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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    ‘Eat This Book’: LA artist Stacy Michelson brings her unique drawings and fun food facts to new book

    In her new book, Stacy Michelson reveals that Americans eat more avocados on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day, and mochi ice cream was invented in LA.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Apr 13, 2021 • 15m Listen

    LA-based artist Stacy Michelson decided a few years ago to illustrate every episode of Good Food for an entire year. Her food drawings are bright, colorful, and a lot of fun. Imagine an avocado that looks like it just came from a workout, or a champagne flute with cool sunglasses.

    Now Michelson has a book full of her food illustrations. It’s called “Eat This Book: Knowledge to Feed Your Appetite and Inspire Your Next Meal.”

    It includes tips and fun facts about some of the world’s favorite — and sometimes misunderstood — foods. For example: The ancient Egyptians created marshmallows. Pizza Hut was the biggest buyer of kale until the last decade. Mochi ice cream was created in LA. More than 11 billion avocados are consumed each year around the globe, and Americans eat them most on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day.

    Stacy Michelson writes that just one or two drops of liquid smoke adds extra flavor that can enhance your dish. Image courtesy of Stacy Michelson.

    Half of a marshmallow is air, writes Stacy Michelson. Image courtesy of Stacy Michelson.

    Stacy Michelson is known for bright, colorful, and fun food drawings. Photo by Camellia Tse.

    The full episode

    2 of 4
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    1. 0:00Be cautious, don’t panic: Infectious disease doctor on US pausing Johnson and Johnson vaccine
    2. 10:35‘Eat This Book’: LA artist Stacy Michelson brings her unique drawings and fun food facts to new bookYou’re reading this
    3. 25:47ArcLight and Cinerama Dome are closing for good. Here’s a tribute to the beloved venues
    4. 34:32Oscar nominee ‘Collective’: How journalists uncovered deep corruption in Romania’s health care system
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Stacy Michelson

      illustrator and author of “Eat This Book: Knowledge to Feed Your Appetite and Inspire Your Next Meal”

      CultureFood & DrinkLos AngelesArts

    The full episode

    2 of 4
    Johnson and Johnson vaccine is paused. Don’t panic, says doctor
    1. 0:00Be cautious, don’t panic: Infectious disease doctor on US pausing Johnson and Johnson vaccine
    2. 10:35‘Eat This Book’: LA artist Stacy Michelson brings her unique drawings and fun food facts to new bookYou’re reading this
    3. 25:47ArcLight and Cinerama Dome are closing for good. Here’s a tribute to the beloved venues
    4. 34:32Oscar nominee ‘Collective’: How journalists uncovered deep corruption in Romania’s health care system
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand