Our common nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Ana Gonzalez, through this complicated country.

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories, their poetry, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature and get closer to the things we're missing.

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

This week's Splendid Table is a repeat of an earlier broadcast.

Hi, it's Lynn Rosetta, Casper, and you're listening to The Splendid Table, the show for people who love to eat.

Our program is produced by American Public Media.

Today, we've a look at a bewitching restaurant in one of the country's great food towns.

The place is Pockpock, originally a street stand, and it was named the 2007 Restaurant of the Year in Portland, Oregon.

No small feat.

Well, we're going to learn how a blonde guy from Oregon stocks his pantry to make food that native ties rave over.

Josh Wesson, our resident wine expert, has a list of picks that deliver a lot of taste for not a lot of money.

Then it's learning how not to trust your first reactions when dining in Azerbaijan.

And as always, in the second half of the show, we're going to be talking to you.

You can reach us at 800, 537-52-52.

But right now, let's get started with Jane and Michael Stern.

They're the authors of 500 Things to Eat before it's too late.

Hey, Jane, Michael, whence have you been wandering?

How Shakespearean of you.

We have whence been wandering to West Texas, and I don't mean the western part of Texas,

but the little town of West, comma, Texas. And we have been eating colatchez, which is the preferred breakfast doughy treat in that part of Texas as compared to donuts in other parts of the country.

But wait a minute, this sounds sort of Eastern European?

It is indeed.

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