Food

Wines That Go Well With Super Bowl Food

January 31, 2009 • Instead of cracking a beer in the first quarter, wine expert Gary Vaynerchuk suggests pairing your macho nachos with a suave chardonnay or popping open a nice citrusy wine to complement those buffalo wings. Plus, he says, you don't have to break the bank to serve good wine.

World

Laos Brewmaster Has High Hopes For Local Beer

January 30, 2009 • Only about 1 percent of Beerlao finds its way abroad, but beer maker Sivilay Lasachack hopes to increase that to 10 percent in the next five years. She's not the only one who thinks the beer has a global future: Carlsberg recently acquired a 50 percent stake in the company.

NPR Correspondents' Choice

Chengdu: Marathon Meal Of Experimental Cuisine

January 28, 2009 • Yu's Family Kitchen, in Chengdu, China, confounds expectations. Located in a nondescript, gray apartment block, the restaurant takes its food seriously, says Shanghai correspondent Louisa Lim. A meal is a communion, where presentation, often humorous, is key.

Kitchen Window

Blood Oranges: Change You Can Believe In

January 28, 2009 • Inspired to make a change? Try some new, uncommon flavors, starting with this dazzling citrus fruit. Food writer Susan Russo says she'd like to send a box of blood oranges to President Obama — in hopes that his commitment to change may influence Americans' eating habits.

Beat The Winter Chills With Nigella Lawson

January 26, 2009 • It can be hard to escape winter chills. But cookbook author Nigella Lawson says she never complains about it — instead, it's a great excuse for her to indulge in warm and hearty comfort foods such as soups and stews. Besides, recipes for sweet corn chowder, chicken pot pie and other dishes can be easy.

Mark Bittman: Eating Right Can Save The Planet

January 22, 2009 • In his new book, Food Matters, Mark Bittman writes about the environmental impact of industrial farming — and how individuals can make a difference by cutting down on the amount of animal products they consume.

Kitchen Window

Going With The Flow: Melted Cheese

January 21, 2009 • Any way you slice it, cheese is all you need to warm up a cold winter night. Cheddar, gruyere, emmentaler and others lend themselves to soups and sauces or star on their own — sliced and fried, or melted into fondue.

Gifts For The Gods: Food For The Chinese New Year

January 16, 2009 • A tradition for the Chinese New Year is to leave out food for the kitchen god to ensure a prosperous year. Food writer Grace Young talks about the reasons for putting food on the altar —and some of the recipes her family cooks up, like fried garlic lettuce.

Kitchen Window

Chocolate: A Food Without Borders

January 14, 2009 • Now living in Spain, editor Alejandra Garcia has learned that chocolate speaks an international language — and it's always in season. Eating chocolate "the Spanish way" means anything from a chocolate muffin for breakfast, to a chocolate drink before bed — or chocolate churros anytime.

Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets

Economy Forces Some To Buy Less Expensive Wine

January 12, 2009 • During hard times economic times, everybody seems to be buying less — even people who still have jobs. The recession is scary. But what better way to calm the nerves than with a nice glass of wine. Wine lovers and the people who supply their favorite beverage are finding ways to get by in the recession.

2009 Food Trends: A Side Dish Of Recession

January 11, 2009 • In light of the national economic crisis, budget-conscious trends will dominate the food scene this year, says NPR's Bonny Wolf. Restaurants will offer lower prices, smaller plates and less pretension. And home cooking will be back, along with comfort foods like spaghetti and meatballs.

National

City Folk Flock To Raise Small Livestock At Home

January 10, 2009 • For things like eggs and honey, some urban and suburbanites are skipping the store entirely and turning instead to their own backyards. Whether from tighter food budgets or local eating ideals, more people are petitioning their cities to allow small-animal husbandry.

Hot Chocolate Goes Glam

January 8, 2009 • Continuing the program's Winter Sipping series, host Michel Martin travels to CoCo Sala, a chocolate lounge in Washington, D.C., for a sampling of their various hot chocolates. Owner and chocolate expert Nisha Sidhu walks listeners through the various flavors — from White Chocolate through Chocolate Peanut Butter.

Kitchen Window

Lentils: A Legume For The Ages

January 7, 2009 • As a comforting, versatile food quick enough for weeknight cooking, lentils will keep you well fed all winter. But they're especially good to eat this time of year, as they're believed in many countries to ensure prosperity in the year to come.

A Life Dedicated To Michelin 3-Star Restaurants

January 5, 2009 • London IT executive Andy Hayler has dined at every three-star restaurant in the French food guide. His travels have taken him all across the world to 60-plus elite restaurants. He speaks with us about his favorite meals, how he can afford this pricy hobby and his blog.