Food news antipasto

How is everyone doing? I hope you are finding ways to manage stress, boredom, being cooped up with your family, or whatever situation you are facing during this strange time. If cookbooks are helping you cope or escape, please remember the small independent bookstores that are struggling right now. Most of them have been forced to close their shops and are relying on mail orders to help them through this difficult period. You can find a listing of stores that specialize in cookbooks on the EYB list of cookbook stores around the world, and read a little about five of them at Afar, a travel website.

With people spending even more time than usual on the internet (how is that even possible?), a slew of new trends has swept across the globe. One of these is the Dalgona coffee craze. Several of my friends tried it and fell in love, but I remained skeptical until a neighbor dropped off a cup that she and her daughters had made. It was really delicious! Who would think than instant coffee powder (which I keep on hand for baking) could make something so tasty with a minimum of effort. If you haven’t tried it and like sweetened coffee drinks, you should give it a shot. Depending on your brand of instant coffee or espresso, you might have to tweak the sugar quantity to suit your tastes. We opted for less than the usual amount because we aren’t keen on anything too sweet. If you’ve made it, let me know what you think about it.

The recent holidays have introduced a new concept for family gatherings: Easter or Passover via Zoom or another teleconference option. My husband and I attended two different Easter gatherings today, and while it was nice to see everyone and catch up, one important part of the day was missing: the food. We made a lovely meal just for us, but I will be glad when we can all gather around the table to share in the feast. One thing that we noticed is that without a community table, the meals that people made varied wildly. A few people had a traditional ham dinner, but most of us just picked something that we really liked. Perhaps one new concept that will come out of this situation is a change in what we consider a ‘traditional’ holiday meal.

Have you ever thought about writing a cookbook? On Monday, April 13, at Noon US Eastern Time, the James Beard Foundation is hosting a free webinar. Chefs Virginia Willis and Cynthia Graubart, along with national cookbook editor Shaun Chavis will dish the truth on the publishing industry, finding an agent, writing proposals, and of course- financing the work. Find more information and register for the webinar on the JBF website.

If your local supermarket’s shelves are bare for basics like flour, eggs, and butter, there might be other avenues for you to pursue. In several cities, restaurants have turned into corner markets, and restaurant wholesalers are temporarily opening their doors to the public. You might have to phone around to see what is on offer in your area.