“This new book, Good Things, is a picture of me in this moment in time. It’s me sharing my love and value of the handmade. It’s a time capsule and a treasure chest for you to do with what you would like.”
-Samin Nosrat, episode 427 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Eight years ago, cook and writer Samin Nosrat created a kitchen staple with Salt Fat Acid Heat: a New York Times bestseller that later became a hit Netflix series. Nosrat returns with Good Things, a collection of personal recipes straight from her dining table.
We discuss the influences that shaped the book (8:30), the ephemerality (and pleasure) of produce (9:30), her complicated San Diego childhood growing up with Iranian parents (17:30), the high expectations placed before her (22:40), and how she eventually found her way to Chez Panisse in Berkeley (32:00).
On the back-half, Samin talks about her salad days working in restaurants (46:00), grand openings and closings (42:30), the origins of Salt Fat Acid Heat (47:00), what The Bear gets right about cooking (1:00:25), and how she thinks about time (1:03:00) and ritual (1:07:40).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at talkeasypod@gmail.com.
Show-notes:
- Pre-order Samin’s new book Good Things, available September 16th, 2025.
- Find her New York Times bestselling book Salt Fat Acid Heat.
- Watch the series Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix.
- Subscribe to her Substack a grain of salt.
- Listen to her podcast Home Cooking, co-hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway.
- Read The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel.
- Follow Samin on Instagram.
- For more talks, hear Sam with Padma Lakshmi, Ocean Vuong, and Alison Roman.
- Order your Talk Easy mug in cream and navy or our vinyl record with Fran Lebowitz.
Illustrations by Krishna Shenoi. Reference photograph by María Alvarez.
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