James Beard Cookbook Award Winners 2020

Today the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its annual Media Awards (which includes cookbooks) for 2020. The announcement came via Twitter in lieu of the usual gala. JBF plans to hold a live virtual event at 1:30 pm today US Eastern Time. The event is free and open to the public. Now on to the news you've been… read more

Jams and jellies can preserve more than fruits and vegetables

I have lilac bushes in my backyard and each spring since I moved into my home eleven years ago, I would eagerly await the signs of blooms forming on the lilacs because their fragrance is one of my favorite scents. Every year resulted in disappointment, as the trees that grew near the lilacs produced too much shade for them to… read more

Food news antipasto

Have you seen the latest trend in bread? Apparently some people have plenty of yeast, flour, and time, staying busy creating froggy bread. Froggy bread isn't a metaphor, it is literally bread shaped to look like frogs. When I first read about it I immediately thought it came from Kim-Joy, but even though she's made several frog-themed bakes (like the… read more

In the midst of a crisis, Ferran Adrià looks ahead

Although the groundbreaking restaurant El Bulli has been shuttered for nearly a decade, its most recognized chef, Ferran Adrià, has not been idle. After closing the restaurant for several reasons (including the fact that it was not profitable), he focused his attention on the elBulli Foundation which has two branches, an archive museum and elBulli1846. The latter is described as… read more

Outdoor cooking may be a boon this summer

Monday is a holiday in the US, a day of remembrance for those who have fallen in the line of service to our country. It is also Spring Bank Holiday in the UK. Unofficially, the long weekend marks the start of summer and kicks off peak grilling season. Last year I wrote a post about summer grilling looking different these… read more

The stories behind the scribbles

When I spy a used cookbook I am interested in buying, the first thing I do is skim the pages to see if anyone has written any notes inside. Early in my cookbook collecting, if I saw writing in the margins I would put book back on the shelf. I was only interested in pristine volumes, as years of working… read more

Guild of Food Writers announces 2020 finalists

The Guild of Food Writers is the UK’s professional association of food writers and broadcasters, and is the longest-established and largest of its kind. Established in 1984, the Guild’s goals include bringing  together professional food journalists, broadcasters and authors; arranging discussions, forums, and workshops; encouraging new writers; and contributing to the growth of public interest in, and knowledge of, the subject of… read more

The yin and yang of Covid cooking

Many of us suddenly had a lot more time on our hands in the last couple of months, and with yeast becoming a scarce commodity - or perhaps just as a way to scratch a creative itch - it seems like everyone decided now was a good time to try their hand at making sourdough. You can find oodles of… read more

Chef sparks ‘sandwich in place’ movement

Many chefs are sidelined during the pandemic, and we've seen how cooking at home is different for them than cooking in a restaurant. This doesn't mean they lose their creative spark, however. Ryan Pfeiffer, executive chef at Chicago's Blackbird, is proving that with his sandwich creations. Not only is he making delicious 'wiches, he made a video challenging other chefs… read more

Food news antipasto

Jamie Oliver is back with a new show called 'Keep Cooking and Carry On' that is exactly what this moment needed. In this 20-part series, Oliver will help fight the cooking fatigue many of us are facing. He will teach us how to get creative with whatever ingredients are in our cupboards. In a statement, Oliver said "This show will… read more

Ready, set, organize

Spices in jars
Since I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home, my commute has gone from 50 miles to less than 50 feet. I always said that if I did not have to drive so far for work I would have oodles of time to accomplish a laundry list of tasks around the house. It turns out that this… read more

Chefs show their personal sides in videos and podcasts

It seems that all of our favorite chefs and food personalities are doing at-home cooking shows these days. From Alton Brown's Quarantine Quitchen, to Samin Nosrat's recently-launched podcast titled Home Cooking, to José Andrés presenting cooking videos on Instagram with the hashtag #recipesforthepeople, and Ina Garten's soothing Instagram feed, there is no shortage to quality cooking information with a side… read more

The list of restaurants permanently closed continues to grow

Yesterday chef and restaurateur David Chang announced that he was closing two of his restaurants for good and moving a third to a new location. Even though Chang has nimbly pivoted to face challenges in the past and has a stable of deep-pocketed investors, he is not immune from the economic affects of the coronavirus pandemic. He's far from alone:… read more

Grocery prices are on the rise

carton of eggs
With so many people cooking nearly every meal at home, it is not surprising that we are spending more on groceries. But that higher total you see on your store receipt is not only due to making more food at home, the prices of groceries are going up. The increase in the cost of supermarket staples like milk, bread, and… read more

Steve Sando is busy, but still cooking

Fans of Rancho Gordo know that Steve Sando, the bean evangelist who started the company, knows a thing or two about those humble legumes. Even though the pandemic means that he's working long hours six days a week, he shared a week's worth of his cooking at home for Grub Street. While it is no surprise that beans feature prominently,… read more

Bakers weigh in on their favorite tools

Whether it's out of boredom, a way to relieve stress, or a mechanism to scratch a creative itch, more people have turned to baking over the last few months. People are posting images of their first loaves and others are showcasing their baking prowess with towering, gorgeous cakes. If you are new to baking you might wonder about what tools… read more

Food news antipasto

It's been a busy week in the world of food and cookbook authors, so let's dive right in, beginning with a controversy. In an interview earlier this week, food writer Alison Roman's remarks about fellow epicurean Chrissy Teigen started a feud. Roman said she was "horrified" by the way Teigen moved from successful cookbook author to having a huge Instagram… read more

When chefs become home cooks

Restaurant closures have idled most chefs, who now are cooking for a very different audience. You might expect that household members would be enjoying stellar meals during lockdown, but it rarely works that way, according to chef Sam Wydymus, who shared her account of the differences between cooking in a restaurant and cooking at home. Chefs are not accustomed to… read more

First aid in the kitchen

It never fails. No matter how many times I remind myself not to touch the handle of the cast iron pan I've pulled out of the oven, I forget and pull my hand away with the makings of a minor burn. Cuts, burns, and other injuries happen while cooking, and during this crazy time in which we live, you might… read more

Caring for your cookbook collection

Whether your collection is large or small, taking care of your cookbooks is an important part of keeping them. While a few grease splatters may add to the charm, in the long haul it pays to keep your books in good shape so you can enjoy them for decades. How to take care of your books is a daunting question:… read more

Jay Rayner’s favorite restaurant meals

During this time of preparing three meals a day, every day, thinking about leisurely dining in a restaurant is a nostalgic trip down memory lane that seems further in the past than it actually is. We shall dine again, although which eateries will remain standing in the next year or two is an unanswerable question. Until we can return to… read more

2020 James Beard Cookbook Award Nominees announced

Originally slated to be announced in March, the nominees for the 2020 James Beard Awards for cookbooks were revealed today via Twitter. This comes on what would have been the 30th Anniversary James Beard Awards in Chicago. The JBF chose to put the nomination announcement on hold and focus on supporting relief efforts for the restaurant industry. To date, the… read more

Food news antipasto

GBBO standout Kim-Joy announced that she has launched a YouTube channel. Called Kim-Joy's Kitchen, the channel will showcase Kim-Joy's recipes, tips and tricks "to create impressive bakes that taste delicious, and are also cute," and she aims to break down baking and decorating into simple, clear steps in her videos. If you need to take a break from cooking or… read more

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday celebrated by people far outside the borders of its original nation. It’s likely that many people who celebrate this day may not fully comprehend the history behind it: it is not, as many people believe, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is September 16. Rather, it’s a relatively minor holiday in… read more

When inspiration eludes, turn to comfort

Every day I scour the internet to find stories I think will interest EYB Members. Some days there are so many interesting articles that I have a hard time choosing just one. Other days I flit from website to website looking for inspiration but nothing seems fitting. Today was one of those days, not only with regard to finding an… read more
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