Food facts
Cooking Channel favorite separates food truths from myths
Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Just how Irish is corned beef anyways? There are so many idioms, stories and sayings about all sorts of everyday foods that it can be all but impossible to sort out the true from the false when it comes to the food we eat.
That’s where acclaimed actor Michael McKean comes in. The “Better Call Saul” star is on a fact-finding mission in “Food: Fact or Fiction?,” digging into the everyday foods we eat to figure out what’s true and what’s not, while coming across fascinating stories along the way. A new season of the culinary series premieres Sunday, Oct. 22, on Cooking Channel with a look at some holiday classics.
First up is Halloween, with McKean searching for the origins of the tradition of handing out candy — but what he finds is that we really should be giving out cake, instead. Then, Valentine’s Day comes early as our host investigates cute little candy hearts and discovers that they used to be used as medicine. Finally, he checks out St. Patrick’s Day, and what could be more Irish than delicious corned beef ... right?
Sometimes when watching “Food: Fact or Fiction?,” it can seem like there isn’t a single food out there that doesn’t have an interesting story behind it. As the season continues, McKean peels back the mystery surrounding all sorts of eats. He investigates how a food’s shape can actually transform how it tastes, discovers that a loud noise can land someone in burger heaven and, with his friend, actor Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds”), learns how a delicious Italian Beef once had the potential to bring some cops knocking.
Every food has a story, and McKean has a lot of fun exploring as many as he can. A new season of the ever informative “Food: Fact or Fiction?” premieres Sunday, Oct. 22, on Cooking Channel.