Cooking Chat Food and Wine

Discover what makes high-quality Spanish EVOO stand out as Daniel and Ben from Titin share their family story, explain harvest timing and flavor differences, and offer simple ways to elevate your cooking with better olive oil.   In this episode, I'm joined by Daniel Danes and Ben Aguilar from Titin EVOO, a Boston-based, family-owned company importing high-quality extra virgin olive oil from Spain's renowned Jaén region. Daniel shares the inspiring story behind the brand, rooted in three generations of women who started harvesting olive oil in southern Spain more than a century ago. We also explore what truly sets great olive oil apart — from harvest timing and terroir to traceability and polyphenol levels. Ben and Daniel walk us through the differences between early harvest and November harvest oils, how to decode olive oil labels, and why the Picual variety delivers such vibrant, peppery flavor. They also share simple ways to use both their Universal (everyday) and Finishing olive oils to elevate salads, pasta, roasted vegetables, fried eggs, desserts, and more. Whether you're a home cook or an olive oil enthusiast, this episode offers practical tips for choosing and using high-quality EVOO. Includes a tasting of Titin's oils and ideas for bringing more Mediterranean flavor into your home cooking.

Stephen Nasiatka of StephenUncorked shares about how wine brings people together, from creative pairings to curated events. This Cooking Chat episode also previews an upcoming nonprofit fundraiser featuring excellent wine paired with Cuban food. Cooking Chat host David Crowley talks with Stephen about how wine can spark meaningful connections, the origins of Stephen's wine journey, and the creative ways he curates tasting experiences for nonprofits, businesses, and community gatherings. Topics include: A unique Pinot Noir pairing with lobster mac & cheese. How Stephen turned a passion for wine into a community-building business. Tips for designing wine events that foster authentic networking. Preview of pairings to try with Cuban cuisine at an upcoming Social Capital Inc. fundraiser at Gustazo Waltham. Insights into Stephen's wine portfolio and philosophy of "drink less, drink better".

This Cooking Chat podcast episode features Celine Kimberly of Nouvelle Maison, a French fine-provisions café in Winchester, MA, to talk cheese, Old World–style wines, and effortless pairings. In this interview with host David Crowley from Cooking Chat, the episode covers: Childhood food memories from France that inspired her love of markets and seasonal ingredients Transitioning from a corporate career into running a specialty French food store What visitors will find inside Nouvelle Maison: cheeses, charcuterie, baked goods, wine, spirits, and more Focus on small-scale French and local producers, with direct ties to family businesses Community events like wine and cheese tastings and hands-on classes Insights into French food culture, quality sourcing, and resources for learning more Off-the-beaten-path travel ideas in France, from Brittany to the Basque region

Heidi Herman, author of The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook, joins David Crowley on the Cooking Chat podcast to share her journey from lifelong veggie-averse eater to creative veggie enthusiast. Discover the inspiration behind her cookbook, packed with 90 recipes for adults who want to eat healthier without sacrificing taste. Heidi reveals practical tips for prepping, storing, and freezing veggies, plus creative hacks to incorporate them into every meal—even desserts! Learn how to enjoy more vegetables, reduce kitchen waste, and make plant-based eating approachable for everyone. Whether you love or loathe veggies, this episode offers expert advice, surprising stats, and easy ideas to boost your nutrition and flavor.

Check out the Cooking Chat Food & Wine podcast for an engaging conversation with Aly Wente, a member of the fifth generation of the family stewarding Wente Family Vineyards—America's longest continuously family-owned and operated winery. With over 140 years of history rooted in California's Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards has made major contributions to the story of American wine from its German immigrant beginnings to its current focus on sustainability and innovation. Aly shares how her family pioneered California Chardonnay, including the origin of the famed Wente Clone, which now influences 75% of all Chardonnay grown in the state. She also reflects on her personal journey that brought her to be part of the next generation of the Wente family guiding the winery into the future. Discover what makes Livermore Valley an excellent spot for making wine, and why the region's winemakers have decided to lift up Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc as the region's signature. During this episode, host David Crowley tastes two examples of Wente's wines that highlight the promise of these grapes. If you're passionate about wine, inspired by family business legacies, or curious about under-the-radar wine regions, this episode blends tradition, innovation, and the future of American wine in one compelling story.