Seasoned

We’ve all seen the headlines: More than 600 Connecticut restaurants have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March. This week on Seasoned: A conversation with David Lehman, the state’s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and Scott Dolch, the head of the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA). Plus, we check in with chefs and restaurant owners througho...

Happy New Year! It’s the time of year—after the indulgences of the holidays—when a lot of people try to eat healthier and drink less. This week, we’re exploring options for those of you participating in Dry January. . .but truth be told, these drinks are delicious all year long. These are drinks for anytime and for anyone who doesn’t drink, or who wants to take a brea...

We’re revisiting an episode that originally aired as we were inching ever closer to the holidays. It occurred to us that while many of you are enjoying some much needed time off this week, you may be using some of that time to bake. We encourage that! This episode is loaded with tips bakers can use any time . “Pie Whisperer” Kate McDermott shares the tips and tricks you need to b...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. . .but celebrating the holidays in 2020 will feel different. This week on Seasoned: How does food keep us emotionally connected, even when we have to be socially distanced? We’ll share some of our own family traditions around food, including recipes for a gorgeous oven-roasted salmon and a sweet, eggless coquito . We also talk to local chef Dan...

Need a little comfort right now? We’re spending the hour with perhaps the most famous home cook in America, Ina Garten . Ina talks with us about her new cookbook, Modern Comfort Food and shares her recipes for Ultimate Beef Stew , Tuscan Turkey Roulade , and Chocolate-Dipped Brown Sugar Shortbread . Think: Milano cookies, but better! Plus, we talk to Ina about her long career on The Food Net...

Sam Zien, who is known as Sam the Cooking Guy , is not a trained chef, and he took a nontraditional path to cooking stardom. Today, millions of people watch his YouTube cooking series , and he’s the author of four cookbooks. This week on Seasoned, a conversation with one of the most approachable home cooks in America. Sam the Cooking Guy is with us to talk about his humble start making cooki...

The flour is flyin’ and the oven is a hot 500 degrees! This week on Seasoned, tips for making pizza from scratch at home. Don’t you want to know how to get those yummy bubbles on the crust? And, a conversation with pizza historian Colin Caplan about his new project, Pizza, A Love Story , the indie film taking a deep dive into the history and the families behind the three pizza shops th...

Small Thanksgiving dinners mean lots of tasty leftovers. Need some ideas for what to do with them all? This week on Seasoned, Chef Plum shares some favorite ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers: empanadas, turkey and dumplings, and a riff on a pasta alfredo. And we get a glimpse into the life of Connecticut turkey farmer Rick Hermonot and his curious birds. We also talk to soul food chef Craig Wright,...

How do I know when the turkey is done? To stuff or not to stuff? How do I make silky smooth gravy? It’s that time again! Chef Brian Kaywork, instructor at The Culinary Institute of America joins Marysol Castro and Chef Plum for a live listener call-in show Thursday, Nov. 19. At The CIA, Brian teaches a class devoted to American cuisine, so we’ve got you covered this holiday. What's mor...

We’re mixin’ it up with some serious bakers this week on Seasoned! “Pie Whisperer” Kate McDermott shares the tips and tricks you need to bake any pie this holiday, as well as how to use all your senses to bake great pies. Yes, bubbling fruit does make a sound you’ll learn to recognize. And, we highlight two new local bakeries you may not have heard of yet . Le B&aacut...

The holidays are coming, and even though you might be planning much smaller gatherings, there’s still plenty of cooking to do. We know you want to make this year’s meal special. This week on Seasoned: Turkey Tips! For some of you, it’s been a whole year since you roasted a turkey; we’ll help you get back in the groove—starting with where to get your bird. We also talk...

There’s a chill in the air, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to put the grill away. Thursday at 3:00 PM, we’re talking LIVE to barbecue expert Myron Mixon about cold-weather barbecue. This is your chance to ask the “winningest man in barbecue” questions about how to keep your grill game strong—all year long. Plus, we want to know where your favorite BBQ spo...

If you close your eyes and imagine a farm in Connecticut, you’re likely seeing a red barn, stalks of corn, bushels of greens, berries, and fruit frees. This week on Seasoned: Imagine a different kind of farming. Instead of rich, earthy dirt, think: salty sea air. We talk to Will Ceddia, co-owner of Sixpenny Oyster Farm in Noank and Suzie Flores, co-owner of Stonington Kelp Company about what...

If you’re anything like us, the first thing you do in the morning is make a cup of coffee. Whether you consider it a luxury or a necessity—or both!—we’re taking a deep dive on coffee this week. We’ll explore everyone’s favorite morning ritual with the help of a few coffee nerds, including René Martinez of J. René Coffee Roasters, Kaitlyn O’Ke...

Long before chef Maneet Chauhan was a fixture on Food Network’s Chopped , she was riding the railways of India, visiting her grandparents, stopping along the way to eat and appreciate the regional foods of India. Chaat, a type of street food, are the iconic snacks of India. This week on Seasoned, a conversation with the woman chef José Andres calls “the culinary ambassador from...

The flour is flyin’ and the oven is a hot 500 degrees! This week on Seasoned, tips for making pizza from scratch at home. Don’t you want to know how to get those yummy bubbles on the crust? And, a conversation with pizza historian Colin Caplan about his new project, Pizza, A Love Story , the indie film taking a deep dive into the history and the families behind the three pizza shops th...

Where is your favorite local apple orchard? Who makes the best apple cider donuts? Should a tart apple like the Sierra Beauty star in your pie—or should you go for a sweet variety, like Golden Delicious, Jazz or Jonagold? If you’ve got a question about apples, or you just want to shout-out your favorite pick-your-own farm, or apple-studded donuts, join the conversation. Amy Traverso, a...

If you close your eyes and imagine a farm in Connecticut, you’re likely seeing a red barn, stalks of corn, bushels of greens, berries, and fruit frees. This week on Seasoned: Imagine a different kind of farming. Instead of rich, earthy dirt, think: salty sea air. We talk to Will Ceddia, co-owner of Sixpenny Oyster Farm in Noank and Suzie Flores, co-owner of Stonington Kelp Company about what...

Tune in for a very special conversation with the cooks at Bloodroot, a restaurant in Bridgeport run by two feminists that have been serving vegetarian meals for more than 40 years. We’re also checking in with chefs from some of our favorite spots in Waterbury, New Haven, and Seymour to see how they’re doing at this phase of the pandemic. Plus, cookbook author and food writer Melissa Cl...

We’re calling on the pros for advice on the midday meal. This week on Seasoned, we get tips from Diane Morrisey, a mom of six, about making school lunches kids actually want to eat.  We also brainstorm how to make lunchtime stress-free for busy parents whose home office may or may not be the kitchen table. Chef Plum checks in with Dan Giusti, the chef transforming lunches in New London...

This week on Seasoned: We’re live and taking your calls. Food Network superstar Chef Michele Ragussis helps Marysol Castro and Chef Plum answer your summer cooking questions, including what to do with the more unusual vegetables at the market or in your CSA box. Plus, ideas for cooking chicken of the woods mushrooms, grilling tips, and recommendations for soaking beans.  Support the sho...

How have Connecticut’s farms been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? Marysol Castro tours Fairgate Farm, an urban volunteer-powered farm in Stamford. And, Chef Plum introduces you to local farmer, Farah Masani. Farah cultivates anywhere from one to seven acres of other people’s land—growing food for herself, restaurants, and the community. Interested in visiting some Connecticut...

It’s rosé season! $10 wines are likely getting you through the dog days of summer. Connecticut sommelier and self-described “Cork Dork” G. Patel shares the rosés you’ll want to drink right now. Plus, John deBary, irreverent author of Drink What You Want , shares a few classic cocktail recipes and describes his work with The Restaurant Workers’ Community...

Welcome to Seasoned! Marysol Castro and Chef Plum talk to Connecticut chefs about ways they’ve adapted their businesses to meet the challenges of feeding people during a pandemic. And, we’ll say goodbye to a beloved mission-driven restaurant in Hartford that closed its doors permanently due to the virus. What’s next for Cary Wheaton, the tireless creator of Firebox? Finally, Step...

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