With all of the focus on ethnic and regional cooking in the modern food movement, why is Russian cuisine so often neglected in the foodie canon? This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda Pelaccio sits down with Darra Goldstein, Professor of Russian at Williams College. Darra is also the founder and former Editor in Chief of Gastronomica, and the author of two books- A Taste of Russia and Georgian Feast. Tune into this episode to learn about the staples of Russian cooking. Why did Russian peasants crave sour foods? Learn how Peter the Great Westernized Russian cuisine for the upper classes. Tune in to hear Linda and Darra discuss some traditional Russian beverages such as vodka, kvass, and kefir. Listen in to learn about traditional Russian aversions to ocean fish and bears! This program has been brought to you by Bi-Rite Market.

"The new Russia is so fascinating... The capital cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg- you would hardly be able to recognize them if you lived there when it was the Soviet Union. There are many foreign chefs working there." [7:00]

"One thing that distinguishes Russian cuisine is the stove's falling temperature." [22:50]

-- Darra Goldstein on A Taste of the Past

On today’s THE FOOD SEEN, food writers/recipe developers Raquel Pelzel and Adeena Sussman, collaborate with the likes of Ellie Krieger, Suvir Saran, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal in LA, on their respective cookbooks. They talk about what it takes to compile and construct a chef’s vision and voice without compromising your own? Be it their culinary backgrounds, or through industry happenstance (an NYC blackout maybe?), these ladies are given the task of actualizing a recipe, all the while keeping the integrity of someone else’s food intact. This episode is sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Curious about the craft beer scene in Middle East? This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone is joined in the studio by Mazen Hajjar, the brewer behind Lebanon's 961 Beer. Hear what the typical Lebanese beer enthusiast drinks, and learn why Mazen decided to grow 961 Beer and distribute internationally. Jimmy is also talking with a wide variety of Long Island Brewers. Mike Philporick of Port Jeff, Greg Martin of Long Ireland, and Curt Potter of Blue Point Brewing Company are in the house talking about a Long Island collaboration beer, Surge Protector IPA. Surge Protector is a benefit beer for victims of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island, and for Barrier Brewing based in New York. Wendy Littlefield from Vanberg & DeWulf calls in to talk about New York's Coast to Coast Toast! Craig Flymark also calls in to talk about Barrier's brews post-Hurricane Sandy. The studio's packed on this week's Beer Sessions Radio; tune in! This program has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com.

"Sometimes we get to the point where we try to push the IBUs and do all this crazy stuff, but we forget the basics. If we don't make drinkable beers, we're failing the consumer." [35:00]

"The more beers out there, good beers- the more converts we will get." [42:00]

-- Mazen Hajjar on Beer Sessions Radio