Episode 137: Ali Slagle This week’s episode is a fun one — our first live event since pre-pandemic! Ali Slagle joined me in front of a live audience at Omnivore Books in San Francisco recently. A Los Angeles native and UC-Berkeley grad, Ali started her career at Ten Speed Press, where she worked on several cookbooks as an editorial assistant. She joined the Food52 team after working on their Genius Recipes cookbooks (featured here in our 2018 chat with Kristen Miglore!) and later went solo with a freelance career. A prolific contributor to the New York Times Food section, in which she’s published over 250 recipes, Ali’s work has also been featured in Bon Appetit, the Washington Post, Saveur, and more. Ali’s first cookbook, I Dream of Dinner… (So You Don’t Have To), offers 150+ recipes for getting quick, crave-able meals on the table every day. From her mom’s chilli recipe to bacon-jalapeno smashburgers, Ali’s recipes come to her via a “dinner matrix” process that we discuss in the show. We’ve got a great chat with Ali to share — and of course, we put her to the test with our signature culinary game, with a wild secret ingredient. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ali. Featured Recipes & Bonus Content This Week RECIPES!!! This week, paid subscribers will receive two featured recipes from Ali Slagle’s I Dream of Dinner: a Spicy Seared Tofu & Broccoli and the cover-star, Turmeric Shrimp with Citrus and Avocado. THE FRIDAY NOTE!!! This Friday, Salt + Spine producer Clea Wurster is back with The Friday Note, in which she chats with someone interesting. This week, it’s a look at Toothache Magazine and a chat with creator Nick Muncy. Consider a paid subscription today: Salt + Spine is supported by listeners like you. To get full access to our exclusive content and featured recipes, and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This Week’s New Cookbook Releases Here are a few of the new cookbooks on shelves this week: Mezcla: Recipes to Excite by Ixta Belfrage Masa: Techniques, Recipes, and Reflections on a Timeless Staple by Jorge Gaviria The Mediterranean Dish: 120 Bold and Healthy Recipes You'll Make on Repeat by Suzy Karadsheh The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition by Hannah Che Bras, the Tastes of Aubrac: Recipes and Stories from the World-Renowned French Restaurant by Sébastien Bras Dine in Palestine: An Authentic Taste of Palestine in 60 Recipes from My Family to Your Table by Heifa Odeh Honey Cake & Latkes: Recipes from the Old World by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Survivors from the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation The Complete Cocktail Manual: Recipes and Tricks of the Trade for Modern Mixologists by Lou Bustamante Pierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings by Zuza Zak Dictator Lunches: Inspired Meals That Will Compel Even the Toughest of (Tyrants) Children by Jenny Mollen Coming Soon! Don’t miss our next live podcast recording! Food52’s Kristen Miglore joins us on Oct. 1 at Ominvore Books in San Francsico to discuss her latest book, Simply Genius. Come hear Kristen and Brian record an episode of the show, get your book signed, and support local bookstores. Details below—hope to see you there! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit saltandspine.substack.com/subscribe