February 1998
February 7 - February 14 - February 21 - February 28

February 7, 1998
What does San Francisco have in common with ancient Egypt? It's sourdough, and Dr. Ed Wood, a pathologist and author of World Sourdoughs From Antiquity, will be with us to discuss this humble and accidental beginning to leavened breads. In keeping with the theme, Jane and Michael Stern have been sampling hearty breakfast fare in Vermont and will tell us where to find great sourdough pancakes! Our grocery guru, Al Sicherman, reports on the latest from the grocery aisles, Cynda in North Carolina tries to Stump the Cook, and Lynne takes your calls.

February 14, 1998
We'll take a look at the Southeast Lowcountry this week with John Martin Taylor, author of Hoppin' John's Charleston, Beaufort & Savannah: Dining at Home in the Lowcountry, who shares his recipe for shrimp creole; Jane and Michael Stern go to the city of big shoulders—Chicago— to talk hotdogs; and fish and seafood authority, Mark Bittman, gives us tips for buying and cooking American's favorite seafood—shrimp.

February 21, 1998
The calendar might not say it's spring, but gardeners have been studying seed catalogs and dreaming of the harvest for months now. Even if your "garden" is only a potted tomato plant on a terrace, you'll want to tune in this week when William Woys Weaver, author of Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, takes a fascinating look at the history of heirloom vegetables and shares some of his seed sources. When the subject is vegetables, Jane and Michael Stern head to an outdoor market in Birmingham, Alabama and a certain diner that serves up an incredible offering of nearly four dozen vegetables, all farm-fresh and cooked Southern-style! Our Master of Wine, Mary Ewing Mulligan, fills us in on Viognier - the latest white wine craze; Lee from Portland tries to Stump the Cook, and Lynne shares a recent find at the Miami airport and takes your calls.

February 28, 1998
We're taking a look at specialty coffee this week. It's big business these days, but it's also an affordable everyday luxury. A pound of fresh-roasted beans costing $10 yields 40 cups—a cost of just 25 cents each! Our guest, Corby Kummer is senior editor of The Atlantic Monthly and one of the country's most respected food journalists. His 1990 series on coffee was nominated for a National Magazine Award, and he recently authored a book on the subject titled The Joy of Coffee: The Essential Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying. Corby will give us lots of tips to ensure a perfect cup of joe every time! Jane and Michael Stern have been to New York and have advice on where to find a great pastrami sandwich. John from Vermont talks maple syrup, commentator Kathy Purvis takes us to England, and Derek from Minneapolis tries to Stump the Cook. Lynne talks about a culinary history study tour and takes your calls.