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December 2006
December 2 - December 9 - December 16 - December 23 - December 30
December 2: A Hedonist in the Wine Cellar | Listen
This week novelist and wine critic Jay McInerney joins us to talk "wine characters" he loves. From the brilliant to the beguiling to the outrageous, it's a look at those folks who are making wine fascinating right now. Jay's latest book is A Hedonist in the Wine Cellar: Adventures in Wine.
Jane and Michael Stern are dining at Hamburger King in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where great burgers with a theme song all their own are the order of the day.
Master baker Dorie Greenspan gives us a master class in cookies and chocolate just in time for holiday baking. You'll want her World Peace Cookies, Grandma's Sugar Cookies and Café Volcano Cookies on your table this year. Dorie's latest must-have book is Baking: From My House to Yours.
We go to Bali for the story of how a legendary spice center is struggling with modern times.
New York Times columnist Marion Burros talks the latest in grass fed beef.
We'll hear about this year's gift for the wine geek who has everything: Custom Curling's corkscrew with royal connections and, as always, Lynne takes your calls.
December 9: The Vietnamese Kitchen | Listen
This week our guest, Andrea Nguyen, takes us to Vietnam for a look at the culture and lore behind a cuisine that began 4,000 years ago with a prince from the sea. Andrea leaves us her recipe for Chicken and Cellophane Noodle Soup from her gorgeous book, Into the Vietnamese Kitchen: Treasured Foodways, Modern Flavors.
The Sterns' penchant for prison gift shops led them to some great hush puppies and shredded pork sandwiches at Hocutt's Carolina Barbecue. It's right across from the big house in Moundsville, West Virginia.
We have the obscure but excellent in holiday mail order gifts from Francine Maroukian, author of Chefs' Secrets: Insider Techniques from Today's Culinary Masters; then, we flip to inside a food mail order warehouse — Zingerman's — where the rush reins and it's all about controlled chaos.
Ray Isle, senior wine editor for Food & Wine magazine, reports in with his favorite wines and spirits of 2006, including a knockout red for $7.00!
Dan Oko ponders the doggie bag dilemma (the original commentary appeared in the November/December issue of Mother Jones), and Lynne shares some olive oil picks, passes along the recipe for Ernie Crippin's Lefse, and takes your calls.
December 16: Nora Ephron | Listen
Writer and Director Nora Ephron, author of the best-seller I Feel Bad About My Neck, joins us this week with observations on life and the American food scene, including a provocative take on how the duo of the birth control pill and Julia Child shaped the social history of the late 20th Century.
The Sterns report that the endangered chicken in a pot bubbles proud and free at the Chutzpah in Fairfax, Virginia.
Sally Schneider, author of The Improvisational Cook, has her usual effortless take on great hors d'oeuvres, including her recipe for Pancetta Tartines.
It's gifts for wine geeks from a master geek himself, The Wine Spectator's Matt Kramer. His latest book is Matt Kramer's Making Sense of Italian Wine.
Fred Plotkin, our pleasure activist and author of Italy for the Gourmet Traveller, talks Vienna, the perfect winter destination, and lines up the must-do coffeehouses.
We'll take a look at the new nanny nutrition dilemma, and, as always, Lynne takes your calls
December 23: The Kitchen Diaries | Listen
Britain's beloved columnist Nigel Slater joins us this week to reflect on cooking at home. He talks a kinder, gentler English Christmas and shares his Christmas Day Roast Goose, Juniper Sauce and Apple and Lemon Purée from his latest book, The Kitchen Diaries: A Year in the Kitchen with Nigel Slater.
The Sterns report from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they're digging into warm tortilla chips with "Christmas" sauce and stacked enchiladas at Nopalito.
Cheese expert Steve Jenkins says skip the cookies and leave a plate of cheese for Santa this year. Steve's picks and go-with sips will put Santa is a very good mood indeed
Amy Sedaris, author of the hysterical I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, has entertaining tips, including how to make money at your parties! She leaves us her recipe for Cluster Haven's Pepper Mill Cheese Ball.
Beer historian Alan Eames shares a curious Norwegian fairytale about a young woman brewmaster and her journey with a large barrel of Christmas ale, and the phone lines will be open for your calls.
December 30: Cooking in Southwest France | Listen
Paula Wolfert, the culinary scholar and author who brought cassoulet, roast garlic and confit to America, joins us to talk about the updating of her groundbreaking classic, The Cooking of Southwest France. Her recipe for Chicken Breasts in Garlic Wine comes from the area around Agen, located halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse.
The Sterns are visiting the Museum of Taxidermy and eating a stellar breakfast at Lisa's in Greybull, Wyoming.
The always-curious Peter Mayle is back in Provence and this time he's making bread. He tells all in his new book, Confessions of a French Baker: Breadmaking Secrets, Tips, and Recipes.
We'll take you to Portland, Oregon, where Andina is the Rose City's restaurant of the year. The story behind the fabulous food is especially fascinating. On a recent visit, Lynne was intrigued by the unusual and delicious chicha Morada.
Finally, Ben Davis of Portland's Grand Central Bakery explains why late-night drivers are stealthily pulling up to the back door of the city's restaurants.
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