Have you ever ordered a bottle of wine at a restaurant, only to not know what the hell to do when the waiter presents you with the cork and looks at you expectantly? Wine aficionado Kathryn Borel is here to help. The author of Corked: A Memoir, Borel breaks the whole wine deal down for you into easy-to-follow steps, from sniffing the cork to swilling the juice. Service-y! [Boing Boing] Keep reading »
Tag Archives: food
How To Sample Wine Without Looking Like An Idiot
Have you ever ordered a bottle of wine at a restaurant, only to not know what the hell to do when the waiter presents you with the cork and looks at you expectantly? Wine aficionado Kathryn Borel is here to help. The author of Corked: A Memoir, Borel breaks the whole wine deal down for you into easy-to-follow steps, from sniffing the cork to swilling the juice. Service-y! [Boing Boing] Keep reading »
“Top Chef: Las Vegas” Stars Show Off Their Ink
Over at Needles and Sins, Marisa points us to Bravo’s 57-page slide show of the seriously tattooed contestants of “Top Chef: Las Vegas.” Our favorite? Pictured here, Michael Voltaggio‘s beautifully rendered forearm koi fish. (That he’s cute doesn’t hurt, although the work must have.) Check out the 30-year-old, Maryland-born, James Beard finalist’s culinary-themed tattoos after the jump. [Via Needles and Sins] Keep reading »
Crush Of The Day: Joel Hicks, Gravy Wrestler
Jesus. Mother. Of. God. Hands off, ladies! Amelia and I are already fighting over him. May the best woman win. Say Hello, sexy! to gravy-covered Joel Hicks, aka Stone Cold Steve Bisto, the 30-year-old hottie who won the 2009 World Gravy Wrestling Championship. Gravy wrestling? Apparently, yes. (It’s in England; I guess they’re into that sort of thing.) Hicks looked dayum fine winning upon competing for the third time. “And i dont even LIKE gravy!” wails crushing Amelia. Right now, I like gravy very much. [Square Hippies] Keep reading »
Q&A: Author Michelle Maisto Proves A Vegetarian And A Meat Lover Can Live Happily Ever After
Food is an essential for life, of course, but it’s also a vital component of relationships. Without food, what would we do on dates? There would be no candlelit dinners, and no romantic champagne and strawberries or other supposedly aphrodisiac combos. In her new book The Gastronomy of Marriage, Michelle Maisto explores what happens in the food department after the dating stage is over, recounting the year before she and her fiancé, Rich, got married, and what they ate.
Both Michelle and Rich love a delicious meal, and they initially shared cooking duties when they moved in together; neither wanted to live according to dated rules dictating gender roles. But as Rich worked more to earn money for the wedding, Michelle volunteered to do his share, creating a more traditional division of work at home. So, did they go back to co-chefs after they got married? And how can a vegetarian and a meat-eater dine in harmony? We spoke with Michelle via email about food and marriage. Keep reading »
Bite-Sized Food On A Stick Is My New Diet
Second only to my love of food on a stick is food that is bite-sized. I love going to a party and noshing on little morsels of yumminess, especially if the yumminess is piled on some sort of flat vessel or stuffed inside something. So seriously, these little pie lollipops are making me absolutely ravenous right now. Find out how to make them for dessert at your Labor Day barbecue here. [via NotCot] Keep reading »
Cooking With Dishwashers And Coffeepots Brings Dorm Room Cuisine To A New Low
For those who live in cities, cramped quarters necessitate some creative maneuvering in the kitchen. Especially if you don’t have one. Over at gadget blog Gizmodo, one writer has taken it upon himself to test out, um, alternative means for cooking. The first experiment involved making a chicken dinner in a coffeepot (just the thought is hard to stomach), by poaching a chicken breast. To accompany, couscous, also prepared in heated water. The results are a bit surprising: “The coffee maker did a perfectly fine job of it. The chicken was moist and the texture was about right, and it is an incredibly easy way to make a meal. I could see this recipe being useful if you’re stuck in a hotel room somewhere—and just happen to have a raw chicken breast on you.” Yeah, and then having bird-flavored java in the morning. Mmmm.
For his next trick, the MacGyver Chef attempted to dishwasher-cook a fish fillet by steaming a piece of salmon wrapped in tinfoil (on the regular wash, not the pots and pans cycle). In two trials, one version came out overcooked with the other was far undercooked.
Interesting ideas…but we gather you’ll probably be sticking to your ramen noodles. [Gizmodo.com] Keep reading »
Company Markets Wine For The Gays
Well, this is novel. A fine wine purveyor is targeting gay men with a line of special wines. Spanish UO! Wines has three vino options: Antinoo, Oscura Lágrima, and Ánima Blanca. Antinoo is a red: “young and mature, fruity, elegant, smooth…Mediterranean.” Oscura Lágrima, another red, is described thusly: “They say that the best sex is tumultuous like a storm cloud, and we’re inclined to agree.” Ánima Blanca is a white: “It’s fresh on the palate, potent…like a low whisper floating at you from behind your neck at just the right time.” Steamy! Nothing sells wine like sex, one imagines. Every bottle label features a hot, ripped dude in various stages of bondage/undress. Kinky! But where’s the line of wines for the lesbian ladies, UO!? [Notcot] Keep reading »
Popcorn Will Save Your Life
Scientists recently found that snack foods and many whole grain breakfast cereals contain surprisingly large amounts of antioxidant substances called polyphenols, which are a large part of why fruits, veggies, and other foods have been called out for potentially reducing the risk of some diseases. Because breakfast cereals, pasta, crackers, and salty snacks account for 66 percent of whole grain intake in the the standard American’s diet, this is a good thing — at least you aren’t eating those Frosted Mini-Wheats for nothing! The study found popcorn to be a standout snack food, as it had the highest level of antioxidants in the study. Since the usual microwaved kind brings with it artificial butters and whatnot, find out how to make air-popped popcorn without any special contraptions after the jump. Keep reading »
Seeing A Photo Of Chocolate Cake May Make You Crave An Apple
Let me just start by saying this doesn’t make a lot of sense. But don’t shoot the messenger, OK? Dutch psychologists have discovered that looking at decadent desserts somehow works to deter women from eating badly. The study made 54 weight-conscious women look at pictures of either a flower or a slice of chocolate cake, and then offered the women either a slice of chocolate cake or an oatmeal cookie. Turns out, those who were shown the cake chose the healthier oatmeal cookie. The idea is that the photos might bring up feelings of guilt. Researcher Floor Kroese said, “Food temptations do not always trigger indulgence. It seems that seeing a food temptation reminded people of their goal to watch their weight and helped them act accordingly.” So, according to these Dutch researchers, hanging pictures of unhealthy food on your fridge might keep you from actually eating it. Wait, I can totally see why this works because my fridge is stocked with veggies and V8 juice right now and all I want to eat is delivery pizza and Sponge Bob popsicles. [Daily Mail] Keep reading »
10 Rules About The Way Men And Women Eat
Esquire.com recently posted a “personal catalog” of 30 “likes, dislikes, habits, and rules” about the way men eat. I haven’t thought much about it before, but looking at this list, I suddenly realize that men and women are practically opposites when it comes to mealtime. After the jump, 10 habits and rules for men from Esquire, plus our own personal catalog of 10 likes, dislikes, habits, and rules about the way women eat. Keep reading »
