CONNECTIONS
FEB 2025 VOL. 13 NO. 2
MEET THE HOSTS OF AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN Life in a test kitchen can have its surprises — a rouxrelated explosion here, a literal dumpster fire Bridget Lancaster and there. It’s all part of the work Julia Collin Davison Co-hosts AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN does AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN to ensure that any recipe they share is going to give home cooks across the country every chance for success. “There was even a rotator cuff injury due to a pesky fudge recipe that refused to work,” said series co-host Julia Collin Davison. “The good thing is that our vigorous recipe testing protocol prevents these issues from ever reaching our readers and viewers.” AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, has long been a standout among television cooking shows because of that testing protocol. “We test every recipe between 30 and 50 times, then send them to thousands of recipe testers across the country for a final review before printing it or putting it on TV,” said Davison. That testing isn’t just about helping home cooks avoid the tedious trial-and-error process. Co-host Bridget Lancaster noted that the Test Kitchen team wants to make sure they communicate the nuts and bolts of what they’ve learned to viewers. “We don’t just show the viewer how to make a recipe. We explain the why of the recipe.” Over the past year, Davison and Lancaster have taken their celebration of AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN’S 25th anniversary on the road. “I think we visited ten cities in under two months in late 2024,” said Lancaster. On April 10th, they’ll add the Granite State to their travel itinerary, when they’ll be the guests of honor during a dinner at LaBelle Winery in Derry, featuring some of the most beloved recipes from the Test Kitchen’s 25-year history.
Guests at the dinner will have a chance to meet the hosts and ask their pressing culinary questions. However, in true Test Kitchen style, the two chefs want to hear assessments from their viewers as well. “I love hearing how our recipes work in different regions and collecting valuable feedback about what works (and what doesn’t) to bring back to the Test Kitchen,” said Davison. That drive to learn something new, share reliable information and connect with their community may sound familiar to loyal New Hampshire PBS viewers. “PBS is a natural fit for AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN in many ways,” said Davison. “We don’t have advertising in our magazines, we work hard to develop recipes and test products that fit the needs of our audience, and we focus on teaching.” Lancaster takes that commitment to teaching seriously, even if she’s off the clock. She acknowledged that her favorite connections with fans often happen in the supermarket. “That’s when I get asked about recipes. I’ve even walked around the store with people and helped them pick out the right steak for dinner or showed them how to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe enough to eat that day,” explained Lancaster. “Those are the best interactions.” Davison said that, while she doesn’t often get recognized, she loves meeting AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN fans. “They are always incredibly kind and polite. It’s very rewarding to hear our show helped someone become more confident and creative in the kitchen.” Join NHPBS on Thursday, April 10, 2025 for your chance to share an unforgettable meal, and maybe learn a few new kitchen tricks, with Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster. Visit nhpbs.org/events for tickets. Your purchase supports NHPBS and helps keep shows like AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN on the air and available for your community.
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