Charles Phoenix (born December 20, 1962) is an American pop culture humorist, historian, author and chef whose work explores and celebrates 1950s and 1960s kitsch and Americana. Phoenix is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed "Retro slide shows" which showcase his collection of vintage film slides capturing mid-century American life and culture accompanied by Phoenix's comedic commentary, as well as his "test kitchen" creations of exaggerated novelty foods and desserts, the most famous of which is the Cherpumple, a three-layer cake/pie hybrid. Phoenix has made numerous guest appearances on television, most notably as a recurring judge on the Food Network series Cake Wars, as well as acting as a frequent guest commentator on NPR and KCET.