Share

cover art for Ben Mims: The Soul of a Cookie

Food with Mark Bittman

Ben Mims: The Soul of a Cookie

Season 3, Ep. 140
•

The food writer and cookbook author – most recently of Crumbs: Cookies and Sweets from Around the World – talks to Mark and Kate about COOKIES. Do we take them for granted? What constitutes a cookie? Plus, the most interesting things Ben learned in his research, how cookies have evolved to suit the changing times, his favorite cookie recipes for the holidays, and what it was like to test and taste 300 cookie recipes.


The Bittman Project is featuring two recipes from Crumbs:


Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies (Speculoos)

https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/brown-sugar-cinnamon-cookies-speculoos/


Egyptian Stuffed Eid Cookies: 

https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/egyptian-stuffed-eid-cookies/


Are you liking Food with Mark Bittman? Got feedback? We'd love it if you'd take our (brief) survey: http://bit.ly/foodwithmarkbittman-survey. Thanks for listening!


Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.


Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 165. Khushbu Shah and the Art of Improvising

    25:20||Season 3, Ep. 165
    The prolific food writer and cook talks to Mark and Kate about having one foot in two cultures; the auntie whisperer network – or, how Indians in America learned to make do without some of their beloved staples, and how they learned to make do with what was readily available; and why and how the term "fusion" got a dirty rep.Find the recipe for Khushbu's Masala Smashed Potatoes on the Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/masala-smashed-potatoes/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 164. What Are the Drinking Trends on a Cruise Ship?

    27:03||Season 3, Ep. 164
    Daniela Oancea, Corporate Beverage Manager for Regent and Oceania, talks to Mark and Kate about how growing up in Transylvania prepared her for hospitality life; how trends have changed on cruise ships, from sobriety to liquor preferences; the rise of solo travelers; and where in the world some of her favorite bars are.Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 163. Hawa Hassan: How Do You Tell More Than a Single Story?

    25:34||Season 3, Ep. 163
    The author and chef talks to Mark and Kate about how and why her personal experiences have prompted her to share the experiences of others; telling a better story of what it means to be displaced; the most harrowing travel experience she had while working on her latest book, Setting a Place for Us; and where to find the best sushi outside of Japan.The Bittman Project is featuring three recipes from Hawa Hassan's new book, Setting a Place for Us: Rice Bread: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/rice-bread/Fresco de Melon (Cantaloupe Juice, with or without rum): https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/fresco-de-melon/Madesu (Stewed Red Beans): https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/madesu-stewed-red-beans/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 162. The Simpsons: Eating Guacamole Off Seabirds

    33:17||Season 3, Ep. 162
    Rob LaZebnik and Jeff Westbrook, co-executive producers on The Simpsons, talk to Mark and Kate about the great joys of writing for Homer; the food-related caveat that got Paul McCartney on the show; Lisa predicting the Trump presidency; and where the inspiration came from for their recent episode—one that focuses on avocados and making fun of pickleball.Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 161. Jamila Robinson: The Food World Deserves a Seat at the Table

    34:04||Season 3, Ep. 161
    The editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious talks to Mark and Kate about how we can—and should—have bigger conversations about food, on par with other entertainment industries; why the best restaurants are like self-portraits; the importance of social courage; and her perfect meal—fried rice and champagne. The Bittman Project is featuring two recipes from Bon Appétit's Art & Design Issue: Oyakodon: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/oyakodon/Red Pepper-Anchovy Toasts: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/red-pepper-anchovy-toasts/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 160. A Trip to the Dirty Kitchen with Jill Damatac

    29:13||Season 3, Ep. 160
    The writer talks to Mark and Kate about her memoir, Dirty Kitchen; living in the US as an undocumented immigrant for 22 years (and then self-deporting); what it's like to feel rooted in colonial mentality; and a common comforting mechanism of the Filipino immigrant experience.Read an excerpt from Dirty Kitchen at the Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/dirty-kitchen/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 159. Yes, Dan Levy Really Is That Great

    40:42||Season 3, Ep. 159
    A revisiting of a beloved episode from two years ago. Mark and Kate talk to the incomparable actor about finding comedy in a "soft" place, eating like a goldfish, love of family, and his disdain for cooking (but not eating). Get the recipe for Classic Levy Family Egg Salad on the Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/classic-levy-family-egg-salad/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 158. Rick Martinez's New Book Changed the Way He Cooks

    39:35||Season 3, Ep. 158
    Writer and cook Rick Martinez talks to Mark and Kate about parental inspiration; being a cheesecake-obsessed teen; how Mexican-Americans are pigeonholed, culinarily; how and why he relocated from New York to Mazatlan; and his new book, Salsa Daddy. The Bittman Project is featuring two recipes from Rick's book, Salsa Daddy: Breakfast Tacos: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/ricks-breakfast-tacos/La Mañanera (The Morning Salsa): https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/la-mananera-the-morning-salsa/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

  • 157. Vanessa Lavorato: An Edible Journey

    31:09||Season 3, Ep. 157
    The author, of How to Eat Weed and Have a Good Time, talks to Kate and Holly about how she got deep into the heart of making and selling cannabis goodies, how we can learn from her mistakes (and what some of them are!), one food that cannabis should probably not go into, and why she wanted to write a "safe" weed cookbook.Get Vanessa's recipe for Hot Honey Firecrackers on the Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/hot-honey-firecrackers/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.