Chewing

Chewing podcast co-host Louisa Chu talks with MacArthur's cafeteria owner Mac Alexander for her Chicago Tribune 8-part series on Black-owned restaurants after a year of pandemic, protests, and politics. Then Louisa and co-host Monica Eng critique the role of restaurant critic in Chicago. Plus Monica debuts a new game (with Big Drop alcohol-free IPA beer) that she calls Can You Guess? Finally she dares Louisa to try a grilled Korean macaroni pumpkin snack, but Will She Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Louisa Chu talks with chef Zoe Schor about why she has not reopened for indoor or outdoor dining yet in Chicago. Co-host Monica Eng talks with Top Chef Beverly Kim and Asian American restaurateurs Rohini Dey, Mary Nguyen Aregoni, and Geri Guidote Hernandez about how to cope during COVID. Monica dares Louisa with Flamin’ Hot mac and cheese, but Will She Eat it?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng talks to Mareya Ibrahim, author of “Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive.” Plus Monica checks in with filmmaker / grocer Matt Wechsler of Village Farmstand in Evanston near Chicago. Then co-host Louisa Chu dares her to drink hot water, the Chinese go-to beverage, but Will She Drink It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng talks to CBD Tulip Tree Gardens founders Rachael and Jesse Smedberg and tries their CBN oil in her quest for a peaceful pandemic night's sleep. Then Monica consults to sleep doctors at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Circadian & Sleep Medicine. Plus she asks chef and author Hank Shaw about how to get her goose cooked. Finally Monica dares co-host Louisa Chu and producer Iris Lin to taste CBD ice cream from Ida's Artisan Ice Cream, but Will They Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng tries home grain mill Mockmill. Then Monica talks to Man in the Kitchen founder Steve Katz. And she dares co-host Louisa Chu to taste self-described "nutritious" Vite Ramen, but Will She Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng visits to gardening activist Nicole Virgil. Then Monica talks to James Beard grant winning chef Jasmine Sheth about her project Tasting India. Plus co-host Louisa Chu dares Monica to do shots of baiju for a very special wedding toast to producer Iris Lin, but Will They Drink It?

Chewing co-host Monica Eng shares her story about leptospirosis on the food and health podcast, the deadly disease that killed Louisa Chu's beloved dog Kiba. Then Monica explains why her favorite pizza was a New York style slice, and Louisa digs deep on Chicago style. Plus Louisa dares Monica and producer Iris Lin to taste duck neck and White Rabbit flavored potato chips, but Will They Eat It?

In between seasons we're releasing a few bonus interviews. This one deals with Monica's search for a good night sleep. She hopes to find it in the new Kitchen Toke CBD honey and talks to Joline Rivera about it. 

Chewing podcast co-hosts Louisa Chu and Monica Eng talk about the importance of Harold's Chicken Shack and mild sauce, then Louisa talks to Harold's #55 owner Percy Billings

Chef Rick Bayless shares how he and his teams are doing during the coronavirus pandemic with some heartbreaking details. Then Chewing co-host Monica Eng talks about the Goya Foods controversy with Chicago Cultural Alliance director Peter Vega. Plus she talks to the filmmakers behind “Seasons of Change on Henry's Farm.” Finally co-host Louisa Chu dares Monica and their podcast producer Iris Lin to taste a seasonal Japanese corn doughnut and CBD coffee, but Will They Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Louisa Chu visits an influential Chinatown basement food court during the pandemic. Co-host Monica Eng uncovers the origin story of the iconic Chicago-invented pizza puff. Then Louisa dares Monica to taste a rancid lardo flavored egg, but Will She Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng details a lost interview with broccoli scientist Elizabeth Jeffery. Then Monica talks with fellow watchdog journalist Paul D. Thacker. Plus she visits Tortello pasta shop in Chicago during the before times. Finally co-host Louisa Chu dares her to eat Midwestern mostaccioli at a camp in Wisconsin, but Will She Eat It? 

Chewing podcast co-host Louisa Chu talks to chef and Nobel Peace Prize nominee José Andrés during his visit to Chicago about feeding people worldwide during disasters, the pandemic included. Co-host Monica Eng talks to doctors about safer ways to dine outdoors. Sun Wah BBQ restaurant co-owner Kelly Cheng shares what she'll require any diner to sign before they sit down during COVID. Then Louisa dares Monica and producer Iris Lin to try Japanese delicious sticks, but Will They Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Louisa Chu talks to Old Fashioned Donuts owner Buritt Bulloch about the Chicago pastry institution. Co-host Monica Eng talks to pastry chef Gale Gand about her quarantine cooking series, and chef Aaron Patin shares the possibly rosy new future for restaurants and restaurant workers in dining 2.0. Then Monica dares Louisa to eat a lingzhi mushroom cook, but Will She Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-hosts Louisa Chu and Monica Eng talk about the future of restaurants and getting away from it all. First, Monica talks to Chicago chef Carrie Nahabedian, who shares the challenges facing restaurants like her Brindille as they look at reopening or not soon. Then, how do they make those "The Trip to..." movies with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, and all that food? A producer on the latest film "The Trip to Greece" reveals how. Plus, what are the best milk alternatives and why? The maker of Milkadamia macadamia milk says it's one of the most environmentally friendly versions around. Finally, Monica dares Louisa to drink plant milk, but Will She Drink It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng talks sustainable seafood with Walton Family Foundation environment program officer Teresa Ish. Then Eng and co-host Louisa Chu talk home cooking recipes including pandemic pantry potatoes and sourdough discard with Chicago Tribune Food & Dining columnist and cookbook author Jim DeWan. Plus Monica dares Louisa to try tossing potato chips with ketchup, but Will She Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-host Monica Eng talks about farmers markets, essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, with Evanston parks and rec director Lawrence Hemingway. Co-host Louisa Chu reveals why El Milagro was trending in Chicago, and the top 10 corn tortillas. Then Monica and Louisa each find old Chinese candy in their pantries, but Will They Eat It?

Chewing podcast co-hosts Louisa Chu and Monica clean out the quarantine pantry with producer Iris Lin. They talk about what they are eating, and Monica reveals the danger of overeating her homemade artisan breads these days. Then she talks to scholar Joe Bozeman about the which race has the most sustainable diet and how we can all do better. Finally they dare Monica's teen daughter to eat four month old cheese flavored fish sausage, but Will She Eat It?

Louisa Chu and Monica Eng report from the midst of the coronavirus crisis in Chicago on what to eat and how to eat it. Plus how to deal with health care costs from old friend Dan Weissmann of the podcast An Arm and a Leg.