Cooking By Heart with Chris Sarandon

In this episode, comedian, author and social commentator Greg Proops, whom you may know from “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” leads us through his family’s moves from the Southwest to California, with colorful stories of his mother’s brilliant & eclectic cooking, and preteen trips to the race track with his gambler father (yes, Greg placed bets!). He also regales us with his improv troupe’s adventur...

In this episode, actor (LA Law)/writer Michael Tucker discusses his path to becoming a gourmet cook, from childhood grilled cheese creations to cooking and eating out with Julia Child. His brilliance as a raconteur blooms as he relates stories of a childhood bacchanalian crab feast, then, as a teen, eating the greatest brisket sandwich (with jewelry in his pockets), and, much later in life, cookin...

In this episode, Ken Page (voice of The Nightmare Before Christmas’s Oogie Boogie) speaks of the culinary influence of multiple generations of his family and of the passing down of loving cooking traditions (and utensils), while telling of famous guests who appear at his holiday recreations of those early meals. He also relates the story of his 9-year-old disastrous encounter with a cake and his e...

In this part 1 of 2 episode, Lovin' Spoonful co-founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Sebastian remembers a fascinating childhood around the dinner table with his artistic parents and their famous friends, and his joyous, youthful culinary awakenings in Italy. He also reminisces about his days as a Rock and Roll singer/songwriter, making movie music for Francis Ford Coppola and Woody...

In this part 2 of 2 episode, Lovin' Spoonful co-founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Sebastian remembers a fascinating childhood around the dinner table with his artistic parents and their famous friends, and his joyous, youthful culinary awakenings in Italy. He also reminisces about his days as a Rock and Roll singer/songwriter, making movie music for Francis Ford Coppola and Woody...

In this family Thanksgiving episode, Chris interviews his three grown children: they reminisce about growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley and traveling to California to visit their father, as well as being young “sous-chefs” when their parents cooked, and their working in restaurants from their teen years into adulthood. They also tell of their occasional behind the scenes, eye-popping restauran...

In this episode, William Ragsdale takes us back to 1840 and his great, great, great grandfather’s founding of the Ragsdale hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas. He then brings us to his childhood and his close-knit family’s culinary habits, including his mother’s simple but nutritious home-cooked meals. He also describes childhood outings to luscious southern church dinners, and his transition, at 9 ye...

In this episode, Amanda Bearse describes her upbringing in a satellite town of Orlando, Florida, with trips to the mountains and a family farm in Northern Georgia. All American, nourishing food was plentiful at home, while a garden furnished much of the fare on trips to the Georgia farm. Bearse also talks about her earlier coming out to her religious mother, Bearse’s subsequent public reveal as a...

In this episode, Jonathan Stark reveals details of his upbringing in Erie, PA, where his plain family fare was punctuated by elaborate Thanksgiving dinners and desserts. He goes on to discuss his unexpected entry into the world of improv in The Groundlings and other groups, which, interestingly, led to his being cast in the cult classic, “Fright Night.” A fortuitous spec script began his illustrio...

In this episode, Cary Elwes describes the sad state of food in the U.K. when he was a boy, and his culinary awakening when he spent time with his father in Spain, with side travels to Morocco. He also vividly recounts the many food adventures during the making of “The Princess Bride” and his one of a kind dining experiences with Andre the Giant. Elwes then chronicles his current tastes and rituals...

In this episode, Tom Holland recounts his growing up in a house where food was simply fuel, and it's preparation secondary to his parents' and his work in their clothing stores. His journey then took him to New York as an TV actor, then to Hollywood, where he first struggled and ultimately succeeded as a screenwriter and director. Don't forget to follow all of the social media! @Sarandon_Chris on...

In this episode, Michael Patrick King discusses his growing up in Scranton, PA with bland food and blander expectations for success. His hilarious recounting of his journey to New York, where he worked for many years as baggage handler and waiter while writing and performing in his spare time, culminated in a discovery of a world of food and, ultimately, a Emmy winning career as a writer. Don't fo...

In this live audience episode, Adriana Trigiani tells of her growing up with a large Italian family with Italian food at its center. This wonderfully comic raconteur recounts lessons taught by her grandmothers, father, and mother as she learned about food and life, their influences deeply enriching her multifaceted career as a writer and director. Don't forget to follow on social media, visit yout...

Don't forget to follow all of the social media!   @Sarandon_Chris on Twitter  @TheOfficialChrisSarandon on Instagram  Chris Sarandon on Facebook   www.chrissarandon.com  linktr.ee/theofficialchrissarandon Subscribe on Youtube at https://youtube.com/shorts/-vGUyj0TK-Q