Hey, it's Francis Lamb, host of the splendid table.

And you know, I just want to tell you that our show is a great place to come to for some holiday sanity.

We're getting cooking help from amazing people this holiday season,

including Chef Kristen Kish, Errik Kephere, co-book authors, Jocelyn Jelk Adams, Dan Pelosi, and Amy Felon.

We have cooking, eating, and gifting ideas for anyone you're going to have at your table.

But listen to the splendid table, wherever you get your podcast.

Talk to you soon. I'm Major Jackson and this is the slowdown.

I'm Major Jackson and this is the slowdown. down.

On the Greek island of Serafos, Dede and I drive to me.

On the Greek island of Serafos, Dede and I drive to Megalo-Lavati, a pristine beach that we hear is sparsely populated.

My heart is in my throat as I navigate our rental car up steep rugged slopes.

It is a journey which requires us to ascend a mountain on a narrow road with no barriers to

prevent a vehicle from descending, well careening over the edge.

I drive slowly, the views are stunning, turquoise waters cupped inside beach coves, terrace landscapes, iconic

white stucco homes cascading down a hillside.

It's a full on postcard view of the Cyclades that is breathtaking, but right now very dangerous.

The fear plunging below beacons me to the worst possible situation, failing breaks, or a head-on

collision with a beach goer whose day drinking has them lose control. I am

mortified. We come upon a monastery. D.D.

As, are you okay? I say yes, but she knows. My silence, my black knuckle grip, my intense stare ahead.

We enter the church and gaze at images of Serafos' patron Saints, St Michael and Gabriel.

She says, we should go back down.

...