Food news antipasto

If it feels like your grocery budget is on a never-ending upward climb, you are far from alone. Inflation on food products is near or has passed double digits year over year in many places, and people are looking for ways to save on their food bill. The Washington Post recently wrote about five ways to save when grocery shopping, and they followed up that article with reader-submitted tips on penny pinching.

The simple trio of corn, water, and lime (the mineral, not the fruit) produces one of the world’s tastiest staples: tortillas. KCRW’s Evan Kleiman dives into the world of corn tortillas, pupusas, and tamales in her latest episode of Good Food, exploring the history, science, and politics of masa.

Do you use epazote in your cooking? It is not a common herb in European or Asian cuisines, although it is essential for some Mexican dishes. If you would like to learn more about what this herb, which chef Bricia Lopez, author of Oaxaca: Home Cooking from the Heart of Mexico describes as “a hybrid between basil and mint, but very floral at the same time,” head over to Eater. Look for Bricia’s new title April, 2023: Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling.

Salt is essential to cooking, it is indispensable for pickling and preserving foods, and is one ingredient found in every cuisine in the world. Until recently there is one place where salt was not common – in cocktails. Sure, people rim margarita glasses with salt, but it rarely finds its way inside the drink. However, as Wine Enthusiast explains, adding salt to your cocktails can take them to the next level.

Barbecue is popular across the US and has gained admirers well beyond the country’s borders. There are four distinct barbecue styles – Carolina, Memphis, Texas, and Kansas City – with each of those styles containing multiple regional subsets. Since no food tradition is static, barbecue continues to evolve with experimentation and global influences. So what’s the next big trend in barbecue? According to Datassential, it’s “forgetting all the rules.”

Adding flavors to mayonnaise is nothing new, but a new flavor offered at Target stores in the US might surprise you – they are selling a limited edition product called Clam-o-Naise, and yes, it’s made with clams. The flavored mayo is actually a novelty item/publicity stunt created by the makers of the game Cards Against Humanity. Each jar of Clam-o-Naise has a hidden surprise and a pack of 30 cards. If you are interested, you’ll have to hurry because Target reports that they are running low on stock in many stores.

We recently reported on the winners of the 2022 Observer Food Monthly awards. One of the night’s honorees was Delia Smith, who was presented with the Icon Award. The Guardian has now provided an in-depth interview with Smith, who discusses her long and storied career in food, telling us that her motivation was “to teach people how not to be afraid of cooking.”