847: Vitamina T with Jorge Gaviria and Will This Make You Happy with Tanya Bush
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In this episode of The Splendid Table, host Francis Lam explores the vibrant world of Mexican street food through a conversation with Jorge Gaviria, co-author of the new cookbook Vitamina T, a playful yet profound celebration of the 'T' foods of Mexico. Gaviria shares the origins of the term 'Vitamina T'—a tongue-in-cheek reference to the essential, delicious, and culturally rich street foods like tacos, tamales, tostadas, and tacoyos—that start with the letter T. He recounts his first encounter with the term at a fleeting tianguis market in Mexico City and dives into the textures, traditions, and regional variations of these beloved dishes, including the unique Tlayuda and the innovative beet and avocado tostada with spicy peanut matcha salsa. The episode then shifts to a heartfelt discussion with pastry chef and author Tanya Bush, whose narrative cookbook Will This Make You Happy? intertwines personal memoir with baking. Bush reflects on her journey from pandemic-era baking as emotional refuge to working in a professional kitchen in Italy, where she learned that authenticity and imperfection often hold more emotional resonance than technical perfection. Her recipes—like the olive oil carrot cake with cream cheese mousse and the dark chocolate and toasted coconut layer cake—embody this philosophy, celebrating process, flavor, and joy over polish. Both guests emphasize that food is not just sustenance but a language of connection, memory, and self-discovery.
Vitamina T is a joyful, unofficial food group of Mexican street foods starting with 'T'—tacos, tamales, tostadas, and more—celebrating texture, tradition, and cultural evolution.
Imperfection in baking is not failure but a necessary part of learning and emotional connection; the best desserts often come from honest, imperfect processes.
Texture is everything in Mexican street food—crispy, molten, chewy, and layered—creating a multisensory experience that transcends the plate.
Baking can be a form of self-discovery and healing, especially when it’s rooted in process, curiosity, and personal storytelling.
Simple techniques—like freezing crullers before frying or using a pot to build a layer cake—can eliminate fear and unlock confidence in the kitchen.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Joy of Making People Happy
Francis Lam opens the episode with a reflection on the joy of making people happy through food, setting the tone for a conversation about the emotional and cultural power of cooking and eating.
Introducing Vitamina T: Mexico's T-Food Canon
“You found it. And then I kind of was a nervous traveler. Like I was just trying to be very respectful. Didn't know if I was like kind of blowing up anyone's spot. And I said, what do you mean? And he's like, you know, vitamin E. Like, you got it.”
The Art of the Tostada and the Texture Revolution
Gaviria details the different methods of making tostadas—from toaster ovens to frying—and highlights the importance of texture, especially in the unique raspadas style from Jalisco.
Tinga, Chicharrones, and the Evolution of Mexican Street Food
“You know, it's a really amazing thing to see how much creativity goes into making this food something that has its own life. You know, it just sort of transcends the culture that they gave at birth and becomes, you know, its own canon unto itself.”
Tanya Bush’s Journey: Baking as Healing
“I was on a high dose of Prozac and nothing was working. But I did actually love making something. I loved sort of, yeah, the process of turning these disparate ingredients into, you know, a finished product that I could, you know, consume and share.”
“I realized there that, you know, oh, that's actually not the pastry that moves me. I really love like messier, homier sort of butter forward, salt forward pastry that is less interested in like, you know, being technically innovative and more, you know, comforting and nostalgic.”
“You know, I think that it's not just about what you're making. It's about who you're becoming while you're making it.”
“I was on a high dose of Prozac and nothing was working. But I did actually love making something. I loved sort of, yeah, the process of turning these disparate ingredients into, you know, a finished product that I could, you know, consume and share.”
Host
Guests
Francis Lam
person
Tanya Bush
person
Jorge Gaviria
person
Vitamina T
book
Will This Make You Happy?
book
Fermín Núñez
person
The Splendid Table
media
Masienda
organization
Mexico City
place
Tianguis
other
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