Build your own charcuterie chalet

Rows of cheese squares and circles of cured meats are arranged in an elongated triangle to resemble a Christmas tree. Sprigs of rosemary are tucked between each row, and a star-shaped piece of cheese tops the "tree"
Back in the Dark Age of late 2020, I posted about a new trend that was poised to sweep the world: charcuterie chalets, a savory twist on gingerbread houses. Made from meat, cheese, crackers, pretzels, and other savory items held together with cream cheese glue, these offered a break from the traditional gingerbread house plus it required no baking or… read more

How did marshmallows end up in sweet potato casserole?

Closeup of the corner of a yellow casserole dish filled with sweet potatoes and topped with toasted marshmallows
When I moved to the South as a fresh-faced college graduate, I spent Thanksgiving far away from my upper-Midwest family. Luckily, a friend welcomed me into their family, inviting me to share in their Thanksgiving feast. That was where I first encountered sweet potato casserole topped with mini-marshmallows. Since I have an eternal sweet tooth, I happily ate it but… read more

Food news antipasto

Although the internet has negatively impacted many print publications, putting some out of business altogether, it hasn't dampened the world of cookbooks. Despite having millions of recipes available at the click of a button, cookbook sales are still strong. Just when you think there couldn't possibly be another must-have book, dozens come along that offer something fresh and exciting, whether… read more

Bay leaves – essential or superfluous?

A twig with fresh bay leaves sits next to an Erlenmeyer flask with a dark liquid, presumably bay leaf oil
Bay leaves, like cilantro and pineapple on pizza, can be a divisive topic among cooks. If you ask 10 people whether they are necessary to a dish or are a waste of time and money, you'll probably end up with a fairly even split between aficionados and haters. The Boston Globe's Beth Teitell decided to put bay leaves to the… read more

Food news antipasto

The editors at Epicurious pulled together a list of nine cookbooks that they have been enjoying recently. The list includes new releases along with holdovers from previous months. There are baking books, vegetarian and vegan tomes, and an ode to the dinner party. Amish dinner rolls from King Arthur Baking Company With the holidays coming up, dinner rolls might be… read more

The time to start preparing for the holidays is now

A hand in a yellow cleaning glove wipes across the face of an oven
The holiday decorations are fully ramped up now that Halloween is past (didn't we used to wait until Thanksgiving?!), so that means we need to start getting ready for those big celebration dinners we will soon be making. Creating a game plan for organizing and cleaning well in advance is vital to having a low-stress event. If you need a… read more

Have you tried an onion boil, the latest TikTok food trend?

Every few months there's a new viral vegetable trend, and the latest is one that will make your eyes water - perhaps literally. It's called an onion boil, although there isn't any actual boiling going on. Many of the videos involve using the air fryer, which is itself an oxymoron because there isn't any real frying. Back to the "boil":… read more

Pepperoni rolls get their due

The epicenter of the pepperoni roll, an Appalachian / Rust Belt specialty that has roots in the region's mines, is Fairmont, West Virginia. That is where the roll was created, at least according to lore that surrounds this humble yet delicious creation. Writing for Eater, Danny Palumbo explains the appeal of this workingman's food, and takes us on a tour… read more

A huge cheese heist has experts wondering where it will go

Assorted cheeses on a rustic wooden board
Thefts of food products are not uncommon, so it is not a huge surprise that someone would plan a heist of a commodity like cheese, which happened recently to Neal's Yard Dairy, where over £300,000 worth of cheddar was stolen by swindle. What makes this theft unusual is the quality of the product, which will make it difficult to resell.… read more

Don’t throw out that jack o’lantern

Millions of pumpkins are purchased each year for autumn decorations, with the majority carved and displayed at Halloween. After the holiday is over, most of those pumpkins go straight to the landfill. That's a shame, says chef Mike Davies. He encourages us to use those pumpkins to make delicious meals, not only at Halloween but year-round. Baked pumpkin with sun-dried… read more

Food news antipasto

The groundbreaking cocktail book Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold turns 10 this year. This book was revered by modern bartenders looking to dive deep into the science of drinks so they could experiment with a solid footing on what each component would add to the mix. There is a revised edition in… read more

Food news antipasto

The tenth annual Smithsonian food history gala was held in Washington, DC on Thursday, with Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters receiving the Julia Child Award for her contributions to the culinary world. Star chefs like José Andrés and Jacques Pépin attended the event along with food writers and other industry professionals including all nine previous Julia Child Award winners. Waters… read more

Why you might want to ditch that plastic spatula

Your plastic kitchen utensils may be trying to kill you. Okay, that's hyperbole, but a recent study found that kitchen utensils, takeaway containers, and even jewelry made from black plastic contained high levels of potentially toxic chemicals, which may be reason for concern if not panic. The study, published in the journal Chemosphere, found two kinds of flame retardants -… read more

Cooking and baking as protest

Just as a cake can have many layers, the act of baking itself can contain multiple meanings. These meanings can be personal, like when you bake your friend her favorite cake for her birthday, or they can have a broader message. Just ask bakers like Paola Velez (author of Bodega Bakes) and Natasha Pickowicz (author of the award-winning More Than… read more

Food news antipasto

You may have seen TikTok videos about the 'fridge-scaping' trend, where people decant everything they buy at the grocery store and put it into clear containers that so that all of your produce, cheese, and other items are on display and tidily organized in matching jars. Whether you believe that this is gorgeous and amazing or shake your head at… read more

The book lover’s workout plan

Every book collector faces the same dilemma, usually on multiple occasions: adding a new bookcase to house the ever-growing number of books that they have accumulated. Often this includes moving the bookcases, necessitating the removal and reinstallation of all the books. This should be marketed as a book lover’s workout plan, because I loathe exercise but have no issue with… read more

Beans, beans are good for your heart…

Beans and other legumes have never been hotter, even though 2016 was officially the International Year of the Pulses (aka legumes). Whether it's viral "dense bean salad" videos, articles on easy ways to use beans and how to fall in love with them, or cookbooks devoted to the subject, the once-humble bean has been getting a glow up. As a… read more

Food news antipasto

Cristina Tosi's Milk Bar is branching out to the Windy City as a new Milk Bar outpost is coming to Chicago's Fulton Market. No opening date has been announced, and Tosi said she is excited about the first Midwest location for Milk Bar, telling NBC Chicago "I am a Midwesterner by birth and Chicago has long been one of my… read more

Apple cider season is here

While the weather here has been suggesting that summer doesn't want to let go, it finally relented this week with chilly evenings and crisp, sunny days. That means it is time to hit up the local orchards in search of tasty apples. I am fortunate to live in an area where many of the best-loved varieties in the US were… read more

A simple, classic dish makes a comeback

Saveur Magazine has rarely let me down since I first started reading it in 2009, so when I spied an article about oeufs mayonnaise being the "it" dish of 2024, I had to click on it even though this is the first time the alleged hyper-trending dish has come to my attention. Maybe I'm just not getting out enough, but… read more

How the dockworkers’ strike could affect the food supply

The International Longshoremen's Association walked off the job at 36 ports from Maine to Texas at midnight Tuesday, the first such strike in almost 50 years. The strike comes as workers were protesting wages and the threat of automation, among other issues. The walkout will affect a wide swath of commodities ranging from shoes to auto parts to food and… read more

2025 James Beard Foundation Awards: Call for entries open

The James Beard Foundation® announced today that the entry and recommendation period for the 2025 James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One is officially open until November 29, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The annual James Beard Awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary arts, hospitality, food media, and the broader food system. The Awards also recognize a demonstrated commitment… read more

Food news antipasto

Does it feel like you've been seeing more food cross-branding partnerships lately? It's not your imagination, food companies are doing collaborations in increasing numbers. One of the latest was Coca-Cola Oreos paired with Oreo-flavored Coke Zero. This follows on the heels of things like Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream and Dr. Pepper Peeps. Are consumers demanding these pop-culture mashups? Eater's… read more

Art in (and of) the kitchen

Visit any art museum and you will find food depicted in a large number of the paintings on display. There are many reasons painters choose the subjects of food and dining: food contains a lot of symbolism, and as Anne Ewbank points out in a recent Gastro Obscura article, food paintings "also were a way for artists to flex their… read more

Food news antipasto

We learned this week that celebrated Australian-Lebanese chef Greg Malouf has died at the age of 64. Born in Melbourne, the award-winning chef helmed various restaurants in Australia before moving to Dubai in 2013 to open two restaurants, Cle Dubai and Zahira. Known as the "godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine" in Australia, Malouf created contemporary takes on Middle Eastern food starting with… read more
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