Joan pays homage to some of the most influential cooks in her life. The show begins with a short tribute to the greatest cook Joan has ever known - Jean Louis Palladin of Watergate fame who died sadly at the end of 2001. Also in this episode, Joan travels to Vermont to visit Madeleine Kamman. Madeleine is the cooking teacher's cooking teacher. She is also a former restaurateur and author of the classic cookbook The New Making of a Cook: The Art, Techniques, and Science of Good Cooking, who dazzles Joan with her kitchen finesse as she prepares an escabeche of thinly-sliced salmon medallions dressed with asparagus and smoked salmon. Next, Joan travels to Providence, RI to cook with a woman who might well be responsible for Joan becoming a food writer. Her mother, Pearl Nathan, had devoted most of her energy to her family, her community and her love of athletics and didn't start cooking seriously until age 50. When she turned to the stove, she brought her characteristic zest and imagination to the task and helped inspire Joan in her own career. Pearl recreates a family favorite, tiny hot dogs baked with sweet and sour sauerkraut.