Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle

Latest Episodes:

Camila Alves McConaughey: Ribeye with Matthew's Secret Spice Rub Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Camila Alves McConaughey co-wrote a new children's book called Just Try One Bite, about a couple of kids who try and get their picky parents to eat healthier foods. In the McConaughey household, there's one thing that everybody loves: the secret family spice rub created by Camila's actor husband, Matthew.

But not all family recipes are so pure! Listeners call in to share stories about the day they learned that their family's beloved, homemade lasagna/baked beans/peach pie actually, secretly came from a can, a recipe on the back of a box or...a chain restaurant.

Camila grew up in Brazil, so host Rachel Belle chats with Brazilian food writer Jaíne Mackievicz about the history of Brazilian food and one of Camila's favorite dishes, Brazilian lasagna!

Follow along on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Seinfeld: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread & Tiramisu Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

Jessica Seinfeld's latest cookbook, Vegan, At Times, is an ode to her current lifestyle of eating mostly vegan, but she still enjoys the occasional bowl of warming chicken soup or nostalgic spaghetti and meatballs. She calls it a "gentler approach" to veganism and doesn't believe in creating rules around eating or doing any plant-based proselytizing.

Jessica's last meal took us down a path we never thought we'd go: organized crime! Host Rachel Belle chats with Anna Van Valin, co-host of the podcast Every Day Is A Food Day, about how Italian-American restaurants became the clubhouse of choice for the mafia. And Rachel consults with the folks at Ragu, the jarred spaghetti sauce of her youth, about an Al Capone rumor splattered all over the Internet.

Jessica says her vegan mac & cheese is indistinguishable from the real thing, which got Rachel thinking: what allows cheese to melt and how do you get vegan cheese to do it? She spoke to the CEO of New Culture, a group of cheese loving scientists who've discovered the secret ingredient to creating vegan mozzarella that melts and tastes like the real thing.

Follow Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Janeway (St Paul & the Broken Bones): Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

Paul Janeway is a southern boy from a small Alabama town who's had his world blown wide open thanks to music. Touring the world with his band, St Paul & the Broken Bones, has drastically expanded his palate -- he's eaten everything from pigeon heart to fancy Michelin star meals. But only one dish truly has his heart: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese! Paul and host Rachel Belle go deep into their Blue Box memories and idiosyncratic preferences, and then we learn the history of this iconic product with food historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson.

Paul lives in Birmingham, Alabama, which is also home to a very niche, regional cuisine that we were completely unaware of! Rachel Belle chats with Birmingham filmmaker Jessica Chriesman and the owner of Alabama's longest running family restaurant, The Bright Star, about Greek soul food.

Follow along on Instagram and learn more about the show at www.yourlastmealpodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eugene Mirman, Dim Sum Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

Bob's Burgers star (he voices Gene!) Eugene Mirman took an unorthodox route to becoming a professional comedian: he actually earned a bachelor's degree in comedy! And a quick scroll through his Instagram page reveals a man who loves home cooking; he's whipped up everything from pad Thai to homemade pasta while spending lots of time at home during the pandemic.

So this episode is all about the intersection of food and comedy. Gastro Obscura's senior associate editor, Anne Ewbank, takes us on a historical journey, from the ancient Greeks and their genital-heavy seafood jokes to the vaudeville and silent film days, when slipping on a banana peel or smashing a pie into somebody's face was the height of hilarious high jinx.

Follow Your Last Meal host Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best Of with William Shatner: Sushi & Mexican Food Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

At 90 years old, William Shatner is an exuberant, curious, ridiculous flavor of hilarious and his chat with host Rachel Belle feels like a live improv performance with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Shatner is best known for his role as Captain Kirk on Star Trek and "singing" popular songs in his signature spoken word style, but he also has strong opinions about avocado toast, considers himself a sushi connoisseur and loves beautifully made Mexican food.

So Rachel took a trip to Sushinola, one of the country's few Sinaloa style Mexican sushi restaurants, in Kent, Washington. Rolls are stuffed with carne asada, topped with pico de gallo, drizzled with housemade chipotle sauce and deep fried because co-owner Anayancy Reyes says most Mexicans are decidedly not fans of raw fish.

And psychology professor Dr Julia Hormes joins the show to share her fascinating research on cravings. Turns out, food cravings are cultural and psychological, not a universal human experience -- the word "craving" doesn't even exist in many languages. The whole thing about pregnant women craving crazy combinations like pickles and ice cream? Dr Hormes will set the record straight.

Follow Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jake Shimabukuro: Steamed Kumu Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

Award winning ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro is a lifelong Hawaii resident, where catching a big fish in the morning means feasting with friends and family that evening.

One of his favorite catches is kumu, a fish that exists nowhere else in the world except Hawaii. Host Rachel Belle chats with Mark Healey, a Hawaiian professional surfer who has been sustainably spearfishing for his dinner since he was a toddler. Mark shares his secrets to charming and successfully hunting a kumu while also holding his breath (under water, not during our conversation!).

Jake also loves poi, one of Hawaii's most sacred and traditional foods. Don't know what poi is? We got you! Learn its history and cultural significance with the owner of Oahu's Waiahole Poi Factory.

Plus Jake shares his secret to making fried rice pop and you'll hear a song from his brand new album, Jake & Friends!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vanessa Lachey: Lasagna Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

Vanessa Lachey's new book, Life from Scratch: Family Traditions That Start with You, features recipes and entertaining ideas, but the book is rooted in a deep and vulnerable place. Vanessa's mom left when she was a little girl, depriving her of motherly advice, care and the Filipino food she craved. It took decades, but the actor and TV host finally felt empowered to stop mourning what she lost, and start creating her own special traditions for her young family -- including a chicken adobo recipe her husband, 98 Degrees' Nick Lachey, loves.

Vanessa and host Rachel Belle discuss how she secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records (it's food related!) and why her family celebrates the holidays with a dish called Wiener-Bun Surprise.

Vanessa loves lasagna, so obviously Rachel had to talk about America's favorite, curmudgeonly, lasagna loving cartoon cat and she digs into the etymology of the comforting Italian casserole. We'll also learn about Lasagna Love, a non-profit started during the pandemic.

Rachel's favorite lasagna recipe!

Follow host Rachel Belle on Instagram!

This episode is sponsored by Ooni Pizza Ovens, the world's first portable pizza oven company! Rachel Belle has been making incredible, chewy, bubbly, melty pizzas in her Ooni for more than three years. If you want to make the best homemade pizza of your life, or give the gift of pizza this holiday season, visit www.ooni.com/yourlastmeal

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadiya Hussain: Mom's Korma & Rice Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Winning Season 6 of The Great British Bake-Off completely changed Nadiya Hussain's life. The fan favorite went from a stay-at-home mom to the author of more than a dozen books, she's hosted nearly as many television programs and was commissioned by Buckingham Palace to bake Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday cake (orange drizzle cake with orange curd and orange butter cream, in case you're cake curious).

Nadiya grew up in a British Bangladeshi family, with a dad who owned and cooked in Indian restaurants. As a kid, she was frustrated that he served watered down, westernized versions of her family's favorite foods.

That is not the case at Seattle's Spice Waala. Host Rachel Belle chats with Dr Aakanksha Sinha and Uttam Mukherjee, Indian immigrants who had grown so frustrated with the lack of regional Indian food in America, they quit their corporate jobs to open an Indian street food restaurant showcasing kathi rolls and chaat. They've also translated their social justice morals and values into caring for their employees and the community.

Follow host Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina Tosi: Never Ending Desserts Instead of Dinner Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

Milk Bar founder, chef and CEO Christina Tosi loves dessert so much, she would happily give up savory foods for three square meals a day of cookies and milk and ice cream. We talk about the special cake her husband designed for their wedding (that he made her promise to never make for anyone else), the career she almost chose instead of baking and the wacky flavor creations her colleagues won't let her put on the menu.

Christina is known for flipping childhood classics and suburban grocery store staples on their heads, and spinning them into fantastical, crave-worthy cakes and cookies. Her three-tiered, rainbow sprinkle flecked, naked birthday cakes are one of Milk Bar's signature desserts.

So we investigate the history of the birthday cake (why is it ubiquitous to celebrate with cake?) and birthday candles with Alysa Levene, author of Cake: A Slice of History and Anne Byrn, author of 15 books including her newest, A New Take On Cake.

Christina has a new children's book out called Every Cake Has A Story.

Follow host Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carla Lalli Music: Bread + Butter & Red Wine Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

Carla Lalli Music has found success in so many culinary corners of the food world; from her job as Shake Shake's very first manager to Bon Appétit magazine's food director to bestselling cookbook author. Her new, cheery, bright yellow cookbook is called That Sounds So Good -- a phrase we've certainly all moaned after reading about a particularly droolworthy dish.

Carla's last meal doesn't contain a drop of religious significance, but the combination of foods she craves are unavoidably biblical. So host Rachel Belle talks with Italian archaeologist and researcher Generoso Urciuoli about what Jesus and his 12 apostles would have actually eaten at The Last Supper.
Carla shares the condiment her family loves so much, they go through a jar nearly every day and the gimmicky TikTok food trends they've tried over the pandemic.

Follow Rachel Belle on Instagram!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support Cascade PBS: https://secure.cascadepublicmedia.org/page/133995/donate/1/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected