Evolutionaries

Lidia Bastianich has two passions – family and food – and she’s managed to create an culinary empire using both. Lidia is the chef/owner of four acclaimed New York City restaurants — Felidia, Becco, Esca and Del Posto, as well as Lidia’s in Pittsburgh and Kansas City. Her cookbooks include Lidia Cooks From the Heart of Italy and Lidia’s Italy – both companion books to her Emmy-nominated television series, Lidia’s Italy, Lidia’s Family Table, Lidia’s Italian- American Kitchen, Lidia’s Italian Table and La Cucina di Lidia. Lidia came to the United States from Istria — when she was 12 years old with her parents and her brother Franco. She had wanted to become a doctor – but fate had other plans for her. This program has been sponsored by Bonnie Plants.

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Ariane Daguin is the owner and co-founder of D’Artagnan – one of America’s largest specialty-meat-and-game distributors. D’Artagnan is one of the worlds most trusted manufacturer of pates, foie gras, all natural organic poultry and game. Ariane’s journey is a true American success story. The gascony born Daguin was born into a culinary family of great fame – but she longed for something different. She moved to New York with dreams of becoming a journalist. Her dreams were re-routed and in what seems like the blink of an eye, Ariane Daguin became one of the most important women that the American food world has ever known. This program was sponsored by Bonnie Plants.

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Betty Fussell is an American success story – and one of the most celebrated and beloved writers in food. Over the last 50 years her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Savuer, Vogue, Food & Wine and many more varied publications. Her memoir, Kitchen Wars was performed in Hollywood and New York as a one woman show by actress Dorothy Lyman. She’s written more than 11 books and has taught courses in English Literature, food writing and food history. Betty has seen it all and remains as sharp as the young writers making waves in today’s food world. She grew up in the depression and did everything she could to break free of the traditions ad restrictions in her day that held women back.

“When the food world was French, I was American.” [19:00]

–Betty Fussell on Evolutionaries

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Chef Tom Colicchio might be most recognized by the public as the head judge on Bravo’s hit reality cooking series “Top Chef.”, but his culinary accomplishments go far beyond food television. Hear his life story on Evolutionaries.

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Nathan Myhrvold is the former Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, and co-founder of Intellectual Ventures. He tells us about his profound interest in cooking, and his difficult introduction into the world of becoming a chef. Nathan discusses the modernization of French cuisine, as well as the differences between modern cuisine and traditional fine dining. Then, he describes the development of his endeavors in writing Modernist Cuisine, and how digital photography proved to be an essential part of creating the ideal reading and learning environment for the reader. Finally, Nathan tells us about a few ‘radical’ ideas for improving wine that would absolutely shock most wine connoisseurs. This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“Technologoy has consequences, some of them bad consequences, but so far we’ve been able to figure them out.” [20:00]

–Nathan Myhrvold on Evolutionaries

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There’s perhaps no greater expert on the food and foodways of the African Diaspora than Doctor Jessica B. Harris. Jessica is the author of 12 cookbooks, and in her more than 3 decades as a journalist, she’s written book reviews, theater reviews, travel, feature, and beauty articles too numerous to note. She’s a founding member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, she’s decorated with awards and honors, and holds multiple degrees, including a doctorate in Performance Studies from NYU. Doctor Jessica B. Harris damn near knows it all when it comes to African and Caribbean cuisines and culinary history. She’s a living legend. This program has been sponsored by Tekserve.

“Food has always been important.” [13:30]

“Instead of writing just straight travel, I would write about travel with a food bent.” [14:30]

Jessica B. Harris on Evolutionaries

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John Besh is a chef with a passion for preserving the rich cuisine of New Orleans. He was profoundly active in providing meals for thousands of people devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and in 2011 he established the John Besh Foundation, which provides scholarships, grants, and loans to those in the New Orleans area with the drive to ignite change in their communities. Today, John owns nine restaurants which celebrate the cuisine of southern Louisiana. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center.

“Now you start to see chefs carry the banner of culture…I now have a responsibility to preserve the good stuff.” [19:30]

John Besh on Evolutionaries

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Lydia Shire is the enduring culinary talent behind some of Boston’s most celebrated restaurants. She’s universally acclaimed, having won a James Beard award for Best Chef Northeast, and the Women Chefs and Restauranteurs 2011 Golden Whisk Award. She’s known for her use of fat and offal, and her exuberant personality in the kitchen. Lydia grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, and fell in love with food at a young age. This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“If you want something in life badly, you’ll have to set yourself apart.” [3:30]

“At the end of the day, cooking is the fun part of our job, but managing people is difficult at times.” [8:45]

“I don’t suggest that you eat fat at every meal, but there are times when you just need fat.” [18:45]

Lydia Shire on Evolutionaries.

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Forty years ago Kermit Lynch seemed like an unlikely wine hero. A struggling musician with a fledgling handbag business no one, least of all himself, would have predicted his groundbreaking future as a wine importer and retailer in Berkley California. The American wine-drinking landscape has been forever changed by his work. Kermit is the recipient of two James Beard Awards and was knighted by the French government with their prestigious “Legion d’Honneur”. In 1988, Kermit wrote “Adventures on the Wine Route”, which many consider to be the best wine book on the business. Tune in to Evolutionaries to hear his story, in his words. This program has been sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards and Sons

“Of all the unsulfured wines I’ve imported, only one of them was 100% consistent.”

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Colman Andrews is a preeminent American food writer that changed the way gastronomy is covered in media today. Along with Dorothy Kalins he founded Savuer Magazine. Working for Ruth Riechel, he was a contributing editor for Gourmet Magazine. In 2010, he launched his own food and drink website, The Daily Meal. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on Spanish cuisine, particularly that of the Catalonia region. Colman Andrews has seen trends come and go, collaborated with the biggest names in the industry and remains one of the most important figures in food writing today.

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