834: Vegetable Nerds Wanted with Ali Francis

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Ali Francis (1:38)

Vegetables are just these like unproblematic queens, you know? Like they're so cute, they're so delicious, they're little sculptural works of art. Like nature just makes Romanesco, you know? Ridiculous is just a thing that exists in the dirt in Italy. I just can't really fathom that to be honest.

Aliza Abarbanel (1:55)

This is TASTE, I'm your host, Aliza Barbenel.

Ali Francis is an Australian writer and pastry chef living in Salt Lake City, Utah. She's the author of the new book, The Curious Lives of Vegetables, an artful exploration of the wonderful world of edible plants, their history, and their crucial role in our future. It's a must read for produce lovers everywhere, with in-depth reporting and beautiful botanical illustrations that ensure you'll never look at the grocery aisle or farmers' market the same. Today on the show, Ali and I nerd out on all things vegetables.

Matt Rodbard (2:34)

At the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and I talk about what is exciting us in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. Aliza, we are back with Three Things. How are you doing?

Aliza Abarbanel (2:48)

I'm doing well, Matt. How are you?

Matt Rodbard (2:50)

Great. I was in Chicago for 18 hours on Saturday, and I went to three restaurants and I'm going to talk about them. That's how I'm doing.

Aliza Abarbanel (2:59)

The three restaurants in 18 hours is a very real feat, but I believe you're equipped for the challenge. So tell me about your first restaurant.

Matt Rodbard (3:06)

Yeah, the first restaurant and this is in no order. I also saw my friend, Stephen Stacey. Happy birthday, Stacey. I feel like I don't like to visit cities for one day just because of scheduling, we're working on some projects. There's some meals I wanted to have for future interviews and a couple of these folks mentioned will be on our show in the coming months. I want to talk about Mi Tocaya from Diana Davia.

Unbelievable restaurant.

Aliza Abarbanel (3:30)

I love that restaurant.

Matt Rodbard (3:31)

You've been there, so you know. It is so incredible and I got to chat with Diana very briefly.

As a reminder, it was opened in Logan Square in 2017 and has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for several years and BA Best New Restaurants. And I, you know, the style of cooking there is deeply personal in some ways. I think it's like very adventurous. And for me, like the seared barramundi had roasted fennel, rainbow trout caviar, and was just so perfectly seared. Like, it's technically flawless. I had an Amish country chicken smothered in this, like, garlicky cremosa and bitter greens. And there was some agave sap in the sauce as well. I just really enjoyed this meal.

She's gonna be on the show in the coming months, as mentioned. And I just wanted, wish it was in my neighborhood, is the kind of vibe I got from it. The aneximalization happening with the blue corn tortillas that we had on the side with the chicken, the style of service, the cocktails. I just really love this restaurant. It's Mi Tocaya in Logan Square.