazer and Globetrotting Sommelier
Gastropod: Science + history + food + two very fun hosts. Sure, you have a favorite ingredient or dish, but how much do you really know about it? I guarantee you’ll know more after listening to a Gastropod episode. This podcast always leaves me with a smile on my face and new knowledge. It’s perfect for teaching you fun dinner party facts that will impress your friends and make them wonder, “Why does she know that?” (…or so I’ve heard).
Gravy: Food is regional; not only in its ingredients, but also in how it’s eaten. Gravy dives into the complex, changing ways food is grown, cooked, shared, and consumed throughout the southern United States. I lived in South Carolina for over a decade, and it shocked me to see how little I knew about these stories. I’ve noticed that “the South” is an abstract concept for much of the country, and Gravy gives you some insight on part of it.
- Scrap That: Charlotte’s attempt to compost food waste
- Grape Expectations for Virginia Wine
- A Table for All?
TV
Taco Chronicles: A documentary on one of my favorite dishes. Narrated in Spanish, Taco Chronicles shares the stories and histories of different types of tacos (and makes you hungry).
The Great British Baking Show: Okay, this isn’t exactly “industry” television, but you can’t deny that it’s comforting. I love getting to know these home bakers as they tackle baking challenges with a surprising level of calm. Plus, the technical challenges usually introduce me to a new pastry or technique.
The Final Table: A high-intensity cooking competition that takes a global approach to testing some of the best chefs in the world. The contestants blew my mind with their dishes, and the high-profile judges are legendary in the restaurant world.
Books
Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi: Maybe it’s the marketer in me, but I’m fascinated by the way chefs tell their life stories through food. Onwuachi tells it well in writing, too. His memoir takes you through his life and shows you why he cooks the way he does.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain: A book that challenges the way we romanticize working in the food and beverage space. The writing is (unsurprisingly) aggressive, honest, and jarring — a perfect eye-opener for people who’ve never worked in a restaurant before.
My appetite for these stories has only grown — this year, I’m eager to expand this list and learn more about food equity and access. If you have any recommendations, send them to me on Twitter!
