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

Latest Episodes:

Living in a Foreign Language Oct 11, 2008

Show notes

This week we peek at the fantasy life of a house in Tuscany with Michael Tucker, author of Living in a Foreign Language, A Memoir of Food, Wine and Love. Sally Schneider author of A New Way to Cook gives us a fresh take on pears, and Seattle chef Tom Douglas explains the trials and tribulations of becoming a "gentleman" farmer.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

October 3, 2007 (originally aired)
October 11, 2008 (rebroadcast)

The House of Mondavi Sep 27, 2008

Show notes

This week we talk to journalist Julia Flynn Siler author of The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Jane and Michael Stern are at Kumback Lunch in Perry, OK. David Rosengarten looks at the origins of ramen noodles. And for an interpretation of an epicurean's take on happiness we turn to philosopher and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of The Happiness Myth: Why What We Think is Right is Wrong.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

September 8, 2007 (originally aired)
September 27, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Sowing for the Apocalypse Sep 06, 2008

Show notes

We're looking at global seed banks with journalist John Seabrook, author of The New Yorker article, Sowing For the Apocalypse. Jane and Michael Stern are at Short Sugar's BBQ in Reidsville, NC, wine wit Joshua Wesson takes us to Italy's premier wine event, Vin Italy, and Jill Carle, co-author of College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Your Friends, has ideas for breaking out of the popcorn and noodle cup rut.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

September 15, 2007 (originally aired)
September 6, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Who Is Responsible for Protecting Our Food? Aug 09, 2008

Show notes

This week we're talking to distinguished nutritionist and food activist Marion Nestle about who should really be responsible for our food supply. She is the author of What To Eat. The Stern's are at Standard Baking on the Portland, ME waterfront and Sally Schneider author of the award-winning The Improvisational Cook gives us a new view of the kitchen staple, the egg.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 9, 2007 (originally aired)
August 9, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Sushi Aug 02, 2008

Show notes

We're taking a look at sushi-what we never knew about it, that the way we eat it is probably all wrong, and that its birthplace in not Japan. Our guest is journalist Trevor Corson, author of The Zen of Fish: The Story of Sushi, from Samurai to Supermarket. The Sterns are in Colorado where they're tucking into cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates at Johnson's Corner in Loveland.

Middle Eastern food authority and historian, Claudia Roden, brings us something new to grill: kafta, the ground meat kebabs that every country in the region makes its own. She leaves us her recipe for Moroccan Kebabs from her beautiful new book Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey, & Lebanon. Whisky maker John Glaser of Compass Box Whisky Company has been dubbed a maverick by the trade for his new-style blends of Scotch. He stops by with samples for Lynne.

French chef and national treasure Jacques Pépin talks the small simple things he's created over a lifetime of cooking that make sensational eating. He leaves us his recipe for Fromage Fort from his latest, and perhaps most personal, book, Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook. Carolin Young, author of Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver: Stories of Dinner as a Work of Art, fills us in on her Paris walking and dining tours; and, as always, the phone lines will be open for your calls.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 30, 2007 (originally aired)
August 2, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Jose Andres Jul 19, 2008

Show notes

This week we meet the charming Spanish wunder chef Jose Andres, host of PBS's Jose's Made in Spain. The Sterns are in Sacramento, CA eating Squeeze Burgers at The Squeeze Inn, and Lynne puts veggie burgers to a taste test in her kitchen.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

July 19, 2008

Hiking Man Jul 05, 2008

Show notes

This week we talk to journalist Dave Plotnikoff about his hike from the Mexican border to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail and the food that ended up being the touch point of the trip. He is the author of "Hungry Man" from the July 2007 issue of Saveur Magazine. Jane and Michael Stern are eating planked whitefish and ice cream "Thunderclouds" at Juilleret's in Harbor Springs, MI, and Russ Parsons, author of How to Pick a Peach explains the rules about produce and the refrigerator.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

July 21, 2007 (originally aired)
July 5, 2008 (rebroadcast)

The Cheese Nun Jun 14, 2008

Show notes

This week we have the story of Mother Noella Marcellino who found her calling in a Benedictine abbey and the cheese caves of France. The Stern's are at Clanton's in Vinita, OK eating chicken fried steak. Wine wit Josh Wesson introduces us to the delicious and overlooked sparkling red wines of summer. Marian Burros of The New York Times recommends sources for grass fed beef, and attorney Cameron Stracher, author of Dinner with Dad: How I Found My Way Back to the Family Table, tells the tale of what happens when a working dad takes over dinner for a year.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 17, 2007 (originally aired)
June 14, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Philippine Kitchens May 10, 2008

Show notes

We are looking at the foods of the Philippine's this week with Amy Besa, author of Memories of Philippine Kitchens: Stories and Recipes from Far and Near, Jane and Michael Stern are at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville, TN and Sally Schneider author of the award-winning The Improvisational Cook gives us a cooking lesson for spring.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

May 26, 2007 (originally aired)
May 10, 2008 (rebroadcast)

Educating Peter May 03, 2008

Show notes

We're looking at the education of a wine rookie with Lettie Teague and her student, movie critic Peter Travers. Lettie is the author of Educating Peter, How I Taught a Famous Movie Critic the Difference Between Cabernet and Merlot or How Anybody Can Become and (Almost) Instant Wine Critic. Jane and Michael Stern are in the Mississippi Delta at Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales and we look at the advent of a new dining trend, one-pot meals served in private homes.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

April 28, 2007 (originally aired)
May 3, 2008 (rebroadcast)

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