The Side Dish from America’s Test Kitchen: Daily Summaries Delivered

The Great Food Debate

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

Kid Food!

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

Foods that Define our Friendship

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

Festival & Fair Foods

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

Desert Island Discs & Dishes

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

Show & Tell

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

Family Traditions

Late Night Foods & Drinks

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