071 Food Journeys with Anika Chowdhury and Karen Hoang

Have you ever wondered what makes Bangladeshi cuisine distinctive in a world where "curry" often becomes the default descriptor for South Asian food? This week, we learn about the vibrant food culture of Bangladesh with Anika Chowdhury, food blogger and contestant from PBS's The Great American Recipe.(01:04) Anika shares her Bangladesh – "a country obsessed with food" – where she grew up surrounded by passionate food conversations and deeply seasonal cooking. Unlike our American supermarkets where ingredients appear year-round, Anika describes the special anticipation of waiting for tomatoes in winter or mangoes before monsoon season. (16:17) Anika is on a mission to showcase Bangladeshi cuisine beyond curry dishes. She explains how the simple techniques of her culinary heritage make seemingly complex flavors accessible to home cooks everywhere. As proof, she walks us through preparing tomato bhorta, a versatile dish perfect for summer's tomato bounty. Find more Bangladeshi dishes on Anika's blog, Kitchen Gatherings. (23:53) We also welcome Karen Hoang as our newest contributor! This Vietnamese-American transplant shares her journey from rarely dining out as a child of immigrants to becoming one of Pittsburgh's most enthusiastic food explorers. And she has the social media content to prove it. Support the show