Savvy Sipping Into The New Year December 31, 2008 • Across the world tonight, many will bring in 2009 with a toast. Wine maven Callie Crossley, author of the wine blog The Crushed Grape Report, shares tips on how to break open the right bubbly with out breaking the bank.
Business California Winemakers Press A Family Vintage December 31, 2008 • Chateau Montelena winery is famous for besting French competitors at a 1976 competition in Paris. The Napa Valley winery is also a family business, one that has passed through two generations and could make it to a third. But working together wasn't always smooth.
Your Health Shedding The Gift That Keeps On Giving December 29, 2008 • After packing on the holiday pounds, many will target the battle of the bulge for their New Year's Resolution. Men's Fitness magazine lends readers a hand with its new "Get Fit, Stay Fit 2009 Guide." Roy Johnson, the publication's editor-in-chief, gives listeners a sneak peek.
Books Forgotten Food Writer Explored Early Kitchens December 28, 2008 • The book Hometown Appetites tells the story of Clementine Paddleford, an anthropologist who traveled the country to chronicle how America ate in the early to mid 20th century.
Cocktails: A Liquid Year In Review December 28, 2008 • Let's talk about drinking. The concoctions and consumption. What happened in the world of cocktails this past year, and how are Americans' drinking habits changing?
Essay Getting To The Root Of The Great Cilantro Divide December 26, 2008 • Some people find the herb cilantro so odious that they believe it should be wiped off the planet. But is it the taste or the smell? One cilantro hater goes in search of the truth.
Environment Shade-Grown Coffee Not Just For The Birds December 26, 2008 • Shade-grown coffee is sometimes called "bird friendly coffee," but a new paper in the journal Current Biology suggests that the plantations also help maintain the genetic diversity of native tree species. Study author Shalene Jha discusses the research and its implications.
Christmas Delights In Aunt Priscilla's Cookbook December 25, 2008 • Writer Alice Furlaud recently came across a book while preparing to do some holiday baking: Aunt Priscilla in the Kitchen, A Collection of Wintertime Recipes. Most of the recipes are for Christmas. The cookbook made Furlaud think about how far this country has come since her childhood.
Diversions Chef Offers Tips On Holiday Cuisine December 25, 2008 • Celelbrity chef Gerry Garvin, author of Dining In and host of the TV One cooking show Turn Up the Heat, says holiday dinners are a great time to enjoy delicious food and reconnect with family. He suggests some of his favorite dishes and reflects on how he became a culinary master.
Diversions Wine Expert: Spice Up Your Holidays December 25, 2008 • Its the time of year when we gather to spend time with families and friends. But this year many are looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit without dropping too much cash. Wine expert Callie Crossley offers a lesson on a thrifty, but delicious option: mulled wine.
Nutritionist Michael Pollan Accepts No Imitations December 24, 2008 • In his book, In Defense of Food Michael Pollan argues that in last 20 decades, real food has vanished from supermarket shelves only to be replaced by food imitations. Pollan offers pointers on getting back to basic nutrition.
Holiday Recipes Christmas Beer Yields Christmas Cheer December 24, 2008 • For millennia, farmers around the globe have marked the winter solstice by brewing particularly potent beer. This holiday season, brew expert Don Russell (better known as "Joe Sixpack") recommends some of his favorite Christmas ales.
Holiday Recipes Sugarplums: Dreaming Of The Sweet Unknown December 24, 2008 • As the famous poem puts it, Christmas is when children are "nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." It's a lovely image. But it does prompt the question: What exactly is a sugarplum? The short answer: It's very good.
Your Health Corn Syrup Gets Boost From Sweetener Studies December 23, 2008 • High-fructose corn syrup is just as bad as table sugar — but not worse, say several new studies. It's a reputational boost for a sweetener long thought to be particularly adept at expanding waistlines.
World Markets Bustling As Truffle Season Begins In France December 23, 2008 • There is an atmosphere of intrigue as truffle sellers line up carrying les truffes noires, the famous black truffle of the Perigord region of France, in their baskets. They will fetch anywhere from $250 to $400 a pound, depending on their quality.