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

This week it's all things Italian but not in Italy. Instead of heading east to Rome, we're going south to Buenos Aires where the descendants of two million Italians have settled. Food writer Rich Lang is our guide.The Sterns report from the Pacific Northwest, their favorite breakfast destination, where Michael says you'll find the paragon of waffles at Fresco Caffe in Portland, Oregon.Steve Jenkins lines up a cheese vacation in Portugal, and Sally Schneider talks the little fish everybody loves to hate: the anchovy. Her recipe for Warm Anchovy and Olive Oil Sauce might change some minds about one of Lynne's favorite sneaky ingredients.Chris Kimball of Cook's Illustrated magazine and America's Test Kitchen is back with the skinny on non-stick pots and pans. The latest book from the Cook's Illustrated folks is the 2005 edition of America's Test Kitchen Live!Sam Perkins talks wine auctions, and the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 16, 2005 (originally aired)May 6, 2006 (rebroadcast)

We'll go inside the dairy with Soyoung Scanlon, California's new star cheese maker who has celebrity chefs kissing the hem of her apron. She follows the milk and her mood, not the market, at her Andante Dairy in Santa Rosa and it shows in her cheeses.The Sterns cross the pond for pie and mash in London. Tune in to find out it they chose the optional eels.Vegetarian expert Deborah Madison talks spring things for this teeter-totter time of year. Her recipe for Lemony Risotto Croquettes with Slivered Snow Peas, Asparagus, and Leeks comes from her new book, Vegetarian Suppers from Deborah Madison's Kitchen.Margo True, Executive Editor of Saveur magazine, tells the story of the tiffinwallah, Mumbai's lunch ritual that's the envy of General Motors. Read the full story in the May 2005 issue of Saveur.We'll hear about the back-to-basics coffee served at Deaf Dog Coffee shops, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 9, 2005 (originally aired)April 29, 2006 (rebroadcast)

This week it's Cuban Miami with Glenn, Raul, and Jorge. The "Three Guys from Miami" love to eat, they love their town, and they give us advice on where and what to eat, including airport food worth the trip. The recipe for Roast Pork is from their book Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban: 100 Great Cuban Recipes with a Touch of Miami Spice.The Sterns are in a time warp at Lankford Grocery and Market, a 1940's era café serving divine triple cheeseburgers. The highly opinionated cheese monger and author of Cheese Primer, Steve Jenkins has ideas for what to eat with cheese. Dill pickles are on the list! Travel & Leisure magazine's Anya Von Bremzen returns with her picks of the best new American restaurants of 2004.Wine critic Matt Kramer talks the new California grape and the latest region to watch. His newest book is Matt Kramer's New California Wine: Making Sense of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast and Beyond. We have the story of Hamburger America, a documentary film about some of the best burgers in America and the people behind them, and, as always, Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 5, 2005 (originally aired)April 1, 2006 (rebroadcast)

If you've always suspected that taste goes beyond science's big four of sweet, sour, salt and bitter your instincts are right. This week we're looking at umami. It's what food types call the "fifth taste." Our guest, David Kasabian, tells us how to use this wunderkind to make everything we eat taste better. Coq au Vin Nouveau, from The Fifth Taste: Cooking with Umami by David and Anna Kasabian, demonstrates the principle. For the Sterns it's retro burgers, fabulous hand-cut fries and malts at one of Lynne's favorite haunts: Convention Grill in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina. Anya Von Bremzen talks Spain's surprise national dish and it's not paella. It's Cocido from her latest book, The New Spanish Table. Wine critic Matt Kramer, author of Matt Kramer's New California Wine answers the controversial question: can you actually get cheap good wines? We go to Mexico for vanilla—the most labor intensive food in the hemisphere—and stop by Cake Man Raven Confectionery, a bakery in Brooklyn that claims to be the official home of the classic Southern Red Velvet Cake—and so much more.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 25, 2006

Joe Queenan, that quirky observer of the human comedy, takes us his England this week. It's a place of people driven by good-natured insanity, where home cooking thrives, and the steak and kidney pie requires a pneumatic drill. His book is Queenan Country: A Reluctant Anglophile's Pilgrimage to the Mother Country.Remember creamed chipped beef on toast? The Sterns tuck into the old-fashioned dish and more classic New England fare at the Blue Benn Diner in Bennington, Vermont. Wine maverick Josh Wesson talks cans, boxes and sippy straws, the next new things for serving wine. Sally Schneider returns with ideas for easy suppers starring cornbread, including her recipe for Parmigiano Cornbread.Health authority Nina Simonds advises saying no to Botox and yes to the spice cupboard for fighting those pesky signs of aging. She shares her recipe for Fragrant Cinnamon Pork with Sweet Potatoes is from her new book Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 19, 2005 (originally aired)March 18, 2006 (rebroadcast)

This week we take a look at the new kitchen science that has haute restaurant chefs rethinking everything, taking foods apart and putting them back together in ways we can't imagine. The instigator is our guest, chemist Hervé This, author of Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavor (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History.) The Sterns report from Eddie's Supper Club in Great Falls, Montana, where the secret marinade is key to their renowned steaks. Then Lynne shares her Guide to Marinades, including several delicious recipes.Cheese expert Steve Jenkins shares his latest artisan cheese finds, the ones he calls "adult candy." Mike Colamecco, our go-to guy for good eats in the Big Apple, tells us where to find the city's best hot dogs. Reporter Peter Aronson tells of the Mexican scientist who sees edible bugs saving the world's poor; and we celebrate National Potato Chip Day with the chief flavor architect of Kettle brand potato chips.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 11, 2006

This week it's a look at a new way to buy wine and it has everything to do with knowing the importers and distributors. Neal Rosenthal of Rosenthal Wine Merchant joins us to talk wine importers and who to look for on the label. The Sterns are eating herring "cremated" and "sunnyside up" at Cypress Grill in Jamesville, NC. David Rosengarten brings order and tranquility to that baffling liquid: sake. He shares his recipe for Salted Seaweed Salad with Lemon and Freshly Grated Ginger from his latest book, David Rosengarten Entertains. John Willoughby of Gourmet magazine has ideas for what to do between meals in London. For starters, there's cooking classes, shopping, and a secret garden. The New York Times gardening columnist Ann Raver has new veggies for us to try and shares her picks of the best seed sources. We'll check in with Rick Field, the inventive pickle maker behind Rick's Picks, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 19, 2005 (originally aired)February 25, 2006 (rebroadcast)

We're off to Australia where it's summer now and the food scene is hot. Aussie star chef Bill Granger tells us where and what to eat in Sydney. His book, Bill's Open Kitchen, is full of uncomplicated and tantalizing recipes like a Glazed Duck with Pear and Rocket Salad. Before taking off for some retail therapy at the Kittery outlets, Jane and Michael Stern fuel up with the Clam-O-Rama at the Maine Diner in Wells. Sally Schneider has a whole new concept for using dried fruit, including her method for Essential Plumped Dried Fruit. Just in time for Shrove Tuesday, global food authority and Moscow native Anya Von Bremzen joins us to talk a Blini. The recipe is from her book The Greatest Dishes: Around the World in 80 Recipes. Dr. Robert Kushner of Northwestern Medical School has the scoop on dieting dogs, and the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 5, 2005 (originally aired)February 18, 2006 (rebroadcast)

Chinese food authority Grace Young joins us this week with the story of China's famous pot and shares tips on how to achieve the perfect stir-fry. She leaves us a recipe for Chinese Broccoli with Ginger Sauce from her new book, The Breath of a Wok: Unlocking the Spirit of Chinese Wok Cooking Through Recipes and Lore.It's old-world Eastern European fare for the Sterns at Polonez in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Andrea Immer tells us how to stock a wine closet on the cheap and shares her recipe for Coconut Milk-Curry Shrimp Soup from her new book, Everyday Dining with Wine. Patricia Schultz, author of the fascinating book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, names three places to eat before you die.Zanne Stewart, executive food editor of Gourmet magazine, tells what it was like testing the 1,000 recipes featured in the new The Gourmet Cookbook. The Rumaki recipe is one to remember for upcoming holiday parties. We'll hear about the healthy vending machine program from Stonyfield Yogurt, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 6, 2004 (originally aired)January 21, 2006 (rebroadcast)

This week our guest is Barbara Kafka, one of the masterful cooks in the food profession. When Barbara digs into a subject she takes no prisoners. She's created her own short list of cookbook classics with titles like Roasting, Soup, and Microwave Gourmet, and each one is a complete education. Now, she has ideas for bringing more veggies into our lives with her new book, Vegetable Love. She leaves us her recipes for Parsnip Ice Cream and Greek Island Potatoes.The Sterns dig into classic Dixie diner fare and sky high meringue pies at Crystal Grill in Greenwood, Mississippi. Kitchen equipment expert Dorie Greenspan has the scoop on the new silicone kitchenware. From muffin pans to rolling pins, is silicone the way to go?For Chris Kimball of America's Test Kitchen fame, the ideal family vacation involves a tent, two kids, 4 camels, and a cook walking the desert in Morocco. Morning Edition's Kitchen Sisters talk America's hidden kitchens—the ones not in houses and restaurants—from their book, Hidden Kitchens: Stories, Recipes, and More from NPR's The Kitchen Sisters.In honor of its 100th birthday, Ted Allen, food guy of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, talks our most overlooked appliance: the toaster. And, as always, the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 14, 2006

San Francisco wine merchant and importer Kermit Lynch joins us this week with the story of how he entered the wine world through the back door and ended up a leader in the exquisite and the little known. His new book is Inspiring Thirst: Vintage Selections from the Kermit Lynch Wine Brochure.It’s meat-and-three for the Sterns at Zarzour’s, a Chattanooga favorite so elusive it’s only listing in the phone book is under the name of the owner’s mother-in-law! Joshua Wesson cracks the code for teaming booze with stews, and Lynne shares her recipe for Emilia-Romagna Braised Pork Ribs, a luscious dish from Ferrara just right for a wintery evening.Steve Jenkins talks bargain cheeses, and Nigel Slater, author of Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger, remembers a mother straining to cook with love but always missing the mark. For winemaker wannabes we have the scoop on the Crushpad, a new idea for home winemaking, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 8, 2005 (originally aired)January 7, 2006 (rebroadcast)

This week it's the mother of all kitchen tours. Thomas Keller is repeatedly named the best chef in the country. When he set out to duplicate his famed California restaurant, The French Laundry, in New York City, he dictated every design element, but for unheard of reasons. The result is Per Se, the hottest restaurant in the country right now. Chef Keller leads the tour and shares his recipe for Mussels with Saffron and Mustard from his fabulous new book Bouchon.The Sterns are forking into classic cowboy steak at Sleepy Hollow in Oklahoma City. Wine maverick Joshua Wesson talks Mourvedre, the new muscle man grape that produces a big bruiser of a red. Sally Schneider, author of A New Way to Cook, suggests vanilla beans to rescue a dish. Her recipe for Vanilla Bean Syrup kicks up the natural flavors of fruit. We have new food games - the SmartsCo flash cards - for trivia at the dinner table, and Lynne takes your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 11, 2004 (originally aired)December 31, 2005 (rebroadcast)

Today we offer our holiday special, a special guide to reveling, relaxing, and reflecting. This is a remarkable time of the year and no matter where you go, you'll find celebrations and feasting.Chef and Mexican food expert Rick Bayless spends every Christmas in Oaxaca and he takes us inside the holiday south-of-the-border. Wine maverick Joshua Wesson advises us on whether to drink or store those wonderful gift wines we receive.Jane and Michael Stern find a place to celebrate the holidays all year round in Frankenmuth Michigan.Traveling around the globe we get the best of India's celebrations with actress and food authority Madhur Jaffrey. From London, Nigella Lawson talks about life, food, and Christmas dinner.In Europe it is Christmas in Paris with Patricia Wells and of course Lynne shares Italian celebrations.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 24, 2005

This week we're talking all things salted, cured and smoked with food writer Michael Ruhlman, co-author of Charcuterie. In Europe, charcuterie is high craft, done by masters. Here, it's the latest thing in the artisan food movement. Michael has tips for making your own home-cured meats and seafood and shares his recipe for the ultimate party food: Pâté de Campagne.The Sterns are at Becky's Diner, beloved by locals in Portland, Maine. The food is delicious and Becky makes you feel like you've come home to mom.Wine wit Joshua Wesson suggests wines to sip with fruitcake. Can they redeem the much-maligned gateau? Dorie Greenspan brings a French twist to the holiday cookie exchange with Anise Cookies and Lemon Butter Cookies from her wonderful book, Paris Sweets: Great Desserts from the City's Best Pastry ShopsOur New York food guy Mike Colamecco returns to talk pure romance: Christmas in New York. He names restaurants and food shops that serve up holiday magic along with great food.Robert Tinnell, author of Feast of the Seven Fishes, tells the story of the comic strip inspired by a Christmas Eve date, and, as always, the phone lines will be open for your calls.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 17, 2005

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)