Wednesday December 15, 2010
Elizabeth Bard is an American journalist who happened to fall in love with a frenchman and his cuisine. In her memoir, Lunch in Paris, A Love Story with Recipes, Elizabeth shares her love and culinary journey by interspersing recipes among and as her memories. What more can I ask for - another posterchild for Heirloom Meals. She is the essence of my tagline: Savoring Yesterday's Traditions Today where she holds onto a key link to her past with her Mom's, Dad's, grandmother's, and Aunt's recipes with a nod to the future as she becomes immersed in french cooking and culture. And in particular through her french husband's concotions and his family's recipes. An absolute treasure of a book and fantastic interview!! Thank you Elizabeth.
Wednesday December 01, 2010
Sometimes you meet someone, even if it's on the radio that you feel you've known your entire life!! Meet Diane Perry Gardner. Truly, she a kindred spirit!! Diane bridges her move from South Carolina to Madison, CT with her love of food, family and cooking. And she did it by writing cookbooks - first very local with "What's Cooking Madison?", then she branched out to to the whole state with "What's Cooking Connecticut Shoreline?" and then spread her wings further with her recent book, "What's Cooking in New England" which is a collection of tried and true recipes from real people that Diane has tested and photographed. Check it out - you can even find some of Diane's southern specialties!! www.whatscookinginnewengland.com
I know we need a Diane, take two, on the radio show. Thank you Diane!!
Wednesday November 24, 2010
On this eve of Thanksgiving, a holiday to give thanks and celebrate the harvest, count our blessings and share food with family and friends, it is fitting that our guest is a Mayflower descendant, Loring Barnes. Loring is the 10th direct descendant of Governor William Bradford of Massachusetts, and her Dad is named Bradford. Much of her Dad's side of the family remains in Plymouth.
Loring's namesake, Thomas Loring, was the "Collector of Customs" for President Abraham Lincoln. Loring traces her lineage to Miles Standish and some other folks too, such as: Loring, Barnes, Brewster, Belcher, Adams among many from the original Mayflower passenger manifest.
Loring shares with great energy and enthusiasm some of her family recipes and the importance of Thanksgiving as an opportunity to indulge in a long and plentiful meal and enjoy being with friends and family. Loring shared her easy make ahead three cheese party potatoes and I will make them and post the recipe soon!! They sound and look DELICIOUS!!
Enjoy the show and I wish each and every one a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Wednesday November 17, 2010
Sometimes the pull of the kitchen, the love and memories of one’s childhood, and a desire to do what you love is so strong that it lures you away from a successful career, complete with graduate degrees and status. I write these words, not about me BUT of Julia Usher, baker and author of
Cookie Swap.
Spend an hour hearing Julia share her story....how the influences of her Mom, grandmother and great grandmother, and of her Dad’s work ethic, all combine to provide Julia with a varied and interesting life full of family, cooking, education, engineering, consulting, wedding cake making and now inspiring others to bake and share through her gorgeous book,
Cookie Swap.
You can buy the book on Julia’s website
www.juliausher.com. I can’t wait to have a cookie swap party!! Thank you Julia and I look forward to your cake and cookie decorating book.
Wednesday October 27, 2010
Perhaps it is Alex Elman's joie de vivre that impresses me, or is it her poise and strength of character that draws me in? Whatever it is - Alex has inspired me.
Spend an hour listening to Alex weave her story - her Brazilian chef- Mom, her oenophile Dad and step dad, her career in the wine business and her loss of sight to juvenile diabetes when she was 27. WOW!
Alex has just launched her very own wine label -
Alex Elman Wines. And trust me, Alex resembles her wines as she truly has a sense of place. Her goal is to sell wines that offer terroir, that are organic and sustainably produced and are accessible so you too can sip a lovely glass of wine over a homemade meal with friends and family!!
By the way - Alex will be blogging on some Saturdays for me - Saturday Evening "Toast" as we explore collaborating on our mission to get people back to the dinner table!!
And for those of you who need a quick french lesson, Terroir (according to wikipedia) "was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that geography bestowed upon particular varieties. Agricultural sites in the same region share similar soil, weather conditions, and farming techniques, which all contribute to the unique qualities of the crop."
Wednesday October 20, 2010
WBCR-lp 97.7 fm FUNDRAISER!!
Call 413-644-9797 to donate or online at http://www.berkshireradio.org
We need you to keep the "all-volunteer" radio station on-air!!
Thank you!!
