Listen to Splendid Table on WNNZ 640 in Westfield, MA

Dec. 5, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Dec 4 Listen

This week it's a look at the Russian tradition of zakuski with Diana Henry, author of Roast Figs, Sugar Snow, Winter Food to Warm the Soul. Iconoclast chef David Chang of Momofuku fame joins us with the method behind the madness of his inspired fusion cuisine, Jane and Michael Stern are eating sweets in Salt Lake City's The Lamb , and Food and Wine Magazine's Ray Isle joins us with his short list of the bottles every wine lover should taste.

Nov. 28, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Nov 27 Listen

(Repeat Episode) This week we're joined by British chef Heston Blumenthal, author of Further Adventures in Search of Perfection. Jane and Michael Stern authors of Road Food, are at Singleton's Seafood Shack in Mayport, FL, plus we'll talk with Chef Vitaly Paley author of The Paley's Place Cookbook. And Jenn Garbee shares notes from her latest book, Secret Suppers: Rogue Chefs and Underground Restaurants in Warehouses, Townhouses, Open Fields and Everywhere in Between.

Nov. 21, 2009: The Splendid Table

Mon, Nov 23 Listen

(Repeat Episode) This week for Thanksgiving we meet up with Chef Marcus Samuelsson for a new take on the turkey. His latest book is New American Table. Historian Andy Smith reminds us of the real origin of Thanksgiving Day, and Lynne takes on the great feast ... vegetarian style.

Nov. 14, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Nov 13 Listen

(Repeat Episode) We talk to Paul Roberts author of "The End of Food," about global food prices. Jane and Michael Stern are at Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia, PA, and Shirley Corriher brings us some practical baking advice as we head into high baking season.

Nov. 7, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Nov 6 Listen

This week it's a show of American iconoclasts starting with winemaker Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard. His latest book is Been Doon So Long, A Randall Grahm Vinthology. And we meet the true originator of the no-knead bread technique, Jim Lehey of New York City's famed Sullivan Street Bakery. His book is My Bread, The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method.

Oct. 31, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Oct 30 Listen

This week, we talk about feeding a bunch of guys with Lucinda Scala Quinn, author of Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys; and we're learning about the relationship between food and gangster movies with Rebecca Epstein. Plus, Lynne talks with Andrea Nguyen, who shares her techniques for mastering Asian Dumplings. The Sterns are eating huge portions at Rocky & Carlo's Restaurant in Chalmette, LA. Plus your calls, our weekly trivia question, and a rousing edition of Stump the Cook!

Oct. 24, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Oct 23 Listen

(Repeat Episode) This week we go into the kitchen with Andy Ricker, the man behind Portland's legendary Thai restaurant Pok Pok. Jane and Michael Stern are noshing kolaches in West, Texas, and wine authority Josh Wesson suggests some smooth sips for rough times.

Oct. 17, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Oct 16 Listen

(Repeat Episode) This week we're catching up with Italian food authorities Marcella and Victor Hazan. Marcella's latest project is her autobiography, Amarcord, Marcella Remembers. Jane and Michael Stern are eating Czech food at Belgrade Gardens outside of Akron, OH, and Harold McGee, author of the seminal On Food and Cooking explains the remarkable link between extra-virgin olive oil and ibuprofen.

Oct. 10, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Oct 9 Listen

This week, we're taking a look at the cuisine of Portugal with David Leite, author of The New Portuguese Table. Jane and Michael Stern have found stellar Creamed Chipped Beef at The Breakfast Shoppe in Severna Park, MD, plus we check in with the Hungry Scientist society, and we'll get a few tips for traveling on the cheap from the frugal traveler.

Oct. 3, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Oct 2 Listen

This week we have a look at school lunch programs, from a lunch lady's eyes. Our guest is Jean Ronnei of the St. Paul, MN public schools. Mario Batali addresses the issue of family meals, and the Sterns are eating soul food in the Arizona desert at Mrs. White's Golden Rule. Plus, we get a guide to making simple cured meats at home from Karen Solomon author of Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It and Other Cooking Projects.

Sept. 26, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Sep 25 Listen

What makes man, man and an ape an ape? According to Richard Wrangham it is not one's ability to fashion tool, but rather the ability to cook. He is the author of Catching Fire, How Cooking Made Us Human. The Sterns are in LA eating a French Dip at its origin, Philippe's French Dip Restaurant, and there is a new movement sweeping across America -- group canning sessions.

Sept. 19, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Sep 18 Listen

(Repeat episode) This week we are rebroadcasting our conversation with a winemaking legend, the late David Lett of Oregon's famed Eyrie Vineyards, Jane and Michael Stern are eating ice cream at Ici in Berkeley, CA and New York City food authority Mike Colameco introduces us to Izakayas, Japanese drinking places.

Sept. 12, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Sep 11 Listen

We're looking at the art of the Asian pickle with Alex Hovzen creator of the Cultured Pickle Shop in Berkely, CA, the Sterns are visiting Moonlite Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, KY, Fred Plotkin teaches us how to take an eaters vacation without a rental car, and Amy Stewart author of Wicked Plants: A Book of Botanical Atrocities introduces us to the darker side of Mother Nature.

Sept. 5, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Sep 4 Listen

This week it's all things tomato with Amy Goldman author of The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table, Jane and Michael Stern are at the Formica Brothers Bakery in Atlantic City, NJ, and writer David Leite, editor of the Web site Leite's Culinaria takes on the Toll House Cookie.

Aug. 29, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Aug 28 Listen

Historian John T. Edge take a look back at one of America's great food treasures, Craig Claiborne, the Sterns share their pick of great public markets on both coasts and wine writer Paul Lukacs from Wine Review Online introduces to the wines of Priorat.

Aug. 22, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Aug 21 Listen

(Repeat episode) This week it's the domestic goddess of the British Isles, TV star and author Nigella Lawson talking those oh-so-evocative summer fruit dishes of England - from fools to flummeries to an unusual take on raspberry jam. Nigella's latest book is Nigella Express. It's burnt ends sandwiches at LC's Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Missouri for Jane and Michael Stern. Wine wizard Joshua Wesson says we need to be putting a chill on some of those reds. He'll tell us which ones. Chad Ward,...

Aug. 15, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Aug 14 Listen

What does a chef consider the most important tool in the kitchen? Chef and writer Daniel Patterson has a surprising answer for all of those who love to cook. He is the author of Aroma. Jane and Michael Stern are looking at the phenomenon of the slider and Elizabeth Karmel author of Soaked, Slathered and Seasonings, fills us in on the latest developments in outdoor grilling.

Aug. 8, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Aug 7 Listen

(Repeat episode) This week we're meeting one of the pioneers in America's artisan cheese movement, our very own Steve Jenkins author of The Food Life: Inside the World of Food with the Grocer Extraordinaire at Fairway. Jane and Michael Stern are at Halibut in Portland, OR and we look at the Southern way with picnics, with Jean Anderson author of A Love Affair with Southern Cooking: Recipes and Recollections.

Aug. 1, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jul 31 Listen

This week we've tips to turning your kitchen green with Kate Heyhoe author of Cooking Green: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in the Kitchen, historian Rachel Lauden explores the link between Mexican cuisine and Islam, and cheesemonger Steve Jenkins explains the real cost of artisan cheeses.

Jul. 25, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jul 24 Listen

(Repeat Episode) This week we're meeting journalist Adam Leith Gollner, author of The Fruit Hunters, A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce and Obsession. Jane and Michael Stern are at Louis Mueller's BBQ in Taylor, TX, and wine wit Joshua Wesson recommends cool wines for hot days.

Jul. 18, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jul 17 Listen

We're talking to food activist Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food about the intersection between sustainable foods, and our real life pocketbooks. Jane and Michael Stern have been researching the green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico and we look at the origins of the American potato chip with Dirk Burhans author of Crunch, A History of the Great American Potato Chip.

Jul. 11, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jul 10 Listen

Today we're in Lynne's kitchen to learn about one of our most elusive immigrant cuisines, that of the Hmong people of Southeast Asia. Our guides are the authors of Cooking From the Heart: the Hmong Kitchen in America. Jane and Michael Stern are eating pancakes near the fountain of youth at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill in De Leon Springs, FL, and we get the perfect summer sauce from Michael Ruhlman, author of Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking.

Jul. 4, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jul 3 Listen

(repeat episode) To arm us for 4th of July celebrations, we've enlisted the services of Gourmet Magazine's John Willoughby for a lesson in smoke roasting. Jane and Michael Stern are eating al fresco at Champlin's Seafood Deck in Naragansett, RI. Sally Schneider author of The Improvisational Cook takes on coleslaw, and David Rosengarten tells us everything we will need to know to make a world-class burger.

Jun. 27, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jun 26 Listen

(repeat episode) All those people talking about a wine's terroir - meaning the place the grapes come from - can we really taste it? We get the scientific last word from Harold McGee author of the seminal On Food and Cooking. Jane and Michael Stern are at Woodyard Bar-B-Que in Kansas City, KS, and novelist Nicole Mones tell us about the time in Chinese culinary history which she used as a framework for her latest novel, The Last Chinese Chef.

Jun. 20, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jun 19 Listen

(repeat episode) We're looking at medieval Europe's greed for spices with Paul Freedman, author of Out of the East, Spices and the Medieval Imagination. Jane and Michael Stern are eating old time Florida seafood at Salt Water Cowboys in St. Augustine, Florida, and tea expert Bill Waddington explains the ins and outs of real iced tea.

Jun. 13, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jun 12 Listen

The Mayo Clinic's Dr. James Levine is convinced that we are moving animals, not sitting animals and that is the key to keeping our weight in check, He is the author of Move A Little, Lose A Lot. The Sterns have met the happy cows behind the divine ice cream at Woodside Farm in Delaware, and we learn the art of the grown-up popsicle from Karen Solomon author of Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It.

Jun. 6, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, Jun 5 Listen

(repeat episode) Neal Rosenthal, author of Reflections of a Wine Merchant joins us with his tale of life in the wine business. Jane and Michael Stern are at Joe Roger's Chili Parlour in Springfield, IL and Gourmet Magazine's John Willoughby gives us a primer in smoke roasting.

May 30, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, May 29 Listen

(repeat episode) We are looking at the history of the kitchen in America this week with Steven Gdula author of The Warmest Room in the House and Jane and Michael Stern are eating eggnog waffles and espresso twinkies at Bette's Oceanview Diner in Oakland, CA.

May 23, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, May 22 Listen

This week it's the art of the noodle from an Asian standpoint with Takashi Yagihashi author of Takashi's Noodles. Jane and Michael Stern are on Minnesota's North Shore at Betty's Pies, and American Public Media's John Moe brings us an experiment in dinner table politics, pitting kids against parents. Can there be harmony?

May 16, 2009: The Splendid Table

Fri, May 15 Listen

We've a look at entertaining through the eyes of one of world's most festive and stylish hosts, fashion designer and cultural iconoclast Issac Mizrahi. Jane and Michael Stern may have found the best coffee in Seattle at Crema, and Food and Wine Magazine's Lettie Teague tells us about the latest restaurant trend, house wines.

Splendid Table (Cooking)