It's Alive with Brad

In this inaugeral episode 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.

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.

For the third installment 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."

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.

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.

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 favourite, but will the chicken and "experimental shrimp" be winners too? Join Brad on this marginally scientific adventure to find out!

This time Brad'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."

This time Brad's bringing the fire with his homemade hot sauce.

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.

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!

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.

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.

In this special edition, Brad 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.

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.

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!

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.

This time Brad's making a fermentation classic: sauerkraut. Join Brad as he turns some cabbage into delicious kraut, daydreams, and delves into movie trivia.

This time Brad's making kimchi. Join Brad as he battles test kitchen distractions and rubber gloves to show you his version of a cabbage kimchi.