The Connected Table Live

New Orleans is a renowned dining destination. But did you know that the city is home to an outstanding culinary school? New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers 100-day certificate programs in culinary arts and baking arts that cover 25 subjects and 650 hours of practical instruction. NOCHI President/CEO Gerald Duhon discusses what...

What does the memory of a good meal mean to you? For survivors of World War II and the Holocaust, food memories are an important emotional connection to families lost and traditions preserved. Award-winning Chef/Restaurateur Alon Shaya, and Culinary Historian/Food Writer June Hersh have co-authored "Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of World War II Survival," a coo...

What are your cherished food memories? For survivors of World War II and the Holocaust, food memories provided an emotional connection to families lost and traditions preserved as they struggled to survive the war. Chef/Restaurateur Alon Shaya and Culinary Historian/Author June Hersh, have written "Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of World War II Survival," featur...

The Fischer & Wieser Farmstead originated in 1928 when German immigrant J.B. Wieser planted a peach orchard in Fredericksburg, Texas. His son, Mark, cared for the orchard during school breaks. In 1969, Mark founded Fischer & Wieser’s Das Peach Haus to sell the family’s Hill Country peaches and handcrafted preserves. A decade later, a Case Fischer, a loyal worker, proposed to Mark to expand...

Established in 1692 by English wine merchant, Job Bearsley, the venerable Port house, Taylor Fladgate, has remained 100% independent and family-run throughout its history. Today its holdings include Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and Croft. In 2026 all three historic houses declared 2024 as a Vintage Port, a rare occurrence and the first since 2017. CEO Adrian Bridge discusses Taylor Fladgate’s family r...

Laurent Gruet grew up working in the vineyards with his father, Gilbert Gruet, founder of the family's Champagne house. In the 1980s Gilbert planted vineyards in New Mexico and sent Laurent and his sister, Nathalie, to the U.S. to oversee the family’s new winemaking venture. Gruet Winery achieved global acclaim for its methode champenoise sparkling wines. In 2020, Laurent became a partner at VARA...

Dr. Marion Nestle, is one of the world’s most influential voices on food policy and nutrition and a sought-after speaker. Her Food Politics newsletter is a must-read on these topics. She is the Paulette Goddard Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University and author of acclaimed books including Food Politics, What to Eat, Why Calories Count Eat Drink, Vote...

On the PGI Slopes of Aigialeia in the northern Peloponnese, Rouvalis Winery cultivates both native and international grape varieties on steep, isolated vineyards overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. Founded in 1990 by Angelos Rouvalis, a pioneer in Greece’s modern winemaking, Rouvalis Winery is overseen by his daughter, Theodora Rouvali, and her partner, Αntonio Ruiz Pañego, both oenologists. Theodora...

Established in 1840, Antoine’s is New Orleans' oldest restaurant and the nation's oldest continually family-owned restaurant. Beloved by locals and visitors, Antoine's is known for its impeccable service and French Creole cuisine including original dishes such as Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou and Souffle Potatoes. Rick Blount, CEO and great, great grandson of Founder Antoine Alciatore, takes us...

Chef Nina Compton is owner of Compère Lapin, a top-rated restaurant in New Orleans and the USA. Located at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, Compère Lapin blends the flavors of Compton's youth growing up on the island of St Lucia with her love for French and Italian cuisine and Gulf Coast and Louisiana ingredients. Compton is author of "Kwéyòl /Creole: Recipes, Stories, and Tings from a St. Lu...

In Greece’s northern Peloponnese about two hours’ drive from Athens, steep mountains intersect with the waters of the vast Corinthian Gulf, providing an ideal microclimate for cultivating grapevines. Known as the PGI Slopes of Aigialeia, this visually striking area is distinctive for its “heroic viticulture,”defined as extreme high-altitude vines planted on steep, often terraced slopes in poor soi...

Mesogaia (“Middle Earth”) in the region of East Attica near Athens, Greece and its main airport is a rural area of vineyards, olive and fig groves and seaside villages. Marina Kavallieraki, Founder of Voύryia, creates culinary tours to experience Mesogaia and what she calls “Ligo Akoma Ellada” (a little more of Greece). Examples: Taste Retsina wine made from the native Savatiano variety, barrel-ag...

Azienda Agricola Bocale Valentini was founded by Giuseppe Valentini in the 1950s in Montefalco (Umbria). For many years, Valentini sold his wine in two-liter demi-johns, locally called “Bocale.” In the 1990s, Bocale replanted its vines and began bottling its wines. Today it produces the signature wines of this region: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG and Rosso di Montefalco DOC reds and Trebbiano Spo...

Fattoria Uccelliera is a winery and agritourism in Tuscany’s Pisan Hills. Antonio Bullieri and Maria Elena Poggianti acquired Uccelliera's land in the 1960s. The property is surrounded by 200 hectares of dense forests, vineyards, and olive groves. Fattoria Uccelliera produces wines from both the Colline Pisane DOC and Chianti DOCG appellations. Tiziana Bullieri discusses the region and her family’...

The hilltop village of San Gimignano with its many stone towers is a popular destination in Tuscany. The surrounding countryside is home to Tuscany’s- and one of Italy’s- most renowned white wines, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG. Crisp with refreshing salinity and notes of tropical and stone fruits, Vernaccia di San Gimignano is food friendly and ageable. 2026 marks the 750th anniversary of Verna...

Rocca di Frassinello in Tuscany's Maremma is a joint venture between Paolo Panerai, Owner of Domini Castellare di Castellina, Chianti Classico, and Baron Eric de Rothschild of Domaine Lafite, the legendary Bordeaux first growth property. The winery, known for its Super Tuscans, is a masterpiece by Italian Architect, Renzo Piano. In this episode, Founder Paolo Panerai is joined by enologist, Alessa...

New Orleans Chef Frank Brigtsen is recognized for revitalizing Creole Acadian cooking. In 2026 his namesake restaurant, Brigtsen’s, marks 40 years since opening in 1986 with his wife, Marna, and support from his mentor, Chef Paul Prudhomme. Located in a Victorian cottage in the Uptown Riverbend neighborhood, Brigsten’s draws a loyal clientele of regulars. Brigsten has written a cookbook, "Frank Br...

Suis Generis in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood embraces the philosophy of Kansha, a respect for ingredients and waste nothing. Serving dinner Friday-Sunday, Suis Generis' weekly changing menu is based on what's available at its Tiki Farm in Pearlington, Mississippi. Both Tiki Farm and Suis Generis offer experiential zero waste cooking labs on topics such as fermenting, brining, making miso, gar...

Tuscany’s western region delivers wild natural beauty and the scent of the sea, passionate, independent winemakers and many tastes to savor. This episode travels the "Strada del Vino, Olio and Sapori” to meet local wine and food producers in Massa Carrara and the Candia Hills, Bolgheri, Maremma and Montecucco. Discover a mountain winery embracing “heroic viticulture.” Tour a world-renowned designe...

Eat, Sip and Taste the flavors of western Tuscany, its wines and cuisine with The Connected Table. This episode visits Terre di Pisa DOC, Colline Lucchese and Montecarlo DOC. Meet family-run wineries, Pecorino cheese, olive oil and pasticcini producers dating back generations. Visit the village where Pinocchio was created. Tour a medieval fortress in Montecarlo. Taste and savor local dishes and wi...

Jessica Dupuy is an award-winning wine, food, spirits, and travel journalist and author of six cookbooks, including "United Tastes of the South" and "Tex-Mex Traditions, Innovations and Comfort Foods from Both Sides of the Border." She is author of "The Wines of Southwest U.S.A." which explores wine regions in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. In her latest book collaboration, "Italianity"...

Texas wines, seasonal peaches, fields of wildflowers and authentic Hill Country cooking are among the many delights to experience on a visit to Fredericksburg, Texas. Settled by German immigrants in 1846, you’ll find history, foodways and other traditions from the old country blended with a chic, contemporary among Fredericksburg’s many hotels, inns, restaurants, biergartens and cocktail bars. Fre...

In New Orleans, Café Reconcile serves more than soulful Louisiana cooking. Founded in 1996 by Rev. Harry Tompson, Café Reconcile transforms the lives of at-risk youths ages 16 to 24 through workforce development and job training, giving them skills and confidence to carry into their futures. Café Reconcile Chief Culinary Officer and Executive Chef Martha Wiggins discusses how the program works. Th...

Lively, crisp and refreshing, rosé wines continue to gain momentum with more quality and variety than ever. Rosé is a large category of wines with few rules, two key methods of production and many styles, from bone dry to fruity, pale pink to deep strawberry in hue. While French rosés remain a benchmark, especially from the south, premium rosé wines are made throughout the world, with styles for e...

Victor Owen Schwartz founded family-run VOS Selections in 1987 to bring artisanal wines from around world to the U.S.A. Passion for fine wines fueled his business success. Purpose to protect free trade and advocate for businesses impacted by the 2025 Trump administration tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act took Schwartz to the Supreme Couty as a lead plaintiff in...