Best food-related April Fools’ Day pranks

I completely forgot it was April Fools' Day, so a couple of social media posts had me really puzzled before I realized what was going on. Overall, it seemed like there were not as many posts trying to fool people as in years past - maybe everyone thinks there is enough weirdness going on without adding to it. Although I… read more

Food news antipasto

a wooden bowl filled with lemons sits next to two whole and two halves of lemons on a wooden surface
I am not sure how long this was in the works - usually magazines plan ahead several months - but the timing of Food and Wine's special travel issue seems especially poignant today. Billed as a "celebration of Canadian cuisine," the issue features Canada native and BravoTV host Gail Simmons as guest editor. Simmons says the goal is "to fuel… read more

A chocolate lover’s dream job

Some jobs just sound too good to be true, like being a professional chocolate taster. However, that is very much a real job, and it sounds amazing. Tasting Table recently sat down with Cherrie Lo, a certified chocolate taster, author, and judge of chocolate competitions, to learn what a day in the life of a professional chocolate taster is like.… read more

Take me out to the ballgame

Yesterday was Major League Baseball's opening day, thousands of eagers fans headed to baseball stadiums across the U.S. In addition to the love of the game, spectators enjoy noshing on ballpark foods (and often, drinking adult beverages). I am not a huge baseball fan, but Target Field in downtown Minneapolis is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, quaff… read more

Better than butter?

During the 1980s when fats were considered the worst dietary evil, the oil-based spread "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" made its debut. The product is still around, even though its flavor is not fooling anyone. Fast forward 44 years and a new butter substitute is making a similar claim, despite not having either animal OR plant products in it.… read more

March 2025 New Cookbook Review

We have arrived in one of the busiest periods of the year for cookbook releases. March and April are packed with many great books - and then things will slow down until August. Our 2025 Cookbook Preview Post is continually updated. Don’t forget that you can create a wishlist and share it with your loved ones. Our March 2025 EYB Cookbook Club Summary and April 2025… read more

Lessons from a lifetime of cooking

When I was a fresh-faced college graduate 30 years ago, I was far from an accomplished cook. In fact, I was terrible. This was a shortcoming I was determined to overcome, because I really liked eating and did not have the resources to frequently dine out. This was before the ease of finding instruction on YouTube, so I looked to… read more

Sweet Farm by Molly Yeh – Giveaway

Enter our US/CA giveaway to win one of two copies of Sweet Farm!: More Than 100 Cookies, Cakes, Salads, and Other Delights from My Kitchen on a Sugar Beet Farm by Molly Yeh. Molly Yeh's newest cookbook, Sweet Farm!: More Than 100 Cookies, Cakes, Salads, and Other Delights from My Kitchen on a Sugar Beet Farm, is a delightful collection of… read more

Food news antipasto

Plate has published its biannual list of top cookbooks. Food writer and cookbook author Kate Leahy compiled 17 chef-driven titles that take a deep dive into a place, capture a movement, or break the rules. Leahy notes that the current crop of chef-authored books "are more personal, focused on what built the chef’s career...rather than a singular restaurant." (Free registration required if… read more

Cookbook Deals

I will update this post when time permits – new additions are always at the top of each bulleted list below. If no update is available, be sure to check the publisher links and "cookbook deals" links under each region as they are updated periodically. If you spot a deal that isn't in the links below (publishers and or separate entries)… read more

March 2025 EYB Cookbook Club Summary

Each month we previously offered at least four cooking options in our Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. This summer we cooked our favorite recipe from any cookbook, magazine, blog or online option and had a huge increase in participation and after a poll in the group we have decided to allow posting from all cookbooks and to offer one featured cookbook.… read more

Mellow yellow

One color is dominating the trends in 2025, showing up on everything from KitchenAid mixers to clothing: butter yellow. Although Pantone chose a dark, brooding color for its 2025 Color of the Year (Mocha, which people likened it to, well, you can guess), butter has proved to be much more popular. Eater's Franky Knapp explores the color, bringing us several… read more

Monsoon by Asma Khan – Giveaway

Enter our US/UK giveaway to win one of two copies of Monsoon: Delicious Indian Recipes for Every Day and Every Season by Asma Khan. Please note Asma's events that we have shared on our Calendar. “The soul of my cooking is the symphonic layering of vibrant flavours that work together like instruments in an orchestra.” – Asma Khan Internationally renowned… read more

Don’t try this at home

Since the advent of the internet, the amount of useful information available at one's fingertips has grown astronomically. It's easy to forget how much more effort you had to expend to find out the answers to questions both trivial and weighty. For example, I can easily find a YouTube video for nearly any home improvement project I might want to… read more

2025 Cookbooks, Hay Festival in UK, recipes and more

Of special interest to our UK Members, the Hay Festival is scheduled from May 22nd to June 1st in Wales. The Hay Festival provides global events where stories, ideas, and new possibilities are in abundance. I have added all the cookbook author events on our Calendar - scheduled appearances by Yotam Ottolenghi, Helen Goh, Diana Henry, Asma Khan and many… read more

Culinary icon Lynne Rossetto Kasper to auction prized collection

Lynne Rossetto Kasper, founder and original host of American Public Media's acclaimed "The Splendid Table" radio show, is downsizing and offering her treasured culinary collection to the highest bidder. Throughout her distinguished career, Rossetto Kasper connected with renowned chefs and home cooks alike until her retirement in 2017. Her expertise earned her multiple James Beard awards, and in 1988, the… read more

Celebrating Persian New Year

On the spring equinox every year, the festival of the traditional Persian New Year festival celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, and the Kurdish regions of Iraq, Turkey and Syria, throughout Central Asia, and by members of the diaspora worldwide. Known as Nowruz (with many spelling variations), the holiday can be traced to Zoroastrians over 3,000 years ago who celebrated the coming of… read more

The Giveaway Roundup

All of our current giveaways are now on one convenient roundup which will be continually updated! If you are having any difficulties with entering our giveaways, please see our step-by-step help post. Giveaways are tagged by the countries the contests are open to. Bookmark the searches below for easy reference! To enter our contests click on the blue link beneath the… read more

Food news antipasto

This is a reminder that the free webinar sponsored by IACP and Milk Street is this Tuesday, March 18, at noon Eastern (US) time. Join J.M. Hirsch and Deb Broide as they explore how Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street blends culinary storytelling with a journalist’s eye. They’ll discuss everything from book and magazine planning to travel, reporting, and recipe development.  Our best avocado toast from Food52 I… read more

Alton Brown – Food for Thought – Giveaway

Alton Brown's latest book, Food for Thought - Essays and Ruminations is a collection of personal essays. The author is touring and his remaining dates can be found on our Calendar. From cameraman to chef, musician to food scientist, Alton Brown's diverse career has made an indelible mark on culinary entertainment. His groundbreaking Food Network shows - including the creator-hosted… read more

How well do you know pepper?

When most people in the West talk about pepper, they are referring to ground black peppercorns, but that is only one in a range of spices referred to around the world as pepper. Gastro Obscura takes a closer look at the various peppers found across the globe, which share a few characteristics but have their own unique flavors and sensations.… read more

April 2025 Great Big Cookbook Club Summary

As our members know, each month we offer several cooking options in our Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. There are other fun cookbook clubs around the interwebs and we’d like to highlight those for those members who might want to cook or bake something other than our choices.  We want to get this information out to you so you can prepare… read more

Pi day is finally here!

National Pie Day may be officially recognized on January 23, but I prefer Pi Day (3.14) because I'm a science nerd/geek and because pi has a logical affinity for pie-shaped objects. I think pie is better than cake (don't @ me) because pies are more versatile. Even the pickiest eater can find something that pleases her in the pie family… read more

The ins and outs of pasteurized eggs

carton of eggs
Eggs are in short supply in many areas due to outbreaks of avian influenza, commonly known as 'bird flu'. In addition to worrying about the availability of eggs, consumers are also concerned with their food safety aspects as well. Scientists and food safety experts believe there is minimal to no risk of exposure to avian influenza from eating eggs, so… read more

Comfort levels

For various reasons I have been craving comfort food in recent days. I have also come to realize that there are different types of comfort food depending on the situation that necessitates the comforting. If I am sick, I seek foods that I associate with being nursed back to health: brothy soups, bland dishes from my childhood, and simple things… read more
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