The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

This week, we’re all about discovering the secret of cooking—and exploring an iconic French Dish. First, Award-winning food historian Bee Wilson talks to us about her latest book, The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen. She talks about how to find the joy in cooking with real-world advice, from embracing your favorite kitchen tool to considering cooking as a remedy. She left us with her recipe for Magic Pasta with Mushrooms, Garlic Cream, and Wine. Then, food writer Sylvie Bigar takes us through an amazing culinary journey, exploring the history and culture of cassoulet and why she became so obsessed with the iconic French dish. Her book is Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul, and she left us with her recipe for Gateway Cassoulet. Broadcast dates for this episode: December 8, 2023 (originally aired) Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

This week, we’re all about discovering the secret of cooking—and exploring an iconic French Dish. First, Award-winning food historian Bee Wilson talks to us about her latest book, The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen. She talks about how to find the joy in cooking with real-world advice, from embracing your favorite kitchen tool to considering cooking as a remedy. She left us with her recipe for Magic Pasta with Mushrooms, Garlic Cream, and Wine. Then, food writer Sylvie Bigar takes us through an amazing culinary journey, exploring the history and culture of cassoulet and why she became so obsessed with the iconic French dish. Her book is Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul, and she left us with her recipe for Gateway Cassoulet. Broadcast dates for this episode: December 8, 2023 (originally aired) Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

This week, we’ve got two legendary British cooks in the house. First, Prue Leith joins us to talk about her fascinating background in food as a restaurateur and cook, growing up in South Africa, and judging The Great British Bake-Off show. Her new book is, Bliss on Toast, and she leaves us with her recipe for Tomatoes with English Pesto on Toasted Focaccia. Then, the iconic Nigella Lawson joins Francis in the studio to talk about her love of simple ingredients, dinners, and the importance of having a reliable recipe. Plus, she leaves us with her Smoky Squid and Beans recipe from her latest, Cook, Eat, Repeat. Broadcast dates for this episode: December 2, 2022 (originally aired) December 1, 2023 (rebroadcast) Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show

This week we’re sharing an episode of Dishing on Julia, the official companion podcast to the Max original series, Julia. Hosted by Kerry Diamond of Cherry Bombe, each episode of Dishing on Julia takes you behind the scenes with the show's producers, creators, and crew to unpack each episode and explore the making of the series. For the inaugural episode of Season 2 of Dishing On Julia, host Kerry Diamond talks to Julia creator and executive producer Daniel Goldfarb about historicizing Julia and taking the French Chef to France. In the show's second half, it’s world-renowned Chef Eric Ripert of New York’s Le Bernardin. Eric shares his own origin story and reflects on his memorable interactions with Julia over the years. Listen to Dishing on Julia, the Official Julia Companion Podcast on Max, or wherever you get your podcasts. And stream new episodes of Julia Thursdays on Max.

This week’s show was recorded live at the Hot Docs Podcast Festival in Toronto. Francis and his team of intrepid eaters tackle a tantalizing question: what makes Canada so delicious? Guests include Matty “The Flavor Lord” Matheson (Just a Dash); Greater Toronto Area food, drink and travel writer Suresh Doss; and New York Times food columnist and host of our Weeknight Kitchen podcast Melissa Clark, who impresses everyone with her quick thinking in a game of Stump the Cook. Broadcast dates for this episode: January 24, 2020 (originally aired) January 29, 2021 (rebroadcast) November 24, 2023 (rebroadcast)

Francis Lam hosts the 2023 pre-recorded edition of our popular Thanksgiving show. Francis is joined by special guests chef Kristen Kish, Top Chef’s newest judge, Dan Pelosi aka “Grossy Pelosi” the exuberant author of Let’s Eat, 101 Recipes to Fill Your Heart and Home, Michigan chef and award-winning writer Abra Berens author of Pulp, A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit, and Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes Broadcast dates for this episode: November 23, 2023

This week, we are all about getting you ready for your Thanksgiving feast! First, cookbook author Amy Thielen sets us up with tips on keeping the holiday stress-free and enjoyable. She shares her remarkable thinking around “turkey secrets,” talks us through some of her favorite techniques for stuffing and starters, and leaves us with her amazing alternative to mashed potatoes, Fun House Baked Potatoes. Her latest book is Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others. Then, Chef Eric Ripert talks us through simple seafood dishes to stand -in or accompany your turkey, like his Salmon Rillettes, a signature dish from Le Bernardin. His latest book is Seafood Simple. Then Chef Pierre Thiam brings West African flavors to the table with reimagined sidedish options like his Coconut Collard Greens with Butternut Squash. His latest book is Simply West African, Easy Joyful Recipes for Every Kitchen. Broadcast dates for this episode: November 17, 2023 (originally aired) When you shop using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you! Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

This week, we have the dynamic duo, Sohla and Ham El-Waylly, hosts of the New York Times Cooking show Mystery Menu joining us to talk about working together, overcoming differences in their cooking styles, and the key to their success as a team. They stick around to answer your cooking questions. Then, restaurateur Will Guidara joins us with advice on how to be a great host. From the importance of “unreasonable” hospitality in the restaurant industry to being intentional in the home and turning thoughtfulness into practice. His new book is Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect Broadcast dates for this episode: November 4, 2022 (originally aired) November 10. 2023 (rebroadcast) Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

It’s our favorite time of year – Fall Cookbook season! We’re joined by baker Samantha Seneviratne, author of Bake Smart, who tells us about her favorite baking techniques, including a butter trick that creates the creamy texture in her Gooey Cranberry Crumb Cake. Then, chef and content creator Jon Kung talks about his debut cookbook, Kung Food: Chinese American Recipes from a Third-Culture Kitchen. He tells us about his cultural identity as a “third-culture kid,” how he experienced multiple cultures at once while growing up, and how he applies that experience to his fusion cooking. He shares a recipe for reimagined Hong Kong Style Chicken and Waffles. Then, Rose Previte, author of the new book Maydan: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond, talks about travels and her cultural background that influenced her award-winning restaurant and her interest in dishes cooked over fire like Omani Grilled Shrimp Kebabs. Broadcast dates for this episode: November 3, 2023 (originally aired) Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

This week, we talk about the delicious and varied world of Asian vegan cooking. First, we talk to Hannah Che, author of The Vegan Chinese Kitchen, about becoming vegan and navigating her family’s eating traditions. She talks about exploring the history of plant-based eating in China and her process for creating vegan recipes inspired by everyday dishes using Chinese seasonings. She leaves us with her recipes for Braised Winter Squash with Fermented Black Beans and Fragrant Dressed Tofu with Garlic and Basil. Then, Chef Danny Bowien, author of Mission Vegan, tells us the charming story of why he started cooking vegan in his former restaurant Mission Chinese and walks us through his version of Mapo Tofu, and leaves us a recipe for Cold Buckwheat Noodles with Dragon Fruit Ice that captures the book’s spirit of rediscovering his Korean heritage. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 21, 2022 (originally aired) Ocotber 27, 2023 (rebroadcast) Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show

This week, we dedicate the hour to the fabulous Dorie Greenspan. We talk about her start in food, from burning her kitchen down when she was a pre-teen to her love for project baking early in her career and becoming the iconic writer and cookbook author we know today. She shares stories about meeting Julia Child, working alongside high-level pastry chefs, including France’s Pierre Hermé, and her highly- creative process for writing recipes. Dorie is the author of 14 Cookbooks, including the best-selling Baking with Dorie, Everyday Dorie, Dorie’s Cookies, and Around My French Table. Check out our collection of Dorie interviews and recipes here. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 20, 2023 (originally aired) Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

This week, we have the iconic musician Linda Ronstadt and her collaborator Lawrence Downes talking about her love of the culture and food of the Sonoran Desert. We hear about the different Sonoran foods and stories from their travels, and she leaves us with her grandmother’s albondigas recipe. Their book is Feels Like Home A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands. Then we talk to MacArthur Fellow, Professor Natalia Molina about the restaurant her grandmother ran in the 1950s in Los Angeles, El Nayarit, and how a restaurant can be the heart of a community. Her book is A Place at the Nayarit, How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 7, 2022 (originally aired) October 13, 2023 (rebroadcast) Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

This week, we dive into the new spice trade, its history, and two specific companies' commitment to their farmers and direct trade. First, we talk to Sana Javeri Kadri, founder of Diaspora Co. She talks about her research on what the spice trade should look like today and what inspired her to base her business on the stories of spice farmers worldwide. Check out this recipe for Almond Turmeric Potatoes to put your turmeric to work. Then, we talked to Ethan Frisch, Co-Founder of the direct trade spice company Burlap & Barrel. He walks us through a spice tasting of peppercorns, cinnamon, and cumin for a lesson in evaluating aroma and flavor and a gentle reminder of the qualities we should be thinking about when we buy spices. After hearing the conversation about cinnamon, you'll want to give it a go with this recipe for Cinnamon-Toast Graham Crackers. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 6, 2023 (originally aired) Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

This week, we visit the legendary Jacques Pépin at home to talk about one of his favorite subjects, chicken! First, we dive into some of the French chicken classics and talk about his latest book, Art of the Chicken. Then we move over to his kitchen, where he invites us to taste his mother's egg specialty dish, Eggs Jeannette, a pan-crisped deviled egg. Then, we turn to French homebaking with Aleksandra Crapanzano, author of Gateau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes. She talks about how to elevate À la Français a basic cake recipe by using the spirits and pantry items in your cabinet, and leaves us with her delicious recipe for Almond Yogurt Cake, a cake the French teach in preschool! Broadcast dates for this episode: September 23, 2022 (originally aired) September 29, 2023 (rebroadcast) Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

This week, we dedicate the hour to rest and rice. First, we talk to Adeena Sussman about her Shabbat rituals, from cooking with a sense of spirituality, taking the time to unplug, and connecting with family and friends. She talks about iconic dishes she enjoys making and sharing during Shabbat, like her Jachnun Rolled Yemenite Sabbath Bread, and she sticks around to answer your cooking questions. Her latest book is Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours. Then, we enter the world of rice with Chef JJ Johnson, author of The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table. He talks to us about the rice he grew up eating, his research in West African culture, and cooking rice professionally and making it the center of the table, and he sticks around to answer your rice cooking questions. He left us his recipe for Crispy Rice Salad with Quick Pickled Onion. September 22, 2023 (originally aired) Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora This week, we're exploring the history of women and beermaking. First, Theresa McCulla, curator of The Smithsonian's American Brewing History Initiative, explains why beer is a great lens to examine American history and shares the story of Patsy Young, an early American brewer and fugitive from slavery. Then, Atinuke Akintola Diver talks about her feature-length documentary This Belongs to Us, which follows Black women brewers in the American south and finally, beer Journalist Stephanie Grant of Good Beer Hunting shares her favorite beer and food pairings. You can find her newsletter, The Share, here and on Substack. Broadcast dates for this episode: September 9, 2022 (originally aired) September 15, 2023 (rebroadcast) Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

This week, we dive into the world of apples and agave. First, we talk with apple historian Diane Flynt, author of Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South, about what makes apples so magical and the connection apples have to people. She also teaches us the history of apples in the South and tips on what makes a good cider. Then, we turn to the world of Agave spirits with authors Gary Paul Nabhan and David Suro Piñera, where we get an understanding of agave as not just an entity but a “whole rainbow of flavors and fragrance” as well as the fascinating craftsmanship behind mezcal and tequilas. Their latest book is Agave Spirits: The Past, Present, and Future of Mezcals. September 8, 2023 (originally aired) Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

This week, we hear from three papa bears who take on the challenge of making mealtime just right. J. Kenji López-Alt of The Food Lab answers your questions about getting kids excited about food and clues us in on techniques and the research behind them. His new book is Every Night is Pizza Night. Then Momofuku chef and Ugly Delicious star, David Chang and writer Chris Ying join Francis to share their own experiences of fatherhood and how they’ve taken on the toddler mealtime battle. David Chang’s new book is Eat a Peach, A Memoir. Chris Ying’s latest with Ivan Orkin is Gaijin Cookbook: Japanese Recipes From a Chef, Father, Eater and Lifelong Outsider. Broadcast dates for this episode: October 2, 2020 (originally aired) October 1, 2021 (rebroadcast) September 1, 2023 (rebroadcast)

Thanks to the farmers and gardeners who are keeping us well-fed this summer. This week, we talk to farmer/activist Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm, and chef/farmer Abra Berens.

This week we have stories centered around food, love, and legacy. First, we talk with author Michaele Weissman about meeting her husband's family for the first time, tasting his mother's bread, and later learning its significance and how it represented her husband's life. Her latest book is The Rye Bread Marriage: How I Found Happiness with a Partner I'll Never Understand. Then, we sit with Barkha Cardoz to remember her husband, the late Chef Floyd Cardoz. We talk about their meeting in culinary school in India to admiring how he would add flavor to everything he cooked. In his honor, she is releasing the masala spice blends they created together to continue his legacy. Then, we feature a segment from our sister podcast, The One Recipe, where Chef Pierre Thiam, author of the latest book, Simply West African, talks to host Jesse Sparks about the first time he introduced the love of his life to his aunt and the one recipe that ultimately passed the test, Sauce Feuille. Broadcast dates for this episode: August 18, 2023 (originally aired) Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.