The thoughtful and talented chef talks to Mark and Kate about why she named her dinner series and new book Code Noir, after a monstrous set of French regulations put into effect by Louis XIV; why some island cultures gradually veer towards the cultural homogeneity of the US; why pulling on heartstrings is sometimes the best way; and her showboat recipe.

Find the recipe for Lelani Lewis's Plantain and Pumpkin Curry on the Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/lelani-lewiss-plantain-and-pumpkin-curry/

Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.

Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.

Questions or comments about the show? Email food@markbittman.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.