Category Archives: Food for Thought

Food for Thought is useful reading, and occasionally viewing, about food and related matters: mostly blogs, but also a few books and magazines with Amazon links when available for purchase.

Food for Thought: China Sichuan Food

I ran across China Sichuan Food for the umpteenth time while researching Hand-Torn Sichuan Cabbage recipes (her recipe is here) and realized it’s an excellent idea starter for your own Sichuan dishes. The blogger, Elaine, is a China native but writes … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Alison Roman’s Dining In

Even though I am a huge fan of Alison Roman’s recipes in the New York Times, I resisted buying her cookbook,  Dining In. Why? Because her salty kitchen essentials, the first items in the book, were all head nodders, things that … Continue reading

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My other cookbook is a Kindle

Some chef friends had an online discussion about how they like to read recipes. Almost everybody said they preferred physical cookbooks because they like to look at the pictures and see how the food is plated. Number of people who … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Alison Roman

When Alison Roman launched her biweekly cooking column in the New York Times a year ago, she described herself as an unfussy cook: “To me, unfussy doesn’t mean boring — it means approachable and accessible. It means getting dinner on … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Sweet Home Café Cookbook

I was excited, but also disappointed, when I visited Sweet Home Café inside the fabulous Museum of African-American History in Washington, D.C. The buttermilk fried chicken was moist inside, crunchy outside as it’s supposed to be. Collards, potato salad, cole … Continue reading

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What is the responsibility of a restaurant reviewer?

I guess there are still some small markets where a media outlet will provide a review as part of an advertising package for a restaurant. But more likely, the restaurant reviewer is presumed to be independent and reporting their experience … Continue reading

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Special Recipe: Bone Bread

16th Century Parisians ate a LOT of bread… as much as 2.5 pounds per person per day, according to this academic source. So imagine their consternation when Henri VII of Navarre blockaded the city, creating widespread starvation. The solution, reports … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees

I ran across Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees in a Facebook comment by Rob Handel, the chef I interviewed about foraging. Rob is a trained botanist who likes to categorize things, so I can see why he would enjoy this … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Penzey’s Spice Company

I have been a customer and a fan of Penzey’s for a very long time. I first ran across them when I made a foray into selling mail order foods and wanted to suss out the competition, way back in … Continue reading

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Food for Thought: Beyond Kimchee

Gen-X and Gen-Y Koreans I’ve met (under 45 or so) often have a sly and delightful sense of humor when writing or communicating in English. I discovered this when my kids were going to an immersion school in San Francisco … Continue reading

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