Good Food
Oreo Turns 100; Irish Breakfast; History of the Tomato
Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? According to the Supreme Court, it's both. Plus, how to cook an Irish breakfast and a salute to the cookies you twist, lick and dunk.
By Evan Kleiman • • 56m ListenIs the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Food historian Andrew F. Smith explains that because of a Supreme Court decision in 1883 it's both. Tomatomaniac Scott Daigre returns to the show with recommendations on tomato growing strategy. Warner Ebbink and Brandon Boudet, co-owners of LA's oldest Irish establishment, Tom Bergin's, discuss Irish breakfast and the lore of the shamrocks on the bar wall. The Oreo sandwich cookie turns 100 this month and Lisa Mann offers some fascinating statistics about the classic cookie's 100-year history. Jonathan Gold visits Lawry's The Prime Rib and is still impressed after all these years. Plus, we continue our look at water with David Bradshaw who explains why some farmers in the Imperial Valley are being paid not to irrigate their crops.
Banner image: Oreo's 1951 logo, courtesy of Kraft Foods
In this episode
7 storiesMarket Report
Mike Garber is the executive chef at Mohawk Bend . Every Wednesday he visits the Santa Monica Farmers' Market and creates a special based upon what he finds. This week he saw fava tendrils at McGrath Farms' stand and created a Farmers' Market Salad with Fava Tendrils. Get the recipe on the Good Food Blog .
Read the story7 minWhat's for Breakfast in Ireland?
Warner Ebbink and Brandon Boudet and the co-owners of Dominick's , Little Dom's and, now, Tom Bergin's . LA's oldest Irish establishment has been known predominantly as a bar, but Boudet will introduce a traditional Irish menu when the restaurant reopens, complete with rashers, blood pudding and Irish coffee.
Read the story9 minScott Daigre on Tomato Strategy
Scott Daigre is the founder of Tomatomania . The tomato extravaganza is back and bigger than ever, so this year and he suggests a few tomato strategies that will prevent the home gardener from being overwhelmed. If you know what you want from your tomato plants you can plan ahead.
Read the story7 minAndrew Smith on the History of Tomatoes
Andrew F. Smith teaches Food Studies at the New School University in New York. A frequent writer and lecturer on food history, he's edited or authored 19 books, including The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America . He discusses the history of the tomato in America where it was considered poisonous until the early 19th century.
Read the story8 minTubbed and Scrubbed at Lawry's
Jonathan Gold visits an old favorite, Lawry's The Prime Rib . For many years Lawry's has been a Los Angeles institution and Gold is still impressed. He always orders the Diamond Jim Brady cut of beef, creamed spinach and the extra large Idaho potatoes that are famously "tubbed and scrubbed."
Read the story8 minOreo's 100th Birthday
Lisa Mann is the Vice President of Kraft Foods. She offers a timeline of the Oreo which turns 100 this month. In 100 years the cookie has only had three designs and it is now sold across the globe from China -- where they sell Green Tea Oreos -- to Argentina, where they sell Dulce de Leche Oreos.
Read the story9 minDavid Bradshaw on Irrigation in the Imperial Valley
David Bradshaw is the Assistant Water Manager in charge of the Water Conservation program for the Imperial Irrigation District. He explains why some farmers in the Imperial Valley are being paid up to $500 per acre to divert their water to nearby cities while their fields lay fallow.
Read the story8 min
