It's been a minute. Sorry for the long hiatus, but I'm back!

Today, let's catch up on what's been happening.

My new work.

Sandwiches.

Places I've been eating.

Rosie's Burgers Bridgeland

Perfect Meat Bowl

Cal's Noodle Hut

Orijins sneak peek

Kin Dee Street Kitchen

Thanks for listening. I've missed you so much.

If you wanna watch the videos for all these spots, follow me on Instagram @theaimlesscook or on TikTok @ricedaddyeats

Peace.

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This week, we explore and debunk the subject of "White People Food" by looking at the origins, perceptions, and histories of the different factors that form its foundations. We'll talk about:

• The concept of race.
• Factors that may have contributed to building the stereotype of "white people food"
• The Norwegian cultural tradition of Matpakke
• The Chinese social media phenomenon of "Bai Ren Fan" (white people food)

Links:

Kraft Cranberry Crimson Mold Recipe: https://youtu.be/ONoDHL7vzQw?si=rNfkiDPJayIVANNZ

You Way 2 Norway Matpakke video: https://youtu.be/JlNmeVK_zLg?si=scU08MnX-YksRzaV

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review and share if you like this podcast.

Follow me on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

Peace.

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This week, I am continuing our Canadian food feature by looking at some of our favourite Canadian snacks and treats. We will talk about the history of popular snacks like:

Hawkin's Cheezies

Hickory Sticks

Ketchup Chips

Pizza Pops, a Winnipeg invention.

Coffee Crisp

Eat-More

Big Turk

Lucky Elephant Popcorn

Jos Louis

So sit back and listen as I unwrap the stories behind our favourite Canadian snacks and treats.

Please rate and review if you like this show. Share with your friends. Thanks for listening!

You can message me at: @theaimlesscook on Instagram or on Facebook.

Peace.

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This week, I talk about 3 Canadian fast-food brands and their histories, the nostalgia behind these brands, and I ask what it means to be Canadian in this day and age. Also, what happened to Tim Hortons?

Please rate and share. Thanks for listening!

DM me @theaimlesscook on Instagram for episode suggestions, stories, comments, or just to say hello!

Peace.

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This week, we talk about the most beloved of Asian ingredients...Spam. On this episode:

• a brief history of Hormel's innovative pork and ham product that was introduced in 1937
• Spam's growing popularity and it's rise to worldwide fame
• Spam in Asia and the iconic dishes that were born from post-war necessity
• The story of Barb Funamura and the invention of Spam Musubi

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review, and share.

Follow The Aimless Cook on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

Peace.

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This week, I talk about Struggle Food. We often think about it as that starving college student food, but it's so much more. I talk about how a lot of our favourite dishes and even cuisines came from struggle. Thanks for listening!

Please rate, review, and share.

Follow The Aimless Cook on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

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This week on Freestyle Friday, I talk about Bastion Burger, Influencers, and the eye-opening experience of being thrust into a brand new social media platform after hearing about what Americans are seeing on the Chinese platform, Rednote (Xiaohongshu). Join me and thanks for listening!

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Big thanks to my special guest, Alice Lam from Friends Of Chinatown YYC. I will include all her socials on the show notes.

Instagram: @friendsofchinatownyyc

http://www.friendsofchinatownyyc.org

Calgary Chinatown Context Paper

https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/pda/pd/documents/current-studies-and-ongoing-activities/tomorrows-chinatown/chinatown-context-paper.pdf

Interactive Chinatown Map

https://calgary.reflective-urbanisms.com/

And if you still haven’t been to a Chinese New Year Celebration here in this wonderful city, 2025 is your year. You are gonna have an amazing time.

So that’s it from me. Be kind to one another because we’re all we got. Stay Hungry and I’ll see you on the next one.

Peace.

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In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of food trends: Why they pop up, how they shape what we eat, and what they tell us about the world around us. We’ll explore how food trends influence culture, health, economy, and sustainability—and why they matter. Also, our long overdue Calgary small business shout-out of the week. Thanks for listening!

Links:

The Aimless Cook Podcast (Jay) IG @theaimlesscook

Rice Daddy Eats (my Tiktok) @ricedaddyeats

Day With Mei IG @daywithmei - tinned fish reviews and recipes

Good Vibes Cooking IG @good.vibes.cooking - tinned fish recipes

Bastion Burger IG @bastionburger - 501 17 Ave SW (inside Pinbar)

YouTube:

Great Depression Cooking With Clara

https://www.youtube.com/@YouTubes_Original_Grandma

Again, thanks for watching. Please rate, review, and share!

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Summary

This podcast episode explores the powerful connection between food and nostalgia. I talk about the cultural phenomenon of KFC becoming a Christmas tradition in Japan, illustrating how marketing can shape food-related memories and create new traditions. Then, I examines the science of food nostalgia, explaining its multisensory nature and its impact on mood, identity, and well-being. Finally, the episode explores food nostalgia's portrayal in movies and cooking shows, from classic films like Tampopo to contemporary YouTube personalities, highlighting the enduring role of food in shaping personal and cultural identities.

Thanks for listening!

Please rate and share this show if you like it.

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Chef Erin Boukall and I had the opportunity to share a meal with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. It was a good chance to get to know someone we often see behind a podium, or as the subject of some article or another praising or criticizing her work. Whatever the case, I know that being the Mayor of a growing city with as many complexities as Calgary can’t be easy. That being said, I wanted to ask questions about the strategies that are currently in place and give Mayor Gondek a chance to talk about them in a space where her ideas can convey a fair and balanced perspective.

Special thanks to:

Mayor Jyoti Gondek @jyotigondek

Chef Erin Boukall @culinarycalgary

Chef Darcy Lane @cookcanada

Chef Deepak Singh Kalsi @deepaksdhaba

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Hi everyone! Sorry for the hiatus, but I’m back with a brand new episode about the Calgary Stampede food. This is a recap of the dishes I got to try during my first year as a judge for the Best Midways Foods. I’ll go over the top 5 best dishes, the bottom 5 dishes, as well as talk about your thoughts from your comments on social media during the duration of the Stampede. Enjoy!

Shout outs to:

Shabina from Wandering In YYC

@wanderinginyyc

Sarah Hovind

@sarah.sociables

Chanry Thach

@chanrythach

Carmen Cheng from Food Karma Blog

@foodkarmablog 

Check out the substack for all the pictures of the dishes:

https://linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Thank you for listening. Please rate, review and share with your friends!

Peace.

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In this episode:

• Eats of Asia is back for more pop-ups.
• A look at future interviews.
• ELYMI opening and the buffet people we hate.
• I read one of the most horrific AHS inspection reports from a recently closed Calgary restaurant and talked about basic expectations of Alberta’s Food Regulation.

Thanks for listening. Rate, review, and share with your friends if you love this show. Be kind to one another.

DM me at @theaimlesscook on Instagram or email jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

Peace,

J

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In this episode of The Aimless Cook Podcast, special guest, Chef Erin Boukall talks about her career as a high school foods teacher. Chef Boukall shares her experiences as she moved through the stages of her time as a goldsmith, culinary student, and educator and how these facets have helped her in her work today. Chef Boukall is also a food stylist, writer, and creator of the popular blog, Culinary Calgary.

Chef Erin Boukall on Instagram: @culinarycalgary

www.culinarycalgary.com

Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate, review, and share with your friends.

Music:

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/block-party

License code: UFIHSI1TIFZLJUFX

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This week on The Aimless Cook Podcast:

• The Eats Of Asia countdown is on
• Going back to school
• Best toppings for a bowl of rice
• The Chili Crunch Backlash and Momofuku's official response
• YYC Asian lunch specials

True World Foods @trueworldfoodscalgary

6a Snack Bar @6a.snackbar.yyc

Fat Kee Noodle House 3132 26 St NE

Link to the podcast with David Chang and Momofuku CEO Marguerite Mariscal: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-dave-chang-show/id1375877915?i=1000652284807

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/momofuku-chili-crunch-controversy-original-spicy-oil-rcna147284

Thank you for listening. If you like the show, please rate, review, and subscribe!

Buy our merch!

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In this week's Freestyle Friday:

• The return of Eats of Asia
• Our favourite Calgary Mom-and-Pop restaurants
• A visit to Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodle

Thanks for listening! If you love this show, please rate, review, and share with your friends!

Peace!

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In this episode, Chef Jay talks about the history of instant ramen from its development and introduction to the world by its inventor, Momofuku Ando. Jay also talks about how his legacy changed the culinary landscape forever and launched a multi-billion-dollar industry. Listen to how countries worldwide enjoy instant noodles and a few recipes while you’re here. Enjoy the show!

If you love the show, please rate, review, and share with your friends! Thanks for listening.

https://www.vox.com/2015/3/5/8150929/momofuku-ando-ramen-instant-noodles

https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/momofuku-ando

https://www.biography.com/inventor/momofuku-ando

https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/osaka_ikeda/attractions/chronicle/

https://www.britannica.com/story/how-was-instant-ramen-invented

https://myfoodjobrocks.com/innovation-in-hindsight/

https://www.reddit.com/r/InstantRamen/comments/13j86o2/recreating_momofuku_andos_original_nissin_instant/?rdt=64533

https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/yokohama/attractions/history/

https://www.vox.com/2015/3/5/8150929/momofuku-ando-ramen-instant-noodles

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/15371q7/til_momofuku_ando_the_inventor_of_insta_ramen/

“L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food” by Roy Choi

Instant Version Dandan Noodles

Sapporo Ichiban Commercial: 

TabiEats visit 24-hour instant ramen self-serve restaurant

Music:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/birds

License code: NYG8VGWYAHUXCQNI

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/vlog-king

License code: SYJQZDQD8AAM6FGF

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On this week’s edition of Freestyle Friday, Jay talks about:

• work/life balance
• Mama’s Rice Roll Review
• Hyper-regional Western-style Chinese dishes
• April Events
• “Struggle Food”
• Listener Mail

Mitzi’s Closing: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video/c2889559-end-of-an-era-for-winnipeg-restaurant

Tokyo Chopsticks Private Chef Series. DM Chef Keisuke if you would like to book a special dinner in April. 

Instagram: @tokyochopsticksyyc

Brown Bagging For Calgary Kids: http://www.bb4ck.org

Filipino Restaurant Month: Avenue Magazine Calgary

Thanks again for listening. If you love the show, please rate, review, and share with your friends!

This show was created, written, and hosted by Jay del Corro and hosted on Acast.

Support us by donating, or buying merch from the shop.

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This week we continue with part 2 of our Chinatown special. Gabe and I finally try Mama Rice Roll, walk through some empty spaces reminiscing about better times, and share some final thoughts about our hopes for this amazing place. 

History notes:

Chinatown Historical Context Paper

We Are Here: http://www.wahvoice.ca

Special thanks to Gabriel Yee: @gabe.director

Views From Chinatown Podcast

Mama Rice Roll: @mamariceroll

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/jeff-kaale/candlelit

License code: ODZXDGUVRPDDE4UQ

Thanks for listening. Share with your friends!

Support this podcast. Visit the shop. Buy some merch and wear it with pride.

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This week on The Aimless Cook Podcast, it's our Chinatown Special Part 1 with my special guest, founder of Lotus Media, host and producer of Views Of Chinatown Podcast, Gabriel Yee.

This week, Gabriel and I talk about this amazing place, full of history and community spirit on location from Calgary Court Restaurant. We talk about the complex challenges that Chinatown faces today as it evolves with the times, and how advocacy is helping to preserve it's legacy. Of course, we also eat some delicious food, talk nostalgia, and share our own Chinatown stories.

History notes:

Chinatown Historical Context Paper

We Are Here: http://www.wahvoice.ca

Special thanks to Gabriel Yee: @gabe.director

Views From Chinatown Podcast

Calgary Court Restaurant: @tasteofasia_yyc

Thank you for listening. If you love this show, please rate, review, and share it with your friends. You can support us with a donation, or by buying some merch from the shop: The Aimless Cook Shop

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