Adrienne Kane
After my recent run-ins with pie recipes that didn't work, it was a relief and a joy to work with Adrienne Kane's United States of Pie. As I read it, I found myself wondering where Kane found so many obscure and…
2012
Celebrating the extinction of cookbooks
Over at Slate, L.V. Anderson has stirred up a lot of controversy with a provocative essay on why she's OK with the extinction of cookbooks. In her article, The Future of Cookbooks: They'll Go Extinct. And That's OK she…
Best cookbook lists from Cooking Light
Cooking Light has a thought-provoking new series going on, gathered under the name The Cookbook Awards. Starting last November, each month they've been announcing the best cookbooks of the last 25 years in 15…
How to avoid ever buying a rotten avocado
Our friends over at theKitchn have a great tip for anyone who's ever held their breath opening an avocado. Since avocados brown so fast after opening, they need to be opened pretty much right before using. But then what…
Teen and "student" cookbooks: really necessary?
Summer's just about upon us, and even the latest high school and college graduations are finishing up. Each year, I wonder: how many of those new graduates are getting cookbooks as presents? And how many of those…
Are garlic presses evil?
In the world of elite cooking there is a conception that garlic presses are evil. A press supposedly crushes the garlic to mush, while using a knife keeps the garlic edges even and sharp, allowing for full flavor to…
Why Yelp can't be trusted
Epicurious reported recently on a growing problem with Yelp, the consumer rating site. As they reported, "a small minority of Yelp reviewers have been abusing the system, threatening places with bad reviews unless they…
Roasted Tomatoes for the Pantry
Serious Eats has a great idea to plan for an abundant tomato harvest. As they say: "This method involves snatching up pounds of gorgeous summer tomatoes and giving them a low and slow roast with garlic, herbs, and olive…
Tomato growing styles are highly revealing
The Washington Post has an amusing slide show illustrating various ways to support tomato plants and pointing out the personality types that each matches. Plus there are some good tips about techniques and types of…
Call for 10 essential cookbooks and a giveaway
Our friends at Food52 have an interesting challenge on their site -- one that's right up our members' alley. As they describe it: "Every home cook has their cookbooks: the ones front and center on their shelf, the ones…
The family meal at "the best restaurant in the world"
We recently discovered a fascinating video made by Danish photographer and filmmaker Simon Ladefoged. He went behind the scenes to film the staff or "family" 5:00 meal at Noma, a Michelin two-star Copenhagen restaurant…
Pesto bliss
The New York Times recently profiled the owners of Buddhapesto - an artisanal company in New York's Hudson River Valley that has perfected a pesto inspiring intense devotion, selling out the 3,000 containers the owner…