A.A. Gill on last meals
If you are a food critic or writer, almost inevitably someone will ask you what your "last meal" would be. Beloved British writer A.A. Gill was no exception. Over a decade ago, he wrote a column for Australian Gourmet…
Antipasto
A flea market cookbook sparks a restaurant's revival
Cookbooks might not be able to change the world, but they definitely can have a tremendous impact locally. A story on Atlas Obscura brilliantly demonstrates this possibility - the owners of a failing restaurant in…
This startup aims to help cancer patients enjoy food again
If you have had chemotherapy or know someone who has, you understand that one of the side effects of the treatment can be a significantly diminished sense of taste. This side effect reduces the enjoyment of eating and…
Vanilla is now as expensive as silver
About a year ago, we reported on a surge in vanilla prices due to a combination of poor weather and lack of farming capacity. Twelve months later the surge shows no sign of abating, with the price of vanilla by weight…
How your identity affects your food preferences
Growing up in a rural area of the northern US that was populated mostly by German and Scandinavian immigrants, I ate a lot of food that some folks would find, shall we say, uninspiring. Even though much of it was on the…
On the processed food debate
We're told that for our health (and our waistline), we should avoid processed foods at all costs. Despite the dire warnings, many of us - even though we can understand the health implications and don't have any…
Saving the scraps
Marcella Hazan's three-ingredient tomato sauce is, simply put, brilliant. So easy to make but boasting deep, complex flavors, it's no wonder the recipe has been printed dozens of time in various newspapers, on blogs,…
Le Creuset is Coming to Your City
Williams-Sonoma is teaming up with Le Creuset to bring you an exclusive "Cooking in Color" dinner series, celebrating the vibrant hues of the company's iconic French cookware. Join one of these eight monthly events (one…
Looking to the past for new ice cream flavors
Ice cream is a treat enjoyed all over the world. Once reserved for only the wealthy, today it is available to people from all walks of life. While stalwart flavors like vanilla and chocolate are the most-often consumed,…
Ready, set, grill
Here in the US, the national holiday called Memorial Day honors those who have fallen in the line of service to our country. Unofficially, the long weekend marks the start of summer and kicks off peak grilling season,…
Elderflower-lemon is the combination of the moment
Ever since the flavors for the royal wedding cake (baked by Claire Ptak) were announced, social media posts have been buzzing about the combination of elderflower and lemon. Bakeries across the US quickly jumped on the…
The produce paradox
After a particularly long and harsh winter, spring is bursting onto the scene in the northern part of the US. Along with the rapid greening and pleasant temperatures, produce is beginning to pop up at farmers' markets…