We dig into iconic New Orleans dishes –Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Étouffée // A look at food trends that actually panned out in 2025 - and what’s heating up for 2026 // Smart strategies for building a better pantry in the year ahead // Traci Williams brings us the charm of her Teanaway Country Store and the rise of functional beverages // A winter Paella that turns dinner into a celebration // Pastry Chef Brittany Bardeleben of Hot Cakes inspires us with sweet ideas for the new year // And of course, we’ll wrap up today’s show with Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

Citrus Season Begins - we kick things off with bright, peak‑season inspiration // Fermentation Deep Dive // Michelle and Jaimon Westing of Symbiotic Cultures share the craft behind living foods // New Year Flavor Moves for 2026 - resolutions for a smarter, more delicious year // Best Bites of 2025 - food and travel writer Leslie Kelly brings her standout tastes of the year // Tasting Panel: Potato Chips - the Hot Stove crew crunches through a salty lineup // Crunchy Red Fruit - Master Sommelier Jackson Rohrbaugh joins us to talk about his wine club and new Fall City shop // Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia - we wrap the show with a spirited round!

Pyet DeSpain joins us with her new book - Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking // Kirstin Vracko, Boss Lady of Cheeky & Dry, shares new non-alcoholic wines to ring in the new year // Japanese Okonomiyaki Pancakes - Chef Instructor Rasyidah Rosli walks us through this savory favorite // Mahogany Williams, Founder & CEO of The Pickled Chef, takes us on a deep dive into pickles // Rib Roasts – we delve into cuts, techniques, and holiday inspiration // Eric Tanaka, Managing Partner of TD & Co. shares restaurant-level tips for home cooks // Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia – a special New Year’s addition!

Pantry Wildcards - Clever ways to transform unexpected ingredients into star dishes // Oyster Deep Dive – Lissa James Monberg, Vice President of Shellfish at Hama Hama Co., joins us to explore the briny world of oysters // Comfort Classics – Hot Stove Society Chef Instructor Sean McFadyen guides us through the art of Cottage Pies // Wine & Food Harmony – Winemaker Andrew Januik of Novelty Hill and Januik wineries, together with Executive Chef Jason Northern, share their philosophy on pairing wines with memorable meals // Festive Feasts – we build a Christmas dinner menu that dazzles from first course to last // Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

Culinary Travels: From Hawaii’s Big Island to New Orleans’ Big Easy // Holiday Food Gifts with Eliza Ward of Chef Shop // Hearty Barley Soup // Michelle Douglas, CEO of Emergency Food Network, returns to share their mission and community impact // Affordable Meals: From growing up in a big family to today’s budget-friendly cooking // Festive Holiday Cocktails with Belinda Kelly, author of Drink Your Garden // And of course, we’ll wrap up with Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

Jeremy Vrablik, Founder of Cascadia Foods — on the power of partnerships, turning wholesale produce into hunger relief and community impact // Eric Tanaka, Managing Partner of TD & Co. - culinary highlights from Mexico City // Tamales & Mole – celebrating Mexico’s iconic dishes // Erin Andrews, Founder and CEO of Indi Chocolate — bean-to-bar magic at Pike Place Market // Chefs Annie, Rasyidah, and Bridget – what the Hot Stove Sisters have in store // Celebrating Christmas German-style with Stollen and Glühwein // And of course, Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

Thanksgiving Leftovers: clever ways to transform your feast into new favorites // Chef John Sundstrom takes us inside the Sun Valley Food & Wine Festival // Explore a Bounty Season Menu with Lark Restaurant // Delve into the world of Tofu with Minh Tsai, Founder of Hodo Foods // Holiday Brunch at Home // South Lake Union’s latest beer hall with Tyler Hefford-Anderson of Gourmondo Co. and SLU BRU // And of course, Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

We slice into the world of knives with culinary innovator Scott Heimendinger, founder of Seattle Ultrasonics // Celebrating the soul of independent shops with Michael Teer of Pike & Western Wine Shop, guiding Seattle’s wine lovers for nearly 50 years // Thanksgiving favorites: Dressing & Sweet Potatoes – comfort, flavor, and a few surprises // We dish on holiday pies with chef instructor Annie Elmore – from crust tips to crowd-pleasers // A taste of tradition: Italian Panettone with Eliza Ward from Chef Shop // And as always, we wrap up with Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!!