LIVE: Hot Dogs, Weird Foods, and What's in My Fridge

Had an absolute blast this weekend talking weird food, hot dogs, Jell-O salads, presidential eating habits, duck pâté, giant wheels of White House cheese, White house ragers, and what’s hiding in our refrigerators with my friend Bennett Rea of Cookin’ with Congress.Bennett has built one of the most fascinating food history projects online — recreating the meals of presidents, politicians, and everyday Americans to explore what food says about culture, class, power, and identity. Somewhere between hot dogs for the Queen of England, and frozen cottage cheese suspended in Jell-O, we uncovered a surprising amount about American food.We also opened our fridges live for the internet, which may or may not have been a mistake. If you missed the conversation, listen to the replay. It’s a fun one. Come for the hot dog history, stay for the Siberian pine cone jam and morning presidential cocktails.And definitely go follow Bennett’s work at Cooking with Congress — especially if you love food history, strange recipes, or the beautifully weird ways Americans have eaten over the years.WORKSHOP: The Enlightened FreezerMost people use their freezer like a graveyard for leftovers and mystery meat. But chefs, butchers, and thoughtful home cooks know something different: your freezer might be the most important tool in your kitchen.Join me for a practical workshop on Saturday June 13th, @9am PT / Noon ET to learn everything about freezing foods: how to organize things, preserve seasonal items, and make everyday cooking dramatically easier and cheaper. Paid subscribers can register at the link below.Stay Connected* Follow along on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for video content, reels, and behind-the-scenes thoughts. I’m also on Facebook and LinkedIn.* Say hi on Substack Notes—I’m posting almost every day about my random reflections on life.* Join me in Chat. It’s a space just for subscribers, kind of like a group text but less embarrassing. Download the app, tap the Chat icon (it looks like two speech bubbles at the bottom), and find the latest “Enlightened Omnivore” thread. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit enlightenedomnivore.substack.com/subscribe