Appetites®

Every week, we bring you local and regional food and drink news, trends, reviews, flavors, recipes and advice. Appetites airs every Wednesday on MPR News' All Things Considered with host Tom Crann.

The sticky rice cake at the center of Lunar New Year
For thousands of Vietnamese Minnesotans celebrating Lunar New Year, an elaborate feast is a must. At the center of it all: bánh chưng and bánh tét, the humble sticky rice cake filled with meaning.
Alan Page’s ‘Baking Up Love’ draws on his joy of baking with his grandchildren
NFL Hall of Famer, former Vikings player and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page talks about his new book, “Baking Up Love,” a story he wrote with his daughter, Kamie Page, about a girl who bakes with her grandpa.
Appetites: Braised beans make a hearty, versatile meal for chilly days
Award-winning cookbook author Beth Dooley says that if you’re looking for a hearty, filling meal for these cold Minnesota nights, beans are your best bet. She offers her recipe for Braised Dark Greens with Beans.
Appetites investigates: Was Chicago Mix actually invented in Minnesota?
It’s called Chicago Mix: that curious mixture of savory and sweet popcorn, the candy-coated mixed with the cheesy. But despite the regional name, there are claims that Chicago Mix originated in Minnesota.
Thanksgiving recipes from Minnesota’s best culinary minds
For Thanksgiving this year, we asked some of Minnesota’s best culinary minds — many of them regulars on Appetites — to share what they’re thankful for this year and some dishes you can add to your Thanksgiving menu.
Flint corn: the Indigenous staple crop making a comeback
Flint corn — it’s the kind used to make hominy and cornmeal. It’s been a staple for Native communities in Minnesota for centuries but through colonization it’s been removed from Indigenous stewardship and care. Now, it’s making a comeback.
Mash-up ideas to try at home: Dulce de leche french toast and ceviche tacos
They’re unexpected combinations that can be very tasty: culinary mash-ups. Think taco burgers, Greek egg rolls or Buffalo chicken anything. Cookbook author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard said they are a modern trend — not to be confused with fusion cuisine — and she shared recipes for mash-ups you can try at home.