People are always going on about those NPR “driveway moments” where they halt regularly scheduled activity to listen to a touching story on their listener-supported radio. Well, here’s one for me (though I don’t have a driveway). The other day Christopher Walken sat in for Leonard Lopate on WNYC. Among others, he interviewed Lidia Bastianich and her mother, Erminia Motika. The Walken and Motika families go way back to Astoria, Queens, where the Walken family owned a bakery. Their reminiscences in this interview could not be more dear, complete with comfortable silences and Erminia’s beautiful trilled R’s. I couldn’t help picturing Walken’s Captain Koons telling young Butch about his great-grandaddy’s gold watch in “Pulp Fiction.” That same gentle sincerity was exhibited here, just different subject matter (Lidia’s TV show, oxtail stew, wedding cake fiascos, immigrants). Listeners, it will only take 30 minutes of your time, so click now.

Lidia and mom on "Lidia's Italy"

It’s a pretty safe bet that if you want to find the most beautiful places in the world, just go where wine is made. I’m still glowing from the beauty of France’s Languedoc region where I recently spent some time. We stayed in a tiny village of 120 residents called Caussiniojouls in the heart of the AOC Faugères. Vineyards galore. Perfectly sunny, grape-loving weather. During our stay, we had the good fortune to dine with my friend Anne de Ravel, someone who helped me early on in the process of research WWWE (she was a producer in the early days of the Food Network). Anne is a native of the region and runs Saveur Languedoc where she offers culinary tours and cooking classes. We enjoyed the benefits of her skill when she made us a delicious dinner including the poulet you see below, cooked over burning grape vines.

I didn’t watch any French cooking shows while there because I couldn’t figure out how to work the TV.

Voulez-vous de poulet?