Faith Middleton Food Schmooze

We asked you to share your favorite burgers with us, and you didn’t disappoint. In this rebroadcast, Faith and the gang highlight the restaurants and burger stands serving the best burgers in our region. Plus, cattle farmer and co-owner of Graze Burgers, Josh Welch, explains why beef from grass-fed cows is worth seeking out. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

We're listening back to some favorite tips to make you a better cook, including Chris Prosperi's trick for making dinner in a rice cooker. Plus, Klancy Miller joins us to talk about her book, Cooking Solo. It's all about the joy of cooking for yourself. Klancy shares recipes for a salmon pasta dish (it uses up leftovers!), polenta with mushrooms, and almond cake. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Everybody loves pizza on the grill, so this week, we listen back to Faith’s ideas for fresh, summer pizzas—with and without traditional dough. Plus, Alex Province creates a fun Chili Dog Pizza recipe, and the author of The Total Grilling Manual shares her recipes for Grilled Peaches with Butter Rum Sauce and over-the-top s'mores. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Faith and the gang invent a Shrimp Cocktail Bloody Mary using two local mixes, sip on a rosé and a white wine from France, and share family recipes from Add a Pinch blogger Robyn Stone’s cookbook. Think: Southern classics lightened up—summery Citrus Shrimp, Lemon Meringue Pie with Mile-High Meringue, and a divine Georgia Peach Crisp. Plus, the gang gives shout-outs to locals making good food (and handy kitchen gadgets). We tell you where to eat in Mystic (ah, the views right now!), and Faith describes the best baba ganoush on the East Coast. This show originally aired in 2017. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

Get creative with your burgers for 4th of July. Stuff them with caramelized onions, roasted fennel, or your favorite cheese.  What do you consider the best lobster roll in our region? Faith and the gang have that old hot butter vs. cold mayo debate. Share your favorite shack with us.  Plus, frank talk about the best local hot dogs. Connecticut has some truly great ones. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

In this week’s rebroadcast, Faith and her food buddies make themselves hungry describing a few of their favorite summer go-tos: herb-crusted beef tenderloin on the grill, pan-seared duck breast, and a super-easy blueberry cobbler made with pancake batter. Plus, Alex Province explains the fundamentals of paella.     Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

Master griller Jamie Purviance shares recipes for Beer Can Chicken, Beef Tenderloin with Seared Mushrooms, and a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake cooked on the grill. Plus, in this Father’s Day rebroadcast, Faith and the gang try two interesting red wines and learn how to shuck oysters from a pro. Support the show.

In one of our most fun shows, Tony Yurgaitis from Arethusa Farm & Dairy in Bantam and New Haven joined the party for an hour of ice cream and boozy milkshakes. Talk about good humor! Plus, Mark Scarbrough, co-author of the cookbook, A la Mode, joins the party with ice cream/dessert pairing ideas (and recipes!). Grab a pint to-go at your favorite local shop and celebrate the start of ice cream season with us. Support the show.

This week, we make a fresh no-cook pasta sauce and sip a local chardonnay from Jonathan Edwards Winery. Plus, in this rebroadcast, omelet expert John E. Finn, author of The Perfect Omelet joins the party with recipes for savory—and sweet—omelets. Finn’s Chocolate Soufflé Omelet is the breakfast treat you didn’t know you needed.    Support the show.

The key to great barbecue is layering flavors. Steven Raichlen tells you how to do it with recipes for sauces, rubs, and marinades. Get ready for burgers, ribs, and more. Plus, a CT restaurant serves a soft-shell crab BLT that gets raves, and Amy Dickinson of Wait. . .Wait Don’t Tell Me!® and the “Ask Amy” column describes her early life on a dairy farm and her mother’s cooking. Finally, we’re happily surprised by Pasqua Romeo & Juliet Bianco, a white wine that actually pairs with the spice and heat of our new favorite barbecue burger. Support the show.

It’s a Bloody Mary Party! We’re celebrating everybody’s favorite brunch cocktail with recipes for the Classic Bloody Mary, as well as some sweet and savory spins. Brian Bartels, author of the book, The Bloody Mary, shares recipes for a Barbecue Bloody Mary and the wild PB&J Bloody Mary. Inspired, Faith creates a Puttanesca Bloody Mary with a spicy vodka from Waypoint Spirits in Bloomfield, CT. And Alex Province pours a rich white rhone, a $14 Clos des Lumières L’eclat that we fell in love with. Plus, one of our favorite farmers and cooks, Susie Middleton (formerly of CT), shares recipes from her cookbook, Simple Green Suppers. Support the show.

In 2019, we celebrated the opening of Bear’s Smokehouse in New Haven. Listen back to Jamie McDonald and Jason Sobocinski describe their plans for the BBQ joint and biergarten. Cheer them on, knowing they’re feeding local heath care workers and first responders right now. Have you ordered take out yet this week? Plus, Dr. Aaron Carroll dispels myths about diet soda, red meat, coffee, and alcohol. Support the show.

People drive hours out of their way to experience the Red Truck Bakery in rural Virginia. Now you can make Brain Noyes' gold-standard recipes at home. The Red Truck Bakery Cookbook is filled with Brian’s stories (he’s a natural storyteller) and recipes you’ll want to make for friends and family—or President Obama, should you want to bake his favorite pie (he’s a fan!). Brain joins the party to share some of the stories behind the cakes and pies that have made him a household name.  Support the show.

Pull together the most delicious weeknight pastas from pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients. Food writer Colu Henry shares recipes and tips from her cookbook, Back Pocket Pasta. Plus, in this favorite from the archive, Faith and chef Chris Prosperi explain everything you ever wanted to know about how to get to the heart of an artichoke. Support the show.

In this favorite from the archive, our celebration of spring foods continues. Girls Scout cookies are a spring food, you know! We’ll tell you what you can expect to see coming up in the markets, and share garden tips (and clever hacks) for people growing veggies. Anthony DeSerio wows us with a gorgeous lemon meringue cocktail garnished with grated chocolate, and Diane Morgan, author of the cookbook Salmon, joins the party to share recipes for everyone’s favorite fish—cooked every which way. Finally, we toast our salmon with Mark Raymond’s latest wine recommendation, a white we’ll drink well into summer. Support the show.

What’s your go-to on Meatless Mondays? Faith and chef Chris Prosperi dream up a panko-crusted Portobello mushroom burger with Gruyere melting down the sides. If you’re ready to eat less meat, but not ready to give up meaty textures, author Robin Asbell, a plant-based eater herself, shares recipes and ideas from her cookbook, Plant-Based Meats. Support the show.

Faith and the gang muse about easy meals pulled together from ingredients already in the fridge, cabinets, and pantry, in this favorite from the archive. Are you well-stocked with rice, beans, canned tomatoes, and spices? Do you have a great tomato sauce you can turn into three different meals? If not, we’ve got a recipe for you! Cookbook author Pam Anderson joins the party with recipes from her updated classic cookbook, How to Cook Without a Book. Support the show.

In this favorite from the archive, we invite you to explore the holiday foods of a number of cultures and cuisines. Faith describes a crispy rice dish she ate while celebrating Persian New Year and David Kirschner, the recipe creator behind the book Matzo, shares some fun ways with everybody’s favorite unleavened cracker. Think: Matzo Nachos! Support the show.

In this blended favorite from the archive, Faith and the gang reminisce about a fabulous meal they shared in New Haven. Check to see if your favorite restaurant is offering curbside pick-up! Plus, Faith talks to author Suzy Scherr about cooking and cleaning with baking soda. And, doesn’t a comforting bowl of Matzo Ball Soup sound good right about now? Faith talks to Leah Koenig about her book, Modern Jewish Cooking, and the recipes Leah’s updated while honoring tradition. Support the show.

Want to make perfect scrambled eggs? Faith found an egg master at a Connecticut B&B; he shares his secrets for making what Faith calls “the best scrambled eggs on the planet.” Chris Prosperi shares his egg tips, too, and the whole gang celebrates the beginning of brunch season. Mark Raymond pours a lip-smacking Baron de Ley Tempranillo from Spain, and author Carol Fenster joins the party to talk about recipes in her new book, Gluten-Free Cooking for Two. Support the show.

New York Times columnist and food writer extraordinaire Melissa Clark joins the party to share recipes from her cookbook Dinner: Changing the Game. Also in this favorite from the archive, Chris Prosperi shares a recipe for Corned Beef and Cabbage with a twist.  Support the show.

Faith and the gang celebrate that ol’ American classic, meatloaf. Whether you like 100% beef, a meaty blend, or a meatless meatloaf, there’s a recipe idea here for every loaf lover. (Check out Yankee Magazine’s Meatloaf in a Brown Paper Bag!) Plus, food writer Nik Sharma joins the party with an Indian-spiced international meatloaf, as well as other recipes from his beautiful cookbook, Season. Nik shares recipes for Margherita Naan Pizza, Sumac-Seared Scallops, and Spicy Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Cookies.  Support the show.

This week, Faith and the gang talk to a soda historian about your favorite fizzy drink. You won’t believe the wacky soda flavors available now! Bacon? Ranch Dressing? Poutine? Plus, we read some listener letters and talk to writer Janet Reich Elsbach about building community through food. Her book is called Extra Helping. And, Sarah Leathers joins the party to discuss the important work the Healing Meals Community Project is doing right here in Connecticut. Support the show.

Italian importer Rolando Beramendi shares recipes for Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Cake and a luscious deconstructed pizza, minus the crust. You’ll want to dig in! Connecticut lawyer Carlo Forzani tells us about his dream to start a vineyard on his family property in Piemonte, Italy, and Alex Province brings us the flavors of the southwest. It’s a fun-packed hour for food lovers. Support the show.

New York Times bestselling author and host of Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, returns to The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze® to dish about her cookbook, Cook Like a Pro. Nobody throws a dinner party like Ina, so along with recipes you know will work, Ina shares all the tips and tricks she’s learned over the years for feeding and entertaining friends and family. You don’t have to be a chef to create dishes that impress. Cook with confidence! Ina’s got your back. Plus, we sip a romantic $20 Prosecco you'll want to try.    Support the show.

Faith and the gang share restaurant hot spots in this favorite from the archive, and Alex Province introduces Saumur, a lovely French white wine under $20. Fresh, with the right amount of acidity, it somehow worked with short ribs. Plus, Boston-based chef Matt Jennings joins the party to talk about his new cookbook celebrating New England, Homegrown. Get Matt’s recipes for Milk-Braised Chicken with Spiced Rice, Short Ribs with Moxie Beans, and a phenomenal Chocolate Beet Cake with Chocolate-Orange Glaze.  Support the show.

It’s our potato spud-tacular. In this favorite from the archive, James Beard Award winning author Raghavan Iyer joins the party to share recipes from his cookbook Smashed, Mashed, Boiled and Baked—And Fried Too!  Yup. Ultimate French Fries, Hasselback Potatoes, and more. Plus, we’ve curated a few handy tips and product reviews from our favorite magazines, take a Super Bowl food quiz, and think of ways we can incorporate potatoes into our Super Bowl party spread. Support the show.

Happy Chinese New Year! To celebrate, we’re learning how to make homemade Chinese dumplings thanks to Max Falkowitz, co-writer of The Dumpling Galaxy Cookbook by the amazing Helen You. Also this week, the gang shares lots of ideas for sheet-pan dinners (that weeknight lifesaver), and wine broker Mark Raymond shares not one, BUT TWO lip-smacking wines at $10 each. The Finca el Origen Malbec Rosé (yes, a malbec rosé) and the Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc are pure, wholesome wines—and an absolute steal. Support the show.

One of Connecticut’s best chefs, Franco Camacho, joins the party for the whole hour in this favorite from the archive. Franco is Executive Chef for both Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill and Shell & Bones Oyster Bar in New Haven. Franco shares his secrets for the perfect guacamole and gluten-free pan-fried oysters. Plus, the gang discusses what makes a great restaurant server. Insider info about the restaurant biz abounds. Support the show.

Let’s get cozy! In this favorite from the archive, Faith and the gang talk to chef Gunnar Karl Gíslasen and Jody Eddy about how to incorporate the Danish practice of Hygge into our everyday lives. They share recipes and ideas from their cookbook, The Hygge Life, and we share our own most-hygge comfort meals. Think: Sunday red sauce, a cheesy béchamel, Linda Giuca’s Pastina, shepherd’s pie, and a good ol’ fashioned grilled cheese. Plus, we’re bringing Soave back. It’s a crisp Italian white wine we love. You will, too. Support the show.

Good things come in threes—the old adage couldn’t be more true when it comes to easy weeknight cooking. In this favorite from the archive, Faith and the gang share their favorite 3-ingredient meals that make weeknight dinners a breeze. Expect to hear some classic combos like avocado, crab, and tomatoes; potatoes, onions, and eggs (tortilla Española); spinach, garlic, and eggs; and broiled sausages and pear or grapes. Hungry yet? Also in this episode, Mark Raymond shares Passimento, the most romantic wine we’ve had since. . . well, last Valentine’s Day, and Julia Turshen, the writer and coauthor of some of your favorite cookbooks—no doubt—is off on her own with Small Victories. Julia shares recipes for her very popular Turkey + Ricotta Meatballs, Flounder with Roasted Tomatoes + Black Olives, and the stunning Happy Wife, Happy Life Chocolate Cake. SO worth pressing pause on that New Year diet. Support the show.

In this favorite from the archive, Faith and the gang riff on Lidia Bastianich’s Beef Roasted in Barolo Wine. Plus, Chris Prosperi uses leftover mashed potatoes to make simple crispy little latkes, and Faith describes the ultimate brisket sandwich. Alex Province shares a wine to sip by the fire, and offers up decorative ice ideas for a joyful party punch bowl.  Support the show.

Faith and the gang celebrate Hanukkah with Leah Koenig, the author of Little Book of Jewish Feasts. Once you’ve tried Leah’s cinnamon-dusted fried chicken, you’ll never make fried chicken any other way. Plus, get the recipe for Balsamic and Brown Sugar Brisket and more of our favorite kitchen tips, including one from a listener in Old Lyme. Faith shares the results of a Cooks Illustrated taste test: Which butters are best? And she also tips you off to a New York City must-visit: Boulay at Home. Support the show.

Dorie Greenspan joins the party to talk about her cookbook, Everyday Dorie, in this favorite from the archive. Wouldn’t you love to cook like Dorie every day? Dorie shares recipes for Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie, Bourbon-Roasted Pork Loin, and the most beautiful Triple-Layer Cranberry Cake you’ve ever seen. It’s a holiday showstopper. Plus, Faith and the gang respond to listener Jeffrey Fischer’s request for spices that would make great gifts. Dorie shares a few favorite gift ideas, too. There’s her Lemon Goop and beautiful cards by the California artist, Aliza Sokolow. Aliza hits the Santa Monica Farmers Market and starts snapping. Support the show.

Faith and the gang share recipe ideas—including Chicken, Bacon and Cheese Enchiladas, for your holiday potluck, in this favorite from the archive. Plus, one of the queens of baking, a.k.a. “dessert diva” Rose Levy Beranbaum shares tips and tricks for perfect chocolate chip cookies, as well as recipes for Gingerbread “Folks,” and her swoon-worthy Milk Chocolate Caramel Tart. Chris Prosperi raves about a new local discovery: Sandra’s Next Generation. It’s a soul-food hotspot where the owner cooks with love. Support the show.

Faith starts the show with a special announcement and reminisces about favorite past shows and guests. Then, Faith and the gang get grilling tips and techniques from grill master Jamie Purviance. Jamie’s latest book is Weber’s Ultimate Grilling. For newbie grillers, we’ll start with some basics, and work our way up. Think: weeknight steak and chicken recipes, plus a grilled banana split for dessert. Grill tips galore! Support the show.

Faith and the gang have ideas for reinventing Thanksgiving leftovers in this favorite from the archive, and Chris Prosperi explains step-by-step how to make perfect mashed potatoes. Plus, food writer and cookbook author Julia Turshen shares recipes—including roast turkey breasts and sheet-pan stuffing—from her book Now & Again. Support the show.

It’s our favorite time of year! Time to talk turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and wines to go along with Thanksgiving dinner. What are your Thanksgiving food traditions? What do you do to freshen up your holiday meal every year? We’re sharing ideas and stealing tips from Chris Prosperi, a man who makes Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of people every year. We’re big believers in stress-free holidays, so we’ve asked Lucinda Scala Quinn to share her “Straight-Talk Turkey” recipe, which is about the simplest bird you’ll ever roast. Plus, in this favorite from the archive, Faith offers up a make-ahead Shrimp and Pineapple Salsa Wrap to sub in for the rich appetizers you normally put out before the feast. Why overwhelm people? Recipes for Mediterranean Mashed Potatoes, Buttery Spice Poached Pears, an easy weeknight Trout, and a juicy $12 Pinot Noir to serve all through the holidays—all coming your way. Let’s get this holiday party started! Support the show.

All aboard! Colin Caplan takes Faith and The Food Schmooze® gang on a cocktail crawl through the streets of New Haven on The Elm City Party Bike. In this favorite from the archive, revelers (and peddlers) stop at Olea and BAR for appetizers, cocktails, pizza, and mico-brewed beer. It was the MOST fun! We toast our ride with an under-$20 sparkler that’s as delicious as Prosecco. After the ride, we head back in the studio to talk root vegetables and fall roasts.  Support the show.

What little things can you do to make the grocery store checkout line move faster? Faith has some tips. And, it’s apple season! Make a super simple apple butter in the slow cooker. Plus, in this favorite from the archive, cookbook author Charlotte Druckman shares recipes for your cast-iron skillet. Support the show.

Lidia Bastianich’s excellent memoir, My American Dream, is out in paperback. Listen back to Faith’s intimate conversation with Lidia, support Connecticut Public Radio with your pledge, and we’ll send you Lidia’s memoir as our thanks. Get ready to be inspired! Support the show.

You asked for it, and we’ve got it for you: this week, we’re reairing our special hour dedicated to the Instant Pot. Why have home cooks put their slow cookers aside and jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon? (Even Faith has one now!). Bruce Weinstein, co-author of the blockbuster cookbook, The Instant Pot Bible, explains why Instant Pots have staying power and shares recipes for every size and model of Instant Pot. Support the show.