Bananas are in an existential crisis

Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. It's easy to why, as they are inexpensive, extremely portable, make great additions to breakfast cereal and oatmeal, and even when they are overripe they can still be used in quick breads or popped into the freezer to be used in smoothies. As a testament to their popularity, the EYB Library… read more

Tupperware files for bankruptcy

Tupperware, the plastic storage container company that once dominated the market, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. With the proliferation of cheaper, and frankly better, storage options, it's a wonder the 70-year-old company made it this far before entering bankruptcy. Its sales model, once an innovative concept that empowered millions of women to earn money outside of the home,… read more

The rise of cute food

Cute food is nothing new - bloggers have been making adorable cake pops, cookies, and other sweet items for years. Kim-Joy's cute animal-themed bakes led her to the finals on GBBO. But until recently, cuteness was limited to desserts, sweets, and possibly snacks. However, creating cute savory foods is taking off, explains Elyse Inamine, writing for Taste. Macarons from Baking… read more

The case of the disappearing ingredients

A recent Forum topic started by Member Indio32 caught my attention because it confirmed something that I have been noticing in my local supermarket. The issue is that some ingredients - mainly more traditional or 'old-fashioned' items - seem to be disappearing from grocery store shelves. The issue raised is broader than just one country as people from Australia, the… read more

Food news antipasto

Eater staff published their favorite cookbooks coming out this autumn. You will probably see most, if not all, of these books in Jenny's upcoming reviews, but it's helpful to get perspective from other food writers. Of the new releases, they highlight books from Martha Stewart, Carolina Gelen, Paola Velez, and Yotam Ottolenghi saying these and other releases "will make you… read more

KitchenAid makes a bold move with its newest mixer

It's no secret that I am a KitchenAid stan - I have a 7 quart Professional and most of the accessories that they offer. Even though I have a standard color (Empire Red), I never had mixer envy even when a gorgeous new hue hit the scene - until now. KitchenAid's latest stand mixer is a knockout but it is… read more

How much cinnamon is safe to eat?

Earlier this year we posted a note about worrying lead levels in some brands of ground cinnamon. Consumer Reports recently followed up on those concerns with its own testing of several different brands of cinnamon available in the US and provided guidance on which brands would be safe to eat, and which should be avoided. Even with that knowledge you… read more

A toast to toast

A piece of quality bread can be enjoyed on its own, but it's even better when toasted (there, I said it). Slathering the toast with salted butter elevates it yet again and it can become sublime with additional toppings. Toast topping is the subject of a recent Guardian Kitchen Aide column by Anna Berrill, which expounds on what chefs think… read more

When it’s okay to have a fire in the kitchen

Ever since humans conquered fire, we have been fascinated by it. Therefore it's no surprise that we use fire or combustion in celebratory ways, whether as fireworks, bonfires, or even in our food. Since at least the 1700s, when crème brûlée flambé was allegedly invented, enterprising cooks have found ways to bring fire into the dining room, most often as… read more

Food news antipasto

It's often been said that food is love, but some Spanish shoppers are taking it quite literally. It seems the latest craze to hit Mercadona supermarkets is looking for love in the produce aisle. People are using certain foods - mainly pineapple - as a sign that they are interested in a romantic partner. With fruit prominently placed in their… read more

Saying goodbye to a season

Just like that, the sun's angle has shifted, the daylight hours are noticeably shorter, and the morning air is crisp and cool. Of course the process has been more gradual, but at this time of year it almost seems like Mother Nature flips a switch to usher in the next season. While it can be difficult for a warm weather-loving… read more

Philadelphia is getting a new cookbook store

We love welcoming new cookbook stores to the world, and this one is especially satisfying because Philadelphia has been without a cookbook store since The Cook Book Stall in Reading Terminal Market closed in 2017. But soon the City of Brotherly Love will once again boast a cookbook store as Binding Agents plans to open its doors this fall. The… read more

Simpler than simple

In a recent story in Eater, writer Halima Mansoor explains that you should always make tomato sauce from scratch, because it's always worth the effort. Matt Adler, the chef behind Washington, D.C. red-sauce joint Caruso’s Grocery, agrees, saying: “I am never ever going to use jarred sauce in my house, because for me, it doesn’t taste delicious.” On an intellectual… read more

Civil Eats removes paywall

Civil Eats, an award-winning independent food news website that covers the areas of food and agriculture, especially through the lenses of how these systems intersect with policy, health, and the environment, recently celebrated its 15th anniversary (coincidentally making it the same age as EYB!). In honor of the site's birthday, they have removed its paywall for at least the next… read more

Food news antipasto

You can find a food-related vector to almost any event in the world, and music concerts are no exception. With the news that the Gallagher brothers were reuniting for an Oasis tour, the hospitality industry is abuzz. Hotels, bars, and restaurants are all gearing up for next summer's concerts. The estimates are that the five Manchester tour dates could result… read more

One cup, many weights

One of our Members recently emailed us a question that has likely been pondered by bakers ever since the kitchen scale was invented: just how much does a cup of flour weigh? While I have extolled the virtues of weighing ingredients before, I did not focus on the weight of flour specifically, although it is arguably the most critical weight… read more

Hate pineapple on pizza? Consider the banana

The question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza can spark heated arguments. But if you think that pineapple has no place on pizza, there's another tropical fruit you may consider an even less worthy ingredient: banana. Banana pizza is popular, at least in Sweden, where it is usually paired with curry spices. Smithsonian Magazine traces the history of this unusual… read more

A grain of truth

a wooden bowl filled with lemons sits next to two whole and two halves of lemons on a wooden surface
Because I am always looking for something interesting to bring to our Members' attention, I visit a lot of websites and ingest a lot of social media. The signal-to-noise ratio is quite low, because there is an astonishing amount of inconsequential and frankly boring food news, trends, and stories floating around. Content creators grasp at flimsy ideas and writers create… read more

Are you cuckoo for coconut?

Coconut can be a divisive ingredient - maybe not as much as cilantro/coriander, but polarizing nonetheless. As someone who adores coconut, I don't mind the haters. It just means there is more of that rich, coconutty goodness for me. One of the great things about this tropical plant is its versatility. You can use it in savory or sweet applications,… read more

Food news antipasto

We'll start this week's roundup of food news with two Member favorites: LeCreuset and Staub. LeCreuset launched its latest color, a deep blue called Nuit. Exclusive to this color are shiny chrome knobs. Get it while you can - some items are already sold out on the LC website. Turning to Staub, they just released a Williams-Sonoma exclusive pan. The… read more

The PSL turns 21

If you think that pumpkin spice latte returned to Starbucks' menu earlier than ever, you are not wrong. The coffee retailer brought back its signature autumn drink on August 22, two days earlier than in the past couple of years. Maybe it's because they are excited that the PSL is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, making it officially old… read more

Think twice before eating that berry – or buying that foraging guide

Alicia Silverstone, star of the popular 90s comedy Clueless, almost lived up to the name of the movie last week. She posted a video of herself taking a bite out of an unknown red fruit, which online sleuths determined was Jerusalem cherry, a mildly toxic plant. While some people were worried because she didn't post anything for over 48 hours… read more

Jane Dunn’s golden rules of baking

Author of the popular blog Jane's Patisserie, UK baker Jane Dunn has written four bestselling cookbooks, and her blog was voted the top baking blog of 2020. Her recipes have been featured in Cosmopolitan and Baking Heaven Magazine, and she judged the Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Pudding alongside Mary Berry. Her first three cookbooks enjoy high ratings from EYB Members. The… read more

The publishing path less traveled

The number of cookbooks published every year through traditional channels is astonishing. No one person could keep up with each and every book that comes out (although Jenny diligently reviews as many as possible). However, there are more books that don't even hit most people's radar because they are self-published. The world of self-publishing is growing, and the books can… read more

Food news antipasto

Every year my garden has at least one item that grows prolifically. This year it is cucumbers, and I've been running out of ideas to use them before they get limp. I guess I need to follow Logan Moffatt, aka TikTok’s ‘Cucumber Boy’, who has posted myriad ways to enjoy a cucumber salad. Armed with nothing more than a cucumber,… read more
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