Eat Your Words

On today’s episode of Eat Your Words, host Cathy Erway interviews Jennifer McLagan and Mayur Subbarao. Jennifer McLagan is a Canadian chef and author based in Toronto. She has become famous for writing books on food and is the author of the book Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes. On today’s show Cathy discusses her most recent book, Bitter. They discuss the rise in artisanal bitters, the various bitters that we encounter and the importance of it in our foods. Mayur Sabbarao is the Co-founder of Bittermens Spirits. Mayur is a master sommelier and ex-Beverage Director of El Cobre & Cienfuegos in New York’s East Village. He has been pushing the envelope on blending modern techniques and classic flavor profiles. He created kegged cocktails for El Cobre and Amor y Amargo, perfected a method for clarifying citrus juice and designed a number of soon-to-be world class liqueurs and vermouths. He stresses that bitterness is a way of elevating the pallets. This program was brought to y

This week on Eat Your Words, host Cathy Erway talks to author of ‘Carbon Shock: A Tale of Risk and Calculus on the Front Lines of a Disrupted Global Economy’, Mark Schapiro. Mark explains how the carbon issues of the world doesn’t just affect the environment. He explains how climate changes have had an astronomical impact on farming, crop insurance as well as the economy. They discuss various groups that are making profits and adapting to these serious issues. Mark also explains his surprising discovery about the changes in farming approaches made by the USDA. For details on the mentioned and much more, tune in. This show is brought to you by The International Culinary Center “My eyes were open when I was doing reporting on this book. It’s incredible how the crop insurance system is bearing the brunt of the US Federal Government’s financial pay outs from climate change.” [5:30] “What we’re trying to do is to have a price for fossil fuels that reflect their actual cost.” [25:30] “Consciousness is rising in t

Bonjour! This week on Eat Your Words, host Cathy Erway welcomes Hillary Davis to the show. Hillary is the author of the new book, French Comfort Food, and joins Cathy in a wonderful conversation about how she became intrigued with French food. After living in France for years, Hillary prides herself in featuring recipes that are considered family recipes that you won’t find elsewhere unless you ask the locals themselves. Hillary aims to reach the every day cook with the flavors and aura of the different regions in France, and even shares a simple trick for finding authentic recipes when traveling abroad. After the break, Hillary admits that the region of Nice happens to be her personal favorite cuisine. Explaining the diversity of food found in the area, it seems as though the blending of the cultures produces the most delicious delicacies. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “We forgot Julia Child. We went into the minimalist, pretty food.” [2:20] “I want to bring back in a strong way… t

This week on Eat Your Words, host Cathy Erway welcomes Lou Di Palo of Italian Selects and author of the new book, Di Palo’s Guide to the Essential Foods of Italy. Rachel Wharton, a food writer, also joins the program, having traveled with Lou to gather information and help write the book. Talking to Cathy about his family’s prominent background in the food industry (Lou’s great-grandfather started their business in 1903!) as well as why he decided to take on writing a book, Lou talks in great detail about making cheese and dairy products like his great-grandfather and father did. Join in for a delicious discussion on amazing foods courtesy of Italy – led by an expert! This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham. “It’s not how many people we serve, it’s how we serve the people.” [14:30] “I like to say there’s a right way to do things, a wrong way, and there’s my grandmother’s way.” [15:19] —Lou Di Palo on Eat Your Words

This week on Eat Your Words, host Cathy Erway kicks off the new radio season welcoming Jaime Joyce, author of Moonshine: A Cultural History of America’s Infamous Liquor, to the program. Talking about the history, alternative nick-names, legality, and what exactly constitutes the drink, Cathy and Jaime clear up the misnomers that have surrounded moonshine throughout the years. Jaime goes on to explain the details behind the grain content that is vital to a quality moonshine, and how many distilleries are turning to their local farmers to provide ingredients, which in turn sets one moonshine’s taste apart from another. After the break, Jaime tells an interesting tale of the “Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935” that truly proves how moonshine has implemented itself into the history of the United States. Tune in for an info-packed episode and to find out the future of moonshine! This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “It can be made with different grains. It can be made with c

How can print media stand out in 2014? What sets a publication apart from its peers in an overcrowded landscape of mediocre writing and photography? Find out on a new episode of Eat Your Words as Briana Kurtz is joined by James Casey, founder and editor of Swallow Magazine. In their own words — Swallow is the anti-foodie food magazine, a palate-pleasing respite from gastronomic faddism. Each issue is akin to the perfect dinner party where the food is central to the event, but the conversation veers wildly around the table from topic to topic before eventually returning to the procession of morsels at hand. Released in a high-end format comparable to a coffee table book, Swallow ventures far beyond the culinary realm and features notable contributors more often found within the worlds of art and fashion. This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham. “New York is not necessarily what New York once was. It’s living on a borrowed identity of itself, especially the East Village.” 05:30 “If you are creating

African, Caribbean, and southern food are all known and loved as vibrant and flavor-packed cuisines. In Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed, renowned chef and food justice activist Bryant Terry reworks and remixes the favorite staples, ingredients, and classic dishes of the African Diaspora to present wholly new, creative culinary combinations that will amaze vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. Hear from Bryant on this week’s episode of Eat Your Words as host Briana Kurtz chats with Bryant about his own vegan journey, his approach to writing books and his inspirations in the kitchen. This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham. “If you consider the different groups that have made up Louisiana – the French, Spanish, Africans, Native Americans […] it truly is a hybrid cuisine that I inspire to create in my own cookbook writing.” [06:00] –Bryant Terry on Eat Your Words

There may be no more appropriate guest for Eat Your Words than Celia Sack of Omnivore Books. Omnivore Books is a store and shop featuring new, antiquarian, and collectible books on food and drink. Omnivore connects the past to the present by offering centuries of knowledge on growing, raising, and cooking food. They offer everything from 19th Century agricultural guides to how to start a kitchen garden in a 21st Century apartment. They also host numerous events featuring chefs and authors talking about their passions. Tune in as guest host Briana Kurtz chats with Celia about the mission of Omnivore, their collection and some of her favorite food books. This program was brought to you by Rolling Press. “It’s been a real challenge figuring out how to sell books in this digital era.” [05:00] “I’m constantly trying to groom new collectors. One of the best parts of this job is trying to sell books to chefs that really appreciate them.” [12:00] “Blogs have helped a lot of authors get published. Publishers are loo

How did a story about hog rectum and calamari on public radio capture the public’s attention and win a James Beard Award? Find out on a brand new episode of Eat Your Words, as host Talia Ralph is joined by Ben Calhoun, a producer for NPR’s This American Life, who contributed the story about hog rectum to the popular public radio show. He got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. Tune in as Ben explains how the story came to life and shares why he became so emotionally invested in the possibility of pork bung masquerading as seafood. This program was brought to you by Consider Bardwell Farm “I like finding all the paths to go down and chasing them all as far as they can possibly go.” [06:00] “Pricing in American food culture ends up obscuring so many other things that are happening with those foods.” [25:00] “The story appealed to different parts of my personality as a journalist and somebody who likes to make radio […] I l

Take a trip to Texas on a southern themed episode of Eat Your Words. Guest host Talia Ralph is joined by Lisa Fain, author of the popular blog Homesick Texan and the book it inspired, The Homesick Texan Cookbook .In 2006, Fain started the blog Homesick Texan to share Texan food with fellow expatriates, and the site immediately connected with readers worldwide, Texan and non-Texan alike. Now, in her long-awaited first cookbook, Fain brings the comfort of Texan home cooking to you. Hear about some of her favorite regional dishes, some misconceptions about Texas cooking and a preview at what recipes readers can find in The Homesick Texan Cookbook. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “Tex-Mex sometimes has a bad rap, but when it’s well done it can be just as delicious as any other cuisine.” [07:00] “If you want to parlay a blog into anything you have to post on a regular basis.” [23:00] “Beans are great on their own and chili is great on its own. It’s almost disrespectful when

Who doesn’t love good, local fruit? Tune in to this week’s episode of Eat Your Words as guest host Talia Ralph chats with Sarah Huck and Brian Nicholson, the duo behind Fruitful: Four Seasons of Fresh Fruit Recipes . Fruitful is a trip to the local orchard, overflowing with ripe, seasonal produce—and it’s not just desserts! From sweet to savory, including fresh juices, every chapter is devoted to the produce of the moment: rhubarb, strawberries, apples, plums, apricots, peaches, quinces, pears, and more. This delectable cookbook showcases the bounty from New York’s favorite orchard, Red Jacket Orchards, illustrated with gorgeous full-color photography throughout—but all of the fruit can be found wherever you live. This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. “This is a pivotal moment in the local food movement. We’re a part of that fabric.” [06:00] “Sustainability for us is more than just the environment. Beyond that is the fact we have to make sure decisions we make today will pay off 5-10 ye

What is it about ice cream? People are head over heals with it in a way that is rarely paralleled with other foods. On a topical episode of Eat Your Words, host Talia Ralph sits down with Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna, co-founders of Ample Hills Creamery and co-authors of Ample Hills Creamery – The Cookbook. Find out how Brian’s past life as a writer of “monster movie” helps inform his work as an ice cream maker, learn about their plans for a new shop in Gowanus and hear what makes their cookbook stand out from its recipe-driven peers. This program was brought to you by Rolling Press. “Growing up, ice cream was the first food love that I had. It’s uniquely American and part of our mythology.” [03:00] “People think Ample Hills and they don’t think Brooklyn. The hills have been paved over but there used to be hills with pastures and dairy farms in Brooklyn. The name is a nice way to touch back on the history of Brooklyn.” [12:00] –Brian Smith on Eat Your Words “We wanted to invite people into the book the wa

This week on Eat Your Words, host Talia Ralph gets into the meat and grits of Southern food with Francis Lam, Top Chef judge, food writer, and the editor of Cornbread Nation 7, an anthology of the best southern food writing in recent years. From its hazy geographic boundaries to the wealth and layering of cultures and tastes, the Southern United States is more than just a spot on the map. Lam — himself a self-described honorary Southerner, hailing from New Jersey — addresses some tough questions about the Dixie and its foodways. He also shares his own misguided preconceptions and stories about Southern hospitality. Is Virginia the south? Is Miami, Florida? Are you still Southern if you’ve lived in New York for the last 10 years? Yes, yes and yes, according to this expansive collection of writing. Curious? Craving some good quality barbecue talk? Tune in to this episode for more! This program was brought to you Edwards VA Ham. “The idea of what it means to be Southern is in a lot of ways is the idea of what

The Carnivore’s Manifesto by Patrick Martins & Mike Edison. The book features fifty ways to be an enlightened carnivore, while taking better care of our planet and ourselves. We have evolved as meat eaters, proclaims Patrick Martins, and it’s futile to deny it. But, given the destructive forces of the fast-food industry and factory farming, we need to make smart, informed choices about the food we eat and where it comes from. In 50 short chapters, Martins cuts through organize zealotry and the misleading jargon of food labeling to outline realistic steps everyone can take to be part of the sustainable-food movement. Tune in to get some insight into Patrick’s thinking and the writing process that went into creating this book. This program was sponsored by Bonnie Plants. “Slow is how you should eat – but it’s not how you change the world. I’ve always had that NYC/immediate results attitude.” [1:00] “Unhealthy food should never ben eaten and people should be told that – then the slow turning of the wheel

This week on Eat Your Words, Briana Kurtz looks at culinary books from the bookseller’s perspective. Joining Briana in the studio is Matt Sartwell, the Managing Partner at Kitchen Arts & Letters, a culinary bookstore in Manhattan with thirty years of history. Learn how Matt’s experiences judging the James Beard Awards have trained his literary eye. Find out how the store serves professional chefs’ needs, and why small-scale publishers often offer such unique content. How does Kitchen Arts & Letters get ahold of so many imports or out-of-print titles? What food books are piquing Matt’s interest? Tune into this program to find out more! Thanks to our sponsor, The International Culinary Center. Music by The California Honeydrops. “You can never be complacent about things you think you know about book publishing… All of the time, I’m learning what I don’t know, and learning where I need to grow.” [7:00] — Matt Sartwell on Eat Your Words

As environmentally healthful and thoughtful eaters pile on the vegetables and fruits and push animal protein off their plates, the desire for more recipes showcasing fresh produce has gone sky high. On this week’s episode of Eat Your Words, Talia Ralph chats with Myra Goodman, author of Straight from the Earth: Irresistible Vegan Recipes for Everyone. Myra Goodman, and her husband Drew, founded Earthbound Farm on their 2.5 acre raspberry farm in Carmel Valley, California in 1984. They were the first to successfully market packaged salads for retail sale, and their farm grew to become the largest grower of organic produce in North America. Earthbound’s 200 growers collectively avoid the use of about 15 million pounds of conventional agricultural chemicals every year. Myra offers some great insight and perspective into vegan eating, diet choices and plant based foods. This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. “I thought it was important to become a part of the plant based food revolution as well

With the rise of interest in local ingredients, “New Nordic cuisine”, and sustainability – foraging has become quite the buzz-word. What does it actually mean to forage? What does foraging look like in a place like New York City? We find out this week on Eat Your Words, as guest-host Talia Ralph chats with Ava Chin. A native New Yorker from Flushing, Queens, Ava Chin forages throughout the five boroughs and the tri-state area, writing about her finds for places like the NY Times City Room and Saveur magazine. Her memoir Eating Wildly: Foraging for Life, Love, and the Perfect Meal (Simon & Schuster, May 2014), about being raised by a single mother and loving Chinese grandparents, reveals how foraging and the DIY-food movement helped Ava to heal up from the wound of an absent father and taught her important lessons in self-reliance. Tune in and get an insightful primer on foraging! This program was sponsored by Fairway Market. “As a foraging when I think about edible weeds – these are the things that to

Ellen Gustafason is serious in her mission to change how the world eats and her bio proves it. Ellen is a sustainable food system activist, author, innovator and social entrepreneur. Her first book, “We the Eaters: If We Change Dinner, We Can Change the World” is being published by Rodale Press in May 2014. She is the Co-Founder of Food Tank: the Food Think Tank, with Danielle Nierenberg. She is also founder of a small sustainable home goods company called the Apron Project. Before the launch of Food Tank, Ellen founded the 30 Project, a campaign that has helped to change the conversation about the global food system by connecting hunger and obesity. She is also the creator of the ChangeDinner campaign and HealthClass2.0, which are helping individuals change the food system at dinner tables and in schools. Ellen Gustafason is this week’s guest on Eat Your Words. She chats with guest host Briana Kurtz about the book, her various projects and what’s wrong with the way the world is eating. This program was spons

Who doesn’t love fried chicken? One of America’s premiere comfort food’s has been undergoing a serious renaissance over the past few years – and today on Eat Your Words, guest host Briana Kurtz talks fried chicken with Lee Schrager and Adeena Sussman, co-authors of “Fried & True: More than 50 Recipes for America’s Best Fried Chicken and Sides”. The book leaves no stone unturned, or bird uncooked, covering everything from history to recipes in attempt to give readers a full understanding of the beloved crispy poultry dish. From Nashville to New Orleans – learn about the geography, tradition and technique behind fried chicken on a delicious episode of Eat Your Words!. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market. “Fried chicken originally came from Scotland and made it’s way to the South. Once it got to the South, it became a staple of the comfort food diet.” [03:00] –Lee Schrager on Eat Your Words “Cooking is like computer coding – one difference can make a complete change in the final product.” [05:

Low-fat, non-fat and “heart healthy”.. we’ve heard it all. Americans are constantly avoiding the “f” word to try and stay fit and healthy, but should fat be an essential part of a healthy diet? Nina Taicholz thinks so. She’s the author of “The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet”, and she’s this week’s guest on Eat Your Words with guest-host Talia Ralph. How did we start to think that saturated fat was bad for us? Why are fad diets constantly proven wrong? Can you finally feel good about putting mountains of butter on your toast? Tune in and find out on a fat-friendly edition of Eat Your Words. This program was sponsored by The International Culinary Center. “Fat is the nutrient that’s been targeted the most – and I’ve realized that all of our nutrition recommendations over the past 50 years have turned out to be wrong!” [03:00] “This story [of low-fat diets] is a failure of scientists – good intentioned men who really wanted to solve the heart disease epidemic, believed