Mark Pendergrast comes into the studio this week on A Taste of the Past to talk about the history of coffee! Mark Pendergast is an American independent scholar, and author of six books, with his most recent titled, “Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World”. Telling the story of coffee from its discovery on a hill in ancient Abyssinia to the advent of Starbucks, Mr. Pendergrast is an expert when it comes to the history, craft, and production of coffee. Learn how c...
Jun 20, 2013•42 min•Ep. 139
Darina Allen is an Irish chef, food writer, TV personality, and founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Schanagarry, County Cork, Ireland. In this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past, Darina explains the current state of Irish food and culture in our society today, bringing us back to the history of Irish culture from the beginning. Darina also talks about founding the Ballymaloe Cookery School, the only cookery school in the world located in the middle of its own 100-acre organic farm. As...
Jun 13, 2013•43 min•Ep. 138
Katie Parla is in love with the contemporary Roman food scene! On this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio invites Katie into the studio to talk about restaurant trends in Rome. Find out why so many Roman chefs look to their city’s history for culinary inspiration. Hear about the resurgence of ancient grains on many restaurant plates and inside craft beer bottles. Learn more about famed Roman chefs such as Arcangelo Dandini and Gabriele Bonci! What esoteric ingredients are thes...
Jun 06, 2013•28 min•Ep. 137
Who was television’s first cooking star? If you guessed Julia Child, you must be forgetting Dione Lucas! This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is joined in the studio by Australian author and food historian Jill Adams to talk about the life of Dione Lucas. Also in the studio is Margaret Happel Perry, the president of the New York chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Tune into this episode to find out why Dione Lucas has not necessarily been remembered favorably. How did Dione Lucas help ...
May 30, 2013•41 min•Ep. 136
Nawal Nasrallah joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to celebrate the new edition of her book, Delights from the Garden of Eden . This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda and Nawal delve into the history of Iraqi cuisine and the Sumerian people. Learn about some of the world’s oldest recipes written on cuneiform tablets. Learn about the importance of stews in the Iraqi diet! How did traditional, medieval-influenced Iraqi recipes change with the discovery of the New World? Tune into this episode to ...
May 23, 2013•42 min•Ep. 135
Lynne Olver is a reference librarian with a passion for food! This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio calls Lynne to talk to her about food history and her website, FoodTimeline.org. How does Lynne’s library science background inform the way she researches and references recipes, food origins, and more? Learn how studying food prices can reveal further information about the economy of a certain time period. How does one become a food historian? Learn the methods that Lynne uses to resea...
May 09, 2013•34 min•Ep. 134
Did you know that gangsters controlled nearly all of the food distribution in Depression-era New York City? This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio invites Andy Coe to talk about racketeering in New York City food history. Learn how something as innocent as an egg cream was the cause of major crime. Find out what products were controlled by specific gangsters, and how the food rackets weren’t eliminated from the Big Apple until the days of Giuliani! Learn about Murder Inc., and how comp...
May 02, 2013•35 min•Ep. 133
Learn about the history of vegetarianism and veganism with Rynn Berry. Rynn joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to talk vegetables, raw food, and animal rights. Rynn is a historical adviser to the North American Vegetarian Society and is on the Advisory Board of Earth Save. In his lectures, articles, and books, he has specialized in the study of vegetarianism from an historical perspective. Tune into this episode to hear Rynn and Linda discuss the cultural and religious significance of a plant-ba...
Apr 11, 2013•32 min•Ep. 132
Michael Krondl is talking Easter sweets on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past! Michael joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to shed some light on some confusing Easter mythology. Why do we give chocolate bunnies at Easter time? Why are rabbits and eggs Easter symbols? Also, listen in to learn the history behind eating sweet bread during the Easter holiday. Hear about other ancient spring celebrations, and find out what foods were eaten to improve fertility. How do desserts differ across Eu...
Mar 28, 2013•32 min•Ep. 131
Getting excited about St. Patrick’s Day? Tune in to A Taste of the Past this week as Linda Pelaccio hosts Irish chef, TV personality, cookbook author and director of a new cookery school, Clodagh McKenna. Coming all the way from Dublin, Clodagh shares stories of growing up in Ireland and how she uses Guinness for a slow roast and pin-head oats in her soda bread. Listen in as she discusses the evolution of Irish cuisine since the 1970’s and the growing trend towards local sourcing and farmers mar...
Mar 14, 2013•35 min•Ep. 130
How did an Ethiopian immigrant become an award winning chef in NYC? Find out today on A Taste of the Past as Linda Pelaccio hosts Ethiopian native and chef of the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan, Kubee Kassaye as well as Marsha Palanci of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the International Legacy Awards. Kubee describes her journey from Ethiopia to New York City as a child, attending the New York College of Technology, and eventually becoming a chef tournant at the Peninsula Hotel in Manhattan. Her culinar...
Mar 07, 2013•28 min•Ep. 129
Kara Newman explains The Secret Financial Life of Food on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past. Linda Pelaccio invites Kara into the studio to talk about her book and the history of food commodities. What foods are traded on the commodity market, and how did commodity markets develop? Hear about the role of “the Butter & Egg Man” in food history and society, and learn about urban development in relation to food trading. How do commodity prices affect prices in the supermarket? How did ...
Feb 28, 2013•36 min•Ep. 128
Master the art of Southern cooking today on A Taste of the Past! This week, Linda Pelaccio is joined in the studio by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart, co-authors of the book Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking . Both Nathalie and Cynthia have had storied careers in the food world. How has the landscape changed for women in the kitchen? Hear Nathalie and Cynthia talk about the defining ingredients and flavors of Southern food, and the importance of eating real food. How do the foods in dif...
Feb 21, 2013•32 min•Ep. 127
It’s Valentine’s Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by indulging with some luxurious chocolate! This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is joined in the studio by Clay Gordon. Clay authored the book Discover Chocolate , is the moderator of The Chocolate Life , and host of HRN’s Straight From the Source. Learn about the origins of chocolate south of the equator, and learn some chocolate terminology. How does one define a ‘single origin’ chocolate bar? How did the Industrial...
Feb 14, 2013•43 min•Ep. 126
Mary Gunderson chronicles the journey and food of the Lewis & Clark expedition in her book, The Food Journal of the Lewis & Clark: Recipes for an Expedition . This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is talking with Mary about the trials and troubles of the Lewis & Clark exploration, and how they ate along the way. Hear how the explorers reacted to seeing buffalo, and how they prepared and preserved buffalo meat. What fruits and greens were available to Lewis & Clark? Lea...
Feb 07, 2013•31 min•Ep. 125
Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil, and food writing are the topics of the day on A Taste of the Past! Linda Pelaccio is joined in the studio by food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins. Nancy has written for The New York Times, and is the author of books such as The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook , The Essential Mediterranean , and an upcoming untitled book about olive oil. Hear how Mediterranean food changes from region to region, and learn why authenticity in food and food writing is so nebulous. Listen i...
Jan 31, 2013•36 min•Ep. 124
With all of the focus on ethnic and regional cooking in the modern food movement, why is Russian cuisine so often neglected in the foodie canon? This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio sits down with Darra Goldstein, Professor of Russian at Williams College. Darra is also the founder and former Editor in Chief of Gastronomica , and the author of two books- A Taste of Russia and Georgian Feast . Tune into this episode to learn about the staples of Russian cooking. Why did Russian peasant...
Jan 24, 2013•36 min•Ep. 123
“The kitchen anchors the country’s economic, social, and political life.” Christine Baumgarthuber revives the dying discipline of home economics on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past. Christine is a writer and blogger for The Austerity Kitchen , and she’s talking with Linda Pelaccio about the history of economical cooking. Learn about Juliet Corson, the woman who spread the good word of nutrition and wrote about meals on a budget. Hear how Juliet Corson’s writings became political, and u...
Jan 17, 2013•31 min•Ep. 122
This week on A Taste of the Past, Andrew F. Smith once again joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio! Andy teaches food history at the New School in New York City, and is the author and editor of numerous books on culinary history. On this episode, Andy talks about his newest book called Drinking History: Fifteen Turning Points in the Making of American Beverages . Hear about water quality during the Colonial period, and how it led to the proliferation of alcoholic beverages. Why did beer not succeed...
Jan 10, 2013•46 min•Ep. 121
This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is investigating the recent donut trend! Tune in to hear some interviews from customers of The Vault in Chicago conducted by correspondent Whitney Henry-Lester. Later, Linda calls up pastry chef and cookbook author George Geary. Recently, George authored the book 150 Best Donut Recipes: Fried or Baked– a comprehensive donut-making guide. Find out why donuts have holes, and how donuts became popular during war times. Learn how to cook all kinds of ...
Dec 13, 2012•37 min•Ep. 120
This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio delving into the history of soy sauce with Helen Roberts, the Publicity Manager and Creative Culinary Director at Kikkoman USA. Soy sauce has a rich history, dating back to 500 B.C. in China! Learn about the brewing processes that are used to make soy sauce! Tune in to learn about the Japanese standards for soy sauce, and why many soy sauces in the United States would not pass as authentic in Japan. Helen also shares some alternative uses for soy ...
Dec 06, 2012•30 min•Ep. 119
Everyone has heard about George Washington Carver, and his famous peanut preparations. But did you know that he did not actually invent peanut butter? This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is setting the peanut butter record straight with author Jon Krampner. Jon recently wrote Creamy & Curnchy , a book all about the history and evolution of peanut butter! Learn about the most popular peanut varieties, and whether or not they can be turned into good peanut butter. Hear about the f...
Nov 29, 2012•36 min•Ep. 118
Linda Pelaccio begins today’s episode of A Taste of the Past by taking a moment to spread the word about Family-to-Family , a relief organization that allows a group of people to sponsor a family who has been affected by Hurricane Sandy. Thanksgiving has always been accompanied by charitable spirit; check out Family-to-Family, and get involved with the hurricane relief efforts. Today, Linda is speaking with food historian Sandy Oliver about the roots of Thanksgiving! Sandy is also the author of ...
Nov 15, 2012•36 min•Ep. 117
This week on A Taste of the Past, host Linda Pelaccio is joined by celebrity pastry chef to the stars Eric Lanlard who has recently published several recipe books for baking at home. He discusses the origins of baking and the history of prominent bakers who worked under harsh conditions and the comparison to baking today. Hear chef Lanlard talk about early recipe creation and baking for the Queen of England and her passion for food. He discusses the history of Antonin Careme’s baking for royal c...
Nov 08, 2012•28 min•Ep. 116
What spirit were the Three Musketeers drinking back in the 17th century? Armagnac! On this episode of A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is joined in the studio by David Lincoln Ross, a food writer and armagnac expert. Learn about the ancient roots of the spirit in Egypt, and the differences between cognac and armagnac. Learn about the regional grapes used to make traditional armagnacs, and the importance of oak from the Mon Lunzon forest in the aging process. How does one choose a bottle of ar...
Oct 25, 2012•32 min•Ep. 115
On today’s episode of A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is talking about Jewish Italian food, or Cucina Ebraica, with a panel of experts. Jayne Cohen is a food writer and cookbook author involved with preserving the culinary roots of Jewish cooking. Her most recent cookbook is entitled Around the Passover Table and Cooking for Jewish New Year . Cara De Silva is a food historian who writes about food and culture, and has authored In Memory’s Kitchen: A Legacy from the Women of Terezin – a book ...
Oct 18, 2012•48 min•Ep. 114
American food writer Betty Fussell joins Linda Pelaccio this week on “A Taste of the Past” for a conversation on culinary history, cultural identity and food literature. Betty is an award-winning writer and is the author of eleven books, ranging from biography to cookbooks, food history and memoir. Learn how she discovered food through travel and writing and became an “accidental” food historian. Listen as Betty describes the American cuisine she discovered throughout her life and elaborates on ...
Oct 11, 2012•32 min•Ep. 113
This week on A Taste of the Past, host Linda Pelaccio is joined by Canadian food writer Noami Duguid, who has authored seminal books such as “Seductions of Rice” and “Burma: Rivers of Flavor”. Tune in and hear what it’s like being an outsider in a foreign land and how Noami navigates cultures and communities to learn about the cuisine that lives amongst them. Find out how the politically oppressed people of Burma operate in their kitchens what makes their food simultaneously accessible and uniqu...
Oct 04, 2012•32 min•Ep. 112
What’s more American than apple pie? Answer: apple cider! On this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is talking with “apple evangelist” and author of Cider, Hard and Sweet, Ben Watson. Where did the tradition of American cider originate? Hear about how grafting has caused the amount of apple varieties to diminish, and learn about the role of the Industrial Revolution in cider’s popularity. Find out how cider stacks up against beer and wine in terms of alcohol content, and lear...
Sep 27, 2012•43 min•Ep. 111
Grains take center stage on this week’s episode of A Taste of the Past as host Linda Pelaccio is joined by Bruce Weinstein, cooking instructor and author of “Grain Mains: 101 Surprising and Satisfying Whole Grain Recipes for Every Meal of the Day”. Tune in for a lively discussion on grains and their place in culinary history. From quinoa to millet, learn about how whole grains were essential in early China and how they differ from refined grains. From health benefits to culinary applications, Br...
Aug 30, 2012•34 min•Ep. 110
