Show 558, December 30, 2023: Chili Crisp – 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlick Cravings with Food Writer James Park

Cookbook Author James Park

For the uninitiated “Chili Crisp (a Chinese condiment) is a magical sauce that tingles with heat, crunches with fried garlic and onions, and pleasantly coats any food with oily goodness. Stir it into soup, toss it with noodles, drizzle it on warm, buttery biscuits. It’s both a foodie obsession and a surprise secret weapon for adding spice and depth to any meal.”

James Park, food writer and chili crisp devotee, has created Chili Crisp, the cookbook, – 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlicky Cravings. Between the covers are 50 approachable and adaptable recipes to fill your whole day with chili crisp. Packed with Chili Crisp inspiration to take your love of this spicy ingredient to the next level, Park provides dozens of no-recipe recipes (potato chips + chili crisp, a match made in snack heaven) and a handy formula to inspire the reader to create your very own house version of Chili Crisp.”

“James Park, the author of Chili Crisp, the cookbook, is a recipe developer and food writer based in Brooklyn. Trained at the International Culinary Center in New York City, he has worked with various food media brands, such as Eater, Food52, BuzzFeed, and Chowhound. He shares his love for Korean cuisine and culture, fried chicken, chili crisp, and more @jamesyworld on social media.”

James Park takes a pause from enjoying a bowl of his Spicy Tomato and Egg Soup to join us.

James graciously shares with us the Chili Crisp recipes that he enthusiastically demonstrated for the Melissa’s food media group.

Chili Crisp Burrata Salad with Arugula, Apple, and Walnuts

Chili Crisp Burrata Salad with Arugula plus Apple and Walnuts

Recipe excerpt from:
Chili Crisp: 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlicky Cravings

by James Park

I will be honest here: This salad is just an excuse for us to eat creamy burrata with chili crisp. And it’s a fun performance for yourself or a crowd when cutting into a hunk of burrata drizzled with chili crisp. Every time I make this for a dinner party, my dinner guests go wild for it! The thrill and joy everyone gets from seeing the oil and bits of chili crisp fall into the crack of ooey, gooey burrata balls is simply marvelous. The creamy burrata balances the spicy chili crisp, creating a party of flavors that will make you roll your eyes with pleasure. Even though it’s perfectly fine to eat just chili crisp–covered burrata, peppery arugula, and sweet apple bits make each bite of this salad exciting. The dressing also uses some chili crisp, which brings a pleasant warmth. When mixed with sweet, tart balsamic vinegar, it turns into an incredible vinaigrette for one of my favorite salads to eat all the time.

Serves 4

  • 1 Tbsp chili crisp, plus more for drizzling
  • 1½ tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1½ tsp balsamic vinegar
  • Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 Tbsp)
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 9 oz [255 g] baby arugula
  • 1 medium apple, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, cored and diced
  • 2 Tbsp roasted walnuts, chopped into small pieces
  • ¼ cup [30 g] freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 lb [455 g] burrata ball
  • Flaky sea salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  1. In a small bowl, add the chili crisp, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar. Whisk to combine.
  2. In a large bowl, add the baby arugula, diced apple, and the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated with the dressing.
  3. When ready to serve, place the dressed arugula on a platter. Scatter the chopped walnuts over the top and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
  4. Place the burrata ball in the center of the platter and drizzle with extra chili crisp right on top. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper and serve.

NOTE: It’s best to grate Parmesan on top of the salad before serving, using a Microplane rather than pregrated Parmesan cheese.

Photographer: Heami Lee
Food styling: Pearl Jones
Prop styling: Gözde Eker

Show 519, April 1, 2023: riip Beer + Pizza, Huntington Beach with Operations Director Ian McCall

Ian McCall of Riip Beer Company

“In April 2018, Huntington Beach’s award-winning riip Beer Co. hired Ian McCall as their newest head brewer and to run day to day operations. That year at the Great American Beer Festival, riip was awarded its second medal, silver for black the riipper black IPA. Before the end of the year riip expanded again by dropping two more fermenters and hiring Danny Priddy as an assistant brewer. The riip team was quickly growing and the accolades were just starting to roll in.”

“riip continued to grow last year as they opened a serious pizzeria with an emphasis on quality ingredients in South Huntington Beach. riip Pizza serves classic thin crust styles as well as Square Detroit Style. The dough ferments for 48 to 72 hours before rolling out and being hand-tossed. Noel “The Pizza Whisperer” Brohner of Slow Rise Pizza consulted on all the original pizza recipes and quality checks periodically. The immediate success of their pizzeria was overwhelming and their new culinary team stepped up and knocked it out.”

Riip Pizza is one of the acclaimed Southern California pizzerias personally selected by noted pizza authority and food journalist Steve Dolinsky (Chicago-based) to participate in the upcoming Pizza City Fest Los Angeles at L.A. Live the Weekend of April 29th and 30th.

“Rip saw their beers travel further than ever before and brewed collaboration beers in Oregon and Colorado. At the 2022 San Diego International Beer Festival, riip was awarded Champion Brewery of the year! Rip had a massive showing at Great American Beer Festival with black the riipper being awarded it’s fourth medal, Bronze, and dankster squad being awarded a Silver in the largest category in the competition, American India Pale Ale with 421 entries.”

Riip’s Ian McCall (Director of Brewing and Operations) is our guest with a slice of Burrata & Hot Honey Classic Thin Crust pizza in hand.

Spa Citrus and Burrata Salad “Italiano”

Citrus Burrata Salad by Maria Provenzano

Recipe excerpt from:
Everyday Celebrations from Scratch
by Maria Provenzano

Serves 4

  • 2 grapefruit
  • 2 oranges
  • 2 (8 ounce) balls of burrata
  • 1/3 cup chopped mint
  • 1/3 cup chopped or torn basil
  • Edible flowers, optional
  • Olive Oil to taste
  • Honey to taste
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste, optional

Cut the grapefruit and oranges by cutting off the outer peel and the pith. Cut the fruit into about 1/4 to 1/2-inch pieces, or segment the grapefruit and the oranges by using a knife to cut off the peel, then use a small sharp knife to cut between each segment to remove the pieces of the fruit. Whichever way you prefer. Place the burrata onto a platter and use your hands to break it up into smaller pieces around the platter. Place the cut grapefruit and oranges around the burrata.  Sprinkle the mint and basil over citrus and burrata. Place the edible flowers around the platter.  Lightly drizzle olive oil and honey over the top and then sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste.  Adjust the flavors and add more of anything you like.

Favorite Herbs and Spices

Chef Jet and Travis talk herbs and spices.