This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio is investigating the recent donut trend! Tune in to hear some interviews from customers of The Vault in Chicago conducted by correspondent Whitney Henry-Lester. Later, Linda calls up pastry chef and cookbook author George Geary. Recently, George authored the book 150 Best Donut Recipes: Fried or Baked- a comprehensive donut-making guide. Find out why donuts have holes, and how donuts became popular during war times. Learn how to cook all kinds of donuts - fry, bake, cake, and yeast! Hear about the rise of donut franchises like Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme, and why gourmet donuts are becoming fashionable in U.S. cities! This episode has been sponsored by 360 Cookware.

"The only main problem around making donuts at home is that the shelf life is so low versus all of the horrible ingredients that they put in donuts at normal donut shops." [32:40]

-- George Geary on A Taste of the Past

Gabriella Gershenson recaps the Saveur 100 with Mitchell Davis on this week's installment of Taste Matters. Gabriella is the Senior Editor at Saveur Magazine, and she's in the studio to talk about the difference between other best-of lists and the Saveur 100. Hear how the team at Saveur Magazine compiles their list, and listen in to learn why the Heritage Radio Network was included on this year's list! Tune in to find out what people and locations were profiled, and why the magazine seeks to highlight trailblazers and the authentic. What are some of Gabriella's favorite food trends that did not make 's list? Hear Gabriella and Mitchell discuss immigration, and how it affects authenticity in food. This program has been sponsored by 360 Cookware.

"There are some things that the young staff doesn't even think that we can make at home, and then the test kitchen goes and proves us wrong." [15:00]

"Nothing exists in a bubble, and our idea of the 'Italian grandma' is always going to have a twist and a turn." [20:30]

"We're trying to capture food as it's evolving." [22:15]

On today's THE FOOD SEEN, Aliya LeeKong brings her multi-national home (Indo-Pakistani, Tanzanian, Trinidad, Hong Kong) to the forefront through her video series, Exotic Table. Though she travels to far off lands like Turkey, Goa, and South Africa, she also finds flavor inspiration here Staten Island where a band of grandmothers run the kitchen at Enoteca Maria. Aliya is also the Culinary Creative Director at Junoon, a restaurant highlighting South Asian cuisine, where she blends spices as she does cultures. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market.