And the Turks Gave Us Dumplings

In this episode, Dr. Jenn Seasly reconnects with Zack Brimhall to explore a beloved Turkish dish—mantı—a labor-intensive but love-filled dumpling that ties generations together. Zack shares vivid memories of his grandmother making hundreds of these meat-filled parcels from scratch, flavored with garlic yogurt, paprika, sumac, and mint. They talk about how food transcends language barriers, how some dishes never make it onto restaurant menus but live forever in family kitchens, and how even a shortcut version using frozen tortellini can still bring joy and nostalgia. From warm Turkish bread to shepherd's salad and a cold glass of Pepsi on the side, this episode is a celebration of culinary memory, cultural heritage, and food as family language. 🔗 Find the recipe here