Many years ago I had the honor and privilege to both attend and actually “sous chef” for several master classes with the late, great Barbara Tropp. For those who don’t know, Barbara Tropp was the chef/owner of China Moon Cafe in San Francisco, a culinary teacher and the author of the best cookbook on Chinese …
The Portland Tribune reports that the city of Portland, Oregon plans to declare an “official city doughnut” this week. Mayor Tom Potter will introduce his official doughnut resolution, declaring Voodoo Doughnuts’ Portland Creme, a raised doughnut filled with cream and covered in chocolate with “two eyes”, during the City Council’s Christmas Eve day meeting. Potter’s …
All Champagne is sparkling wine made through the “Methode Champenoise.” But not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Wine writer Alan Richman in the December 2005 issue of Bon Appetit magazine bombastically wrote: Say what you will about California Sparklers – which are to French Champagne what paddlefish eggs are to beluga caviar – they will …
9 Domestic Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve 2009 Read More 👉
The San Francisco Chronicle today reports that President-elect Barack Obama received a letter from Alice Waters of Chez Panisse; volunteering her services – and those of Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl and New York Union Square restaurateur Danny Meyer – to be the first couple’s informal “kitchen cabinet” on all things culinary, from recommendations for a …
December 5th is Repeal Day. That day back in 1933 that ended those dark days of “The Great Experiment” that failed. For those who where sleeping during American History class, the Volstead Act was repealed by the Amendment XXI to the US Constitution: AMENDMENT XXIPassed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933. Section 1. The …
What’s the best way to bring out the full flavor of meat? If you want to get those juices really flowing, you need to cook it long and slow, and with the temperature down low. Love Me Tender by Heston Blumenthal, The Guardian newspaper, November 24, 2001 Trust me, your patience will be rewarded. Besides, …
According to the New York Times (NYT), the mess that is COPIA (offically the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts), the ambitious Frankenstein’s monster in the heart of Napa that was founded in a large part from money donated by the late Robert Mondavi, finally filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the …
Brace yourself. It’s that time of year again. I love Christmas as much as the next guy. The lights, the color, the celebration, the sharing, and especially the eating and drinking. The spiritual side of Christmas often goes a little unnoticed amid the mad rush of present buying, decorating and food preparation. Many traditions have …
A Green Christmas – Top Ten Sustainable Culinary Gifts Read More 👉
I am a commissioner on the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, an industry-funded agency and part of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Commission Program. Among our other responsibilities to the fishing fleet, we have been charged with the enhancement of the image of the Dungeness crab industry, and to increase opportunities for profitability through promotion, …
Brian Lehrer of the Brain Lehrer Show on WNYC Radio spoke with author and activist Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, The Botany of Desire, In Defense of Food) about government agricultural policy. What can we do? There is an online petition to encourage President-elect Barack Obama to choose Mr. Pollan as the next U.S. Secretary of …
As a former restaurateur, I have always been appalled, even disgusted, at those restaurant/food blogs that feel it is their need to consistently obsess over the demises of a local entrepreneurs hard earned business. Why must we always rubberneck and concentrate on the negatives? With the state of the restaurant biz these days, do we …
According to the Taipei Times, a student at Dayeh University in Changhuain Taiwan died in late October during the annual steamed bun eating contest. The 23 year old was participating to see who could finish two steamed buns stuffed with egg and cheese in the fastest time. The student couldn’t stop vomiting and fell unconscious …
“The pig is an encyclopedic animal, a meal on legs.” “Dans le cochon, tout est bon (Everything in a pig is good).” Grimod de La Reynière (1758-1837) It’s not a misprint. Salumi is Italian for the whole family of salted, cured cuts of meat or sausages made primarily (but not exclusively) from pork. It is …
