Good Food
The Science Of Overeating; Vodka; Blueberries; Las Vegas' Water Shortage
Want a recipe to get fat? Add equal parts of sugar, salt and fat. There is actual science behind overeating. How Las Vegas is trying to conserve water for its thirsty population. A group of friends infiltrate straight bars and turn them gay for a day. Plus the intriguing story of Smirnoff vodka and its role in Russian life.
By Evan Kleiman • • 58m ListenDr. David Kessler, former head of the FDA knows what it takes to make us all obese -- sugar, salt and fat. Jonathan Gold gives us his latest favorite restaurant to try. And if you know the password you can get into some LA area speakeasies says Lesley Balla. Connie Alvarez takes us along with a group of friends who infiltrate straight bars and turn them gay for a night. Vodka has taken hold of the US and the Smirnovs have something to do with it according to author Linda Himelstein. When there's a drought in Las Vegas Patricia Mulroy, manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, has to figure out how to conserve. And Leah DiBernardo is putting gardening into the ciriculum in Temecula Valley schools. Plus Laura Avery celebrates the arrival of stone fruit -- peaches, apricots and nectarines.
In this episode
8 storiesMarket Report
Summer fruit is flooding the market. David Karp, the fruit connoisseur, marvels at Southern California blueberries, a fruit native to Northern forests. The bushes require moist, acidic soil with a certain amount of winter chill. Thanks to a hybrid variety, 20 million pounds of blueberries now grow in the San Joaquin valley each year. David…
Read the story8 minThe Science of Overeating
Dr. David Kessler headed up the FDA from 1990-1997, where he fought for better food labels. He also was largely responsible for putting the tobacco companies under federal regulation. His latest book is The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite . Dr.
Read the story7 minGuatemalteca
Jonathan Gold is the Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic for the L.A. Weekly. This week he highlights Guatemalteca, a Guatemalan restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. near Vermont. The most popular dishes are the snack plates and the quesadilla - a poundcake made with a Guatemalan cheese. Read Jonathan's review at LAWeekly.com .
Read the story7 minLA Speakeasies
Lesley Balla is the Los Angeles editor for Tasting Table , a daily email newsletter. There are three speakeasies that recently opened in Los Angeles. The first, located in the back room at Cole's French Dip in Downtown L.A., is The Varnish . When you're there, Leslie recommends the drink 'Remember the Maine,' made from rye and Cherry…
Read the story6 minInstant Gay Bar
The Medusa Lounge (Photo Courtesy Gary Mecija) Good Food Producer Connie Alvarez went on a mission with the folks behind Guerrilla Gay Bar . On the second Friday of each month, the group takes over a bar in Los Angeles for a night, turning it into a gay bar. Justin, Matthew and Chester of Guerilla Gay Bar (Photo Courtesy Gary Mecija)…
Read the story8 minThe King of Vodka
Pyotr Smirnov (Photo Courtesy The King of Vodka ) Linda Himelstein is the author of The King of Vodka: The Story of Pyotr Smirnov and the Upheaval of an Empire . Music Break: Le Chacha Du Step by Nicholas Errera
Read the story8 minLas Vegas' Water Shortage
Patricia Mulroy is the General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District . Southern Nevada gets its water from the Colorado River which is currently experiencing the worst drought in 10 years. Lake Mead, Las Vegas' reservoir, has dropped by 1 percent each year. The Water Authority severely…
Read the story7 minThe Bounty of Temecula
Leah Di Bernardo is the president of Slow Food Temecula . The organization's second annual fundraiser is Field to the Fork , held at Leonesse Cellars on May 31 from 1 pm - 4 pm. They are raising money for the Temecula-area school garden program. More info and tickets here . Leah Di Bernardo and Evan
Read the story6 min
