It's a Latino Christmas complete with recipes, traditions and stories from Esmeralda Santiago, editor of the newly published, Las Christmas. Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins says thinks farmhouse cheeses from England for the holidays and Jane and Michael Stern are buying their holiday breads from Bantam Bakery in Connecticut.
If you've been listening to the Splendid Table for some time, you know that our resident wine maverick, Joshua Wesson, is not only knowledgeable but quite outrageous. You might recall that Josh is the one who suggested Twinkies as the appropriate accompaniment to Asti Spumante, and his book, Red Wine with Fish, alarmed the traditionalists. He's back this week with some thoughts on fortified wines such as port and, predictably, has his own take on this wine so perfect for holiday sipping and gifting.
Legendary filmmaker Ismail Merchant of Room with a View and Cotton Mary fame has three great passions film, food, and cooking and he's with us this week to share tales of filming and feasting. Ismail is renowned in the motion-picture community for the weekly curry suppers he prepares for cast and crew. Try the recipe for Ismail's Incredibly Instant Chicken, created during the filming of A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries. It's from his new book, Ismail Merchant's Paris.
We're on the road this week, first to Europe and the beautiful mountains straddling the border between France and Spain. The Basques who inhabit this area are some of Europe's most fascinating people. Mark Kurlansky, author of The Basque History of the World, introduces us to Basque life and culture, a subject he's researched for 25 years.
We're heading to the quintessential Christmas town, Naples, Italy, with Arthur Schwartz author of Naples at Table. Arthur shares recipes form the edge of Mt. Vesuvius! Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan talks us through the myriad of wine magazines on the racks, we talk to a Stilton maker in England, and our roadside warriors Jane and Michael Stern are mail-ordering Buffalo from Wyoming!
It's our annual Thanksgiving show and minimalist cook Mark Bittman, author of How to Cook Everything, has streamlined a luscious feast you can prepare in three hours, start to finish, with nary an "instant" or packaged ingredient in the entire menu. Mark shares his recipes for this fast and fabulous dinner: roast turkey with bread stuffing and sherry gravy, sweet potato home fries, cranberry-orange relish, green beans with lemon, and pear, gorgonzola and mesclun salad. Jane and Michael Stern suggest a diner in Maine for post-holiday repast, wine wit Joshua Wesson says the side dishes you serve should dictate the wine you pour, food historian and author of The Story of Corn Betty Fussell explains why corn should be designated our national food, and we'll hear about Tofurky, a vegetarian option for your feast.
This week we're learning to make simple fresh cheeses such as ricotta, crème fraîche, and cream cheese with the proprietor of the New England Cheesemaking Company. Jane and Michael Stern take us to the Affy Tapple Factory in Chicago, and Martha Gill, author of Modern Gifts, has some unconventional ideas and recipes for gifts from your kitchen.
We're meeting the woman behind the great French chefs this week. Award-winning author Dorie Greenspan talks about what it's like to work with the likes of Daniel Boulud and Pierre Hermé, two French legends. Jane and Michael Stern recommend a place for sustenance after an all-nighter in Pittsburgh; you've heard of heirloom vegetables, well, we've a look at heirloom cattle; and grocery guru Al Sicherman challenges Lynne to a canned tuna tasting.
Restaurant critics can make or break a restaurant. Today we've a behind-the-scenes look at how a restaurant critic works with Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, authors of Dining Out, Secrets from America's Leading Critics, Chefs and Restaurateurs. The Sterns take us to Portland for coffee and Corby Kummer, author of The Joy of Coffee, tells us how to case out an espresso bar.
We're heading into the kitchen with our kids with the help of Lynn Fredericks, author of Cooking Time is Family Time. Jane and Michael Stern fill us in on the Midwest Turtle Phenomenon, wine wit Joshua Wesson tells us about the nouveau nouveaus—no need to wait for Nouveau Beaujolais, there's plenty more out there—and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner gives us her take on kitchen cabinets.
The low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet fad seems to never end, but are we destined to eat slices of plain turkey the rest of our lives? We talk with Deborah Chud, M.D. and author of The Gourmet Prescription, a book devoted to flavorful low-carb cooking. The Sterns take us to St. Louis for the St. Paul Sandwich, minimalist cook Mark Bittman talks octopus, cheesemonger Steve Jenkins tastes cheeses from the Franche-Conte region of France, and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan wants you to set up a wine tasting at your next get-together.
Imagine drinking a cup of Gun Powder Temple of Heaven or Curled Dragon Silver Tips! This week, it's Tea Authority Bill Waddington, a man who determines what kind of tea you'll like by the kind of apples you like to eat! The Stern's take us to Clark's Outpost in Texas for BBQ Brisket, and we check in with Wine Mogul Joshua Wesson about wine bargains in 1999.
America's beef has changed, so why hasn't our style of cooking? We go to Bruce Aidells, author of The Complete Meat Cookbook, for some guidance. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Sedona, Arizona, for apples and talking deer; we talk with Nora Pouillon, owner of Nora's in Washington D.C., Americas first certified organic restaurant; naturalist, and poet Diane Ackerman has a physiological view of the truffle, and grocery guru Al Sicherman conducts a peanut-butter tasting with Lynne.
The tables are setting up outside on the boulevards of Paris; it's time to start planning a spring trip! This week it's a guide to Paris Cafe Life with Daniel Young, author of The Paris Cafe Cookbook. Jane and Michael Stern are breakfasting in La Jolla, California (great breakfast and "long,tan legs" according to Michael), and wine wit Joshua Wesson has great wine bargains from South Africa.
We're finally putting the term "fusion cuisine" to bed this week with culinary anthropologist Elizabeth Rozin, author of Crossroads Cooking. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Nellie's Chili Parlour in Los Cruces, NM; minimalist cook Mark Bittman joins us with ideas for streamlining our evening meal, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner critiques wood-fired ovens.
We have a fresh perspective on food and health with Nina Simons, author of A Spoonful of Ginger. She has some recipes for us with health-giving properties. Jane and Michael Stern introduce us to Charlie the Butcher in Buffalo, New York; the food maven Matthew Goodman explains egg creams, and award-winning cheesemaker Jonathan White tells us a tale of autumn milk.
Our favorite food scientist, Shirley Corriher, author of the bestselling book CookWise, joins us with new research on maximizing flavor. Try a little salt to bring out sweetness. Jane and Michael Stern discover the Big Timber Sundae in Montana, Mary Ewing Mulligan advises us on Muscadets, and tea expert Bill Waddington demystifies tisane.
We're talking with award-winning restauranteur Drew Nieporent about what it takes to run a successful restaurant and co-own a business with a celebrity. (Robert DeNiro is Drew's partner!) New York Times columnist Marian Burros talks about food in the '90s, Jane and Michael Stern take us to the Kansas City stockyards for great steak, and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan has returned from a visit to Scotland—Islay to be exact, with a wine lover's interpretation of Scotch.
Over the past decade Americans have become devotees of dim sum, those tasty little morsels that originated in the Chinese province of Canton during the Han dynasty. Evelyn Chau, author of Have Some Dim Sum, explains the ritual and etiquette surrounding this unique eating experience and offers tips on how and what to order from the carts offering a mind-boggling array of delights from which to choose. Jane and Michael Stern debunk the notion that good, inexpensive food cannot be had in California's trendy Napa Valley with their report from the Model Bakery in St. Helena. In the world of cheese, there are some irrefutable givens as Steve Jenkins reveals in his cheese precepts. Author and naturalist Diane Ackerman has some thoughts on food and thrill seeking, and Lynne shares her recipe for satay, a popular Malaysian street food. We'll have another trivia question and the phone lines will be open for your calls.
We've a conversation with the Queen of Tasteful Low-Fat Cuisine, Martha Rose Shulman, author of best-selling Mediterranean Light and her most recent—Light Basics Cookbook. Martha shares a summertime recipe for grilled marinated swordfish. The Sterns take us to Sholl's Colonial Cafe in Washington DC, and the Vinegar Man has opened a vinegar museum in South Dakota.
We're taking a road trip this week, to the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, California, home of the Edible Schoolyard. It's a program begun by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame, an effort to teach children about food, culture, and the earth, with a garden that was started in their schoolyard. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Quechee, Vermont, for stellar roast corn with a secret ingredient.
All you campers listen up: John Willoughby and Chris Schlesinger, authors of License to Grill, join us with advice on wood-fire cooking. No more freeze-dried, at least for one night. Wine wit Joshua Wesson wants us to reconsider German wine. Joshua swears great bargains are to be had, and conductor Christopher Hogwood pinpoints the precise moment English food went awry.
What makes a dish American? We've a look at American cuisine with Leslie Brenner, author of American Appetite: The Coming of Age of a Cuisine. Road foodies Jane and Michael Stern take us to the Ridgefield Ice Cream Shop for the 4th, Hoppin' John Taylor has the last word on fried chicken, and grocery guru Al Sicherman and Lynne taste BBQ Sauce, just in time for your family picnic.
We're exploring the Spice Islands and the spice trade with Charles Corn, author of The Scents of Eden. The Sterns take us West, to eat East ! They've found great Chinese Food in Butte, Montana,, and, if you're really gonna do it, Chef Ken Hom has some advice for traveling and eating in China.
Innovative cooking techniques are the subject today with Chris Maynard and Bill Scheller, authors of Manifold Destiny, a book about cooking on your car engine! The Sterns are sippin' malts and shakes at the Nixon Pharmacy in Mobile, Alabama, and cheesemonger Steve Jenkins reignites the battle of the sexes with his views on female cheesemakers.
We're taking at look at the world's oldest and most universal cooking method—grilling, with Steve Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible. Steve visited more than 25 countries researching this book. Look for Steve's recipe from Afghanistan for onion water lamb chops. The Sterns take us to Idaho for a bowl of soul and stumpmaster and grocery guru Al Sicherman and Lynne do a spaghetti sauce tasting.
Between graduations, weddings and reunions, party season has struck! We've got advice from a woman who loves to give a party, Abigail Kirsch, caterer and author of Invitation to Dinner. The Sterns take us to a surfer sushi bar, legendary cooking teacher Marian Cunningham is back with lesson two of her three-part series on learning to cook; composer Christopher Hogwood explains the English Tea; and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan deciphers wine ratings.
For those headed back to college, we've some advice from wine expert Joshua Wesson on matching fast food with wine! Yes, there is an ideal bottle to be had with a Domino's Double Cheese and Chinese take-out. Joshua is the reigning expert of $10 or less finds! Jane and Michael Stern take us to Chicago's Polish Neighborhood for funeral food, and Kitchen Designer Deborah Krasner wants us to welcome red worms into our pantry!
Grace Young, author of The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen, takes us into the Cantonese home of her childhood; the Sterns take us to the Brick Pit BBQ in Mobile, Alabama; the mother-daughter team of The Dreaded Broccoli Cookbook join us to talk pantry momentum; singer Patti LaBelle shares her soon-to-be-a-classic potato salad recipe; and legendary cook and teacher Marion Cunningham, author of The Fanny Farmer Cookbook, begins her three-part series on learning to cook.
Journalist Corby Kummer fills us in on Slow Food, an organization who believes in doing good by eating well; Jane and Michael Stern take us back to Chicago for gold coast hot dogs; the bestselling author of Under a Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes, tells us tale of a trip to Venice; kitchen designer Deborah Krasner wants us to think about our four senses when working in the kitchen; and Lynne samples salt with Grocery Guru Al Sicherman in their monthly tasting.
It's a look at wine auctions with one of the country's foremost experts, Fritz Hatton of Christies U.S. Wine Department (http://www.christies.com/wine). Who buys Andrew Lloyd Weber's wine cellar? Our wanderers, Jane and Michael Stern, hit the road and head west toward the Grand Canyon, and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan gives us the rules on the basics, like how full should a glass of wine be filled?
The wines of Washington State have soared into prominence in a relatively short time due, in part, to the unique growing conditions and varied microclimates that give the region its potential to become one of the greatest fine wine producing areas in the world. Our guest, Lorne Jacobson of Hedges Cellars, will fill us in on these reasonably priced wines of exceptional quality. Our road food duo Jane and Michael Stern have entered the fray in yet another culinary controversy—clam chowder. Whether it's heavy cream, light cream, no cream, or tomato-based, they'll have the word on where to find the best of each variety. Fruit-obsessed David Karp has found a "fruit zoo" and he's back with a report, and culinary minimalist Mark Bittman streamlines Thai curries with his recipe for shrimp in yellow curry.
We're getting a culinary travel tour of India with award-winning author and tour guide Julie Sahni. The Stern's answer the question, "what ever happened to waffles?", Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan has Napa Valley travel tips and Mark Bittman has advice on streamlining our life behind the stove, with a recipe for braised lamb shanks.
The calendar might not say it's spring, but gardeners have been studying seed catalogs and dreaming of the harvest for months now. Even if your "garden" is only a potted tomato plant on a terrace, you'll want to tune in this week when William Woys Weaver, author of Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, takes a fascinating look at the history of heirloom vegetables and shares some of his seed sources. When the subject is vegetables, Jane and Michael Stern head to an outdoor market in Birmingham, Alabama and a certain diner that serves up an incredible offering of nearly four dozen vegetables, all farm-fresh and cooked Southern-style! Our Master of Wine, Mary Ewing Mulligan, fills us in on Viognier - the latest white wine craze; Lee from Portland tries to Stump the Cook, and Lynne shares a recent find at the Miami airport and takes your calls.
We're taking a look at one of the largest wine growing regions in France this week, not Burgundy, not Bordeaux, but Languedoc with Pierre Noique. Great values are to be had! Our guide is wine merchant Pierre Noique who gives us his favorite picks of Languedoc bargains. Think bottles in the $8 to $13 range! Jane and Michael Stern have had another New England Epiphany. It's Simon Pearce this time and, yes, it's in Vermont. They'll stop by with the details. Minimalist cooking sage and award-winning author Mark Bittman is back with some thoughts on braising and a streamlined recipe for braised and grilled lamb shanks. Architect Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live wants us to re-think our dining rooms and tells us why.
Americans now eat nearly 2 pounds of garlic a year, and botanists believe that garlic was one of the first plants to be cultivated by man. Linda and Fred Griffith, authors of Garlic, Garlic, Garlic, join us with lore, medical breakthroughs, and recipes for The stinking rose. The Sterns take us to the land of country-music stars and biscuits and gravy—The Loveless Café in Nashville, Tennessee—cheesemonger Steve Jenkins stops by with an explanation of cheese varieties and tea expert Bill Wattington gives us the lowdown on green teas.
It's a basic course in olive oil this week with Rolando Beramendi, founder of Manicaretti, an importer of high quality Italian food products. Extra-virgin, cold-pressed, estate bottled - Rolando explains it all and gives us a buyer's guide to getting the best oil for our money. Our dynamic dining duo, Jane and Michael Stern, discover a fine country ham in Virginia; cheese expert Steve Jenkins shares his spring cheese picks; and our grocery guru, Al Sickerman, talks Peeps!
We're taking a trip to one of New York City's finest wine cellars, at a restaurant called Patroon. With the wine cellar comes its caretaker, the Sommelier. It's a glimpse of one of the most intimate relationships in the restaurant business, chef and sommelier. Jane and Michael Stern take us to The Peanut Shoppe in Mobile, Alabama, and Lynne and grocery guru Al Sicherman taste canned tomatoes; who will win—Hunts, Contadina, or Muir Glen?
It's a look at winemaking with David Bruce of the David Bruce Winery. David makes award-winning Pinot Noirs. FYI, it's no small feat for an American winemaker to make a great pinot, it's considered by the industry to be one of the most difficut grapes to master. David tells the secret behind his great bottles—a rather ancient technique! Jane and Michael Stern take us to Vermont, again! This time off Route 132 in Sharon, home of Brooksies, and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan answers the age-old question —does the glass you serve your wine in really matter?
Cold season is upon us, and rather than heading to a drugstore—think about heading to your cupboard for apple cider vinegar, peppermint and thyme! Judith Benn Hurley, author of Healing Secrets of the Season, joins us with some seasonal home remedies. The Sterns have advice on San Diego street food and we check in with Specialty Produce Expert David Karp in the field, the orange groves of California!
This is the week most of us start a diet, and next week is the week the depression and guilt kick in! Why don't diets work? We're taking a look at the Great American Diet Scam with Journalist Laura Fraser, author of Losing It. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the best chili in the States, Steve Raichlen of Low Fat/High Flavor fame gives a list of 5 must-haves for the lowfat pantry, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner talks kitchen lighting and Grocery Guru Al Sicherman and Lynne do a sour cream tasting.