Tequila

Mexican food authority Rick Bayless, who latest book is Salsas That Cook, is with us this week and we're talking tequila. It's not just for margaritas anymore. In fact, Rick says lose the lime and salt and move on to a different tequila experience. He means those types (especially artisan-made ones) so classy and smooth you'll want to sip them neat. In a nod to tradition, though, Rick shares his recipe for Honest-to-Goodness Margaritas for a Crowd. These are the real thing ­ pure, fresh, and tasting of good tequila.

Jane and Michael Stern are in layer-cake heaven at the Pie Kitchen in Louisville. John Willoughby talks single-flower honeys, Joel Rose takes us to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and King Cakes, and Ishan Gurdal has a report on the cheese cave at Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge. Our grocery guru Al Sicherman sets Lynne up for a bottled water tasting, and we'll open the phone lines for your calls.

Broadcast dates for this episode:

• March 4, 2000 (originally aired)
• February 3, 2001 (rebroadcast)