FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

Food glorious food was the subject of The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Foodies, Wednesday, and what a gastronomic feast it was. Our delicious conversation included a discussion with pioneering chef, the father of  New World Cuisine and known internationally for introducing “fusion” into the lexicon of modern cookery, Norman Van Aken. Tune in to hear his visual on chocolate, and his pet peeve concerning what is happening in the food business. Chef Norman has a new memoir coming out in a few weeks. Be sure to look for No Experience Necessary, The Culinary Odyssey of Chef Norman Van Aken. Lucky me, I received an advanced copy and I can tell you, even if you’re not a foodie, this is one well-written, fascinating read.

I also spoke with dietician and nutritionist Manuel Villacorta. His new book, Peruvian Power Foods, 18 Superfoods, 101 Recipes, and Anti-aging Secrets from the Amazon to the Andes is one powerful little book, which, by the way, is gorgeously produced. Villacorta, born in Peru, revisited his native country and brought us back the secrets to the good health the Peruvian people enjoy. If you’re a health nut, and even if you’re not, this book is for you.

The Cooking Channel’s Ingrid Hoffmann stopped by for a chat. She is fascinating. She’s smart, she’s pretty, she’s fun, she’s one heckuva businesswoman. Her latest book Latin D’Lite, Latin Recipes with A Healthy Twist goes hand in hand with my discussion with Manuel Villacorta. She offers some tips on beating the pounds while eating the things you love. Don’t miss the segment.

Sandra A. Gutierrez is truly impressive. She has a host of interesting food titles, but her latest, Latin American Street Food: The Best Flavors of Markets, Beaches and Roadside Stands from Mexico to Argentina is right up my alley. As many of you know, I have spent a great deal of time in the Americas. One of my favorite dishes is Salvadoran pupusa. I am forever looking for recipes that are as good as those I ate on the streets of El Salvador. To my surprise, Sandra includes recipes for Pupusas de Frijo Negro, as well as cheese pupusas in her beautiful book. I plan to try making Pupusa de Frijo Negro this weekend. I can’t wait. Knowing Sandra, I have no doubt they will be delicious.

Relish, My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley is a charming, forthright, thoughtful and amusing memoir in which Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is bookended with an illustrated recipe – many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy’s original inventions. Relish is a graphic novel for our time. And, by the way, the book a great gift for your friends and loved ones for the holidays.

Smart talk, intimate talk, real talk…listen to our food episode on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Delicious Talk Radio for Fine Minds.

* By the way, all of my guests will be at the 30th Miami Book Fair International, as will I, November 17-24th. Come meet me there!