Jessica Soffer explores the connections between food, writing, culture in her first novel, Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots. Jessica joins Cathy Erway for this week's Eat Your Words to talk about her Iraqi Jew heritage, and how the food culture of her people is underrepresented in New York City, and the world. Learn more about the novel, and the trend of books that includes evocative plots involving food and heritage. Have you ever had masgouf? Learn about the traditional Iraqi dish that includes butterflying and grilling a white fish vertically. What other novelists does Jessica admire? Find out all of this and more on this week's installment of Eat Your Words! This program has been sponsored by Fairway Market. Thanks to The California Honeydrops for today's music.

"I think there's an explicit connection: getting affirmation from cooking and writing." [6:30]

"Masgouf is the national dish of Iraq, which is interesting because it's so different from what it once was." [17:50]

-- Jessica Soffer on Eat Your Words

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, Greg and Darin Bresnitz are joined in the studio with Joe Carroll of Williamsburg hot spots like Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, and St. Anselm. Joining Joe is the Yvonne de Tassigny, chef at Fette Sau and St. Anselm. Tune in to hear Joe's past in the music business, working in Belgian restaurants, and why he started a barbecue restaurant in Williamsburg. Joe and Yvonne are going to be hosting and cooking for Finger On The Pulse's BBQ Blowout this upcoming Wednesday at Good Co. This week's musical guest is Emil & Friends. Emil & Friends make electronic music, collaborate with orchestras, and Emil plays acoustic guitar live for this episode. Hear some of Emil & Friends' songs from the full-length Lo & Behold, and a P.R. stunt involving Emile Hirsch. This episode was brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

"White tablecloths and wine lists don't equate barbecue to me."

"I'm going to do what I do regardless of what's going on around me. I didn't really think about where we fit in [the barbecue scene]." -- Joe Carroll about Fette Sau on Snacky Tunes

"Once you get the attention of a group of people, it's important to show who you are and be honest." -- Emil of Emil & Friends on Snacky Tunes

Everyday is Valentine's Day for Tom Cruz, but on this February 14th edition of Full Service Radio, the man that once went by "Dope Pope" in the rap group Supreeme plays a set full of love songs to get listeners in the right state of mind. We take a break from the club sounds for a mult-genre exploration of sensually themed tracks - everything from dancehall to pop rock. This program was sponsored by Tekserve