As the world learns a new word, they’ll be evangelists to tell us it will change everything, critics who blast the unprofessionalism, fans who tout the benefits of the everyman having a voice, naysayers who predict a quickly fading fad and prophets who will predict the death of one media due to the birth of a new one. Podcasts aren’t really anything new, audio blogging has been around for awhile. A fellow Chicago non-food blogger with a culinary name – Greasy Skillet was where I first encountered it – around 1999. What’s different now is the device that the media is played on – a portable, personal player, something away from the computer. Critics of podcasts who don’t get it are those who sit in front of their screen trying to listen to a podcast on their computer. That’s not podcasting, that’s playing an audio track while staring at a screen.
Recently I remember someone saying this same thing, on a podcast, I think it was Dave Winer, but one of the differences between podcasting and weblogging is you can’t search (usually) the text and attribute a quote via a link.
Anyway, what does this all have to do with food? The point is to listen to podcasts while doing something else – commuting, walking, cleaning the house or – cooking. That’s why food podcasts are perfect for those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You can blast them from your monitor speakers in the other room, plug an MP3 player into a kitchen stereo or boombox or listen to them on a laptop on the kitchen table while you spend a 1/2 hour stirring that risotto. Hopefully they’ll be more step by step, nicely produced cooking casts that might walk you through each step, repeating ingredients as you prep and add them, timing each cooking operation with a nice musical interlude or an historical essay on the ingredients. Until that time here are some casts with people talking about food and drink that you can listen to while you slave over that stove.
Technical note: these links are to websites that have links to the casts, but some may wish to subscribe or download them using iTunes or any other podcast aggregator. Most of these sites have links and advice to help you along your way to listening in.
Editorial note: unlike blogs, podcasts take lots of time to listen and review. Since I haven’t listened to all of these yet, I can’t put up a subjective list of ones I like, just a list of a variety of them.
Eat Feed “Intelligent focus on food”. Chicago based. Listen to their cast on Chicago food.
Winecast An excellent blog as well. The best thing about learning about wine from a podcast – you’ll know how to pronounce them! Probably the single biggest reason why newbie winos are intimidated by the ordering process. I’ve stolen most of the links you see here from his sidebar.
All You Can Eat “is all about food and beverages. On this podcast you will hear feature interviews with chefs, farmers, winemakers, producers and cookbook authors. Sometimes you’ll hear from my taste panel, a regular gathering of friends who compare different brands of foodstuffs. One week it could be fruitcake, the next: meat substitutes. I will also open up my radio archives to bring you documentaries I’ve produced from locations around the world like India, Japan and France.” From Don Genova, the maker of the Pacific Palate blog
Cheers to wine and food “Daily tips and tidbits to celebrate the pleasures of wine and food” Quite a bit of food knowledge here, especially since it’s daily.
Coffee Geek “… the world of true artisan coffee and expresso. Interviews, HowTos, Product Reviews, roundtables with professionals, News and Commentary will turn you into an enlightened coffee aficionado.”
Cooking on the Radio From nearby Naperville.
Craft Beer Radio “The show for craft beer and the craft brewing industry.”
GrapeRadio “three hosts sharing their opinions and experiences with the audience. Show topics review issues such as the enjoyment of wine, wine news and industry trends. The hallmark of the show is guest interviews with winemakers, vineyards owners, wine retail / wholesale leaders, restaurateurs and sommeliers.”
Let’s Get Baked Podcast “with Mat and Dave is Halifax’s premiere vegan baking radio show”
Screwtops These guys are funny and they do what most FCC sanctioned broadcasts don’t – they drink on the air!
Winemaking Radio Beyond just drinking the stuff.