Asking Alex McKenna the best meal she’s ever had is, essentially, asking her the best moment of her life. The two exist only together in her world. In this episode, Alex illuminates the essential human elements that accompany any memorable meal– the hospitality that grounds us in the moment, the company that surrounds us, the circumstances that bring us to the table, and even the beauty of a space. While delicious food is always on the table at a best meal, these “ingredients” are what can transform a meal into a core memory.  Her stories paint the picture of a life well lived, combining deep appreciation for wanderlust, hospitality, flavor, connection, beauty, friendship and family.  

Before the days of celebrity chefs pop-ups and insta-worthy interiors, restaurants relied on one simple thing to get customers in the door: consistently delicious food. This week, Tony award winning actor, writer and comedian Dan Fogler celebrates that version of dining, recounting meals at infamous dining establishments from New York to New Orleans. The names might be familiar and the meals might be predictable, but the stories are anything but tired. 

In a time when most emails end with a quick “thanks,” comedian Judy Gold takes the time to close hers with “Sent while thinking about my next meal.”  But in this episode, Judy does quite the opposite: with unencumbered joy, she takes us back in time to her parents’ kitchen and backyard garden in New Jersey, where it wasn’t just a love of food that was born–it was a love of loving food. The predictability of everyday meals we love to hate. The thrill of the unexpected. The cultivation of a family bond. The honoring of tradition. The sense of comfort that comes over us from just a whiff of that certain meal. Judy’s stories are a reminder of the joy that comes from keeping food at the center of our lives.