It's a basic course in olive oil this week with Rolando Beramendi, founder of Manicaretti, an importer of high quality Italian food products. Extra-virgin, cold-pressed, estate bottled - Rolando explains it all and gives us a buyer's guide to getting the best oil for our money. Our dynamic dining duo, Jane and Michael Stern, discover a fine country ham in Virginia; cheese expert Steve Jenkins shares his spring cheese picks; and our grocery guru, Al Sickerman, talks Peeps!
We're taking a trip to one of New York City's finest wine cellars, at a restaurant called Patroon. With the wine cellar comes its caretaker, the Sommelier. It's a glimpse of one of the most intimate relationships in the restaurant business, chef and sommelier. Jane and Michael Stern take us to The Peanut Shoppe in Mobile, Alabama, and Lynne and grocery guru Al Sicherman taste canned tomatoes; who will win—Hunts, Contadina, or Muir Glen?
It's a look at winemaking with David Bruce of the David Bruce Winery. David makes award-winning Pinot Noirs. FYI, it's no small feat for an American winemaker to make a great pinot, it's considered by the industry to be one of the most difficut grapes to master. David tells the secret behind his great bottles—a rather ancient technique! Jane and Michael Stern take us to Vermont, again! This time off Route 132 in Sharon, home of Brooksies, and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan answers the age-old question —does the glass you serve your wine in really matter?
Cold season is upon us, and rather than heading to a drugstore—think about heading to your cupboard for apple cider vinegar, peppermint and thyme! Judith Benn Hurley, author of Healing Secrets of the Season, joins us with some seasonal home remedies. The Sterns have advice on San Diego street food and we check in with Specialty Produce Expert David Karp in the field, the orange groves of California!
This is the week most of us start a diet, and next week is the week the depression and guilt kick in! Why don't diets work? We're taking a look at the Great American Diet Scam with Journalist Laura Fraser, author of Losing It. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the best chili in the States, Steve Raichlen of Low Fat/High Flavor fame gives a list of 5 must-haves for the lowfat pantry, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner talks kitchen lighting and Grocery Guru Al Sicherman and Lynne do a sour cream tasting.
If you've had enough already of winter, start thinking south of the border and tune in as Rick Bayless, award-winning author of Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen, gives us an insider's view of places to go, things to see and, best of all, places to eat in Oaxaca! Jane and Michael Stern report in from just north of the border in Arizona with advice on where to find superb Indian Tacos. Our fruit expert, David Karp, recently visited California's Coachella Valley during the date harvest and shares what he learned about dates, including mail-order sources for superb rare varieties. Anne from Minneapolis tries to Stump the Cook, and Lynne takes your calls and makes one herself—to Spago in Las Vegas!
It's one of the great food obsessions—chocolate—with renowned confectioner Nick Malgieri, author of Chocolate: From Simple Cookies to Extravagant Showstoppers. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. specialty produce expert David Karp talks Meyer lemons, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner tells us how to best light our kitchen.
The holiday entertaining season has begun and Sally Quinn, legendary Washington, DC hostess and author of the recently published book, The Party: A Guide to Adventurous Entertaining, will share tips for hosting stylish and unforgettable get-togethers. Sally says it has much to do with "seating." Our roadfood experts, Jane and Michael Stern, give us their short list of holiday mail-order goodies, including a source for the best popcorn balls (who but the Sterns would have tracked down the best in popcorn balls?) Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins fills us in on some delectable finds with his December cheese picks; our grocery guru, Al Sicherman, food and humor columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, tells us what's new in the grocery aisles; Pam from California tries to Stump the Cook; and Lynne takes your calls.
We're getting a Frenchman's interpretation of Thanksgiving with famed chef and personality Jacque Pepin. master baker Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of the legendary book The Cake Bible, is with us with the last word on pies! Rose's long-awaited book, The Pie and Pastry Bible hits the shelves this month. Wanderers Jane and Michael Stern take us to yam heaven.
You don't have to stalk duck, pheasant, and venison in the woods. Simply go to your grocer! We're taking a look at game this week with Janie Hibler, author of Wild About Game. Jane and Michael Stern are stalking Chicago's famed Michigan Avenue and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan has returned from a visit to Scotland—Islay to be exact. It's a wine-lover's interpretation of Scotch.