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Old Friends Share A Batch Of Ratatouille

daniel orr by pizza oven

Ratatouille is best made in bulk and shared with friends. That's how Daniel Orr sees it.

We start this recipe by setting up the friendship that's at the center of it.

Daniel is southern-Indiana born and raised. He has worked in restaurants in France, the Caribbean and New York. He came back home in 2008 to be closer to his family. That's when he met Yael Ksander, a producer at WFIU-Bloomington. She was born and raised in Virginia, also spent some time in France before moving to Indiana. All along the way, Yael was a fan of Daniel's cookbooks. When they met, they were fast friends.

"And she was actually the first one who interviewed me way back when I opened the restaurant," says Daniel. "Whatever she asks for, she gets, and she asked for the ratatouille recipe."

This time of year, Yael cooks ratatouille often, so she wanted tips from the Chef for upping her game. First suggestion -- make enough ratatouille to share with friends.

"There's no reason to make a cup of ratatouille," he says. "You want to make a gallon of ratatouille."

After an hour of stirring and seasoning the vegetables in the FARMbloomington pizza oven, our ratatouille has caramelized and softened. Daniel scooped a portion into a quart container for Yael to enjoy.

"I am a ratatouille junkie and I make it every week, so I will be curious to see what chef has produced here," says Yael. "The aroma is wonderful. I just wish I had a glass of red wine right now." She says the dish took her back:

I have to say, chef, that you and I are French in our souls. I remember very fondly going to the all-night bistro in Georgetown as a teenager called Au Pied de Cochon. I would steal away there at age 16 in the middle of the night. My parents had no idea where I was. You could order ratatouille omelets and french fries. And we felt absolutely so sophisticated. Your version, though, is better.

Also on today's program, we take a look at where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on issues relating to food and agriculture.

And, make your own bone broth with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard's Domestic Diva Barbara Lehr.

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Out With The Old Veggies, In With The Ratatouille

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