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

American Public Media

The Splendid Table has always connected people through the common language of food and eating. Now with award-winning food journalist Francis Lam at the helm, we’re bringing forward even more fresh voices and surprising conversations at the intersection of food, people and culture – covering everything from the global appeal of sesame to the impact of Instagram on everyday eating. It’s a food show where everyone is welcome. Produced by American Public Media. read less

Our Editor's Take

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes for Curious Cooks & Eaters is a food podcast with a difference. It offers good food, great conversations, and fascinating food history. The program debuted in 1995 and has aired on public radio since then. The food show gives thorough and entertaining insights about food and food-related topics. With the podcast, listeners now have the luxury of playing past episodes and getting new ones.

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes for Curious Cooks & Eaters' topics are well-researched. The show's hosts and guests are knowledgeable about food. It does not matter if they discuss home cooking or elevated brunches-the result is the same. Podcast listeners get an entertaining show.

The Splendid Table got its name from a cookbook by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. The book made history by becoming the first to win two major awards in the cooking industry. It received a Julia Child Award and a James Beard Award. Kasper cocreated this radio program. She served as host of the show from 1995 until 2017. That year, award-winning food writer Francis Lam took over as host. Before coming on as the podcast's host, he had contributed to and guest-hosted the show since 2010. Lam's career has included writing for The New York Times, Gourmet, and Food & Wine. He has also served as a judge on Top Chef.

Podcast topics cut across cuisine, history, and food policies. Listeners hear about everything from Masala tea to the ubiquitous refrigerator. Chefs Robynne Maii and Maneet Chauhan have appeared on the podcast. Other guests have included cookbook authors, restaurateurs, foodies, and more. Listeners can call in with culinary questions and share interesting food facts. The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes for Curious Cooks & Eaters is a good podcast for foodies. New episodes drop each week.

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780: Spring Cookbook Roundup

780: Spring Cookbook Roundup

This week, we are celebrating the spring cookbooks of 2023! First, we talk with Chef Lara Lee about her approach to flavorful meals using iconic Asian ingredients from her pantry, including recipes for her stellar Tom Yum Bloody Mary and Sambal Patatas Bravas - crispy potatoes topped with a sambal spiced tomato mixture and a bit of mayo! Addictive! Her latest book is A Splash of Soy. Then, we get deep into flavor combinations with Niki Segnit, author of The Flavor Thesaurus. She talks us through surprising flavor combinations that will inspire and expand your home cooking adventures. Then, we talk African home cooking with Lerato Umah-Shaylor, author of Africana, and her delicious recipes filled with traditional and modern flavors of African cuisine. From yassa butter to bejeweled aromatic fried rice and her delicious Akàrà; deep fried bean fritters with ginger & spring onions.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 12, 2023 (originally aired)April 26, 2024 (rebroadcast)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

Episodes

780: Spring Cookbook Roundup

780: Spring Cookbook Roundup

This week, we are celebrating the spring cookbooks of 2023! First, we talk with Chef Lara Lee about her approach to flavorful meals using iconic Asian ingredients from her pantry, including recipes for her stellar Tom Yum Bloody Mary and Sambal Patatas Bravas - crispy potatoes topped with a sambal spiced tomato mixture and a bit of mayo! Addictive! Her latest book is A Splash of Soy. Then, we get deep into flavor combinations with Niki Segnit, author of The Flavor Thesaurus. She talks us through surprising flavor combinations that will inspire and expand your home cooking adventures. Then, we talk African home cooking with Lerato Umah-Shaylor, author of Africana, and her delicious recipes filled with traditional and modern flavors of African cuisine. From yassa butter to bejeweled aromatic fried rice and her delicious Akàrà; deep fried bean fritters with ginger & spring onions.Broadcast dates for this episode:May 12, 2023 (originally aired)April 26, 2024 (rebroadcast)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

802: Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall and Roots, Heart, Soul with Todd Richards

802: Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall and Roots, Heart, Soul with Todd Richards

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify | PandoraThis week, it’s the food journeys of two chefs. First, TV Star and author Carla Hall joins us to talk about her latest show, Chasing Flavor. She brings us stories about her filming and travels and the connection between people and their food. She sticks around to answer some of your cooking questions. Carla Hall hosts the MAX series, Chasing Flavor, and is the author of Carla's Soul Food: Every Day and Celebration. Then, we sat down with Atlanta chef Todd Richards to talk about the interesting and varied influences on soul food. He talks about the foods from West Africa, how they traveled across the Caribbean, and how the dishes have evolved. He left us with his recipe for Haitian Oxtail in Beef Broth with Pikliz. Todd's new book is Roots, Heart and Soul: The Story, Celebration and Recipes of Afro Cuisine in America.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 19, 2024 (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! Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show.

779: Fruits & Veggies with Abra Berens and Sheela Prakash

779: Fruits & Veggies with Abra Berens and Sheela Prakash

This week, we promise you will get your recommended dose of fruits and vegetables! Award-winning author Abra Berens takes us on a sweet and savory journey with fruit. From best cooking methods to subtle and exotic pickling methods- think Brined Cherries + Salty Snacks, to advice on picking the best fruit to throw on the grill. She’s the author of three books, Grist, A Practical Guide to Cooking Grains, Beans, Seeds, and Legumes, Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables, and her latest, Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit. Then, we turn to vegetables with food editor and author Sheela Prakash. Her new book is Salad Seasons: Vegetable-Forward Dishes All Year. The book is chockfull of imaginative uses for fresh veggies, including an amazing recipe for Spring Carrots with Burnt Butter and Labneh.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 21, 2023 (originally aired)April 12, 2024 (rebroadcast)Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift

801: Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking with Von Diaz and My Life in Recipes, Food, Family and Memories with Joan Nathan

801: Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking with Von Diaz and My Life in Recipes, Food, Family and Memories with Joan Nathan

We are looking at food stories from different cultures this week. First, documentarian and journalist Von Diaz joins us to talk about her latest book, Islas: A Celebration of Tropical Cooking. She writes about island cuisine from all over the world and talks about her academic field research, the connections she feels when she is on an island, and the unique dishes she cooked and tasted for her book research. She found commonality among the islands in their cooking techniques, from grilling to smoking and marinating, and shares a delicious, iconic island recipe for CHamoru Barbecue Chicken with Juanita’s Fina’denne’. Then, best-selling author and Jewish food authority Joan Nathan joins us to talk about her latest book, a memoir My Life in Recipes, Food, Family and Memories. Joan chronicles her start in food, the people she met along the way, her passion for elevating the home cook and her devotion to the regular ritual of sitting down together for a meal. Broadcast dates for this episode:April 5, 2024 (originally aired)Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

778: Spring Baking with Natasha Pickowicz, Esteban Castillo, and Chetna Makan

778: Spring Baking with Natasha Pickowicz, Esteban Castillo, and Chetna Makan

We’re all about baking today, from New York to Mexico to London by way of India. First, Pastry Chef Natasha Pickowicz talks to us about her favorite recipes and her baking process. Then, she shares her baking techniques, from bringing egg whites back to life to saving overbaked cakes by soaking them in delicious liquid. She is the author of More Than Cake: 100 Baking Recipes for Pleasure and Community, and she left us with her Fennel, Chocolate, and Hazelnut Spears. Then, Chicano Eats Food Blogger Esteban Castillo gives us a rundown of his favorite Mexican pastries and all the goodness Mexican panaderias have to offer, from cakes to jellos and even savory treats. He is the author of Chicano Bakes: Recipes for Mexican Pan Dulce, Tamales, and My Favorite Desserts. He left us with his recipe for Pan de Elote. And you can find more recipes on his site, Chicano Eats. Then, one of the most beloved contestants on the Great British Baking Show, Chetna Makan, talks about her love of baking and the ways she incorporates Indian spices and flavors into her sweets. Her latest book is Chetna’s Easy Baking with a Twist of Spice, and she left us with her recipe for Chocolate and Coconut Spiced  Self-Saucing Pudding.Broadcast dates for this episode:April 7, 2023 (originally aired)March 29, 2024 (rebroadcast)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today

800: Start Here with Sohla El-Waylly

800: Start Here with Sohla El-Waylly

This week, we spend the hour with cooking columnist and internet sensation, Sohla El-Waylly. We talk about her connection to food and how she got her start as a pastry chef, writer, and recipe developer. She talks about her work in restaurants and her passion for teaching people how to cook. And she answers your cooking questions, from the best way to cook rabbit to her favorite ice cream flavor. Her latest book is Start Here, filled with recipes that teach techniques, as shown in her Bisteeya Inspired Phyllo Chicken Pie recipe.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 22, 2024 (originally aired)Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

777: Chef Robynne Maii Takes On Your Culinary Quandaries & Magic Crispy Things with Nik Sharma

777: Chef Robynne Maii Takes On Your Culinary Quandaries & Magic Crispy Things with Nik Sharma

This week, Honolulu chef Robynne Maii teams up with Francis to answer your cooking questions! First, we catch up on her connection to cooking and dancing, what she grew up eating thanks to her mom's love of faithfully following a recipe, and what she loves to eat as a Honolulu local. Then she dives right in with our listener questions, from what to do with leftover roast duck to how to make chili crisp. She leaves us with a recipe for Simple Smoked Fish Dip. After answering that listener's question about chili crisps, we thought it would be perfect to talk to the master of food science, award-winning writer Nik Sharma, about his favorite crispy things. He left us with a great oven technique for crispy shallots and a Chicken Kanji recipe.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 17, 2023 (originally aired)March 15, 2024 (rebroadcast)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

799: The Dish with Andrew Friedman and Flavorama with Arielle Johnson

799: The Dish with Andrew Friedman and Flavorama with Arielle Johnson

This week, we're all about the world of restaurants and flavor. First, we talked with Andrew Friedman about his career, writing about American food culture, chefs, and the restaurant scene. He talks to us about his latest project, spending time behind the swinging doors of a restaurant and how all the kitchen roles—from the butcher to the delivery drivers to the dishwasher make the dish you sit down to enjoy. His latest book is The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food. Then we sit down with Flavor Scientist Arielle Johnson, who talks about the science behind flavor, from flavor perceptions to aroma and the laws of flavor. Arielle's latest book is Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor, and she leaves us with her recipes for Smoke Oil & Smoke Oil Infused Fish.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 8, 2024 (originally aired)Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show

776: Chinese Tea with Theresa Wong & Masala Chai with Leena Trivedi-Grenier

776: Chinese Tea with Theresa Wong & Masala Chai with Leena Trivedi-Grenier

This week, we dive into the world of tea, its history, and traditions. First up, we visit the T Shop in New York City with East Asian tea expert Theresa Wong. Theresa leads Francis through a tea tasting, from black, thru oolong all the way to green. We learn a few brewing tips along the way as well. Then, food and culture writer Leena Trevedi-Grenier talks to us about the surprising story of Masala Chai's history and gives us an in-depth guide to spicing and techniques for making the perfect cup. You can find her recipe for Fresh Ginger Masala Tea here.Broadcast dates for this episode:March 3, 2023 (originally aired)March 1, 2024 (rebroadcast)Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

798: On the Road – Orange County, CA with Gustavo Arellano, Daniel & Brenda Castillo, Kenneth Nguyen & Patricia Huang

798: On the Road – Orange County, CA with Gustavo Arellano, Daniel & Brenda Castillo, Kenneth Nguyen & Patricia Huang

This week, we’re bringing you a show we recorded with LAist in Orange County, CA, one of the richest food scenes in the US. We talk to award-winning journalist Gustavo Arellano about the evolution of OC’s culinary scene, the immigrant influences, and how its diverse foodways continue to be embraced by the different generations. Gustavo is the Los Angeles Times columnist and author of Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America and his latest, A People’s Guide to Orange County; then, Chefs Brenda and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue join the stage to talk about making Texas barbecue in CA and making it their own and then, Kenneth Nguyen, host of The Vietnamese Podcast and Patricia Huang, former general manager of the famous Asian 626 Night Market, talk about Orange County's Asian street food culture. Broadcast dates for this episode:February 23, 2024 (originally aired)Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.

775: Home Cooking with Gavin Kaysen

775: Home Cooking with Gavin Kaysen

This week, we talk about home cooking with Minneapolis chef Gavin Kaysen. He tells us how he finds a balance between cooking at home and cooking at a restaurant and writing his latest cookbook, aptly titled, At Home. He shares tips for making the cooking process less stressful and how to think about it as an enjoyment versus a task. He leaves us with one of his family's favorite recipes: Spatchcock Chicken with North African Spices, Sweet Potato Hash, and Broccolini. Plus, he sticks around to answer your cooking questions. Broadcast dates for this episode:February 17, 2023 (originally aired)February 2016, (rebroadcast)

797: Melissa Clark’s Deep Dive into Salt & Crystal Wilkinson on her Kitchen Ghosts

797: Melissa Clark’s Deep Dive into Salt & Crystal Wilkinson on her Kitchen Ghosts

This week, we talk to two award-winning authors about their latest work. First, The New York Times cooking columnist Melissa Clark talks to us about her deep dive into the world of salt. From exploring salt harvesting in France to the history and revival of artisanal salts, she walks us through different types of salt and their uses in cooking. She sticks around to answer your cooking questions. Melissa Clark's latest book is Dinner in One, and for a taste of her style, check out her recipe for Roasted Cauliflower & Potatoes with Harissa, Yogurt & Toasted Almonds. Then, award-winning author Crystal Wilkinson talks to us about her new memoir, honoring her maternal ancestors, her kitchen ghosts. She talks about feeling them deeply while cooking and realizing their presence in her life. Crystal's memoir is Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks, and she leaves us with her recipe for Indian Creek Skillet Cornbread. Broadcast dates for this episode:February 9, 2024 (originally aired)Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today.

774: On the Road – Hawaii with Chefs Sheldon Simeon, Ed Kenney, Robynne Maii and More!

774: On the Road – Hawaii with Chefs Sheldon Simeon, Ed Kenney, Robynne Maii and More!

We took the show on the road for a live event at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu. First, we spoke to Hawaii Public Radio’s Culture and Arts reporter Jayna Omaye and Chef Sheldon Simeon of Tin Roof Maui about Hawaiian cuisine’s unique mix of cultures. Then, James Beard award-winning chef Robynne Maii of Fête in Chinatown, Honolulu, and chef-owner of Mud Hen Water, Ed Kenney, explained how native Hawaiian traditions influence their cooking. And then, we talked to three legacy business owners about the importance of beloved local institutions in the food scene: Chris Kanemura, co-owner of Fujiya Hawai’i, Emma Bello, goat and dairy farmer at Sweet Land Farm, and Kevin Yim of Zippy’s. The live event at Hawaii Theatre was co-presented by Hawai‘i Public Radio and the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapi‘olani Community College and sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, Alohilani Resorts, and FarmLovers Markets.Broadcast dates for this episode:February 3, 2023 (originally aired)February 2, 2024 (rebroadcast)

796: Soup Season with Mariana Velásquez, Gregory Gourdet, and Jing Gao

796: Soup Season with Mariana Velásquez, Gregory Gourdet, and Jing Gao

This week, we welcome the cold with delicious soup! Food Stylist Mariana Velásquez Villegas, author of Colombiana: A Rediscovery of Recipes and Rituals from the Soul of Colombia talks us through Colombia's biodiversity and regional identity and the unique foods it inspires like Sancocho. This hearty stew brings people together in a communal dining experience. Be sure to listen to her playlist while preparing it! Then, we talk about Haitian cuisine with award-winning chef Gregory Gourdet as he shares his childhood memories of growing up, commemorating Haitian Independence Day with Soup Joumou, a hearty squash-based soup typically served on New Year's Day. Gregory Gourdet is the chef-owner of Kann in Portland, Oregon, and the author of Everyone's Table. Then, chili sauce entrepreneur Jing Gao, author of The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp, talks about Hot Pot, a zingy broth served in a large metal pot that gets tastier as you feast.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 26, 2024 (originally aired)Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.

773: Happy Lunar New Year!

773: Happy Lunar New Year!

This week it’s a look at the different Lunar New Year celebrations in China, Vietnam, and Korea. First, Sarah and Kaitlin Leung talk about their Chinese New Year traditions and the symbolism behind the dishes they serve at their new year table. Sarah and Kaitlin, along with their parents, Judy and Bill, are the family behind The Woks of Life blog and cookbook, and they shared their family recipe for Poached “White Cut” Chicken. Then, Andrea Nguyen, author of Vietnamese Food Any Day, talks about celebrating Tet, the Vietnamese new year tradition that focuses on simple foods like rice, meat, beans, and vegetables. Her forthcoming book is, Ever Green Vietnamese, and she left us with her Braised Pork Ribs in Caramel Sauce (SUON KHO) recipe. Then Chef Hooni Kim, author of My Korea; Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes remembers Lunar New Year celebrations spent with his family and leaves us a recipe for a classic accompaniment, Simple Zucchini Jeon, a delicious pan-fried fritter with your choice of meats or vegetables.Broadcast dates for this episode:January 20, 2023 (originally aired)January 19, 2024 (rebroadcast)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!

795: Iconic Midwestern Food with Paul Fehribach and George Motz

795: Iconic Midwestern Food with Paul Fehribach and George Motz

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.

724: The Power of Smell with Harold McGee

724: The Power of Smell with Harold McGee

Have you ever wondered why things in the world have the smells that they do? Food science writer Harold McGee, long a fan of flavor, explored the world of smell to find out. He joins Francis to talk about his discoveries, explaining how he “listens” to smells, and what it can teach us about our lives. He’s one of the legends of food science writing and is the author of On Food and Cooking, the beloved, best-selling, game-changing culinary guide. His latest book is Nose Dive: A Field Guide to The Smells of the World. Broadcast dates for this episode:December 4, 2020 (originally aired)December 10, 2021 (rebroadcast)January 5, 2024 (rebroadcast)

718: Things You’ve Gotta Try

718: Things You’ve Gotta Try

This week, we’re all about trying some new things in the kitchen. We’ve got unexpected ideas from our listeners and from pros like Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi. Food & Wine’s restaurant editor Khushbu Shah weighs in on the best way to cook rice and their wine editor Ray Isle turns to canned wine. Chef Pierre Thiam introduces us the African super grain fonio, and Ariel Dumas, adventurist cook and a head writer for The Late Show with Steven Colbert, accepts a ratatouille challenge from Francis.Broadcast dates for this episode:August 28, 2020 (originally aired)September 3, 2021 (rebroadcast)December 29, 2023 (rebroadcast)Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show

794: Holiday Cheer with Nik Sharma, Claire Saffitz, & Toni Tipton-Martin

794: Holiday Cheer with Nik Sharma, Claire Saffitz, & Toni Tipton-Martin

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:December 22, 2023 (originally aired)Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate today

Bonus Episode: The One Recipe's Holiday Special 2023

Bonus Episode: The One Recipe's Holiday Special 2023

We’re dropping a bonus episode in our feed this week from our Sister Podcast, The One Recipe. Join host Jesse Sparks for a holiday edition of The Splendid Table’s sister podcast, The One Recipe. In this hour-long episode, Jesse talks to culinary superstars about their family traditions and their “One,” the recipe that signals the holidays have officially begun! Our guests bring us their family food traditions from all over the globe. Chetna Makan, Britain’s queen of Indian home cooking, gives us a recipe for a seriously delicious nibble for cocktails, Chetna’s Cheesy Potato Balls, beloved Texan chef of Roots Chicken Shack in Dallas, Tiffany Derry, has amazing stories from her family’s truly enormous holiday feast and talks us through a recipe for her Mother’s Gumbo and Matt Adlard, influencer, author of the best-selling Bake it Better and the son of a Michelin starred chef, talks about his family’s sometimes competitive holiday cooking and leaves us with a perfect recipe for his Chocolate Yule Log.If you like our show, don’t forget to hit like and subscribe and leave us a review!Help support The One Recipe with a donation of any amount today.