This is the week most of us start a diet, and next week is the week the depression and guilt kick in! Why don't diets work? We're taking a look at the Great American Diet Scam with Journalist Laura Fraser, author of Losing It. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the best chili in the States, Steve Raichlen of Low Fat/High Flavor fame gives a list of 5 must-haves for the lowfat pantry, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner talks kitchen lighting and Grocery Guru Al Sicherman and Lynne do a sour cream tasting.
If you've had enough already of winter, start thinking south of the border and tune in as Rick Bayless, award-winning author of Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen, gives us an insider's view of places to go, things to see and, best of all, places to eat in Oaxaca! Jane and Michael Stern report in from just north of the border in Arizona with advice on where to find superb Indian Tacos. Our fruit expert, David Karp, recently visited California's Coachella Valley during the date harvest and shares what he learned about dates, including mail-order sources for superb rare varieties. Anne from Minneapolis tries to Stump the Cook, and Lynne takes your calls and makes one herself—to Spago in Las Vegas!
It's one of the great food obsessions—chocolate—with renowned confectioner Nick Malgieri, author of Chocolate: From Simple Cookies to Extravagant Showstoppers. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Snappy Lunch in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. specialty produce expert David Karp talks Meyer lemons, and kitchen designer Deborah Krasner tells us how to best light our kitchen.
The holiday entertaining season has begun and Sally Quinn, legendary Washington, DC hostess and author of the recently published book, The Party: A Guide to Adventurous Entertaining, will share tips for hosting stylish and unforgettable get-togethers. Sally says it has much to do with "seating." Our roadfood experts, Jane and Michael Stern, give us their short list of holiday mail-order goodies, including a source for the best popcorn balls (who but the Sterns would have tracked down the best in popcorn balls?) Cheesemonger Steve Jenkins fills us in on some delectable finds with his December cheese picks; our grocery guru, Al Sicherman, food and humor columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, tells us what's new in the grocery aisles; Pam from California tries to Stump the Cook; and Lynne takes your calls.
We're getting a Frenchman's interpretation of Thanksgiving with famed chef and personality Jacque Pepin. master baker Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of the legendary book The Cake Bible, is with us with the last word on pies! Rose's long-awaited book, The Pie and Pastry Bible hits the shelves this month. Wanderers Jane and Michael Stern take us to yam heaven.
You don't have to stalk duck, pheasant, and venison in the woods. Simply go to your grocer! We're taking a look at game this week with Janie Hibler, author of Wild About Game. Jane and Michael Stern are stalking Chicago's famed Michigan Avenue and Master of Wine Mary Ewing Mulligan has returned from a visit to Scotland—Islay to be exact. It's a wine-lover's interpretation of Scotch.
She's back! Shirley Corriher, our food scientist, favorite culinary sleuth, and author of the best-selling CookWise, joins us this week with more of her no-nonsense advice and insights into how and why things happen in cooking. Shirley shares the secret to perfect browning in her recipe for juicy roast chicken and gives us the final word on how to keep those pricey exotic greens fresh for a month (yes, a month!) in the crisper. Trust us—we use her technique and it works! Our dynamic dining duo, Jane and Michael Stern, report in from Stella's in Montana with the lowdown on real cowboy food; Stewart Stevens, author of Feeding Frenzy, takes us to a three-star restaurant in Paris; and the phone lines will be open for your calls to Lynne.
Cocktail-party season is right around the corner, and we have an expert guide with us, the irrepressible Sharon Tyler Herbst, author of The Ultimate A to Z Cocktail Guide. Have you ever wondered about the proper toast etiquette? Sharon will fill us in. Jane and Michael Stern take us to the Miami Airport, kitchen designer Deborah Krasner talks Butcher Block and Brad from Oregon tries to Stump the Cook.
Award-winning chef John Ash brings us an insider's guide to the California wine country. John tells of the humble beginning of the now famous region, where, in the fields, gardens, wineries, and kitchens a revolution is occurring, inspired by global influences and dramatic changes in wine-making and the pairing of wine with food. John shares his not-to-be-missed picks of restaurants in Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa, and you'll want to try his recipe for New World risotto from his book, From the Earth to the Table, a winner of the IACP/Julia Child Book of the Year Award. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Arkansas for BBQ; fruit sleuth David Karp goes exotic with sapote; Angela in Wisconsin tries to Stump the Cook; and our grocery guru and stumpmaster, Al Sicherman, takes a look at greens showing up in the lettuce section of supermarkets - iceberg, move over! As always, Lynne will take your calls.
We're talking to the "Mistress of the Mediterranean," Paula Wolfert about the women behind her new book, Mediterranean Grains and Greens. Jane and Michael Stern take us to Ohio for exceptional apple cider, wine entrepreneur Joshua Wesson picks three wine bargains for autumn drinking, Janice from Colorado plays Stump the Cook, and grocery guru Al Sicherman and Lynne do a chocolate chip tasting.