Good Food

AI might be making your groceries more expensive. Reporter Eric Gardner explains how grocery stores are exploring "dynamic pricing," charging different people different prices for the same items. Sean Sherman, the Sioux Chef, links the natural environments, traditions, and histories of Indigenous peoples across North America in his latest cookbook. Krystle Hickman journeys through the world of California bees, one letter at a time. Jason Cheng explains why his farm, Yao Cheng Farm in Camarillo, is dropping its organic certification. Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.

Amid the loss and devastation, there is resilience and hope. We remember our friend Christine Moore, owner of Little Flower, who unexpectedly passed away this week. Leah Ferrazzani of Ferrazzani's Pasta & Market tells the tale of multiple fires, pointing out the disparities in how Altadena residents were affected. Teddy and Andy Leonard weigh in on the challenges of rebuilding the Reel Inn, their cherished coastline seafood shack, which was lost in the Palisades Fire. Elina Shatkin hangs out with the Altadena Dining Club, the brainchild of Brooke Iva Lohman, who gathers locals at struggling eateries for a weekly meal. Janek Schaller visits the Altadena Community Garden, where scientists and volunteers use bioremediation practices to clean up contaminated soil. LA Times restaurant critic Bill Addison reviews two Altadena restaurants — Miya, a Thai spot, and Betsy, a venture from Tyler Wells. Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.

New year, new ideas. We revisit a conversation with Austin Frerick who shares the stories of seven agricultural titans, their rise to power, and the consequences for the rest of us. Nancy Matsumoto celebrates the women who are fighting Big Food by building sustainable food systems. At Alma Backyard Farms in Compton, co-founder Erika Cuellar feeds the soil and the soul with programs targeting youth and people who were once incarcerated. Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.

A year in the life of food. Michael Shaikh tells the stories of people preserving their culinary traditions amid war and violence. Ted Genoways considers José Cuervo's colorful history, from eluding Pancho Villa's death threats to bringing tequila north of the Mexican border. Sarah Ahn's viral food videos of her mom have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational life. Humberto Raygoza aka the Chori-Man links four generations using one chorizo recipe. Olivia Haver loves cheese so much, she has devoted her career to babysitting it. Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.

Generational family recipes take center stage. Kathy Fang spent her childhood shaped by 24 square blocks of San Francisco, where her father manned a wok, feeding hungry customers at the House of Nanking. Forager Pascal Baudar hunts down wild seeds and grains. Jess Shadbolt helms the kitchen at King, the ingredient-focused New York City restaurant with an aesthetic of eating simply but lavishly. One of the world's foremost authorities on libations, former Shakespeare professor David Wondrich delivers the history of the cocktail in comic book form. Connect with Good Food host Evan Kleiman on Substack.