It's Alive! With Brad

S5 · E1 · Nov 25, 2020

Brad Learns How to Compost Episode 1

It's Alive with Brad Leone is BACK for episode 73 and this one is all about sweet, sweet composting. Join Brad as he hops and skips all over the tri-state area to learn everything there is to know about organic composting from start to finish. Under the tutelage of Vivian Lin of Groundcycle and Jay Fischer of Ag Choice, Brad learns how to compost at both a local and industrial scale.

S5 · E2 · Dec 17, 2020

Brad Restores Oyster Reefs Episode 2

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 77 and this time Brad is learning all about oyster reefs. Join Brad in New York Harbor as he learns how oyster shells are put to work after restaurants dispose of them. New York Harbor used to have 220,000 acres of oyster reefs, but it only took 100 years to harvest them all once Europeans arrived. That's where Billion Oyster Project comes in -- recreating New York's lost oyster fields. And Brad's here to help.

S5 · E3 · Jan 28, 2021

Brad Makes Canned Seafood Episode 3

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 78 and this time he's canning some seafood. Safety is everything whilst canning foods, so Brad enlists the expertise of Chef Charolette Langely of Scout Canning, who knows just about everything there is about preserving seafood. Seriously, you will get sick if you don't do it right, so pay attention if you plan on giving this a whirl. Brad uses fresh steelhead trout, mussels and lobster, but feel free to get creative with your canning. PS. Maybe Matty Matheson makes a cameo?

S5 · E4 · Feb 18, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Fruit Leather Episode 4

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 77 and this time Brad is making everybody's favorite variation on fruit: the leather kind. That's right, it's fermented fruit leather week at Bon Appétit. Join Brad as he struggles with a vacuum sealer, figures it out, gets distracted, remembers what he was doing and then moves on. Also in this episode: reminiscing on performing artist Seal's thighs, musings on picking blueberries and raspberries and so, so much more.

S5 · E5 · Mar 3, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Salsa Episode 5

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 78 and this time Brad is making fermented salsa. Join Brad as chars up some chilis and lets 'em ferment to make a salsa so nice you just might dip twice.

S5 · E6 · Mar 24, 2021

Brad Volunteers at a Food Bank Episode 6

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 79 and this time Brad is volunteering at Food Bank for New York City in Harlem. Brad is joined by Chef Sheri Jefferson, the culinary manager in the community kitchen, where they cook one thousand meals a day. That's right, one thousand meals in one day. After a day of volunteering, they head back to the studio kitchen so Chef Sheri can show Brad just how they pull off this feat.

S5 · E7 · Apr 7, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Pasta Sauce Episode 7

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 80 and this time Brad is making fermented pasta sauce. Brad uses campari tomatoes, but you can use any type of tomato you want for this recipe. Just make sure not to put to much onion in the sauce, Pauly!

S5 · E8 · Apr 20, 2021

Brad and Chrissy Make Maple Syrup Episode 8

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 81 and this time he's joined by our very own Chrissy Tracey in the woods of beautiful and underrated Connecticut. And what is the one thing you do when you're in the woods of Connecticut? You make maple syrup, that's what. From sap in a tree to syrup on your pancakes, this is how you make maple syrup.

S5 · E9 · May 5, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Peanut Butter & Jelly Episode 9

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 82 and this time he's making fermented peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. This nut butter uses both peanuts and pecans that ya roast in the oven first. But be advised: don't go walking Hank the dog while they're in the oven, because they'll go from nice, fragrant and beautiful to scorched real fast. The jelly is a raspberry, blackberry and blueberry mix that you ferment until they're good and rotten (in a safe way).

S5 · E10 · May 17, 2021

Brad Makes Miso Fermented Fries Episode 10

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 83 and this time he's making fermented miso potatoes. Now folks, this french fry recipe is good enough to be in a 5-star restaurant and cost you $50 a plate. But now for a limited time, this recipe can be yours for just the time it takes to watch an 11 minute long video! Act fast!

S5 · E11 · Jun 9, 2021

Brad Makes Burgers Episode 11

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 84 and the first entry in a special 4-part series from Brad's own backyard. This week he's firing up the grill for burger time and bubba - you better believe Brad’s got his own blend to bring to the banquet. That was a lot of B-words. Not "B-words" as in a swears or anything. “The B Word.” You know what? Let's watch the video.

S5 · E12 · Jun 16, 2021

Brad Goes Squid Fishing Episode 12

It's Alive with Brad Leone is back for episode 85 and part two of our special miniseries featuring Brad grilling in his backyard. This week Brad is breaking out the bait and tackle for an inky all-nighter, learning how to catch squid in the Atlantic Ocean with Captain Dan and Fisherman Vinny. With their precious cephalopods back home and ready to go, Brad and Dan whip up a few bowls of fresh smoked squid and tomato pasta to bond over. It’s a beautiful thing.

S5 · E13 · Jun 23, 2021

Brad Makes Smoked Mushrooms Episode 13

Welcome back to It's Alive with Brad Leone for episode 86 and the penultimate installment of Brad’s backyard grilling miniseries. This week is all about the ‘shrooms as Brad takes a trip to Seacoast Mushrooms for a look at their cultivation process with owner Chris Pacheco. Afterwards, Brad heads home to the backyard to prepare one of his favorite smoked mushroom dishes, featuring five varieties of his fungal friends. Far out, man.

S5 · E14 · Jun 30, 2021

Brad Makes Pizza With Foraged Ramps Episode 14

Welcome back to It's Alive with Brad Leone for episode 87 and the final installment of Brad’s special backyard grilling series. This week our guy is joined by friend and colleague Chrissy Tracey for a forest excursion focused on finding ramps - edible wild leeks that grow in shaded, woody areas. With their freshly picked supplies ready to go, our foraging pros head back to Casa Brad to rendezvous with Sam Seneviratne and bake a few pizzas with seasonal toppings. We’re going forest to table with this one, folks. Let’s do it.

S5 · E15 · Jul 8, 2021

Brad Makes Pickled Peppers Episode 15

Welcome back for episode 88 of It's Alive with Brad Leone where this week our man with the plan sets out to pickle peppers. Now, pickled peppers obviously present a great tongue twister for a master linguist like Mr. Leone, but the real appeal lies in that they're delicious and add a kick to nearly anything. Make a jar and it will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, giving you access to these chill chilies right when you want them.

S5 · E16 · Jul 28, 2021

Brad Goes Fly Fishing In Montana Part 1 Episode 16

We're back for episode 89 of It's Alive with Brad Leone and in this first entry of a two-part series, our guy is heading out to Bozeman, Montana to experience some fly fishing. Brad is joined on the Yellowstone River by his buddy Steve Rinella from Netflix's MeatEater who breaks down all the ins and outs of catching native whitefish. Let's see what these intrepid fellas can get on their hooks and bring into the kitchen.

S5 · E17 · Aug 4, 2021

Brad Makes Smoked Whitefish In Montana Episode 17

It’s the 90th episode of It's Alive with Brad Leone and our guy is still on location in Montana spending quality time with MeatEater’s Steve Rinella. As loyal viewers will recall, the gentlemen hauled in a fine catch of whitefish on the Yellowstone River in our previous episode - and now it’s time to hit the kitchen. We're brining, we're smoking, we're stewing, we're making dips and tomato bakes. This Montana trip is shaping up to finish on a high note.

S5 · E18 · Aug 25, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Watermelon Cocktails Episode 18

We're back for the 91st episode of It's Alive with Brad Leone and today our guy is mixing up a batch of fermented watermelon cocktails, one of the featured recipes in his new cookbook "Field Notes for Food Adventure: Recipes and Stories from the Woods to the Ocean." Sweet and spicy with a hint of salt, Brad's fermented watermelon cocktails make for an ideal end-of-summer beverage - either non-alcoholic or with some mezcal for the adult set.

S5 · E19 · Sep 15, 2021

Brad Makes Pickled Avocado Episode 19

Fermenting maestro Brade Leone is back with the next episode of It's Alive and this time he's turned his pickling attention to the venerable avocado. One of the best parts about Brad's method is it calls for unripened avocados, meaning there's no fussing around waiting for the perfect consistency. Just a few ingredients and a little patience yields a jar of pickled avocado goodness, ready to add a kick to any dish.

S5 · E20 · Sep 29, 2021

Brad Makes Fermented Tomato Smoked Chicken Episode 20

Enzyme enthusiast, grill master and cookbook author(!) Brad Leone returns for the next episode of It’s Alive, this time to prepare smoked chicken with a fermented tomato purée - a recipe featured in his upcoming release “Field Notes for Food Adventure.” Brad smokes the chicken low and slow, gradually building up a coating of fermented tomato glaze and making for some stellar results.

S5 · E21 · Oct 12, 2021

Brad Makes Mozzarella Episode 21

We're back with another episode of It's Alive and this time our man Brad is living a little bit of “la dolce vita” by making some fresh mozzarella. Now, seeing as he’s never actually tried to make mozzarella before, Brad decided to call in a hand from his buddy Cody Reiss, a globe-hopping, cheese-mongering virtuoso you may know from “Cody’s World of Cheese.”

S5 · E22 · Oct 31, 2021

Brad Makes Sous Vide Mountain Ribs Episode 22

We’re back with another episode of It’s Alive with Brad and today the big guy is preparing sous vide ribs to pack away and bring into the great outdoors for finishing over a roaring grill. Brad’s Mountain Ribs are topped with a sweet and spicy sauce made with fermented black bean paste, honey, chilies and other fun stuff, resulting in fall-off-the-bone goodness.

S5 · E23 · Nov 9, 2021

Brad & His Dad Make Venison Andouille Sausage Episode 23

We’re back with another episode of It’s Alive and this time it’s a family affair as Brad is joined by his dad George to prepare venison andouille sausage. Dad Leone has been making these links Brad’s entire life and now this generation-spanning recipe will be forever enshrined in Brad’s new book “Field Notes For Food Adventure.”

S5 · E24 · Nov 24, 2021

Brad Builds A Fermentation Chamber & Makes Tempeh (ft. Sandor Katz) Episode 24

We’re back with another episode of It’s Alive and today Brad is joined by a true expert in the field of fermentation, Sandor Katz, for some fried tempeh with a side of DIY construction. Sandor shows Brad how to build an effective fermentation chamber with just a few materials before breaking down how easy it can be to create an environment where soybeans turn into a firm, sliceable, friable delight.

S5 · E25 · Dec 7, 2021

Brad Goes Crabbing & Shrimping For A Low Country Boil Episode 25

We’re back for another episode of It’s Alive and today Brad is visiting Hilton Head Island in South Carolina to meet Andrew Carmines, owner of Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks. Brad and Andrew head out for a day of shrimping and crabbing, casting their nets to catch ingredients for a low country boil - a brand new experience for Brad to add to his arsenal.

S5 · E26 · Dec 22, 2021

Brad Makes Bison Jerky Episode 26

Brad Leone returns with another episode of It's Alive, this time showing us how to make our own bison jerky. Brad slices and spices up pieces of lean bison meat for dehydration - not unlike what you'd do when working with beef - making a protein-packed snack that blows away anything you've ever tried from a store.

S5 · E27 · Jan 26, 2022

Brad Makes Fermented Hot Honey Episode 27

We're back for another episode of It's Alive where this time Brad comes armed with a knockout recipe for hot honey with fermented chilies - perfect for drizzling some complex kick over a fried chicken cutlet. Sweet, spicy, umami, we're doing it all with this one, folks.

S5 · E28 · Feb 3, 2022

Brad Makes Pickled Mussels Episode 28

Today on It's Alive, our very own Brad Leone returns to bust out his patented fermentation moves on our bivalve buddy the mussel, pickling them alongside some leeks and shallots. Perfect for topping a cracker, mixing into pasta, or serving with rice, these pickled mussels pack lots of flavor into a petite package.

S5 · E29 · Feb 28, 2022

Brad Makes Bone Broth Episode 29

S5 · E30 · Mar 16, 2022

Brad Enters An Ice Fishing Contest Episode 30

Your esteemed friend and ours Brad Leone returns for another It’s Alive, this time out on location to celebrate a milestone 100th episode with a day of ice fishing - sponsored by Origin, purveyors of refreshingly American sparkling spring water. Brad heads to New Hampshire to rendezvous with local guide Captain Bob Tonkin atop a frozen Lake Winnipesaukee to fish for lake trout at the 43rd Great Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby. Come for the ice-cold Leone - stick around for a celebratory look back at 100 episodes of It’s Alive.

S5 · E31 · Apr 4, 2022

Brad Makes Pastrami Episode 31

We're back with a smokin' new episode of It's Alive and Brad Leone is bringing the beef straight from his own kitchen (and backyard.) From brining and spice rubs to the smoker and oven, Brad takes this beef on a transformative journey you won't want to miss.