Umbria is a verdant landlocked region of hilltop villages including Montefalco, Orvieto, the monastery town of Assisi and Spoleto, home to a renowned performing arts festival. The local cuisine features grilled meats, porchetta and pasta with black truffles paired with red wines made from Sagrantino di Montefalco and Sangiovese Grosso. Livia Colantonio, co-proprietor of Castello delle Regine winery, and Olga Urbani, Urbani Tartufi, supplier of Umbrian truffles, discuss the region, wine and food. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com ..read more

Samantha Weiss and Kelly Jacques own AYU Bakehouse, a popular corner bakery in New Orleans' Marigny neighborhood. AYU is an Indonesian term for joy and a nod to Kelly's family heritage. Customers line up for AYU's flakey croissants, pillowy pastries and specialties such as muffaletta breadsticks laced with olives and salami, “shroom boom,” a mushroom-filled crusty pastry, chocolate babka knots and Boudin Boy, a hand-held pastry filled with boudin sausage and hard-boiled egg. Shipping available. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) p ..read more

Silver Oak Cellars was founded by two people on a handshake in 1972. Ray Twomey Duncan was a visionary Colorado entrepreneur who saw potential investing in California farmland to grow grapes. Justin Meyer was a winemaker and Christian Brothers member. They built a legendary wine focused solely on Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley and Napa. Ray's son, David Duncan, CEO since 2002, continues the legacy and has led expansion with Twomey Winery to focus on Pinot Noir and OVID Napa Valley. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part ..read more

Stewards of the land in Sicily since the 1600s (17 generations), the Planeta family's influence on the evolution of Sicilian wines is significant. Alessio Planeta, CEO, discusses his family’s history in Sicily, their role in focusing Sicily from bulk wine production to commercial bottling and the rediscovery and renaissance of Sicilian wines in the 21st century. Planeta has wine estates in five regions of Sicily: Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo and produces award-winning olive oils The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) p ..read more

Valeria Agosta is a family owner of Palmento Costanzo in Contrade Santo Spiritu in Sicily's Etna North region. Palmento Costanzo is a modern winery built into an 18th century stone palmento, an historic Etna winemaking structure. Valeria’s winemaker daughter, Serena, produces sublime Etna DOC wines from native Carricante bianco and Nerello Mascalese rosso sourced from specific contrade (production zones). Some vines date over 100 years. Open for tastings and lunch. @palmentocostanzoetnawine The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part ..read more

In 2000 Andrea Franchetti, purchased abandoned vineyards on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, an area marked by steep vineyards and vast lava fields. Franchetti focused on quality over quantity. He planted not only indigenous red Nerello Mascalese but also Chardonnay for his Passobianco and Petit Verdot and Cesanese d'Affile for his iconic Vini Franchetti red blend. Benjamin Franchetti took over leadership of Vini Franchetti and Passopisciaro SRL after his father's passing in 2022. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk ..read more

A delightful dining experience can be found in Bryan, Texas (Brazos County) thanks to Amanda and Brian Light, the husband-wife owners of Ronin Farm & Restaurant. The restaurant's seasonal menus feature what's fresh from the couple's nearby farm which hosts monthly full moon communal dinners. Of course, there's always a juicy chicken-fried Texas steak and giant burger on the menu at Ronin. The top-notch beverage program is extensive and eclectic in its wines, sakes, beers, meads and cocktails. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com ..read more

Born in Israel, Chef Alon Shaya's parents moved to Philadelphia when he was 4, a hard adjustment for Alon. But home economics teacher, Donna Barnett, saw Alon's potential and encouraged him to enroll in the Culinary Institute of America. Shaya's Pomegranate Hospitality Group includes Saba and Miss River (New Orleans), Safta (Denver), Silan (Bahamas), and Safta 1964 (Las Vegas). Shaya and his former teacher cofounded the Shaya Barnett Foundation to provide resources to support culinary education. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com ..read more

One of the nation’s most esteemed journalists on food and food policy, Corby Kummer is Executive Director of Food & Society at the nonprofit Aspen Institute. He spearheads several initiatives, including Food as Medicine, Food Justice and Open Access to support minority -owned startup food businesses. His work has opened conversations about food policy, food insecurity and regenerative farming to raise awareness and foster solutions. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Medi ..read more

Want to discover under-the-radar restaurants throughout the USA or read up on what and how we are eating? Brett Anderson has been covering food and restaurant industry topics for The New York Times since 2019 and, prior, as restaurant critic and features writer for The Times-Picayune, New Orleans. Anderson’s award-winning reporting has addressed food culture and dining, restaurant industry labor issues including sexual harassment and critical environmental topics in his home state of Louisiana. The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) p ..read more