Padma Lakshmi’s ‘Taste the Nation’ Is a Celebration of Immigrants

• [Padma Lakshmi’s ‘Taste the Nation’ Is a Culinary Celebration of Immigrants](#toc_item_0) • [Read More](#toc_item_1) • [The Must-Visit Small Town In Every State](#toc_item_2) • [Read More](#toc_item_3) • [Is It Safe to Fly During the COVID-19 Outbreak?](#toc_item_4) • [Read More](#toc_item_5) • [Now's the Time to Get an Outdoor Hammock for a Great Price](#toc_item_6) • [Read More](#toc_item_7) *Header 728x90 [( Food & Drink [] [Padma Lakshmi’s ‘Taste the Nation’ Is a Culinary Celebration of Immigrants]( [By Kat Thompson]( What is American food? That term typically brings to mind the image of hamburgers blanketed in melted cheese, hot dogs dressed in wavy tangles of ketchup and mustard, and fragrant apple pie sealed with a flaky crust. But in a country that has the [largest immigrant population]( in the world, isn’t that a narrow view of what constitutes as American food? Are these the only things we are actually eating? This is the very question that [Padma Lakshmi]( tackles in her new Hulu series, Taste the Nation. Over 10 episodes, Padma travels across America, from Hawaii to Las Vegas to South Carolina, to taste the food that has never been considered to be American by the masses, but has made its way stateside and nourishes Americans all the same. “I want to hear these stories,” Padma told me on a recent phone call. “I don’t want to hear the same Eurocentric stuff. I’m bored.” Throughout the season, there’s creamy bowls of khao soi, cheesy bean burritos, indigenous three sisters salad, and so many other vibrant flavors. Yes, there’s hot dogs too -- and also an explainer on how those snappy sausages came to the US by way of immigrants. We spoke to Padma about the recent turmoil in food media, what it means for a dish to be authentic, and how -- no matter the circumstances -- food remains political. "To me, the most exciting things happening in food today are happening because the immigrant community is bringing them to light to a larger audience." - [Padma Lakshmi]( [] [Read More]( [( [( Travel [] [The Must-Visit Small Town In Every State]( Romanticizing small towns has been an American tradition for as long as “quaint” and “charming” have been adjectives. We love to idealize tree-lined hamlets populated with four-square homes. We long for a life of unhurried conversations and free parking, where a night out involves seeing actual stars, not dropping $250 on cocktails and cabs. When you fall in love with a small town, you fall hard. And even the most literary among us struggle to find an alternative to “charming.” We scoured the country for the villages and townships that know how to slowwww dowwwwn: places rich in comfort food, cheap pitchers, sunny parks, quirky festivals, and a limited number of friendly faces (“small town” is relative… 35,000 people is tiny in many states, but a veritable metropolis in Vermont). For road trippers these spots offer a respite from big-city life, and often serve as the gateways to outdoor adventure. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself scouring the real-estate listings… probably at a twee little bakery that has excellent scones. [] [Read More]( [( [( Travel [] [Is It Safe to Fly During the COVID-19 Outbreak?]( On March 19, 2020, the US State Department issued a [Global Level 4 Health Advisory]( on all international travel and as of June 10, it’s still in effect. It's the highest level of travel advisory we have -- hammering home the severity of the situation with a bright-red banner warning "DO NOT TRAVEL." While not a legally binding mandate, it means that Americans should avoid traveling outside the country at all costs, even as countries like [Italy](and [Mexico]( begin phased reopening of their borders. “In the current stage of our pandemic, the most critical thing for as many people as possible to do is to stay home, practice social distancing, and not travel,” said Rachel Vreeman, director of the Arnhold Institute for Global Health. “Not even locally.” Yep, domestic air travel is also strongly discouraged, even as states begin to open up businesses, [national parks](, and more. But if you have no other choice but to fly, you’ll likely face various restrictions, self-quarantine orders (depending on where you land), and a lot of [intricately designed face masks](. If you’re confused about what to expect, we’re right there with you. We spoke to experts to break down the most pressing questions about flying right now. [] [Read More]( [( [( Shopping [] [Now's the Time to Get an Outdoor Hammock for a Great Price]( You won't find it published in any scientific papers about human psychology, but I have to believe that whenever an individual is walking through a park on a sunny, breezy afternoon and spots two trees about 15' to 20' away from one another, they think to themselves "now that would be a great spot for a hammock." And as we spend more time outdoors -- whether in parks or around [fire pits in our own backyards/patios](-- we definitely start seeing new ways to bring comforts into the wild. A hammock is one of those comforts, especially when you get one for a super low price. Like you can right now over at [Wayfair's Really Awesome Hammock and Bench Sale](. [] [Read More]( [( Thrillist Editorial - Favorable reviews cannot be bought. 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