Alcohol
Does Cheese Pair Better With Beer Or Wine?
Last night, I attended a National Geographic Live! event with the fun title "A Come to Cheeses Moment," about the art of pairing cheese with wine and beer. The speakers included wine expert Joshua Wesson, co-founder of the Best Cellars chain of wine shops (now owned by A&P), and Sweetwater Tave...
May 06, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Cinco Non-Alcoholic Mexican Beverages
I've got nothing against the margarita, the go-to Cinco de Mayo refreshment. In fact, it is one of my favorite cocktails. But, say you have to work the next day—even if Jose Cuervo is your amigo on Wednesday night, he might seem more like a frenemy by Thursday morning.Luckily, alcohol-free bebidas ...
May 05, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Inviting Writing: From Table Manners to Bedside Manner
Today's Inviting Writing story comes to us from Elizabeth Breuer, a.k.a. OB Cookie, a doctor-in-training who somehow finds time to write a wonderfully nerdy food blog.(In case you've forgotten, this explains what Inviting Writing is all about. The first prompt was "manners," which has already inspi...
May 03, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Wayne B. Wheeler: The Man Who Turned Off the Taps
Prohibition couldn't have happened without Wheeler, who foisted temperance on a thirsty nation 90 years ago
May 2010 |
By Daniel Okrent
Squeezed: The Secrets of the Orange Juice Industry
There are some food truths we hold to be self-evident, and one of them is that orange juice is inherently good. It's packed with vitamin C; it's what your mom tells you to drink when you feel a cold coming on; it looks like sunshine in a glass. Plus, it's delicious.Those things are true, but Alissa...
April 27, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Dandelions—From Lawn to Lunch
Depending on your perspective, the little dandelion flowers that dot green lawns with yellow this time of year can be a cheerful sign of warmer days, a pesky weed to be destroyed or, once they've transformed into downy orbs, wish-fulfillment predictors.To others, they represent free lunch. Dandelio...
April 22, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Upcoming Educational Food & Drink Events in DC
If you find yourself in the Washington, D.C. area this spring and have had your fill of museums and sightseeing, you might want to check out these food-related educational events:April 12 (TONIGHT) at 6:45 p.m: Don't miss the chance to hear famous food writer and former Gourmet magazine editor Ruth...
April 12, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
CSI: Supermarket—Using Science to Combat Food Fraud
Replacing a restaurant's fine coffee with Folger's crystals may turn out hunky-dory in commercials. In real life, though, people who have shelled out good money for gourmet food or fine wine would probably be a bit peeved to learn that they'd been duped. Yet food fraud happens more often than most ...
April 07, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Cherry Blossom Recipes
The spring Cherry Blossom Festival is happening right now in D.C., and the trees will be flowering in parts of Japan throughout the spring. Even if you can't travel to see them, you can still celebrate the season with these recipes:1. The Cherry Blossom cocktail sounds like a classier, grown-up cou...
April 05, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Homesick for Passover
Six years ago I moved to the Northeast from Southern California, where I grew up and where my family still lives. There are only two times of year that make me homesick, and sometimes they overlap: the waning days of winter, when it seems like the sleet and snow and dreariness—and lack of good fres...
March 30, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Know Your Whiskey from Your Whisky
Long before Guinness brewed its first pint of stout, and centuries before Americans started adding green food coloring to their beer (or, in some cases, milk) every March 17, Ireland gave birth to what many consider that nation's signature tipple: whiskey. While Guinness may be good for you, accord...
March 17, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Is It Safe to Drink Green Milk?
I'm not remotely Irish, but I always loved St. Patrick's Day as a kid. My mother has a great sense of fun, especially when it comes to holidays. So on the morning of every March 17th, as my brother and I stumbled groggily downstairs for breakfast, we would be greeted with green: Green placemats; gr...
March 16, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Chile Earthquake Strikes a Blow to Wine Industry
On Saturday, one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history struck Chile, killing more than 700 people and destroying the homes and livelihoods of many more. In addition to donating to relief organizations, another way to help some are suggesting is to buy Chilean products, including wine, on...
March 03, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Czech Beer
The Czechs invented Pilsner-style lager, but be sure to venture beyond this famous beer
March 01, 2010 |
By Rick Steves
Making Science Palatable
Oh, how many science quizzes might I have aced if only the lessons had been delivered via, instead of a teacher's droning voice, adorable cookies like these?The self-described "typical nerdy biological anthropologist turned stay at home mom" who writes the blog Not So Humble Pie has channeled her s...
February 24, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Eat up—It's National Something Day
Happy Chocolate Mint Day, everyone. I know, you're still recovering from Drink Wine Day and Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day yesterday. But don't forget about National Margarita Day on Monday (or tomorrow, depending on which sources you consult). That is one I definitely plan to observe.If you're looking ...
February 19, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Meeting José Andrés, and the Wines of Spain's Ribeiro Region
Chef José Andrés comes across as bright and lively; approachable, yet a bit dazzling---in short, the life of any party---and the same could be said for the Spanish wines he introduced me to last week."Spain is so funny, because historically, or at least when I grew up, people consider the best whit...
February 18, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Five Ways to Cook With Beer — Super Bowl Style
Beer is surprisingly versatile -- use it in any (or all!) of these dishes to spice up your football-watching party
February 05, 2010 |
By Lisa Bramen
Eating Snow
It's been an unusual winter here in Washington, D.C., with dozens inches of snow so far in a region that usually escapes with a mere dusting. I grew up in Vermont, so waking up to white-washed views still makes me smile (at least, until I remember that I no longer live in the shadow of a ski resort...
February 04, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
Beyond Cream and Sugar: Coffee With Cheese, Eggs and Reindeer Bones
The New York Times restaurant critic, Sam Sifton, recently tweeted something about "kaffeost," a Finnish concoction in which hot coffee is poured over chunks of soft cheese. I have to admit, it looks decidedly unappealing to me in this YouTube video—but as food writer Meredith Modzelewski responded...
January 28, 2010 |
By Amanda Bensen
