From Dirty Water Bottles to Lab-Grown Chocolate: The Journalist Who Cooks Gets Personal in Episode 3 of 'Back of the Fridge'

In this week’s episode of Back of the Fridge, I’m opening up the pantry of current food news and culinary curiosities. Warning! It’s fully stocked.The episode kicks off with a glimpse into the world of reusable water bottles. Spoiler alert: if you haven’t washed yours today (or, let’s be honest, this week), you might want to hit the pause button and grab some dish soap, turn on the hot water, and put your scrub brush to work. The numbers on bacterial growth are enough to make you gag. But don’t worry, there are some solid cleaning tips to help you bounce back.From there, I crack open an update on egg prices. While wholesale costs are finally falling after months of inflation and bird flu concerns, don’t expect relief at the checkout line just yet. Patience, shoppers.Then I’ll take you over to Yankee Stadium, where a new “stuffed Jamaican beef patty” has me … less than thrilled. Let’s just say cilantro lime slaw and jerk BBQ aioli might not be what my Jamaican ancestors had in mind.Also on the menu:* A heartfelt goodbye to boxing legend and grill king George Foreman.* A Girl Scouts + Pop-Tarts mashup you didn’t know you needed (or maybe you did).* A heartwarming reminder from Washington State to Grow Food and Give It Away.* Why the food in Apple TV+’s Severance is just as unsettling as the storyline. * The curious comeback of beef tallow and the TikTokers, who were way ahead of the trend.* A look at Seamus Blackley’s quest to grow chocolate in a Los Angeles lab.Whether you’re here for the bacteria-busting water bottle tips, the cocoa-powered tech dreams, or just love a good food rant, Episode 3 brings flavor to every segment.Stay curious. Stay hungry. — The Journalist Who Cooks 📎 Show notes + links:* Water Bottle Germs: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250317-how-often-should-you-clean-your-water-bottle-and-what-is-the-best-way* Eggs: Pricing update: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/g-s1-54111/egg-price-bird-flu-usda-easter-passover* Yankee Stadium Food Court Additions: https://www.mlb.com/news/yankee-stadium-concession-options-for-2025-season* Girl Scouts partner with Pop-Tarts to extend Girl Scouts cookie season: https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/food-drink/girl-scouts-cookies-announce-unexpected-new-food-partnership* Grow Food and Donate: https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/grow-food-and-give-it-away,19271* Severance: Food at Lumon https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/dining/severance-lumon-food.html* Beef Tallow or Nah? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/well/eat/beef-tallow-oil-health.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare* L.A.’s own Willy Wonka? The ‘father’ of the Xbox is now perfecting lab-grown chocolate: https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-03-21/the-father-of-the-xbox-is-now-perfecting-lab-created-chocolate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejournalistwhocooks.substack.com