The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson joins us this week to talk Burgundy wine. It's the tricky but luscious older brother of Pinot Noir that the movie "Sideways" crowned the new king. Andrea's Pearl Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Carrots pairs beautifully with Pinot Noirs from Burgundy's Côte Chalonnaise district.The Sterns are dining with night owls and truckers at Jo Jo's Restaurant in Pittsburgh. Sally Schneider stops by with what we need to know about seasoning with nut oils. Her divine Leek "Noodles" with Crème Fraîche and Hazelnut Oil is the best introduction we know. When one more carol threatens to send you screaming from the room, World Music master Bob Duskis comes to the rescue with holiday music to entertain by. The good news is there's not a fa-la-la-la-la in the bunch!Then we have the latest from Paris—temporary restaurants. They're open a few days then they're gone forever!Broadcast dates for this episode:December 3, 2005

This week's guest could be New York's next star chef. He's Suvir Saran, author of Indian Home Cooking. His food is all about clear, singing flavors and simple, light dishes. Tomato Rasam is a fine example.The Sterns are munching sopaipillas dipped in liquid sunshine at the Plaza Café, Santa Fe's oldest restaurant.Steve Jenkins introduces us to lush gooey cheeses, the ones he calls the "cheeses of a lifetime."Britain's beloved food writer Nigel Slater tells of a fragile mother-son relationship forged in the kitchen from his heartbreakingly funny memoir TOAST: The Story of a Boy's Hunger.Sally Schneider talks winter squash and leaves us her delicious recipe for Roasted Winter Squash Slices. Finally, we'll hear about an unusual pizza unique to the upper Midwest and Fox's Pizza Den.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 9, 2004 (originally aired)November 26, 2005 (rebroadcast)

It's our annual Thanksgiving show and we're bringing you a banquet of recipes, stories, a cut of history, and new looks at feasting inside and outside our borders. Food authority Joan Nathan talks real American food today from home kitchens across the country. Her recipe for Braised Butternut Squash with Mustard Seeds, Chili, Curry Leaves, and Ginger is from her new book, The New American Cooking.Who but the Sterns would find popcorn missing from the Thanksgiving table? They fill the void at Yoder Popcorn in Topeka, Indiana. Lynne has a new rule for the big feast and a whole do-ahead menu designed for one oven. It could change how you do Thanksgiving dinner from now on.Sally Schneider is back tackling side dishes and the big pumpkin question: fresh or canned? Her delicious Cranberry-Walnut Conserve is one side dish you'll want on your table! Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio tell of going inside the kitchens and lives of families from Greenland to Chad to photograph what they eat in one week. It's all documented in their book, Hungry Planet: What the World Eats.You'll hear about a coronation feast with a spine-tingling twist from Nichola Fletcher, author of Charlemagne's Tablecloth, and one urban activist tells the political side of dumpster diving.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 19, 2005

This week it's a blast from the past - the macrobiotic diet - with Jessica Porter, author of The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics. Jessica has a fresh take on that 1960's phenomenon.The Sterns visit the Beacon Light Tea Room in Lyles, Tennessee. Wine wit Joshua Wesson wants us to discover the mysterious Primitivo, and Mike Colamecco, our New York food expert, tells us where to breakfast in Manhattan.Francine Maroukian, author of Esquire Eats, has advice for the guys on how to feed friends and lovers. Start with her recipe for Double-Fired Porterhouse with Classic Steakhouse Rub.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 2, 2004 (originally aired)November 5, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Tod Murphy is a man who's giving restaurant chains a run for their money. His Farmer's Diner in Barre, Vermont serves up good, cheap food from local farms. The system is a winner that could take "local" national.The Sterns set out for breakfast in Nashville and ended up at Vandyland for ice cream sodas.Sally Schneider shares her recipe for Real "Jell-O", and David Leite talks the hazards of being a "hired belly." Anya Von Bremzen is just back from Turkey with easy little dishes, including Turkish Braised Eggplant, and we'll hear about the "Taking America to Lunch" exhibit opening next spring at the Smithsonian's National Museum of History.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 25, 2004 (originally aired)October 22, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week it's a newspaper that gets it. America is food obsessed as never before, yet newspapers across the country are slashing their food sections down to a few recipe columns off the wire amid a mass of ads. And forget local coverage. An exception is the San Francisco Chronicle food & dining page. Executive food and wine editor Michael Bauer joins us to talk the plight of the food page. The recipe for Pomegranate and Spice-Braised Pork comes from the Chronicle.The Sterns tuck into a plate of soul food spaghetti at Ramon's in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The high priestess of wine, Andrea Immer, brings a real world take to wine issues like glasses, temperature, and what to do with that open bottle. Her latest work is Andrea's Complete Wine Course for Everyone on DVD.Are you ready for some wattle seed or Inca Aji? Spice purveyor Nirmala Narine hunts down the truly unusual from the spice world to create her remarkable blends. Food writer Francine Maroukian talks the return of the neighborhood coffee roaster, and we have the scoop on the Healing Foods Pyramid - with wine and chocolate!Broadcast dates for this episode:October 1, 2005

We're taking a look at Zinfandel, the mystery grape swathed in controversy, its origins lost in the mists of time. Wine historian Charles Sullivan, author of Zinfandel: A History of a Grape and Its Wine, joins us to unravel its questionable past.The Sterns have found great barbecue behind bulletproof glass at Leon's Bar-B-Que in Chicago. Dorie Greenspan gets us ready for the return of cool weather with the best in bread baking gear. Our go-to guy in New York reveals one of his secrets for great cheap eats: the city's oldest Indian neighborhood called Curry Hill.Lynne shares her recipe for Tamarind-Glazed Pork Tenderloin Sauté, and Alice Waters, the high priestess of California cuisine and organics, reports on the latest in school lunches from Berkeley's Edible Schoolyard.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 11, 2004 (originally aired)September 10, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week we're creating spaces for entertaining. It's not about remodeling, it's about working with what you already have. Our guest is architect Sarah Susanka, whose latest book is Home by Design: Transforming Your House Into a Home.The Sterns are eating Cuban sandwiches and mango milkshakes at Margon in Times Square. Cheese monger Steve Jenkins is back and wants us to try fresh summer cheeses.Anya Von Bremzen wanders the world as a food journalist, but Spain draws her back again and again. She joins us to talk Spanish food, including the ultimate Classic Andalusian Gazpacho. We'll hear the backstory on Terroir estate coffee from George Howell, founder of Boston's Coffee Connection. Dan Lowenstein fills us in on PlayDine, a new take on family-style restaurants, and Lynne has a recipe for Iced Summer Peaches.Broadcast dates for this episode:July 24, 2004 (originally aired)September 3, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week it's a look at Antonin Carême, the world's first celebrity chef. Abandoned by his family at age nine to starve on the streets of Paris, Carême overcame impossible odds to achieve wealth, fame and an unheard of independence. In the process he reshaped French cuisine. His biographer Ian Kelly, author of Cooking for Kings, tells the story. Carême's recipe for Orange Flower and Pink Champagne Jelly takes us back to the 19th century when he cooked for kings.The Sterns have discovered an anomaly at Burgerville, a restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest. Christopher Kimball of Cook's Illustrated tested ice cream makers and came up with some worth having. We'll go to Seattle for an oyster dating service, and Lynne gets a lesson in pairing wines with oysters. Our man in Athens calls in with the scoop on what the athletes are eating, and we have the latest solution to cork taint - the Vino-Lok.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 21, 2004 (originally aired)August 20, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Indian food expert Madhur Jaffrey joins us this week with the tale of how curry turned global. It's all about India's caste system and Britain's lust for empire. Madhur shares her recipe for Cilantro Chicken from her latest book, From Curries to Kebabs: Recipes from the Indian Spice Trail.Michael Stern takes on the politics of the waffle at the Blue Plate Café in Memphis, and Josh Wesson wants us to try German wines with simple labels.Journalist Anya Von Bremzen talks the true soba noodles of Japan and names the best soba parlors in Tokyo and New York. Now is a good time to try her recipe for Chilled Zaru Soba with Dipping Sauce. We'll hear from a watermelon queen in love with petrochemicals, and Vocation Vacations has ideas for your next getaway.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 7, 2004 (originally aired)August 13, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week, our guest Trevor Corson, author of The Secret Life of Lobsters, takes a new look at endangered sea life. It's story of underwater feminism, renegade scientists, and amorous crustaceans!The Sterns are road tripping into fried pie country where they've found a gem called Family Pie Shop.Rick Bayless picks wines to drink with Mexican food, and shares a recipe for Garlicky Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Smoky Tomato-Chile Salsa from his book Mexico One Plate At A Time. Smart cook Sally Schneider talks how to waste nothing and be ready for anything. It's all in how you use your freezer. Keep her Fool-Proof Flaky Butter Pastry on hand for a spur-of-the-moment fruit pizza or pie. B-52 rocker Kate Piersen tells about her retro Lazy Meadow Motel in the Catskill Mountains, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:July 17, 2004 (originally aired)July 30, 2005 (rebroadcast)

We're talking living and eating in the south of France with none other than Patricia Wells, restaurant critic for the International Herald Tribune and the most prominent American authority on French food today. Patricia's new book, The Provence Cookbook, is the latest addition to her roster of titles about cooking, traveling and eating in Paris and France. She leaves us her recipe for Fresh White Beans with Garlic and Light Basil Sauce, and recommends a visit to Le Bistrot du Paradou.The Sterns tell of the sensational hotdogs at Fido's a street cart in Portland, Oregon, and then Josh Wesson suggests wines to pair with rich, oily fish like salmon and mackerel.Lynne reports on her visit to Armandino's Salumi and other Seattle restaurants discovered during her recent trip to the Emerald City where she partied with KUOW listeners. Finally, we'll have a report on picnicking in the nude, part of the fastest growing trend in vacationing - nude recreation!Broadcast dates for this episode:July 10, 2004 (originally aired)July 2, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Peter Mayle, author of A Year in Provence, joins us this week with a send-up of France's latest wine craze. It's all about the scams and hype that have us sniffing our wines for traces of impertinence and pencil shavings! Peter's new novel is A Good Year.The Sterns indulge in the fabulous frozen custard at Leon's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Josh Wesson suggests wines to pair with summer's bounty, then Mike Colameco tells us where to eat in New York City's Hell's Kitchen, a neighborhood little known to those outside the Big Apple.Food & Wine magazine just named their picks for Best New Chefs of 2004 and we have the scoop! Then we'll have an update on what not to eat from sea and stream from the folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch.Broadcast dates for this episode:June 12, 2004 (originally aired)June 25, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week it's the story of a life-altering sweet tooth. Our guest, Steve Almond, author of Candyfreak, has lived his entire life for candy and surely knows more about candy history than Mars and Hershey combined. The Sterns are choosing between democracy and dictatorship at Hallo Berlin, a sausage cart on the streets of New York. Travel writer Anya Von Bremzen reports on world food markets worth a trip. Sally Schneider talks the garlic of the moment and shares a recipe for Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Roasted Garlic. Al Sicherman reports on "the unfortunate pantry: a taste test." Citysearch brings us a new way to find good eats when we're on the road, and Lynne shares her recipe for Sweet and Pungent Sicilian Sauce.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 29, 2004 (originally aired)June 18, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Funny and frank journalist Linda Ellerbee joins us this week to talk travel, eating, and the meaning of life. She shares a recipe for Mama's Rescued Fudge Pie from Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table, her recently published memoirs.The Sterns celebrate Grilled Cheese Month at Clementine in Los Angeles where the banana cream pie is to die for! Deborah Madison stops by with a fresh take on crepes. Her recipe for Masa Crepes with Chard, Chiles and Cilantro is from her new book, Vegetarian Suppers from Deborah Madison's Kitchen.Dr. Arthur Aufderheide, who runs the International Mummy Registry, tells a fascinating tale of exhuming the bodies of the Medici's to figure out their diet! Read a profile of Dr. Aufderheide in the May 16, 2005 issue of The New Yorker.Jeremy Jackson, author of Good Day for a Picnic, takes summer dining al fresco beyond fried chicken and potato salad. His ideas for a perfectly packed picnic hamper include goodies like Brown Sugar Almonds for nibbling, Little Meatballs with Cherries for scooping up with pita bread, and Radler for sipping.Food and Wine editor Dana Cowin names the epicurean magazine's picks for Best New Chefs 2005, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 28, 2005

When our guest, Lawrence Osbourne, wondered if he could trust his own palate he went inside the wine world to find out. He'll tell us what he learned. His book is The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the World of Wine.The Sterns are getting their licks at one of America's last great ice cream factories—the Big Dipper in Prospect, Connecticut. Sally Schneider talks duck and claims it's the new steak. Try her recipe for Duck Breast with Thyme Infused Honey and Balsamic Pan Sauce. Andrew Dornenberg, co-author with Karen Page of The New American Chef, tells of a chef's ultimate sacrifice to seasonal cooking. Suquet de Rape, a Spanish fish stew, is a delicious offering from the book.Scott Haas takes us to Tokyo for a private tea ceremony, and Marion Cunningham joins us in a tribute to James Beard's 100th birthday. Marion's charming new book is Lost Recipes: Meals to Share with Friends and Family. Her classic Chicken, Fruit and Curry Salad comes from the book.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 1, 2004 (originally aired)May 14, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Paul Dolan, president of Fetzer Vineyards and author of True to Our Roots: Fermenting a Business Revolution, has made some unconventional changes at one of America's most successful wineries. We'll hear how this big producer is practicing what usually works only on a small scale. It could be the new way of wine. The Sterns settle a meat pie debate at Cousin Jenny's Gourmet Cornish Pasties in Traverse City, Michigan, and Lynne weighs in with her take on the meal in a crust: Pizza Rustica.Gourmet magazine's John Willoughby talks that Asian classic, Steamed Sticky Rice, and David Rosengarten wants us to try veal breast, an inexpensive and overlooked cut. His recipe for Confit of Veal Breast is a good place to start. Mary Stuckey reports on the happy return of abalone, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 17, 2004 (originally aired)April 30, 2005 (rebroadcast)

California Chef Paul Bertolli, author of Cooking by Hand, gives new meaning to "cooking from scratch." He makes his own balsamic vinegar, cures his own salami and hams and grinds his own flours. We'll learn what drives this talented artisan and owner of the award-winning restaurant Oliveto in North Berkley. He leaves us with his recipe for Boiled Chicken with Vinegar Sauce.The Sterns are surrounded by teddy bears and scented candles as they dine on clam hash and Grape Nuts pudding at Pat's Kountry Kitchen in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.Wine maverick Joshua Wesson has traded hearty winter reds for bargain-priced spring wines from France, and Max Jacobson has an insider's guide to Las Vegas restaurants. We'll check out a new take on dinner theater in New York, and hear about what happened when one company decided to apply their salmon freezing techniques to lobster.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 3, 2004 (originally aired)April 23, 2005 (rebroadcast)

British journalist Christy Campbell joins us this week with the story behind the plague that threatened to destroy the world's vineyards. The fascinating account of how scientists working with vintners stopped a near disaster is documented in Mr. Campbell's book, The Botanist and the Vintner: How Wine Was Saved for the World.The Sterns are half way between Miami and Havana, eating Cuban home-style food at El Siboney in Key West. Josh Wesson suggests wines to pair with smelly cheeses. His picks might surprise you. Chef Jerry Traunfeld is back and he's talking chervil. His recipe for lemony Chervil Avgolemono is light, fresh and perfect for spring. It's from his forthcoming book, The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor.New York food authority Mike Colamecco tells us where to find the best version of that Harlem special, Chicken and Waffles. Food historian and writer Cara De Silva previews the upcoming PBS special, The Meaning of Food, and, as always, the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 2, 2005

"Our guest is BBC journalist Fuchsia Dunlop, the first foreigner invited to study at the professional chef's school in Sichuan, China. She fell in love with the spicy, hot, and unique cuisine the Chinese call "audacious cooking," and went on to pen Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking. She leaves us her recipe for Fish-Fragrant Eggplant from the book.For the Sterns, it's French toast and Red Velvet Cake at Diana's in Charleston, and Lynne reveals her "Southern Fantasy Trip Back Seat Library!" We'll talk international beans and weenies with Anya Von Bremzen. Her recipe for Feijoada Completa is from her new book, The Greatest Dishes!: Around the World in 80 Recipes.Wine expert Jay McInerney is back offering his opinions on the world of wine. This time he's predicting Sauvignon Blanc will cancel out Chardonnay! In a bow to the current political climate, we'll address one of the issues dividing the nation—the diet wars. And we'll hear from Murph Dawkins who, during a renovation of her St. Paul bar, discovered hidden treasure in the basement!Broadcast dates for this episode:March 20, 2004 (originally aired)March 26, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week it's heartbreak, glory, and big money. We're talking cooking contests with Amy Sutherland, author of Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America. If you think the Superbowl is competitive, wait until you hear how serious cooks go for the gold!The Sterns dine family-style at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House in Savannah, Georgia. Food forager Ari Weinzweig delights chile heads with talk of the great pepper duo from Spain, and leaves us his recipe for Stuffed Piquillo Peppers.Tea man Bill Waddington takes us to the new center for cutting-edge teas, then we're off to Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery where liquid refreshment isn't limited to humans.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 31, 2004 (originally aired)March 12, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week it's the story of two Southern cooks from different generations, different places, and different races. Young chef Scott Peacock talks about his special friendship with Edna Lewis, a cook, writer, and octogenarian who is one of our national culinary treasures. Scott leaves us his recipes for Sugared Raspberries and Scott's Chicken Stock from The Gift of Southern Cooking, the book he co-authored with Miss Lewis.The Sterns are also in Dixie, eating banana splits and dipsy doodles atElliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville. Sally Schneider talks chicories and other aggressive greens that she tames in her recipe for Bitter Greens with Seasonal Fruit and Roasted Nuts. Lynne joins in with Nonna's Sneaky Greens Soup.New York Times food writer Amanda Hesser, author of the charmingCooking for Mr. Latte, tells of a dinner where courtship, family relations, and culinary intimidation came together. Ginger Duck is what they ate. And we'll hear from a harvester of one of the planet's most complete foods—seaweed!Broadcast dates for this episode:March 13, 2004 (originally aired)February 26, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Brush the snow off the Weber! Steven Raichlen is back and he's talking winter grilling. Never mind that the wind chill is 10 below. Steven's Green Lightning Shrimp, from his book BBQ USA, will warm you to your toes.The Sterns get a jolt from the Tabasco Ice Cream at Robin's Restaurant in Henderson, Louisiana. "Bright Lights, Big City" guy Jay McInerney wants us to think Rose Champagne for Valentine's Day. It's what we'll be sipping with Lynne's Double Dark Chocolate Excess.Tea expert Bill Waddington brings us his guide to pairing tea with food. Monique Truong takes us back to Paris in the 1920's with a peek into a very private dinner, and some marketing folks want us to smell like Bombay Sapphire Gin!Broadcast dates for this episode:February 12, 2001 (originally aired)February 14, 2004 (rebroadcast)February 15, 2005 (rebroadcast)

This week Miles Cahn, creator of Coach handbags and, ultimately, Coach Farm Goat Cheese, tells the story of trading big-city life for dairy farming in the Hudson Valley. It's a tale of one man's journey from successful businessman to being held hostage by 1,000 goats. His book is The Perils and Pleasures of Domesticating Goat Cheese.Jane and Michael Stern are eating pancakes at Dot's Diner in Wilmington, Vermont. Josh Wesson addresses the thorny issue of the disappearing wine cork, and shares his picks of wines with screw tops.Boston Globe food editor Sheryl Julian talks the real world of cooking today, and shares a recipe forPortuguese Chicken and Rice from her book The Way We Cook. We'll have an intriguing restaurant report from Ann Marie Ruff, and Andrea Wilson introduces us tobiodegradable utensils for take-out food.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 24, 2004 (originally aired)January 29, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Did you know that one quarter of all vegetables eaten in America are french fries? Our guest, Dr. Kelly Brownell, Director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders and author of Food Fight, thinks huge advertising budgets have more to do with this frightening statistic than our lack of will power. But Dr. Brownell says there's hope on the horizon. He joins us for a look at some of the victories in our battle with obesity.With much of the country in a deep freeze, we think a bowl of steaming chili is in order. The Sterns found a fabulous one at Porubsky's Grocery in Topeka, Kansas, and Lynne shares her recipe forWinter Veggie Chili. Sally Schneider talks healthy ways to cook with bacon, as in her recipe for Roasted Root Vegetable Hash. Cooper Gillespie, a charming pooch of discriminating taste, inspired his human, Susan Orlean, to penThrow Me a Bone, a collection of his favorite recipes. Susan joins us to talk the merits of cooking nutritious, tasty food, like Goldie's Meatloaf Cup Cakes, for your best friend.We'll hear of a student's year abroad and lessons in culinary patriotism, and we get the latest from Vogue magazine—are you ready for status mints?Broadcast dates for this episode:January 17, 2004 (originally aired)January 15, 2005 (rebroadcast)

We're cooking in the raw, vegan style, with renowned Chicago chef Charlie Trotter, co-author of a new book aptly titled Raw. It's stunning food using new techniques like those in his recipe for Cauliflower Soup with Balsamic Red Onions and Wilted Lettuce.The Sterns are nibbling succulent shrimp while basking on the sunny deck at the Anchor Line in South Carolina's James Island.David Rosengarten has hot chocolates that "will likely improve your winter by geometric proportions!"Kitchen detective Christopher Kimball's reveals how ordinary carrots and turnips became "ravishing roots" in his recipe for Ten-Minute Root Vegetables.Maria Bakkalupa takes us to Bali for its quintessential celebration of babies, gods and food, and New York's Mr. Cutlets, author of Meat Me in Manhattan, has advice for carnivores and Dr. Atkins' fans looking for their next meal in the Big Apple.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 10, 2004 (originally aired)January 1, 2005 (rebroadcast)

We're off to Manhattan's Lower East Side, one of the Big Apple's great culinary neighborhoods with our guide Ben Watson, co-author of The Slow Food Guide to New York City. From street pickles and lox to bialys and gelato, it's all about small businesses making exceptional foods in old-fashioned ways. On the opposite coast, the Sterns are dining with Tinsel Town's power brokers and celebs at Musso and Frank Grill. Sally Schneider comes to the rescue with recipes for homemade gifts with lots of style for little work. We'll hear the story of one family's great Jell-O debacle that became a loving tradition, then we'll check in with Ralene Snow of Snow's Citrus Court for a first-hand report on California's citrus season.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 13, 2003 (originally aired)December 25, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's Christmas with England's Nigella Lawson, the lustiest, yet pragmatic, cook we know. She'll talk the feast, with ideas for taking the pressure off and having some fun. She leaves us her recipes for Bread Sauce and Easy-Action Christmas Cake from her latest book, Feast.The Sterns feast at El Farolito, an adobe hut in the middle of nowhere about 40 minutes from Santa Fe.Andrea Immer talks dessert wines and shares her recipe for Bittersweet Chocolate-Cassis Truffles from her latest book, Everyday Dining with Wine. What could be better than nibbling truffles while sipping a late bottled vintage Port by the fire? For stuffing stockings, Chris Kimball suggests some Cook's Illustrated favorite kitchen gadgets, all mercilessly tested, of course.Thomas Matthews recommends bottles from The Wine Spectator's Top 100 list. The good news is they're affordable! Poet Maya Angelou tells of a boy's first dish for his mom and shares the recipe for Bread Pudding from her new book, Hallelujah! The Welcome Table. And Lynne gives us the recipe for the Apple Citron Turnover that often appears on her holiday table.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 18, 2004

Lynne talks with Harold McGee, the man who took food science from the laboratory into home kitchens. He recently updated his classic tome from twenty years ago: On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. He fills us in on the discoveries contained in the 21st century edition.vIt's crawfish and zydeco in the back woods of Louisiana for the Sterns. They're partying at D.I.'s in Basile.New York Times columnist Marian Burros has holiday gift ideas from her famous annual list of the best in mail order. She leaves us her recipe for that ultimate comfort food: Macaroni and Cheese from her book Cooking for Comfort: More Than 100 Wonderful Recipes That Are as Satisfying to Cook as They Are to Eat.Lisë Stern explains the origins of keeping kosher and shares her recipe for Perfect Potato Latkes from her book How to Keep Kosher: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Jewish Dietary Laws. Our intrepid reporter Scott Haas reports on the black market for Swiss night milk. Scott's new book is Are We There Yet?: Perfect Family Vacations and Other Fantasies. We have the backstory on this year's blockbuster food book: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 4, 2004

Diana Kennedy, one of the food world's great trailblazers, takes us on a tamale tour of Mexico. Ms. Kennedy has spent her career tracking every nuance of regional Mexican food and her books are in-depth explorations of that country's fascinating cuisine. She shares her recipe for Tamales Filled with Poblanos and Cheese from her latest book, From My Mexican Kitchen: Techniques and Ingredients.The Sterns blazed a trail to Oregon where they're eating southern-style ribs at Reo's in Aloha. Kitchen designer Deborah Krasner talks everything about the kitchen sink. Reporter Scott Haas is stomping grapes at Sterling Vineyards while examining the psychology of California wine. We'll dig into the story behind mache—it's the newest bagged salad, it's pricey, and few have a clue about what it is; and Lynne tells of a recent visit to Restaurant Amma in New York City.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 8, 2003 (originally aired)November 27, 2004 (rebroadcast)

It's our annual Thanksgiving show and we're doing the big bird, big time. Famed San Francisco chef Judy Rodgers, author of The Zuni Café Cookbook, shares a Thanksgiving Menu that's at once modern and homey. For those who prefer reservations on Thanksgiving, the Sterns have turkey three ways, in three states!Josh Wesson suggests bubblies and after-dinner sippers to take along when you're a guest, then Lynne has ideas for the vegetarians at your table, including her Golden Celebration Pie of Winter Vegetables.Julie Hauserman takes us to Florida for Thanksgiving in potluck nation. We'll hear the remarkable story of Lilla Eckford from her great-granddaughter Frances Osborne, author of Lilla's Feast: A True Story of Food, Love, and War in the Orient. And Southern novelist Pat Conroy talks about his life at the stove and shares the recipe for Cocktail Pecans from his new book The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes of My Life.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 20, 2004

Renowned architect Sarah Susanka, whose latest book is Not So Big Solutions for Your Home, believes houses should be designed for how we really live, not how we think we should live. She joins us this week with practical ideas for putting this philosophy to work in our kitchens.Jane and Michael Stern are "pig pickin" at Sweatman's BBQ in Holly Hill, South Carolina. After tasting his way through hundreds of American artisanal cheeses, David Rosengarten thinks we're finally on an "exhilarating path from Cheez Whiz to cheese wizardry." He reports on some of his top picks. In keeping with the theme, Lynne came up with a recipe for 21st Century Mac and Cheesethat takes the beloved American classic to new heights.Christopher Kimball has the secret to foolproof Braised Short Ribs and other slow-cooked goodies, all from his latest book, The Kitchen Detective. We'll hear how rookie restaurateurs made it big with hot dogs at Sparky's American Food in Brooklyn, and novelist Jim Crace romances steamy foods on a cold autumn night. Broadcast dates for this episode:October 4, 2003 (originally aired)November 13, 2004 (rebroadcast)

We're bringing you the show we recorded live on stage at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City to kick off the second annual Gourmet Institute weekend. Our guests include John Willoughby, executive editor of Gourmet, and Chef David Pasternak of Esca talking The Big Apple's food scene.Bad boy Chef Anthony Bourdain and the consummate perfectionist Chef Thomas Keller team up to tell how they got started in the business. Gael Green and Ruth Reichl, two of the lustiest and smartest people in the business, talk about life as a restaurant critic, and we'll hear from Ihsan Gurdal, the man who pioneered the new craze for impeccably aged cheeses.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 30, 2004

Spain is where to go now to experience the latest culinary evolution. In restaurants where the country's top young chefs preside over the kitchen, new meaning is given to "cutting edge," and the food looks and tastes like nowhere else. Global restaurant critic Anya Von Bremzen has been tracking the developments for a decade and joins us with a report. Her recipe for Paella Valenciana comes from her new book The Greatest Dishes!: Around the World in 80 Recipes to be published in 2004.Jane and Michael Stern are eating turtles and the "kitchen sink" at Bridgewater Chocolate in Brookfield, Connecticut. Lynne sticks to the theme with a recipe for Chocolate Coins—tiny, intensely flavored cookies to nibble with espresso or vanilla ice cream. Equipment pro Dorie Greenspan has the scoop on new-age pressure cookers. The good news is they're no longer frightening. Beer man Steven Beaumont has the low-down on Czech lagers; and we'll revisit Dan O'Brien, a writer and rancher who's single handedly trying to balance the ecology on America's prairies. Lynne talks with Emeril Lagasse, the television superstar who's been kicking it up a notch for the last decade. His new book From Emeril's Kitchen includes his yummy recipe for Roasted Red Onions Stuffed with Thyme-Mascarpone Mousse.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 11, 2003 (originally aired)October 23, 2004 (rebroadcast)

Renowned Mexican chef Rick Bayless and his daughter Lanie join us this week with a multigenerational take on food and cooking. Their book, Rick and Lanie's Excellent Kitchen Adventures, is hot off the press. The recipes, like Moroccan Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, reflect their worldwide travels. For the Sterns, it's a classic Wisconsin fish fry at Klinger's East in Milwaukee. Chris Kimball of Cook's Illustrated is back with what we need to know about the new coffeemakers. Bob Duskis, co-founder of Six Degrees Records, wants us rockin' in the kitchen with music to cook by, and Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, pairs favorite wines with reality TV shows.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 16, 2004

Some of the world's most intriguing cooking comes from a place where the living hasn't always been easy. It's Scandinavia, and Norwegian food authority Andreas Viestad, author of Kitchen Light, takes us there. He shares his recipes for Spicy Gravlaks with Aquavit and an interesting "Mock" Aquavit.The Sterns are knocking back oyster shooters with oyster burger chasers at Pacific Oyster in Bay City, Oregon.Culinary forager Ari Weinzweig reveals the secret to selecting the best salami and ham and gives us his recipe for Spanish Salad with Oranges and Olive Oil. Ari's new book, Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating, hits bookstores soon.The always original Calvin Trillin expounds on the wine ways of Kansas City and a little-known bond linking Mogen David with Chateau Lafite.Christopher Kimball, editor and publisher of Cook's Illustrated magazine, tells us how to avoid dry, tasteless chicken breasts. His delicious recipe for Pan-Roasted Chicken with Mustard and Sherryillustrates his technique. Christopher's latest book is The Kitchen Detective: A Culinary Sleuth Solves Common Cooking Mysteries with 150 Foolproof Recipes.We'll learn how to make our own garlic powder from Herrick Kimball, author of The Complete Guide to Making Great Garlic Powder, and the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 13, 2003 (originally aired)September 18, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's all about sweets. We'll take a look at the great candy civilizations—ancient India and Persia—and their contribution to our modern day sweet tooth. Our guest is Tim Richardson, author of Sweets: A History of Candy.The Sterns are in Charlevoix, Michigan where Jane says she ate the pancake of her life at Juilleret's.Cook and author Sally Schneider was inspired by Alice B. Toklas and the honey bee to create a luscious Nougat Ice Cream. Then screenwriter Bix Skahill brings us his unique take on sugar and family dysfunction.Food critic David Rosengarten returns with his picks of hard ciders, and Lynne talks with Arnold Carbone, head of what they call "Bizarre and D" and Ben & Jerry's.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 6, 2003 (originally aired)September 4, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's food and the sexes. Naturalist Susan Allport, author of Primal Feast, examines how gender shapes food behavior for humans and other animals. It's an interesting take on food, foraging, and sex in the animal world.The Sterns are into Hot Truck, a deeply local specialty of Ithaca, New York. Wine maverick Josh Wesson has advice for wines to drink with sweet corn. Dorie Greenspan checks out the best gadgets for saving leftover wine.We'll hear the story of a local hero and his giant tomato, and Dave Hirschkop, author of Crazy from the Heat, tells us about his chili sauce creation that was so hot it was banned from the fiery food show.It's tomato season, the time of year that's sheer bliss for Lynne. She's been in the kitchen concocting a Big Tomato Sweet-Sour Salad and "Drippy" Mexican Sweet Corn.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 16, 2003 (originally aired)August 28, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's class warfare in the California wine country. We'll take a look at growth and development versus local culture as new money from the Silicon Valley threatens what's left of the rural lifestyle in the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Our guest is Alan Deutschman, author of A Tale of Two Valleys: Wine, Wealth and the Battle for the Good Life in Napa and Sonoma.Avoiding the fray, Jane and Michael Stern are in South Carolina eating Jesus crabs and flounder atFishnet Seafood on Johns Island.Sally Schneider, author of A New Way to Cook, has been fiddling with fresh soybeans. Her recipe for Succotash is a delicious result. Then Jill Gusman, co-author of Vegetables from the Sea, introduces us to the unfamiliar realm of sea greens. Her recipe for Sea Vegetable Caesar Salad is a good way to start experimenting with veggies from the deep.We have the scoop on the luscious argan oil from Morocco, and, as always, Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 9, 2003 (originally aired)August 14, 2004 (rebroadcast)

It seems that salt has taken on a life of its own these days, now that we can choose the sea we want it from and even the color. We'll take a look at this "white gold" and its relationship to power in America with our guest, Professor Pierre Laszlo, author of Salt: Grain of Life.The Sterns are eating classic regional fare at Harry Caray's, the funky Chicago restaurant founded by the renowned broadcaster known as "the voice of the Chicago Cubs." Our beer guy, Steve Beaumont, suggests a Mid-Atlantic road trip based loosely on the theme ""follow the brew."" And Lynne reveals some of her favorite makers of Prosecco.David Rosengarten talks the flavors of India and its world-class fare that, regrettably, we all but ignore. He'll share sources for some of his favorite products and Indian pantry staples. Try David's recipe for Pilau Rice with Saffron and Fresh Curry Leaves and Sarson Da Saag from The Turmeric Trail by Raghavan Iyer. You might become a fan of this rich and varied cuisine.Finally, we'll hear the story of an American who tried to get a family recipe from her East Indian fiancé's clan and ended up with more family than recipe.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 2, 2003 (originally aired)July 31, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's a guide to easy summer entertaining with Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmetmagazine. Ruth is an expert hostess and former caterer who believes it's all about beginnings and endings. She leaves us with the only menu we'll need for a season of successful parties: A Lazy Front Porch Supper.Jim's B-B-Q Chicken in Candor, New York, is one of the Sterns' latest finds. They say it's like no other. For Steve Jenkins, summer entertaining means cheese suppers. There's no cooking and the accompaniments are fantastic.Chef Jerry Traunfeld wants us to harvest those nasturtiums and pickle them like capers. Learn how with his recipe for Nasturtium Capers. British storyteller Jim Crace has an unusual way of celebrating birthdays that involves spitting, and we'll take a look at solar cooking with Jennifer Barker.Broadcast dates for this episode:July 5, 2003 (originally aired)July 3, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week it's the story behind Greens, the first eatery to turn vegetables into serious, fabulous eating. Today, some twenty years later, the San Francisco restaurant founded by a group of Buddhists is still going strong. Lynne talks with Chef Annie Somerville, the guiding force behind this American classic and author of Everyday Greens: Home Cooking from Greens, the Celebrated Vegetarian Restaurant. Fire up your grill and try Annie's recipe for Grilled Fingerling Potato Salad with Corn and Cherry Tomatoes.On the other hand, the seductive aroma of sausages moved the Sterns to follow their noses to Otto's Sausage Kitchen and Meat Market in Portland, Oregon.Dorie Greenspan returns with a guide to chips, chunks, and planks for smoking your supper. Dorie's charming new book, Paris Sweets: Great Desserts from the City's Best Pastry Shops, transports you to the City of Light without leaving home.We'll hear a fictional tale about the Vietnamese cook to Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein as Monique Truong reads from her novel, The Book of Salt.Finally, we've news from a Minnesota ethanol plant that's taken its place among the world's great producers of premium vodka.Broadcast dates for this episode:July 26, 2003 (originally aired)June 26, 2004 (rebroadcast)

"We're taking a look at the groundbreaking culinary revolution that blasted onto the scene in the 1970's, sending foodies of that era into fits of rapture. It was called California Cuisine and it was so new, so hot, and so chic. Our guest, California chef Jeremiah Tower, was front and center in the movement that put fresh-from-the-field, locally grown food onto restaurant dinner plates and, ultimately, our tables at home. His new book, California Dish is a memoir of that moment in time. Lynne did some reminiscing herself and came up with her homage to California Cuisine: Garlic Bread, Green Bean and Tomato Salad.The Sterns are eating brisket and trying to ignore the glaring bulldog at Sugar's in Velarde, New Mexico. Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins has a curious diner's guide to sheep cheese, and Lynne shares a favorite recipe for Wilted Greens and Sheep Cheese Bruschetta. Chinese food expert Bik Ng leads reporter Scott Haas into the world of dim sum, and we'll hear the story of how Arnie, the Doughnut took charge of his life.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 20, 2003 (originally aired)June 19, 2004 (rebroadcast)

This week we'll hear how Buddhism and karma shape the most sophisticated cooking in Southeast Asia. Our guest, David Thompson, calls it "the cuisine that takes no prisoners." He shares a recipe for Thai Grilled Chicken from his book, Thai Food.Jane and Michael Stern are eating Frito Pie from the Five & Dime General Store while strolling the mall in Santa Fe.David Rosengarten reveals some extraordinary Mondavi wines, discovered while celebrating Robert Mondavi's 90th birthday and tasting his way through everything made by the renowned producer.Travel writer Anya Von Bremzen went home to Russia and found a booming new food scene. She tells of some discoveries in Pushkin, and leaves us a recipe for True Russian Blini.Only Calvin Trillin could turn a ride to the airport into an adventure in raw fish. It's a tale from his new book, Feeding a Yen: Savoring Local Specialties from Kansas City to Cuzco.Broadcast dates for this episode:June 7, 2003 (originally aired)June 5, 2004 (rebroadcast)

Food historian Patrick Faas, author of Around the Roman Table: Food and Feasting in Ancient Rome, takes us back to a time when flamingo tongues were finger food and boiling water signaled a decline in your morals. Patrick leaves us with an unusual recipe for Soft-Boiled Eggs in Pine Nut Sauce.It's decadence road food style for the Sterns as they indulge in sub sandwiches at the White House Sub Shop in Atlantic City. Sally Schneider returns to reveal the gadget she can't live without and gives us her recipe for Warm Olivada. Food writer Ted Lee tells us what he discovered when he set out to find the next big taste. Maybe it has something to do with his recipe for Berbere-and-Mulberry-Glazed Duck. Randall Graham of Bonny Doon Vineyards introduces us to a Frenchman whose wines are not about taste. And we'll hear from the only remaining maker of limburger cheese in this country.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 24, 2003 (originally aired)May 22, 2004 (rebroadcast)

"We're fat, we're sick, and it's all your fault!" was the essence of a lawsuit brought by two teenagers against McDonald's. They denied it. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock set out to find the truth by eating three meals a day for a month at the Golden Arches and documenting the process in his movie Supersize Me. He tells us what he learned. The Sterns visit D.Z. Akins in San Diego to find out if there's sublime Jewish deli beyond New York. Josh Wesson says bargain-priced Pinot Noir isn't necessarily an oxymoron. He's found good ones under $15!Gourmet magazine executive editor John Willoughby, co-author of How to Cook Meat, talks cuts of lamb kindest to our wallets, and shares his recipe for Grilled Lamb Shoulder Chops Greek Style. Novelist Eleanor Lipman muses about building great literary character at the table. Her latest novel is The Pursuit of Alice Thrift. Tucker Shaw, author of Flavor of the Week, tells of photographing everything he eats in 2004. By year-end he expects to have about 2500 pictures representing the good, the bad, and everything in-between in one man's diary of a year eating in New York City.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 15, 2004

Broadcast dates for this episode:May 8, 2004

We're taking a look at fungi, organisms that can feed you, make you crazy, take down your house, devour flesh, and save your life. Our guest is Nicholas Money, author of Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms, Molds and Mycologists and an expert on fungus growth and development. In keeping with the theme, Lynne shares her recipe for Portobello "Steaks" with Holy Oil.Jane and Michael Stern report on the exceptional produce at George and Pink's Vegetable Stand on Edisto Island, South Carolina. Joshua Wesson claims there's a link between wines and the personalities of their makers. Chef Jerry Traunfeld talks lovage, an unusual and mostly forgotten herb that's highlighted in his recipe for Steamed Mussels with Lovage. And famed clarinetist Richard Stoltzman reveals his other passion—pastry making—and gives us his recipe for Linzer Torte.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 3, 2003 (originally aired)April 24, 2004 (rebroadcast)

Lynne talks with Chuck Williams, the creator and vice chairman of the Williams-Sonoma retail empire. Back in the 1950s, when the pressure cooker was sophisticated cookware, Chuck was promoting French copper, couscous pots, and kitchen equipment from Europe. It was all so exciting and new. Nowadays, high-quality professional gear is virtually mainstream and cooks can thank Mr. Williams for his vision.Jane and Michael Stern are eating regional "street food" at its best: hot tamales at the crossroads of the Mississippi Delta. Sally Schneider fills us in on a rite of spring that's often overlooked: the wild and wonderful ramp. Her recipe for Pasta with Ramps highlights this assertive member of the onion family.Steven Beaumont tracks down some fine Pacific Northwest beers in Seattle and Portland. And travel writer Anya Von Bremsen returns with a report on Tokyo's stunning new food halls. Get all the details from her article in the May 2003 issue of Food and Wine magazine. Finally, we'll have a salmon update from the folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 19, 2003 (originally aired)April 10, 2004 (rebroadcast)

The gin craze in eighteenth-century London was a 30-year reign that both elevated and devastated an era. We'll hear the story from Jessica Warner, author of Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of Reason.The Sterns are traveling New Mexico's Turquoise Highway and dining among peahens, wild turkeys, and peacocks at the San Marcos Café in Cerrillos. John Willoughby of Gourmet magazine thinks a bottle of Vietnamese fish sauce belongs in every cupboard—and it's essential in his recipe for Spicy Cabbage Salad with Chile-Rubbed Flank Steak.Nancy Silverton, the high priestess of bread baking, has ideas for what to do with those stale loaves lurking in the pantry. Sort-Of Frisée Lardon from her new book, Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book, is a delicious way to use the last of that $5 loaf you bought last week. Food writer David Leite tells the tale of a man and his stove. And Lynne shares her recipe for Luxury Scrambled Eggs recently featured in our newsletter, "Weeknight Kitchen.""Broadcast dates for this episode:April 5, 2003 (originally aired)March 27, 2004 (rebroadcast)