The Splendid Table

We're meeting up with Smithsonian Curator of Botany, John Kress, a man devoted to the study of ginger. Jane and Michael Stern are eating low country pizza at The Old Firehouse Restaurant in Hollywood, South Carolina and Joan Nathan, author of Quiches, Kugels and Couscous , brings us a look at Jewish food in France. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 23, 2010 (originally aired) November 5, 2...

British chef and maverick, Stefan Gates plays with his food and brings glow-in-the-dark jello to parties. Gates teaches us the art of the interactive meal with his new book, The Extraordinary Cookbook: How to Make Meals Your Friends Will Never Forget . Mexican chef, Pati Jinich, host of PBS's "Pati's Mexican Table" shares the traditional celebration of The Day of the Dead. Roadfood experts, Jane a...

This week we're taking a food lovers tour of Vietnam with Peter Jon Lindberg, Editor-at-Large of Travel & Leisure Magazine. Jane and Michael Stern are at Metompkin Seafood in Mappsville, Virginia, and Dorie Greenspan, author of Around My French Table , joins us with a very French take on the side dish. Also on the show, food in a war zone, a cake for every state in the nation, and Lynne's answ...

This week we talk with Mark Bitterman author of Salted, A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral, with Recipes . We get a look at the world of a wine importer—with boutique importer Terry Theise—author of Reading Between the Wines and the Sterns are back in Santa Fe at Bobcat Bite. Broadcast dates for this episode: November 6, 2010 (originally aired) October 8, 2011 (rebroadcast)

This week we're looking at the last of the world's wild food — fish — with Paul Greenberg author of Four Fish . We'll get some outside-of-the-box thinking on how to deal with small kitchen and dining spaces from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, author of Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small Cool Spaces . And Jane and Michael Stern have found first-rate baked goods at Waves of Grain Bakery in Canon Beach,...

This week we get some modern day wine truths from Matt Kramer author of Matt Kramer on Wine . We'll look at some of the world's most bizarrely set restaurants with JD Rinne of Budgettravel.com , we deconstruct and reinvent ratatouille with Gilt Taste's Francis Lam, a botanist breeds a tomato for Lynne, and the Sterns are eating hotdogs at Texas Lunch & Hubba in Port Chester, NY. Broadcast date...

We're taking a look at the world of extreme tourism with Chuck Thompson, author of To Hellholes and Back . We also dive into the world of self-publishing with the creators of Canal House Cooking ; and Lukas Volger, author of Veggie Burgers Every Which Way shares a few alternatives to processed frozen veggie burgers. Broadcast dates for this episode: August 21, 2010 (originally aired) August 27, 20...

Evan Goldstein author of Daring Pairings joins us with a fresh take on pairing food and wine. Also on the show, a new cooking technique for getting the most from summer vegetables, the trivia challenge, and Lynne's answers to your kitchen questions. Broadcast dates for this episode: July 31, 2010 (originally aired) August 13, 2011 (rebroadcast)

We meet up with Tom Owens, the founder of the cult-status coffee website Sweet Maria's , journalist John Willoughby introduces us to the allure of dried Persian limes; and the Sterns are eating whitefish livers at Maggie's in Bayfield, WI. Broadcast dates for this episode: July 24, 2010 (originally aired) July 16, 2011 (rebroadcast)

This week we meet up with the irascible Anthony Bourdain, author of Medium Raw, A Bloody Valentine To The World of Food and The People Who Cook . Jane and Michael Stern are eating boudin sausage at T Boy's Slaughterhouse in Mamon, Louisiana and Indian food authority Julie Sahni brings us the Indian art of the marinade. Broadcast dates for this episode: July 17, 2010 (originally aired) July 9, 2011...

We're getting an international take on the grill from the unstoppable Steve Raichlen author of Planet Barbecue , Jane and Michael Stern are at a Seattle classic, 13 Coins, and we learn which beers stole the show with Robin Goldstein author of The Beer Trials . Broadcast dates for this episode: June 26, 2010 (originally aired) June 18, 2011 (rebroadcast)

This week, Lynne guides us through the world of food styling with one of the masters, Delores Custer, author of Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera . Jane and Michael Stern are eating Polish Boys in Cleveland, Food & Wine magazine's Ray Isle has some wine suggestions for summer sipping, Susan Loomis tells us about "pistachio music," Sheila Bowman tells us which seafood to av...

This week historian John T Edge tells us about his on-going reporting for the New York Times called United Tastes, Jane and Michael Stern have found the ultimate hangover cure in New Orleans, a dish called Ya-Ka Mein. We meet a PHD candidate studying "coziness" and we get a take on the 5 Stages of Grief—"pea" grief that it is, from Emily Franklin, author of Too Many Cooks . Broadcast dates for thi...

This week, we're talking tradition with one of the last remaining limburger cheese producers; and how to keep Asian culinary traditions at home as well as in the restaurants. Interior designer and author of American Modern , Thomas O'Brien walks us through his vision of what a kitchen should be. Also on the show, The Dinner Party Download guys bring back the ice breaker, The Sterns go back to Milw...

We're looking at the advent of Chinese food in America with Andrew Coe, author of Chop Suey, A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States . Jane and Michael Stern are in North Charleston, South Carolina for low country soul food at Bertha's Kitchen , and Sally Schneider , creator of The Improvised Life website teaches us to improvise with miso. Broadcast dates for this episode: April 10...

We're pondering the food supply of the future with Raj Patel author of The Value of Nothing , Jane and Michael Stern are at The White Hut in Springfield, MA, and we ask the question – why are there no famous female chefs? Broadcast dates for this episode: April 24, 2010 (originally aired) April 2, 2011 (rebroadcast)

We're looking at Mexican–Jewish food traditions with Chef Patricia Jinich, of PBS's Pati's Mexican Table , New York Time's columnist Melissa Clark introduces us to her very suave and very easy recipe for Shrimp Bisque, Jane and Michael Stern are at Cupcake Royale in Seattle, WA and Steve Almond , author of Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America wants us to consider endan...

Chef Scott Peacock joins us this week with his series The Alabama Project, conversations with some of Alabama's oldest residents. Jane and Michael Stern are at Du-par's in Los Angeles, Fred Plotkin reports on the 150th anniversary of the Republic of Italy and we get a quick primer on sugaring from Tim Herd , author of Maple Sugar from Sap to Syrup . Broadcast dates for this episode: March 12, 2011

This week we're getting advice for lubricating the family dinner conversation from Daniel Menaker author of A Good Talk; The Story and Skill of Conversation . Jane and Michael Stern have found Orson Welles sized pies at Royer's Round Top in Texas and we look at the up and coming cheesemakers with James Norton author of The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin . Broadcast dates for this episode: March...

We get a clear-eyed view of the wine world this week with Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl author of Drink This: Wine Made Simple . Chef Patrice Olivon introduces us to the gentle art of the soufflé, and Indian food authority Monica Bhide , author of Modern Spice explains the Indian art of spice blends. Broadcast dates for this episode: January 9, 2010 (originally aired) February 12, 2011 (rebroadcast)

Award winning author Su-Mei Yu introduces us to the ancient Thai tradition of looking at "food as medicine". Her new book is, The Elements of Life, A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions for Healthier Living . Jane and Michael Stern are in Tucson at the Tucson Tamale Company and National Geographic's Keith Bellows brings us their list of " food journeys of a lifetime ". Broadcast date...

We have some advice for the home cook from chef Thomas Keller—his new book is Ad Hoc at Home . We get advice for throwing a party Southern style from Matt and Ted Lee, authors of Simple, Fresh Southern . Master baker Rose Levy Beranbaum gives us a primer on keeping cakes—her newest book is Rose's Heavenly Cakes . Jane and Michael Stern are at Pico de Gallo in Tucson, AZ. Broadcast dates for this e...

Chef Douglas Rodriguez joins us with a Cuban take on the Christmas feast. The legendary Paula Wolfert joins us with her book Mediterranean Clay Pot Cooking . And we have a tale of a childhood gingerbread house gone mad from Augusten Burroughs, author of You'd Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas . Emeril Lagasse brings us holiday recipes inspired by his mother. Broadcast dates for this episode: D...

This week Nigella Lawson is stopping by with her new book, Nigella Kitchen, Recipes From the Heart of Home . Food & Wine Magazine's Anthony Giglio introduces us to the bubbly wines of Italy. Sally Schneider, creator of The Improvisational Cook is back with her annual list of homemade food gifts and the Sterns are at Garcia's Kitchen in Albuquerque, NM. Broadcast dates for this episode: Decembe...

This week it's a show of American iconoclasts starting with winemaker Randall Grahm of Boony Doon Vineyard. His latest book is Been Doon So Long, A Randall Grahm Vinthology . We then meet the true originator of the no-knead bread technique, Jim Lehey of New York City's famed Sullivan Street Bakery. His book is My Bread, The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method . Broadcast dates for this episode:...