Take a trip to Kanazawa, Japan this week on Taste Matters as Mitchell Davis is joined by Shin Takagi, chef of Zeniya Restaurant in Japan and Vice President of Japan's Young Chef Organization. Chef Shin explains the concept of Kaiseki, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that most closely resembles Western haute cuisine. From hyper-seasonal ingredients to close attention to service and presentation - Shin makes sure that no detail is lost in his multi-course carefully balanced approach to food. Discover how cultures intersect through Kaiseki and what values Shin holds closely in his cooking and restaurant design. This program was sponsored by The International Culinary Center.

"I think of seasons not split in four, but in twelve. Early, middle and late seasons are all different." [07:12]

"If you want to participate in a [Kaiseki] tea ceremony - you should expect to be there for at least 5 hours." [03:35]

"Now if you say the word 'umami', more Americans know about it than the Japanese." [05:08]

--chef Shin Takagi of Zeniya Restaurant on Taste Matters

This week Hot Grease gets down with North Carolina with restauranteur Curtis Brown who runs a burnin' BBQ spot in the East Village named after the state's bird: The Cardinal. Listen in as Curtis breaks down regional North Carolina BBQ, learn what exactly Cherry Wine soda is, as well as what new tunes his open kitchen is currently rocking out to (hint: fans of retro girl groups and Wu Tang will be pleased!). This episode is sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

"Even in North Carolina we have differences between regional Carolina barbecue, eastern is very heavily vinegar and western is a lot more like Texas style."

--restauranteur Curtis Brown on Hot Grease

Ed Kaufman, the Director of Roasting at Joe Coffee, talks about the coffee scene at this year's Good Food Awards. Learn how coffee is judged at the ceremony. How do taste and traceability factor into a Good Food coffee award? Hear about Ed's coffee inspirations, and hear about the coffee celebrities who he met at the awards. Learn about the coffee harvesting, distributing and roasting processes!