The Modern Family star grew up in New Mexico (the Chile Capital of the World!) where the native green chiles find their way into everything from burgers to mac & cheese.

Jesse hasn’t lived in Albuquerque since high school, but he keeps his freezer full of New Mexico green (Hatch) chiles and green chile enchiladas are his forever favorite comfort food.

The retired director of the Chile Pepper Institute tells host Rachel Belle about the history and migration of spicy peppers from the Americas to the rest of the world, which involves everything from bird poop to Christopher Columbus.

Then Jesse tells us about his lunch with Weird Al at one of the country’s most woo-woo restaurants!

Thanks to Visit Kitsap Peninsula for sponsoring this episode!

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If waiting two whole weeks for a new episode of Your Last Meal is way too long, we’ve got something to tide you over.

On the weeks we’re not releasing a full-length episode of Your Last Meal, we’re airing The Leftovers: audio left on the cutting-room floor, interviews that host Rachel Belle really wants to do that don’t fit into the show’s usual format and, as you’ll hear today, a speed round with last week’s guest.

Which means you will now be getting a little taste of Your Last Meal every single Thursday!

Today’s episode features a never-before-heard interview with Tom Papa; comedian, writer, and sourdough-obsessed bread baker.

If you missed last week’s full interview with Tom, you can listen here.

Thanks to Visit Kitsap Peninsula for sponsoring this episode!

Watch Rachel's new TV show, The Nosh with Rachel Belle on Cascade PBS!

Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Papa is a bread nerd. The comedian, author and podcast host is quick to point out that he got obsessed with baking sourdough bread long before the pandemic sourdough craze. He loves to talk about sourdough, read about sourdough and, of course, bake and eat sourdough. So host Rachel Belle chats with the owner of a Seattle bakery that uses a sourdough starter that’s more than 150 years old.

Pasta with butter and Parmesan may be the meal of choice for picky American children, but in Italy the simple, comforting dish has an entirely different context. Rachel calls Katie Parla, a Rome-based food and beverage writer and cookbook author, to learn more, and in the process learns the history of fettuccine Alfredo.

Follow along on Instagram!

Watch Rachel's new Cascade PBS TV show The Nosh with Rachel Belle!

Support the show: http://rachelbelle.substack.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.