The Educated Palate: Colleges Expel Mystery Meat September 30, 2007 • The days of mystery meat are nearly over. At some college cafeterias around the country, menus feature sushi, wood-fired pizzas and gourmet specials — all in response to the picky palates of college students.
Environment Worm Resurgence Troubles Apple Farmers September 29, 2007 • Organic apple farmers keep their fruit free of worms by spraying their trees with a naturally occuring virus. But insects in some orchards in Germany have developed resistance to this biological insecticide and farmers are concerned.
Street Food Carts Vie for Vendy Awards in New York September 28, 2007 • While most food carts in American cities offer familiar fare such as pretzels, peanuts and hot dogs, some have gone positively gourmet. That's the case in New York, where the annual Vendy Awards recognize the city's best street food.
NPR Correspondents' Choice Rome: Fresh Tastes of a Grandparents' Kitchen September 27, 2007 • An out-of-the-way Roman eatery offers the feel and flavors of owner Anna Maria Tozzi's grandparents' country home south of the city. Montevecchio only seats about 20, though, so Rome correspondent Sylvia Poggioli recommends reservations.
Kitchen Window Making Over the Much-Maligned Eggplant September 26, 2007 • Whether because of its Mr. Potato Head looks or its befuddling nature, eggplant gets a bad rap. When it's bad, it's very, very bad: soggy, bitter and rubbery. But given the right vehicle, eggplant can show off its versatility and velvety texture.
Global Dairy Demand Drives Up Prices September 24, 2007 • The global market comes into play even for a product as local as fresh milk. Limited supply and big demand are driving up the price of dairy products.
Media Reality TV Hits the Kitchen: 'Nightmares' September 21, 2007 • Kitchen Nightmares is a new reality TV show in which celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay whips ailing restaurants into shape. He usually finds rotten meat and moldy food. Then, in the great tradition of reality TV, he screams.
NPR Correspondents' Choice Berlin: A Cafe for the Chocoholic September 20, 2007 • Hip cafe Kakao's signature creation tastes nothing like the powder you spoon into a glass of microwaved milk. Berlin-based correspondent Emily Harris' favorite concoction? The orange hot chocolate — 60 percent cocoa, 40 percent milk, with orange oil blended in.
Kitchen Window New Mexico: Chile Hot Spot September 19, 2007 • In New Mexico — the largest producer of chiles in the United States — the spicy peppers are more than just a crop: They're a culture, a way of life. And this time of year, the aroma of roasting chiles permeates the air throughout the state.
Combing Oakland for the Top Taco Truck September 18, 2007 • Taco trucks are a new destination for gourmands. They are celebrated in blogs with maps of where the best trucks park. In Oakland, Calif., many fans embark on late-night taco treks.
The Fine Points of Making Kraut September 15, 2007 • A bumper crop of cabbages in New York State means heaps of sauerkraut. Neighbors in a rural community in northern New York recently gathered to celebrate this culinary custom.
A Celebration of Sausage, the Poor Man's Steak September 14, 2007 • A symposium in Chicago is focusing on cased meats: hot dogs, kielbasa and all varieties of wurst. Chefs, academics and food enthusiasts will gather at "Stuffed: A Journey of Midwestern Sausage Traditions" to discuss and eat the poor man's steak.
National California Farmers Perform Voluntary Inspections September 14, 2007 • Farms that produce California's leafy greens start a voluntary inspection program a year after a scare involving spinach that was contaminated with E. coli. At least one state lawmaker believes the voluntary program is not enough.
NPR Correspondents' Choice Lagos: A Smoky and Spicy Kebab Hot Spot September 13, 2007 • The Ikoyi Hotel Suya Spot in Lagos, Nigeria, is not for the fainthearted — or for vegetarians. The kebab eatery located in a parking lot offers up deliciously spiced meat — and plenty of it, says Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, West Africa correspondent.
Chef Shares Tips for Netting Freshest Catch September 13, 2007 • New York chef David Pasternack's restaurant Esca is known for its raw fish dishes. He takes a 2 a.m. shopping trip to the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx and offers his advice on what to look for when in pursuit of fresh seafood.