There’s an art and science to making fresh-tasting, icy cocktails for a crowd from a pitcher or a punch bowl. Learn to make perfect batch cocktails so you can back away from the shaker or bar cart and actually enjoy the food, friends, and family at your own party. Cocktail writer Maggie Hoffman shares tips and tricks from the best bartenders in the country, along with recipes for nuanced, perfectly scaled-up cocktails specifically meant to fill pitchers and punch bowls. Also this week, since sum...
May 30, 2019•50 min
Love avocados? Head over to Avocaderia in Brooklyn, NY. It’s the world’s first avocado bar, where every dish is an Insta-worthy avocado masterpiece. This week, meet one of Avocaderia’s founders, Francesco Brachetti and try several recipes from the cookbook inspired by the restaurant. Faith and the gang explore other single-food focused hotspots in NY and beyond. Plus, Clos des Lumieres, a French winemaker we love, has finally put a white in a box, and we’re declaring it the wine of the summer. F...
May 23, 2019•50 min
Our guest, Dr. Aaron Carroll, is a professor at Indiana University’s School of Medicine and contributes to the New York Times at the Upshot blog. He’s a doctor who studies studies and determines the gold-standard studies. What’s the real deal with diet soda, red meat, coffee, and alcohol? The author of The Bad Food Bible shares his mind-blowing findings and puts us all at ease about some of our food choices by weighing the joy experienced vs. the actual risk to our health. Plus, a Star Home Cook...
May 15, 2019•52 min
Pasta every day! This week on The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze: Back Pocket Pasta . Recipes and tips from author Colu Henry on how to stock your pantry so you can pull together inspired pasta dinners on the fly. Think: Pasta Puttanesca, an Easter Ham Carbonara, and Porchetta Pasta (you can make this with any leftover roast!). Your weeknights just got easier. Plus, Chris Prosperi explains how to trim and prep one of our favorite spring ingredients—artichokes. Support the show: https://foodschmoo...
May 08, 2019•50 min
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. Faith and the ...
May 01, 2019•50 min
Lidia Bastianich’s excellent memoir, My American Dream , is now out in paperback. Listen back to Faith’s intimate conversation with Lidia, support The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze® with your pledge, and we’ll send you Lidia’s memoir as our thanks. Get ready to be inspired! Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 24, 2019•50 min
You asked for it, and we’ve got it for you: a Food Schmooze® hour dedicated to the Instant Pot sensation. 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. If you have an Instant Pot, do not miss the chance to get a copy of The Instant Pot Bible an...
Apr 18, 2019•50 min
This is a show for coffee lovers. Where’s your favorite coffeehouse? And what makes a coffee shop great? Coffee expert Jordan Michelman joins the party to share what he knows about everyone’s favorite morning beverage. Jordan is the co-author of the book, The New Rules of Coffee: A Modern Guide for Everyone . Faith talks with Jordan about coffee’s history, legendary coffee shops, and coffee trends. Did you know old-school percolators and instant coffee are making a come-back? Grab a cup of coffe...
Apr 10, 2019•50 min
What’s your go-to dinner on Meatless Mondays? Faith and chef Chris Prosperi dream up a panko-crusted Portobello mushroom burger with Gruyere melting down the sides. Alex Province gives his Portobello burger a Spanish accent, while Mark Raymond takes his in an Argentinian direction. If you’re ready to eat less meat, but not ready to give up meaty textures, Robin Asbell, a plant-based eater herself, shares recipes and ideas from her book, Plant-Based Meats . The gang noshes on Walnut-Cauliflower “...
Apr 03, 2019•50 min
Faith and the gang celebrate that ol’ American classic, meatloaf. Meatloaf 1,000 ways! Whether you like 100% beef, a meaty blend, or a meatless meatloaf, there’s a recipe idea here for every loaf lover. 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. Also this week, local chef Ben ...
Mar 27, 2019•50 min
Here’s the scenario: It’s a busy weeknight—you can’t stop at the market on your way home. What are you making for dinner? This week, we’re musing about our favorite weeknight meals pulled together from what’s in the fridge, cabinets, and pantry. 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 her updated classic, How t...
Mar 21, 2019•50 min
What makes burgers so irresistible? Faith and the gang muse over the perfect burger, from the nuances in beef, to the ratio of toppings, to the types of buns. Burger love abounds. We’ll share your regional recommendations and talk to Josh Welch, a cattle farmer who also co-owns Graze Burgers, a farm-to-bun burger restaurant in Westerly, Rhode Island. Faith asks the executive chef of 1000 North (one of Michael Jordan’s restaurants) exactly what’s in the best burger she’s ever had, and we’ll share...
Mar 14, 2019•50 min
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? Bubble gum? 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: https:/...
Mar 06, 2019•50 min
The new Bear’s Smokehouse at the Stack in New Haven is officially open. Jamie “the Bear” MacDonald teams up with Jason Sobocinski on a year-round destination for BBQ and beer lovers. This Bear’s checks all our boxes. We’re so excited to have Jason, Jamie, and beverage director Conrad Meurice on the show. Plus, Faith and the gang share some treasured cookbooks and talk to Kristie Balisciano about the Easterseals of Waterbury’s 26th Annual Chocolate and Food Festival. Support the show: https://foo...
Feb 27, 2019•50 min
Bite into Bollyburgers from the new cookbook, Bollywood Kitchen . Author Sri Rao pairs Bollywood movies with Indian dishes anyone can make at home. Plus, Connecticut chef Prasad Chirnomula of INDIA in West Hartford joins the party, and our wine experts offer tips on how to order a bottle of wine at a restaurant, even if you know next-to-nothing about wine. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 20, 2019•49 min
This week, we're revisiting our Valentine's Day show where Faith and the gang dream up entrées that put you in the mood for love and puzzle over Canada’s mysterious butter tart. Plus, Delia Cabe tells us where in New York you can find the city’s best literary pubs, cocktail bars, and taverns as we explore recipes from her book, Storied Bars of New York: Where Literary Luminaries Go to Drink. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 13, 2019•50 min
If like us, you crave comforting bowls of soup all winter long, we’ve got a cookbook for you. In fact, we’ve got a new kind of PARTY for you! Soup Swap by Kathy Gunst is not only full of soul-warming soup, stew, and chowder recipes, you’ll also learn everything you need to know to start a soup swap party of your own. Imagine making ONE pot of soup for friends and neighbors, and going home with MANY soups to eat now or freeze for later. That’s our kind of party! And Kathy’s are our kind of recipe...
Feb 06, 2019•50 min
One of Connecticut’s best chefs, Franco Camacho, joins the party for the whole hour. 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, big news for Metro Bis (Congrats to our own, Chris Prosperi!) and the gang discusses what makes a great restaurant server. Insider info about the restaurant biz abounds. And, where is your favorite ...
Jan 31, 2019•50 min
The gang shares more restaurant hot spots (shout-outs to Old Wethersfield Country Store, Taste of China, ON20, Heirloom, Pierre's, Forbidden City Bistro, and more!) 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, S...
Jan 23, 2019•50 min
Think you know everything there is to know about cookbook author, restaurateur, and PBS-favorite Lidia Bastianich? This week, Lidia joins Faith for an intimate conversation about her childhood in Italy—part of which was spent in a refugee camp—and her amazing life in America focused around food and family. Lidia’s memoir, My American Dream , is a story of resilience and gratitude. You won’t want to miss this uplifting hour of radio. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystud...
Jan 16, 2019•50 min
Let’s get cozy! We 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. On Facebook, we’re asking p...
Jan 09, 2019•50 min
This week Faith discovers the joy that is a red wine and smoked salmon pairing. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Plus Lindsay-Jean Hard, the author of the excellent cookbook, Cooking with Scraps explains how home cooks can turn peels, cores, rinds, stems, and more into delicious meals. Lindsay-Jean inspires the gang to share their best tips for putting food scraps to good use. Don’t throw those broccoli stems away! Faith also talks to Patrick Byrne, Director of Development at Family Life Educatio...
Jan 03, 2019•50 min
Beef grown in labs, heritage grains, cannabis in everything, and robots that fetch your food for you. . .we’re talking about the top food trend predictions for 2019. Don’t worry, donuts are still on the list! Check out Whole Foods’ annual predictions, as well as Gourmet Insider’s Food and Flavor Forecast. Plus, Faith and the gang discus what to eat on New Year’s Eve, and Faith describes her experience eating a grocery store veggie burger (she didn’t love it) and explains why Honey Stinger Waffle...
Dec 26, 2018•50 min
Dorie Greenspan joins the party to talk about her new cookbook, Everyday Dorie . Wouldn’t you love to cook like Dorie every day? Dorie shares her 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 beaut...
Dec 19, 2018•50 min
This week, we’re revisiting Faith’s conversation with neuroscientist and nutritionist, Dr. Lisa Mosconi. Dr. Mosconi shares fascinating research along with strategies and recipes for eating for optimum brain health. Studies are beginning to show that it IS possible to improve memory and prevent cognitive decline—at any age—and it starts with what you eat. Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 12, 2018•50 min
Faith and the gang share recipe ideas—including Chicken, Bacon and Cheese Enchiladas—for your holiday potluck. Plus, one of the queens of baking, a.k.a. “dessert diva” Rose Levy Bernanbaum 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: https:...
Dec 05, 2018•50 min
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 two New York City must-visits: a hot chocola...
Nov 28, 2018•50 min
Make extra everything! Faith and the gang have ideas for reinventing Thanksgiving leftovers. Julia Turshen joins the party with recipes from her book, Now and Again , including roast turkey breasts and a sheet-pan stuffing. Plus, learn how to make perfect mashed potatoes and get Faith’s picks for holiday wines you’ll want to put out on the table. Mix and match. . .something for everyone! Our recommendation for this Thanksgiving: Shooting Star, a bold, opulent American red Zinfandel. Support the ...
Nov 14, 2018•50 min
Faith and the gang make a simple gravy with chicken stock, bourbon, and bacon. And every home cook should know how to make classic Chicken Picatta: slightly crisp cutlets in a lemony sauce topped with salty capers. We made the dish in our studio kitchen and asked Susan Volland, author of Searing Inspiration to walk us through the process of perfectly searing meat and vegetables and whipping up a fabulous pan sauce. Do NOT be afraid to try this at home! Susan shares her tips and techniques for co...
Nov 08, 2018•50 min
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 latest 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 from masters in the food world for feeding and entertaining friends and family. You don’t have to be a chef to create dishes that impress. Cook with confidence! In...
Oct 30, 2018•50 min
