Savor
737 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★ - 1.5K ratingsSavor digs into how people live and how they eat – and why. Hosts Anney Reese and Lauren Vogelbaum interview the culinary creators and consumers of the world, exploring the science, history, and culture of food and drink, all with a key question in mind: Why do we like what we like, and how can we find more of those things?
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Savor Chews on the History of Salt Water Taffy
July 25, 2019 00:54 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThis soft, chewy candy has only a little bit of salt but a lot of history in the American Northeast. Anney and Lauren dive into how it’s made and how it became such a pull at summer tourist spots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Stimulating Cocktail Bitters Episode
July 20, 2019 03:18 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBBitter preparations of plant extracts in alcohol have been used medicinally for thousands of years – and they happen to make many cocktails the concoctions we know and love today. Anney and Lauren explore the history and potential benefits of bitters. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Unshelling the Boiled Peanut
July 17, 2019 23:06 - 37 minutes - 34 MBThis salty snack is a specialty of the American South and other peanut-growing regions around the world. Anney and Lauren crack open the boiled peanut’s history, including how it got tied into the Civil Rights movement. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Episode is Your Lobster
July 13, 2019 00:24 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBThese crustaceans haven’t always been a luxury food, but they have always reminded people of bugs. Anney and Lauren explore the lobster’s economic (and entomologic) history plus some of the weirdest points of their amazing biology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Getting to the Heart of Moonshine
July 10, 2019 22:29 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBMany governments restrict alcohol distillation for safety/tax reasons, but Appalachian moonshiners are undeterred – and that’s putting it mildly. Anney and Lauren explore the history and science of moonshine, plus what bears that label in stores today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the Hall of the Mall Food Court
July 06, 2019 14:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBThe idea of selling snacks and meals in shopping centers is far from new, but mall food courts keep reinventing themselves. Anney and Lauren explore how the food court as we know it was born -- and what's replacing it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Merits of the Carrot
July 03, 2019 21:18 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBThe path of this vegetable from its use as a medicinal green to a sweet root isn’t entirely clear. Anney and Lauren dig into the twisting history of the carrot – including where radar technology and Bugs Bunny come in. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Pizza Episode (with Extra Cheese)
June 28, 2019 20:20 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBThis dish has inspired strong emotions and opposing opinions for hundreds of years. Anney and Lauren present a slice of pizza’s history, plus the science behind baking a good pie at home. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rhubarb: The Humble Pie Plant
June 27, 2019 17:42 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBThis tart, fruity vegetable often baked into pies today was once worth more than gold, opium, or saffron. Anney and Lauren get to the roots of rhubarb’s popularity. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Airline Food: More than Peanuts
June 21, 2019 22:33 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBFlight staff have been serving in-air meals and snacks almost since the beginning of commercial flight. Anney and Lauren explore the best and worst of what airlines have offered, plus the science behind why food & drink tastes different in the air. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Interview: Cheesemaking (and Eating) in Asheville
June 20, 2019 00:57 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBHow does any given cheese get from an udder to your plate? The creators at Looking Glass Creamery give us a tour and talk about the science and culture of crafting wildly different cheeses from just three base ingredients: milk, salt, and bacteria. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Tofu
June 17, 2019 13:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBTofu's multi-millennia history may or may not include an attempt at making an immortality elixir. Anney and Lauren take on the history, science, health, and environmental impact of tofu (the cheese of the bean world). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gazpacho: Straight Chilling
June 15, 2019 13:45 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThis soup is made and served so fresh that it's sometimes called a salad. Anney and Lauren dip into the many varieties (and histories) of gazpacho, plus the science of making a perfect bowl. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Chuck E. Cheese's
June 12, 2019 21:18 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBA pizza-loving rat, a live band of animatronic animals, and beer on tap: In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren explore how a scheme to make more money off of arcade games became an international cultural phenomenon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How the Chocolate Chip Cookie Crumbles
June 07, 2019 21:56 - 44 minutes - 41 MBThis perhaps quintessential American cookie has a deceptively straightforward ingredient list and backstory. Anney and Lauren explore the history and baking science of the chocolate chip cookie. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Interview: Forging Food and Water Solutions
June 03, 2019 03:53 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBThough New Orleans has an amazing food scene, it also struggles with access for all to healthy foods and clean water. We talk with attorney Pepper Bowen about food deserts and swamps, lead pipes, and how people are working to make things better. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Tour of MREs
May 29, 2019 22:41 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBTechnologies developed to make military food rations dependable and acceptable have changed how everyone eats – civilians included. We explore the history & science behind feeding literal armies – plus what’s on the menus of the past, present, and future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kiss from a Rosé
May 24, 2019 18:15 - 31 minutes - 29 MBPink wines have risen and crashed in popularity again and again over the past few millennia. Anney and Lauren dive into the tumultuous history and colorful science of rosés. Plus: Travel announcements! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Not-So-Seedy Story of Watermelon
May 23, 2019 14:41 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBAlthough watermelons have been part of our diets basically forever, they’re getting better all the time thanks to clever farming techniques. Anney and Lauren explore how we got to the sweet, sturdy (and sometimes seedless or square) watermelons of today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gruyère, You Make Us Melt
May 17, 2019 21:58 - 25 minutes - 23 MBGruyère’s excellent meltability is undisputed, but ownership of its name has been a matter of controversy. Anney and Lauren explore the contention behind gruyère, plus the science of how cheeses melt. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Let’s Talk About Tacos
May 16, 2019 13:16 - 40 minutes - 37.6 MBPeople have been wrapping food in tortillas for millennia – since way before the wrappers were called ‘tortillas’ or the food ‘tacos’. Anney and Lauren explore the ancient and modern history of this Mexican mainstay. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Glorious Sweet Potato Episode
May 10, 2019 22:21 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBThe sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family – the tuberous root we eat also stores food for its curling vines and flowers. Anney and Lauren dig up its history and the science of how to unlock its sweetness. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sweet History of Nutella
May 08, 2019 20:05 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBThis chocolate-hazelnut spread has inspired a serious fandom around the world. Anney and Lauren dip into how wars spurred its creation and how popular it’s become. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Complimentary Bar Snacks: This One’s On Us
May 04, 2019 16:51 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBFrom pretzels to peanuts to pickled eggs, bars the world over serve complimentary snacks to their patrons. Anney & Lauren explore the history of the hardboiled bar egg in particular, plus the science of why these salty, fatty snacks go so well with booze. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Game of Thrones: A Song of Food and Drink
May 01, 2019 20:45 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBThe creators of the world of ‘Game of Thrones’ help make their fantasy immersive through rich depictions of foods and drinks. Anney and Lauren explore the often-opulent cuisine of the TV series and books (with no spoilers from the recent seasons). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Shawarma and Gyros: Assemble!
April 27, 2019 01:23 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThese two flatbread wraps – and their cousin, donair – feature slices of meat shaved from a vertical spit. Anney and Lauren explore the history of these superhero-worthy wraps and their common root, the döner kebab. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Food-Shaped Vehicles: Fuel for Puns
April 25, 2019 20:58 - 1 hour - 66 MBFor about as long as humans have been making motor vehicles, we’ve been shaping them like foods for promotional purposes. We chat with CarStuff’s Scott Benjamin about the history of these vehicles – and interview two drivers of the iconic Wienermobile. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jackfruit of All Trades
April 19, 2019 21:31 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThis tropical fruit can grow up to 100 pounds (about 45 kilos) and is often served as a meat substitute. Anney and Lauren explore the jackfruit’s history, science, and potential future as a crop to prevent hunger despite climate change. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Croissant: Who You Calling Flakey?
April 17, 2019 19:59 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBThis quintessentially French pastry doesn’t technically come from France and can consist of more butter than dough. Anney and Lauren unroll the history and science behind croissants. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sublime Lime Episode
April 13, 2019 00:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThese zesty citrus fruits are integral to cuisines all over the world – juice, skin, and leaves included. Anney and Lauren explore the genetic roots and long history of limes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pavlova Whisks Us Off Our Feet
April 10, 2019 22:48 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThis fluffy meringue dessert often comes with whipped cream, cut fruit, and contention. Anney and Lauren explore where pavlova really comes from and why meringue is so persnickety, scientifically speaking. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cocktail Hour: The Grasshopper
April 05, 2019 22:10 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBThis creamy mint-chocolate cocktail is a classic dessert drink that’s making a comeback – and, in some places, never went away. Anney and Lauren offer a fresh look at the history and culture of the grasshopper. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Cool Mint Episode
April 03, 2019 20:28 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThis wide category of herbs shares a cooling effect that’s made it prized in cuisine and medicine alike around the world. Anney and Lauren explore the refreshing history and freshest science behind mint. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hardboiled Deviled Eggs Episode
March 29, 2019 22:54 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBPeople have been stuffing hardboiled eggs with mixtures of their own yolks plus various flavorings for millennia. Anney and Lauren explore the long history and exacting science behind deviled eggs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Peppering of Paprika
March 27, 2019 19:16 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBThis spice, made from ground red peppers and ranging in flavor from sweet to pungent to spicy, is the stuff of culinary, legal, and puppet legend. Yes. Anney and Lauren explore the rich, colorful history of paprika. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Knotty Pretzel Episode
March 22, 2019 21:08 - 33 minutes - 31 MBPretzels have morphed from a religious symbol to a bar snack to a metaphor for principles of quantum physics. Anney and Lauren explore the twists of pretzel history, culture, and science. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Bloomin’ Story of the Onion
March 20, 2019 21:28 - 34 minutes - 32 MBThis vegetable hibernates for the winter and has tear-inducing defense mechanisms. Anney and Lauren peel back layers of the long history and smelly science of onions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Food TV: For Your Consumption
March 15, 2019 23:17 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBFood and cooking television shows have changed the way we approach food – both at home and in the restaurant industry. Anney and Lauren surf the history of food TV, from its radio roots through YouTube. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Farewell, New Orleans
March 14, 2019 17:49 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBTo finish out our miniseries on New Orleans, we share a few more stories from our guests about what it’s really like to live there – of course the food scene, but also the music, the tourists, the unexpected inspirations – and the ghosts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Extra-Saucy Louisiana-Style Hot Sauce Episode
March 08, 2019 21:55 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBThis wide category of hot sauces spices up dishes all over the South – and beyond. Anney and Lauren explore the history and culture of these cayenne- and tabasco-based condiments. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Law and Order: Food and Water Unit
March 07, 2019 01:42 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBFresh food and clean water are necessary for human health and productivity, but many people lack access due to systemic problems with infrastructure, education, and opportunity. We skim the surface of food and water policy in New Orleans and beyond. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Interview: Raekwon The Chef
March 02, 2019 16:13 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBRapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon got his nickname from the flavor he brings to his music, but it could just as easily refer to his passion for food. In this bonus interview, listen in as the Savor team catches up with Raekwon at A3C 2018. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor the Gator
March 02, 2019 00:37 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBAlligator seems like an unlikely food source, but it’s been enjoyed for millennia. Anney and Lauren play investigators (not sorry) into the history, habits, and amazing (U.S.) ecological recovery of alligators. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
King (Cake) for a Day
February 27, 2019 22:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBVariations on this festive Mardi Gras cake are served during Carnival season around the world, so how did the New Orleans version come to be? Anney and Lauren dig into the history and traditions surrounding king cake and Mardi Gras. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Episode Is Anything But Medi-Okra
February 22, 2019 21:30 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBOkra is both prized and demonized for its goo – the vegetable thickens stews beautifully, but some find it slimy. Learn the history and slime science behind okra (including how to cut back on the goo when you cook it). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New Orleans: The Sandwiching
February 21, 2019 00:06 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThe po’boy and muffuletta are integral stops on any New Orleans food tour, and their histories help tell the story of the city. Anney and Lauren explore the origins of these iconic sandwiches. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You Want Fries With That?
February 15, 2019 21:57 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBFried potatoes in their many forms are one of the world’s most popular side dishes. (Or main dishes, we’re not judging.) Anney and Lauren explore the uncertain history and intense science of French fries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cocktail Hour: New Orleans
February 15, 2019 15:54 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBThis city invented (or, at least, popularized) a legion of cocktails. Anney and Lauren dip into the history that made New Orleans’ drinking culture possible, and explore the Sazerac, the Ramos gin fizz, and the French 75 in particular. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kit Kats: Give Us a Break
February 08, 2019 22:27 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBThis iconic, sharable British candy bar is consumed at a rate of billions per year in hundreds of flavors around the world. Anney and Lauren chat about Kit Kat’s history, psychology, and structural science. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stewing Over Gumbo
February 06, 2019 20:55 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBThis classic dish contains contributions from the many cultures that created New Orleans, and everyone’s recipe is a little bit different. Anney and Lauren explore the many forms and fans of gumbo (plus, how roux works). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.