News to us at Radiotopia, but there are some of you out there who have some really strong feelings about grilled cheese, almost enough for a whole separate podcast. What is it about this seemingly mellow, humble sandwich — a favorite of both small children and stoners — that elicits all this controversy? (It’s always the quiet ones.) Even if you don’t like grilled cheese, it’s worth listening just for Kenji’s genius lifehack involving sausage.

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PPS - for perfect grilled cheese, listen to this playlist

Recipes mentioned:

• Deb’s Frico Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (from Smitten Kitchen)
• Deb’s Classic Grilled Cheese + Cream of Tomato Soup (from Smitten Kitchen)
• Kenji’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich (from Serious Eats)
• Kenji’s Good Grilled Cheese (from Kenji’s Cooking Show)
• Kenji’s Late Night Chorizo Grilled Cheese (from Kenji’s Cooking Show)

Some people think tomato soup only exists to serve as a dipping sauce for grilled cheese, but Kenji and Deb are here to set them straight. A properly, lovingly made tomato soup — even with sad-looking supermarket tomatoes from February — can be a time portal, from the dreariest winter day to the peak of summer farmer’s market fresh. Kenji makes Deb’s genius “grilled cheese kind of built into the tomato soup”, unlocking a new level of tomato soup nirvana.

Recipes mentioned:

• Deb’s Weeknight Tomato Soup (from Smitten Kitchen)
• Deb’s Classic Grilled Cheese + Cream of Tomato Soup (from Smitten Kitchen)
• Deb’s Roasted Tomato Soup with Broiled Cheddar (from Smitten Kitchen)
• Kenji’s Fast and Easy Pasta with Blistered Cherry Tomato Sauce (from Serious Eats)
• Kenji’s 15-Minute Creamy Tomato Soup (Vegan) (from Serious Eats)
• Lisa Steele’s Cream-Fried Eggs (from the Washington Post)

In preparation for this episode, Deb and Kenji fed their children so many pancakes that they are now on a pancake strike. But before you start feeling sorry for these young people, don’t forget they got to taste the rainbow of pancake styles. Tall and fluffy. Crisp and fluffy. Thin and crispy. The hottest pancake in the world right now, the Japanese soufflé. Tough life, kids!

We learn why baking soda, baking powder, and buttermilk feature prominently, and the technique for “the absolute fluffiest pancake”.

Recipes Mentioned:

• Smitten Kitchen pancakes

• Serious Eats pancakes

• Chez Ma Tante pancakes on NYT Cooking