Madeleine Kamman’s lasting influence

August 23, 2018 by
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A few weeks ago we reported the news of Madeleine Kamman's passing, and how her teaching techniques had a profound influence on her students. One didn't have to take a cooking class from her to be influenced by Kamman, as her writing also provided inspiration to generations of cooks and writers. Over at Food52, several people including Amanda Hesser and Amy… read more

State fair season is here

August 22, 2018 by
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The cicadas are buzzing, signaling the wind-down of summer in the US. Another sign that summer is drawing to a close is the opening of state fair season. Across the country, each state celebrates with a combination of agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, concerts, and, of course, food. Lots and lots of food.  People flock to stands selling a variey of goodies,… read more

Chef Peter Doyle reflects on a 40-year career

August 21, 2018 by
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After over 40 years behind the stove in some of Australia's finest restaurants, renowned chef Peter Doyle is hanging up his apron. In an interview with Australian Gourmet Traveller, the Sydney-based chef shares his insights on how the restaurant business has changed over the course of four decades.  Doyle begins by recounting his inauspicious entry into the restaurant world. "The… read more

What’s the best way to store basil?

August 20, 2018 by
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Basil is one of those herbs that shines best when fresh - the dried version offers only a pale ghost of the plant's vibrant flavors. Growing your own is the best way to capture those essences, but not everyone can do that. Purchasing fresh basil is the next best option, but it doesn't store well. Aside from using it the… read more

Buyer beware when it comes to cookbook safety

August 19, 2018 by
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The recent recall of Tales from a Forager's Kitchen got me thinking about food safety in cookbooks. Many modern books go out of their way to be safe, with meticulous instructions and caveats - especially books on sous vide cookery. With older books and self-published books, you're on your own.  Books by self-described foragers or naturalists are among the most… read more

Cookbook author James Villas dies at 80

August 18, 2018 by
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We have more sad news in the world of cookbooks, as author James Villas has died at the age of 80. Villas was one of the best known and most respected authorities on American cuisine. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he left an indelible mark in the world of food.  Villas was the food and wine editor of Town & Country… read more

What’s missing from today’s cookbooks?

August 17, 2018 by
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With the number of cookbooks released every year on a wide variety of topics, it can be difficult to imagine that there are subject areas that aren't being fully explored. However, a recent tweet from the NYC cookbook store Kitchen Arts & Letters caught my eye because it discussed this very concept. KAL posted that there weren't enough recipes for… read more

The 40 most important US restaurants of the past 40 years

August 16, 2018 by
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In the world of dining, there are restaurants and then there are restaurants. The former are good and sometimes wonderful eateries, while the latter take things to a higher level, redefining genres and influencing a generation (or more) of chefs. It is this type of restaurant that Food and Wine explores in its list of the 40 most influential restaurants… read more

In praise of the potato

August 15, 2018 by
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For hundreds of years, potatoes have fed much of the world. Whether roasted, boiled, baked, or mashed, the humble spud has been the preferred side dish for - and sometimes even the star of - countless meals in the Americas and Europe. But recently the ubiquitous dinner companion has struggled. Millenials seem to prefer rice as their starch, so potato… read more

Rodale issues a cookbook recall

August 13, 2018 by
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The news is buzzing daily with reports of recalls on a variety of consumer products ranging from automobiles to lettuce. One thing you don't frequently hear about, however, is a recall of a cookbook. We recently learned of such a recall, for the book Tales from a Forager's Kitchen by Johnna Holmgren.  Holmgren, who has a large following for her… read more

Rethinking iceberg lettuce

August 11, 2018 by
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Like many EYB Members, I spend a lot of time thinking about food. If I'm not making it or eating it, I'm reading about it. All of this time spent on one subject can make one jaded about certain ingredients or dishes. After searching out little-known and exotic items, you can easily come to disparage things that seem plain or… read more

Is the celebrity chef a thing of the past?

August 10, 2018 by
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From the late 1990s into the 2010s, celebrity chefs were riding high. They were opening restaurants left and right, with Hollywood stars in attendance during opening night. Emeril Lagasse even had his own sitcom (albeit a short-lived one). Today, however, the winds seem to be shifting. The much-hyped restaurants are closing, prompting speculation about the decline of the celebrity chef.… read more

Celebrate National Book Lover’s Day

August 9, 2018 by
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Today is a wonderful day: it's National Book Lovers Day in the U.S., and of course that extends to cookbooks as well. People have been sharing photos of their bookshelves, stacks of their favorite books, and (of course) of their pets "reading". A few fun facts about the history of books is in order (from the National Dy Calendar of Days website… read more

Don’t waffle about using this appliance

August 8, 2018 by
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You might have a waffle iron languishing in the back of your cupboard that you dig out a few times a year to make waffles. But it doesn't have to be hidden away in between those Sunday brunches: there are gobs of recipes that make excellent use of the waffle iron. Epicurious has some great ideas on alternate uses for… read more

A guide to using peak summer tomatoes

August 7, 2018 by
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The days here in the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to be noticeably shorter, yet the air is still thick and the temperatures scorching. This combination of events means that we have reached peak tomato season. If you are a procrastinator like me, you probably have not carefully organized all of the wonderful tomato recipes you came across during the dead… read more

Influential chef Joël Robuchon has died

August 6, 2018 by
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We are saddened to report that pioneering French chef Joël Robuchon has died at age 73. Robuchon inspired and mentored countless chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Éric Ripert. His lengthy career is noteworthy for many reasons, not the least of which is the record-breaking 32 Michelin stars he earned - the most awarded to any single chef.  Robuchon also received accolades from… read more

Anthony Bourdain’s recommended reading

August 5, 2018 by
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Die-hard fans of Anthony Bourdain loved reading his books nearly as much as they loved watching his entertaining travel programs. It's sad to know that we'll never enjoy another Kitchen Confidential or Medium Raw. The next best thing might be to read books that he recommended. Now we can do just that, because the New York Public Library has compiled a list of… read more

The youngest winner ever for best baguette in Paris

August 4, 2018 by
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As anyone who has struggled to bake a traditional French baguette at home knows, mastering the loaf is no easy task. Even if you've been making them for years, it is difficult to achieve the proper crust, crumb, and shape. That's why the person who took home France's 2018 Grand Prize for Best Parisian Baguette is especially impressive: he is only… read more

Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards finalists announced

August 3, 2018 by
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Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine has just announced the finalists for its 2019 Restaurant Awards. Each year, the awards honor the best in Australian restaurants from wine lists to service to, of course, the food. As has been the case in recent years, several of the chef finalists have written highly-regarded cookbooks. Dan Hunter's phenomenal eatery Brae received a nomination for Best Regional… read more

How food emoji are born

August 2, 2018 by
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According to Emojipedia, there are currently 97 emoji (aka emoticons) that are food- or drink-related. Most of us have probably used one while texting, whether to congratulate someone (clinking flutes, around since 2016) or to tell your partner what to bring home for dinner (pizza slice, available since 2010.) But have you ever wondered how the food emoji are chosen? You can… read more

The cheese made with a 70-year-old culture

August 2, 2018 by
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Atlas Obscura, in addition to its sister site Gastro Obscura, continually unearths delightful oddities about food. EYB Member sir_ken_g tipped us off to a particularly interesting article about a canned cheese developed at the University of Washington that uses a secret culture that's over 70 years old. 'Why would you put cheese in a can?', you might wonder. The impetus… read more

The most popular cookbook for the year you were born

July 31, 2018 by
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It's always fun to take trips down nostalgia lane, and especially so if the journey involves cookbooks. The folks at Delish have a treat for by way of a listing of the most popular US cookbook for the year you were born. The only caveat is that the detailed portion of the list only goes back to 1980; those of… read more

‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’ headed to Netflix

July 30, 2018 by
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EYB Members fell in love with Samin Nosrat's award-wining cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Netflix will air a four-part series that shares a title with the book. Like Netflix's other food-related programs, the show highlights food travel. Viewers will accompany Nosrat as she travels around the world to discover and examine delicious dishes.  On Instagram, Nosrat said about the show: "We've… read more

There’s no right way to use a cookbook

July 29, 2018 by
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Last week we learned that Prime Minister Theresa May has a rather large cookbook collection, and that she liked to read cookbooks to unwind. I picture her, with myriad important decisions to make, taking a few minutes at the end of the day to open a cookbook and allow it to transport her to another place, free from the pressures… read more

Gordon Ramsay has a new show coming

July 28, 2018 by
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National Geographic recently announced that chef Gordon Ramsay is scheduled to star in a new show called 'Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted'. The premise of the reality TV program seems like a mashup of 'Parts Unknown' and  'Throwdown With Bobby Flay.'  According to the Nat Geo press release, "Each episode of  UNCHARTED will include three key ingredients: unlocking a culture's culinary secrets through exploration and… read more
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