Episode 237: Gin Craze

The gin craze in eighteenth-century London was a 30-year reign that both elevated and devastated an era. We'll hear the story from Jessica Warner, author of Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of Reason.

The Sterns are traveling New Mexico's Turquoise Highway and dining among peahens, wild turkeys, and peacocks at the San Marcos Café in Cerrillos. John Willoughby of Gourmet magazine thinks a bottle of Vietnamese fish sauce belongs in every cupboard—and it's essential in his recipe for Spicy Cabbage Salad with Chile-Rubbed Flank Steak.

Nancy Silverton, the high priestess of bread baking, has ideas for what to do with those stale loaves lurking in the pantry. Sort-Of Frisée Lardon from her new book, Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book, is a delicious way to use the last of that $5 loaf you bought last week. Food writer David Leite tells the tale of a man and his stove. And Lynne shares her recipe for Luxury Scrambled Eggs recently featured in our newsletter, "Weeknight Kitchen.""

Broadcast dates for this episode:

• April 5, 2003 (originally aired)

• March 27, 2004 (rebroadcast)