Podcast

The Side Dish from America’s Test Kitchen

Arts, Food, Society & Culture

What happens when two of TV’s top cooking hosts ditch their aprons to go off-script? America’s Test Kitchen veterans Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison dive into food fights, travel snack debates, and answer your most burning culinary questions in a hilarious new podcast about life, eating, and everything in between.

Food chart
#42
Episodes
21
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
36 min
On air since
2026
Latest episode
6 days ago

Episodes

21 episodes, newest first

  1. 29 min
  2. Recipes that Scare You

    Show notes

    Grab your flashlights and gather around the fire! In this spooky episode, Bridget and Julia discuss daunting recipes, share their most haunting TV moments, and try to guess the mysterious objects behind a scary kitchen soundtrack.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Beef Wellington

    No Knead Bread

    Focaccia

    Macaron

    Croissant

    33 min
  3. BTS at ATK

    Show notes

    Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes at America’s Test Kitchen? Julia reveals how TV food comes to life, Bridget dishes on the moments the cameras missed during a fish sauce segment, and together they take you on an insider’s tour of the studios and test kitchens in Boston.

    ATK Recipes and Reviews mentioned in this episode:

    The World of Fish Sauce

    The Best Supermarket Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

    Pollo al Mattone (Chicken Under a Brick)

    Hot-Honey Chicken

    Lemon Pepper Wings

    Hawaiian-Style Fried Chicken

    Extra-Crunchy Fried Chicken

    Koji Fried Chicken

    Chili Crisp Pickle-Brined Fried Chicken Sandwiches

    44 min
  4. The Great Food Debate

    Show notes

    Pineapple on pizza? Ketchup on a hot dog? Bridget and Julia tackle food’s most divisive debates, defending their hottest takes and settling culinary scores. Plus, hotline callers put them on the spot to settle the score on Illinois’ official sandwich and decide whether one oft-gifted holiday staple really deserves its bad reputation.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Barbecued Beef Brisket on the Charcoal Grill

    Hot-Smoked Whole Side of Salmon

    Barbecued Pulled Pork on a Charcoal Grill

    BBQ Beer-Can Chicken on a Charcoal Grill

    Chicago Italian Beef Sandwiches

    Caesar Green Bean Salad

    Beef Tacos

    38 min
  5. Kid Food!

    Show notes

    From lunchbox favorites and after-school snacks to clever solutions for picky eaters, Bridget and Julia serve up kid-food inspiration for every age. Whether you’re feeding little ones or craving nostalgic classics, you’ll leave with plenty of delicious ideas and practical tips

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:Sheet-Pan Pizza

    Spaghetti with Turkey-Pesto Meatballs

    Skillet Macaroni and Cheese

    Guide: Make Sure Your Marinade Contains These Three Ingredients

    Classic Beef Burgers

    The Best Shrimp Cocktail

    Foolproof Spaghetti

    Carbonara

    Chicken Cutlets 101

    Seattle Chicken Teriyaki

    Easy Blueberry Cobbler

    Classic Hummus

    Cheese Fondue

    Texas Chili

    One-Pan Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans and Potatoes

    Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

    Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Miso-Marinated Salmon

    Fastest, Easiest Mashed Potatoes

    38 min
  6. Foods that Define our Friendship

    Show notes

    From test cooks to longtime buds, Bridget and Julia take a walk down memory lane. They reveal the friendship origin story, dream up the ultimate steakhouse spread, and put years of friendship on the line with a blindfolded tasting of treats inspired by each other.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    The Best Fresh Margaritas

    French Onion Potato Gratin

    Creamed Spinach

    Cast Iron Steaks with Herb Butter

    Baguettes

    Basque Cheesecake for Two

    Chocolate-Espresso Dacquoise

    Classic Lemon Tart

    Individual Pistachio-RaspberryBuckles

    Irish Coffee

    Quick Collard Greens with Hot Pepper Vinegar

    37 min
  7. Festival & Fair Foods

    Show notes

    Grab a ticket and a snack–it’s state fair season! Bridget and Julia swap their favorite fair memories, spotlight fair-inspired ATK recipes, and put their knowledge to the test with food festival trivia.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Apple Cider Doughnuts

    Apple Fritters

    Dutch Apple Pie

    Smoked Double-Thick Pork Chops on a Gas Grill

    Blueberry Pie

    Eight-Hour Pizza Dough

    27 min
  8. Desert Island Discs & Dishes

    Show notes

    Julia and Bridget are stranded…on separate deserted islands. Armed with nothing but their imaginations, they reveal the albums they’d want on repeat and the dishes they’d dream of eating. Then, the music buffs tackle a listener’s question about packing food for a wilderness adventure.

    ATK recipes and equipment mentioned in this episode:

    Manual juicers

    Electric citrus juicers

    Microplanes and graters

    Cleavers

    Immersion blenders

    Serrated utility knives

    Stand mixers

    All-purpose whisks

    36 min
  9. Show & Tell

    Show notes

    Bridget and Julia unpack the quirky kitchen collectibles, foodie mementos, and travel treasures they’ve gathered over the years. Plus, America’s Test Kitchen gadget guru Lisa McManus calls into the hotline to share her ultimate show-and-tell item.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Cracklin' Cornbread

    Cast Iron Pan Pizza

    Cast Iron Oven-Fried Chicken

    36 min
  10. Family Traditions

    30 min
  11. Late Night Foods & Drinks

    Show notes

    Midnight cravings call for comfy slippers, snacks, and zero judgment. Bridget and Julia slip into their evening wear to swap stories about their favorite late-night bites and drinks, from nostalgic regional specialties to scrappy retro snacks. Plus, listeners reveal the foods they reach for when it’s snack o’clock.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:Strawberry Pretzel Salad

    30 min
  12. It’s Grilling Season

    Show notes

    Julia and Bridget fire up the grill with a discussion about their go-to meats—while Julia tries to get the full details on Bridget’s pulled pork recipe. Along the way, they discuss the right (and safe) way to oil your grill, share some strong opinions on baby back ribs, and give plenty of smoky shade.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Barbecued Pulled Pork on a Charcoal Grill,

    Paella on the GrillBarbecued Beef Back Ribs,

    Quick Collard Greens with Hot Pepper Vinegar

    33 min
  13. Food Indulgences

    Show notes

    From nostalgic sweet treats to over-the-top cravings, Bridget and Julia dive into the foods they simply can’t resist and hear from listeners about their own indulgences. They match celebrities to their favorite guilty pleasures, swap stories of decadent dining, and reveal just how far they’d go for the perfect donut, barbecue, or wedge of cheese.

    31 min
  14. Spring Cleaning

    Show notes

    It’s out with the old and in with the new in this episode, where Julia and Bridget offer listeners spring cleaning tips and take a peek at each others’ junk drawers.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Weeknight Pasta Primavera

    Chicago-Style Giadiniera

    33 min
  15. Cooking for a Crowd

    Show notes

    In this episode, Bridget and Julia break down what it takes to cater or host a large gathering. They also debate the best way to cut sandwiches, whether or not pineapples go on pizza, and why a fork may be superior to a spoon when eating mac and cheese.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Best Potluck Macaroni and Cheese

    Banana Pudding

    Chocolate Pots de Creme

    Caesar Green Bean Salad

    Murgh Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

    Quick Beef Burgundy

    36 min
  16. From Past Jobs to Primetime

    Show notes

    In this episode, Julia and Bridget reminisce about jobs past and how they learned to be hosts on camera. Plus, they offer advice on work-night meal prepping, and Julia brings in the resume she used to apply to her job at America’s Test Kitchen.

    35 min
  17. On the Road

    Show notes

    In this episode, Bridget’s travel hack sandwich makes a grand cameo. Julia and Bridget also dish about their favorite restaurants, share the on-stage antics at their PBS road shows, and weigh in on what is–and isn’t–acceptable in-flight etiquette.

    Check out our website for our take on the Best Chef's Knives!

    41 min
  18. Lights, Camera, Action

    Show notes

    Julia and Bridget kick off awards season by dropping some behind-the-scenes knowledge of how TV shows and movies make their food look so good. Plus, they discuss which celebrities–dead or alive–they’d invite to a home-cooked meal.

    ATK Recipes mentioned in this episode:

    Paella on the Grill + Indoor Clam Bake

    ClassicBeef Tenderloin

    Mastering Beef Wellington

    Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Herb Pan Sauce

    44 min
  19. Romance on the Menu

    Show notes

    In this episode, Bridget and Julia chat about romantic dinner fails, how they celebrate Valentine’s Day, and take on a blind taste test of boxed chocolates.

    Valentine's Day may be past us, but you don't need a special occasion to try out some recipes from our book, Cooking for Two!

    38 min
  20. Getting Ready for Game Day

    Show notes

    In this premiere episode of The Side Dish, the hosts of America's Test Kitchen, Julia Collin-Davison and Bridget Lancaster, sit down to talk about all things game day. Julia and Bridget share their wildest game day stories, chat about what to cook for a successful tailgating feast, and guess how many pounds of guacamole are eaten on Super Bowl Sundays.

    If this episode got you excited about classic game day food, check out our recipes for Batter Fried Chickenand Chili con Carne.

    38 min

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