The Zest

Francis Lam on “The Splendid Table,” His Dream Guest and the Florida Foods He’s Eager to Try


Listen Later

By Dalia Colón


It’s one thing to cook food. But talking about food on the radio takes a lot more than knife skills. And Francis Lam does it so well.


Lam is a food writer, cookbook editor and host of the popular public radio program The Splendid Table. On June 1, he’ll be at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center for a sold-out live taping of the show.


Ahead of his visit to Florida, Francis chatted with Dalia Colón from his hometown of New York City, where he lives and works. In this conversation, Francis shared how his Chinese-American upbringing helped him learn to talk about food on the radio, the Florida foods he's most excited to try and his dream Splendid Table guest—a name that might surprise you. 


Thanks to The Zest’s brand manager, Alexandria Ebron, for suggesting this episode. If you have an idea for a Zest guest, email [email protected]


Related episodes:


  • Yee Farms Brings Chinese Vegetables and a “Sense of Pride” to Boynton Beach


  • In “My (Half) Latinx Kitchen,” Kiera Wright-Ruiz Explores Identity Through Food


  • Giuliano Hazan Honors Mother Marcella Hazan’s Legacy Through Italian Cooking Classes in Sarasota and Italy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The ZestBy WUSF Public Media

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

10 ratings


More shows like The Zest

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,952 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,486 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,785 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,794 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,830 Listeners

Bon Appétit by Bon Appétit

Bon Appétit

2,532 Listeners

The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,992 Listeners

Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

Travel with Rick Steves

2,497 Listeners

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

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

3,074 Listeners

Good Food by KCRW

Good Food

1,116 Listeners

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio by Milk Street Radio

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

2,996 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,105 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,885 Listeners

Food with Mark Bittman by Mark Bittman

Food with Mark Bittman

971 Listeners

Arts Axis Florida Podcast by WUSF Public Media

Arts Axis Florida Podcast

5 Listeners

Florida Matters by WUSF Public Media

Florida Matters

13 Listeners

The Florida Roundup by WUSF

The Florida Roundup

0 Listeners

Classical WSMR - Florida's Classical Music Station by Classical WSMR

Classical WSMR - Florida's Classical Music Station

0 Listeners

Our Changing State by WUSF

Our Changing State

2 Listeners

Happy Medium by WUSF Public Media

Happy Medium

3 Listeners

The Dinner Plan by Maggie Hoffman

The Dinner Plan

50 Listeners