Hello and welcome to a new episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! In this episode we are coming to you live from our makeshift opium den in Minneapolis. Through the haze of nag champa smoke, we discuss our holiday plans, including Victoria's epic cookie baking! Speaking of Victoria, she also shares an adorable, heartwarming story of teenage drinking. Ahhhh! In food news, we chat about frivolous lawsuits and rude customers. We also share listener answers to our question: Do...

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! In this episode we discuss Johnny's fascination with Asian grocery store coffee drinks, a poorly-conceived promotion at Red Lobster and why, in this age of modern refrigeration, people still choose to eat lutefisk. We also share listener answers to our question: What food should be banned from breakroom microwaves? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'Milk Street Simple' by Christopher Kimball. Next,...

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! In this episode we discuss everything - seriously! Where else can you hear conversation about kagel exercises,  Thanksgiving dinner and new music from Andre 3000?! We also share listener answers to our question: What is the worst thing you've ever drank? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'Shabbat' by Adeena Sussman. Next, Victoria shares some fun trivia about Israeli food for our Gastro Obscura...

We're back! Hello and welcome to a long-awaited new episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! We make our triumphant return and we're so happy that we can't stop laughing! We also share listener answers to our question: If you were a competitive eater, what would your nickname be? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'The World Central Kitchen Cookbook' by José Andrés. Next, Victoria shares a heartwarming story about contraband desserts for our Gastro Obscura segment....

Hello and welcome to a cheesy episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! This one's all about pizza - from our top pizza-related news stories gathered from around the globe, some pizza-themed Dad jokes, to our featured cookbook. We also discuss our triumphant, sold-out cooking class, our minor auto accident and a recent visit to a newly-opened Minneapolis food hall (where we witnessed some rude "friend" behavior). We also share listener answers to our question: If you were to...

Hello and welcome to another episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! We start things off with a chat about giving away a pair of well-used Birkenstocks (gross!). Then we talk about the apparently deep library of topless photos featuring Victoria. There's also discussion concerning our first piece of hate (e)mail, a Buzzfeed click bait article about recipe pet peeves and our first visit to the Mall of America in a few decades!  We also share listener submissions about...

Hello and welcome to a long, yet riveting, episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! Dare we say this episode has it all? Cursing, marital bickering, bowling, a restaurant review and a heated discussion on all things tipping! Then, we share submissions from our listeners about their favorite cookbooks from 2022. Finally, we chat about our featured cookbook, 'Fake Meat' by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Spoiler alert: we hated this book. We will explain why in excruciating detail. The...

Hello and welcome to our special year-end episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! We make our triumphant return by discussing our top 5 cookbook picks for 2022! Will we once again have the same choices? Will there be a fierce debate about any differences? Listen to find out! Want more? Check out our web blog for a list of top 10 - double the fun! In an effort to turn up the fun level to 11, we also chat about what we've been up to since our last episode. There's been...

Hello and welcome to a holiday episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! Johnny begins the show with a love letter to Lyft and USPS - both offering services that would still be a bargain at twice the price. Unlike, say, paying someone to pump your gas (New Jersey residents, you have our deepest sympathies!) We also share what our collective Christmas gift purchase is to ourselves. What is it? Listen to find out!  Then, I share a story about a grocery purchase fail for an...

Hello and welcome to a festive episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! Johnny comes into the episode hot with a oat milk nog-fueled (yes, it exists!) rant about reality TV show judges who don't do their job. We discuss our Thanksgiving activities and Johnny quizzes Victoria in a new segment we'll call "Fake or Real Instagram Accounts?" After a brief detour "talking turkey" about some Thanksgiving facts, we get to our show question: what is your favorite leftover turkey...

Hello and welcome to a topless (really!) episode of Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! We discuss the upcoming Powerball lottery drawing and our plans for what to do with the $2 billion jackpot we are certain will be ours. In a new segment we are cleverly calling "Food News", we share a story about a daring $200,000 wine heist at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain. This leads us into a discussion on thievery films that we couldn't remember the names of ('Thomas Crown Affair'!)...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books! In this spooky episode, we discuss aggressive energy drinks, a heartwarming story involving a young Victoria and her fan letter to Olivia Newton-John and how the Halloween tradition of trick or treating began (as well as some other head-scratching Halloween folklore). We also have a horror movie (three of them, in fact!) recommendation for you. Our show question is: What is your least favorite candy? Then, we talk about our...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books - now freshly COVID-19 boosted! In this episode, we discuss Johnny's Mom's hoarder house filled with many treasures (jigsaw puzzles, scrapbooking supplies, children's toys and and probably a few Johnny Mathis records). Johnny also shares a recent news story about Snoop Dogg's latest food venture (spoiler alert: it also involves weed!). Then, Johnny gives a report from the front lines of the mosh pit at a heavy metal show he...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this episode, we chat about our quest for perfect nachos and cutting boards - both unrelated, yet equally important, topics of conversation. Johnny also shares a recent news story related to British Royalty and food. Our show question is: If you were a guest on Iron Chef, what would you want the secret ingredient to be for the challenge? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'Scandinavian Green' by Trine Hahnemann....

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this episode, we chat about our trip to the Minnesota State Fair (twice!) and what we saw and ate! Johnny also shares a story of being the creep in our condo building. And, we discuss a recent Buzzfeed article about kitchen hacks that don't really deliver what they promise. Our show question is: What essential skills do you think every beginner cook should possess? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'In Praise of...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this episode, we celebrate the second anniversary of this podcast! We also chat about Johnny's inadvertent use of red onions as a dye, some breaking news in the breakfast cereal world, an exciting announcement regarding teaching cooking classes once again and a local neighborhood street fair. Speaking of Fairs, our show question is: What is your favorite State and/or County Fair food? Then, we talk about our featured...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this triumphant episode, we chat about our recent road trip to Chicago, our visit to a classic neighborhood block party and an Eater San Francisco article about all of the cookbooks featured in Hulu's buzz worthy series 'The Bear'. An unexpected dog-initiated mishap (not to worry, nothing gross) midway through the show forces us to take an unplanned break from recording (a first for the podcast!). Our show question is:...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this egg-citing episode, Johnny starts us off with a punchdrunk skit that will surely earn us some angry emails and complaints to upper management. We also discuss the series 'The Bear' (Hulu) which seems to have the entire internet abuzz, our recent date night where we enjoy a great show at a terrible venue and our visit to the North Loop Food Truck Festival. Our show question is: What is your favorite way to prepare...

Hello and welcome to Tasty Pages, a podcast from Cooking The Books. In this riveting episode, we discuss sailing the seas while drunk on rum, a mystery woman who dominated the food competition at her local county fair and Christopher Guest's classic debut "mockumentary" 'This Is Spinal Tap’. We also offer an impromptu "review" of a local gluten-free bakery in our neighborhood. Our show question is: If you were to move away, what food(s) would you miss from where you currently live? (Many...

Hello and welcome to episode 77 of Tasty Pages, a podcast by Cooking The Books! We discuss 'Forest Feast Road Trip' by Erin Gleeson. We chat about our successful Summer cocktail party (complete with taco bar!), the 2022 James Beard awards in the cookbook categories, our love of Aldi grocery store and the new Iron Chef spin-off ('Iron Chef Legend') on Netflix. Johnny also shares his million dollar idea for a fun restaurant prank. Our show question is: If you were to design your own...

Hello and welcome to a humdinger of an episode 76 of Tasty Pages, a podcast by Cooking The Books! We discuss 'Thali' by Maunika Gowardhan. But first, we chat about cat sitting, our near-death bouncy house experience and our conversation about favorite all-time films with other patrons at a local craft cocktail bar. Although, it feels weird to use the terms "film" and "craft cocktail bar" while mentioning 'Pineapple Express'. Our show question is: If you could only keep one item from your...

Hello and welcome to a very cheesy episode 75 of Tasty Pages, a podcast by Cooking The Books! We discuss 'Half Baked Harvest Every Day' by Tieghan Gerard. You know that saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?" Not true. We've got too many good stories to tell! Trust me, you'll want to hear these! Johnny also shares a million dollar idea for his new film festival. Our show question is: what is your favorite cheese? We have another entry from our "Gastro Obscura" feature! This week, we...

Hello and welcome to episode 74 of Tasty Pages, a podcast by Cooking The Books! We discuss 'The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook' by Cuong Pham. We also chat about Johnny's million dollar idea involving relocating to Germany and baked goods, a new cookie book Victoria is obsessed with, an interesting food-related YouTube rabbit hole to fall down, midnight French fries and $650 copper pans. Speaking of cookies, our show question is: What is your favorite cookie? Our "Gastro Obscura" feature takes...

Hello and welcome to episode 73 of Tasty Pages, a podcast by Cooking The Books! We discuss 'Salad Freak' by Jess Damuck. We discuss Lillet Blanc (cue song 'Killing Me Softly With Quinine') and we have a few more television recommendations (I swear we don't just waste away our days watching the boob tube!) Our dog Olive crashes the show and tries to sneak a sip of Johnny's margarita (bad dog!) Our show question is: What are some of your favorite food-centric episodes from fictional television...