The sharing of recipes is not only through cookbooks, television and the web but also on the radio. Contemporary radio shows, such as American Public Media’s “The Splendid Table” hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, have been continuing the art of recipe telling on the airwaves since the early 20th century. In fact, the glory days of radio homemaking began in the 1920s, increased in popularity during the Depression years and lasted up until the 1960s when television took the scene. Providing a community for the radio homemaker were women such as Evelyn Corrie Birkby, of Sidney, Iowa, who chatted about domestic life, sharing best recipes and cooking tricks.
The success of a radio show largely rests in the art of telling stories and, for a show about food, the art of telling recipes. The nature of the radio show, in which the listener can’t glance back and read the ingredient list or measurement amounts, must take into account its live format and provide additional narrative features, such as more descriptions and repetitions.
Harvey Steiman, host of food talk shows in San Francisco, lists key factors for a successful radio recipe.
*Start by describing the finished dish — its appearance, texture and flavors. Tell a story about the dish or how you arrived at the recipe — anything to give a reason to keep listening.
*Repeat the ingredients and the amounts.
*Fill the time between ingredients with specifications about it (instead of just saying “two pears,” add “I like to use Bosc pears because the crisp texture lets them cook longer and absorb more flavor”).
*Keep the ingredients to six or fewer or group into smaller clusters.
*Use normal English.
*Describe the look, feel and taste (this helps listeners visualize what’s happening as the recipe takes shape).
*Repeat the amounts as you mention each ingredient in the process.
*Finish by suggesting an appropriate presentation or accompaniment.
*Try to sound as though you’re engaged in the process of cooking, not just reading a recipe.
Additional advice to the radio host is to remember that with the radio, you’re competing for the listeners’ attention as they are likely to be doing other things at the same time (driving, jogging, walking, etc). The radio cannot depend on its audience giving the show their undivided attention because the radio is often just playing in the background. The listener will not be able to write down the recipe, so let them know how they can get the recipe (online, mail in, etc.). While you may not tell a recipe on the radio, you surely will sometime to your friends or family. Knowing how the pros tell a recipe will surely make you into a great recipe teller.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 12/4/2014]
