This week on Cooking Issues, Dave & Nastassia answer a mailbag full of questions ranging from the purpose of vodka in vodka sauce to advice regarding non-alcoholic cocktails. Tune in to learn more about gelling properties, molds, starches and more - and find out why Nastassia has 8 cavities! This episode was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery

Photo: the probable cause of Nastassia's cavities

This week on Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez talk about their experience acting as 'fluffers' at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival. Who was more popular at the festival - Dave or Tony the Tiger? Later, Dave tackles this week's listener questions! Hear why Dave and Nastassia hate the word 'espuma', and learn how to use pine flavor in your food and drink! Dave talks about the differences in cooking temperatures for egg whites and yolks, and offers some suggestions for sous vide eggs. Learn how to prevent evaporation with an immersion circulator. Listen in to hear Dave offer tips on how to win cooking contests! This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center.

"I'm against the word 'espuma' on an English menu. If the whole menu's in Spanish, then go ahead." [8:15]

"A lot times when working with pine and lavender... even when you do a really good job with it, you might have some bathroom cleaner memories." [10:50]

-- Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues

Booker & Dax is like a mad scientists lab... just with more booze. On today's episode of The Speakeasy, hang out with Damon Boelte as he chats with bartender at Booker & Dax, Tristan Willey. Hear how he got into this scientific style of bartending and why the tools used at Booker & Dax are not at all for show. Hot drinks, savory cocktails and crazy infusions are all part of the formula at Booker & Dax - and if you weren't craving a cocktail before this show, you will be by the end of it. Tune in and get the low down on the trendsetting and high quality ways of Booker & Dax. This program was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons. Music provided courtesy of Knifeshow.

"The ideas of tools we use [at Booker & Dax] are basic - though the equipment is complicated can cause advanced issues. The way we view it as as simple as can be - we're not pulling anything that's exotic or foreign - it's just a cleaner way to get to an end result." [05:00]

"I would never make a daiquiri with clarified lime juice. There's a time and place for clarifications." [13:00]

--Tristan Willey of Booker & Dax on The Speakeasy