Holidays

Known to his followers as the Caspian Chef, Omid Roustaei prepares to celebrate the Iranian new year with "Bitter + Sweet" recipes.

from Good Food

Karen Fisher, field researcher with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, shares stories of Ramadan at Zaatari — the world's largest Syrian refugee camp.

from Good Food

Valentine’s Day can mean not just romantic love, but kindness. Get a little something for that person who showed up for you this past month.

Valentine’s Day: Express kindness with these gift ideas

Valentine’s Day can mean not just romantic love, but kindness. Get a little something for that person who showed up for you this past month.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Whether it’s called Chūn Jié in China, Tết in Vietnam, or Seollal in Korea, there are commonalities to the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Celebrate Year of the Snake with sticky rice

Whether it’s called Chūn Jié in China, Tết in Vietnam, or Seollal in Korea, there are commonalities to the Lunar New Year celebrations.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Mother and daughter Hsiao-Ching Chou and Meilee Riddle prepare for the Lunar New Year with recipes from their new cookbook.

For the Lunar New Year, prepare a whole fish to bring prosperity

Mother and daughter Hsiao-Ching Chou and Meilee Riddle prepare for the Lunar New Year with recipes from their new cookbook.

from Good Food

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

Slowing down for Shabbat, a weekly Jewish ritual that brings calm and connection

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

from Good Food

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris revisits her classic Kwanzaa cookbook

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

from Good Food

Bar cookies are easy to whip up for a crowd. Simply make the base, top it, pop the pan in the oven, and slice the bars to serve. The lemon bar is the queen of this type of pastry.

Sweeten your holiday with these bar cookies

Bar cookies are easy to whip up for a crowd. Simply make the base, top it, pop the pan in the oven, and slice the bars to serve. The lemon bar is the queen of this type of pastry.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A red tide of Santas swept Koreatown and North Hollywood for LA’s annual SantaCon — a combo of performance art, pub crawl, and Christmas.

‘Everyone has a little Santa in them’ at annual SantaCon

A red tide of Santas swept Koreatown and North Hollywood for LA’s annual SantaCon — a combo of performance art, pub crawl, and Christmas.

from KCRW Features

Gifting a holiday cookie box to loved ones? Consider adding spice, vibrant colors, and a bit of booze to your selection of treats.

Putting together the ultimate holiday cookie box? Here’s your guide

Gifting a holiday cookie box to loved ones? Consider adding spice, vibrant colors, and a bit of booze to your selection of treats.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Film critic Alonso Duralde recommends holiday movies: “See You Next Christmas,” “Better Watch Out, “1985,” and “Christmas, Again.”

Holiday film picks: ‘See You Next Christmas,’ ‘Better Watch Out’

Film critic Alonso Duralde recommends holiday movies: “See You Next Christmas,” “Better Watch Out, “1985,” and “Christmas, Again.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Films are baked into the fabric of Press Play, so we’re going to pass the microphone around the staff.

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ‘Die Hard’: Press Play staff holiday film picks

Films are baked into the fabric of Press Play, so we’re going to pass the microphone around the staff.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Food scholar Darra Goldstein traces the lineage of early fermented beverages, which were offered to deities and used in rituals.

The origins of toasting and a recipe for aged eggnog

Food scholar Darra Goldstein traces the lineage of early fermented beverages, which were offered to deities and used in rituals.

from Good Food

Sam Sanders shares his approach to a stress-free holiday; Madeleine Brand reveals the secret for a successful office party.

Best and worst holiday traditions: Sam Sanders, Madeleine Brand

Sam Sanders shares his approach to a stress-free holiday; Madeleine Brand reveals the secret for a successful office party.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Long Beach International Tamales Festival is December 14. How the event came to be is one of triumph, commitment, and never quitting.

What makes a good tamale? Festival honors cultural cuisine

The Long Beach International Tamales Festival is December 14. How the event came to be is one of triumph, commitment, and never quitting.

from KCRW Features

Hanukkah foods often focus on frying, so latkes are at the center of the table. But when it comes to the sweet side of things, jelly donuts or “sufganiyot” are a must-eat.

Sweet side of Hanukkah table: Jelly donuts are essential

Hanukkah foods often focus on frying, so latkes are at the center of the table. But when it comes to the sweet side of things, jelly donuts or “sufganiyot” are a must-eat.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

We’ve all got them: holiday memories that make us laugh, cry, or even cringe. Share your story with KCRW.

Tell KCRW: What are your unforgettable holiday memories?

We’ve all got them: holiday memories that make us laugh, cry, or even cringe. Share your story with KCRW.

from KCRW Features

Celia Sack of Omnivore Books reveals her favorite cookbooks of the year for everyone on your list.

The best cookbooks of 2024, according to Celia Sack

Celia Sack of Omnivore Books reveals her favorite cookbooks of the year for everyone on your list.

from Good Food

The best cookbooks contain stories of cultural and historical importance. Here are Evan Kleiman’s recommendations this year.

Cookbooks gift guide: ‘Mayylu!,’ ‘Zaatari,’ and more

The best cookbooks contain stories of cultural and historical importance. Here are Evan Kleiman’s recommendations this year.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend more this holiday season compared to last year, upwards of $900 per person on gifts, food, and decorations

Despite inflation, Americans are spending more this holiday season

The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend more this holiday season compared to last year, upwards of $900 per person on gifts, food, and decorations

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand