Seasoned: The Women Who Defined American Food

They were culinary pioneers. But their stories have slipped through the cracks of history.

MFK Fisher. Cecilia Chiang. Lena Richard. Those are just some of the women who challenged expectations in the food world and built legacies that continue to influence what—and how—we eat today. In this special 6-part podcast series, which coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary, we share their stories and explore the complex question: What is American food? We also bring you the tales of bold visionaries—Edna Lewis, Elena Zelayeta, Lois Ellen Frank—whose dedication to traditional recipes and ingredients continue to reverberate in kitchens throughout the country.

Discover the Women Who Shaped American Cuisine

Whether you’re a food lover, history buff or someone who believes in the power of women’s voices, Seasoned invites you to discover the remarkable stories simmering just beneath the surface of our shared culinary heritage.

Join food historian Victoria Flexner and host Colleen DeBaise on a journey to discover the women whose names you might not know, but who brought us the flavors of America.

Episode 1

Seasoned: Culinary Pioneers – MFK Fisher

Our 6-episode podcast kicks off with the California writer who invented the food memoir. Long before Anthony Bourdain, there was a woman who taught us how to enjoy food, drink and life.

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Episode 2

Seasoned: Women Culinary Pioneers – Cecilia Chiang

In San Francisco, an immigrant restaurateur brings authentic Chinese cuisine to the U.S. via The Mandarin. It's a love letter to her childhood in China, pre-Communist Revolution.

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Episode 3

Seasoned: Women Culinary Pioneers – Lena Richard

Down in the Big Easy, a Creole chef experiments with bold flavors and becomes one of the first multihyphenate food personalities, even as her life is cut short.

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Episode 4

Seasoned: Women Culinary Pioneers – Edna Lewis

This celebrated Virginia chef introduced the farm-to-table movement and showed the rest of the country the fresh flavors of Southern cuisine.

Episode 5

Seasoned: Women Culinary Pioneers – Elena Zelayeta

She elevated Mexican cuisine in America, and enjoyed success as a cookbook author and TV host despite a disability that nearly killed her.

Episode 6

Seasoned: Women Culinary Pioneers – Indigenous Chefs

The series comes full circle with a look at the first cuisine of the land once known as Turtle Island. We speak with chefs and experts in Indigenous cooking like Lois Ellen Frank.