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

Host Francis Lam pulls apart some common food myths with Doc Willoughby from America’s Test Kitchen. We learn about the Scandinavian idea of hygge and how this concept of coziness influences the region's food with Copenhagen chef and writer Trine Hahnemann. Contributor Melissa Clark talks to Desmond Tan and Kate Leahy about Burmese cuisine and the tea-eating culture of Myanmar. And Ole G. Mouritsen joins us to talk about an often overlooked element of cooking - mouthfeel. Francis also answers listener questions about roasting frozen vegetables and scaling down a recipe for super-sized gooey cinnamon rolls.Broadcast dates for this episode:June 2, 2017 (originally aired)May 25, 2018 (rebroadcast)

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, our mini-podcast where we feature great discussions about the joy of making and sharing good food. This episode of Selects features a lovely conversation between the legendary Patti LaBelle and our contributor Shauna Sever. We all know Miss LaBelle is an iconic singer, but what you might not know is that she is nearly as passionate about cooking as she is about music. She found the kitchen to be a magical place ever since she was a small child, learning to cook and bake alongside her parents. As a well-traveled superstar, she now shares her culinary experience and knowledge with the world by way of a series of cookbooks and recipes including her world-famous sweet potato pie.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill featuring Organic All-Purpose Flour, premium baking flour freshly milled from organic hard red wheat. You can use it in all kinds of baking goods: yeast breads, quick breads, biscuits, muffins, cookies, cakes and pie crust. Broadcast dates for this episode:May 15, 2018

Host Francis Lam talks to food historian Jessica Harris about her life among African-American icons in 1970s New York City, part of her new memoir My Soul Looks Back. We head into the kitchen of Talde with chef Dale Talde for another in our ongoing segment The Key 3. America’s Test Kitchen’s Jack Bishop brings us the interesting results of a bagged popcorn taste test. And we look at "trash cooking" with Scraps, Wilt + Weeds cookbook authors Mads Refslund and Tama Matsuoka Wong. Plus, Francis answers listener questions about using garden-fresh vegetables to complement homemade pasta, and what it means when a sauce recipe calls for cooking "until the sauce breaks" and whether that's a good or bad thing. Broadcast dates for this episode:May 19, 2017 (originally aired)May 11, 2018 (rebroadcast)

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, our mini podcast where we share the interviews that inspired us, taught us something new, or just helped make us better cooks. A few shows back we visited the taco historian Gustavo Arellano, author of Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. And if you didn’t catch it, he came on basically to defend the honor of the flour tortilla. He also clarified that yes, flour tortillas are Mexican in origin. That conversation made us so hungry for authentic flour tortillas that we invited Gustavo back for a follow-up conversation. Think of it as a flour tortilla road trip. Visit our new Selects interview page to see a list of Gustavo’s flour tortilla picks and check our past conversations we’ve had with him. Now that you've got all things tortilla on your mind, check out our Corn Tortilla Recipe & Tutorial from Alex Stupak and Jordana Rothman.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill featuring Organic Masa Harina Corn Flour.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 1, 2018

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, where we pull together some of our favorite conversations that shine a light on the many cuisines found in the United States and around the world. In this Splendid Table Selects, we learn about a very special food city. In 2015, Tucson, Arizona, became the first U.S. city to be named a City of Gastronomy in the Creative Cities Network by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Contributor Von Diaz wanted to find out what makes Tucson such a unique food city, and what influences shaped the community there. She talked with Gary Nabhan, an educator, agricultural ecologist, and ethnobotanist who lives south of Tucson, near the U.S./Mexico border.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 17, 2018

In this episode of The Splendid Table, host Francis Lam takes a look at what it means to feed your family. Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton, from the podcast Spilled Milk, muse about why we take what our kids will eat so very personally. We talk to Pableaux Johnson, a man who has been cooking red beans and rice in his house for guests every Monday night for more than 15 years. Self-confessed cork dork Bianca Bosker delivers a commentary on the family she found within the deeply-obsessed world of sommeliers. And David Leite joins us to discuss his struggles and triumphs with food and family from his new book, Notes on a Banana: A Memoir of Food, Love and Manic Depression. Francis also answers listener questions about using raw and cooked asparagus in the kitchen, and he gives suggestions on how to use saffron.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 21, 2017 (originally aired)April 13, 2018 (rebroadcast)

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, where we pull together some of our favorite converations that prove to be especially useful in the kitchen. In this Splendid Table Selects, we're featuring a new interview with Dan Souza, Editor-in-Chief of Cook's Illustrated for America's Test Kitchen. He and our Managing Producer Sally Swift talk about the importance of three sauces that are essential to Asian cuisine: oyster sauce, fish sauce, and hoisin sauce. They discuss how the sauces are made, used in cooking, and the winner of each sauce category in a recent taste test. Dan also shared a recipe with us for a Vegan "Fish Sauce." You can use your favorite oyster, fish or hoisin sauce on one (or more) of the many recipes we've linked below.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 3, 2018

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, our spin-off podcast that highlights interviews and stories that we find particularly important to our larger discussions about food. This episode, we're focusing on fat. Fat is one of those ingredients that tends to get a pretty bad rap, but it really shouldn't. Fat is essentially responsible for the flavor, appearance and texture of many of the dishes we love to cook and eat. Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern defends fat. He says it’s not an evil word; it’s a vastly overlooked and underappreciated ingredient. He joined his friend, food writer Michael Ruhlman, for a conversation about their mutual love of fat.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 20, 2018

Chef Amanda Cohen is an outspoken critic of food media and sexism in the food industry. She and Francis Lam discuss the changes that need to be made in the restaurant industry to order to get more women excited about and active long-term in professional kitchens. Food writer and journalist Hanna Raskin introduces the groundbreaking women who made American food writing before anyone called it "food writing," by way of the women's pages in popular newspapers. Correspondent Abigail Leonard takes us inside a Buddhist monastery in Japan to learn how Japanese monks are teaching a new generation of chefs to use seasonal ingredients – and zen principles – to elevate their cooking. When it comes to setting it and forgetting it, not all slow cookers can be trusted to get the job done correctly. Lisa McManus from America's Test Kitchen has the results of a recent equipment review. Plus, chef Daniel Patterson talks about his relationship with vegetables -- and meat -- in his vegetable-centric restaurant Coi.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 9, 2018

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects, where we pull together some of our favorite interviews -- from the past and present -- to showcase conversations that surprised us, illuminated something new in our world, or have proven to be especially useful in the kitchen. In this Selects, contributor Noelle Carter talks with Col. Chris Hadfield, an astronaut who was the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station and is the author of An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Hadfield has enjoyed sharing via YouTube, social media and speaking engagements all aspects of life in space, chief among them eating and handling food in zero gravity. Listen to their conversation and see videos of Hadfield cooking in space at his website. Check out dozens of shrimp recipes you can make here on Earth at The Splendid Table's Pinterest page.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 6, 2018

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects. This is where we pull together some of our favorite interviews -- from the past and present -- to showcase conversations that surprised us, illuminated something new in our world, or have proven to be especially useful in the kitchen. The first time that travel writer Tim Neville smelled cheese fondue, he did not even want to try it; he says the aroma was dreadful. But his first taste convinced him otherwise, and converted him into a lifelong fondue fanatic. The Splendid Table contributor David Leite talks with Neville about his early days of fondue discovery, learning from fondue masters in Switzerland, and the formula he believes will yield amazing fondue for anyone that follows the proper steps. Listen to their interview, watch our video, and read more fondue wisdom from Tim Neville by way of The Fondue Manifesto. Then you'll be ready to try Neville's suggested recipe for 007 Fondue.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series. Broadcast dates for this episode:February 20, 2018

Francis Lam celebrates his first full episode as the new host of The Splendid Table with the return of The Key 3 and great guest interviews. Francis visits with historian Adrian Miller, who shares stories of the influence and support that African-Americans have provided throughout American history by way of the White House kitchen. His new book is The President's Kitchen Cabinet. Pho may seem like an ancient or long-standing traditional dish from Vietnam, but that's not the case at all. Pho is actually a fairly recent dish, inspired by the cross-section of both Vietnamese and French cultures. Andrea Nguyen, author of The Pho Cookbook, brings her experience and insight on the dish to the show. For The Key 3, Francis visits chef Amanda Cohen at her NYC restaurant Dirt Candy to learn about her must-make dishes: leftovers sandwich, risotto, and her own Chickpea Tomato and Rosemary Soup. Plus, America's Test Kitchen discovers a treasure trove of premium extra virgin olive oil, and are all too happy to share their findings.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 10, 2017 (originally aired)February 16, 2018 (rebroadcast)

Welcome to Splendid Table Selects. This is where we pull together some of our favorite interviews -- from the past and present -- to showcase conversations that surprised us, illuminated something new in our world, or have proven to be especially useful in the kitchen. In this Selects, we talk with Michael Cimarusti, a chef considered to be the king of Southern California seafood for the last 20-plus years. He is a chef and seafood market proprietor who thinks deeply about fish; he is also willing to share some unusual observations for the home cook. Our contributor Russ Parsons and Chef Cimarusti got together in Los Angeles to talk about techniques for cooking different fish, supporting dock-to-dish sustainability, and the key elements to a perfect clam chowder.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Bob’s Red Mill for their support of this Splendid Table Selects podcast series.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 6, 2018

For almost 30 years, Jimi Yui has designed kitchens for chefs like Eric Ripert and Masaharu Morimoto. He tells Francis Lam about one of the most important tools to successful designing -- knowing how to listen. Writer and reporter Lisa Napoli has been obsessed with the lives of Ray and Joan Kroc, and how the couple created one of the world's most recognizable restaurant brands. Contributor Russ Parsons learns more about the famous power couple. Chef Marcus Samuelsson wants you to expand your pantry and palate beyond European-American food, and embrace a larger world of flavors. He has a few suggestions for the home chef. America's Test Kitchen puts stovetop tea kettles to the test. Lisa McManus joins us to talk about what to look for in a good kettle, and the winner of their equipment review. Olia Hercules shares her passion for cooking with the flavors of the Ukraine. Megan Krigbaum, senior wine editor at Food & Wine, talks about training your palate to taste for tannin, sweetness and oak in wine. And The Washington Post's Bonnie Benwick tracks down an authentic recipe for toum, the otherworldly garlic paste from Lebanon.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 26, 2018

Host Francis Lam talks with Azalina Eusope, a fifth-generation street vendor from Malaysia setting the San Francisco food scene on fire. Vegetarian food writer and filmmaker Anna Thomas explains why colorful, nutrient-rich green soups are the perfect antidote for the wintertime blues. Bridget Lancaster, host of America’s Test Kitchen, has been investigating sourdough starters in her kitchen and provides us with a primer. Contributor and New York Times columnist Melissa Clark talks to Elaine Khosrova about her fascinating book, Butter, A Rich History. Ann Taylor Pittman, food editor at Cooking Light magazine, makes the journey her mother's homeland of Korea. And we ask beer expert Greg Engert to break down the main flavor profiles of craft beer.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 5, 2018

It's the end of an era here at The Splendid Table as we say goodbye to our marvelous host and wonderful friend Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Lynne is retiring after more than 22 years hosting our show, and this episode is an homage to her. Recorded during a live farewell event at The Fitzgerald Theater in her hometown of Saint Paul, Minnesota, "Lynne's Goodbye" features Lynne, Francis Lam and Managing Producer Sally Swift. The three take a look back at Lynne's fifty-plus years of curious eating, writing, teaching, traveling, and sharing her life's work and passion with millions of people around the world. You will hear a bit of a roast, some of Lynne's favorite stories from The Splendid Table, and a touching tribute to Lynne from our new host, Francis Lam. Share your favorite Lynne memories, stories, or just say "bon voyage" on social media using #LynneLove.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 29, 2017

The Splendid Table partners with America's Test Kitchen for a holiday special to help with the menu, drink list, and conversation at your party.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 19, 2016 (originally aired)December 22, 2017 (rebroadcast)

J. Kenji López-Alt (Serious Eats, The Food Lab) takes us around the world in search of unique breakfasts. Molly Birnbaum and Dan Souza from America's Test Kitchen look at the science and skill of using bitterness in your cooking. Food journalist and matriarch Betty Fussell shares insight from her illustrious career in Eat, Live, Love, Die. Field reporter Shaina Shealy looks at the tradition and turmoil that comes with olive harvest season in the West Bank. Dan Zigmond finds the middle way to health and happiness by following Buddha's Diet.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 13, 2017 (originally aired)December 15, 2017 (rebroadcast)

This week, we meet Linnea Burnham, a woman who travels for cheese and records her adventures in her blog Journeys of a Cheese Girl. Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly introduces us to the wines of Verona, Italy, which are perfect for holiday sipping. Traditional rye bread is on the rise worldwide; we go deep into the topic with Stanley Ginsberg author of The Rye Baker. And America’s Test Kitchen hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison bring us some fresh thoughts on what to roast in the oven.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 16, 2016 (originally aired)December 1, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Spice master Lior Lev Sercarz introduces three exotic spices. Molly Birnbaum from America's Test Kitchen explains the secret behind perfect pineapple rolls. Dorie Greenspan promotes world peace through cookies. Fig biologist Mike Shanahan talks about the unique relationship between wasps and figs around the world. And SAVEUR's Leslie Pariseau takes us to Norway for a look at the importance of dried cod.Broadcast dates for this episode:December 2, 2016 (originally aired)November 24, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Francis Lam cohost our Thanksgiving 2017 call-in show -- Lynne's last Turkey Confidential before retiring at the end of 2017. Lynne and Francis take calls and are joined by special guests -- chefs/restaurateurs Lidia Bastianich and Marcus Samuelsson, comedian/actor Amy Sedaris from At Home with Amy Sedaris, and Dan Souza of America's Test Kitchen.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 23, 2017

Rockstar chef Anthony Bourdain talks about calming the chaos of a holiday kitchen. Lynne Rossetto Kasper talks with Vivian Howard about her family connection to sweet potatoes. Contributor Jennie Cecil Moore visits Minnesota for a wild rice harvest and look at efforts to preserve the native grain. Plus, Tucker Shaw from America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country joins us with the recipe for an amazing Thanksgiving dessert - Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pie.Broadcast dates for this episode:November 11, 2016 (originally aired)November 10, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Marcus Samuelsson takes Melissa Clark on a personalized tour of Harlem, the neighborhood he has called home for over a decade. Charlotte Druckman gives Melanie Dunea the secret to cast-iron baking, Robert Simonson tells Joe Yonan the story behind the craft cocktail revival, and Beth Dooley shares what inspired her food-writing career with Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Plus, Sally Swift talks with Dan Souza from America's Test Kitchen about how to make perfect crisp-tender restaurant-style Brussels sprouts at home.Broadcast dates for this episode:October 28, 2016 (originally aired)October 27, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Apple breeder David Bedford comes in from the orchard to let Lynne Rossetto Kasper sample the latest apple flavors, and Molly Birnbaum from America's Test Kitchen helps Sally Swift with the science behind a mushroom's durability. Also, David Leite chats with Molly Yeh about her new cookbook and her journey from Juilliard to a rural Minnesota farm, Von Diaz talks with Tunde Wey about his Blackness in America dinners, and Russ Parsons looks at the "artisanal" food and drink boom with Patric Kuh. Broadcast dates for this episode:October 14, 2016 (originally aired)October 13, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Francis Lam recently visited Chef King Phojanakong in the home kitchen of King's mother, Emma, for our Filipino Food episode. The three of them were featured in the episode making the traditional Filipino sour stew, Seafood Sinigang. Afterwards, Francis and King continued their kitchen conversation with a lesson on making another popular comfort food of the Philippines, pancit canton. There are many variations on this dish of stir-fried noodles. Here, King includes sliced chicken breast and Chinese sausage. Listen to audio of Francis and King's conversation, then try your own hand at this wonderful dish with King's recipe for Pancit Canton with Chicken and Sausage. Broadcast dates for this episode:October 3, 2017

Paul Freedman gives Lynne Rossetto Kasper the names of the ten restaurants that changed America. Lynne also talks with Melanie Dunea about the latter's conversation with Sylvia Weinstock, who is still making artisan cakes at 87 years old. In addition, Noelle Carter chats with author Michelle McKenzie about a unique use for fig leaves, David Leite gets the lowdown on turmeric from Julie Sahni. And Bridget Lancaster, host of America's Test Kitchen, introduces what may be your new favorite grill recipe - Grilled Lamb-Stuffed Pitas!Broadcast dates for this episode:September 30, 2016 (originally aired)September 29, 2017 (rebroadcast)

The Perennial Plate is back, and Daniel Klein tells Lynne Rossetto Kasper about the season-focused concept of their fourth season. Also back is Jekka McVicar, who gives Lynne a history lesson on sage. In addition, Rachel Khoo opens up her notebook for Shauna Sever, Ronni Lundy shares the story of Appalachian salt with Von Diaz. Plus, Jennifer Cecil Moore on the Gravenstein apple's comeback in Sonoma County. And America's Test Kitchen introduces us to milk punch, the early American cocktail now seeing a modern revival.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 16, 2016 (originally aired)September 15, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Host Francis Lam chats with Osayi Endolyn about her introduction to Hoppin' John, and how it led her to explore both her personal background and the influence of African cuisine on the American South. Later, he discusses the intricacies of preparing chicken with Chef Jacques Pépin and building the Impossible Burger with Kurt Soller from Bon Appétit. Also, Melissa Clark talks with the Sporkful's Dan Pashman about his interview with the Greensboro Four's Joseph McNeil. And for dessert, Tucker Shaw from Cook's Country has the sweet secret to perfecting New Jersey Crumb Buns.Broadcast dates for this episode:September 2, 2016 (originally aired)February 17, 2017 (rebroadcast)September 1, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Zhug, a Yemenite hot sauce, might be the next Sriracha. J. Kenji Lopez-Alt tells Lynne Rossetto Kasper all about it and the simple tools you need to make it. Anya Fernald swears by those same tools in her kitchen, and she chats with Russ Parsons about them and her rules for hosting a good party. In addition, Molly Birnbaum from America's Test Kitchen goes to college for frozen yogurt, Robin Ha draws a Korean cookbook, and Taste of Home's Mark Hagen has some ideas on what you can do with all that zucchini. Plus, artist Kiko Denzer shows Lynne how to carve a spoon.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 19, 2016 (originally aired)August 18, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Polar explorer and adventurer Ann Bancroft's latest journey took her to the Ganges River in search of fresh water. She tells Lynne Rossetto Kasper all about it. Plus, Sabrina Ghayour chats with Russ Parsons about simplifying Persian and Middle Eastern cooking traditions, Holly De Ruyter shares the history of Wisconsin supper clubs with Shauna Sever, and No. 7 Sub's Tyler Kord stands up for vegetables in sandwiches. In addition, Jekka McVicar gives us the lowdown on celery leaf, and America's Test Kitchen reviews portion scoops (they're for more than just ice cream).Broadcast dates for this episode:August 5, 2016 (originally aired)August 4, 2017 (rebroadcast)

In an extended interview with host Francis Lam, chef Zoe Adjonyoh recalls her childhood fascination with the food from her father's home country - Ghana. She and Francis also discuss her personal travels to the West African nation in search of more experience with the methods and unique ingredients used in Ghanaian cuisine, and how it all comes together in her debut cookbook Zoe's Ghana Kitchen. Hear more from their interview at our story page for "Aromatic, wholesome African cuisine inside Zoe's Ghana kitchen." Try Zoe's recipes for Shito (Hot Pepper Sauce), Chalé Sauce, Peanut Sauce, and Yam & Plantain Peanut Curry.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 1, 2017

Magnus Nilsson wrote what may be the definitive book on Nordic cooking, and he tells guest host Melissa Clark that there's more to it than pickled herring. Melissa also talks with John Wurdeman about preserving an 8,000-year-old Georgian wine tradition. Tucker Shaw, from America's Test Kitchen, gives the recipe for making perfect steak frites at home. And managing producer Sally Swift gets the lowdown on tahini from Adeena Sussman.Broadcast dates for this episode:July 22, 2016 (originally aired)July 28, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Krishnendu Ray talks with Von Diaz about the history of immigrant foods and their (eventual) acceptance in America. In addition, Molly Birnbaum from America's Test Kitchen examines the challenges of eggs, Steve Sando tells Lynne Rossetto Kasper about what it's like being an heirloom bean entrepreneur, and Marisa Huff explains northern Italy's "aperitivo" time to Shauna Sever. Plus, "Queen of Herbs" Jekka McVicar's ode to rosemary. Broadcast dates for this episode:July 15, 2016 (originally aired)July 14, 2017 (rebroadcast)

This week it’s a celebration of the Fourth of July with a collection of classic interviews. We listen to an interview with Julia Child from our first national broadcast 20 years ago, Mario Batali shares the Italian way with vegetables and Sally Schneider of Improvised Life joins us with a primer in cooking with fresh cherries. Mediterranean food scholar Claudia Roden brings us ideas for exceptional grilling from the Middle East, wine expert Joshua Wesson pairs wine with sweet corn and TeaSource’s Bill Waddington explains how to make iced tea using the cold-brew method. When it comes to barbecue sauce, Kansas City-style sauces have become the national norm. America’s Test Kitchen reveals the results of a bottled sauce taste test and shares off-kilter, but surprisingly delicious, uses for barbecue sauce at your next party. Broadcast dates for this episode:July 3, 2015 (originally aired)June 30, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Lynne Rossetto Kasper chats with Caroline Eden and Eleanor Ford about their new book, Samarkand, a collection of essays, photos, and recipes from central Asia. Culinary historian Michael Twitty tells Joe Yonan about his deeply personal look at the African-American/Southern food tradition in The Cooking Gene, and Molly Birnbaum from America's Test Kitchen checks in with Sally Swift about the very best part of Parmigiano-Reggiano.Broadcast dates for this episode:June 24, 2016 (originally aired)June 23, 2017 (rebroadcast)

In an extended conversation with host Francis Lam, Southern food historian John T. Edge (The Potlikker Papers) discusses the different influences that two southern icons, Colonel Harland Sanders and Mahalia Jackson, had on the popular fast food of the region – fried chicken. Read more about Mahalia Jackson’s fried chicken legacy at Southern Foodways Alliance website. Broadcast dates for this episode:June 20, 2017

Host Francis Lam talks to Will Guidara about what defines great service, Joe Yonan finds meatless smoking options with Project Smoke author Steve Raichlen, and Corey Lee tells Francis about his new "covers" restaurant. Plus, Melissa Clark gets a refresher on low-alcohol summer drinks from Spritz co-author Talia Baiocchi. And Lisa McManus from America's Test Kitchen talks about their recent review of espresso machines; she tells us about the winners and gives some advice for marking the perfect espresso drink at home.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 27, 2016 (originally aired)June 9, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Every once in a while, we like to share something extra with our fans and listeners. Our friend at Bon Appétit, Adam Rapoport, recently interviewed host Francis Lam for the Bon Appétit Foodcast podcast. Adam and Francis talk about Francis's early experiences with his new host duties at The Splendid Table, the difficulty of putting words to the page, eating Chrissy Teigen's scalloped potatoes, and how he hosts friends at home. Plus, some football talk for good measure. We hope you enjoy learning a bit more about Francis and why we're so happy to have him hosting The Splendid Table. You can subscribe to Bon Appétit's Foodcast podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast service. Broadcast dates for this episode:June 6, 2017

This week we talk to hunger activist Robert Egger of L.A. Kitchen about his work feeding seniors, one of the fastest growing underfed populations. Molly Birnbaum, executive editor of Cook's Science at America’s Test Kitchen, is back with her monthly check-in. This time it’s goat's versus cow's milk. Plus Spring chef Skye Gyngell chats with contributor Noelle Carter about seasonal cooking, Taste of Home's Mark Hagen explains rhubarb and we visit the shop True Treats Candy with Susan Benjamin, author of Sweet as Sin.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 13, 2016 (originally aired)May 26, 2017 (rebroadcast)

This week we talk to chef Lenny Russo about the realities of committing to local and sustainable in a Midwestern restaurant. He is the author of Heartland. Tucker Shaw of Cook's Science shares the glamourous origin of fettuccine Alfredo in the U.S. and the secret to perfecting the dish at home. We look into the heart of Basque cooking with Alexandra Raij, co-author of The Basque Book, and we get a lesson in how to make nut milks with Dina Cheney, author of The New Milks. Plus, we hear about restaurant regulars and Paris' meat vending machines.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 29, 2016 (originally aired)May 12, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Samin Nosrat is the author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Host Francis Lam recently interviewed her for Episode 630: Recipes - the Good, the Bad & the Ugly. [Ed. Note: find their interview here.] Francis had such a good time talking with Samin that their conversation ended up going long while talking about acid balance, and it was edited out of the main episode. Luckily for you, we set it aside for a bonus podcast. In this Splendid Table Sides segment, Nosrat talks about one of her favorite dishes Pasta alle Vongole (Pasta with Clams), and how she makes it with a technique of layering in wine, lemon, and different acids. Broadcast dates for this episode:May 5, 2017

Chris Schonberger, editor in chief of First We Feast, joins us with an insider’s view of the problems surrounding modern food journalism. We learn how the "Vietnamese Madonna" opened a California sandwich shop, and we look at the newest rage in greens -- sea greens -- with Barton Seaver, author of Superfood Seagreens. America's Test Kitchen shares the technique for making perfect, super-fluffy baked potatoes. Plus Lucky Peach's Chris Ying explains how to cook sausage, and Floyd Cardoz shares a curry perfect for weeknights.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 15, 2016 (originally aired)April 28, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Guest host David Leite talks to Dr. Drew Ramsey about the connection between food and mental health, journalist Lisa Morehouse reports on Chinese food at the Mexican border, and we dig into the freshly fermented gherkins, dill and fragrant sunflower oil of Olia Hercules' childhood in Ukraine. Her new book is Mamushka. America's Test Kitchen doubles the crunch with North Carolina Dipped Fried Chicken. Plus, why musician Kelis Rogers, author of My Life on a Plate, attended culinary school.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 11, 2016 (originally aired)April 14, 2017 (rebroadcast)

This Splendid Table Sides bonus podcast features an extended interview with Shane Mitchell, author of Far Afield. Contributor Shauna Sever talks with Mitchell about her global travels with photographer James Fisher to document stories of hospitality for the book. The discussion includes more details of their visit to a refugee camp known as The Jungle in Calais, France. Shane Mitchell also gave us her recipe for Mullah Robe, a lamb and yogurt stew inspired by a dish made for her in The Jungle by a Sudanese refugee named Rasha. Broadcast dates for this episode:April 12, 2017

Mexican chef Enrique Olvera joins us this week with a conversation about modern Mexican food. His new book is Mexico from the Inside Out. Melissa Clark talks to Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard, authors of Koreatown: A Cookbook, and Molly Birnbaum, executive editor of Cook’s Science at America’s Test Kitchen, gives us a primer on scallops. Plus Gary Nabhan explains Tucson's new UNESCO designation: City of Gastronomy.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 1, 2016 (originally aired)March 31, 2017 (rebroadcast)

What do we talk about when we talk about food? We talk about life, the fuel that keeps us alive and the spirit that makes our cultures live and breathe. We talk about what we want, what we long for, or sometimes, just what we need to get by. In this episode: conversations about the appetites of the legendary writer Jim Harrison, about the women who made American food writing before anyone called it "food writing," a look at Buddhist cooking in Japan, and with a brilliant musician on the complex ways food and music affect us. Plus, five keys to making perfect pasta!Broadcast dates for this episode:March 24, 2017

We talk to Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein about her intriguing book, The Dirt Cure. Molly Birnbaum, executive editor of Cook’s Science at America’s Test Kitchen, explains why lamb tastes like lamb, and Bee Wilson has come to believe that changing what we like to eat is the real key to tackling the obesity crisis. Her book is First Bite. Plus Katie Parla, co-author of Tasting Rome, on Rome's changing cuisine and The Sporkful's Dan Pashman on dining out in a wheelchair.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 18, 2016 (originally aired)March 17, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Managing Producer Sally Swift guest hosts this week’s show. Nopi's Yotam Ottolenghi explains his latest cookbook. Food critic Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post talks about selecting the top 10 food cities in the U.S. We get a primer in making yogurt with Cheryl Sternman Rule, author of Yogurt Culture. Lynne talks with rapper/poet Dessa about taking her food convictions with her on the road. America's Test Kitchen's Jack Bishop is back with the results from a vegan mayonnaise tasting. Plus, 20 techniques that we've learned from guests that we still use in the kitchen today.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 19, 2016 (originally aired)March 3, 2017 (rebroadcast)

Writer Rowan Jacobsen goes deep undercover to discover the otherworldly powers of tea while visiting a group of tea connoisseurs in Montreal. Longtime Hawaii resident and The Poke Cookbook author Martha Cheng discusses the history and evolution of her state's classic raw fish salad dish. Chef and Food Network host Simon Majumdar decides to become an American citizen, but not before visiting every state in the union to learn more about the people who make our country's food heritage so rich. He tells us about his many adventures and his book inspired by the journey Fed, White, and Blue. Plus, America Test Kitchen reviews a full line-up of muffin tins to fine the perfect one for your kitchen.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 24, 2017

Lynne Rossetto Kasper shares her retirement announcement with The Splendid Table listeners and welcomes new show host Francis Lam. Writer Lisa Napoli investigates Ray and Joan Kroc, the power couple behind the beginning of the McDonald's empire. Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine take their wonderful online food show The Perennial Plate to Ireland, where they learn about turf-smoked salmon and find themselves in unique situations with chef Katie Sanderson. Tucker Shaw from America's Test Kitchen shares his team's tips for keeping your sink, sponges and refrigerator safe and sanitary. Plus, YouTube sensation Hannah Hart on how she unexpectedly created a online community with My Drunk Kitchen.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 10, 2017