Showing results by narrator "Jim Coleman" in All Categories

It's that time of year when we are busy, overwhelmed, and running on empty. So, if you're feeling harried, we'll find some simple solutions - like hiring a butler. OK, that's not possible, but we'll tell you what it would be like to have a real "Jeeves" around the house! And there's nothing that chocolate doesn't fix. Kallari chocolate provides economic sustenance for one community and is also saving the rainforest - find out about this unique cooperative.

Fall ushers in the last of the garden harvest--and after a fast paced summer, we're returning to slow, autumn cooking. So, today's show is a little autumn stew - a few ingredients, some cooking techniques and time spent in the kitchen. Ingredients like tomatoes. Heirloom, of course. We recall a conversation with Paula Wolfert about slow, Mediterranean cooking. And if you think wine education has to be formal and stuffy, you haven't seen Gary Vaynerchuk.

For a short month February has a lot going on! On today's show we'll cover the highlights: Presidents Day, Chinese New Year and Valentines.

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly a year since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. On today's show, we'll see how the region is faring. The reviews have been mixed: some will say they are well on the road to normalcy; others indicate help has been sorely lacking.

The clocks have changed - hopefully - the closets are cleaned, and we're all waiting for the first taste of summer produce. Today, we salute spring and the fresh fruits and vegetables to come. Vietnamese Cuisine is known for its robust and flavorful use of vegetables, so we'll start there. Then, we'll get some advice on creating an outdoor kitchen and discover some quick-fix picnics. Later, learn how to start a raised vegetable garden with Katharine Whiteside.

Superbowl Sunday. It's not just the game. Superbowl parties can be a low-stress way to entertain.

Time can be a great ingredient. On today's show, we talk about aging...from wine and cheeses to sausages and even father-son relationships. We'll also talk with Delilah Winder about soul food, a cuisine that has been handed down from generation to generation. Her Mac and Cheese recipe was deemed "The Best" by Oprah. Nora Ephron discusses women, age, and necks. A father and son reconcile over bialys in a new memoir. Plus, Graham Kerr's healthy life on the road and more.

Everyone needs an expert now and then! On this week's show, we've got specialists in everything from mangoes to grilling and even ginseng. We'll get some grilling techniques and recipes from an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. Then, discover the amazing history and properties of ginseng. We also travel to the subcontinent and discover the enormous variety in mangoes.

Peasant food, rustic food, comfort food: no matter what you call it, down-home regional dishes passed from generation to generation remain our favorites. Today, we'll celebrate the home cook and enjoy simple meals from kitchens around the world. Mario Batali chats about simplicity and Mr. Cutlets finds an unusual dinner. Finally, a walking and noshing tour of New York City's most delicious neighborhoods.

Today we're all about the upcoming celebration on the Fourth. It's all about patriotic ceremonies, fireworks, history, and of course, the food. And, as a nation of many immigrants, we're lucky to have many food influences. Lidia Bastianich discusses her 10 favorite places in Italy, plus her life as a native of Italy and her adopted America.

Today we're all about family. Learn how to plan a family reunion from the founder of Temple University's Family Reunion Institute. We'll talk to two sets of siblings about hunting down recipes: the Lee Brothers and the Brass sisters. Next, Madhur Jaffrey describes the joint-family system in India and how she learned to cook. Later, a visit with Eric Chopin from The Biggest Loser. Plus, we'll also learn how to make elderberry "champagne" and get some tips for picnic entertaining.

What dishes HAVE to be on the holiday table? There are some flavors that are so much a part of our holiday spirit they have come to define us. For playwright Eduardo Machado, it's Cuban Roast Pork. For Michelle Bernstein it's a family chicken soup recipe...from Argentina. We'll also discover some slightly unusual holiday beer traditions. And for some, it isn't the holidays without uncorking champagne.

So, you're on a picnic this weekend. Take a look at the table. We have so many different influences on our cuisine. On today's show we'll take a look at what America eats. Josh Ozersky, our Mr. Cutlets, says there's one food that is categorically American -- the hamburger. And if it is grass fed and raised on the prairie, then even more so! Discover an unpublished WPA project with Pat Willard as she traces the meals and foodways of this writer's project.

Time can be a great ingredient. On today's show we talk about aging...from wine and sausages to father-son relationships. We'll also talk with Delilah Winder about soul food, a cuisine that has been handed down from generation to generation. Her Mac-and-Cheese recipe was deemed "the best" by Oprah. Plus, Graham Kerr's healthy life on the road and more.

What does it take to be excellent? On today's show we're looking at the fine art of living excellently. Although it sure doesn't sound pretty, we'll discover how coffee is judged at the famed "Cup of Excellence." Our sommelier, Maureen Petrosky, gives us a "101" on the basics of blended wine. And, we'll take a look at the house wine of the south - sweet tea - and swap stories about life and food in the rural south.

No matter how you slice 'em it's the time of year to enjoy apples! On today's show we take a bit out of fall and get an in-depth look at the art of eating an apple. And if you want to get the most of out of your grill before the winter hits - try breakfast. Then we take a look at a museum exhibit and the history of Chinese Restaurants. Susannah Foo stops by to talk about her Eastern/Western fusion, Corrine Trang gives us tips on rice and we cook with ginseng - it's not just for tea.

How do you "chow down"? Today's show looks at how we eat and the choices we make. From our food chain, to recipes, beverages, and even what to wear, we'll look at what gets on our plate and how we dine. Some decisions are made for us long before the consumer gets in the picture. Michael Pollan takes a look in his book, The Omnivore's Dilemma. Later, Bill Buford shows us what it's like to work in Mario Batali's kitchen. We'll also discover recipes from home cooks and learn about green tea.

Darina Allen one of Ireland's best known chefs, a TV Host and a cookbook author has written many books, including Irish Traditional Cooking. Her cooking school is Ballymaloe in County Cork. The food in Ireland has become incredible, and much of that is due to Darina Allen. Then, our sommelier, Maureen Petrosky, talks us through pairing traditional Irish foods, and more.

Maryland has the Crabcake, Buffalo its Beef on Weck, and where would New Orleans be without its Po Boys? While many will argue where to get the best Cheesesteak, there's no question this sandwich is the iconic food of Philadelphia. We'll discover the history...and some controversy on the Cheesesteak sandwich. Later, we'll find out what one chef would cook for the Obama's in the Whitehouse.

No question beef is an iconic American food - from big burgers to thick, luscious steaks. How did we go from the cattle drive of the West to corn fed agribusiness, and now back again to the resurgence of grass fed? In her book, Raising Steaks, food writer Betty Fussel takes us through the history of American beef. Later, Jennifer McLagan helps us "chew the fat" about beef fat - and what she has to say will surprise you.