November 21, 2009
This week for Thanksgiving we meet up with Chef Marcus Samuelsson for a new take on the turkey. His latest book is New American Table. Historian Andy Smith reminds us of the real origin of Thanksgiving Day, and Lynne takes on the great feast ... vegetarian style.
Episode Rundown
01:20 – 08:06 Marcus Samuelsson
We met up with chef Marcus Samuelsson recently to cook, and to talk about his take on the multitude of influences that uniquely define American cuisine.
08:06 – 13:41 Judith Miller
Antique expert Judith Miller talks about her latest interest, chairs, which also happens to be the title and subject of her most recent book.
Book: Chairs by Judith Miller
14:20 – 21:05 Dumplings
Ben Pagac learns how to make proper traditional Czech dumplings.21:24 – 26:05 Andrew Smith
Food historian Andrew Smith specializes in American culinary history and stops by to give us the real story behind the history of Thanksgiving.
Book: Eating History by Andrew Smith
26:12 – 31:36 Calls pt. 1/Trivia
Lynne takes your calls and we get this week's Trivia Question32:21 – 44:10 Trivia Answer/Calls pt. 2
The answer to this week's Trivia Question, and more callers.44:10 – 50:03 Charles Fowlkes
Charles Fowlkes builds a gravy fountain and shares his love of food do-it-yourself projects, the likes of which you've never seen!This Week's Recipes
Images from This Episode
Thanksgiving with Marcus Samuelsson
When we think about Thanksgiving and it's table of pure Americana, we forget something ... we are truly a nation of the "other." Except for Native Americans, all of us originally come from somewhere else, and in a way, Marcus Samuelsson is a poster boy for his take on Americana. He was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, came to America in 1991 for what was supposed to be just nine months. But the young chef was so invigorated and so delighted by the uniquely American collision of culinary influences that he decided to make this country his home. Samuelsson went on to earn accolades for his New York City restaurants, including Aquavit, Aq Ca Kafe and Riingo. His latest cookbook is New American Table. Marcus came to town to teach some classes, we met up with him at the stove.
There's more to a successful thanksgiving meal than simply the food or the company. Let's not forget comfort -- we have to sit, often for long periods on an object called a chair. It can be an object of torture, or one of pure bliss! Antique expert Judith Miller knows both ends of this deal ... she has written over 80 books on collecting but we were interested in the lastest -- it's a study of seats and it's called Chairs.
Andrew Smith is a food historian and teacher at the New School University in New York City. He specializes in American culinary history. We thought there would be no better person to go to for the real story behind the history of Thanksgiving. Andrew is the author of Eating History
Charless Fowlkes is assistant professor of computer science at U.C. Irvine. He's a member of Turkey Trek, a group of almost 40 friends that come together to celebrate Thanksgiving every year. Many of them are college friends with backgrounds in science and engineering. For them, Thanksgiving is fodder for a take on do-it-yourself the likes that you've never seen! Want to build a gravy fountain, a pie-cosahedron, make liquid nitrogen ice cream or bake a giant fractal pecan pie? Find these and more at Instructables.com
Where We Eat
Jane and Michael Stern: Famous Fourth Street Deli, Philadelphia, PA
The Sterns tuck into classic deli — home-corned beef and zaftig sandwiches — at the Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia.
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More restaurant recommendations
Books
Music
- "Little Pee's Blues" by Lester Young, from BD Jazz disc 1
- "Last Train Home" by Pat Metheny, from Still Life (Talking)
- "Find Enjoyment" by Ray Barbee, from Sprout Soundtrack
- "A Simple Thought" by GST, from Bug Town
- "Call Me" by Al Green, from Call Me
- "Repudiated Immortals" by Of Montreal, recorded live at the studios of 89.3 The Current
- "The Splendid Table Theme" is written and performed by Billy Barber, "Two for the Road" (used for the Sterns segment) was written by Henry Mancini for the film of the same name. It's also performed by Billy Barber.
