We all miss restaurants right now. The thought of cozy tables, energetic staff and a warm plate of pasta sets off intense cravings. (And a bit of yearning.)
The memories of the last Italian restaurant meal in situ have started to fade. Yes, celebrity chefs stay cooking, especially on Instagram. Still, it’s not the same. The best way to bring back those memories and create new ones is through food podcasts. Like they say in baseball, sometimes you have to listen to the radio broadcast to “see” the whole field...
Hearing the voices of hospitality, like Massimo Bottura, Ruth Rogers, Kathy Whims, enlivens our imagination and memory. Not only are we thinking about their dishes, the hustle of their kitchens, but what went into creating these experiences and ingredients. Listening to their reflections, we savor it all more and think of what we have to look forward to–or some version of it.
This list of podcast episodes devoted to Italian food, cooking and chefs were recommended by the creators themselves, recorded before and after the pandemic. The hosts of these podcasts - “Gola,” “Andrew Talks to Chefs,” “Takeaway Only” happen to be award-winning food writers, cookbook authors, and an Italian Renaissance expert.
Katie Parla’s “Gola” captures the essence and sensibility of Italian artisan food, as she discusses its many layers with co-founder and Italian Renaissance lecturer, Dr. Danielle Callegari. Uncovering the origin stories of why we love the staples we love, Katie and Danielle teach us to appreciate the art and labor behind these provisions.
Andrew Friedman’s podcast, “Andrew Talks to Chefs,” explores the lives of America’s master chefs. Since he became a “chef writer” after collaborating with Alfred Portale on his first cookbook over two decades ago, Andrew has led in-depth interviews with chefs in cars, flower shops, kitchens and hotel lobbies.
Howie Kahn’s daily podcast “Takeaway Only” was born in the midst of the pandemic. From the moment restaurants closed around the world, Howie, an award-winning food writer, rallied to interview chefs and hospitality leaders facing the crisis. His thoughtful and emotional check-ins reveal what matters to chefs, and what they desire next for their profession, their employees and their community.
So, pour yourself a full glass of Italian wine and tune in.
Katie Parla and Danielle Callegari
“GOLA” with Katie Parla & Dr. Danielle Callegari
“We came up with “gola,” because it means throat in Italian,” said Katie. “But it’s also one of the seven deadly sins: gluttony.” The name encompasses everything Katie and Danielle dive into on the podcast. They first met five years ago and bonded over the desire to share “real Italian cultural knowledge” with Americans. Both are versed in Italian and certified sommeliers. Danielle is an expert on the Italian Late-Medieval Renaissance, and Katie is a gastronomical wizard. Each episode covers an Italian food or beverage, like mozzarella, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar. Katie hopes listeners will fall for Italy’s artisan culture and support the producers who make it rich. Feel free to imbibe as they do and get ready for some eno-themed episodes, yet to come. “We drank negronis, ate ‘Nduja, and had wine,” she said in a phone interview revealing how the podcast gets made. “We’re not tasting and commenting on the show now, but that’s something we want to do moving forward.”
Katie’s favorite episodes:
“White Gold” on Buffalo Mozzarella
“Sweet, salty or smoky” on prosciutto
“Flirting with Fizz” on Prosecco (Katie said they drank bubbly in their kitchen to record this.)
“Cento di questi giorni” on the one-hundredth anniversary of Negroni
Andrew Friedman with Massimo Bottura
“Andrew Talks to Chefs” with Andrew Friedman
“I’ve rarely done an interview before 10 am with a chef,” said Andrew Friedman. With twenty-two years of experience and over 30 cookbooks authored, Andrew knows the nature of chefs better than anyone, especially the greats from the rock ‘n’ roll era of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Life changed when he met the legendary Italian-American chef Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill. Together, they pulled all-nighters, refining chapter introductions and recipes for Portale’s first cookbook. When Andrew realized this “one-off” project had taken over his professional life, he knew his true calling had arrived. (He and Portale went on to win an IACP Julia Child Award.) From then on, he became a “chef writer.” Andrew’s in-depth interviews with chefs give us a fuller picture of their larger-than-kitchen lives.
Andrew’s favorite episodes:
Ep 10: Massimo Bottura. (Recorded in the Nomad Hotel after Bottura published the cookbook, “Bread is Gold”)
Ep 36: Tony Mantuano. (Andrew said this Michelin-starred chef from Chicago is “a folksy wonderful kinda guy that shows an edge,” who shares stories about Italian family and gardening.)
Ep 56: Christian Patroni. (This Food Network star is an “amazing storyteller,” who spent summers in Italy and specializes in “Bronx Italian.”)
Ep 73: Kathy Whims. (Kathy won six James Beard awards for her Italian food, and yet, Andrew was struck by her humility and fidelity to true Italian cooking. Kathy studied under Marcella Hazan and Giancinto Albarello.)
Ep 80: Dan Richner of Razza Pizzeria and Danielle Uditi of Pizzano. (The pizzaioli masters from Jersey City and Los Angeles took to each other like flour and water, leaving Andrew with a deep admiration for the obsessive nature of pizza-makers.)
Howie Kahn (ph Rob Corso)
“Takeaway Only” with Howie Kahn
In January, Howie Kahn, a James Beard award winner of food journalism, was traveling through Sicily, Friuli and Trieste, planning his next creative projects. But when restaurants around the world were forced to close, leaving room only for takeout, Howie knew he had to get their take. Born in quarantine and recorded at home, his daily podcast (recorded via Zoom) delivers a snapshot of the minds of hospitality leaders and chefs during this challenging time. Howie listens as guests grapple with uncertainty, sussing out what they hope to give to the restaurants, employees and clients of the future. The short interviews reveal their reflections, reactions, and above all, creativity. “I like to think of “Takeaway Only” as a podcast on the indomitable nature of the human spirit,” said Howie.
Howie’s favorite episodes:
Bobby Stuckey: Waiting for Washington. (Howie talks to the Master sommelier and co-founder of Frasca Hospitality in Denver for a chat about Friulian wine-makers and law-maker’s lack of restaurant relief.)
Ruth Rogers from London’s River Café
And more to come!