Bagels & Baos – Details, episodes & analysis

On a sunny fall afternoon, Gabe and Gemma visit the venerable Jean-Talon Market in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Listen as they sample fried seafood, empanadas, fruit, olives, and ice cream in this special on-location episode.

Some of the places they visit include:

• Jean-Talon Market, open-air farmer's market
• Poissonnerie Aqua Mare, seafood market and takeout
• Leopoldo, fruit market
• Maitre Olivier, olives
• Havre aux Glaces, artisanal ice cream

Background music used in this episode:

• Happy and Fun by Oleksandr Savochka courtesy of Pixabay music

Gabe and Gemma sample two mystery items that they describe as "plummy" and "sweetish", resembling a "garlic clove", and shaped like a "ping pong ball" or "potato". If you haven't figured it out yet, listen to the whole episode where they'll use all their senses to describe the unnamed fruit, before  revealing their identities.

Includes part of the track "Idiophone and Airophones" by reiswerk, used under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial (3.0) license

Gabe and Gemma are back for Season 2! In the first episode, the hungry duo dig into a savoury-sweet Cantonese bakery classic. Listen as they try out the baked buns known as cha siu chaan bao (叉燒餐包), and ponder the pineapple-free pineapple variation. 

Please see some photos of the buns mentioned in this episode:

• Baked BBQ pork bun
• BBQ pork pineapple bun

Join Gabriel and Gemma for a special Passover episode to learn about this celebrated Jewish holiday. We learn about the Seder, and some of the special foods that are eaten. Don't miss the crunches and slurps during the taste tests of matzo crackers and matzo ball soup.

Music featured in this episode:

• Bukoviner Freylekh by Dave Tarras and his Klezmer Band, 1938
• Samovar Party by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com
• A very special thanks to Paul Libman, for giving us permission to use Joy to the World, from "Oy to the World - a Klezmer Christmas” by The Klezmonauts. More details: http://oytotheworld.com/

Gabe and Gemma are given a mystery food to examine, sniff, and taste. They smash it open to reveal the interior, and are surprised by its intense, bold flavour. 

Our mini mixologists get down to business, and stir up a mystery drink for two special guests. Gemma also explains the subtle difference between a cocktail and a mocktail.

We get to know a bit more about Gabriel, and find out about a stringy member of the squash family.

In this inaugural episode, Gabriel introduces us to Gemma. We find out her favourite foods and tastes, and also why it's important for humans to eat.