Summer is certainly over, but it doesn’t mean its bounty is. I’m still up to my eyeballs in eggplant, mostly due to my overly eager mom...

Ever wonder why the popular pulled pork cut of meat: the butt is called the butt even though it comes from the shoulder? Well apparently...

Next time you debate the cost of a small bottle of saffron in the market, think of this: It takes 70,000 crocus flowers to produce 1 lb...

In the theme of my upcoming podcast about becoming a smart consumer, here is the list of the “Dirty Dozen,” the fruits and vegetables...

Cereal was originally created as a healthier, lighter alternative to the once meat heavy breakfasts. Dr. Kellogg is famous for...

#beverages #drinks #tea

According to Monsieur Harold McGee, capsaicin, the pungent chemical secreted by cells in our beloved jalapeno and other chilis that makes...

#balsamicvinegar #dessert #salad #vinegar

The goat, after the dog, is believed to be the first animal to have been domesticated, roughly 11 thousand years ago somewhere around...

Falling into that same ole’ cooking funk? Or just intimidated or too lazy to try new things? Sounds about right. In cooking, just as in...

I’m just nuts about these! Yes, that’s right. The uber-trendy avocado gets its name from the Aztec word “ahuacatl” which means testicle....

Just a recap they are: Salt: Kosher, Diamond Crystal Fresh Ground Pepper Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Please Vinegar, of your choosing (red...

A wonderful quote from Mr. Beard, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” Something to ponder during the holidays. No matter...

Linguine, one of our favorite pastas, means “little tongues” Funny thing to think about when you are eating some! #foodfact

A few years ago when I was living and working on an agriturismo in Tuscany, I took a weekend trip to Parma for its big food show Cibus....

Tiramisu (tira-mi-su) means “pick-me-up” in Italian.  Legends say it was created outside of brothel in Venice to give its clients that...

French: Riz Spanish: Arroz Italian: Riso Italian rice, riso, turns into risotto when the special grains are worked vigorously to...

Salt is so influential in our history & cuisine that the words “salary” “sauce” and “salad” all derive from it. Now that’s one salty nugget!

Fresh produce lovers rejoice! Summer is in full swing and with it arrives its glorious bounty. Now is the time to truly ditch your...

The Kiwi fruit, native to China and later grown in New Zealand, was originally called Chinese Gooseberry.  However, it was rebranded as...