Good Food
LA's Street Food History, the Hangtown Fry, Corn Wars
Writer Farley Elliott provides a history of LA's street food from tameleros to taco trucks and historian Libby O'Connell shares the curious backstory of the Hangtown Fry. Plus, we learn how Iowa's agri-tech corn fields became a target for foreign espionage.
By Evan Kleiman • • 57m ListenPhoto: Image from Farley Elliott's book Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. (Julia A. Reed)
In this episode
7 storiesLos Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks
Farley Elliott is senior editor at Eater LA and a longtime food, drink and travel writer. In his new book, Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks , he declares LA as the uncontested street food champion of the United States.
Read the story8 minLA Scores with Bon Appétit's Hot Ten
Every August Bon Appétit releases their Hot Ten: America's Best New Restaurants . This year Los Angeles landed two restaurants on the top ten list: Gjusta at number two and Petit Trois at number three. Bon Appétit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton shares his California picks on this year's list. Music: " Hometown" by Splendid
Read the story8 minThe Evolution of American Cuisine and Culture
Libby O'Connell is chief historian for the History Channel and author of several books. Her new book, The American Plate: A Culinary History in 100 Bites , catalogs our edible heritage bite by bite from apple pie to Hangtown fry. Try this recipe for her Hangtown fry on the Good Food blog . Music: "NaNaNa" by Splendid
Read the story8 minPie, Sweat, and Tears with Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels is best known as the original trainer on The Biggest Loser. As a onetime overweight kid, she says her personal history with pie runs deep.
Read the story2 minCorn Wars: A Tale of Espionage, Intrigue and Agriculture
Despite its remarkable landmass, China simply cannot grow enough food to feed itself. Water shortages and lack of arable terrain have forced their government to buy between two and five million metric tons of American corn annually, which accounts for 94 percent of their imports.
Read the story16 minJonathan Gold Reviews Sāmbār
Jonathan Gold is the Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer for the LA Times. This week he reviews Sāmbār , Akasha Richmond's Indian-inspired restaurant in Culver City. He recommends the saag and goat paneer naan, stone fruit salad, goat curry, zucchini kofta, and pork shoulder vindaloo.
Read the story6 minMarket Report
Santa Monica Farmers' Market manager Laura Avery talks with chef David Lefevre of MB Post , Fishing with Dynamite and the recently opened The Arthur J in Manhattan Beach. He's excited to see the market brimming with delicious figs. He likes to sear his figs cut side down over hot coals for a quick thirty seconds.
Read the story7 min
