Classic Eats

12 Episodes
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By: WUWM

Why do we eat what we eat? Classic Eats digs into culinary history — the people, places, situations, and ingredients that set the course for the way we dine.  In each episode, host Kyle Johnson Cherek takes you to the moment when a specific thing — from bread to supper clubs to custard — was created and digs into the mark its made on food. 

Did the Roman’s invent the Drive-thru?
Yesterday at 12:00 PM

Do the origins of the fast food drive-thru begin with the Roman's? Author Adam Chandler of Drive-Thru Dreams joins Kyle to talk fast food, how much history it may really have. 

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest author Adam Chandler.


The Hamburger
02/12/2026

There is perhaps no food item more American, or whose origins are more full of more lore.  Sef Gonzalez, Hamburger historian, joins Classic Eats to suss out the truth. 


Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest hamburger historian, Sef Gonzalez.


Part 2
02/05/2026

In a nation of immigrants, why did French cookery  become the preeminent cuisine of the better part of the 20th century? Chefs and experts alike weigh in. Why French? 

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guests author David Kamp and Chef Gavin Kaysen.


Why French
#5
01/29/2026

In a nation of immigrants, why did French cookery  become the preeminent cuisine of the better part of the 20th century? Chefs and experts alike weigh in. Why French? 

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guests author David Kamp and Chef Gavin Kaysen.


8- 45th Parallel
01/22/2026

Halfway between the North Pole and equator, the 45th parallel is legendary as a goldilocks zone and perfect region for wines and much more. We explore the storied region.

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest David St. John.



Old Fashioned
#7
01/15/2026

 In the holy trinity of cocktails, Martini, Sazerac, & the Old Fashioned, the latter has perhaps the most lore and myth. Chin Chin. Classic Eats (&drinks).


Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest author and cocktail historian and expert Robert Simonson.


Frozen Custard
#6
01/07/2026

Frozen custard. Is it truly soft serve’s better cousin, dressed to the culinary nines with the perfect trifecta of eggs, cream, and the right temperature of chilling?

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest author and historian Bobby Tanzillo.


Pink Squirrel
#4
12/25/2025

18th century French liqueur + one of Madison Avenue’s most ridiculous campaigns, plus an iconic cocktail bar in Milwaukee.  It’s the is history of the Pink Squirrel.

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest author and cocktail historian and expert Amanda Schuster.


Bread
#3
12/18/2025

Bread, specifically wheat bread, has defined life, class, and our human history since the neolithic. Join Kyle and guest author bread scholar William Rubel.

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry, Special thanks to our guest William Rubel.


BBQ
12/11/2025

Is BBQ truly an American culinary invention? Brisket to baby backs. Pit to grill. Its BBQ with author and BBQ scholar Adrian Miller.

Classic Eats with Kyle Johnson Cherek is created and hosted by Kyle Johnson Cherek, and co-produced by a'point productions and WUWM. Executive producers are Kyle Johnson Cherek and Rob Schoonover. Audio editing and engineering by Brian Arkta and John Rymaszewski. Additional production by Valeria Navarro Villegas, Michelle Maternowski and Rob Larry. Special thanks to our guest Adrian Miller.


History of the American Supper Club
12/04/2025

Once a staple on both coasts and across the country, the American Supper Club had it's heyday in post World War II, creating iconic cuisine, cocktails and entertainment along the way.

Join host Kyle Johnson Cherek and author, filmmaker and supper club history expert Ron Faiola for their conversation about the origins and heritage of the American Supper Club.


Introducing Classic Eats, a podcast about culinary history
11/25/2025

Hey, it’s Kyle Johnson Cherek, and I’m here to introduce you to my new podcast, called Classic Eats.  

It’s a show about culinary history. Why we eat what we eat, the people, the places, the scenes, and the situations that set the course for the way we dine. Each show will pick a thing, a drink, a person, that made its mark on what we call food. It might be the origins of the tooth pick and the Cuisinart, Antoin Carême's architecture of sugar,  BBQ, or how nutmeg gave us the modern financial system.<...