Savor
736 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day 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?
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Episodes
Interview: Eating Is Our Common Ground
November 04, 2023 21:12 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBSpecialized fields like wine can seem intimidating, but we’re all just here to make connections and have a nice time. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with Jeff Eichelberger, the Senior Manager of Wine for the Wynn Las Vegas, about how he coordinates with winemakers, chefs, and staff to help people navigate the universal language of food and drink – and have a blast doing it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chowing on Chowder
October 27, 2023 22:11 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBThis thick, comforting soup comes in red, white, and clear varieties with countless adaptations. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of chowders, clam and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chinese Water Chestnuts: Children of the Corm
October 25, 2023 23:58 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBThis sweet, semiaquatic vegetable stays crisp even when cooked or canned. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of the Chinese water chestnut. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Tempeh
October 20, 2023 19:39 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBThis textured vegetarian protein is fairly new to a lot of the world, but tempeh's history goes way back. Anney and Lauren dig in, plus explore the amazing fungal chemistry that makes tempeh tasty, nutritious, and safe to eat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Semi-Fictional Foods: ‘The Menu’
October 17, 2023 02:48 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBThis dark comedy/horror film satirizes fine dining – and tackles some very real issues in the restaurant industry and food media. Anney and Lauren relish the dishes and themes of ‘The Menu’ (2022). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kefir: Some Ingrained Ideas
October 11, 2023 23:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBThis beverage is more than just drinkable yogurt – it’s fermented with whole colonies of friendly bacteria and yeasts. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of kefir. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Worcestershire Sauce
October 06, 2023 19:32 - 24 minutes - 23 MBAs complex to make as it can be to pronounce, Worcestershire sauce is prized for its pungent flavor. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren examine the history and science that make Worcestershire sauce possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Twisty Tale of Twizzlers
October 05, 2023 00:05 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBThis chewy, licorice-type candy is one of the oldest candy brands in the United States. Anney and Lauren unravel the science and history behind Twizzlers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Clutch Kölsch Episode
September 30, 2023 03:19 - 33 minutes - 31.2 MBThis crisp, golden beer straddles the line between a pale ale and a lager. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of Kölsch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout: Crossing the Streams
September 28, 2023 13:15 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBThis subspecies of fish has adapted to living in lakes and streams situated in high-altitude deserts – and it’s pretty tasty. Anney and Lauren dive into the ecology and history of Lahontan cutthroat trout. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Interview: Keeping Things Fresh with Dry-Aged Fish
September 22, 2023 20:48 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBNot all seafood is its best right off the boat. Using preservation techniques that go back centuries, Chefs Christoper Lee and David Middleton have developed a dry aging program for the Wynn Las Vegas Resort's Lakeside restaurant. In this sponsored episode, we chat about how it works, plus other ways they're looking to make traditions modern. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail: XVIII: The Book(s) of Savor
September 20, 2023 23:57 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBWe turn again to stories from you, dear listeners! This bounty includes a lot of stories about stories, from cozy mysteries to kids’ cartoons -- plus tales of other art forms, from kiwi gardening to tomato costuming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Unfussy Tzimmes Episode
September 18, 2023 14:42 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBThis sweetened root vegetable side dish has so many potentials for personalization that it may be cause for a bit of introspection. Anney and Lauren get to the roots of tzimmes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Cuts the Dijon Mustard
September 14, 2023 01:37 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBThis type of prepared mustard, though traditionally made with Burgundy wine byproducts, has gone global. Anney and Lauren dip into the sharp science and spreading history of Dijon mustard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Black Pepper
September 11, 2023 22:56 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBThis spice is ubiquitous today, but throughout history it was a prized commodity, traded like gold and responsible for family fortunes. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren explore where peppercorns come from, how they're processed, and why they became commonplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Kiwifruit Episode Takes Flight
September 02, 2023 15:26 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThis often brown, often fuzzy fruit got its name thanks to a marketing campaign in the 1950s. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and botany of kiwifruit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Tamales
August 30, 2023 22:06 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBamales are an ancient food imbued with limitless possibilities, tastiness, and... chemistry-based nutritional benefits? In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren get wrapped up in the long history and hot science of this Mesoamerican staple/comfort food. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Interview: Daydreaming in Liquid Form
August 28, 2023 17:36 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBScent and flavor can take you back to a place you love -- or off to a place you've never been. As the Master Mixologist of the Wynn Las Vegas Resort, Mariena Mercer-Boarini designs drinks of all kinds meant to take you on a journey. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with her about how she collaborates with some 34 venues across the resort to help its designers and chefs tell stories through drinks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Losing Our Marbles Over Ramune
August 23, 2023 20:45 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBThis iteration of sparkling lemonade in a marble-in-gasket enclosed bottle became so popular that the name refers to both the flavor and the bottle type today. Anney and Lauren pop open the science and history of ramune soda (and the Codd bottle). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stuff Savor Never Told You
August 19, 2023 18:44 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBAnney co-wrote a book! To celebrate, we sat down with her co-writer and co-host of Stuff Mom Never Told You, Samantha McVey, to chat about how gathering around food is a love language that can drive personal exploration and social movements alike. (You can order the book at https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: The Can Opener
August 16, 2023 17:52 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBCanned food existed for almost 50 years before the can opener, and even then it took us centuries to come up with a really good one. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren pop open the history and physics of these finger-saving devices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Pigeonholed Squab Episode
August 11, 2023 23:54 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBThis poultry has taken a dive in popularity in some places, but it's still considered a delicacy in others. Anney and Lauren swoop through the agriculture and history behind squab (i.e., young pigeon). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oh, Fudge
August 10, 2023 16:55 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBThis rich, sweet candy owes its smooth texture to sugar science – and stirring. All the stirring. Anney and Lauren don't fudge up the science and history of fudge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Grills Halloumi
August 09, 2023 20:32 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBThis goat- and sheep-milk cheese doesn’t melt when cooked, making it perfect for panfrying or grilling. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of halloumi/hellim. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Sips: Champagne in Space!
August 04, 2023 22:09 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBIf you’ve always thought that what outer space is missing is a good glass of bubbly, fear not! A Champagne house has teamed up with the French space agency to design a bottle that meets both French wine and space safety specifications. In this short episode, Anney and Lauren dip into the solutions the team came up with.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Interview: Más Masa in Las Vegas
July 31, 2023 17:58 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThe types and treatments of corn used to create masa make all the difference between colorful tortillas, tender tamales, and crisp tostadas. At the Wynn Las Vegas’s Casa Playa restaurant, Executive Chef Sarah Thompson developed a masa program to help deliver that delicious cuisine at Vegas scale. In this sponsored interview, Anney and Lauren chat with her about all the nerdy aspects of bringing her menu together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Expansive Quaker Oats Episode
July 25, 2023 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBThe Quaker Oats brand wasn't founded by Quakers and has sold a lot more than oats. Anney and Lauren dig into the winding history of Quaker, oats and all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hail the Caesar Salad Episode
July 24, 2023 13:06 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBThis simple classic of American steakhouses has a contested history -- but it definitely begins in Mexico. Anney and Lauren toss around the history and culture of the caesar salad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Salt
July 14, 2023 21:33 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBSalt -- necessary for human life yet easy to overeat -- has sparked wars and innovations alike. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren dig into the complex history and science behind this edible mineral, plus talk to expert Suzi Sheffield about how salts can provide a palate of flavors to play with in your cooking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bucking the Trend with Soba Noodles
July 13, 2023 14:17 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThese tender, slurpable, earthy noodles have buckwheat to thank for their delicate flavor and texture. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture behind soba noodles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Thorny Blackberry Episode
July 07, 2023 14:41 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBThis small, sweet fruit and its brambles grow so well around the world that they’re sometimes considered a menace. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of blackberries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cocktail Hour: The Piña Colada
June 29, 2023 18:15 - 33 minutes - 31 MBThis smooth, bright cocktail is a tropical time machine no matter how you mix it. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture behind the piña colada. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
En Garde: The Swordfish Episode
June 26, 2023 17:25 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBThis large, apex-predator fish throws around a lot of (tasty) muscle. Anney and Lauren dive into the biology and history of swordfish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail XVII: The Listeners Speak!
June 21, 2023 23:04 - 39 minutes - 36 MBOnce again, we return to our inbox for messages from you, dear listeners! This one is mostly currywurst emails, with a smattering of song lyrics, not-so ball soup, actually good airline food, and assorted nerd stuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Semi-Fictional Foods: The ‘Little House’ Series
June 20, 2023 16:37 - 1 hour - 96.8 MBThis series of children’s books about a simple homesteading family in late-1800s America has become a complicated cultural phenomenon. Anney and Lauren dig into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s ‘Little House’ series and TV show, featuring an extended interview with Emily Marinoff and Glynnis MacNicol of the podcast ‘Wilder’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dipping into Shacha Sauce
June 12, 2023 19:49 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThe ingredients and iterations of this super-savory condiment reflect its journey through generations of traveling workers and immigrants. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture of shacha sauce. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Bittersweet Sugar Sculpture Episode
June 09, 2023 16:55 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBIn the heyday of this (semi-)edible art form, the extremely rich displayed intricate landscapes of sugar figurines as a show of power. Anney and Lauren crystalize the science and history of sugar sculpture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Stuffed Stouffer’s Episode
June 05, 2023 15:50 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThis brand of nostalgic American frozen dinners once also encompassed a restaurant and hotel empire. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and science behind Stouffer’s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Why Do We Eat Three Meals a Day?
May 30, 2023 23:51 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBMany cultures eat three meals a day -- but why? Have we always done that? In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren explore the history (and etymology) of breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- plus some science behind whether breakfast is really the most important meal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Currywurst of Times
May 24, 2023 23:41 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBThis sausage-based, tomato-smothered, curry-sprinkled street food comes in many iterations. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture behind the phenomenon that is currywurst. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Redux: Tomatoes
May 23, 2023 16:43 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBOnce considered deadly by some Europeans, this vegetable (fruit? berry??) has a fascinating history as a tax evader, protest device, and potential agent of lycanthropy. Anney and Lauren take another look at the science, history, and great nicknames of the tomato. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Biscotti: One Smart Cookie
May 15, 2023 19:04 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBThis category of cookies is twice-baked to create a crunch that lasts. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture behind biscotti. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: The Martini
May 11, 2023 15:20 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBThis cocktail (and its glass) are American icons — but why? How? And should you order it shaken or stirred? In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren dip into the shaky history and storied science behind the martini. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Jacked-Up Monterey Jack Episode
May 05, 2023 21:55 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBThis mild, melty cheese comes has a spicy history. Anney and Lauren dig into the story of Monterey/Jack/Monterey Jack cheese. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Gold-Star Marigold Episode
May 03, 2023 21:37 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThis edible flower brightens all kinds of dishes, baked goods, and drinks – fresh from the plant, dried, or as a food dye. Anney and Lauren trip through the science and history of marigolds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thinking Outside the Juice Box
May 01, 2023 23:29 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBThese multilayered, folded cartons weren’t originally designed with juice in mind, and today they help make many drinks and foods shelf stable. Anney and Lauren pop open the science and history of juice boxes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listener Mail XVI: Tales of the Inbox
April 28, 2023 17:43 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBWe return once again to tales from you, dear listeners! This compilation includes stories of fate and matzah, of a world of cheese and a world of Cadbury. Anney and Lauren jump in, as we can only assume that Freddo himself would. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Harissa: A Hot Topic
April 24, 2023 22:49 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThis traditional condiment, made of red chili peppers and various warm seasonings, is going increasingly global. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of harissa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Stirring Polenta Episode
April 21, 2023 02:29 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBThis comforting porridge can be many things: soft or firm, simple or dressy, corn-based or otherwise. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of polenta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Savor Classics: Figs
April 17, 2023 13:29 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBFigs aren't actually a fruit -- they're an inside-out cluster of flowers -- but they're one of humanity's oldest food sources. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren dig into the long history and bizarre reproduction cycle of the fig. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.