This week, we’re spending the hour with the charming and beloved Irish cooking teacher and writer Darina Allen. It’s a spirited conversation about growing up in a country kitchen, her love of eating, and the single moment she decided to pursue her career in cooking. She tells us about her organic farm at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, shares her unusual and brilliant teaching style, and explains why learning to cook and connect to nature is one of the greatest life skills anyone can achieve. She leaves us with a recipe for an Irish classic, Spotted Dog Railway Cake. Darina is the author of many best-selling books, including The Forgotten Skills of Cooking: 700 Recipes Showing You Why the Time-Honored Ways Are the Best.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

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• January 10, 2025 (originally aired)

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This week, we explore some of the iconic dishes of the Midwest. First, we talked to chef Paul Fehribach about Midwestern cuisine and the history of its unique dishes as they evolved from generations of immigrants. From the evolution of Midwestern-style barbecue to Cincinnati chili, considered by Paul to be one of the oldest examples of fusion cooking. Paul Fehribach is the author of Midwestern Food, A Chef’s Guide to the Surprising History of a Great American Cuisine. Then, we take a field trip to New York City and visit Burger Scholar George Motz at his new restaurant, Hamburger America, to see what makes an epic hamburger. He walks us through some of the most iconic burgers he’s tasted, their histories, and their different cooking techniques. George Motz is a filmmaker and author. His latest book is The Great American Burger Book.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

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• January 12, 2024 (originally aired)

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• January 3, 2025 (rebroadcast)

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This week, we have just what you need to prepare for this holiday season. First, award-winning author and food scientist Nik Sharma shares his favorite holiday traditions and food pairings that will make your vegetables shine at the table. He is the author of Veg-Table, Recipes, Techniques and Plant Science for Big-Flavored, Vegetable-Focused Meals, and he left us with his recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. Then, the internet’s most beloved cooking star, Claire Saffitz, brings us her top holiday dessert ideas. She covers everything from citrus desserts, like her Souffleed Lemon Bread Pudding, to her holiday cookies, like the Chewy Molasses Spice Cookie, and what to make for New Year's. Her latest book is What’s for Dessert, Simple Recipes for Dessert People. Then, award-winning author Toni Tipton–Martin, talks about historical cocktail recipes and their modern interpretations. Her latest book is Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs and Juice: Cocktails From Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks. And she left us with her recipe for Pomegranate Demerara Rum Punch.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

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• December 22, 2023 (originally aired)

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• December 27, 2024 (rebroadcast)

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