Seasoned – Details, episodes & analysis

Get your grill ready and crack open a cold one. We’re talkin’ about beer can chicken with PBS host and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Steven Raichlen. The host of Project Smoke, Project Fire, and Planet Barbeque on PBS, talks about his latest book, Beer-Can Chicken.

Steven shares tips for imparting both a subtle or more pronounced beer flavor, how to be sure your chicken stays upright and other non-beer drinks that you might want to plop your chicken on for grill-roasting. Steven also shares tips for cooking vegetables right on the embers—that “cave man” method of grilling he’s famous for.

Plus, Seasoned is sunsetting; that means we won't be making new episodes going forward. In this final episode, the Seasoned team gathers in the spirit of gratitude and reflection. We play back clips from some of our most meaningful interviews and favorite guests.

GUEST:

Steven Raichlen: Author of more than 30 books about grilling, including The Barbecue Bible, How to Grill, Planet Barbecue and Project Smoke. Steven’s won five James Beard Awards, and he’s lectured on the history of barbecue at Harvard University, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. His latest book is Beer-Can Chicken: Foolproof Recipes for the Crispiest, Crackliest, Smokiest, Most Succulent Birds You’ve Ever Tasted. (@stevenraichlen)

FEATURED RECIPES:
Basic Beer Can Chicken
Beer Can Turkey
Black Cherry Soda Chicken
Grilled Artichokes

INTERVIEWS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Yewande Komolafe’s ‘Everyday Lagos,’ plus Bridgeport’s Green Village Initiative

• Chef Rahanna Bisseret Martinez + a personal approach to community gardening

• Real talk about diet culture from the ‘Food, We Need to Talk’ experts

• Chef Kwame Onwuachi cooks ‘his America’ plus, home cooks from PBS’s 'The Great American Recipe'

• Chefs Sherry Pocknett and 'Diasporican' author Illyanna Maisonet make James Beard Award history

• Michael Twitty’s ‘Koshersoul,’ Rosca de Reyes from Atticus Bakery, and natural wines to try

• Seasoned celebrates Pride

• Seasoned heads to the forest for local maple syrup

• Building community through coffee

• Talkin’ turkey with local chefs, plus the gift of Buffalo Creek squash

Seasoned was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Catie Talarski, Meg Dalton, Stephanie Stender, Katrice Claudio, Tagan Engel, and Meg Fitzgerald, with help from Francesca Fontanez, Katherine Jimenez, Martha Castillo, and Janae Spinato on Social.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email: seasoned@ctpublic.org.

All episodes of Seasoned are available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes.

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re celebrating a few things at The Port of Call with chef Renee Touponce and bar manager and mixologist, Jade Ayala: Pride Month, a second James Beard Award nomination for Renee and Renee's birthday.

We’re also gonna eat. . .and dance along with the Sea Queens during a drag performance at The Port of Call. It’s a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign to protect LGBTQ+ rights – something Renee and Jade are passionate about.

Drag brunches and dinners aren’t usually about the food, but when Renee’s in the kitchen, they’re about the queens and the food. We talk with Renee and Jade about the restaurant’s bi-weekly drag dinner series and how they’re showing up for the LGBTQ+ community through their work.

And, the New Haven Pride Center has moved out of a basement and into a light-filled space on Orange Street. Producer Tagan Engel talks with Bennie Saldana, Support Services Coordinator, about the new space and the center's expanded programs for youth and adults. The new program we’re particularly excited about is the inspiration of ally, Diana Henderson.

Diana cooks and organizes monthly community dinners and bakes a birthday cake so everyone feels celebrated. She’s also known for her “free mom hugs.”

You’ll also hear from community dinner participants describing what it means to them to share a meal with chosen family. New to the area? Attending a dinner is a great way to find connection within the LGBTQ+ community in a dedicated space.

Plus, Chantal Tafari, chef/owner of Likkle Patty Shop in Windsor, makes vegan Jamaican patties that “slap,” and producer Katrice Claudio can’t recommend them highly enough. She talks with Chantal about what makes her patties special and you’ll learn about ackee, the official fruit of Jamaica.

GUESTS:

• Reneé Touponce: Executive Chef at Oyster Club and The Port of Call in Mystic, Conn. (@reneetouponce). Restaurant events.

• Jade Ayala: Bar Manager and Beverage Director at both Oyster Club and The Port of Call in Mystic, Conn.

• Sea Queen Performers: ft. Dro Lopez Fierce (@drolopezfierce) on Instagram

• Bennie Saldana: Support Services Coordinator, New Haven Pride Center (@newhavenpridecenter) also (@bennie.saldana) and (@crystalstarzofficial)

• Diana Henderson: Volunteer community dinner cook and co-host. Giver of "free mom hugs"

• Attendees of the NHPC Community Dinner (March)

• Chantal Tafari: Chef-owner of Likkle Patty Shop, a plant-based Jamaican patty shop and bakery in Windsor, Conn.

BONUS: 
Listen to Where We Live's interview with Juancarlos Soto, Executive Director of the New Haven Pride Center.

This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Meg Dalton, Stephanie Stender, Tagan Engel, Katrice Claudio, and Meg Fitzgerald, with help from Francesca Fontanez, Janae Spinato, and Martha Castillo on Social.

Special thanks to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies who shared their stories with us and allowed us to document their celebrations.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email: seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Seasoned, we’re spending the hour talking about—and tasting—chocolate. We'll get a history lesson and follow cacao's journey from a bitter drink for wealthy Aztecs to the delicious thing it is today. Plus, if you care about where your food comes from and how it impacts the people who grow and harvest it, as well as the planet, we're recommending four chocolate bars that are certified organic, Fair Trade and Fair for Life.

First, you’ll meet Benoit Racquet of BE Chocolat in Fairfield. This master chocolatier is not just making artisan chocolates, he’s designing a tasting experience.

And, we talk with food historian Ramin Ganeshram about the evolution of cacao and chocolate. "So these individuals working with cacao for this world market—for colonizers, for their enslavers and those who'd indentured them—were skilled artisans," Ramin said, "they were agriculturalists, they were food scientists, and people I think don't realize that."

Finally, in between bites, Tagan Engel and Westport chocolatier Aarti Khosla recommend ethically made store-bought bars you can feel good about buying. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it. Tagan prefers a tall, thin Theo, and both agree it has a good snap. One of Aarti's top picks is from Tony's Chocolonely, one of the original chocolate makers working toward a 100% exploitation free chocolate.

GUESTS:

• Benoit Racquet: Master chocolatier and co-founder of BE Chocolat in Fairfield, Conn.

• Ramin Ganeshram: Executive Director of the Westport Museum for History & Culture. She’s also a food historian, a professionally trained chef, a journalist and the author of the book, The General’s Cook, a novel which tells the story of Hercules Posey, the chef enslaved by President George Washington.

• Aarti Khosla: Chocolatier/owner of Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti in Westport, Conn.

Chocolate bars you can feel good about buying
Tagan and Aarti tasted the following bars during their segment. All are readily available at markets or pharmacies and sell for between $3.00-$6.00.

• AlterEco (Brown Butter Dark, Organic, Fair Trade)

• Theo (Cherry Almond, Organic, Fair for Life)

• Tony’s Chocolonely  (Caramel Sea Salt, Fair Trade, Traceable Cocoa Beans)

• Divine (85% Exquisitely Smooth Dark Chocolate Bar, Fair Trade, Ghanian farmer co-owned)

Learn More:
Visit the Slave Free Chocolate website.
The Fine Chocolate Industry Association is working on a glossary to help define the terms used for ethical and sustainable chocolate.

This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Meg Dalton, Tagan Engel, Stephanie Stender, Katrice Claudio, Meg Fitzgerald, and Sabrina Herrera.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email: seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Seasoned is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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We usually fill your earbuds with talk about food—people food. But, this is Seasoned, and this is the season for staycations and day trips. Have you been to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo yet this summer? This week: find out what are our furry, scaly, and feathered friends at the zoo are eating. We talk to the zoo educators and animal care specialists who feed them, and we get up close and personal with animals like an Eastern hellbender, two highly intelligent river otters, and a gorgeous macaw named Newton.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. Visuals journalist Ryan Caron King and interns Maisy Carvalho and Kelly Langevin contributed. 

Guests:
Jim Knox – Curator of education at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn.
Chrissy Shore – Zoo educator at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn.
Jen Farrell – Zoo educator at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn.
Chris Barker – Animal care specialist at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn

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Planning a 4th of July cookout? We’re sharing ideas and inspiration for celebratory food for outdoor gatherings. Martie Duncan, of Food Network fame talks with us about ways to take the party outside. Plus, we tour the Hummel Bros. hot dog factory and talk to Miki Sudo, seven-time Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champ.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. Visuals journalist Ryan Caron King contributed. See his photos of our Hummel Bros. tour at CTPublic.org/Seasoned.

Guests:
Martie Duncan – Author, party planner, and host of AllRecipes’ Homemade podcast
Eric Hummel – Co-owner of Hummel Bros. Hot Dogs, New Haven, Conn.
James Vai – Plant foreman, Hummel Bros. Hot Dogs, New Haven, Conn.
David Hamilton – Quality control, Hummel Bros. Hot Dogs, New Haven, Conn.
Miki Sudo – Competitive eater, seven-time Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest women’s champion

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Add ice cream to the list of local Connecticut food we should be especially proud of. You’ll find shops making great-quality ice cream in every city and town in the state. One of the most beloved of those shops is Grassroots Ice Cream in Granby. Ice cream maker Eliza Florian is our guest for the hour. Listeners can call and talk to Eliza about where she finds inspiration for offbeat flavors like roasted garlic and bacon ice creams. You can ask about the classics, too. Or the science behind ice cream making. And, we want to hear about your favorite ice cream spots. Is there a shop you’ll drive an hour for? Are you into big bubble cones or rolled ice cream? Do you make ice cream at home? 

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. 

Guest: 
Eliza Florian – Owner and ice cream maker at Grassroots Ice Cream in Granby, Conn. 

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Thirsty? Let’s taste the drinks of summer 2021. Sommelier Erin Swain shares her top rosé picks and Robert Simonson of The New York Times explains the allure of mezcal and shares recipes from his new book, Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails. Plus, Chef Plum tastes the award-winning gin at Fifth State Distillery, because a G&T is always a summer classic.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. 

Guests:
Erin Swain – Sommelier, based in New York; currently at La Fin Kitchen & Lounge in Montauk (@SurfingSomm)

Robert Simonson – Author of Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave

Bridget and Rob Schulten- Owners and Spirit Makers of Fifth State Distillery in Bridgeport, Conn.

Featured Wines:
Daou rosé from Paso Robles California - retails in Conn. for around $15.99
Grapes: 95% Grenache Noir, 5% Sauvignon Blanc

Macari rosé from Macari Vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island - $30
Grapes: Merlot and Malbec

Rock Angel rosé from Provence - retails in Conn. for around $28.99
Grapes: Grenache and Rolle (Vermentino)

Featured Recipes:
Mezcal Mule
Camarón Cocktail
Siesta

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You probably know chef Gregory Gourdet from TV’s Top Chef. He was a finalist on the show, and he’s a frequent guest judge. What you might not know is that the James Beard Award-nominee is a dozen years into recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Gregory writes about his wellness journey in his new cookbook, Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health. We talk with Gregory about his Haitian heritage, his early life cooking in New York City, and his desire to make restaurants safe, inclusive, equitable places to work.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. 

Guest:
Gregory Gourdet – Chef and author of Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health

Featured Recipes:
Watermelon-Berry Salad With Chile Dressing And Lots Of Herbs
Haitian Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

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Hosts Marysol Castro and Chef Plum talk with Liz Wluka, Director of Sports Nutrition at UConn, about how athletes fuel their performance—both on the field and in the classroom—with food. She also dispels several nutrition myths bound to help us all make better informed food choices. Plus, former NFL safety-turned-personal trainer Stevie Brown describes his diet as a professional athlete vs. how he eats today. His advice for non-athletes is liberating and encouraging (i.e. "Do the mirror test. . .don't look at the scale.") And, Bianca Belair peels back the curtain and shares what it’s like to be an athlete and a WWE superstar.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. 

Guests:
Liz Wluka – Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Connecticut (@FuelingHuskies)
Stevie Brown – Former NFL Player, Certified Personal Trainer
Bianca Belair – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) SmackDown Champion

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stick your nose outside this weekend, and you’ll likely smell burgers, steak, chicken or ribs cooking in backyards everywhere. This week on Seasoned: We’re live—and taking your calls about cooking with fire. Do you have a question about setting up a grill? Maybe you have a strong opinion about the optimum number of times to flip a burger. Let’s talk about it! Christian Stevenson, (aka DJ BBQ), is our guest for the hour. Born and raised in the states, he’s been living and “catertaining” in England, bringing great American barbecue to the British masses for most of his culinary career. He’s a YouTube star, a festival pit master, and the author of Fire Food and The Burger Book. He’s grilled A LOT of burgers in his day.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email at seasoned@ctpublic.org.

Robyn Doyon-Aitken and Catie Talarski produced this show. 

Guest:
Christian Stevenson (aka DJ BBQ) – Author of Fire Food: The Ultimate BBQ Cookbook and The Burger Book.

Featured Recipes:
Lamb Burgers with Pineapple Salsa
Alabama White Sauce Chicken
DJ BBQ Burger
Baby Back Ribs with Szechuan Mopping Sauce
Fish & Chips Burger
The Ultimate Cheeseburger

Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.