The Connected Table Live

Chef Rick Bayless has brought authentic Mexican cooking to America through his Chicago restaurants (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, Xoco, Leña Brava), 9 cookbooks, TV shows and specialty foods. Recipient of the 2016 Julia Child Award, Rick discusses his Frontera Farmer Foundation and scholarship program. Todd Schulkin, Executive Director of The Julia Child Foundation, shares the nonprofit's mission t...

Pearls of caviar are prized by culinary connoisseurs. John Knierim, Vice President for Italy's Calvisius Caviar, explains different types of caviar, sourcing and production, sustainable best practices and how to purchase the real deal versus a mislabeled caviar knockoff. Honored as a Wine Enthusiast 2016 "40 Under 40" to watch, New York sommelier and para athlete, Yannick Benjamin, co-founded Whee...

Made in Barbados, Mount Gay, est. 1703, is the world's oldest rum. Mount Gay Master Blender Allen Smith explains the British style of rum and, specifically, the Mount Gay style which includes a new series offering both copper pot and copper column distilled rums. Iowa native and ninth generation farmer and fermenter, Jeff Quint, founded Cedar Ridge Distillery to utilize the state's abundant corn c...

Chef David Waltuck and wife Karen oversaw New York Times Four Star Chanterelle restaurant which served his special style of nouvelle cuisine for 30 years. As Director of Culinary Programs at Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) David now focuses on teaching, mentoring and curriculum development. Food writer, stylist and recipe developer, Adeena Sussman, has collaborated with the likes of Model Ch...

Denmark's Claus Meyer has been called The Founder of New Nordic Cuisine Movement as shown through his TV shows, cookbooks and world renowned restaurant, noma. He's made a presence in New York with Agern restaurant, Great Northern Food Hall, Meyer's Begeri and a social initiative with his Melting Pot Foundation. Italy's Dominga Cotarella discusses her family's Falesco Winery, founded in 1979 by her...

Founder of Nirmala's Kitchen, Nirmala Narine travels the world in search of spices which she sells to top chefs and retailers. Nirmala learned to cook with spices in her native Guyana as a young girl. She is host of the TV show, "Nirmala's Spice World," is author of several cookbooks and runs a farm. Chocolatier Michael Klug oversees creative development for L.A. Burdick handmade chocolates, est.1...

Nancy Harmon Jenkins is a prolific writer and speaker on global foodways. She is an expert on olive oil and Mediterranean cooking and author of numerous books on these subjects. Daughter Sara Jenkins is chef/owner of Porchetta and Porsena in New York City. The duo co-authored "The Four Seasons of Pasta." Each is working on a food project in native Maine. Wine Educator Karen MacNeil is author of be...

Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Wine School caps a 40 year run in 2016. His bestselling Windows on the World Wine Course book is in its 31st printing. Kevin shares his views on how the wine world has changed, why women have better palates, and the next wine region he wants to visit. The Cakebread family has been making exceptional wines in Napa Valley for over 40 years. Bruce Cakebread discusse...

Two authors with delicious books! Wine marketing maven Lisa Mattson produces an award winning blog for Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma. But it's in her book, The Exes in My Glass: How I Refined My Taste in Men & Alcohol, where she uncorks her own story and life lessons that read like Love, Loss and What I Drank. In Jessica Tom's first book, Food Whore: A Novel of Dining & Deceit, a young aspiri...

Bill Yosses served as White House Executive Pastry Chef for seven years (Bush and Obama administrations). His foundation, Kitchen Garden Laboratory, teaches food literacy to young people through STEM: Science + Technology + Math Education. Bill is also chef/owner of Perfect Pie artisanal pie making company. Writer Alex Prud'homme shares memories about his great aunt, Julia Child. He is author of "...

Best selling cookbook author, food editor and digital content maven, Tanya Steel was behind the successful launch of the award winning digital lifestyle food brand, Epicurious, as its Editorial Director. She is now Editorial Director for Clean Plates, a food and wellness digital content brand. Tanya worked with First Lady Michelle Obama to create The Healthy Lunchtime Kids Challenge & Kids State D...

Bordeaux vintners Sylvie Courselle, Château Thieuley, and Adrien-David Beaulieu, Château Coutet, represent a new generation of winemakers who are bringing innovations and techniques to address sustainability and produce more affordable, approachable wines. Ann Tuennerman, Founder, Tales of the Cocktail, discusses top trends and topics from this year's event, how her nonprofit supports education, p...

Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase, oversees family run Dooky Chase's Restaurant in New Orleans' Treme neighborhood. Est. 1941, Dooky Chase's was the first integrated restaurant in the USA and has been a gathering place for political and civil rights leaders, artists and loyal locals and food lovers for 70 years. At 93, Leah stays active in her kitchen and vocal about tolerance and acceptance. El...

Abigail Dierdre Gullo, Bar Chef at New Orleans dining hot spot Compère Lapín, says her theatrical training taught her to listen to customers and interpret their body language to provide the right cocktail, served with her special flair. Ralph Erenzo, co-founder of Tuthilltown Spirits, turned an old grain mill in the Hudson Valley town of Gardiner into one of the first craft distilleries to open in...

Chef Norman Van Aken has been called The Founding Father of New World Cuisine. His singular style of cooking launched the fusion food movement and put Florida on the map as a culinary epicenter. Author of 6 cookbooks including "My Key West Kitchen" (with son Justin), the newest, "My Florida Kitchen" (with wife Janet), and a memoir, "No Experience Necessary," he oversees Norman's at the Ritz-Carlto...

Every minute 18 bottles of Sandeman Port are sold somewhere in the world. George Sandeman, 7th generation member of the House of Sandeman (est. 1790), discusses the differences between port and other fortified wines, styles of tawny, ruby and blends and the history of Sandeman's iconic caped mascot, The Don. Food writer and culinary expert Bonnie Tandy Leblang, whose popular blog, BiteoftheBest.co...

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, TN, on 4200 acres of tranquility lies Blackberry Farm. Owned by the Beall family since 1976, this Relais Chateaux luxury inn has award winning wine service and restaurants. Executive Chef Cassidee Dabney discusses Blackberry's signature Foothills Cuisine and gardens which supply many of her dishes. Sommelier and Food & Beverage Dire...

Since 1997 Jimmy Yeager has run Jimmy's, an American Restaurant & Bar, a dining hot spot in Aspen, CO, with one of the top wine and cocktail programs in the USA, including over 100 selections of mezcal and tequila. His second spot, Jimmy's Bodega, serves coastal cuisine. Aspen lifestyle expert Janet O'Grady started Aspen Magazine with her husband in 1987. She now writes about travel and dining on...

When Chef David Pasternack is not in the kitchen at Esca, his seafood mecca in New York City, he's on a boat. Fishing is Dave's passion. Cooking fish to perfection is his talent, earning him numerous accolades. Dave discusses how to purchase and prepare fish by the season and how to season and cook fish with a light touch. Advertising exec and standup comedian turned professionally trained chef, R...

Ellie Krieger, R.D., is Host and Producer of "Ellie's Real Good Food" (Public Television) and author of 6 books including most recent "You Have it Made: Delicious, Healthy Do-Ahead Meals." Ellie worked with First Lady Michelle Obama on the forefront of the "Let's Move" campaign. Bérénice Lurton oversees Bordeaux estate Château Climens in the tiny appellation of Barsac. Her exceptional Premier Cru...

The D.O P. (protected denominacion de origin) Cariñena was the second wine region in Spain to gain D.O. status in 1932. Located in the region of Aragon west of the historic city of Zaragoza, Cariñena is known for its 100-year-old vines and distinctive Garnacha and Cariñena varietals. Vintner Pedro Garcia of Bodegas San Valero discusses Cariñena's terroir and production. Sommelier Martin Beally of...

Harlem dining is happening thanks to its committed culinary community and festivals like Harlem Eat Up. Melba Wilson is owner of Melba's Restaurant and author of "Melba's American Comfort." Melba worked for her famous Aunt Sylvia Woods (Sylvia's Restaurant) where she introduced the restaurant's famous gospel brunch. Puerto Rico native and animal lover, Chef Carmen Gonzalez, brings her flair for bl...

Barossa Valley's Ian Hongell is Chief Winemaker at Peter Lehmann Wines, one of the region's - and Australia's- legendary wineries. Namesake Peter Lehmann was a fifth generation Barossa native who was originally both a winemaker and buyer of grapes for another vintner. After that winery sold and decided to halt production, Peter established his winery in 1979. Over time he earned the moniker "Baron...

Mexico native, Pati Jinich, host of PBS-TV's "Pati's Mexican Table," and author of "Mexican Today," discusses the global influences on Mexican cuisine such as flavors from Africa, the Mediterranean and Asia brought by generations of immigrants. "Forbes Magazine" called Bertha Gonzales Nieves The First Lady of Tequila. Mexico's first Maestra Tequila, Bertha is co-founder of Casa Dragones, a super p...

Master Distiller Dave Pickerell made his mark for 14 years at Maker's Mark in Kentucky. Now this in-demand consultant focuses on craft distilling, notably at Hillrock Distillery, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey and George Washington's Mt. Vernon Distillery. While Portugal is renowned for its outstanding port wines it also produces some impressive still wines. Sixth generation vintner Joao Ferreira Alvares...