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Food

Also hit by inflation? Your local taco truck

A photo from Tacos y Birria La Unica's Facebook account. Tacos y Birria La Unica's Quesatacos hide caption

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Tacos y Birria La Unica's Quesatacos

Economy

Also hit by inflation? Your local taco truck

Higher prices for gasoline, meat and vegetables and even cooking oil have put pressure on food trucks as they struggle to balance menu prices with customers' expectations of a low-cost meal.

Also hit by inflation? Your local taco truck

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Portland company introduces fried chicken ice cream

One Portland, Ore., company has scooped the competition with a new twist on some old summertime picnic standards and turned them into flavors of ice cream.

Portland company introduces fried chicken ice cream

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San Francisco restaurant makes pizzas using upcycled ingredients

The USDA says as much as 40% of the U.S. food supply goes to waste. Shuggie's Trash Pie makes pizzas using ugly and discarded ingredients like pig trotters, bruised fruit and wilted greens.

San Francisco restaurant makes pizzas using upcycled ingredients

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On Food, Mattress Sales, and Juneteenth

Beloved Black cookbooks for Juneteenth. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

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LA Johnson/NPR

Code Switch

On Food, Mattress Sales, and Juneteenth

It's the second year that Juneteenth has been a federal holiday — which means it's getting the full summer holiday treatment: sales on appliances, branded merchandise, and for some, a day off of work. But on this episode, we're talking about the origin of the holiday — and the traditions that keep its history alive for Black folks around the country.

On Food, Mattress Sales, and Juneteenth

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Turkey and the Wolf chef Mason Hereford amps up familiar recipes in new cookbook

Mason Hereford, owner and chef of the Turkey and the Wolf restaurant in New Orleans, has made his mark in the food world by infusing regional favorites with refined touches.

Turkey and the Wolf chef Mason Hereford amps up familiar recipes in new cookbook

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National

Corn and soybean crops are playing an outsized role in the rising cost of food

Food prices are skyrocketing for lots of reasons, but corn and soybean crops play an outsized role. Those two touch most of the food Americans eat — and now cost double what they did two years ago.

Corn and soybean crops are playing an outsized role in the rising cost of food

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There's a nationwide Sriracha shortage, and climate change may be to blame

The impact of the Sriracha shortage is starting to be felt. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

There's a nationwide Sriracha shortage, and climate change may be to blame

The company that makes Sriracha told customers it will have to stop making the sauce for the next few months due to "severe weather conditions affecting the quality of chili peppers."

There's a nationwide Sriracha shortage, and climate change may be to blame

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Encore: Grilling is easier than you think. Here's how to start

Intimidated by grilling? In this guide, learn the basics from which type of grill to choose, to how to maintain a fire and create different temperature zones, to tips on tools and safety.

Encore: Grilling is easier than you think. Here's how to start

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Climate

Climate change could be to blame for the Sriracha shortage

There's a nationwide shortage of the beloved hot sauce, Sriracha from Huy Fong Foods. And climate change could be the culprit.

Climate change could be to blame for the Sriracha shortage

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Wok This Way: A Science Cooking Show

J. Kenji López-Alt's new cookbook The Wok features more than 200 recipes highlighting the versatility of the wok. Along the way, he shares the science behind that versatility and how to master cooking basics. J. Kenji López-Alt hide caption

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J. Kenji López-Alt

Short Wave

Wok This Way: A Science Cooking Show

What's the most versatile pan in the kitchen? According to chef and cookbook author J. Kenji López-Alt, it's the wok! And along with spices, he sprinkles science explainers into his writing. Today's episode is just that — the science of the wok in action. He and host Emily Kwong talk about how to choose, season and cook with one, and why its unique shape makes it so versatile. Plus, we hear how Emily fared cooking one of Kenji's dishes from his new cookbook The Wok.

Wok This Way: A Science Cooking Show

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American cheese + banana, and other weird snacks we eat when we're alone

A peanut butter and pickle sandwich, a banana split sans ice cream, an American cheese slice with banana: NPR's Scott Simon explains and enjoys some of the strange snacks we eat when we're alone.

American cheese + banana, and other weird snacks we eat when we're alone

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