Seattle Forager Inspires Others To Learn About Wild, Forgotten Foods

Cookwork Perspective: Some restaurants have begun to look to foragers for supplies of wild mushrooms and greens. Do you use this practice or are you wary of accidentally serving the wrong ingredients (with potentially fatal results)?

Seattle Forager Inspires Others To Learn About Wild, Forgotten Foods

For Langdon Cook, a walk in the woods isn't that different from a walk through the produce section of the supermarket. He's a writer, blogger and all-around outdoorsy type,...

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Bites of History: Apple of love

Cookwork Perspective: Eggplant is so flavorful and abundant. It's also versatile and can be found in a variety of cuisines. How do you prepare it?

Bites of History: Apple of love

Ever wonder how the eggplant was named? This berry (yes, botanically it’s a berry) received its English name because the first known eggplants were small, white and oval and looked much like goose eggs.

Eggplant probably originated wild in Africa, but was first cultivated...

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Offal Tale: For This Club, Everything Is on the Menu

Cookwork Perspective: Offal is big this year and seems to be getting bigger. Are you jumping on the "everything but the squeak" bandwagon?

Offal Tale: For This Club, Everything Is on the Menu

You'll never be a member of the Innard Circle if the likes of brains in black butter, Uzbek boiled spleen or Fujianese pig heart make you squirm.

Since 1999, an intrepid band of New York City foodies has been meeting about once...

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America’s 10 best burgers

Cookwork Perspective: Burgers will always be among the best America has to offer. Here's one take on what the best of the best looks like.

America's 10 Best Burgers, According To National Geographic

As we've worked our way through National Geographic's "The 10 Best Of Everything," we've stepped into the best historic homes, taken in the best cathedrals, stood in awe of the best world heritage sites, shown off our own best national parks, set...

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Apéritif Cocktails

Cookwork Perspective: Lower alcohol aperitifs are growing in popularity in the US. Now they are beginning to appear in mixed drinks on menus.

Apéritif Cocktails

Forget about big, boozy cocktails. Increasingly, you’ll find apéritifs in the glass. Consumers are seeking out easy-drinking cocktails with less alcohol (and yes, fewer calories). Coincidentally, a flurry of delightful spirits with relatively gentler proofs is reaching U.S. markets.

Mixologists are responding to this perfect storm of supply and demand...

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Sales of squid triple as calamari becomes barbecue hit of summer

Cookwork Perspective: Barbecued squid is growing in popularity in the UK. It is easy to cook and has nutritional benefits - a double benefit.

Sales of squid triple as calamari becomes barbecue hit of summer

Sales of squid have tripled in recent months due to the growing popularity of Mediterranean food and the rise of the Dukan diet, as calamari looks set to become the barbecue hit of the summer.

Supermarkets say that the ease...

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Got mint? Make the most of the bountiful plant

Cookwork Perspective: Take advantage of the versatility of mint on your menu.

Got mint? Make the most of the bountiful plant

It’s easy to grow mint in Texas — it’s the rare plant that can take over a summer garden. The challenge for home cooks is finding uses for the mint surplus.

Here’s a tip: Treat mint like cilantro or basil — the latter is in the same family — and you’ll find many more...

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Synergistic summer food pairings can boost health benefits

Cookwork Perspective: Pairing certain foods can help boost their nutritional effectiveness. Think of how foods can be promoted on your menu.

Synergistic summer food pairings can boost health benefits

Food pairings: Tomatoes with extra-virgin olive oil, spice-rubbed grilled meat, mixed berries, fish and curry powder, spinach with lemon.

Just as a good marriage elevates each partner, certain foods are better — for health and taste — eaten together. Scientists are beginning to uncover food combinations...

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Featured Food: Endive

Cookwork Perspective: There are many varieties of endive and countless ways to use these greens. Learn more about them, how to use and store them here.

Enliven your table with endive

Is it pronounced “n-dive” or “ahn-deev”? Well, either is correct, but I say “n-dive”.

Endive is actually a common name for a cousin of chicory; they are both from the Cichorium botanical family, according to “The New Food Lover’s Companion” by Sharon Tyler Herbst...

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Less-Fuss Paella Arrives in Time for Summer

Cookwork Perspective: Paella can be a simple but interesting addition to a summer menu. Do you streamline cooking to make this a faster dish to serve?

Less-Fuss Paella Arrives in Time for Summer

PAELLA, the classic rice dish from Spain, is considered picnic food — a one-dish meal prepared over a fire at an outdoor party like our hamburger cookout. It is also cooked indoors, but always in a flat steel paellera or in an...

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