A Time and a Plate with Claire Thomas

Up until now, nearly every episode of this podcast has been seasoned with spice. Sweet, savory, sour, and heavily perfumed were the flavors of history. Back to the honeyed courts of Babylonian kings through the spectacle of Renaissance feasts across Italian city states, spices were a constant; a constant symbol of power, a constant purpose for trade, a constant reason for battle. The world was shaped by the pursuit of spices. And then they went away. Their trade slackened, battles hinged on new commodities, and most simply, they just weren’t cool anymore. At least, in the west it seemed that way. Sure, you’ll find cinnamon in some desserts, maybe a sprinkle of nutmeg - and let’s just choose to ignore Spain’s obsession with paprika for a moment so I can make an argument, but by and large, the sweet, savory, sour, and spiced flavors of the past disappeared from the western palette. When a swift, immediate change upending the status quo occurs, it’s called a revolution. And a revolution did happen. A revolution of the mind shook the western world from it’s gilded past. Crowns were replaced by Phrygian caps, and spices with nouvelle cuisine. The modern world had begun. On today’s episode, we follow Antonin Careme, the chef of kings and the king of chefs as he cooks his way through revolution, war, and across a Europe in upheaval. Later on in the episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Gold to discuss the creation of the restaurant, and what exactly is modern food.

On today’s episode of A Time and a Plate, we delve into the tunnels under Vienna to discover the true history of the croissant. Later in the episode we chat with guest Na Young Ma of Proof Bakery in Los Angeles, California

On today’s episode of A Time And A Plate, we find ourselves baking a witch’s cake on the eve of the Salem Witch Trials. We journey to the 17th century American frontier, on the cresting wave of early Protestantism, and the pervasive tide of English folk magic pulling us back. Magic, was alive and real in the Early Modern Era, and magical food could be used to heal, protect, or kill. Later in the episode we chat with Danielle Bell of De Porres Dinner Series Los Angeles-based dinner series and catering company.

On today’s episode of A Time And A Plate, we go into the most secret room in the Renaissance world, and sneak a peek at the menu. We see the rise of humanism, the decline of Rome, and the first glimmer of “Italian Cuisine” from one of the world’s first celebrity chefs. Later we chat with Katie Parla, the co-author of Taste of Rome, and an amazing culinary writer based in Rome.

On today’s episode of A Time And A Plate, we go back to 1491, and sip chocolate on the throne of Moctezuma just before the horizon to the east blackens with Spanish galleons. The world was about to change once again, and become larger than ever imagined. Later in the episode we’re joined by Jonathan Grahm, an LA chocolatier and friend of mine, to talk chocolate in this century — which is quite different!

On today’s episode, we sail on Venetian galleys into battle, get a front row seat to the apocalypse, have a wake for the world, and watch a great city fade into a living museum. But don’t worry, there’s pasta along the way. Later in the episode we chat with Jason Neroni of Rose Cafe in Venice, CA.

Today on A Time and a Plate, we follow Marco Polo to China, and stay for the noodles. Later in the episode we'll hop over to Pine & Crane and talk to Vivian Ku about her restaurant, her grandparents heritage, and modern day noodles.

Today on A Time and a Plate we’re exploring spices and medieval feasts – we’re even going on crusade with a beautiful young queen. Later on in the episode I’m being joined by Michael Solomonov, an Israeli James Beard awarded chef and restaurateur known for his landmark Philadelphia restaurant, Zahav. We’ll discuss the influence of the East on European cuisine, and share some delicious recipes too.

It might seem impossible to believe that we have a lot in common with a peasant toiling in a medieval field at the turn of the second millennium, or a Venetian pirate as plague rampages through your city’s canals, or a young girl on trial for witchcraft, or a chef who cooked for princes and kings. But here’s the thing, everyone has to eat, and that primal need has been one of the major forces in world history since we gathered around the promethean fire. That’s what we’re exploring in this season’s podcast - how food has shaped who we have become. Super casual, right? One thousand years of history, explored plate first.