A history that pops

June 12, 2020 by
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Movie theaters have remained shuttered in most parts of the world, which means that people have not been consuming the most popular snack at the cinema: popcorn. It's a versatile treat, because depending on how you make it and top it, popcorn can be anything from virtuous to decadent. Over at Serious Eats, Michelle Delgado recounts the long history of… read more

Alfresco dining is all about the vibe

June 10, 2020 by
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As summer heads into full swing here in the northern latitudes, alfresco dining becomes a popular option for eateries, made doubly appealing in 2020 due to limitations on occupancy in dining rooms. Some cities have closed streets to make room for more socially-distanced outside seating. Alfresco dining can be lovely, says The Guardian's Jay Rayner, who notes that a positive… read more

The politics of chili powder

June 9, 2020 by
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When I pull open the drawer in which I store my spices, politics is usually not at the forefront of my thoughts. Instead, I'm envisioning a dish and pulling together the herbs and spices that will make it sing. But spices and politics are inextricably linked: wars were fought over and empires built on the trade of spices. The spice… read more

This comfort-food cookbook delivers more than recipes

June 8, 2020 by
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What is better than a new cookbook? A cookbook that directs its profits to people in need! The very first electronic cookbook from Food Writers New Zealand not only offers over 40 recipes for delicious, hearty fare, it also raises money for charity. Titled 'Cosy', the book is a collaboration featuring the best New Zealand food writers and is designed… read more

Food news antipasto

June 7, 2020 by
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One of the books Jenny profiled earlier this year was Karen Pfeiff-Boschek's Elegant Pie: Transform Your Favorite Pies into Works of Art. You might have seen Pfeiff-Boschek's jaw-dropping pies on Instagram. If the photo below makes you hungry for more, head over to Bored Panda for an interview with the phenomenal baker, plus 35 before-and-after photos. The photo below is… read more

Using food in protest has a long history

June 7, 2020 by
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The question of 'what is an appropriate mechanism for protest' is one that resonates during times like these. With people taking to the streets all over the world, companies and celebrities alike have posted to social media supporting protesters and discussing efforts to address the issues raised by the protests. Inevitably, the comments to these posts will feature someone saying… read more

You already own the best kitchen tool

June 5, 2020 by
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When listing essential kitchen tools, most cooks would include items such as a sharp knife, enameled cast iron pot, balloon whisk, heat-resistant spatula, heavy saucepan, or rimmed baking sheet. Others might throw in a food processor or stand mixer. Not Ruby Tandoh. Instead, she reminds us that our hands are the greatest kitchen utensils. Even though Tandoh values all of… read more

Shaken, not stirred – and in a to-go cup

June 4, 2020 by
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While many restaurants were able to pivot to take-out and delivery during the period when stay-at-home order were in place, liquor laws (at least in the US) meant that the restaurants were not able to include drinks containing alcohol in their to-go orders. Since beverages are a real profit center for restaurants, that loss was a financial blow. Several states… read more

Elevating the visibility of black cookbook authors

June 2, 2020 by
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American cuisine, especially that of the American South, owes a great deal to the influence of black cooks. As Smithsonian Magazine explains, it was often enslaved black chefs who created the feasts that gave the South its reputation for hospitality. James Beard Book Award-winner Michael Twitty further explores this topic, showing us how chefs of African descent laid the groundwork… read more

A small piece of light to help chase away the darkness

June 1, 2020 by
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On any given Monday, I would be happily clicking on cheerful posts about peppery watercress recipes or the secrets to great kalbi, but not today. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, I worked in downtown Minneapolis. For the past two months I have been working out of my home which is located 50 miles from the heart of the city, but… read more

Food news antipasto

May 31, 2020 by
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People are cooking at home at a level unseen for decades. Since many of us are wary of making too many trips to the grocery store to find a single ingredient we are missing for any particular recipe, food writers are crafting recipes that offer flexibility in substitutions. Michael Ruhlman discusses the trend toward 'optional' as the new recipe buzzword.… read more

Behind the scenes at King Arthur Flour

May 29, 2020 by
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The sudden boom in home baking came as a surprise to the folks at King Arthur Flour (KAF for short), the Vermont-based purveyor of high quality flours and baking supplies. They were gearing up for the traditional mini-rush in the lead up to Easter when they noticed that the usual spike in sales was much, much larger than expected. They… read more

Spice support: capers

May 28, 2020 by
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I'm stretching the definition of spice a bit to include capers, but since they add a flavor dimension similar to adding spice, I found it appropriate. To learn more about capers I turned to an interview of David Rosengarten by Sally Swift of The Splendid Table. Rosengarten visited the famous caper-growing island of Pantelleria, Italy - a place he calls… read more

More than 10,000 Member-uploaded photos in the EYB Library

May 27, 2020 by
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Thanks in part to an extremely prolific new Member, we now have over 10,000 images submitted by Members in the EYB Library. We appreciate everyone who has submitted photos, with a shout out to new Member Tina_Berlin, who has uploaded over 470 images since joining a couple of weeks ago. Of course, we would be remiss not to mention the… read more

James Beard Cookbook Award Winners 2020

May 27, 2020 by
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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

May 26, 2020 by
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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

May 24, 2020 by
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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

May 24, 2020 by
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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

May 22, 2020 by
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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

May 21, 2020 by
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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

May 20, 2020 by
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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

May 19, 2020 by
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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

May 18, 2020 by
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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

May 17, 2020 by
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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

May 17, 2020 by
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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
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