December 1999
December 4 - December 11 - December 18 - December 25
December 4
We're on the road this week, first to Europe and the beautiful mountains straddling the border between France and Spain. The Basques who inhabit this area are some of Europe's most fascinating people. Mark Kurlansky, author of The Basque History of the World, introduces us to Basque life and culture, a subject he's researched for 25 years.
Then it's a look at the sad state of the bagel in America with writer and Jewish food authority Matthew Goodman. Matthew says the bagels in Montreal are possibly the last holdout against the American assault on this traditional yeast bun. Can't get to Montreal? Make your own with the recipe for Montreal bagels. Jane and Michael Stern are in Conroe, Texas, for a classic Southern catfish feast. Specialty produce detective David Karp gives his 1999 picks of the best mail-order fruit, and tea expert Bill Waddington talks Chai tea and tells us how to brew real Chai.
December 11
Legendary filmmaker Ismail Merchant of Room with a View and Cotton Mary fame has three great passions film, food, and cooking and he's with us this week to share tales of filming and feasting. Ismail is renowned in the motion-picture community for the weekly curry suppers he prepares for cast and crew. Try the recipe for Ismail's Incredibly Instant Chicken, created during the filming of A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries. It's from his new book, Ismail Merchant's Paris.
Ham biscuits can be high art in Kentucky and Jane and Michael Stern have found the best at the West End Café in Owensboro. Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins waxes rhapsodic about the cheeses of Savoie, and we have the story of a Santa Lucia celebration gone awry from commentator Nanci Olesen.
December 18
If you've been listening to the Splendid Table for some time, you know that our resident wine maverick, Joshua Wesson, is not only knowledgeable but quite outrageous. You might recall that Josh is the one who suggested Twinkies as the appropriate accompaniment to Asti Spumante, and his book, Red Wine with Fish, alarmed the traditionalists. He's back this week with some thoughts on fortified wines such as port and, predictably, has his own take on this wine so perfect for holiday sipping and gifting.
Jane and Michael Stern applaud the resurrection of the cowboy classic, Arbuckle's Coffee. Renee Behnke of Sur La Table is the super sleuth behind the gadgets and gear filling the catalog pages and shelves of this cook's Nirvana. She'll reveal some tricks of her trade. Greens Restaurant is celebrating 25 years of spectacular vegetarian food, and Ed McCarthy, author of Champagne for Dummies, picks champagne bargains and splurges.
December 25
(repeat broadcast)
It's a Latino Christmas complete with recipes, traditions, and stories from Esmeralda Santiago, editor of the newly published Las Christmas. Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins says think farmhouse cheeses from England for the holidays, and Jane and Michael Stern are buying their holiday breads from Bantam Bakery in Connecticut.
