I am loving the back and forth. I admire Kenji and Deb , however the comments about Kenji are unfair. If those who only want to hear Deb should watch her on YouTube

It’s one thing to have friendly banter and ideas flowing back and forth. It’s another thing when one host is constantly weighing in with the “correction” to the other host. Deb is charming and stands back (or defers) to Kenji constantly. Because (I’d guess) he likes to be right. His attempt to be friendly is not convincing. And it makes the banter uncomfortable. Which means there’s no way to enjoy the show. Let Deb do her own thing. She doesn’t need a man to tell her she’s right.

Let Deb talk.

Kenji talks too much and I want to hear more from Deb… he is arrogant and thinks he is the only one who knows anything

Love the friendly banter between these two hosts. Very entertaining to hear their different perspectives and personalities!

I like the concept but I wish they picked more interesting recipes instead of just comfort food. I also cannot stand how Kenji uses the word “real” as an adverb. It sounds like forced folksiness.

Excellent education on how to break down a recipe and make it your own - love how they focus on a lot of the basics. My picky eater of a daughter loves it too and it has encouraged her to try some new things and be more involved in the kitchen!

Fantastic episode. Timing is perfect. Another added crunchy element can be pork skins. Thanks John H Bryant, AR

Gosh, I’m stunned by some of the reviews of this pod, and wondering if I haven’t listened long enough to render an opinion. But, honestly, I have been enjoying this a lot. The recipe topics are around really basic recipes. That’s the point! It’s dishes we all prepare and/or consume and, thus, all have opinions about. It’s a deep dive into the ins, outs, and possibilities. It’s a podcast for food nerds. If this isn’t you, it’s not going to be your cup of tea. Personally, I love the opportunity to break down, re-think, and reconsider dishes I have been making a certain way for years. I think that’s the point of this podcast. Many have criticized the dynamic between Deb and Kenji, but, if anything, I have enjoyed their clearly different backgrounds they bring. They are both complimentary of one another’s recipes, even when they disagree. Maybe people aren’t realizing that the podcast is not recorded in a single take? So, at times, it might seem like one is interrupting or failing to respond to the other? These are heavily chopped up conversations, folks. Give ‘em a break! Anyways, I’m enjoying this one a lot. I’m sooo here for an hour discussion of popcorn. Thank you so much.

I consider myself an accomplished home cook. On the surface each of the episodes I’ve listened to initially sound like rudimentary cooking. Having said that, I have yet to fail to come away with a new technique or a new idea about the things I cook at home as a result of this podcast.

I want to love this podcast but I just don’t. Deb’s website is one of my all time favorites and I love her recipes. That being said, I find her and Kenji’s dynamic to be really painful. Kenji constantly interrupts her and seems to think he knows best. Overall I makes me just dislike both of them.

The Kenji and Deb are great - learn so much from both of you and think you are a good match on the podcast!

I love the show, and love both Deb and Kenji (although let’s be honest, Deb a little more), but it seems weird that the recipes they discuss aren’t linked in the show notes. When I hear them talk about their respective recipes, I want to see them and maybe cook them, and it would be so much easier if those specific recipe links were provided.

I’ve been a loyal follower of Deb’s for years and many of her recipes are in my usual rotation. She and Kenji make an awesome pair! Love the banter between them and I’m learning so much about the science of cooking. Entertaining and educational, what could be better!

I’ve been following Serious Eats and Smitten Kitchen for a long time and have loved both. I was seriously disappointed in this podcast because Kenji is difficult to listen to. He’s pompous and condescending, and I frankly don’t like the way he talks to Deb. As an example, in one of the episodes, she makes a comment that he does not acknowledge, but then later he makes the exact same suggestion as if he came up with it himself. I have no doubt this is not intentional, but as someone who has been talked down to a lot by men in my career, I can’t listen to this podcast anymore.

You talk about recipes but don’t give links to the recipes that each of you are discussing.

I wanted to like this podcast (I’ve been a Smitten Kitchen reader for over a decade and I think Serious Eats is brilliant) but the lack of chemistry between Kenji and Deb, plus the “my way is the best” tone of the show just killed it for me. They spend the show talking about the most basic recipes available (pancakes! BLTs!) and essentially it’s “I made your recipe” and “well I made your recipe” and then why all other recipes are wrong. It’s condescending and painful to listen to.

Two main things I wish were different on this show: 1) I wish Kenji and Deb had better chemistry and were more dynamic together. 2) I wish you were showing how to develop different recipes. When I first heard of this show's premise I was so excited because I thought you'd be covering one of the hardest things to get good at as a home cook: developing your own dishes/recipes without defaulting to someone else's. Instead, you're covering truly the most basic recipes of all time, ones that any proficient home cook either already has their own recipe for or could easily find a recipe for. That's not something that will get me coming back week over week! What would get me coming back is if you both helped listeners improve their own cooking abilities by walking through the process of developing a totally new recipe. Did the first go happen by accident and something worked? Did you try something you had at a restaurant and it took 4 times to get it right? Give me a way to approach cooking in general, not a repeat of frankly uninteresting recipes that are already accessible to us off the pod.

Love their rapport and insight on so many recipes. Such a treat seeing they are back for another season.

These two are so deeply incompatible as home cookin’ content creators, and not in a way that is especially interesting. What we get is simply a watered down version of each of their approaches to food.

I love this podcast! The hosts are so charming and I love how they are brimming with knowledge. I learn so much every episode. Keep up the great work!

Following Deb Perelman for years! Love her! Needed some recipes and went to Seriouseats.com. Found J Kenji Alt Lopez had written 85% of the recipes. So ifollwed him on Youtube! Love his no nonsense cooking style! And twists on popular dishes! So excited to listen to their podcast!!!

I have sensory issues and every little thing bothers me on podcasts usually. Especially voices. For some reason this podcast checks all my boxes. It is enjoyable to listen to, has valuable info and great ideas. I’ve always been a fan of Kenji, I’m not familiar with the lady but they are both knowledgeable and very passionate in cooking. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into making this podcast what it is and I hope to see more episodes becasue I am listening to them faster than new ones are being released.

I really want to love this show. It is definitely good and I trust both of the hosts. My issue is with their lack of chemistry. They seem like they don’t like each other.

I love both hosts, so was very excited for this podcast. There is something wonderful here, but it hasn’t quite found its footing yet. The show is at its best when they talk about the actual recipes and what makes each work, or not work. The food science and methodology are the most entertaining parts of each how. The episode on iceberg lettuce is a miss — way too much rambling and there’s just not enough there to be interesting.

Kenji and Deb make a great podcast team! I enjoy how they interact with one another. I bought iceberg lettuce this week after not having purchased it in a long time. I soaked it ice cold water per Deb’s suggestion and can attest it truly makes the leaves crisper and adds to it’s hydration and makes it more refreshing to eat. I made a simple garden salad and gained have a renewed appreciation for this humble vegetable. I will be purchasing iceberg more regularly from here on out.

G00D P0D 😛🤌

I like both of these cooks separately however the show is lousy because they seem to constantly try to passive aggressively put each other down. This also results in them insulting recipes that are being presented on the program simply because they came from the other person’s cookbook or something. They both come across as insufferable in my opinion.

Kenji, you are better than this.

This is the podcast I listen to as soon as new episodes are available.

I look forward to listening to both of you every week! I loved the grilled cheese episode! I’m definitely team vertical cut - I also cut each rectangular half into 3 smaller rectangles for easy tomato soup dipping. Lol!!

I’m obsessed with making a good beef or turkey meatloaf so thanks for this podcast episode.

I like the idea, but the execution is maddening. One of the two or three main recipes in the tomato soup episode (the Dutch oven one with cream) is not linked to in the show notes—EVEN THOUGH there’s a recipe for cream fried eggs and pasta with cherry tomatoes. So frustrating.

Especially your deep dive into pancakes, my favorite food to cook. Looking forward to more great tips and conversations about basic and delicious recipes!

My 6 yo, Arlo, and I have listened to all the episodes as we drive around Seattle in the car. He wants to be a scientist and a chef when he grows up and he has loved this podcast! Now I have to make the highlighted recipes with him at home.

Does anyone else get a vibe that Deb and Kenji don’t really like each other? I don’t know what it is but there is a weird animosity that I am picking up which makes it hard to listen.

I would have given it 5 stars, however Kenji blocked me on social media after sending him one piece of honest feedback (privately, via DM)

I was so excited for this podcast! I’ve read Smitten Kitchen from the beginning, have her books, have also read Kenji’s and love his Seattle suggestions on Instagram, even saw them together in Seattle for Deb’s book tour so I thought I would be the ideal listener but somehow I haven’t been able to finish any of the episodes. In the spirit of The Recipe, maybe it just needs some tweaks—shorter, less “inside baseball,” maybe have actual home cooks make each recipe that Kenji and Deb explain any issues the cooks encountered or how to take the parts from each the cooks like best and create their own recipe? I would love to become the biggest fan of this podcast!

I have followed Deb and Kenji for years. This dream team delivers delightful fun and insights on food I crave and care about. Keep up the great work!

I’ve learned more about cooking from Kenji than from any other person in the world, so obviously I’m biased, but this is fantastic. The match up with Kenji and Deb is great, they have an easy and fun rapport. And, of course, you’re going to learn a bunch in a short amount of time.

Great podcast. I love the different takes on the topic and the friendly banter.

Just listened to the first episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great concept and excellent listening for the home cook. Thank you!

This podcast is an instant hit. Reminds me a little of Home Cooking which is longer in production sadly :(. I love Kenji and Deb is great as well. Looking forward to more!

Very enjoyable podcast that legitimately has me wanting more. I enjoy the Smitten Kitchen site and Kenji’s food columns but didn’t expect this pairing to be so delightful!

I’ve been following both kenji and deb for years and it’s been a great start so far to hear their different takes and processes. I love both of their approaches to cooking and recipe development and can’t wait to hear what they do next!

Love these two together. So smart so practical

I’ve really enjoyed Kenjis videos on YouTube, this is my first intro to Deb but I can tell I’m really gonna love this podcast. If I understand the science or the “why” behind things they just click so much better in my brain, like them explaining how starches help emulsify cheese for example. I look forward to becoming a better at home chef!

This show is like sitting at the bar after work and hearing two chefs talk shop. Lots of interesting tidbits about ingredients, technique, and how to streamline your cooking!

Made and ate the night before to celebrate 🎉👏🏻💜

It’s exciting to hear the stories, the science, the technique of these two and their warm, friendly banter. More Deb and Kenji, please!