Good Food
The History of Ramen; Kimchi; School Lunch
A ramen aficionado's history lesson on the popular noodle, a mother-in-law's 21-year-old kimchi recipe goes to New York, and a doctor on how vinegar can save your life.
By Evan Kleiman • • 1h 0m ListenEver wonder when instant ramen was invented? Peter Meehan gives us a history lesson on the popular noodles. Jonathan Gold introduces a new menu item: "The Raft." Kimchi isn't just a side dish or banchan. Lauryn Chun incorporates it into cooked dishes like grilled cheese and mussels in coconut milk. Zach Brooks recommends where to go on your next lunch break, and Sarah Wu discusses outing herself as the anonymous blogger behind Fed Up with Lunch and the truth about school lunch in America. Plus, Paul Blumenthal explains how vinegar can help diagnose cervical cancer.
Banner image: Momofuku ramen (pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg). Photo by Noah Kalina
In this episode
7 storiesMarket Report
Casey Lane is the Executive Chef at The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. He prefers to marinate his beets rather than simply roast them. He serves his marinated beets in a composed salad with shaved fennel, satsuma tangerines and a pistachio nut "salsa."
Read the story8 minIntroducing 'The Raft'
Jonathan Gold reviews Short Order , the new burger joint located at the Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. He recommends the Tuna Nicoise Raft, Nancy's Backyard Burger, The Turkey Burger and the Short Order Spuds. He also says they have a great wine and beer list.
Read the story7 minLucky Peach
Peter Meehan is the co-editor of Lucky Peach , a quarterly journal from Momofuku in New York. The first issue, which he discusses with Evan, is all about ramen. Subscriptions to Lucky Peach are available in Momofuku restaurants, most bookstores and online via McSweeney's Store .
Read the story9 minMother in Law's Kimchi
Lauryn Chun is the founder and owner of Mother in Law's Kimchi . She learned to make kimchi with her grandmother during kimjang, the last cabbage harvest in Korea when families get together and make enough kimchi to last the winter. You'll find a recipe for her "Kimcheeze Sandwich" on the Good Food Blog .
Read the story8 minMidtown Lunch Crawl
Zach Brooks is the founder of Midtown Lunch . He blogs about where to eat lunch in Los Angeles.
Read the story7 minAn Anonymous Blogger Reveals Her Identity
Sarah Wu recently outed herself as the blogger behind Fed Up with Lunch , a year-long project in which she ate school lunch every day in the Illinois public elementary school where she worked. Her new book is Fed Up with Lunch : How One Anonymous Teacher Revealed the Truth about School Lunches - and How We Can Change Them!
Read the story12 minA Surprising Use for Vinegar
Dr. Paul Blumenthal is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Stanford School of Medicine. He pioneered a procedure that uses vinegar, or vinegar substitutes, to diagnose cervical cancer. Read the original article that peaked our interest.
Read the story7 min
