The Connected Table Live

Visiting The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida, Melanie & David chat with Nick Velardo, VP of Food & Beverage, who oversees the resort's nine restaurants. Founded in 1896 by Henry Flager and overseen by his heirs, The Breakers is a beloved historic architectural landmark. Stanislas Thierry, VP of Sales & Marketing for Vranken-Pommery America, shares the legacy of Louise Pommery who is credited for crea...

François Robin has the prestigious designation "Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best French Craftsman). He is a cheesemonger who travels the world to educate and lecture on cheeses from France. François discusses the "terroir" of different cheeses and how to serve. Specialty foods are a $127 billion industry. Chris Crocker, SVP for the Specialty Food Association, discusses the Summer Fancy Fo...

Food Writer & Cookbook Author Nancie McDermott explores southern fruits, from blackberries and strawberries to mayhaws and pawpaws in FRUIT: A Savor the South Cookbook (Univ. of North Carolina Press). Family-run grocery store chain, Stew Leonard's, is a pioneer in creating experiential shopping experiences for its customers. President & CEO Stew Leonard Jr. discusses the history and guiding princi...

After experiencing heart failure twice, Chef Jean-Christian Jury changed his diet. He opened a vegan restaurant in Berlin, and now travels the world to teach vegan cooking. His "Vegan The Cookbook" (Phaidon), has more than 150 globally inspired plant-based recipes. Denise Shurtleff, Winemaker for Cambria Estate Winery in Santa Barbara County, explains the ideal growing conditions of the Santa Mari...

Alicia Lini's family has produced Lambrusco sparkling wines in Italy's Emilia-Romagna since 1910. Alicia explains how her family makes Lambrusco and other LINI910 spumante wines, utilizing both the charmat and metodo classico process. Fanny Heucq's great grandfather started Champagne André Heucq in 1936. Today, Heucq focuses on organic production with a emphasis on the Meunier grape, both as a 100...

“Southern BBQ is its own religion,” says Matt Moore in his book, "The South’s Best Butts." Matt interviewed pitmasters throughout the Barbecue Belt and explains styles by region, from meat to the rub, sauces and cooking styles. Cyril Chirouze is Head Winemaker at Chateau des Jacques, considered one of the most prestigious estates in Beaujolais. He explains his traditional Burgundian style of makin...

Rosé wines are finally getting some respect says NYC Sommelier Victoria James, Beverage Director at Piora and Cote. She discusses the growing appeal of rosé wines, different styles and production methods from her book, Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rosé. Chef Carlos Swepson, owner of Boulevard Bistro in Harlem, talks about his culinary mentors including his grandmother in Natchez, MS, who inspired...

Distiller Ansley Coale is cofounder of acclaimed Germain-Robin distillery and founder of Craft Distillers, where he's helped launch spirits brands such as Hangar One, Low Gap, Maison Surrenne, Mezcalero, Russell Henry and Millard Fillmore Brandy. Prolific Wine and Spirits Educator Steve Olson has changed the way we think about Spanish Sherry, Greek wines and agave spirits. He's a partner in Del Ma...

Nina Curtis is Executive Chef at The Ranch in Malibu, CA, a luxury wellness retreat, where she oversees menu planning and nutrition programs. A former weight lifter and dancer, Chef Nina discusses her decision to embrace a plant-based lifestyle and how she creates her beautiful, flavorful and satisfying dishes. Food and travel writer Kathleen Squires (Wall Street Journal, Saveur, Time Out) discuss...

Barbara Lynch, owner of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, discusses her memoir, "Out of Line: A Life Playing with Fire," and reflects on past, present and future. Barbara grew up in a housing project in South Boston. She rose through the ranks in Boston restaurants to become an award- winning chef and now oversees seven celebrated restaurants of her own including No 9 Park, B&G Oysters, Drink, Sportello and M...

Chef Patti Jackson owns Michelin Star Delaware and Hudson restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, showcasing regional Mid-Atlantic fare. Patti created a "Ladies Lunch" commemorative menu for landmark Delmonico's Restaurant in Lower Manhattan. Jenny McCoy is Co-Chair for the Advanced Pastry Studies at Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). She is co-curator of the Zero Waste Food Conference, presented by ICE a...

Veteran hospitality industry educator & consultant, Fred Mayo, PhD, author of "Modern American Manners," discusses the nuances of proper etiquette, whether dining out or attending a private dinner, from being an attentive host to a gracious guest. Dr. Mayo has held academic positions in hospitality at both New York University and Culinary Institute of America. Hospitality industry maven Randi Wein...

Cooking teacher Letizia Matiacci is Founder of Alla Madonna dell Piatto," ("Our Lady of the Plate'), a farmhouse in Umbria, Italy where she teaches cooking classes for small groups of lucky visitors. Her cookbook is "A Kitchen with a View." Canadian born professional cook and journalist Michael-Ann Rowe, aka "The Fishionista," is committed to helping you "put your best fish forward" teaching peopl...

Late winter is maple syrup season with freezing nights and thawing days being optimal weather for collecting the tree sap. Michael Cobb, CEO of Crown Maple Syrup, produced at Madava Farms in New York's Hudson Valley, explains how pure maple syrup is made and the different grades. Patrick Rue, one of 8 Master Cicerones® in the world, is founder of The Bruery and Bruery Terreux in Orange County, CA,...

Two Napa vintners changed careers to follow their passion. Former public health nurse and passionate gardener, Julie Johnson is owner/winemaker of Tres Sabores Vineyards ("3 Tastes") in Rutherford. The certified organic winery produces estate grown wines, pomegranates, olives and lemons. Former tech executive turned grape grower and a passionate equestrian, Barry Waitte runs Tamber Bey Vineyards,...

95% of Napa Valley's vintners are family-owned. Janet and John Trefethen oversee Trefethen Family Vineyards, an historic property acquired by John's parents in 1968 and launched as the family's namesake winery in 1973. Daughter Hailey has worked on renovation of the winery's historic 1886 building. Bill Phelps & son Will, Joseph Phelps Vineyards (est. 1973), discuss the legacy of Founder Joseph Ph...

Karen Hoskin is co-founder of Montanya Distillers, a Green America certified craft rum distillery located in Crested Butte, CO. She's a catalyst in promoting sustainability, diversity and equal opportunities in the distilled spirits industry. An in-demand wine adviser and educator, Marika Vida is Wine Director at The Ritz-Carlton Central Park in NYC where she created the "Phenomenal Femmes" dinner...

Sonoma Spotlight! Chef Dustin Valette and brother, Aaron Garzini, opened Valette restaurant in Healdsburg in 2015. A CIA grad and longtime resident of the area, Dustin is passionate about showcasing Sonoma County farmers and purveyors and discusses his menu. Winemaker Katie Madigan has worked at St. Francis Winery for 14 years, starting as an intern and working her way up the ranks to oversee prod...

Chef Floyd Cardoz has redefined modern Indian cooking in both the USA and India. Owner of Paowalla in New York City and Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, Floyd came to prominence as Executive Chef/Partner at Tabla restaurant. He's author of "Flavorwalla" and "One Spice, Two Spice." Recognized as "America's doyenne of sparking wine," Eileen Crane is CEO/Founding Winemaker at Domaine Carneros in Napa Valley...

Vintner Carolyn Wente is a 4th generation member of California's Wente Vineyards, the nation's oldest continually family run winery. Based in Livermore Valley with additional vineyards in Monterey's Arroyo Seco, Wente is recognized for its wine making heritage and its prolific Wente Chardonnay clone varietal. Journalist, author, writing coach Antonia Allegra created symposiums for professional foo...

Virginie Saverys is owner of Avignonesi Winery, located in Montepulciano in southern Tuscany. Her 8 vineyards focus on organic farming and produce elegant Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines from 100% Sangiovese and two 100-point scoring Vin Santo wines. Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio has run award winning Valentino Ristorante in Santa Monica for over 40 years. He discusses his passion for Italian wi...

A veteran of more than 30 vintages, Pat Henderson is Chief Winemaker at Kenwood Vineyards, Sonoma, where his focus is small-lot winemaking. He discusses Kenwood's Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, historic Jack London Ranch and sustainability. Sommelier David Lynch has worked at renowned restaurants, Babbo (NYC) and Quince (San Francisco). With Joe Bastianich he wrote, "VINO Italiano," an essentia...

Award winning wines from southeast Australia: Sparky Marquis is Founder of iconic Mollydooker Wines (Aussie for "left-hander"). Located in McLaren Vale, Mollydooker produces wines with a WOW factor and concentrated, velvety fruit. The second Australian to become a Master of Wine, Kym Milne is Chief Winemaker at Bird in Hand, named after the former gold mines in the Adelaide Hills where the winery...

Tom Sietsema has been Food Critic at the Washington Post since 2000, and now, four Presidential administrations. He dishes on dining in the nation's capital, where to eat next, restaurant neighborhoods to check out, and the role of the critic. With a pedigree earned in some of the nation's most renowned restaurants (e.g., TAO, Tavern on the Green, La Cote Basque, Quilted Giraffe, Veritas) Chef Sam...

James Beard Award winning radio host and culinary expert Jennifer English discusses the enduring popularity of radio, her show Fong on Food, the growth of online food games like Kitchen Craze, and why tea production, like fine wine, starts with terroir. Food writer and culinary historian, Joanna Pruess, discusses the role our nation's "Founding Mothers," Martha Washington, Abigail Adams and Dolley...