Episode 87 - To Asia, With Love by Hetty Lui McKinnon

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 you make something special for Christmas breakfast? If so, what? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'Sam's Eats' by Sam Way. Next, Victoria shares some fun and festive food-related holiday traditions from around the globe for our Gastro Obscura segment. Lastly, Johnny bets his entire reputation on one food joke. Did he land it? Listen now to find out!

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, Victoria shares an amusing memory from her teenage years involving a geriatric teacher, a hotplate and a perfectly cooked steak before diving into a story about the world's most potent (and rare) beer for our Gastro Obscura segment. Lastly, Johnny attempts to humor Victoria with a series of food jokes. Did she laugh? Listen now to find out!

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 segment. Lastly, Johnny brings things to a close with gut-busting Dad Thanksgiving food jokes.

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. Lastly, Johnny brings things to a close with three, count 'em - three!, hilarious Dad food jokes.

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 make a pantry meal right now, what would it be? Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'No Gluten, No Problem Pizza' by Kelli & Peter Bronski. Next, Victoria takes us to Guatemala for our Gastro Obscura segment to share the story of an "hot" local pizza joint. Lastly, Johnny brings things to a close with two pizza-centric Dad food jokes.

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 favorite childhood snacks. Then, we talk about our featured cookbook, 'Flavor Equation' by Nik Sharma. Next, Victoria takes us to Peru for our Gastro Obscura segment to share the story of an "interesting" beverage (to say the least). Lastly, Johnny brings things to a screeching halt with two (non-racist, but also not funny - according to Victoria) Indian food jokes.

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 conversation becomes a bit heated (note to selves: do more yoga). Some of the conversation is funny, while some may be uncomfortable. One thing is for certain: we are passionate for each other and share a mutual disdain for "fake meat" masquerading as the real thing. Then, Victoria takes us to Morocco for our Gastro Obscura segment to share a decidedly NOT vegan dish. Lastly, Johnny shares two vegan jokes which bring the episode to an abrupt end - leaving Victoria in a fit of laughter (and, perhaps a puddle of pee). 

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 illness, crazy Minnesota weather and a catering gig that nearly killed us. OK, perhaps we are exaggerating a little bit. We also weigh in on the topic of s'mores (as mentioned in the recent film 'The Menu'). Love 'em? Hate 'em? We definitely have strong opinions. We've also got some food-related film and television recommendations for you. Lastly, Johnny is a bit rusty in the dad joke department but he shares one that might make you smile (laughing is probably out of the question). This one is short but sweet (and, per usual, very entertaining)!

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 ingredient required for Victoria's cookie baking (note to self: I really need to learn Spanish). We also share some news of a top-secret catering gig we were about to begin when this episode was recorded (spoiler alert: the band was Needtobreathe!). Then, we move on to our listener question: What are your biggest dining and/or cooking etiquette "pet peeves"? Finally, we chat about our featured cookbook, 'Evergreen Kitchen' by  Bri Beaudoin. For our Gastro Obscura segment - Victoria takes us to Germany (via Michigan) to discuss the lore of the Christmas pickle. Lastly, Johnny shares a perfectly crafted dual holiday joke that will surely have listeners wanting more. 

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 recipe? Then, we chat about our featured cookbook, 'To Asia, With Love' by Hetty Lui McKinnon. For our Gastro Obscura segment - Victoria drops some Thanksgiving knowledge on us involving dead presidents, pet raccoons and overworked plumbing (trust us, it's all related). Then, like a faucet that won't stop leaking, Johnny finishes the show with a series of food / Thanksgiving-adjacent jokes that has Victoria reaching for the "stop recording" button.