Norman Van Aken’s advice to aspiring chefs: read cookbooks

January 4, 2019 by
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Chef Norman Van Aken is known as the founding father of New World Cuisine, a celebration of Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African, and American flavors. He is also credited with introducing the concept of "fusion" to the culinary world. His restaurant, Norman's, was nominated as a finalist for the James Beard Foundation's "Best Restaurant in America," and the chef has also… read more

The science behind the famous Chez Panisse fruit bowl

January 3, 2019 by
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Judging by the popularity of cookbooks like On Food and Cooking, The Food Lab, and Cookwise, it is safe to say that EYB Members enjoy learning about the science of cooking. If this describes you, a new column called 'Housemade' in The San Francisco Chronicle by culinary scientist Ali Bouzari might interest you. Since April 2018, Bouzari has been taking… read more

What is black vinegar?

January 2, 2019 by
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If you've ever visited an Asian grocery or well-stocked Asian foods section at a large supermarket, you may have stumbled across Chinese black vinegar. If you were curious as to what it is and how to use it, wonder no more. Black vinegar is a condiment that warrants space alongside other vinegars, and is useful in a variety of applications. … read more

The joys of solo cooking

January 1, 2019 by
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Cooking for one person has not enjoyed a positive reputation, but that seems to be changing. With more bloggers writing about the joys of solo cooking, and with the release of chef Anita Lo's recent cookbook dedicated to the subject, making meals for just yourself is being seen as a nourishing event, not just for your body for also for… read more

Welcoming the new year with simple pleasures

December 31, 2018 by
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As the year draws to a close, it's customary to look back at the previous twelve months and take note of what happened. One word comes to mind for 2018, and that word is tumultuous. We lost a few shining lights, saw the #metoo movement's effect on restaurant empires, and took note of controversy in cookbook awards.  With all of… read more

Can’t get enough airline food? There’s a cookbook for that

December 30, 2018 by
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Airline food - what little of it is offered on flights these days - is not something most of us aspire to recreate. That's why the idea of a cookbook inspired by airline food seems, well, odd. However, there is a segment of the industry where the food exceeds expectations. If you splurge for the high-end business class digs on… read more

Andrew Zimmern in hot water over recent comments

December 29, 2018 by
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It's been a rough start for Andrew Zimmern's new Minneapolis-area eatery, Lucky Cricket. Early reviews have been less than glowing, and the television food star has also received criticism about offering a dish from another chef without getting permission to do so. Worse yet, in a recently-aired interview, Zimmern disparaged much of the Midwest's Asian food offerings, drawing the ire… read more

New Year’s Eve drinks – with and without alcohol

December 28, 2018 by
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There is one more big party left before we begin our resolutions for the new year, and many of us will be celebrating with champagne flute in hand as the clock strikes twelve on December 31. There are plenty of excellent cocktails that incorporate champagne or other sparkling wines to make the celebration special. While bubbly will be imbibed at… read more

Something is amiss with the Hershey’s Kiss

December 27, 2018 by
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In what could be described as the most first-world problem ever, bakers across the US were dismayed by a problem with Hershey's Kisses this December. The iconic drop-shaped chocolate buttons are a favorite of cookie bakers, millions of whom made a version of the Peanut butter blossom cookies that feature a Kiss in the middle for their holiday cookie tray.… read more

What you need to invest in the “stock” market

December 26, 2018 by
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Stock markets worldwide have been in an erratic see-saw pattern for weeks. Lucky for there is one type of stock that is immune to these vagaries in fortune - cooking stock. Jenny Linford's recent cookbook, The Missing Ingredient: The Curious Role of Time in Food and its Flavour, discusses stock and a whole lot more. The Missing Ingredient is about what makes… read more

Gingerbread houses that will take your breath away

December 24, 2018 by
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Gingerbread houses are among the most endearing holiday traditions. Originating in Germany in the 16th century, they became popular due to the Brothers Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel. Assembling a gingerbread house is a fun activity for adults and children alike, but for some people it is serious business. That would include the entrants in the National Gingerbread House… read more

Plant-based proteins continue on trend for 2019

December 23, 2018 by
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Food trends may be fickle, as with the 'unicorn food' that has most likely reached its peak, but some are more enduring. According to at least one restaurant survey conducted in the US, the trend of plant-based protein is sticking around for awhile. The survey found that alternative proteins, along with bold flavors, will resonate with eaters in 2019.  Millenials… read more

The origins of favorite Christmas foods

December 22, 2018 by
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Although it seems like Christmas food traditions have always existed, that's far from being the case. While some foods have been associated with the holiday for hundreds of years, often these traditional foods only date back a few decades. How did these traditions begin in the first place? That's a question answered in an enlightening article from indexed blog Great… read more

Epicurious breaks the mold with new cookbook awards

December 20, 2018 by
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Readers of this blog are no strangers to cookbook awards. Each year, we provide full coverage of prestigious awards from the JBF and IACP, plus report on Food52's The Piglet and other awards from across the globe. One entity that has heretofore not assembled any cookbook awards is the culinary website Epicurious. This December, that changed, with the announcement of… read more

Watch the short film ‘Bao’ free – for one week only

December 19, 2018 by
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The Disney-Pixar animated short film 'Bao' received rave reviews when it premiered as a 'bumper' to the movie Incredibles 2 earlier this year. Bao tells the sweet story of a lonely woman who gets a second chance at being a mother when the dumpling she is about to eat comes to life. If you missed the film in theaters, you… read more

Anxious? Try baking to relieve your stress

December 18, 2018 by
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Earlier this year we reported on "procrastibaking", a term coined by Julia Moskin at The New York Times for baking when you should really be working on other projects. A new phrase describes another trend on the rise, especially with millenials - anxiety baking. As the name implies, this baking is an attempt by people to reduce stress, and (no… read more

The relationship between sleep and junk food cravings

December 17, 2018 by
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Everywhere I turn these days, I am tempted with delicious sweets and baked goods. Whether I'm visiting the neighbors, walking through the office, or shopping at the supermarket, a plethora of cookies, candies and other treats beckons. "'Tis the season," I say as I grab another chocolate-dipped sea salt caramel. I can't seem to help myself, but sometimes I wonder… read more

Worry less, bake more

December 16, 2018 by
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Does the idea of Melissa Clark and Dorie Greenspan chatting about cookies for an hour during holiday baking season sound absolutely perfect? If so, we have great news - the pair of cooking mavens recently sat down at NYC's The Greene Space for a discussion of cookies and baking, and it's available for everyone to watch free of charge. We'll… read more

Pinterest names its food trends for 2019

December 15, 2018 by
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Every website that tracks data (which is most websites these days) is releasing its list of predictions for the coming year. Pinterest is no exception, and they keep tabs on almost everything you can think of, including food. There are some items on Pinterest's 2019 food trend list that echo other site's lists, but a few items might be surprising. … read more

A restaurant empire crumbles in the wake of harassment allegations

December 14, 2018 by
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While John Besh's and Mario Batali's restaurants appear to have weathered the storm generated by sexual harassment and assault allegations, another chef-turned-restaurateur is not so lucky. As The Washington Post reports, celebrity chef Mike Isabella filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for six of his once-thriving restaurants.  Isabella's rise to fame came after stints on Top Chef and Top Chef Masters.… read more

“Lost” Gourmet recipes are published

December 13, 2018 by
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When Gourmet magazine announced in October of 2009 that its upcoming November issue would be its last, long-time subscribers were both shocked and saddened by the news. Shifting tastes and declining advertising revenue were a double whammy from which the magazine could not recover. Although the Gourmet name lives on through the Epicurious website and a few special-interest publications, readers… read more

Nigella Lawson celebrates home cooking

December 12, 2018 by
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It's always a delight to hear from our favorite authors, especially those as charming as Nigella Lawson. Recently she sat down with Francis Lam of The Splendid Table to discuss several topics ranging from the definition of a pudding to her life in food to her views on home cooking. Part of the reason Nigella has remained popular in over 20… read more

Bread is back

December 11, 2018 by
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In recent years, bread's reputation took some hard hits. It was maligned by health gurus who proclaimed carbohyrdates to be the biggest threat to health since saturated fats. Much like butter, however, bread is back with a vengeance. A listing of Facebook's top food trends for 2019 shows that bread is leading the pack. Part of bread's return has to… read more

Spice support: saffron

December 10, 2018 by
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You probably already know that saffron is the world's most expensive spice, but have you ever seen a saffron harvest? Through a series of photos, The Guardian guides us through the painstaking process in the saffron fields of the Patsiouras family in Greece, where the crocus that brings us the rare spice is being grown in ever larger numbers.  As… read more

Edible gift ideas and tips

December 9, 2018 by
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A lot of us will be making gifts from the kitchen to give to friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and others on our gift lists (don't forget the host/hostess of that great holiday party!). While many people give baked goods including cookies, quickbreads, and candies, there are savoury options, homemade liqueurs, and other easy yet impressive items that make excellent presents. … read more
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