Your Last Meal with Rachel Belle

Latest Episodes:

Nora McInerny, A Box of Lucky Charms with Whole Milk Jan 30, 2019

Show notes

Nora McInerny is an author and host of one of Rachel's favorite podcasts: Terrible, Thanks for Asking, "a funny/sad/uncomfortable podcast about talking honestly about our pain, our awkwardness, and our humanness, which is not an actual word."

For her last meal, Nora wants a magically delicious childhood favorite, so we talk to General Mills about their iconic breakfast cereal Lucky Charms.

But what is cereal without milk? Rachel gets the bottom of why humans started drinking other mammals' milk (and why so many of us are lactose intolerant) with Mark Kurlansky, author of Milk! A 10,000 Year Food Fracas.

And speaking of mammal milk, it turns out there's a LOT more going on with breast milk than most people realize. So Angela Garbes, author of Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy, breaks down nature's most perfect food.

You can buy Nora's books and get more info about The Hot Young Widows Club at noraborealis.com.

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Dorie Greenspan: Ice Cream, Lobster, Ice Cream Jan 18, 2019

Show notes

Prolific, 5-time James Beard Award winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan is the queen of cookies. Famous for her beloved World Peace Cookies and many baking books, including one she wrote with Julia Child, it's not surprising that Dorie wants to start and end her last meal with dessert.

What's wrong with eating dessert first, anyway? Rachel chats with Ayurvedic counselor Jodi Boone and Food Network host and TODAY show food and lifestyle correspondent Brandi Milloy about the scientific, Ayurvedic and general life-bettering benefits of starting your meal with sweets.

And when Dorie told Rachel she ate the same exact lunch every single day for years, the first person we thought of was Donald Gorske. Gorske has eaten almost nothing but McDonald's Big Macs since 1972, putting his current Big Mac count at over 30,000. Rachel called the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin native on his flip phone to learn why the man eats two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun... Every. Single. Day.

Pick up Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook at your local cookbook bookstore!

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BenDeLaCreme, Lo Mein and Lobster Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Drag queen BenDeLaCreme is "sweet as pie and sharp as cheddar." And Ben, who plays "DeLa," has a lot to say about food. So what would this RuPaul's Drag Race All-Star want for his last meal? (Answer: a nostalgic buffet of his favorite New England foods.)

Do you order lo mein or chow mein? It probably depends on what coast you live on! We explore the differences between east coast, midwest & west coast American-style Chinese food with “Chinese Soul Food” cookbook author Hsiao-Ching Chou and “The Search For General Tso“ producer Jennifer 8 Lee (a guest from our very first episode).

Also, Ben shares his favorite cartoon foods, the trashy treat his mom used to make him which inspires some very odd childhood favorites from our listeners, and Ben outs his dear friend, Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon, for having an Easy Mac addiction.

BenDeLaCreme is wrapping up a run of holiday shows in Seattle with Jinkx Monsoon called "To Jesus, Thanks for Everything" - and then they perform in Portland and San Francisco just after the holidays. Go to BenDeLaCreme's Facebook page for tickets.

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Paul Reiser, Onion Bagel with Lox from Barney Greengrass Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

Comedy legend, author, and actor Paul Reiser (Mad About You, Stranger Things) is a New York native whose last meal is as classic and old-school NYC as it gets!

Barney Greengrass has been serving up scrambled eggs with sturgeon, bagels with lox, and black and white cookies since 1908. Rachel talks with 3rd-generation owner Gary Greengrass about the origins of his Upper West Side institution and how they've managed to stay in business, through wars and economic crashes, for 110 years.

Rachel also digs into the history of another legendary NYC staple: the black and white cookie. And Paul tells us why he firmly believes that when it comes to food, simpler is better.

See Paul Reiser on tour, follow his TV/movie appearances, and buy any of his best-selling books at paulreiser.com.

If you don't live in "The Big Apple" (that's what the locals call it!!!!), you can still order the best smoked fish in the country at barneygreengrass.com.

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Tiffani Thiessen, Charcuterie and Cheese Board Nov 22, 2018

Show notes

Former teen crush Tiffani Thiessen has come a long way since her days at Bayside High. She's a mother, wife, cookbook author, and host of her own show "Dinner at Tiffani's" on The Cooking Channel. And her artistic outlet is also her last meal!

We get tips from Tiffani on how to set up the perfect charcuterie board, and then Rachel heads down to Seattle's historic Pioneer Square neighborhood to learn all about the art of cured meats from Martinique Grig and Clara Veniard, owners of Salumi - a beloved salumeria and restaurant founded by Armandino Batali, father of celebrity chef Mario.

Tiffani's characters on "Saved by the Bell" and "Beverly Hills 90210" spent a lot of time hanging out at diners, and when Rachel asks Tiffani if the food was better at The Max or The Peach Pit... it didn't bode well for either place.

So Rachel tracked down one of Hollywood's favorite veteran food stylists, Chris Oliver, who has been making the iconic foods you've seen in TV and movies for over 30 years including Seinfeld, Friends, and even 90210.

Check out Tiffani's new cookbook "Pull Up a Chair: Recipes from My Family to Yours."

Learn more about culinary behind the scenes from Chris Oliver at hollywoodfoodstyling.com.

Order some of the most delicious meats you'll ever eat at salumicuredmeats.com.

And follow yourlastmealpodcast on Instagram!

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Maeve Higgins, Fish Pie and Irish Butter Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

Top o' the mornin' to ya! On this Emerald Isle themed episode of Your Last Meal, Rachel talks to Irish comedian and writer Maeve Higgins about why Irish butter is better, the food that confused her most at her first American Thanksgiving, and of course - her last meal!

You'll get the history of the fish pie from Ireland's Michelin starred chef and food columnist JP McMahon.

We also have a butter battle with Brian Cleer, marketing director for Kerrygold North America and Stella Parks, Senior Editor at "Serious Eats" and author of the James Beard Award-winning cookbook "BraveTart." Is European butter really superior or is store brand American butter just as good?

Then, Rachel talks about one of the biggest Christmas traditions in Japan - getting a bucket of KFC fried chicken - with KFC Japan's Yuko Nakajima.

All that... and why a single gal at a party should always stand by a crock pot full of Lil Smokies.

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

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Lyrics Born: Chicken Katsu and Kimchi Oct 12, 2018

Show notes

Berkeley-raised rapper/producer Lyrics Born has been in the music business for 25 years, and the rich, deep purr of his speaking voice will make you swoon. LB (as his friends call him) is a blend of Asian and Western influences, and so is his last meal!

Host Rachel Belle talks all things kimchi with four-time James Beard Award nominated Chef Rachel Yang. From the history of "bloody lettuce" to its ubiquity in Korea to tips on improving your store-bought kimchi, the two Rachels explore it all.

And if you're in the Pacific Northwest, treat yourself to a delicious meal at any of Rachel Yang's three Seattle restaurants - Revel, Trove, and Joule - or Revelry in Portland.

Follow along on Instagram!

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

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Tacocat: Philly Cheesesteak Pizza + An Extravagant Buffet Oct 04, 2018

Show notes

Emily Nokes and Bree McKenna are half of Seattle-based band, Tacocat!

Host Rachel Belle chats with the owners of Pat's and Geno's, two much beloved, rival Philly Cheesesteak shops and we'll learn the history of the s'more!

Follow along on Instagram!

Please subscribe to the *new* Your Last Meal newsletter so you can be the first to know about events, giveaways & content only available to subscribers!

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keiko Agena: Hawaiian Plate Lunch Sep 20, 2018

Show notes

Keiko Agena is best known for playing Rory's BFF, Lane, on Gilmore Girls, but when she's watching TV, she loves to snack on the couch while binging cooking competitions!

A Hawaii native, Keiko's comfort food is a classic plate lunch, so host Rachel Belle will dig into the history of loco moco and, a Hawaiian favorite, SPAM.

Follow along on Instagram!

Please subscribe to the Your Last Meal newsletter so you can be the first to know about events, giveaways & content only available to subscribers!

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Pfeiffer: Dim Sum Sep 06, 2018

Show notes

Dan Pfeiffer hosts the political podcast Pod Save America, but before that he was senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Dan tells Host Rachel Belle what it was like eating inside the White House, and what he would do to unwind on the weekends.

Clarrisa Wei joins the show to share the history of dim sum and, although fun, explains why the carts are not the best vehicle to receive the delicious dumplings.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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