A Taste of the Past

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda explores the culinary history and traditions of Israel, both old and new, with Janna Gur. Janna Gur is the author of “The Book of New Israeli Food” and founder and editor of Tel Aviv’s top food and wine magazine. Learn what makes Isreali breakfast unique, why Friday dinner is mandatory and why Isreali coffee is so good. This episode was sponsored by Fairway...

Linda Pelaccio gets ready for summer as she explores the history of ice cream with noted journalist and author Laura Weiss on A Taste of the Past. Laura traces the history of ice cream, from it’s icy and innovative roots to its worldwide popularity today. Learn about ice houses, the big business of ice cream and it’s many variations across the globe. Laura’s latest book is Ice Cream: A Global Hist...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda is joined by salt expert and author of “Salted: A Manifesto on the World’s Most Essential Mineral”, Mark Bitterman. Tune in to learn more about salt, the mineral that is essential for animal life and elemental in our diets. Hear more about the history of salt from salt mining to iodization and find out how certain salts get such incredible color. This episod...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda invites filmmaker David Gelb and editor Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer to talk about their new film, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”. Currently playing at the Tribeca Film Festival, this documentary follows master sushi chef Jiro Ono on his quest for sushi perfection. Jiro shares his idea of the five basic attributes to being a good chef and the constant strive for impr...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda invites food historian and noted author Andy Smith to the program to explore and dissect the history of the most popular tuber and a staple of most diets – the potato. Did you know there are over 200 varieties of potatoes? Find out more about the history evolution of the potato on this especially informative episode of A Taste of the Past. This episode was s...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda explores the decadent feasts behind royal weddings. Joined by food historian and period cookery instructor Ivan Day, she predicts what might been seen on the plates of guests at Prince William’s wedding and reveals the history behind wedding cakes, decorative dishes & marriage ceremonies. Sponsored by Fairway Market – like no other market. ![](http://bro...

Join Linda Pelaccio as she celebrates the 125th anniversary of one of the most recognizable brands and products in the world – Coca-Cola. She is joined by Coca-Cola Company archivist Jamal Booker who takes us on a tour of the heritage of America’s most popular soft drink. Find out how the drink started, why it’s recipe is so guarded and secretive and why consistency is the most important element o...

Award winning cookbook author, documentarian and TV personality Joan Nathan is Linda Pelaccio’s guest on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past. Joan talks about her latest book “Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France”, and traces the history of Jewish cuisine as it’s traveled across the globe. Learn more about how food traditions are gained, lost and kept through...

Linda Pelaccio explores America’s Vanished Foods on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past with Andrew Beahrs, author of Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens. Tune in to hear about some of the original “heritage” foods of America including raccoon, oysters and terrapin soup. Learn about the food history and culture that can be drawn from the writ...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda is joined by Deborah Madison, “The Julia Child of Vegetarian Cooking”. Linda & Deborah dispel some of the stigmas and misconceptions surrounding vegetarian diets and explore ways to overcome the idea of a “centerless plate”. Tune in to learn about the Meatless Mondays initiative and find out which cultures are best with vegetarian dishes! This episode wa...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio welcomes author, culinary historian, journalist and African American foodways expert Jessica B. Harris to the show. Jessica discusses some of the history included in her latest book “High on the Hog”. Tune in to find out where the title came from and how it relates to the culinary journey from Africa to America. Learn more about the integral role sl...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda explores the roots and current state of American Cooking with cookbook author and former NY Times columnist Molly O’Neill. Molly talks about our culinary and recipe traditions in the United States and explores the intertwined worlds of food and class structure. Tune in and find out why, in the end, we are just One Big Table. This episode was sponsored by Who...

To celebrate President’s Day, Linda invites author and former visiting White House Chef Jack Hanny to the studio to talk about his latest book, “Secrets from the White House Kitchens”. Jack goes into the history of cuisine at the Oval Office, chronicling everything from JFK’s favorite clam chowder, to FDR’s nightmares with former chef Henrietta Nesbit. Learn more about the tastes of presidents pas...

Valentine’s Day may have been intended to celebrate love, but we all know what’s really on our mind around this time – chocolate! Tune into A Taste of the Past to learn more about one of the most commonly appreciated and seriously misunderstood treats. Learn about the history of the “the food of the gods” from chocolate expert Alexandra Leaf and find out why “real” chocolate might not be what you...

This week on A Taste of The Past, Linda explores the gastronomic history and traditions of the Chinese New Year with culinary instructor and author of RedCook.net , Kho Kian Lam. They discuss the symbolism behind food items such as fish and dumplings, explore the differences between northern and southern Chinese cuisine and unveil some preparation methods for sticky cake. This episode was sponsore...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda is joined by Moroccan born author and cooking instructor, Kitty Morse. Kitty’s latest book, “A Biblical Feast: Ancient Mediterranean Flavors for Today’s Table”, is as much a history book as it is a cookbook. Tune in and learn more about how and what people ate in Biblical times, the origins of fish sauce, and what makes real Ezekiel bread. This episode was s...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda explores the history of the modern kitchen. Joined by food journalist and culinary historian Meryle Evans, Linda tells the story of the kitchen from its basement beginnings to its growth into a “perfect work triangle”. Tune in and hear the stories behind some of the most commonly used and overlooked kitchen tools such as Tupperware, Chemex & ice cream sc...

This week’s discussion on A Taste of the Past focuses on curry, one of the most widley used – and misused – terms in the culinary lexicon. Joining Linda is Colleen Taylor Sen, a food historian and journalist specializing in the cuisine of India. Linda and Colleen trace the history of curry, from the East India Trading Company to British fast food chains. Tune in and learn what should and shouldn’t...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda is joined by trained sushi chef, restaurant consultant, cooking instructor, and cookbook author Hiroko Shimbo. Linda and Hiroko discuss the tradition of “good luck round food” for the new year along with the ceremonious pounding of the mochi. Tune in and learn more about Japanese cuisine and its role in Western culture. Also find out whether or not lobster s...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda welcomes historian, master mixologist and author David Wondrich back to the show. David’s latest book, “Punch: The Delights and Dangers of the Flowing Bowl”, explores all things related to punch; from its cloudy origins to its varied techinques and variates. David and Linda discuss the book and taste a two-year aged Norfolk Milk Punch on-air. Tune in to lear...

Explore the history of Malaysian food this week on A Taste of the Past with Linda Pelaccio. Linda is joined by guest Susheela Raghavan, author of Flavors of Malaysia: A Journey Through Time, Tastes, and Traditions. Susheela discusses the history of Malaysia and how food ties into the everyday life of the Malaysians. Tune in and find out why not all Malaysian food is hot and spicy, and why the vend...

This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda is joined by author and wok master Grace Young. Her latest book is Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge, a book that explores everything from the origins and health benefits of stir-frying to the technique’s great economy of time and fuel. Linda and Grace discuss the history of both stir-frying and the wok, and how American culture has reshaped how we see both. Tun...

Celebrate Hanukkah on a special episode of A Taste of the Past! Linda is joined by Rabbi, historian and author Gil Marks, author of The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. Gil gives a brief history of Hanukkah and explains how it came to become a prominent and celebrated holiday in modern times. He also takes us on a historical tour of some traditional dishes such as latkes and matzoh. Tune in for some t...

This week on A Taste of the Past Linda sits down with multiple James Beard award winner and author of over a dozen cookbooks Rozanne Gold. They discussed Rozanne’s new book “Radically Simple”, a cookbook that focuses on clean, neat, healthy, and simple recipes, some of them approaching revolutionary in their simple treatment of some classic dishes. Tune in to learn how to make a perfect roast chic...

This week on A Taste of the Past Linda tackles Thanksgiving, and journeys back to discover some of the original recipes used when the Plymouth Crew and the locals got together to celebrate the harvest. Joining Linda on this trip through the past is Sarah Lohman, an artist, author, and “historic gastronomist”: one who re-creates recipes from days of yore exactly as they were, essentially engaging i...