Kae Lani Palmisano, host of "Check, Please" Shares Her Favorite Soup Recipe
KAE LANI PALMISANO, the host of WHYY’s newest food-themed show, Check, Please, debuting in January, was no stranger to the region or to the food world. “I’ve always had a passion for food, and especially in the food that defines a place,” says Palmisano. Her other job is as the contributing editor for USA Today’s 10 Best, a project that explores the best of local food scenes all around the country.
Check, Please is a restaurant review show that lets everyday diners—not chefs and critics— have their say about their neighborhood places. As host, Palmisano needs to eat a meal at every place covered on the show. “For the first season, I ate at 39 restaurants,” she says, including Vernick, Little Fish, and Victor Café.
“I really missed cooking at home while I was filming,” says the South Jersey native. “I’m still learning to cook, but I really enjoy making dinner with my husband.” She’s a big fan of Alison Roman’s instant classic, Dining In (Clarkson Potter, 2017). “Her dishes look complex, but they are actually approachable for even novice cooks,” says Palmisano. Best of all, the recipes lend themselves to variations. Palmisano has taken to mashing up two soup recipes from Roman’s book to create the exact bowl of comfort she’s craving this winter. “Plus, it makes enough to put some extra in freezer!” That’s a bonus for Palmisano, or really anyone who loves a homemade meal but is constantly on the go.
