Food & drink

Food & drink

While there are a number of different, regional styles of BBQ found across the U.S., it's safe to say that they all have a few things in common: They all make for an incredible meal, and you're probably going to make a bit of a mess eating it. But that's part of the fun, right? Truly great BBQ takes time, effort, and commitment - even though there are some great versions of pulled pork that you can make with as little as three ingredients.

It's the holiday season, which means it's the kick-off to building the traditional gingerbread houses for many families. I used to do this all the time as a kid growing up in the Midwest - it was just a normal part of the season. I haven't really kept up the tradition as an adult, though. This year, I decided to give it another go for the first time in ages.

When doing my research, I ended up going down the biggest rabbit hole of cocoa information I could ever have imagined. For instance, many cocoa powders have been alkalized, which means that they've been treated with potassium carbonate. This allows for changes to be made in acidity level, color, and flavor. And there is more than one alkalization process that can be done, which adds another level to the cocoa processing.

When you work with the school system you know the families that are in need because there are a lot of babies that come to school and that's the only meal they get,

The recipe that Alison Roman may be best known for today is her caramelized-shallot pasta, published in 2020 when she was a food writer for The New York Times. It became the defining recipe of the early pandemic in part because its ingredients-except for the anchovy fillets-are pretty basic. And there are only 10 of them, including the pasta and salt. For Roman, the mega-viral recipe came to embody her signature "Stone Soup style": familiar ingredients magically transformed.

War is a divisive subject. There's nothing positive about the loss of millions of lives. However, despite the immense destruction caused throughout history, some of the world's most iconic foods have resulted from wartime. Take candy, for example. M&Ms were literally inspired by a need to create candy for soldiers that could withstand the terrible conditions of war. It's true what Plato said, that "Necessity is the mother of invention." And sadly, there are few conditions that drive food innovation better than wartime, when lives are at stake and everyday ingredients truly become luxuries.

Our geographical position makes this probably the best place in Britain for producing mussels, he adds, pointing to the boat's screen, where different colours display the areas where several companies are licensed to harvest the shellfish. It's because of the tidal exchange going through the Menai Strait, it gets up to six knots in the middle there, he says. You've got a massive volume of water exchanging both ways, bringing in the food and nutrients the mussels like.

While most items are freshest right after opening, there is one item that generally is not, and that's the fried rice. So, if you only like fresh fried rice, consider ordering something else for your side if you're doing an early order. The reason that the fried rice isn't usually fresh right at opening is that the employees are still using up the rice they had left over from the night before. The same isn't true for the white steamed rice, which is made fresh.

There's usually at least one person on your Christmas list that you really have to wrack your brains to find a good present for. It only gets harder every year, so to ease the challenge, we asked a selection of personal shopping and gifting experts for clever ideas in some of the most tricky-to-buy-for categories.

Wilde's - the intimate new British-inspired spot in Los Feliz - might be the closest thing Los Angeles has to a countryside pub dropped straight onto Hillhurst Avenue. Lifelong friends Natasha Price (chef) and Tatiana Ettensberger (wine) set out to build the kind of place where you could settle in for a long chat, a glass of "something good," and food that's filling and pleasantly low-maintenance.

Finding a great bagel is easy in New York, but outside the city, it's rare to come across one that compares to the crisp, golden-brown crust and chewy interior of a true NYC bagel. There's something about New York's bagels that makes each bite perfect - soft, pillowy, yet substantial.

Connoisseurs know that there's more to making a great BBQ sandwich than just piling some meat on a roll. Take pulled pork, for example. There are a number of ingredients that will seriously upgrade your pulled pork sandwich, from pickled red onions to a dash of apple cider vinegar. It makes sense that the professional pitmasters know all of these tricks, and more. That, however, brings up the question: Who's doing it the best?

While not everyone has the time, space, or equipment to smoke a massive brisket low and slow, BBQ ribs are much more accessible. It's entirely possible to whip up some amazing baby back ribs with honey mustard BBQ sauce with a little help from both your oven and grill, and an oven is all you need for sweet, spicy, smoky raspberry chipotle ribs that are sticky, downright glorious, and well worth the four hours they'll spend in the heat.

Emidio Oceguera has managed some of Chicago's best-known restaurants, including De Cero and Chicago Cut. When he began entertaining the idea of opening his own place, his parents kept him grounded. Their advice ultimately inspired him to launch the Pilsen restaurant Cerdito Muerto in his childhood neighborhood last summer. Oceguera brings unapologetic personal touches to the space and menu. In a Mexican food scene as rich as Chicago's, Oceguera isn't interested in chasing trends or being anything but himself.

A makeover of the site (including a lick of paint and the addition of many candles) is planned for January but the pub will be opening at the end of November so as to not miss out on all the festive fun. The drinks offering is tight but varied - there's pet nat, orange and light red bottles amongst the European wine list alongside classic cocktails, beers, ciders and softies.

As noted on Instagram, the 46-ounce boxes of frozen mac and cheese are on sale for $4 off at Costco. Normally $14.89, they're now available for $10.89. Eat This, Not That confirms that the $4 off sale is available nationally, although you may have to head into the warehouse to see if they have any in stock. If your warehouse website shows the product as out of stock or low in stock, it might not be available for delivery.

Kringles are a kind of pastry that's synonymous with my home town of Racine, Wisconsin. Originally introduced by Danish immigrants in the late 19th century, they're essentially a big ring of flaky Viennese pastry filled with fruit or nuts, then iced and served in little slices. Even bad kringles are pretty delicious, and when out-of-towners try them for the first time, their reaction is usually: Where has this been all my life?

Katherine, a medical sales rep from Rockville, and Tom, a financial advisor from Fallston, Maryland, met as college students at Auburn. They became friends at first, and then started dating a few years later, with a first date hiking the Billy Goat Trail back home. Three and a half years after that, Tom proposed on a post-brunch walk to the Broadway Pier in Baltimore.

For £79, behind its doors are 24 ready-made cocktails ranging from 125ml to 200ml, including margaritas, espresso martinis, cosmopolitans and piña coladas. Liv Kelly, Time Out staff writer and chief advent calendar judge, said: ' 's 24-door cocktail cal is one hell of a way to celebrate the run-up to Christmas. Not only does it include 24 bar-strength cocktails, but open a door to find a golden can and you'll be the winner of the company's comp to win £1,000 worth of cocktails.'

Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 13x9 inch (3 quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. Remove 1 pie crust from the pouch. Unroll on a work surface. Roll into a 13x9-inch rectangle. Place crust in dish and trim edges to fit. In a large bowl, stir corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs with a wire whisk. Spoon half of the filling into the crust-lined dish (about 4 cups).

Everything at all Levain Bakery locations is made fresh every single day, keeping the bakers very busy. In addition to all the other breads, loaf cakes, and pastries that Levain offers, the brand's signature cookies are baked fresh in multiple flavors. We already know scales are essential for baking, but Levain bakers take this to another level. To ensure a perfect product, they portion and weigh every cookie by hand to a perfect six ounces.

In the latest episode of Where It's At, Jefferson Hack visits one of London's great cultural connectors, Ruth Rogers, at her London home. Heading up River Cafe for over 40 years, after founding it in 1987 with Rose Gray, and with her star-studded podcast, Ruthie's Table, Ruth has hosted, hung out with and interviewed some of our time's most pioneering minds.

On the border of Hackney and Islington, on the line where the two boroughs connect, lies Blackstock Road, arguably London's most interesting street. A short walk from the Arsenal Emirates Stadium and home to all the food options and pubs you could ever need - from Kurdish naan bread at Baban's Naan, to about a dozen sports pubs, and chilled reds at Top Cuvée - Blackstock Road is a magnetic field to tote bag hoarders, Paul Mescal dupes, Matty Matheson wannabes, and Arsenal fans alike.

Dusk settles over Hilo Bay, turning the sky a deep violet and the lingering wisps of clouds the same soft pink as the frangipani that scent the air. In the distance canoes glide across the calm waters, muddling the sky's iridescent reflection. A man gingerly hops across lava rocks, then deftly tosses his fishing net. Local kids perform flips and cannonballs off old stone diving towers.

I cook with olive oil almost every day, whether I'm sautéing veggies, tossing pasta, or dressing salads. But I'll admit, I've always had a gripe with the giant glass bottles. No matter how careful I am, I end up with a greasy ring on the counter or slippery hands (I haven't dropped the bottle yet, but it's always one intrusive thought away). So when I heard about the new Pompeian Squeeze, a no-mess olive oil bottle from the number one olive oil brand in my house, I was immediately intrigued.

Foodies trust Hamburger Helper as a pantry staple for last-minute mid-week dinners. With this flavorful upgrade, the classic, convenient comfort food gets a mildly spicy elevation. We gave Spicy Garlic Parmesan high marks for its accessible-yet-impactful heat. Even foodies with low spice tolerances will find much to love within this flavorful box; the heat level is pleasant without being overpowering.