In the news
« Previous EntriesThe new, new protein
Thursday, October 6th, 2011Would you (knowingly) eat bugs, mes amis? No, me neither, but reading a recent issue of the New Yorker, I was gripped by an article on entomophagy, or insect consumption. Fans of creepy-crawly cuisine view bugs as a new source of protein, an alternative to meat with a very, very small ecological footprint. As the [...]
Tiny houses
Monday, August 8th, 2011Reading the New Yorker last week, I became fascinated by the idea of tiny houses. Have you heard of this phenomenon, mes amis? Only about 120 square feet, these small structures look like playhouses — but they’re actually full-functioning dwellings complete with running water, bathrooms and kitchens. Tiny houses are built on trailer platforms, so they’re [...]
Hungry pandas
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010I can’t get enough of this news story. Apparently, a hungry wild panda broke into the pig pen of some neighboring Sichuan farmers and started gorging on their leftover pork ribs! This story is amazing to me because: A) Pandas are herbivores; their diet is mostly composed of bamboo. B) There are very, very few [...]
RIP, Gourmet magazine
Monday, October 5th, 2009I just heard the news. According to this New York Times report, after 68 years, Gourmet magazine will cease publication in November. I can scarcely type for shock. No more impractical-but-sumptuous menus. No more messily gorgeous food photography — the most beautiful in the business. No more eye-opening travel pieces. Writing for Gourmet was always my [...]
Where the Obamas ate in Paris
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009Maybe you’ve heard — Paris had five very special visitors over the weekend: President Obama, the First Lady, First Daughters Malia and Sasha and First Grandma Marian Robinson. And yes, we know the family climbed the belfry at Notre Dame, visited the Eiffel Tower at sunset, and toured the galleries of the Centre Pompidou. But let’s [...]
In the news
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008Yes, the French are as ecstatic as we are about our new president! But along with the articles that cover the entire front page of Le Monde, not to mention the 12-page supplement dedicated to the 44th president of the United States, they’ve managed to squeeze in a little food coverage. It is Wednesday, after [...]
When “grosseur” is gross
Thursday, March 20th, 2008There was an interesting article yesterday in the NYT dining section, The Fat Pack Wonders if the Party’s Over, which discusses the physical toll of being a gourmand. Are food enthusiasts killing themselves with their unbridled enjoyment of pork belly, butter, prosciutto and foie gras? In a word, yes. Frankly, I’ve long wondered about guys like [...]
Rome vs. Paris vs. New York
Friday, March 7th, 2008Which is the best food town? On his blog, Bitten, Mark Bittman has some interesting posts (also here and here) on his recent travels to Paris (and, geez, is the guy a prolific blogger! He sometimes has 3-4 posts a day. Long ones, too.) Essentially, he experienced several bad meals in Paris and is wondering — has the City [...]
Which wine with Sichuanese food?
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008Eric Asimov has an interesting post on his NYT wine and spirits blog, The Pour, in which he discusses which wine pairs best with Sichuanese cuisine. If you’re a regular reader of Cooking the Books, you’ve probably guessed that I am an ardent fan of Sichuan food. I also like wine. But together? Not so much. [...]
Milk vs. Dark: Battle of the chocolates
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008Today’s NYT Dining section has an interesting article about a new breed of milk chocolates. Apparently some chocolatiers have created a “dark milk” chocolate, by increasing the amount of cacao normally found in milk chocolate and decreasing sugar. “Dark milk” chocolate sounds like a clever marketing ploy to me, but in honor of Valentine’s [...]
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