The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

It's officially grilling season, and this week, we’re bringing you an explosion of flavors. First, award-winning author Andrea Nguyen sits down with us to talk about the spreads you’d find at a Vietnamese grill. From delicious platters of fresh herbs to beautiful summer rolls, and savory marinated meats like her Lemongrass Pork Chop Recipe, and of course, we can’t forget Nuoc Cham, the world’s most delicious dipping sauce. Andrea is a James Beard award-winning author, cooking teacher, and consultant. Her latest cookbook is Ever-Green Vietnamese, and you can find her at Vietworldkitchen.com and on Substack. Then, recipe developer and author Farideh Sadeghin takes us into the world of hot dogs, from its history to its many regional variations, all perfect for your July 4th cookout. Farideh is the author of The Hot Dog Cookbook, and she left us with her recipe for Hog Dog Flowers, a festive take on the world-favorite dog!

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Broadcast dates for this episode:

July 03, 2026 (originally aired)

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This week, we have the dynamic duo, Sohla and Ham El-Waylly, hosts of the New York Times Cooking show Mystery Menu joining us to talk about working together, overcoming differences in their cooking styles, and the key to their success as a team. They stick around to answer your cooking questions. Then, restaurateur Will Guidara joins us with advice on how to be a great host. From the importance of “unreasonable” hospitality in the restaurant industry to being intentional in the home and turning thoughtfulness into practice. His new book is Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Broadcast dates for this episode:

November 4, 2022 (originally aired)
November 10, 2023 (rebroadcast)
June 26, 2026 (rebroadcast)

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This week, we make our 30th anniversary tour stop in Tampa in partnership with WUSF, where we learn about what makes the food of South Florida so unique. First up, Dalia Colón, host of The Zest podcast and author of The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook, gives us an overview of the rich Tampa food scene. From its diverse cuisines to its old-school Southern charm. Then, we talk about Tampa’s cultural and culinary history and legacy with Andrea Gonzmart Williams, fifth-generation owner of Columbia Restaurant, a landmark in the Cuban American community, and Megan Sorby, co-founder and CEO of Pine Island Redfish, a startup land-based fish farm with an environmental restoration focus. And finally, we meet up with community leader Anthony Gilbert, better known as “Call Anthony,” for his video reviews of Tampa Bay’s under-the-radar- eateries.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 27, 2025 (originally aired)
June 19, 2026 (rebroadcast)

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This week, we explore traditional foods and identity with two amazing chefs. First, Food editor and author Monti Carlo talks about her visit home to Puerto Rico after many years away and how reconnecting with her roots shaped her approach to cooking traditional dishes, even adding her own spin, like her Bacalaíto Battered Onion Rings recipe. Monti Carlo is the Senior Food & Dining Editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and author of the latest book, Spanglish. Then, we get into the spicy, savory, sticky food of Laos with Saeng Douangdara. Saeng talks about his upbringing in Wisconsin, why sticky rice is a huge identifier of Laotian culture, and shares his favorite recipes, including his take on the Laab Taco. Saeng Douangdara is the author of The Lao Kitchen: Lao Flavors and Stories Told Through Family Recipes.

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Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 12, 2026 (originally aired)

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This week, we talk to two longtime restaurant critics from different parts of the country about what makes their work so interesting and what they're excited to eat. First, Bill Addison, restaurant critic for The Los Angeles Times, talks about his approach to critical writing, his favorite restaurant experiences, and the evolution of California cuisine. He just wrapped up one of the most ambitious projects of his career, the list of the One Hundred and One Best Restaurants in California for The Los Angeles Times. Then, we turn to the Midwest to join Wini Moranville, a restaurant critic based in Des Moines, Iowa. She tells us about her first job as a restaurant server and how that influenced her current work reviewing restaurants, and how restaurant criticism in smaller cities often have very different considerations. Wini is the author of the memoir "Love is My Favorite Flavor: A Midwestern Dining Critic Tells All," and you can check out her Substack, Dining Well in DSM.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

June 13, 2025 (originally aired)
June 5, 2026 (rebroadcast)

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