785: What Is a National Dish With Anya von Bremzen and Argentina’s National Drink, Mate

This week, we take a close look into what makes a national cuisine. Anya von Bremzen talks about her most recent book, National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home . We get into the history, culture, and theories behind the popularization of dishes, from researching the “correct” way to make pot-au-feu in France to looking at the “pizza effect” and the role of borsch in her family’s history. She shares her mom’s recipe for Super-Quick Vegetarian Borsch . Then we get into what may be the Argentinian National drink – mate with Mate & Co.’s sommelier, Tomás Martín Sanchez. He explains the production process, its unique flavor, and the community it brings together with its communal drinking ritual. Broadcast dates for this episode: August 4, 2023 (originally aired) August 2, 2024 (rebroadcast) Generous listeners like you make The Splendid Table possible. Donate today to support the show