Special Sauce with Ed Levine
Episodes
Ella Quittner: Obsessed With The Best
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As someone who has spent the greater part of a half-century searching for and obsessing about where to find the best of any kind of foodstuff, I was i...
AI: An Existential Threat to Recipe Developers
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman explains why she and many other recipe developers and food writers regard AI as an existential threat on this week's ep...
Noma and Redzepi: A Shocking Tale of Abuse
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
According The New York Times, Noma chef and co-owner René Redzepi physically and verbally abused more than thirty of his kitchen staff between 2010 a...
LA Taco Reheat: Leading the ICE Resistance One Taco at a Time
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're reheating one of our favorite recent episodes on the ongoing struggle between ICE and the immigrant-driven food cultures of major Amer...
Are Restaurant Critics Obsolete? Part 2
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On part 2 of our revealing and refreshingly honest conversation with three of the best food critics in America, Hannah Goldfield of The New Yorker, Bi...
Are Restaurant Critics Obsolete? Part 1
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Are restaurant critics dinosaurs in the age of social media? We discuss that and more in part one of our critic's roundtable with The New Yorker's Hel...
Food Critic on a Diet, Part Two: The NYT's Pete Wells
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week Pete Wells and I talk about our mutual worst food enemy, our addiction to sugar. Pete explains how the hidden added sugars in many packaged ...
Food Critic on a Diet, Part One: The NYT's Pete Wells
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this first of two episodes featuring The New York Times's Pete Wells, the former Times restaurant critic explains how he learned to eat differently...
REHEAT: Kenji on Superbowl Food
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For millions of serious eaters the Super Bowl has turned into a food event almost on a par with Thanksgiving. With the Super Bowl coming up we thought...
ICE Invades Minneapolis
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Sharyn Jackson reports on the devastating effect of the ICE operation on the Twin Citi...
The Magic of the Bialy
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we go deep into the story of the not famous enough Jewish roll known as a bialy (which is far superior to its kind of...
Can Restaurants Survive In 2026
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce the Washington Post's Tim Carman and the Los Angeles Times's Stephanie Breijo discuss the enormous headwinds facing r...
Eric Asimov on Saving the Wine Biz
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce, The New York Times's superb wine critic Eric Asimov details the many challenges facing the wine industry. He cites h...
The Cherry Bombe Story
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we talk to Cherry Bombe founder, Kerry Diamond. Cherry Bombe is a media company celebrating women in the world of food and drink. He...
Special Sauce Reheat: Hamissi Mamba and Baobab Fare
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We decided to leave 2025 behind by reheating an episode from 2023 that features the remarkable Hamissi Mamba, who came to Detroit from his native Buru...
ICE Comes to Charlotte
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ICE invaded Charlotte a couple of weeks ago and have wreaked their usual havoc on the vibrant food community there. Charlotte food business owner (Man...
Matcha Madness with Pete Wells
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The world's gone mad for matcha, and the The New York Times's Pete Wells has the scoop on today's episode of Special Sauce. Learn about your ad cho...
ICE in DC: WaPo's Tim Carman and Warren Rojas Explain All
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's Special Sauce the Washington Post's Tim Carman and Warren Rojas explain how ICE Raids and the National Guard deployment in the nation's...
Leftovers Reheat with Kenji and Deb Perelman
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kenji Lopez-Alt and Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman discuss (what else) how they deal with Thanksgiving leftovers in this classic Special Sauce episode...
Turkey Day Reheat: Kenji and Stella Parks Take Calls from Listeners
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year for Turkey Day we reheat a gem of a Thanksgiving call-in show featuring two of the biggest turkey lovers I know; Kenji Lopez-Alt and Stella ...
What's Missing From Your Favorite Chocolate Bar? It May Be Chocolate!
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many beloved candy bars are now being made without cocoa butter and here to tell us why and how the likes of Rolo, Mr. Goodbar and Almond Joy have bee...
Taco Life in Chicago Disrupted by ICE
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the summer we checked in with LA Taco's Javier Cabral about the scary ICE raids in L.A. and their terrifying effect on the food community there...
Yemeni Coffee: The Next Big Thing?
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are Yemeni coffee shops the next big thing? On this episode serious eaters will meet Mokhtar Alkhanshali, who has braved gunfire and jail and AK-47s a...
Reese's Obsession with Kenji and Tessa
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Kenji Lopez-Alt and his partner concert violinist Tessa Lark about their Reese's obsession. Just in time f...
Sho Spaeth on the Power of Ramen
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former Serious Eats editor and writer Sho Spaeth talks to us about his new book, Homemade Ramen. Sho is the most passionate and knowledgeable Ramen ge...
NYT's Julia Moskin on Deli Sushi
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How and when and why did sushi become one of America's most popular convenience foods? The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times food reporter Julia M...
John T. Edge: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to the terrific Southern food writer John T. Edge about his memoir House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searchin...
MVY Series: IGI Helps Feed The Island
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Island Grown Initiative (IGI) co-executive director Caroline Pam about her organization's efforts to comba...
L.A. Taco's Javier Cabral on ICE Raids Reheat
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On June 27th we posted a great conversation I had with L.A. Taco editor-in-chief Javier Cabral about what's going on in California with the cruel, inh...
Drew Nieporent: Nobu's Partner Remembers
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to the restaurateur's restaurateur Drew Nieporent about his lifelong love affair with restaurants. Nieporent ...
MVY Series: Brazilian Food and Life On the Island
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brazilian immigrants, who now comprise 20% of the year-round population, have added immeasurably to the quality of life on Martha's Vineyard. On this ...
Kenji on Burgers
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Labor Day weekend is here and for many serious eaters that means it's burger time. Most of my favorite burger recipes come from today's guest on Speci...
Special Sauce Reheat: George Motz
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Labor Day approaches my thoughts invariably turn to burgers. In fact, I have embarked on a quest to find the best burger to be had on Martha's Vine...
MVY Series: Morning Glory Farm Turns 50
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farms on Martha's Vineyard have been disappearing for a hundred years now. The land is just too valuable. On today's Special Sauce we hear how one far...
Phil Rosenthal: The Hardest Working Man in Food Media
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Phil Rosenthal, the host and creator of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil, works harder than just about any person I know in food media. What is he working...
Chef Cristina Martínez
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many compelling chef origin stories to be told, but I am hard-pressed to think of a more compelling and heart-rending one than today's gu...
MVY Series: Katie Leaird
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You wouldn't think I'd find some of the best fresh pasta I'd ever had on Martha's Vineyard, but I did. The maker of that pasta, Katie Leaird, tells se...
James Poniewozik on 'The Bear'
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like every season of 'The Bear' is subject to more scrutiny and analysis than any play by The Bard himself, Shakespeare. Every scene and ev...
MVY Series: Nina Levin
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nina Mae Levin has been making world-class pizza on Martha's Vineyard for five years now. And she sells every pie she makes during the Vineyard summer...
Melissa Clark
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest on Special Sauce, the New York Times' insanely prolific Melissa Clark has written or co-written a ridiculous, astounding total of 46 coo...
L.A. Taco
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump's ICE raids have had a devastating effect on the Los Angeles taco community. On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to the great websit...
Trump's Cruelty Toward Farmworkers
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Serious eaters have watched with horror and dismay as President Trump has tasked ICE agents with carrying out his grand mass deportation scheme. Why a...
California Avocado Growers In Crisis
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to avocado farmer Norm Kachuck and Los Angeles Times reporter Daniel Miller about the crisis facing Californi...
Marcella Hazan: The Italian Food Whisperer
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The late, truly great Marcella Hazan taught many of us what real Italian food is and how to cook it. And yet many people, including me, didn't know mu...
Meat's Improbable Comeback w/Kim Severson
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The The New York Times's national food correspondent Kim Severson gives us the 411 on meat's improbable comeback. Learn about your ad choices: doveta...
Now Serving: L.A.'s Serious Eaters HQ
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's only 450 Square Feet, but L.A.'s Now Serving Cookbook Store is so much more than a place to buy food books. Its co-founder Ken Concepcion explain...
An International Pizza Consultant Explains All
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is being an international pizza consultant the world's best job? Anthony Falco explains all. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Why Chili's and Red Lobster Matter
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Meghan McCarron and Adam Chandler about the surprisingly important role casual sit-down dining chains like...
Lalo Garcia Redux
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce, we revisit our extraordinary conversation with the great Mexico City-based chef Lalo Garcia and the journalist Laura...
Karen Washington Redux
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we revisit our provocative conversation with the food activist, farmer, and force of nature Karen Washington, one of ...
The Future of Farming with Will Harris
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to White Oak Pastures' Will Harris about nothing less than the future of farming. Harris has become one of th...
Asheville After the Flood with Pete Wells
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last September Asheville, North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene. The damage is estimated to be $60 billion. Especially hard hit was the cl...
Bob Jones of The Chef’s Garden on Farming's Future
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the documentary Food and Country came out last year, we had Ruth Reichl on Special Sauce to talk about the film as a whole and the farmers that a...
Remembering New Orleans' Pableaux Johnson
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The great street photographer, red beans and rice cook, and New Orleans food community organizer Pableaux Johnson died recently while doing what he wa...
Is the L.A. Smorgasburg the best street food festival in America?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the L.A. Smorgasburg the best street food festival in America? We talk to the two people most responsible for it, Zach Brooks and Fernando Lopez. Z...
Laurie Woolever on Bourdain, Batali, and Herself
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Special Sauce we welcome back writer and former assistant to both Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever. Laurie has just publish...
Remembering the Pizza OG Patsy Grimaldi
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the passing of legendary pizzaiolo Patsy Grimaldi, the pizza world has lost one of its true giants. I discuss his legacy with Scott's Pizza Tours...
Food in the Aftermath of the L.A. Fires
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to the Los Angeles Times' Bill Adddison and Jenn Harris about the calamitous effect of the recent devastating...
Adam Chandler on Work in America
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce, Adam Chandler talks about his new book '99% Perspiration' which explores the history of work in America. Learn ab...
'Reheating' Hot Chocolate With Jacques Torres
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we revisit our chocolate-centric conversation with Mr. Chocolate himself Jacques Torres just in time for Valentine's ...
Kenji on Super Bowl Food
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Super Bowl is coming up, so for Super Bowl party food advice who better to turn to than Kenji. The man loves chicken wings and pizza and he gives ...
Robert Lang On Becoming A Vintner in Italy
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After falling in love with Italy, my good friend engineer and serial entrepreneur Bob Lang and his wife, environmental writer Alice Outwater, decided ...
Karen Washington, Food Warrior
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce, grassroots food activist and farmer Karen Washington joins us to spread her message of food justice, the concept tha...
Scott Wiener on the New York Pizza Slice
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we go deep into the definition, history, and evolution of the New York pizza slice with Scott's Pizza Tours founder S...
Raghavan Iyer: The Tribute Reheat
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we pay tribute to the great author, chef and cooking teacher Raghavan Iyer. He introduced much of America to the joys...
Michelle Zauner and Kenji, Reheated
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the new year fast approaching we thought we would help bring it in by re-releasing -- or should I say reheating -- one of our favorite 'Special S...
Roy Shvartzapel
21 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce serious eaters will meet Roy Shvartzapel, who makes transcendent panettone at his LA online bakery From Roy. Learn...
Erin McDowell On Holiday Cookies
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the holiday season in full swing, this serious eater's attention turns to eating and baking cookies. And who better to shoot the breeze with on t...
Eric Asimov Part 2
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we go about planning our upcoming holiday feasts, it's a pretty good bet that at some point we're going to pick up a bottle of wine or two to share...
Kenji and Deb Thanksgiving Leftovers Reheat
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanksgiving leftovers can sometimes be a freighted topic for serious eaters. Last year, trying to quell my own Thanksgiving leftovers anxiety and con...
Erin McDowell On Pie
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanksgiving and the holiday season are upon us and that means this serious eater's thoughts turn to pie! And so I thought I would perform a public se...
Deb Perelman
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you're like me, you're probably already worrying about holiday dinners and parties that you might have to bring stuff to. And at least some of us m...
Eric Asimov: The NYT wine writer's democratic approach to his subject.
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce The New York Times's wine writer Eric Asimov shares his democratic and unsnobby approach to both food and wine, which...
50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant's Love Letter
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce I talk to author and fellow pie lover Stacey Mei Yan Fong about her new book '50 Pies, 50 States, An Immigrant's Love...
Ruth Reichl Part 2: The Politics of Food
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of our discussion, Ruth Reichl and I get into how the American government has played a major role in corrupting our food system. Learn ab...
Ruth Reichl on her first movie Food and Country
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce legendary food critic Ruth Reichl talks about the documentary film "Food & Country" which she stars in and co-pro...
Jim Lahey's No Knead Bread Explained
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we talk to Sullivan Street Bakery founder Jim Lahey about his revolutionary no-knead bread making technique. Learn a...
Kenji's Almost Foolproof Pan Pizza Recipe
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce, Kenji and I dig deep into his (almost) foolproof pan pizza recipe. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/...
An African-American Rice Farmer Who's Reclaiming His Roots
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we meet Rollen Chalmers, a third-generation African-American rice farmer based in South Carolina, who is reclaiming h...
Ozempic for Food Writers with Adam Platt
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when food writers take Ozempic? New York Magazine's Adam Platt and I discuss our experiences with the weight loss drug on this episode of...
Kenji Potatoes Reheat
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ah potatoes! How do we love them? Let me count the ways. Perfectly crispy, salty french fries, golden brown herb coated roasted potatoes, creamy smoot...
The Pasta Whisperers
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Special Sauce Sasha Marx and Katie Leaird return for more pasta wisdom and pleasure. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.or...
Special Sauce Re-heated: Veggie Grilling with Kenji
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Special Sauce we’re re-heating our conversation with Kenji Lopez-Alt from last summer about veggie grilling tips. And we'll be b...
Everything You'd Want To Know About Pasta
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we're talking all things pasta with Chefsteps.com's editorial director Sasha Marx and Martha's Vineyard Pasta's Katie...
Lior Lev Sercarz: Spice Advice
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Spice Whisperer Lior Lev Sercarz is back on Special Sauce this week to school serious eaters on how to spice up our food in our own kitchens. You...
Kim Severson on Kamala Harris and Presidential cooking
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Special Sauce the NYT's Kim Severson gives us the lowdown on Kamala Harris' passion for cooking. Plus we discuss the history of president...
Special Sauce Re-heated: Anajak Thai
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we're re-sharing our episode with Justin Pichetrungsi, chef-owner of the award-winning Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, California. There was a...
Lior Lev Sercarz, the Spice Whisperer
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Special Sauce we talk to the Spice Whisperer, chef and owner of the online spice store La Boite NY, Lior Lev Sercarz. Lior is on a missio...
Tony Gemignani: 13 Time World Pizza Champion
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Special Sauce you'll meet 13 time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani, who is determined to spread his good pizza gospel to every corner ...
James Ehnes - Seattle CMS: Tasting Notes
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Special Sauce violin virtuoso Jame Ehnes dishes on his live cooking and musical collaboration with Kenji that's coming up in Seattle on J...
Laura Tillman and Lalo Garcia
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Special Sauce is particularly special. You'll hear the remarkable life story of celebrated Mexican chef Lalo Garcia as told by Lalo hi...
Antonio De Loera-Brust - California Farm Workers
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what's happening with the United Farm Workers union? I did, so I interviewed the UFW Communications Director Antonio De Loera-Brust. It tu...
Kevin Caplicki and Woodthrush Farm
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode we go deep into the life of a Greenmarket farmer, Kevin Caplicki of Woodthrush Farm. Kevin's lettuce is the stuff that dreams are made...
Kenji's Summertime Grilling Tips
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grilling season is here and Kenji offers up some great grilling tips so that even the most casual backyard cook can up their game. Who knew that mayo ...
Pete Wells and Scott Weiner on Totonno's Pizzeria
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Totonno's, the iconic, century-old Coney Island Brooklyn pizzeria, has been put up for sale by the family who founded it. On this episode of Special S...
Jaques Torres on Chocolate Chip Cookies
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The great pastry chef and chocolate maker Jacques Torres wrote one of my all time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes. On this episode we chat abou...
Sulieman Mleahat - Anera
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Special Sauce we take a deep dive into the beyond desperate hunger situation in Gaza with humanitarian Sulieman Mleahat who has bee...
NYT's Kim Severson on Jose Andres' WCK
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NYT's Pulitzer Prize-winning food culture reporter Kim Severson gives Special Sauce listeners fascinating insights into Jose Andres' World Central Kit...
Channing Frye: NBA Champ and Wine Guy, Part 2
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Channing Frye had so much to say about wine, hoops, and life we decided to devote a second episode to him and his company Chosen Family Wines. Learn ...
Channing Frye: NBA Champ and Wine Guy
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you go from being an NBA champ to starting a wine company? Find out on this episode of Special Sauce when we interview Chosen Family Wines foun...