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

Latest Episodes:

Fair Trade Coffee Feb 07, 2004

Show notes

This week it's global politics at the grocery store when our guests Anne Marie Ruff and Kevin Knox examine two sides of the controversial fair trade coffee issue. The Sterns will make vegetarians happy with sensational Southern veggies at Café Atchafalaya in New Orleans and a recipe for Shockingly Sweet Stewed Tomatoes. Wine wizard Joshua Wesson talks bargain Port-style wines. And techno-musician Moby tells why his music is never played in Teany, his New York City restaurant.

All that coffee talk sent Lynne straight to the kitchen to whip up a batch of her Espresso-Ricotta Cream with Espresso Chocolate Sauce. It's one of those desserts you want to eat all by yourself.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

January 18, 2003 (originally aired)
February 7, 2004 (rebroadcast)

Eat This Or Die Jan 03, 2004

Show notes

When your career involves chowing down on things like fries cooked in bacon fat with a steak chaser, what do you do when your health hits the wall? John Hodgman, food and drinks columnist for Men's Journal, found out. He stops by to tell the funny story of how he navigated the bumpy road to healthy eating.

The Sterns, ever faithful to fats, have a bologna find in Pella, Iowa. And, to get us back on the healthy track, Sally Schneider, author of A New Way to Cook, shares ideas for quick composed soups.

It's New Delhi restaurant picks from adventurer Anya Von Bremzen of Travel & Leisure magazine; then novelist Timothy Taylor morphs chefing and sourcing into primeval adventures from his new book, Stanley Park. Finally, we'll hear from a British chef trained in classical French cuisine who's making a fortune selling deep-fried Twinkies in a Brooklyn fish and chips shop.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

January 11, 2003 (originally aired)
January 3, 2004 (rebroadcast)

Cooking with Fire Dec 27, 2003

Show notes

This week it’s primal cooking at its most seductive—over an open fire. Our guest is William Rubel, author of The Magic of Fire. He leaves us with a recipe for Lamb Kabobs to get us started. The Sterns have found a beautiful woman who makes beautiful food at Café Poca Cosa in Tucson, Arizona.

Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins names the best cheese shops in the City of Lights. Sally Schneider, author of A New Way to Cook, tells us how to have our way with chestnuts. She leaves us with two recipes, one for Simple Roast Chestnuts, the other for Chicken Liver Pate with Golden Raisins. And we take a look at L.A.’s Ethnic Delis.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

November 9, 2002 (originally aired)
December 27, 2003 (rebroadcast)

Paula Wolfert Dec 20, 2003

Show notes

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, we're here to help with guest Paula Wolfert, author of The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen: Recipes for the Passionate Cook. Paula has fabulous and imaginative do-ahead recipes that will please everyone at your holiday table.

The Sterns have escaped it all and are savoring New England hospitality atVermont's Dorset Inn.

Josh Wesson talks "grower champagnes" and offers his picks for holiday sips. Our cooking guy David Leite looks at the Christmas goose through his unique kaleidoscope, while Lynne shares the recipe for the Garlic-Stuffed Roast Goose that's a holiday favorite at her house.

We learn how to make Mock Aquavit from Scandinavian food authority Andreas Viestad, and Jerry Pozniak, a specialist in food-related stains and owner of Cameo Cleaners in New York, tells us what to do about those post-prandial red wine spots on the heirloom damask.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

December 20, 2003

Paris Sweets Dec 06, 2003

Show notes

The baking season is here, the oven is cranked and we have recipes for you from the great bakers of Paris via Dorie Greenspan. Dorie's book, Paris Sweets: Great Desserts from the City's Best Pastry Shops brings together her best recipe finds, including Korova Cookies and the extravaganza called Opera Cake.

The Sterns take the "Mega-Bob Challenge" (and lose) at Bob's Drive-In in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Kitchen designer Deborah Krasner picks her all-time top design books, and food forager Ari Weinzweig takes us beyond olive oil to the delicate and delicious nut oils few people think to use.

Tim Richardson has the back-story on licorice, including his top picks; and we'll hear from Art Lange, the man at Honey Crisp who creates the exquisite dried fruits that are at the top of our holiday wish list.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

December 6, 2003

Eating Dirt Nov 29, 2003

Show notes

This week we'll explore the practice of geophagy, the eating of substances like soil, chalk, and clay as a cultural custom or for dietary or subsistence reasons, with our guest Susan Allport, author of The Primal Feast: Food, Sex, Foraging and Love. Evidence of geophagy has been found at archaeological sites and still occurs in much of the world (including the United States) today. Listen in on a fascinating discussion.

Jane and Michael Stern have completed their dissertation on Philly cheese steak and report their findings. Anya Von Bremsen has returned from France with a recipe for Easy Bouillabaisse, that flavorful Mediterranean fish stew, along with a short list of the best places to eat bouillabaisse in Marseille.

Our gadget gal Dorie Greenspan suggests cooking in steamers for pure, fat-free flavor. She shares a recipe for Spiced Steamed Salmon with Chutney and Chard to get us started. Julia Alvarez, author of A Cafecito Story, tells a fable about how a cup of coffee changed a life, and Lynne takes your phone calls.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

September 7, 2002 (originally aired)
November 29, 2003 (rebroadcast)

Thanksgiving 2003 Nov 22, 2003

Show notes

David Rosengarten, whose new book, It's All American Food, joins us this year for our annual Thanksgiving show. David is a gifted cook who's always looking for great flavors from little work. TheThanksgiving dinner menu he shares with us has an interesting twist and it's all very doable.

The Sterns are eating soul food amidst politicos and locals at Florida Avenue Grill in Washington, DC. Food forager Ari Weinsweig, author of Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating, wants us to set aside that bottle of balsamic and consider other vinegars.

Men's Journal columnist John Hodgeman considers the thorny issue of men and carving. Is it really true "you're not a man until you can carve?" Raghavan Iyer tells the story of a family in Bombay and a father's love in a cup of steamed milk. He leaves us his recipe for Steamed Milk with Pistachio Nuts and Almonds from his book, The Turmeric Trail: Recipes and Memories from an Indian Childhood. David Myers, owner of Redstone Meadery in Boulder, Colorado, has the scoop on mead. Not only is the ancient beverage still around, it's what they're drinking now in the Rocky Mountain state.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

November 22, 2003

Olive Oil: The Sequel Nov 15, 2003

Show notes

This week we'll explore the often-confusing world of olive oil with Deborah Krasner. With extra-virgin oils going for $37 dollars a quart and higher, we want to know what the oil tastes like before shelling out such an outrageous sum. For her new book, The Flavors of Olive Oil: A Tasting Guide and Cookbook, Deborah taste tested 150 different oils. She'll tell us about three oils she keeps in her pantry, then leave us with a "Twelve-Minute Dinner Menu" that highlights these healthy oils.

Jane and Michael Stern discover a sausage known only in Washington, D.C., at Ben's Chili Bowl. David Rosengarten, that guy with the golden palate, talks Spanish hams and shares sources for buying these new imports. Christopher Kimball, editor of Cook's Illustrated magazine, has been taste-testing salts and finds they're not all alike. Winemaker Nan Bailey of Alexis Bailey Vineyards explains the odd process that makes Beaujolais Nouveau unique. And Lynne takes your calls.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

November 2, 2002 (originally aired)
November 15, 2003 (rebroadcast)

The Gourmet Institute Nov 01, 2003

Show notes

This week we’re bringing you a show we recorded live at The Gourmet Institute in New York City. Guests include, Ruth Reichl, editor in chief of Gourmet magazine; Gael Greene, former restaurant critic of New York Magazine; Daniel Boulud, chef/owner, Café Boulud; and the newest television star, Rocco DiSpirito, chef/owner of Union Pacific and Rocco's 22nd Street.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

November 1, 2003

Jamie Oliver, The Naked Chef Oct 25, 2003

Show notes

Rolling Stone magazine calls Jamie Oliver, known by Food Network devotees as The Naked Chef, a "hot foodie." But there's another side to this tousled British charmer that viewers rarely see, and it's related to his new mission in life. Tune in to hear Jamie give us the scoop, then try his outrageous recipe for the World's Best Baked Onions from his new book, Happy Days with the Naked Chef.

Jane and Michael Stern are in Memphis to check out Champion's Pharmacy, a peculiar and amazing mix of herbology, voodoo, and the unusual and unique in medicine. Food writer Sally Schneider returns to talk saffron, and shares some ideas for using this lovely aromatic and pungent spice that's the world's most expensive. A good place to start is Sally's recipe for Warm Citrus and Saffron Oil Vinaigrette. We'll have Cliff's Notes for the wine lover from Jay McInerney, author of Bacchus and Me; and Gourmet magazine restaurant critic Jonathan Gold takes on the Jewish delis controversy—are the best ones in New York or Los Angeles? Then Lynne has trivia about alligator pears, raves about The Elephant Walk Cookbook, shares two recent wine discoveries, and gives us her recipe forSweet Avocado-Green Chili Ice Cream.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

October 26, 2002 (originally aired)
October 25, 2003 (rebroadcast)

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