Every Day is a Food Day (Van Valin Productions & YumDay)
Explore every episode of Every Day is a Food Day
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| 14 Feb 2022 | Aphrodisiacs: Foods That Put us in The Mood!! | 01:02:39 | |
Welcome back, Listeners and (food) Lovers! Cue the love songs, because romance (or something like it) is in the air as we kick off Season 3 talking about Aphrodisiac Foods! In this episode, Lia Ballentine, our Chef-Creator, digs into the most popular Valentine’s Day foods, including a sexy pasta dish that looks suspiciously like a “noodle ring,” why steak is considered more romantic than pork or poultry, and how boxes of chocolate became such an in-demand Valentine’s Day gift. Plus, she reveals the terrible truth: “Friends” has been lying to us about lobsters for years. In the Deep Dish, our Foodlosopher Anna Van Valin asks the all-important question: is there really such a thing as an aphrodisiac food? She gives us an epic list of foods around the world considered aphrodisiacs and explores the reasons why we think these foods get us in the mood. She also warns us about dangerous supplements you might spot next to bodega cash registers, and tells us why the FDA does NOT want us to eat oysters. (If you love oysters, we’re sorry in advance.) Welcome to Season 3! And Happy Valentine’s Day!
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| 15 Mar 2022 | Honey: 2 Queens, 1 Hive | 00:59:46 | |
Anna and Lia have gotten themselves into a sticky situation - because this episode is all about honey!
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| 23 Mar 2022 | Oysters: a Mysterious and Tragic Dramatic Reading | 00:09:22 | |
Overture, curtains, lights! Prepare to be mesmerized by Anna Van Valin’s and Lia Ballentine’s portrayals of the moving characters in this highly-lauded short play written by the world’s most creative storytellers — at the FDA. That’s right, in this bonus episode, we’re performing our much anticipated (and requested) dramatic reading of “Carlos’ Tragic and Mysterious Illness: How Carlos Almost Died from Eating Contaminated Raw Oysters.” In our episode, “Aphrodisiacs: Foods That Put us in The Mood,” our Foodlosopher Anna told us all about the FDA’s campaign to warn people about the dangers of eating raw oysters , which included this incredible one-act play/brochure/short story. And if you recall from our episode, “Arsenic & Eggnog: Poisonous Foods with Danny Murphy,” our Chef-Creator Lia filled us in on an annual celebration that happens every third full week of March: National Poison Prevention Week. So, in honor of National Poison Prevention Week and as a final attempt to warn you about/ruin raw oysters, we’re thrilled to bring you our dramatic reading of this remarkable play. Take your seats, everyone. And enjoy the show!
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| 12 Apr 2022 | Pretzels: Get it Twisted | 01:05:33 | |
Anna and Lia are tied up in knots — delicious, doughy knots — because this episode is all about pretzels! Lia Ballentine, our Chef-Creator, starts us off with the pretzel baking basics and tells us how changing the dough’s pH by boiling it in baking soda or dropping it in a lye bath (that’s right, a lye bath) is essential to achieving the perfect pretzel taste and texture. She takes us through the multiple pretzel-related food holidays on the calendar, including National Pretzel Day, which is day loved by all - especially our hero Stanley from The Office. Plus, she tells us why a region in Pennsylvania is known as the “Snack Belt,” how German immigrants started the pretzel boom in America, and highlights two important women in pretzel history: Helen Hoff and “Auntie Anne” Beiler. Yes, Auntie Anne is a real person! Then get ready for one of the wildest Deep Dish segments ever as Anna Van Valin, our Foodlosopher, tells us the fascinating story behind the bizarre religious history of the pretzel — starting from Middle Ages when monks baked pretzels as a holy treat for students, all the way to the 1970s when an ex-clown founded a movement to bring people back to the Catholic Church during a time when secularism was on the rise and made pretzels the center of it. Anna shares the fascinating story of Marlene McCauley, the founder of “Pretzels for God,” and how she believed the pretzel, with the spiritual guidance of a Native American saint Kateri Tekakwitha, could save our souls. Get ready to enjoy some crazy twists in this episode because these pretzel stories are ones you knead to hear! More info from the show:
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| 18 May 2022 | "A MEAD-ing of the Minds" with Drinking Horn Meadcast | 01:12:05 | |
This is a crossover episode you MEAD to hear! Our Foodlosopher Anna Van Valin and Chef-Creator Lia Ballentine have joined forces with Evan Anderson and Nick Irvine of the Drinking Horn Meadcast to discuss (and DRINK) mead! Evan and Nick tell us all about the world of making and drinking this ancient fermented honey drink at their Meadery in Flagstaff, AZ, the care and feeding of bees, mead’s better-for-you buzz and why it’s good for the planet. Then Anna tells us how every culture has a version of “honey wine” - from the Celts, to Ethiopia to the Ancient Mayan empire! - which meant that bees, honey and mead made some exceptional cameos in their myths. Then Lia tells us about festivals and holidays, like National Mead Day. Listen to find out why we're all abuzz about mead in this special crossover episode! Be sure to subscribe to Every Day is a Food Day and the Drinking Horn Meadcast, and don't forget to follow us on social media @fooddaypod and @drinkinghornmeadery. | |||
| 21 Jun 2022 | Cookies: Double Stuffed - Part 1! | 00:59:35 | |
There’s DOUGH much we want to tell you about cookies, we had to do it in two episodes! In Part 1 of this epic two-parter, Anna and Lia share their fondest cookie memories and tell us how letting their creativity go wild with cookie decorating was important part of their holiday traditions growing up. They also debate Oreo cookie eating methods — the twist and the dunk — and prove there’s no such thing as moderation when it comes to these sweet treats. Then Lia Ballentine, our Chef-Creator, digs into cookie history, presents the “cookie vs. biscuit” debate, and goes through an epic list of cookie holidays. Can you believe there are more than 15 cookie days to celebrate each year? She highlights some of the most interesting cookie days on the calendar (National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day?) then tells us about three important women who have made (and continue to make) a tremendous impact in cookies and culture: Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girls Scouts; Ruth Graves Wakefield, creator of the chocolate chip cookies; and Jasmine Cho, a cookie activist. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming next week, when Anna Van Valin, our Foodlosopher, discusses the century-long battle for the cookie aisle between Oreo and Hydrox! | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | Cookies: Double Stuffed - Part 2! | 00:59:53 | |
We’re back with Part 2 of “Cookies: Double Stuffed” Get ready for an extra deep Deep Dish with our Foodlosopher, Anna Van Valin, as she dives into one of the most epic food business rivalries in history: the century-long battle between Oreo and Hydrox. When a ruthless lawyer and two bitter baker brothers collided at the beginning of the 20th century, it led to the creation of the very first food conglomerate, a world-changing invention, and the most popular cookie on earth. She tells us which cookie really came first (it’s not the one you think!!) and how some of the best and worst marketing played a big role in who came out on top. It’s a story STUFFED with corporate backstabbing, petty revenge and so much shade. Milk isn’t the only thing Oreo’s been DUNKing on! | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | Who Let the (Hot) Dogs Out? | 01:04:39 | |
Hi Listeners! Anna and Lia are about to get frank with you, because this episode is all about Hot Dogs! Prepare to play detective as Anna Van Valin, our Foodlosopher, helps us solve the mysteries of the mystery meat in the Deep Dish: Is the mismatch between the number of buns and wieners in a pack a conspiracy? Is the Hot Dog a sandwich? And the question we’re all afraid to ask: Why do we call it a hot “dog”??? But first, Lia Ballentine, our Chef-Creator, gives us the history of the frankfurter and how it became a classic American food, the national food council behind the biggest hot dog celebration of the year and it’s fearless leader “The Queen of Wien.” Plus, you’ll relish the story of the bitter rivalry behind two legends of the competitive eating world: Takeru Kobayahi and Joey Chestnut. Franks for listening! | |||
| 31 Aug 2022 | Peppers: Comin' in Hot! | 01:09:23 | |
Hi Listeners! Anna and Lia are ready to get jalapeño your business, because this episode is all about Peppers! In the Deep Dish, our Foodlosopher Anna Van Valin takes us through the science of what makes Chile peppers spicy, the chemical chain reaction that's triggered in your body when you eat a spicy pepper, and why in the world we keep eating a food that hurts to eat! Anna also tells us about pop culture pepper craze and how the latest YouTube challenges involving eating hotter and hotter peppers have contributed to the gendering of this spicy fruit! But first, our Chef-Creator Lia Ballentine gives us an epic list of pepper food holidays, talks about a festival dedicated to one of the most popular Chile peppers in the country, and tells us about the Black women entrepreneurs who made pepper pot stew the signature dish of Philadelphia—way before the Philly cheesesteak! So, are you ready to spice things up??? Listen today to get some pep in your step! | |||
| 27 Oct 2022 | Filipino Food: "Ang Sarap!" ("It's Delicious!") | 01:05:02 | |
Mabuhay, Listeners! October is Filipino American History Month, and we're excited to celebrate with a special Filipino food episode! Our Chef-Creator Lia Ballentine shares her Filipino culture with us and dives into her culinary heritage with stories about her favorite family dishes, traditional ingredients, and how Filipino food is becoming mainstream in America (even though Filipinos have been in this country since the 1580s!). Plus we find out which celebrities are secretly Filipino (Bruno Mars! Darren Criss! A quarter of the Black Eyed Peas!) Then in the Deep Dish, our Foodlospher Anna Van Valin unveils another hidden figure in the food and science world: Maria Ylagan Orosa! Maria was a food scientist and war hero who revolutionized the way Filipinos eat, created some of the most beloved Filipino foods and ingredients, and also saved thousands of people from starvation during World War II. Are you ready to take a bite into this delicious episode? "Kain na!" "Let's eat!"
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| 16 Nov 2022 | Gingerbread: Oh Snap! | 01:00:19 | |
It's our Season Finale, Listeners! And it's also the holidays! So we're celebrating the end of 2022 with one of our favorite festive foods: GINGERBREAD! Our Chef-Creator Lia Ballentine kicks things off with a brief history of gingerbread, the medieval monk that helped make it popular in Europe, and how food hero Amelia Simmons introduced the first American gingerbread recipes in her pioneering cookbook, “American Cookery.” Plus, Lia tells us about the best days to celebrate the sweet and spicy treat, and the unbelievable gingerbread houses you can see at the National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, North Carolina. In the Deep Dish, our Foodlosopher Anna Van Valin asks the question: why are we so obsessed with gingerbread houses? She explores how the Brothers Grimm baked gingerbread house imagery into popular culture with the story of Hansel and Gretel. She also tells us about how gingerbread houses inspired an actual architectural movement, the many fantasy gingerbread-house-insipred attractions that range from whimsical to creepy, and the connection between gingerbread houses and...Mar-a-Lago?? Ready to snap into this episode? Then join us as we indulge in all things gingerbread!
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| 26 Apr 2023 | It's Wine Crime time: Introducing "Vinfamous"! | 00:02:12 | |
Hi Listeners! We know you love all our food crime and scandal stories - so how about some wine crimes? We're excited to introduce you to the new podcast Vinfamous, from Wine Enthusiast magazine! | |||
| 08 Nov 2020 | Introducing "Every Day is a Food Day" | 00:02:09 | |
Coming November 17th, join co-hosts Anna Van Valin and Lia Ballentine as they celebrate food stories from our calendars to our kitchens on Every Day is a Food Day. | |||
| 17 Nov 2020 | Donut Lassies & Survival Crackers | 00:45:24 | |
In our premiere episode, co-hosts Anna Van Valin and Lia Ballentine tell us why “Food stories are people stories.” Lia explores the food holiday that sparked her obsession: National Doughnut Day, created to celebrate the phenomenal Donut Lassies of World War I. In our first Deep Dish segment, Anna takes us down a quarantine-inspired rabbit hole into the world of survival food - and something called the US Civil Defense All-Purpose Survival Cracker. Welcome to Every Day is a Food Day! | |||
| 24 Nov 2020 | Oh my Gourd, Becky: it's Pumpkin Szn | 00:46:26 | |
It’s fall, so we’re legally obligated to talk about PUMPKINS. In this week’s episode Lia tells us about the many Pumpkin Holidays, how pumpkin pie became a rallying symbol for abolitionists, and where you can find one big enough to lie down in. Then Anna asks the existential question, “How did Pumpkin Spice win fall?” and explores how food trends are really about feelings in our Deep Dish segment. | |||
| 01 Dec 2020 | Wine Bottles and Cans (and Just Clap Your Hands) | 00:56:44 | |
Did you know there are over 30 wine holidays? Are wine bottles really just for “snob factor”? In this episode, Anna and Lia discuss the magical drink that’s gotten us through 2020 and do some, um, sampling. Lia tells us the story of three rival Rosé Days(!), how Malbec became an Argentinian wine, and the heroes behind holidays like “Open That Bottle Night.” In a totally legit scientific study, Anna tests her Franzia-loving Grandpa’s theory that you can get just as good wine in boxes as you can bottles, which are just for “snob factor." She explores which is the best wine container (bottles, cans or boxes) and wonders, “Has my Grandpa been right all along?” | |||
| 08 Dec 2020 | Gotta Tap That: a Maple Syrup Story | 00:56:40 | |
Today we’re talking about the sticky stuff: Maple Syrup. Anna dishes on one of her favorite food scandals, the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, where over 450K gallons were stolen from Quebec’s strategic syrup reserve (which is a thing!) to be sold on the maple syrup black market (also a thing!). Plus, Vermont’s 10 pages of maple syrup laws and the time it took on the Golden Arches. Lia tells us about the amber oil’s national holidays and festivals, and how maple sugar gained popularity in 1800’s New England as a way to boycott sugar cane dependent on slaved labor. In a Food Day first, we have our first special guest! A Vermont-native tells us about their maple-obsessed culture, complete with suburban dad syrup homebrew and something called the Maple Bacon Latte. | |||
| 15 Dec 2020 | In Defense of Fruitcake | 00:46:16 | |
Hear us out! In this holiday episode, Anna & Lia slice into that much maligned Christmas staple, fruitcake - and hopefully change your mind about it. Lia takes us to the small-town Texas bakery that pumps out 30,000 fruitcakes a day (!) and a medieval fruitcake toss competition in Colorado. We also hear how literary legend Truman Capote made fruitcake a sacred food in his Alabama hometown, and how his aunt became “The Fruitcake Lady” with her own bizarre segment on The Tonight Show. In the Deep Dish, Anna tells us about the fascinating journey of fruitcake from crusader energy bar to royal wedding cake, and shares the different versions from all over the world - including a particularly traumatic experience she had with the Irish kind, Plum Pudding. But Listeners, there's one Fruitcake Mystery we need your help solving: WTF are those green things?! | |||
| 24 Dec 2020 | My, What Big Pecans You Have | 00:13:38 | |
Are they PEA-cans or puh-CONS? In a special holiday bonus episode we continue our quest to restore fruitcake’s dignity as Lia tries a DeLuxe Fruitcake from world-famous Collin St. Bakery (booze bath not included). Anna & Lia show off their holiday sweaters, unravel the green mystery “fruit,” and marvel at some Texas-sized pecans. | |||
| 05 Jan 2021 | A Tale of Two Noodle Rings | 00:15:31 | |
Ever heard of a Noodle Ring? Anna & Lia take on making one of the weirdest entries on the Food Holiday Calendar in this bonus episode: a baked ring of noodle casserole with a…distinct look. Although Anna gives cooking her best shot, a mishap with boiling water reinforces her as more of a thinker (aka Foodlosopher) with Lia maintaining her status as the resident Chef-Creator. Check out pictures of these masterpieces at @FoodDayPod on Instagram & Twitter, join our Facebook Group, and check out our webpage for more info. | |||
| 12 Jan 2021 | Peanut Butter: Spread it on Thicc | 00:57:30 | |
This fresh, roasted episode is all about Peanut Butter. In our Deep Dish segment, Anna tells us the story of the 12-year long Peanut Butter Wars and the AMAZING woman at the center of the fray: Ruth Desmond, aka the Peanut Butter Grandma, a 1950s homemaker and consumer champion whose tireless advocacy still benefits us today. With her signature mink coat and sassy truth bombs, Ruth took on the peanut industry to demand transparency about what was really in the jars they were labeling “peanut butter” - and won. But first, Lia tells us about celebrating peanuts (and their lovers??) with the star-studded Adult Peanut Butter Lover’s Fan Club, the remarkable life and many accomplishments of the legendary George Washington Carver, and the woman we have to thank for inventing the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. | |||
| 19 Jan 2021 | Bacon Makes it Better | 00:59:54 | |
This sizzlin' episode is all about Bacon. Lia tells us the story National Bacon Day, created by “two nice Jewish girls” inspired by a classic episode of The Simpsons. We hear about the awesomely-named Iowa Porkettes, wives of hog farmers who joined forces in the 1960s to save the pork industry. Finally she asks, as so many have, what’s the deal with “Canadian Bacon”? In our Deep Dish, Anna revisits one of our favorite topics, food trends! We look at how in the last 20 years Bacon became the hottest food craze this side of Pumpkin Spice. This bizarre story starts with 1980s diet culture, and leads to a secret pact between a pork marketing exec and a fast food mogul made at a hotel pool during a 1990’s pork convention in Florida (picture it). Once the Bacon craze started to sizzle, the advertising took a dark turn, moving from positive ads targeting a wide audience, to disturbing negative ones aimed mostly at men. Which makes Anna wonder, is Bacon the gateway meat to toxic masculinity? | |||
| 26 Jan 2021 | Get it Poppin'...with Popcorn | 01:03:20 | |
It’s the Season Finale! Did you know Anna & Lia met working at a movie studio? It's true, so there was only one food to wrap the 1st season with: Popcorn. They reminisce about their days as “Hollywood Elites,” compare popcorn eating strategies & discuss their deep love for movie theater loyalty programs. Lia tells us about National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, the Kellogg family member you don’t know but should, the 7,000 year old popcorn found in Aztec tombs, and the hidden meaning behind Cracker Jack 's unofficial jingle, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame." Then Anna takes us through the 100 year love story between popcorn and the movies, from world wars to talkies, to an enterprising woman who pioneered selling concessions in theaters in the 1930s. Because if you didn’t have popcorn, did you even see the movie? We'll be back with more episodes Spring 2021! | |||
| 23 Feb 2021 | Yaaas (Chili) Queen! | 00:31:12 | |
We're back! Well, sort of. It's Black History Month, so we're bringing you this special bonus episode celebrating one of the MANY African American food legends, Zephyr Wright. Zephyr was chef to Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson for over 25 years, including in the White House. She was known for her exquisite Southern cuisine, most famously her Texas Red Chili, or Pedernales River Chili. But in addition to her contributions to food, her unique access to the Johnsons gave her the opportunity to champion civil rights in a direct and personal way, and she might even be the person who convinced LBJ to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Plus, Lia gives us a little history of chili in Texas and the Chili Queens of San Antonio who put it on the map. | |||
| 16 Mar 2021 | Julia Child Was a B.A.M.F. | 00:31:28 | |
Think Julia Child was just a chef? Have we got a half hour for you! Julia Child lived an incredible life filled with international espionage, steamy romance and revolutionary ideas - in addition to creating a new TV genre, inventing foodie culture and teaching us how to make boeuf bourguignon. In this bonus episode, we’re going to tell you about her truly unique life, why she was a trailblazer in the kitchen and why we're still talking about her today. And of course, her penchant for blow torches. Listen, subscribe and Bon Apetit! It's a GIVEAWAY! We're giving away a mini snack box from YumDay at the end of March. Visit us here to enter. Take our Listener Survey to help us get ready for Season 2! Drop your info here and we'll send you the survey. For more great content about the stories & foods we talk about on the show (plus a peek BTS) connect with us at @FoodDayPod on Instagram & Twitter, join our Facebook Group & check out our webpage. Access the transcript here. | |||
| 20 Apr 2021 | A Taste of Season 2 | 00:02:37 | |
We hope you're hungry, because we'll be serving you Season 2 on May 4th! We've got more foods, more stories, more banter and more puns - so many puns. Listen to the trailer for a taste of next season, and follow/subscribe so you don't miss a bite. | |||
| 28 Apr 2021 | Eating Our Fair Share: County Fair Foods with Counter Programming | 00:51:32 | |
It’s a crossover! That’s right: Anna and Lia have joined forces with Arielle and Shira of the podcast Counter Programming to discuss a topic near and dear to our hearts (and taste buds) — county fairs! In this special episode of Every Day is a Counter Day (or is it Counter Food Programming Day?), Arielle and Shira talk about the history of county fairs, then Anna and Lia go deep on the main reason people go to them: the food! Learn more about how these “jollifications” got started, the craziest foods you can find, and meet the man behind your favorite fair fare. Plus, join us for some fair trivia and find out how we fared when it came to cooking up our own versions of fried fair foods! Air-fried Oreos and corndogs, anyone? Be sure to subscribe to Counter Programming and follow them on Instagram at @CounterProgrammingPod. And join us for Season 2 starting May 4!
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| 04 May 2021 | French Fries: Our Favorite Side Piece | 01:08:56 | |
We’re back! Today we’re getting salty as we kick off Season 2 talking about the true hero of any fast food meal, the French Fries! But first….are they even French? Lia Ballentine tells us about the national food holidays celebrating French Fries and honoring the sacred potato (our favorite tuber), including some very passionate mashed potato wrestlers. Plus fries’ international origin story, an 18th century Frenchman’s marketing campaign to build love for the spud (#spudlove), the enslaved chef who brought french fries to America via the White House and the early 2000s "controversy" about its name (remember "freedom fries"?). And we can’t talk about french fries without talking about those Golden Arches. In the Deep Dish, Anna Van Valin dusts off her Foodlosopher hat and tells us the story of the supersized McDrama of the McDonald’s french fry: the superhero training montage it goes through before it even gets to the restaurant, its humble burger stand beginnings, controversial founder Ray Kroc, a very public fight over fat, and even international religious outrage. That ketchup packet shortage is only the beginning. Welcome to Season 2! | |||
| 11 May 2021 | Arsenic & Eggnog: Poisonous Foods with Danny Murphy | 01:33:58 | |
Follow us into the danger zone! Today we're talking about something a little bit different and a lot more deadly: POISONS! In this supersized episode, we're bringing together our love of food stories with our addiction to true crime, and we’ve enlisted Danny Murphy, host of NOT ANOTHER TRUE CRIME PODCAST, as our accomplice - er, special guest. First, host Lia Ballentine tells us about a few holidays celebrating some everyday foods with poisonous potential, including a Japanese seafood delicacy (and underutilized emoji) more toxic than anthrax. She also introduces us to "extreme eaters" who dare to eat some of these dangerous dishes, and the festivities during National Poison Prevention Awareness Week (like a children's art contest?). Then in the Deep Dish, Danny tells us about his poison ivy superpowers, and what pufferfish have to do with the art of the perfect brunch. Finally, host Anna Van Valin and guest Danny Murphy tell the toxic tales of a few favorite real-life poisonings, from a professional assassin on a Roman Emperor’s payroll name Locusta, a woman we can hardly blame for poisoning her catfish husband named Marie LeFarge, to the Rajneeshi, a cult that pulled off the biggest bio-terror attack in American history using…salad. Grab your smelling salts and join us!
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| 18 May 2021 | Feelin' Spiky About Pineapple | 01:08:47 | |
Aloha! Today we’re feeling spiky about one of our favorite fruits: pineapple! First, we'll hear about hosts Anna Van Valin and Lia Ballentine’s adventures with pineapple, including Lia's ride on the Pineapple Express and Anna's memorable DoleWhip experience at a conference called MurderCon held at Disneyland (you read that right). Then Lia tells us how International Pineapple Day got started as a joke, why pineapples were one of history's most coveted and expensive fruits, and how the pineapple became a symbol of hospitality, friendship and…swingers. In the Deep Dish, Anna explores how pineapple became Hawaiian (because it wasn't!) and shares the incredible story of the brave and talented Queen Lili’uokalanai, the last monarch of the kingdom of Hawaii. If you're a fan of pineapple, pineapple upside down cake, piña coladas, and even Hawaiian pizza (don't let Lia know), then join us on this juicy adventure. Mahalo!
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| 25 May 2021 | Barbecue: Hot Grill Summer | 01:04:28 | |
This week, Anna and Lia get fired up as they put the bae in bar-BAE-cue! Hop in your covered wagon as Anna Van Valin takes us on a trip through the American Barbecue Belt, from the Carolinas to Texas. We explore the influences and histories that make each region’s BBQ style so unique, like the indigenous Tainos’ method of slow cooking spiced meat, George Washington’s obsession with barbecue parties, and the African-American man who put Kansas City on the BBQ map. On the way, she gives handy pro-tips to maximize your BBQ experience (rule of thumb: the yellowy sauce goes on the pulled pork, the red sauce goes on the beef!) But first, Lia Ballentine us about the holidays celebrating the wonders of all things char, and highlights three amazing female pitmasters who are blazing trails in the barbecue world. And at the end, Anna and Lia taste test barbecue sauces and rank their most - and least - favorite. So let’s get low and slow, because this episode is smokin’!
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| 15 Jun 2021 | Margaritas: Sippin' on Satan's Playground | 01:05:52 | |
Good news: we finally found that lost shaker of salt! Grab your tequila and slice up some limes because in this episode, Anna and Lia are talking (and drinking) margaritas! First, host Lia Ballentine introduces us to a scholarly puppet who teaches us about National Margarita Day, then she spills the controversial origin stories of this classic cocktail. She’ll also tell us about the genius behind one of America’s most prized inventions: the Frozen Margarita Machine. In the Deep Dish, host Anna Van Valin serves up the story of how Prohibition led to tequila being smuggled from Mexico to the American Southwest, and how the rich and famous would flock down to the border town of Tijuana — a.k.a. “Satan’s Playground” — to sip margs and other forbidden boozy bevs. She also tells us about a hatchet-carrying, saloon-smashing activist named Carry A. Nation (actual name), a radical member of the temperance movement. Plus, find out how you, too, can waste away with Anna and Lia in Margaritaville! #mashiesandmargs
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| 29 Jun 2021 | Takeout: Let's Get Carried Away! | 01:07:12 | |
We've just delivered you a great episode - join us as we unpack the surprising stories behind Takeout! In this episode, you'll hear about Anna & Lia's Covid-fueled takeout habit, and their adventures with drive-thru alcohol joints (of dubious legality). Then Lia Ballentine tells us how the discovery of a snack bar in the ruins of Pompeii means that Takeout has been around since the old (like really old) days, how the COVID-19 pandemic changed our dining experience so much that Takeout finally got is own national food holiday (that's how you know it's important), and the history behind the rise of Chinese food in America. And in the Deep Dish, our Foodlosopher Anna Van Valin takes us on a journey through the evolution of iconic food containers! She’ll explore the backstories behind those familiar Takeout boxes and bags (like our beloved pizza box), the remarkable ways people took their food on the go before Tupperware and Ziplock were on the scene, and something called a "pizza nipple." Get carried away with us!
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| 13 Jul 2021 | Salad: Let Me See That Tong | 01:07:38 | |
We’re all dressed up and turning over a new LEAF - because this episode is all about Salad. No really, trust us! First Lia Ballentine tells us all about National Salad Month, National Egg Salad Week (yep, a whole week!), and the real person (ahem, the woman) behind Hellman’s Mayonnaise. Then she’ll take us back to Tijuana to hear the history of Caesar Salad, and learn about the dressing so mysterious they made a documentary about it. But that’s just the tip of the ICEBERG! In the Deep Dish, Anna Van Valin gives us an intro to gender theory lesson as we try to answer the question: if meat is manly, why is salad girly? Plus, she reminisces about that meme that sparked a global conversation about representation, inspired a whole play, and left us laughing alone with our salads. So LETTUCE stick a fork into the fascinating stories behind the history and cultural impact of salad, and what makes us actually crave one. Quesadilla croutons, for example (Chili’s: call us). Connect with us:
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| 27 Jul 2021 | As 'Murican as Apple Pie | 01:22:14 | |
It’s our Season Finale, so we’re slicing into the most iconic American food - Apple Pie! In the Deep Dish, Anna Van Valin gets to the core of how Apple Pie became a symbol of the US of A and what it means to be “as American as Apple pie.” She shares the history behind pie’s rise in popularity in America, including the spread of apples across the colonies thanks to Johnny Appleseed (a real person!), the shift from savory to sweet pies in the 1800s, and how Apple Pies became a comfort food for the pioneers moving West. Anna also gives us surprising examples of how this symbol of American identity has been used for commentary in popular culture, like in Don McLean’s epic ballad “American Pie” and in the raunchy 1999 teenage comedy with the same name. But first, Lia Ballentine talks to us about Apple Pie’s two national holidays and a festival in Liberty, Kentucky where you can find (and eat) the world’s largest Apple Pie. We have the recipe, so you can make your own 3,000-pound Apple Pie! Lia also tells us about the actual Granny Smith, who cultivated one of the most popular cooking apples in history, and gives us insight into a new breed of apple called the Cosmic Crisp that’s been in development for over 20 years in the state of Washington. So hop in our Chevy and let’s drive it to the levee and learn all about Apple Pie!
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| 06 Oct 2021 | Anna is Eating Her Way Through Portugal! | 00:01:46 | |
We’re finally going on a field trip! Co-host Anna Van Valin is in Portugal for a month and she’s sharing all the delicious things she’s eating (pastries!), drinking (wine!) and discovering (ancient stuff!) with us. Follow her culinary adventures on Instagram at @FoodDayPod, and join us for our first Instagram Live this Friday Oct 8 at 12n PT to find out whether she’s tried Portugal’s world famous seafood (...probably not). To see more from Anna's Iberian vacay (including some stellar Castle Porn), follow her @annavanvalin. Obrigada!
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| 10 Nov 2021 | "Another Round of Firewater!": Our Top 5 Foods from Portugal | 00:47:16 | |
The wine! The pastries! Co-host Anna Van Valin is back from a monthlong adventure in Portugal, and she’s giving us her Top 5 food (and drink!) experiences in this special episode. We get the lowdown on local flavors, hear about dreamy Portuguese “petiscos” from hidden cafés tucked away in ancient walled cities, and find out why some of the cobblestone streets in Lisbon are so darn sticky. Anna also reveals why the best pastries come from convents, some fascinating facts about port wine (did you know there’s four kinds??) and introduces us to the infamous “aguardiente” — also known as “firewater”! But first, co-host Lia Ballentine shares the latest snack news from Yumday, and Anna and Lia announce their first in-person Food Day meetup in Austin, Texas — and you’re invited! Meet Anna and Lia in ATX on November 17th and help celebrate Food Day’s 1st birthday!
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