Program 734: Saving Europe's Art; Overlooked Cuisines of Italy; Belgian Treats

Italian food expert Fred Plotkin helps us discover great local food and drink specialties in four of the less-touristed regions of Italy, including elaborate seafood stews, spreadable salamis, and some of the best sheep's milk cheeses in the world.

Hear how the humble staples of Belgium are getting re-imagined as hearty "comfort foods" today.

And be reminded of the risks people took to protect the artistic treasures of Europe during the Second World War, on the next Travel with Rick Steves. 

• Robert M. Edsel, founder of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation
• Italophile Fred Plotkin, co-author of "Rick Steves' Italy for Food Lovers" (Avalon Travel)
• Belgian-born tour guides Nina Dierckx and Ferdi Menghi

• Robert M. Edsel spoke with Rick about the work of the Monuments Men and Women on Travel with Rick Steves program #565 in May 2019, on program #353 in February 2014, and on program #186a in November 2012.
• A roster of dozens of military and civilian people from many nations, who contributed to saving the art treasures of Europe during the Second World War, is included on the website for the Monuments Men and Women Foundation.
• The last surviving member of the original Monuments Men, Richard Barancik, died in July 2023 in Chicago at age 98.
• A permanent exhibit on the work of the Monuments Men and Women is featured in the newly-opened Liberation Pavilion at the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans.
• Rick collaborated with Fred Plotkin on the book "Italy for Food Lovers."
• Fred wrote "La Terra Fortunata" about the foods of the Friuli-Giulia region of Italy in 2001.
• Fred posts episodes from his live Idagio Friday arts interviews on YouTube.   
• Rick, Nina and Ferdi refer to Vincent Van Gogh's painting of "The Potato Eaters" as being true to life in Belgium, not so many years ago.

• "The waffles in Belgium have a sweetness and crispness that was different from any so-called Belgian waffle I have had in the US. They are so good you can just eat them plain, they don't even need anything. When I got home, I researched recipes and found out the type of waffle I was after was a "Liege style" waffle, made with yeast dough and pearls of sugar. Another favorite dish is waterzooi. It's a stew with chicken or fish and potatoes and leeks in a cream sauce. I had waterzooi two nights in a row in Bruges because I loved it so much." (Monique in West Newbury, Massachusetts)
• "My favorite dish in Belgium was moules-frites. I saw it on the menu of most restaurants and loved eating it! In Belgium is also where I was introduced to dipping fries in mayo." (Nicole in Victoria, British Columbia)

• MYMA_JUST_0152_03401_E_L_Italia_Instrumental_APM
• Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson, conductor, "'Modere' from 'Cinq Grimaces' (Erik Satie)," Satie: Orchestral Works / EMI Classics
• Orchestre de l'Association des Concerts Colonne (Georges Tzipine, cond.), "'L'Allée des Marmousets' from the Jean Françaix film 'Si Versaille m'était conté'," Le Film Français: Honegger, Françaix, Sauguet, Thiriet / EMI Classics
• Ray Ventura, "On ira prendre not' linge," Les Chansons de la Liberation (collection) / Distribution Soldore  (France)
• Intro to Charles Trenet, "Quand un facteur s'envole," Les Chansons de la Liberation (collection) / Distribution Soldore (France)
• * The Organ Dance Band and Me, "Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer," Memories of World War II (collection) / Sun Rising Music
• TCS_TCS_0025_00801_Poor_But_Handsome_APM
• Nino Rota, "La Dolce Vita (Finale)," La Dolce Vita (soundtrack)  / Creazioni Artistiche Musicali (Italy)
• Giulio Regondi Guild, "Leisure Moments No. 3, 'Andantino' (Regondi)," The Great Regondi, vol. 2: original compositions by the 19th Century's Unparalleled Guitarist and Concertinist / Bridge Records
• Wuttemberg Chamber Orchestra, "'Andante molto' from 'Concerto for Two Mandolins' (Vivaldi)," Relax with the Classics vol. 1: Largo (collection) / LIND Institute
• Christophe Beck, "Olive Harvest," Under the Tuscan Sun (soundtrack) / Hollywood Records
• Michel Legrand, "La Comedie Italienne (from 'Sports et divertissements') (Satie)," Erik Satie by Michel Legrand / Erato
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, "'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' (from 'Nabucco' by Verdi)," The #1 Opera Album, disc 1 (collection) / Decca
• * Jump with Joey, "Ciao Marcello Medley," Come…Jump with Joey / Ryko
• Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic, Alexander Rahbari, cond, "Vrolijike Ouverture (Marcel Poot)," Flemish Romantic Music / Naxos
• Ralph Rousseau, "Chaconne La Buisson," Chansons d'amour / Challenge Classics
• Quintessence, "Bouree - Royal Garden Blues (J. S. Bach)," The Disc Drive Disc with Jurgen Gothe (collection) / CBC Records
• Vert, "Original Oddstep (revised by Grand Unified)," Saint Germain Café: The Finest Electro-Jazz Compilation (collection) / Wagram (France)
• KPM_JM_0042_03501_ Beer_Hall_APM

* Indicates filler music used during breaks between segments

• In the segment A intro at 7:20, Rick notes that the last of the surviving Monuments Men, Richard Barancik, died "earlier this year" in Chicago.
• During a reset at 14:46, Rick notes there is a special (now permanent) exhibit on the work of the Monuments Men at the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans.
• Rick notes that Fred Plotkin hosts arts conversations on the Idagio platform, live at 2pm ET Fridays, at 38:10.
• At 56:32, Ferdi notes that the simpler low-cuisine of Belgium is in vogue again with restauranteurs. Nina adds that beer is newly recognized as a complement to a fine meal. She adds that people in Belgium can legally start drinking beer at age 16.