The Food Lab’s 20 most influential books

J. Kenji López-Alt can count at least 1,897 EYB Members as fans (that's how many of us have The Food Lab on our Bookshelves), although it is surely much more than that. López-Alt has written numerous columns for Serious Eats (more than 12,000 recipes are indexed) that are marked as Member favorites, and people frequently turn to him for advice, especially… read more

Clever uses for your salad spinner

A salad spinner is one of those kitchen gadgets that is so good at what it does - wash and dry leafy greens - that you forgive it for being a one-trick-pony. It takes up a fair amount of cabinet space, so you might think about getting rid of it to make room for something else. Before you do that,… read more

The case of the disappearing salt shaker

Something is missing from more and more restaurants in the United States, and it's not politicians. The trend has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with confidence. Across the country, chefs are removing salt and pepper shakers from their tables. This practice is occurring across the spectrum of restaurants, from fine dining to more casual eateries. While… read more

Use thrift stores as a guide for your cookware collection

EYB Members have frequently posted about the great items they discover at thrift stores. Whether it's a wonderful cookbook, vintage cookware, or a gorgeous serving piece, there is a thrill involved in digging through the shelves to find the perfect gem. But the things you pass over - and the things you don't find at these stores in the first… read more

What children and parents can learn by baking together

I, like so many people who love to cook and bake, developed an enthusiasm for the culinary arts by standing at my mother's elbow, first watching and then helping her make everything from simple cookies to more complicated dishes like strudel and pâte à choux. The time spent baking with my mom created indelible memories, but there is more to the… read more

Almond extract is this baker’s secret weapon

Every baker has a secret weapon, whether a special type of flour, a certain brand of cocoa powder, or another ingredient that they feel adds a spark to their baked goods. For Elizabeth Chambers Hammer, founder of BIRD Bakery in San Antonio, that secret weapon is an elixir known as almond extract.  Hammer says almond extract is the secret to… read more

Are you making these appliance mistakes?

Kitchen appliances ranging from blenders to microwaves to slow cookers allow us to save time and energy for many cooking tasks. However, sometimes we don't use these tools appropriately. We might not even realize that we are making mistakes with the appliances, so it can be helpful to get reminders. Taste of Home is here to help, providing a list… read more

What to bring when cooking in someone else’s kitchen and tips for moving

 I love to cook and bake, and my friends all know and (mostly) understand that I all but live in the kitchen. So when I go to visit them, I'm often helping them prepare a meal or a special dessert. Cooking in someone else's kitchen can be tricky, and as Anna Stockwell of Epicurious wisely notes, it makes sense to bring… read more

An ode to an unsung kitchen workhorse

l As far back as people began to cook as a hobby as much as they did for mere sustenance, kitchen gadgets have beckoned to food lovers. While it is fun to have the latest small appliance or smartly-designed tool, sometimes these items don't stand the test of time. A few items, however, are indispensable and their utility extends well… read more

A cookbook cafe opens in a Texas library

  What could be better than going to a library and browsing through stacks of cookbooks, thumbing through the pages and discovering new cuisines? How about eating at a cafe in the library where all of the recipes come from cookbooks in the library? That's what is happening at the new central library in Austin, Texas.  Conceived two years ago… read more

Myrtle Allen, champion of Irish cooking, dies at 94

Pioneering Irish chef Myrtle Allen has died at age 94. Allen was a Michelin-star-winning chef and co-founder, along with her husband, of Ballymaloe House located in County Cork, Ireland. Her pioneering work there created the road map for Ireland's current status as a force to be reckoned with on the global culinary scene, and the name Ballymaloe has become synonymous with great Irish… read more

World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2018

  The 2018 list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants was just published. Unfortunately for Dominique Crenn, the prediction that her restaurant would be among this select group did not come true, as Atelier Crenn was shut out of the rankings entirely after debuting at number 83 last year. Last year's number one restaurant, Daniel Humm and Will Guidara's Eleven Madison Park, fell… read more

Can you ever really replicate a restaurant dish?

If you have ever eaten at a restaurant and loved it, were thrilled when the restaurant published a cookbook, but struggled to replicate the dishes you admired, this Grub Street article by Rachel Sugar is made for you. Sugar attempts to make the Superiority Burger from the eponymously named cookbook.  Her recounting of the struggle to replicate a real Superiority Burger… read more

A.A. Gill on last meals

If you are a food critic or writer, almost inevitably someone will ask you what your "last meal" would be. Beloved British writer A.A. Gill was no exception. Over a decade ago, he wrote a column for Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine on the subject. They have recently republished the article, which is part of a new collection of the late writer's… read more

World’s 50 Best Restaurants to be announced next week, 51-100 out now

Next week the annual list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants will be unveiled. This week we got to learn about the runners-up, the restaurants ranked from 51-100. The list contains restaurants on the move, either new restaurants working their way up the rankings, or older establishments formerly in the top 50 that have since lost their luster.  One restaurant… read more

A flea market cookbook sparks a restaurant’s revival

  Cookbooks might not be able to change the world, but they definitely can have a tremendous impact locally. A story on Atlas Obscura brilliantly demonstrates this possibility - the owners of a failing restaurant in Tbilisi, Georgia stumble on a tattered old cookbook at a flea market, which proves to contain a winning formula for reinvigorating their establishment into… read more

This startup aims to help cancer patients enjoy food again

  If you have had chemotherapy or know someone who has, you understand that one of the side effects of the treatment can be a significantly diminished sense of taste. This side effect reduces the enjoyment of eating and is a continuing struggle for those who love food. Caretakers, too, are disheartened by being unable to fix foods for their… read more

Gabrielle Hamilton plans to run The Spotted Pig

Say what you will about the New York restaurant scene, but you will never make the argument that it is boring. Today's surprise food news out of NYC comes from Prune owner Gabrielle Hamilton, who announced that she is going to partner with Ken Friedman to become co-owner of The Spotted Pig.  Hamilton said that she and her wife, Ashley… read more

‘An Evening with Nigella’ tour begins this fall

It's difficult to believe, but September marks the 20th anniversary of Nigella Lawson's ground-breaking debut cookbook, How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food. Since then, the witty and talented Lawson has inspired an entire generation of cooks with her engaging, conversational writing style and no-fuss approach to cooking. What can you do to top a string of… read more

This restaurant serves more than just food

  Refettorio Paris is a restaurant located in its namesake city that is staffed by some of the world's greatest chefs. You likely won't ever be able to eat there, but that is not a bad thing. The restaurant, like similar venues in London, Rio and Milan, is part of Massimo Bottura's Food for Soul initiative, a group of soup kitchens… read more

Ruby Tandoh quits food column due to “toxic” food culture

As a contestant and finalist on Great British Bake Off at age 20, Ruby Tandoh impressed the judges and the fans watching the show alike. She is the author of three well-regarded books, and began writing a weekly food column for The Guardian. She surprised fans last week by announcing in a series of tweets that she was quitting her… read more

Anthony Bourdain has died at age 61

The culinary world is reeling this morning after reports that chef, author, and television star Anthony Bourdain has died of an apparent suicide. Bourdain, 61, was in Paris filming an episode of his CNN television series 'Parts Unknown'. In a statement, CNN said "It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. His love… read more

The untold story of the woman behind Duke’s mayonnaise

  Mayonnaise is an important staple in southern US food culture, and one brand stands above the rest - Duke's Mayonnaise. This iconic condiment can be found everywhere from home refrigerators to the walk-ins of the South's best restaurants. While everyone knows and loves Duke's, few people know the interesting tale of its creation. NPR's The Salt bring us the… read more

Vanilla is now as expensive as silver

  About a year ago, we reported on a surge in vanilla prices due to a combination of poor weather and lack of farming capacity. Twelve months later the surge shows no sign of abating, with the price of vanilla by weight now almost equal to that of silver. The high prices are forcing suppliers to confront the situation in… read more

ABC debuts a new cooking show

ABC has a new cooking show in the works, and while it does not feature any of The Chew's cast, it might help console fans of the soon-to-be-departed show. The new program is new reality-style cooking competition called Family Food Fight, and it will be hosted by celebrity cook Ayesha Curry.  Curry is hot property right now, recently inking a cookware… read more
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