Los Angeles radio is booming with food-oriented talk shows, catering to those who love to cook and eat. Check out the four L.A. radio shows that will leave you drooling for more...
Good Food
Considered the gold standard of radio programming for foodies, “Good Food” is hosted by L.A.’s culinary maven, Evan Kleiman. As owner and executive chef of Angeli Caffe, and a best-selling cookbook author, Kleiman is a fan of rustic cuisine and farm-fresh ingredients. “Good Food,” which airs weekly on KCRW, focuses both on the local and international food scenes—from interviews at the farmers market to spotlights on unusual restaurants around the world (Taiwanese toilet dining, anyone?). Recipes, reports and tips from the likes of Jonathan Gold, Mark Bittman and Ruth Reichl round out this hour-long culinary experience.
KCRW 89.9 FM Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. (podcast available)
Food News with Melinda Lee
There’s no doubt that former caterer Melinda Lee knows her stuff. Rarely is she stumped by a caller’s question, which range from "Can I substitute regular flour for cake flour?" to "How do I make hors d'oeuvres for a party of 25?" In between callers she features tip-driven segments, such as how to brine a Thanksgiving turkey and extolling the virtues of a thermal immersion circulator. Her website is a goldmine of recipes and a glossary of cooking terminology. The biggest drawback is that the show is jammed with commercials, and with Lee reading much of the copy, it quickly blurs the line between promotional and editorial content.
KNX 1070 AM, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Food & Wine with Chef Jamie Gwen
Kudos to her booker or her inside connections because Chef Jamie Gwen’s weekly program is packed with compelling guests: celebrity chefs, cookbook authors, sommeliers, local restaurateurs, and other industry experts. Chef Gwen herself is no slouch, with multiple cookbooks and sommelier certification under her belt. It’s nearly impossible to walk away from the show without some piece of useful information, whether it’s pairing wine with chocolate or the next trend in the L.A. restaurant scene.
KFWB 980 AM, Sunday 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. (podcast available)
Feed Your Face with Merrill Shindler
Can’t figure out where to eat tonight? Just ask Merrill. A restaurant critic and editor of the Los Angeles Zagat Survey, Shindler is practically a walking restaurant guide himself. His program, which also features interviews with chefs and restaurant operators, maintains a truly local angle—from Santa Monica to the Inland Empire down to Orange County. However, considering his longtime role as L.A.’s “food dude,” Shindler’s ubiquitous advertisements for chains like Buca di Beppo come across as rather unfortunate.
KABC 790 AM, Saturday 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (podcast available)
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