Cooking By Heart with Chris Sarandon

In this episode, Federal Judge Goodwin offers up memories of a small-town childhood, his mother's cinnamon rolls, and a kitchen helper's amazing homemade bread. He also talks about his serendipitous entry into the law,  and being mentored by the legendary Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (with great stories from Byrd about Richard Nixon). Food and politics are a potent combination in...

In this episode Rick Nielsen, co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Cheap Trick tells of his working parents and growing up eating almost exclusively in restaurants, and flying with his parents to 48 states while sampling local food. He also tells of his early days as a touring musician, and discovering Japanese food while being lionized in that country. A u...

In this episode, veteran child and character actor Clint Howard talks about his normal, happy childhood growing up in an acting family, his mother's fondness for serving canned vegetables, and acting with a PB&J sandwich at the age of 2 on the Andy Griffith Show. And he relates that both his and his bother Ron's earnings were saved for their future by their parents, who never spent on...

In this episode, Food Channel Star, Chef, and Author Carla Hall talks about her parent's cooking, her grandmother's Sunday divine skillet cornbread, and her family's weekly haul of that day's leftovers. She also relates her journey from accountant, to model, to caterer, to chef, to her current status as cookbook author, Food Channel Chef, and host of her upcoming MAX TV series. A l...

In this episode, actor/director/producer LeVar Burton talks about his army family's time in Germany, his mother's cooking, and his grandmother's farm fresh food juxtaposed with the 'horrendous' food at the seminary where he studied. He also relates how his travels to Asia and Africa spurred marvelous food discoveries. A stimulating and humorous conversation with this multi-tale...

In this episode of  'Cooking By Heart,' long-time show business actress/producer Lucie Arnaz talks about growing up with famous working parents, having meals made by the family’s help and by her grandmother, followed by weekends with father Desi’s improvisational Cuban cooking and her mother Lucy’s basic All-American, health-conscious cuisine, fun family picnics, and dining out at exotic L...

In this episode, the inimitable Tony Todd talks about his being raised in Hartford, CT by his extraordinary Aunt Clara, whom he watched cook with both Jamaican and South Carolinian influences. He remembers watching and discussing classic films with her after dinner and loved the city's fish sandwiches and Italian grinders. He talks about discovering Shakespeare at 13, the great teacher who set...

Join the inimitable Melissa Gilbert and me as we discuss her unusual childhood food experiences, her growing up on television, and her becoming a hardworking Hollywood icon. She’s a brilliant life force who now facilitates empowering ‘evolving’ women. @OfficialModernPrarie @MelissaGilbertOfficial Don't forget to follow all of the social media!   @Sarandon_Chris on Twitter  @TheOfficialChrisSar...

In this episode, “High Cuisine” creator & Michelin-trained Chef Noah Tucker talks about growing up in NYC in a mixed Jewish/African-American Family, resulting in some unique and hilarious growing-up food stories. Now a successful restaurateur in Amsterdam, he contrasts the every day “drugs” we all consume, such as caffeine and sugar, with his current passion for cooking conventional haute cuis...

In this episode, Kelli O’Hara, whom the NY Times calls Broadway’s undisputed queen, remembers her teacher mom making comfort food for a busy farming family, her mom’s loving attitude at Kelli’s being a chubby kid, and helping mom make exciting tailgate meals during harvest time. Kelli also talks about school classmates fighting over attendance at her grandma’s copious homemade lunches, prepping di...

In this episode of Cooking By Heart, the prolific and critically acclaimed Director Mike Flanagan talks about growing up in a military family, his childhood aversions to food and his mother’s efforts to circumvent them, his discovery of sushi, his youthful stabs at filmmaking, his discovery of his life‘s work as a Director, staging food scenes in his movies, and his unique, very personal approach...

In this episode Diane English, multiple Writers Guild Award and Emmy Award winner and creator of numerous half hour comedy shows including ‘Murphy Brown,’ talks about growing up in a mixed Italian-English family, fish Fridays, traditional Italian Christmases and English Easters, and the family’s English master bakers. She remembers discovering Jewish food with her best friend, and, later, her dete...

In this episode, Oscar winner and social activist Susan Sarandon talks about chaos at meals with & younger siblings, countless tuna casseroles, spam, and pasta from an overwhelmed mother who grew up in foster care, her father's Thanksgiving cooking, and "running away from home" at 7 yrs old (and no one noticed!). Susan & and Chris reminisce about their potluck BY wedding, the...

In this episode, actor/performer/writer/Sirius XM host and Unofficial Broadway encyclopedia Seth Rudetsky talks about his mom’s TV dinners and Jewish/Israeli specialties, his father’s barbequing, his sister’s vegan cooking, heated story competitions at the dinner table, and his family’s outdoor camping/cooking. He reveals growing up gay and overweight, and navigating the dichotomy of being bullied...

In this season 1 finale episode PBS TV chef/restaurateur/author Lidia Bastianich reminisces about her idyllic hometown, her Italian family being forced to flee a new Slavic Communist government, 2 years in a refugee camp, and immigration to America. Settling in Queens, NY, as she grows from a Queens restaurant owner to a culinary star by being true to the flavors of her youthful homeland. A wise,...

In this episode, up-and-coming chef and finalist on Gordon Ramsey's 'Next Level Chef' talks about his Italian-American family's standard dishes growing up, his youthful forays into special popcorn recipes, and his pop tart fetish. He also discusses his early college start in catering, experiments into more exotic food, and his first real cooking job in a pub. Then culinary school,...

In this episode cardiologist, nutritionist, and primary care doctor, Sara Seidelmann talks about becoming a young vegetarian and nursing her terminally ill mother. College is followed by multiple graduate degrees in biology and nutrition, then raising 4 children while in medical school, and clinging to her femininity while a resident in macho cardiology. With her empathic approach & specialty...

In this episode, my conversation with the inimitable Mario Cantone delves into his unique Italian-American family and their food, his love of baking at an early age, and his first teenage comic impression of Julia Child. He also talks about his early career path and how he ultimately became a Broadway and TV star, while ruminating as well on his deep and abiding love of classic Hollywood movies. A...

In this episode, Alex Vincent discusses growing up Italian American, and vividly recalls many big family Sunday gatherings highlighted by delicious pasta sauce with pork and sausages, and…his discovery of sushi at age 6! He relates his fascination with acting from an early age, and the thrill of being cast as Andy Barkley in the original “Child’s Play.” We also talk about how he has felt the fasci...

In this episode, multi-Grammy and CMA Award winner Kathy Mattea shares memories of growing up in West Virginia with Italian and American food, eating fresh garden veggies, big family Christmas gatherings, and bonding with her Italian father over his favorite snack. Moving to Nashville was pivotal, plus being “discovered” there 5 years later and a career ascent. She also relates seeing her musical...

In this episode, Michael Rosenbaum recalls his small-town upbringing in Long Island and Indiana, his mother’s eccentric,  somewhat unhealthy, and improvisational meal combinations, as well as his fast food forays. He also recalls the plentiful choices at his grandmother’s table, and ultimately learned to expand his culinary horizons after moving to New York and Los Angeles. In addition, Micha...

In this episode, Emmy-winner and Oscar-nominated Carol Kane talks about her parents’ love of cooking and her childhood food fetish, living for a year in Paris as a young girl devouring chocolate croissants, and relates her Parisian dining preferences as an adult. She adds stories about her immersion in children’s theater, and her teenage culinary tastes while going to professional children’s schoo...

In this special Valentine’s Day episode, Chris’s Valentine, the multi-talented actress/writer/director Joanna Gleason, chats about her childhood food strike, and her culinary awakening when her family moved from Canada to the U.S., especially the thrilling assault on her senses when discovering Mexican food and culture after moving to LA.  She also talks about her adult transition to French cuisin...

In this episode, Tony and Emmy Award winner Hal Linden tells fascinating and often hilarious stories of his immigrant family's background, his growing up in the Bronx, his mother’s kosher cooking, being a teen bandleader/musician in the Catskills just after WWII, and, with the death of the big band era, how he became an actor and singer. Splendid stories that ultimately lead to his illustrious car...

In this episode, legendary chef, TV cooking show host, and author Jacques Pepin relates stories of his childhood meals and adventures in wartime France, his mother's post-war opening of multiple restaurants, and his father's winemaking. He also tells of his apprenticeship at 13 years old, his ultimate work in famous Paris kitchens, and as a chef to President Charles de Gaulle, after which he embar...