It's Alive! With Brad

Oct 21, 2016

In episode 1 of 'It's Alive' with Bon Appétit test kitchen manager Brad Leone, we follow him through his process of brewing his own kombucha. Main takeaways include: be creative, keep your SCOBY clean, take care of her, feed her, and use food-grade bottles to avoid glass explosions. It's a learning experience.

Dec 4, 2016

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 2 of "It’s Alive," and this time he’s taking you to school, making tangy, creamy, salty cultured butter. Will it be boring? Nope. Is the process scientifically accurate? Maybe. Will there be jokes and made-up words? Most likely. Will you learn about butter? Of course. Get those churning hands ready, buy some buttermilk, cream, and grab some bread. It’s Butter. It’s Alive.

Jan 15, 2017

For episode 3 of "It's Alive," Bon Appetit Test Kitchen Manager, Brad Leone, visits Suarez Family Brewery in Livingston, NY. Brewmaster, Dan Suarez, may realize he's in for a little more than he bargained for when Brad gets his hands (and face) a little dirty. Will you be able to make beer at home after watching? Probably not... but as Dan Suarez said after reviewing this video "This is as technically correct as Brad Leone can be."

Feb 13, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 4 of "It’s Alive," and this time he’s making fermented garlic honey. If that sounds simple...it is. That doesn't mean Brad won't have fun with it, though. Join him on this wild and roundabout journey to put two or three ingredients together.

Mar 15, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 5 of "It’s Alive," and this time he’s making corned beef. Brad guides you through the process of celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style, complete with bagpipes, Guinness, dolphins and...wait, what? It may not technically be alive anymore, but we kind of just let Brad do his thing.

Apr 27, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 6 of "It’s Alive," and this time he’s experimenting with koji-rubbed meats. His koji-rubbed short ribs are a crowd favorite, but will the chicken and "experimental shrimp" be winners too? Join Brad on this marginally scientific adventure to find out!

May 11, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 7 of "It’s Alive," and this time he’s brewing up a refreshing batch of tepache. Highlights include, "I want to drink this all summer long" and "I hope this doesn't blow up."

Jun 2, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 8 of "It’s Alive," and this time he's bringing the fire with his homemade hot sauce.

Jul 11, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 9 of It's Alive. This time Brad takes his skills out of the kitchen and into the woods to teach you how to build the perfect campfire for cooking delicious food outdoors. Whether you're at a campground, backyard, or taking a quick day trip into the woods, Brad's setup lets you get creative and flex your outdoor culinary skills.

Jul 13, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 10 of It's Alive. Brad uses the multi-zone campfire he built in the previous episode to whip up a delicious seafood feast for him and Vinny, with salmon, shrimp, oysters, langoustines, and more!

Jul 21, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 11 of It's Alive. Join Brad as he prepares a breakfast feast with his multi-zone campfire. He ends up with a delicious egg, potato, and bacon mix, a cheesy sausage wheel, some scrumptious stone fruit, and roughly nine-and-a-half of his fingers.

Aug 2, 2017

Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 12 of It's Alive. Brad wraps up his camping series with some delicious campfire cooked BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, and a neat little tip on how to make the most of your cooler.

Aug 25, 2017

In this special edition of It's Alive, Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone shows you that he's not perfect. Despite a nearly flawless record thus far, Brad demonstrates he knows no bounds when it comes to going off topic, expressing himself with colorful language, and yelling at a tent.

Sep 15, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back with episode 14 of It's Alive. Watch as Brad makes his favorite, crunchy, half-sour pickles using a salt brine and a blend of tasty spices. Brad also discusses the solar eclipse, takes a crash course in film history, and recaps his vacation.

Sep 29, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back with episode 15 of It's Alive. Brad takes a trip to Duxbury, Massachusetts to visit the folks at Island Creek Oyster to see what it takes to be an oyster farmer. He observes all the stages of oyster development, gets put to work on the farm, and learns the proper way to shuck an oyster!

Oct 13, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back with episode 16 of It's Alive. Brad takes a trip to Portland, Oregon to literally see how the sausage is made. He's joined by Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions, who guides Brad through the process of emulsifying, stuffing, and smoking the meats.

Oct 27, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 17 or "It's Alive," and this time he's making a fermentation classic: sauerkraut. Join Brad as he turns some cabbage into delicious kraut, daydreams, and delves into movie trivia.

Nov 10, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 18 or "It's Alive," and this time he's making kimchi. Join Brad as he battles test kitchen distractions and rubber gloves to show you his version of a cabbage kimchi.

Nov 21, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 19 of "It's Alive," and this time he's joined by Sean Evans, host of Hot Ones and Sean In The Wild from First We Feast. Brad teaches Sean the art of making pizza in a cast-iron skillet while being subjected to an abbreviated version of Sean's famous hot sauce challenge.

Dec 15, 2017

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 20 of "It's Alive," and this time he's visiting the workshop of legendary knife maker Bob Kramer to see what goes into making a high quality chef's knife. Together they forge, grind, and squish their way through creating a 5 inch utility blade. A high quality chef's knife makes a great gift if you're still looking for the perfect present for your culinary loved ones this holiday season, or just to step up your own kitchen game. Check out kramerknives.com for additional designs, products, and maintenance tips.

Jan 4, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 21 of "It's Alive," and this time he's giving you his top ten fermentation tips. Brad discusses his favorite equipment, best practices, and addresses some common concerns in the wild world of fermentation.

Jan 19, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 22 of "It's Alive," and this time he's learning how honey is harvested. Brad visits his friends at Bee Local at The Croft Farm just outside Portland, Oregon, to extract honey and test his skills as a bee whisperer.

Feb 3, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 23 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s learning how to make chocolate. (Fermentation plays a key role in the chocolate making process!) Brad travels with Guittard Chocolate to visit a cacao farm in Ecuador where he learns how farmers harvest and ferment cacao beans.

Feb 16, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 24 of “It’s Alive.” This is part 2 of Brad's adventure to learn how chocolate is made. Brad joins Amy Guittard at the Guittard chocolate factory in San Francisco to follow fermented cacao beans on their journey toward becoming finished chocolate products.

Mar 2, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen manager, Brad Leone, is back for episode 25 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s making salt. Brad visits Ben Jacobsen, of Jacobsen Salt Co. (and many “It’s Alive” cameos), to learn how seawater from the Pacific Northwest is turned into some of the best salt products in the world.

Mar 16, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 26 of "It's Alive," and this time he's tackling the fermentation classic: sourdough bread. Brad is joined by Bon Appétit's own Claire Saffitz, Senior Food Editor and baker extraordinaire to guide him on this journey.

Mar 28, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 27 of "It's Alive," and this time he's teaming up with Andrew Rea from Binging with Babish to make ricotta cheese.

Apr 20, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 28 of "It's Alive," and thanks to the fine folks at Alaska Home Pack, he's up in the beautiful waters of Alaska fishing for Bairdi crabs. Join Brad as he learns what it takes to get crabs from the ocean floor to your front door.

Apr 27, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 29 of "It's Alive," and this time he's cooking crabs on the beach in Alaska. Brad shows you how to steam and eat fresh crabs, and whips up a miso sambal butter dip on the side.

May 18, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 30 of "It's Alive." This time he makes giardiniera, a delicious and versatile condiment that's easy to make and is the perfect addition to sandwiches, salads, and more!

May 21, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 31 of "It's Alive." Brad learns the art of whole hog barbecue with legendary pitmaster Rodney Scott in Charleston, South Carolina. Join Brad as he chops and mops his way to a delicious plate of barbecue.

Jun 8, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 32 of "It's Alive." This time Brad makes the highly requested beet kvass. It's a fermented drink popularly made with rye bread, but today Brad experiments with the beet variation. Join Brad as he bops and boops his way through fermenting beets and avoiding rattlesnakes.

Jun 29, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 33 of "It's Alive." He's joined by chef, filmmaker, and friend of the show Andrew Rea from Binging with Babish. Together they make a kombucha and miso infused BBQ sauce in the kitchen before heading over to Brad's backyard to cook up some ribs.

Jul 12, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for Episode 34 of "It's Alive." He's joined by chef and host Matty Matheson (Muchies, Viceland) to make some delicious halibut fish tacos. With tortillas from scratch, fish from Alaska, and accents from New Jersey and Toronto, this episode has it all.

Jul 26, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 35 of “It’s Alive” and this time he’s making the highly requested miso. Join Brad as he ages a red miso, advocates for blade safety, and forgets why he went to the walk-in.

Aug 9, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 36 of “It’s Alive” and this time he’s making chocolate pizzelle cookies with sourdough starter. Perfect with some ice cream, in affogato, or just to snack on, join Brad as he tries to gets his pizzelle rhythm going while facing off against his beloved garage sale cookie iron.

Aug 23, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 37 of “It’s Alive” and this time he's making fermented eggs! Sounds a bit scary, but it's actually a delicious twist on pickled eggs. Perfect for a well-seasoned egg salad, deviled eggs, or in Brad's case, the perfect way to top off some tomato toast.

Sep 6, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 38 of “It’s Alive” and this time he's making beef jerky. Join Brad as he walks you through cutting, seasoning, and dehydrating two flavors of jerky.

Sep 20, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 39 of “It’s Alive” and this time he’s making mustard. Rumor has it this might be his best creation yet. Join Brad as he gets into “some serious science” and reveals the fermented ace up his sleeve.

Oct 4, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 40 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he's fermenting garlic in miso. Brad has two of his favorite ingredients hang out in Fermentation Station in preparation for making a delicious garlic-infused miso soup. Join him on his lifelong adventure to get that allicin going.

Oct 18, 2018

Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Manager Brad Leone is back for episode 41 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he's deep in the woods of Washington foraging for porcini mushrooms with his fungus friends, Colin and Andrew.

Nov 1, 2018

Bon Appétit's Brad Leone is back for episode 42 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he's making black garlic and homemade pasta. Join Brad on his lifelong quest to consume garlic in as many forms as possible.

Nov 15, 2018

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 43 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s in Oregon to go pheasant hunting with Olympia Provisions’ very own Elias Cairo. Brad and Elias show you how to safely and responsibly harvest wild game for consumption. Joining them are Leather and Utah, Eli’s very talented dogs.

Nov 30, 2018

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 44 of “It’s Alive,” for the second part of his pheasant hunting trip with Elias Cairo. Using the pheasants from the previous episode, Brad and Elias show you how to properly break down, preserve, and cook wild game.

Dec 13, 2018

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 45 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he traveled to Tuscany, Italy to make olive oil with Lucini Italia. Watch Brad learn the process from harvesting to bottling of producing extra virgin olive oil.

Apr 11, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 47 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s making focaccia bread with Samin Nosrat, author and host of “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.” Join Brad and Samin as they bake bread, explore alternate show titles, and agree that you can never have too much olive oil.

Apr 25, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 48 of “It’s Alive,” and this time Test Kitchen Manager Gaby Melian teaches Brad how to make Argentinian Empanadas. Join Brad and Gaby as they struggle with gloves, try on new hats, and celebrate Brad’s not-so-last day in the Test Kitchen.

May 8, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 49 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s joined by Priya Krishna, who teaches him how to make yogurt. Join Brad and Priya as they experiment with her father’s three decade old starter culture, skim his lengthy instructions, and video chat with him for validation.

May 30, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 50 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s making yuzu kosho from the Japanese citrus yuzu. Join Brad as he and his pals zest, calculate, and sing their way to a delicious yuzu-infused shrimp dish.

Jul 11, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad and Claire are back for a very special crossover episode (Part 1!) of It’s Alive. Claire says they’re making doughnuts with sourdough starter. Brad’s trying to make “sourdoughnuts” a thing. Who will win? You will: this episode had so many good Brad and Claire moments that we had to make it two parts. *Correction, let's make that three parts.

Jul 31, 2019

Brad Leone and Claire Saffitz are back to finish what they started. Sourdoughnuts Part II. Watch it all go wrong and get ready for the final installment of the Sourdoughnuts saga.

Aug 1, 2019

Brad Leone and Claire Saffitz return for the final installment of It’s Alive: Sourdoughnuts. This time… they actually make doughnuts. Watch as they conclude their long and winding journey towards light and pillowy sourdough doughnuts. Be sure to check out the previous episodes if you missed them! Long live the Rat King.

Aug 22, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 54 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s fermenting citrus fruits! Brad tries his hand at fermenting kumquats, lemons, limes, and blood orange to give your average citrus an It’s Alive kick. Work them into vinaigrettes, top your squid salads with them, or get creative! The world is your oyster, whether you pronounce your oyster condiment mignonette or “min-yet.”

Sep 19, 2019

You asked for it…they noodled. Brad and special guest Matty Matheson head down to Oklahoma to catch catfish with their bare hands. Join Brad and Matty as they search for catfish in dangerous, murky wourder with their new best friend and professional noodler Skipper Bivins. Screaming, sea monsters, and giant snakes galore. Watch them get literally in over their heads and stay tuned for Part 2 where they’ll cook up the fish they noodled.

Sep 20, 2019

Brad and special guest Matty Matheson are back for Part 2 of Noodling! After an adventurous day in the wourders of Oklahoma, Brad and Matty head back to Skipper's house to break down and cook up the catfish they caught with their bare hands.

Oct 10, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 57 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s making fermented popcorn seasoning! Brad dehydrates and blends sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso into his own custom fermented spice blend. Join Brad as he learns about alchemy, 90s fitness fads, and faces off with his greatest foe yet… the microwave.

Oct 17, 2019

Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone is back for episode 58 of “It’s Alive,” and this time he’s making ginger beer! Join Brad on another fermented adventure as he experiments with different types of ginger, draws up plans for a Bon Appétit haunted house, and teaches some coworkers how to play the moderately dangerous game of "dry ice."