Food & drink

Food & drink

From rolled ice cream to fried ice cream, there's no shortage of modern, inventive ways to enjoy the world-famous cold treat, but sometimes, a simple scoop of plain ol' vanilla does the trick. Even better? A scoop at America's oldest ice cream brand, Bassetts, where you can get a true old-fashioned ice cream experience. Bassetts has been making Philadelphia-style ice cream since 1861, but it has operated out of its singular, iconic location in Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia since 1892.

Typically made from cow's milk, it's produced by heating whey - a common byproduct of other cheesemaking processes. Hence, the word "ricotta" translates to "recooked" in English. When the whey is heated and acidified, it forms the soft, fine curds that are so characteristic of ricotta, resulting in a delicate, airy cheese that's creamy yet relatively low in fat. You can even make your own ricotta at home by curdling boiled milk with lemon juice and then straining the mixture through a cheesecloth.

There's something to be said about the appeal of chain restaurants. In theory, customers can walk into any location and get much the same experience. There's nothing wrong with that, especially considering some chains take quality seriously. Chain barbecue restaurants are fewer and farther between than, say, steakhouse chains, and that's because of some unique challenges, including the differences between beloved regional styles. However, the one thing that unites great barbecue is the need for great sides - which is why we're here.

Above an oasis of floppy sun hats, chinos, and pastel polos on most weekday afternoons, you will find one of Manhattan's most formidable cohorts: the power lunchers. We visited the Midtown location of Tommy Bahama, a clothing store that also includes a chain of restaurants, on a recent Tuesday. The interior design was straight out of a beachfront vacation home, but the environment was more work than play.

We gravitated towards the Blue Ball as teenagers, not because they served underage drinkers. They didn't. And we could only afford to drink lime and soda anyway. No, we loved this place because it had (drumroll) two bars. So we were not only cool enough to go down the pub (never to the pub, strictly down the pub or, better still, down the Blue), but we even had our own bar.

The Turkey Tom (#4 on the menu) has a devoted following, but we actually think it's one of the blandest, most forgettable options on the menu. It landed near the bottom of our ranking of popular Jimmy John's sandwiches published in 2023 and also made our list of Jimmy John's sandwiches you should think twice about ordering. It comes with a few slices of turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. "It's a sandwich that you could very easily make at home," states our writer.

The Marketside brand is flush with a wide variety of soups. They run the gamut from stews and chowders to gumbo and bisques, and sit like a comfort food rainbow on the chilled shelves. Compared to the competition (namely, Panera Bread at-home soups), they're more affordable and offer a more diverse range of ingredients and flavors. They lure you in with their ready-to-eat ease, but are they any good? I recently scooped up a slew of 12 Marketside soups to find out.

How is bone broth different from other broths and stocks? To put it simply, regular broth is a liquid made by simmering meats, vegetables, and herbs in water. The simmering time is typically up to two hours. Stock is like broth, but bones are often added, and it's simmered longer, often up to six hours. Bone broth is basically stock (bones, water, and sometimes vegetables and herbs) that's simmered for an extended time - up to 48 hours. This lengthy simmering gives the bones time to release gelatin and collagen, enriching the liquid with protein and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

If you really want to get an incredible steak (and you don't want to have to make it yourself), then your best bet is probably to go to one of the best local steakhouses in the U.S. But when you're looking for an option that may be a bit more accessible or affordable, a steakhouse chain will often do the trick.

Parsnips' signature sweet, nutty flavor comes from their cold-weather cultivation. That subterranean freeze is what converts the roots' starches into sugars as the veggie grows underground. This is also why spring-harvested parsnips tend to be sweetest, although parsnips can be harvested during the fall and winter months, too. Fall- and winter-harvested parsnips feature a firmer texture and earthier, subtly bitter tasting profile.

If you're looking for ways to save money on groceries, buying food in bulk can be a wise economic decision. You might not think of Dollar Tree as the go-to place for bulk food, but it's actually a great solution for anyone who doesn't have a Costco or Sam's Club membership. While you can't place bulk orders or buy large quantities of items at individual Dollar Tree stores, you can actually place bulk orders via the website and either have them shipped to your home or your closest local store.

Back in 2024, after a reporting trip for a whiskey magazine, I got tired of drinking. Perhaps it was the sluggishness I felt each morning, or maybe it was the podcast I'd heard while traveling, which shared the news that one or two glasses of red wine was not, as we had long been told, healthy. Whatever the reason, I tossed in the daily drinking towel after that trip, figuring that going forward, I might only have a drink or two every now and again.

It seems like every year we're introduced to a new regional American style of pizza that most people have never heard of, and it's easy to be dubious about how "authentic" these local delicacies are. But Ohio Valley-style pizza is very much a real, distinctive thing. Unlike most pizza, which is primarily defined by the crust, what sets Ohio Valley-style apart is that the cheese and the toppings both go on cold after the crust and sauce are already cooked.

In the United States, geography and location have a lot to do with the shape of local culture, like accents, architecture, and especially food. Costal environments like the Pacific Northwest and New England tend to lean heavily in to their abundance of oysters, crab, and lobster, while in landlocked areas like Colorado and Kansas, you're more likely to see meat-based cuisine focused on beef and even bison and elk. Knowing how much local foods are shaped by the proximity of ingredients, it's a surprise that some Americans don't translate this idea to other countries, especially ones famous for their cuisine.

Foodie fans of "The Simpsons" won't soon forget the iconic episode in which the children of Springfield find themselves lost in the woods, and one character remarks, "I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's" ("Gosh" and "wow" remark the other kids). Even self-professed Arby's fans will likely admit that, yeah, the chain isn't exactly known for being top-quality, or for producing sandwiches that remotely resemble the advertised photos.

Food trends are changing and evolving constantly, with yesterday's textures, flavors, and ingredients moving aside or inspiring the ones we expect to see in 2026. We expect the upcoming year to be influenced by health trends, as well as politics, and the need for comfort in our food offerings. People's ever-expanding palates and health needs are also colliding with their budgets, but that doesn't mean they plan to sacrifice their food experiences.

Consumers must be aware that seafood fraud, in which vendors label cheaper fish as products of higher quality and price, is common practice. According to Oceana, fish is mislabeled 25 to 70% of the time, especially when it comes to prized fish like wild salmon and Atlantic cod. Those of us who care about the environment are also concerned with traceability,

Chick-fil-A, the home of sweet and savory fried chicken and those cute, "promootional" mascots (sorry), is also the home to an exclusive rewards program called Chick-fil-A One. Every bite adds up, and the cost to become a top-tier member of their highest order - the Chick-fil-A Signature Member - is $873.73. That's just enough to bump you over 10,000 points (10,001 points to be exact) and enter the top coveted tier.

Ready in just over 30 minutes, these meatballs are easily assembled by hand using a combination of aromatic ingredients such as turmeric, coconut, ginger, lemongrass, and cilantro. The inclusion of fresh bread, egg, and shredded coconut ensures that the ground chicken stays wonderfully succulent as the meatballs are broiled to perfection, offering a little smokiness and char action. The chicken meatballs are served alongside a quick-to-assemble peanut dipping sauce, adding a rich, creamy counter that perfectly complements the other flavors in the dish.

As a professional bartender with years of behind-the-bar experience, I've tasted, mixed, and served my fair share of spirits - from obscure craft distilleries to globally recognized icons. Over time, I've noticed a recurring pattern: certain brands achieve fame, hype, or luxury pricing that their actual liquid rarely justifies. That's what I mean by "overrated." For the purposes of this article, an overrated brand is one that is sought-after, valued, or frequently discussed, yet, in terms of aroma, flavor, or overall drinking experience, fails to live up to its popularity, demand, or price point.

Many of the Easter eggs already out on supermarket shelves this month not only cost more, but have been reduced in size or weight as the price of cocoa has driven a new wave of shrinkflation. Maltesers is living up to its the lighter way to enjoy chocolate slogan with its XL egg rather less large this year at 194g in many shops, down from 231g in 2025, while the price charged by Tesco has risen by 1 to 7.

There are numerous types of mushrooms, each with unique flavor and texture characteristics. Shiitake mushrooms are from Asia, featuring a classic bulbous brown cap and a thinner, edible stem. Their meaty chew and deep umami flavor is a boon to many recipes you're sure to love, whether it's a conventional Asian stir fry or a creamy risotto. Of course, a successful shiitake recipe starts with the freshest mushrooms.