2 mins read

There’s no strict recipe for Stef Ferrari’s seasonal fruit crostini with ricotta

Like so many preparations in this cookbook, “Stuzzichini,” and in Italian food in general, it’s almost impossible to call this a recipe. Instead, it’s an act of trust: You must trust that whatever fruit you choose for this crostini will pair perfectly with fresh ricotta, good-quality honey, and your choice of crunchy bits and/or herbs […]

4 mins read

Betty Liu’s Sesame-Cumin Chicken is double-fried for flavor and crispiness

Deep-fry (zhà), a well-known technique where the food is fried in a pool of hot oil, which both cooks it and creates a crispy exterior, is used throughout the “Frying” chapter in my cookbook “The Chinese Way.” When deep-frying, I use a thermometer, aiming for 350°F to 375°F. Another way to gauge the temperature is […]

3 mins read

Mushy, but in a good way: golf fans enjoy Dutch snacks at the Solheim Cup

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands | Sherry Ford took a bite of her Dutch meatball roll and wiped mayonnaise off her chin. And her coat. And her sleeve. “It’s very tasty,” the 76-year-old from near San Francisco said of the snack known in the Netherlands as a broodje bal as she sheltered with friends from a light […]

5 mins read

Why the versatile PB&J remains king of the lunchbox after 125 years

If there is a single sandwich associated with childhood and school lunches in the U.S.A, it has to be the PB&J. Sweet and salty, inexpensive, easy to make (maybe the first sandwich many kids make for themselves?), peanut butter and jelly is as close to iconic as a sandwich can get. It’s been 125 years […]

8 mins read

How international supermarkets can break up a dinner rut without costing a fortune

BOISE, Idaho | When kitchen burnout hits, figuring out what to make for dinner every day can feel like an impossible task. Eating out or relying on convenience foods are increasingly difficult solutions for many American families, who are facing the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half century. It can also be healthier […]

4 mins read

Butter me up: Paris gets its first boutique devoted to France’s favorite fat

PARIS | The contradiction of the trim Parisian and the butter croissant now has a storefront. Le Butter Shop, billed as Paris’ first boutique devoted entirely to butter, opened last month a short walk from the Eiffel Tower — with 30 varieties from small family producers in Brittany, the Loire Valley and northern France. France […]

3 mins read

Read our big scoop: Ice-cream cones, the ingenious invention of American immigrants

DETROIT | Read this quickly, before it melts. Ice cream was a rare and expensive treat for centuries because of the difficulty of storing ice. In the summer of 1790, President George Washington spent $200 on ice cream, the equivalent of $7,259 today, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. By the 1800s, inventions like […]

7 mins read

Once shaped by court rituals, China’s imperial cuisine lives on today

BEIJING | It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi once dreamed of a pastry during the final decades of imperial China. The same treat was served to her at breakfast the following morning. Delighted, she summoned her chef and rewarded him with a silver ingot. “It was originally called ‘minced pork pancake,’ but because it […]

2 mins read

Pamela Anderson recommends Watermelon Granita for a cool, no-fuss summer dessert

My cookbook “I Love You” began as a box of recipe cards: a housewarming gift for my sons, inspired by our homegrown traditions and world travel. Since I don’t have a strong sweet tooth, dessert for me is more about being social and having something to share over cards, tea and coffee. A treat for […]

7 mins read

The latest thing in cocktails is spicy and savory. Tips and recipes for home bartenders

LONDON | Spicy drinks are having a moment, and it’s no longer just standard spicy margs and bloody marys. Bartenders are getting experimental to create the perfect combination with a kick. “The same way that you want to season a steak or a pork chop, you want to add multiple layers. And I think spice […]