#louisachu

[chewingthefatshow]

Chewing the Fat co-hosts Louisa Chu and Monica Eng ask legendary Chez Panisse chef Alice Waters and Renegade Lunch Lady Ann Cooper why, despite more than a decade of school food reform, processed foods still rule America’s neediest lunchrooms. We also talk to former Fed Up With Lunch blogger Mrs. Q (aka Sarah Wu) about her exit from the school food movement, and highlight Sitka Conservation Society's innovative salmon to school program in Alaska. Plus, Louisa makes Monica a 42 ingredient nugget, but Will She Eat It?

[chewingthefatshow]

We talk to chef Nate Appleman, Jared Van Kamp and Bruce Sherman about what makes food sustainable and if that always means delicious.

[chewingthefatshow]

WBEZ's Afternoon Shift, on which Louisa and Monica frequently appear, is competing with Wait Wait Don't Tell Me in the public radio March bracket competition. We are going to get massacred but our boss Justin Kaufman got half naked and mounted a horse to try to inspire us not to give up hope. You can see the whole thing here. And by the looks on our faces you probably guess that it wasn't pretty. BUT IT WAS SUPER FUNNY. 

[chewingthefatshow]

[chewingthefatshow]

Today we are releasing a Chewing the Fat movies extra, featuring filmmaker Jeff Spitz who talks about his new documentary food patriots featuring food heroes of the Midwest and some very brave chickens. You'll come out of it wanting to raise a few cluckers of your own. You'll also be inspired by the food work being done at Prosser High School under biology teacher Marnie Ware and others.

[chewingthefatshow]

Don't forget to buy your paczki for Fat Tuesday and paczki weekend in Chicago. Hint: Plan to eat the warm freshly fried doughnuts in the bakery or in your car where you have a hot cup of coffee waiting. They taste soooo much better eaten two hours (rather than eight hours) after they are made.

[chewingthefatshow]

Our Chinese food bonus episode, just in time for the Lunar New Year! We talk with Ming Tsai about the future of Asian-American cuisine. We make homemade dumplings, wrappers and all, with Chinese writer Wen Huang. We try the new Waygo Chinese translation app on menus. And travel back in time to mid-century modern chop suey houses with a longtime Hoe Sai Gai regular, an Orange Garden daughter, and a sweet and sour historian. Happy Lucky Eating!

[chewingthefatshow]

Chewing the Fat survived the Polar Vortex! Now Monica and Louisa go on their favorite getaways, on a plate. Hey, we’re on public radio budgets! It’s our Season One finale so we’re taking a mini vacation. But before we go, we’ll transport you to summer at a Mexico City market taco stand, via tacos al pastor in Chicago. And time travel fortified with hot chocolate and cinnamon streusel coffeecake, through a historic hotel lobby. Louisa makes Monica a vintage Korean recipe called Army Base Stew — Will She Eat It? Plus, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot from Sound Opinions drop by to share some favorite diners, and talk about the best places to find some grub after a night of live music. And, pop quiz: Food words you might be pronouncing wrong. All that and much more! (Tacos al pastor at El Chapin Carniceria y Taqueria in Chicago/Louisa Chu—Flickr)