When it comes to cooking, do you follow a recipe to a T, or do you do a little improv? This week, we learn a lot about cooking by feel with the star of the Peabody and Emmy-award-winning show A Chef’s Life, Vivian Howard. She talks to Francis about how she “deprogrammed’ herself from precision cooking and started thinking outside of a written recipe. Plus, she sticks around to help answer your cooking questions. Vivian’s latest book is This Will Make It Taste Good. Then, we take advice from the scientist-turned-cook Nik Sharma, author of The Flavor Equation, on how to be intuitive with our food.  

Broadcast dates for this episode:

• January 22, 2021 (originally aired)
• January 28, 2022 (rebroadcast)
• November 1, 2024 (rebroadcast)

When you shop using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you!

Celebrate kitchen companionship with a gift to The Splendid Table today.