The Sporkful

Richard Blais got his first job in food at McDonald's when he was a teenager. He was so shy he couldn't look the customers in the eye. So how did that kid become a food TV star and winner of Top Chef All Stars? How did he end up in some the finest kitchens in the country? And why does he say he still doesn't consider himself successful? We discuss, plus he tells us why spotting a hot trend and hopping on the bandwagon is a good career strategy in the food world. Today's sponsor: Go to SunBasket...

Sporkful listeners and Dan reveal what food they resolve to eat more of in the new year -- and why. Plus we replay one of our favorite shows from 2017. Today's sponsors:Go to Modcloth.com and enter promo code SPORKFUL25 to get 15% off your order of $100 or more. Go to Sonos.com and get 10% off one order of $2500 or less, using the promo code SPORKFUL10 (case sensitive). Go to Upsie.com and use promo code SPORKFUL for 10% off your first purchase.

What are the best and worst food-related moments in the Star Wars films? How could the Force help you out in the kitchen? Star Wars: The Last Jedi comes out today, so we're exploring the universe of Star Wars food with The Food Lab's Kenji Lopez-Alt, Nerdette's Greta Johnsen, and the recipe developer behind Han Solo Frozen In Carbonite Jello Mold. Today's sponsors:Go to BonAppetit.com/GetBA and use the code SPORK to save $5 on a one-year subscription (and get an exclusive tote bag!)...

We talk to three inventors who've sacrificed everything -- from their life savings to their gall bladders -- in pursuit of their dream of changing the way we eat and drink. It’s the first ever Sporkful Holiday Gift Guide! Today's sponsors:Go to Sonos.com and get 10% off one order of $2500 or less, using the promo code SPORKFUL10 (case sensitive). Go to SpiceIslands.com/Sporkful for spice facts and recipes. Go to SunBasket.com/Sporkful to get $35 off your first order. Go to TouchBistro...

We travel to DC to learn about a quintessentially librarian cooking club, founded in 1949, that's in danger of disappearing. Today's sponsors:Go to BonAppetit.com/GetBA and use the code SPORK to save $5 on a one-year subscription (and get an exclusive tote bag!). Go to CanvasPeople.com and get a free 11x14 canvas (just pay shipping), using promo code SPORKFUL. Go to Sonos.com and get 10% off one order of $2500 or less, using the promo code SPORKFUL10 (case sensitive). Go to SpiceIslands...

The Israeli-British chef is famous for getting people to eat more vegetables, but now he's making the case for sugar. Plus he discusses the personality differences between bakers and cooks, why he never orders the specials in restaurants, and what happens when a perfectionist like him attempts to cook with his kids. Today's sponsors:Go to CanvasPeople.com and get a free 11x14 canvas (just pay shipping), using promo code SPORKFUL. Go to ChefSteps...

Julia Turner of the Slate Culture Gabfest offers muffin opinions, muffin analysis, and, according to Dan, muffin heresy. Is there a muffin they can both agree to love? Listen to find out, and to gain a new appreciation for the nuances of muffindom. Today's sponsors: Go to BonAppetit.com/GetBA and use the code SPORK to save $5 on a one-year subscription (and get an exclusive tote bag!). Go to ChefSteps.com/Joule and get $15 off a Joule Sous Vide, using the promo code SPORKFUL (case sensitive)...

We discuss the beauty and tyranny of tradition, as well as the Wheel Of Infinite Thanksgiving Anxiety, with legendary food writer Mimi Sheraton, Milk Street Kitchen's Christopher Kimball, and cookbook author Kian Lam Kho. And yes, we're serious. Today's sponsors: Go to ChefSteps.com/Joule and get $15 off a Joule Sous Vide, using the promo code SPORKFUL (case sensitive). Go to Sonos.com and get 10% off one order of $2500 or less, using the promo code SPORKFUL10 (case sensitive). Go to SunBasket...

A famous sandwich shop in Aleppo, Syria, played a key role in changing Shadi Martini's life forever. Today on The Sporkful we hear the rest of Shadi's story, and conclude our quest to find out what made that shop special and whether it survived the Syrian Civil War. Today's sponsor: Go to SpiceIslands.com/Sporkful for spice facts and recipes.

Before Aleppo became famous for fighting, it was famous for food. This week we go on a quest to find out what made a beloved sandwich shop there special, and whether the restaurant and its owners have survived the Syrian Civil War. Today's sponsors: Go to BonAppetit.com/GetBA and use the code SPORK to save $5 on a one-year subscription (and get an exclusive tote bag!). Go to ChefSteps.com/Joule and use the code SPORKFUL to get $15 off a Joule Sous Vide (limited time). Go to SpiceIslands...