Episodes
John had a lot at stake last Thanksgiving. After years of not-too-subtly hinting that he wanted the hosting job, John got permission from his mother-in-law to host the holiday in 2022—and he hit it out of the park. But anxious to keep his standing as the family's Thanksgiving host, John turned to Dinner SOS for some help perfecting his already perfect meal. And this year, Chris caught up with him to find out how everything went — and whether he's permanently secured the hosting...
Published 11/12/24
Published 11/12/24
Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Foods That Matter. Mark Jacobs, Chairman of Watkins, divulges the delicate (and sometimes dangerous) process of sourcing the finest vanilla beans in Madagascar and explains why vanilla can be so darn expensive, only sometimes. But vanilla's not all they offer! Mark shares surprising health benefits of spices, and spills the tea on how Watkins keeps their huge variety of spices bursting with flavor - including a tip to properly storing...
Published 11/05/24
Jen is a confident cook in a household of self-described food people. But she's never been able to successfully make tender, shreddy pork at home, so she called us looking for some rules she can follow to achieve her dream pork in her own kitchen. Chris calls on Inés Anguiano, Certified Pork Stan (tm), to help Jen embrace pork's versatility... and the fact that the only rule with pork cookery is "there are no rules." Recipes featured:   Soy-Basted Pork Chops with Herbs and...
Published 10/29/24
We get a lot of questions in our inbox from listeners with dietary restrictions. And sometimes, we can absolutely handle them using the expertise right in our test kitchen – no dairy? No meat? No nightshades? No problem. But not all restrictions are that simple. So we tapped registered dietician Desiree Nielsen to answer questions about cooking low-FODMAP, diabetes-friendly, and more. If you're experiencing changes in your health, make sure you contact your doctor and/or a Registered...
Published 10/22/24
Rachel's the kind of cook who free-forms it – no two dinners turn out the same, and she likes it that way. But she’s setting up a dinner for her parents and her partner’s parents to meet each other for the first time, and she wants everything to be perfect. The only issue? Every one of her guests has a different dietary restriction, and none of them seem to work together. So Chris taps Kendra Vaculin to help keep Rachel's eyes on the ultimate prize: making this gathering an excellent time for...
Published 10/15/24
Leah loves the Union Square Farmer's Market, but there's one tent she's too intimidated to stop at: the "mushroom guys" (aka Mushroom Queens).  So to help demystify the alien-looking fungi that Leah's seen at their stall — and prove to her that she can achieve a crispy, umami-rich 'shroom in her own kitchen — Chris takes Leah to Mushroom Queens in Ozone Park, and they get a tour of an urban mushroom farm. Recipes featured:   Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Ragu Seared Mushrooms with Garlic...
Published 10/08/24
Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at The Financial Times.  If you’ve been to the wine shop lately you may have noticed a trend: wines marketed specifically toward younger drinkers. Many are natural, organic, or biodynamic. Others are made without special certification but boast backstories that focus on the producers, not just the region or grapes. Wine writer Hannah Crosbie joins host Lilah Raptopoulos to give us a primer on what young wine drinkers want. Why are pét nats,...
Published 10/01/24
Nelson's partner, Cate, is an incredible cook. But she's chronically ill, and not always feeling well enough to cook. So Nelson wants to step up and make her delicious, nourishing meals when she's not feeling her best. The only issue? He's not so confident in the kitchen - especially when it comes to taking on a new recipe or technique. So Chris & Shilpa step in to provide him with a cornucopia of straightforward, unfussy recipes to build his confidence and help him make dinner for...
Published 09/24/24
Caller Teddy has been vegan for a few years. But while she’s confident in her chickpea and lentil skills, bean mastery has eluded her. And, to be fair, the questions are big: canned or dried? What type of bean works best for which application? Is a big pot of brothy beans enough for a meal, or does it need to be doctored? Chris taps Justine Doiron (aka @Justine_Snacks), bean enthusiast, to help Teddy get hip to the humble bean. Recipes mentioned: Brothy Pasta with Chickpeas Gochujang...
Published 09/17/24
Bon Appetit's annual Best New Restaurants list is live! This year, we're spotlighting 20 new American restaurants that we're particularly excited about. To celebrate the list's release, Chris sits down with Anna and Ni Nguyen, married couple and chef-owners of the Denver, Colorado restaurant Sap Sua. They talk about their partnership in and out of the kitchen and dig deep into the three Sap Sua recipes featured in this month's Bon Appetit magazine.Recipes:Fish with Coconut CaramelBrown Butter...
Published 09/10/24
This week, we're checking back in on three callers whose Dinner SOS journeys we felt just weren't over. Listen to our callers' original episodes here:EddieTobiMaddy
Published 09/03/24
Liz has three young kids, and the process of getting everybody fed and out the door in the morning can be soul-crushing. So Chris and Ali Slagle (author of the excellent cookbook I Dream of Dinner So You Don't Have To) join forces to help Liz's family's mornings go from sour to sweet.Recipes:Granola SconesAlmond, Kale, and Banana SmoothieBanana, Oat, and Date SmoothieGet Up & Go Blueberry Date Cocoa SmoothieBonus Recipes:Blueberry Spelt MuffinsMorning Glory Breakfast CookiesFully Loaded...
Published 08/20/24
Kaitlin and her husband are food scientists — so you'd think they would have a creative solution for their lunch rut. But they're so bored of their midday go-to of yogurt and granola or hummus and veggies, they called up the experts for some work-from-home lunch help. Chris taps BA Food Editor Kendra to help Kaitlin fill her fridge with all the bits she'll need to make her weekday lunches feel delicious, not boring.Recipes:Herbed ChickpeasSalmon Nicoise SaladEgg Salad TartinesPotato Salad...
Published 08/13/24
Today, we're sharing an episode from our friends at Milk Street Radio. Tamar Haspel of the Washington Post is here to share 10 truths about food that nobody wants to believe. From diet soda to organic vegetables to farm-fresh eggs, nothing is sacred. Plus, Amanda Herbert brings us inside history’s wildest dinner parties; Adam Gopnik reveals what your drink of choice says about you; we make Thai Coconut and Chicken Soup; and Cheryl Day returns to take your baking calls.To hear more from Milk...
Published 08/06/24
In this special episode of Dinner SOS, Bon Appetit and Epicurious Editor in Chief Jamila Robinson sits down with chef René Redzepi and writer Matt Goulding, two of the creators of the new Apple TV+ series Omnivore. They talk about the pursuit of deliciousness, and the actions we as consumers and eaters can take to make choices that better support the people making our food. 
Published 07/30/24
This summer, Dinner SOS has you covered. Chris & Shilpa share their hot takes on cooking in the heat (AC required, obviously), plus what produce is overrated and what's under-celebrated. And stick around for answers to listener questions about using CSA produce, grilling, jaggery, and non-dairy options for tender, juicy chicken marinades.RECIPES & LINKS:Shilpa's Feel Good Food PlanBasil Chicken Stir FryGrilled Asparagus with Tahini Super SauceGrilled Squash with Nuoc Cham...
Published 07/23/24
Maggie invited a group of old friends to her small Upstate New York house, expecting some to drop out last minute. But nobody did, and now she has to feed 21 adults, 7 toddlers, and 3 dogs... for a week! This is, admittedly, Chris's nightmare. Enter: Sarah Copeland and Anna Stockwell, Upstate entertainers extraordinaire! They walk Maggie through the strategies, pro tips, and recipes that will help keep her big reunion focused on the people, not the stress.Recipes & Links:Magic Pork...
Published 07/16/24
10 years ago, Jenny had a half-sour pickle from Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, MI... and it was life-changing. But Jenny lives in North Carolina. She hasn't been back to Michigan, and attempts to recreate the signature half-sour crunch in her own kitchen have been unsuccessful. Chris enlists BA resident fermentation enthusiast Amiel Stanek (with a special appearance by Zingerman's cofounder Ari Weinzweig) to concoct a "recipe" that'll have Jenny enjoying crisp, barely-pickled half-sours all...
Published 07/09/24
Today, we're sharing an episode from our friends at “The Splendid Table.” “The Splendid Table” has been celebrating the intersection of food and life for more than two decades and is hosted by award-winning food writer Francis Lam.This week, the show features two guests that will get you excited about cooking and baking. First, New York Times food desk reporter Priya Krishna tells us about her food writing career, building connections through her stories and travels and her most recent book,...
Published 07/02/24
Jennifer and her husband are busy—they spend their weekends occupied taking their 3 dogs to agility competitions—and Jennifer suspects her Instant Pot would help her make dinner quicker and tastier. The only problem? She's terrified of it. So Shilpa and Chris join forces to help Jennifer conquer her fears and take advantage of her electric pressure cooker.Recipes & Links:Instant Pot Pork CarnitasPork Spareribs with Jammy Barbecue SauceInstant Pot: Summer Cooking Hero
Published 06/25/24
Lale Arikoglu is an expert traveler. And she’s headed out of town with friends, where she’ll need to make dinner in a vacation home. Faced with a flurry of dietary restrictions, she turned to Dinner SOS for some direction.Recipes & LinksSesame Tofu with Broccoli Peanut Butter Noodles with CucumbersEasy Fish Tacos with Spicy Sauce Chipotle-Crusted Cauliflower TacosSizzling Turmeric-Dill Fish Tacos What to Pack for Vacation Cooking 
Published 06/18/24
Caller Teddy has been vegan for a few years. But while she’s confident in her chickpea and lentil skills, bean mastery has eluded her. And, to be fair, the questions are big: canned or dried? What type of bean works best for which application? Is a big pot of brothy beans enough for a meal, or does it need to be doctored? Chris taps Justine Doiron (aka Justine_Snacks, bean enthusiast, to help Teddy get hip to the humble bean.Recipes mentioned:Brothy Pasta with ChickpeasGochujang Brothy...
Published 06/11/24
Juneteenth, celebrated on the 19th of June, may be our newest national holiday, but Black Americans — particularly Texans — have been celebrating it for years. Bon Appetit and Epicurious Editor-in-Chief Jamila Robinson sat down with chef, TV host, and entrepreneur Carla Hall to dig into how they mark Juneteenth, who's allowed to join the celebrations, and what they're cooking this year. Recipes Mentioned:Hibiscus, Orange, and Vanilla Agua FrescaRuth's Lima Beans with Smoked Turkey TailBrown...
Published 06/06/24
Liliana's two twenty-something sons and her husband are big guys who like a lot of protein at dinnertime. But she's feeling overwhelmed by the dietary restrictions at play, and bored with her repertoire. So Chris and Dan Pelosi team up to offer Liliana some large-format braises that won't require tons of cleanup.Recipes:Early Dismissal Pot RoastBurnt Orange and Coriander Roast PorkCheck out Dan's Cookbook Let's Eat wherever books are sold.
Published 06/04/24