Food & drink

Food & drink

You order guacamole most anywhere in town and you know what to expect - a bowl of mashed avocado mixed with salt, lemon or lime, and one pepper or another. You order guacamole at Casita in Sherman Oaks - and you get a Las Vegas production. There's a large bowl of guac, mixed with onions. There are five salsas, ranging from a classic tomato and pepper salsa to one that looks and tastes like salad dressing.

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.

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.

After years of anticipation, Singapore's xiao long bao specialist Paradise Dynasty just made its Los Angeles debut. The restaurant opened on Friday, November 21, at the Americana at Brand, in the former Din Tai Fung space. Joining Paradise Dynasty at the Americana is Le Shrimp Noodle Bar, a sister restaurant serving shrimp broth noodles. This is the second U.S. location for Paradise Dynasty, which made its stateside debut in 2021 at South Coast Plaza;

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.

Beef prices are going up. Per recent reporting from Fox Business, industry leaders anticipate a top cost of $10 per pound by 2026. Yet, people's craving and appreciation for steak isn't going anywhere. Rather than heading out to a steakhouse (where business is, admittedly, also booming), many consumers are looking to their local grocery stores for steaks to prepare at home.

Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET If you're a soft-serve ice cream aficionado, you may lament that you can only get your fix from a Dairy Queen, McDonald's, or the like this time of year. But there is a way to get delicious soft-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, or fruit whip from the comfort of your kitchen: the , a countertop ice cream maker with a pull-handle to dispense your own soft serve.

2 pounds whole sweet potatoes, washed and patted dry 1 9-inch pie crust 1 cup evaporated milk 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter, cooled 3 large free-range eggs, yolks and whites separated 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 pinches ground Himalayan pink salt 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest whipped cream, for serving

The limited-time seasonal candy canes will be sold Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 22 and 24 at the Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen in Disneyland and Saturday, Nov. 29 and Dec. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 23 and 25 at Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure during the winter holiday season at the Anaheim theme parks.

Put oil in large pot or Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it dries out a bit, a minute or two. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add broth or water and scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Add firm vegetables and bring to a boil.

The Covid-driven boom came at the end of a decade of steady growth and amplified already unrealistic expectations. Whisky is notoriously difficult to forecast, and many producers were caught out by the sudden spike in demand. Secondary market prices subsequently soared, and several major brands tried to capitalize by ramping up production and raising prices to match auction values. Both moves have proved costly.

Bob Evans: Open every Thanksgiving, Bob Evans offers special meals and breakfast favorites available all day long for dine-in, delivery or curbside pickup. Buca di Beppo: Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, served family style, at Buca this year. Cracker Barrel: Cracker Barrel is open on Thanksgiving Day and is serving a traditional meal. You can also order takeaway dinners. Del Frisco's Grille: The restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving with a special holiday menu.

"We keep it very simple. We have a very different kind of life than we expected to. I mean, we don't have kids. We don't have cats and dogs. We don't have gerbils," Garten told host Amy Poehler. "It's just the two of us. And if we're trying to figure out what to do, we figure out what he wants to do and what I want to do."

"Hermon's is very special because it's for Hermon," says Holly Fox, the co-founder of Last Word Hospitality. The group's roots in the area surrounding Hermon run deep; Fox's sister called the neighborhood home for eight years, director of operations Mike Santos still lives in the region, co-founder Adam Weisblatt lives nearby in South Pasadena, and Fox herself lives less than 10 minutes away.

Between unpredictable hybrid work schedules, dance recitals, parent-teacher conferences, soccer practice for two different leagues, carpools, and all those weekly errands that somehow keep stacking up, the idea of cooking delicious, balanced meals can be intimidating. The solution isn't to cut back on all the things that bring you and your family joy, but to instead find the hack. With a variety of fresh meals that taste like they're made from scratch, Blue Apron helps family dinners feel both effortless and gourmet.