Christmas Cajun-Creole Style, OTM reports from the Crescent City. Donald Link, Chef Owner, Cochon, Cochon Butcher & Herbsaint; JoAnn Clevenger, Founder, Upperline; Ralph Brennan, Owner & Chip Flanagan, Chef, Ralph’s On the Avenue; Ben Thibodeaux, Palace Café. AND Rio Sabaducci, Inventor of a great Wine Gadget, the Vinturi Aerator.

Ana Quinconces Rodriguez, "Sabor!"; Jane Caswell, The Kalahari Pepper Co. Rhino Hot Sauces; Daniela Massey, The Spice Hunter Co., Spices & Rubs; Martina Kenworthy, Gustiamo, Bronx NYC, Italian Gourmet Dried Porcini Mushrooms.

Those Mercer Girls, Jenji, Bekah & Heather Sue, Ruby et Violette, NYC; Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito, authors "Baked", Owners, Baked NYC, Brooklyn; Julie Hasson, "The Complete Book of Pies"; Amanda Hesser, Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table: A Collection of Essays from the New York Times; Jeremy Metzler, Yellingbo Gold EVO in 3 liter boxes.

Thomas Keller, "Under Pressure" & Founder, The Thomas Keller restaurant group including Per Se, NYC, The French Laundry, Bouchon & Ad Hoc, Yountville CA; Eric Ripert, "On the Line"; Chef-partner, Le Bernadin, NYC; in conclusion, Ann’s observations on what will be new & exciting, or troublesome with food & restaurants in 2009.

Erika McMillan, Special Events at the 2009 Charleston SC Food & Wine Festival; David Joachim, The Science of Good Food: The Ultimate Reference on How Cooking Works; Micah Bertin & Bill Dehaven, Consafeco, manufacturers of the Alligetter; Ed Behr, "The Art of Eating" quarterly newsletter.

Ryan Johnson, Pilsner Urquell, celebrating 160 years of "Golden" lager brewing; Pilsen, Czech Republic; Steve Kolpan, "Winewise"; Fred Noe, Bourbon Ambassador, Jim Beam Brands, at the Pittsburgh Whisky Festival.

David Waltuck, Chanterelle, Chef-Partner, Chanterelle Restaurant, NYC: Chet Garland, Chef-Partner, Toast Restaurant & Wine Bar, Pittsburgh; Andrew Carmellini, "Urban Italian".

OTM in Gay Paree, City of Light & Fine Food! Cedric Jossot, Les Bouquinistes & Laurent Jacquet, Maitre Albert, both Guy Savoy Restaurants; Alain Pramil, Pramil; Food Chemistry Expert Herve Thies.

Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page, "The Flavor Bible"; David Bedford, Apple Breeder, University of Minnesota; James Peterson, "Sauces" – 3rd edition.

GREAT Vasco Nuevo (New Basque) Cuisine in & around San Sebastian. Juan Mari & Elena Arzak, Arzak, San Sebastian; Francis Paniego, Echaurren, Ezcaray; Martin Berasategui, Lasarte; Andoni Aduriz, Mugaritz, Errenteria.

Dale Markham & Max Miller, Pittsburgh Whiskey Festival; Scott Beattie; "Artisinal Cocktails"; Susan Atkisson, Keuka Lake Roasters, Coffee-based Sauces & Rubs; Cindy Mushet, "The Art & Soul of Baking".

OTM on "Spanish Sojourn". Great Rioja Wine discoveries, Gonzalo Lainez, Roda; Luis Valentin, Valenciso; Fritz Allhoff, Dan Haggart; CHERRish, Organic Cherry Juices & Blends; Francisco Migoya, "Frozen Desserts".

 

OTM in Virginia, other places not to miss; Tom Nash, Chef-owner, Thornton River Grill, Sperryville; Gerard Gasparini, Chef-owner, Pomme, Gordonsville; Greg Alauzen, Executive Chef, Cioppino, Pittsburgh, note Greg is now Corporate Chef for The Pipa Group; Fritz Allhoff, "Food & Philosophy"; Leslie Reichert, Green Cleaning Coach.

Ruth Reichl, Editor, Gourmet Magazine. OTM in Virginia, Part 3; Howard Foer, Executive Chef/Proprietor, Casanova Restaurant & Poplar Springs Old House; Casanova; David Scales, Executive Chef, The Inn at Meander Plantation; Warren Dunn, Virginia Wine Academy; Patrick Kearney, Old House Vineyard, Culpeper

OTM in Virginia, Part 2; Frank & Sue Maragos, Foti’s, Culpeper; Al & Cheryl Kellert, Grey Ghost Vineyards; John & Diane MacPherson, Owners, The Foster Harris House & Tour de Epicure; Washington; Melissa Close, Chef & Luca Paschina Winemaker, Palladio Restaurant & Barboursville Winery.

OTM does Emilia Romagna, Part 2;.Pasquale Falanga, Executive Chef, I Carraci, Grand Hotel Baglioni, Bologna, Italy; Danilo DiPasquale, General Manager; Palazzo Viviani, Castello di Montegridolfo, Italy; Osteria De Poeti, Bologna, Italy; Franco Rossi, Ristorante Franco Rossi, Bologna.

OTM in Virginia Part 1. Richard Lewis, Virginia Tourist Commission; Peter Matthews, Vineyard Mgr., Blenheim Vineyard; Charlottesville; Carol Asam, Asam Hotels, Owner, & Richard Mellar, Chef, The Mimslyn Inn, Luray.

OTM does Emilia Romagna, Part 1; Chef-owner Massimo Bottura, Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy; 2 segments, you should listen to both!; Giovanni Tamburini, Tamburini Gourmet Foodstore, Bologna, Italy; Cesare Chiara; Chef-owner, Ristorante Bitone, Bologna, Italy.

Marie Simmons, "Sur La Tables Things Cooks Love"; "The Waiter:, "Waiter Rant", the Book & the Blog; Jeff Roberts, "The Atlas of Artisan American Cheese"; Tim Stark, "Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer".

 

Two great wine "exposes; Alice Fiering, "The Battle for Wine & Love; or How I saved the World from Parkerization"; Ben Wallace, "The Billionaire’s Vinegar"; Nate Appleman, "A16: Food+Wine"; Richard Chen, Chef-partner, Richard Chen Pittsburgh (sadly this restaurant is now closed, Richard is still Executive Chef at Wing Lei, Las Vegas, the Pittsburgh restaurant is expected to re-open).

Jamee Enstrom & Doug Simons, Enstrom Candies; Grand Junction CO, Marcia Blackwell, Blackwells Organic Sorbet (out of business as of June 2011); Long Branch NJ; Melissa Murphy, "The Sweet Melissa Baking Book", Owner, Sweet Melissa Patisserie, Brooklyn NYC; Jennifer McLagan, "Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient".

Michel Nischan, Chef-partner, The Dressing Room restaurant, Westport CT, Founder, The Wholesome Wave Foundation; John Fischer, "The Culinary Institute Bistro & Brasserie Cookbook"; Jennifer Stoltz, SAN-J Organic Soy Sauces & Condiments; Richmond VA.; Justin Esch & Dave Lefkow, J & D’s Bacon Salt, Seattle WA.

OTM in a Drinking Mood. Dave & Jen Fox, Brave Spirits, Narberth PA; Paul Davis, Juniper Organic Gin, London, UK; Terry Xanthos, Frutzzo, Superjuices, Alpine UT; David Dahl, Dragon Pearl Tea Organic SE China Mountain Grown Organic Full-leaf Teas, Grover Beach CA.

 

2 Great Interviews from our Spring trip to Lombardy, Italy, The 2 Unusual Dining spots in NYC. Ermanno Taschera, Il Baretto al Baglioni, Milan, Italy; Dottore Sandro Boscaini, Owner, Masi Agricola, Valpolicella, Italy; Benjamin Prelvukaj, Co-owner, Benjamin Steakhouse, NYC; Julian Medina, Chef-owner, Toloache Mexican Bistro, NYC.

Leah Post & Brandon Weimer, Brandini Toffee; Daniel Jackson GM & Jamie Taylor, Chef, Nonna’s Sheffield, UK – A Truly Surprising Italian Restaurant that Peter found while visiting his Homeland; Fred Plotkin, "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler".