By S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times Practically every high-end restaurant you’ll ever go into has an award from Wine Spectator posted prominently on the wall. The venerable wine magazine gives out a lot of them. This year, 3,748 restaurants around the world, representing all 50 states and 81 other countries and territories, have earned […]
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By Kathryn Reed Salads of all kinds are a staple in our house during the summer. But sometimes I need to get out of my rut. That rut was broken with the salad below. This would be good with any kind of greens, including spinach. Many farmers’ markets sell lettuce and/or spinach, which is where […]
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By Mark Glover, Sacramento Bee It’s a job that many might thirst for: official beer taster. As the wine, beer and spirits buyer for the West Sacramento-based Raley’s grocery chain, Curtis Mann’s typical workday entails visiting wineries and brew pubs to sip, sample and evaluate various alcoholic beverages. Increasingly, those official tastings are for a […]
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By Erin Beresini, Outside On May 27, an Ohio teenager was found dead in his home, the victim of a caffeine overdose. The tragedy could have fueled the energy drink debate, which has spiked in recent years and rages on due to recent lawsuits alleging drinks like Red Bull contain unsafe levels of stimulants. But […]
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By Kathryn Reed Peaches are so delectable right now that I bought a flat of them at last week’s farmers’ market. When buying peaches, consider what you are using them for and when. I looked for ones that were slightly firm because I knew I would not be using them for a few days. But […]
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By Kathryn Reed TRUCKEE – “I’ll be taking my plate out back and licking it.” “Brown butter is like my crack.” “The pork was out of this world.” “I can’t eat enough apricots right now.” “With the rosemary, it doesn’t make the ice cream too sweet.” Those were some of the comments as guests devoured […]
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By Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times Some chefs spend a good amount of time in the kitchen making sure your dish looks beautiful before it reaches the table. And, according to science, it’s not just about the aesthetics. A study by the Crossmodal Research Library at the University of Oxford found that the prettier a […]
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By Chris Mooney, Mother Jones It’s the 4th of July, and you love your country. Your likely next step: Get ready for the fireworks and drink a lot of beer. But that last word ought to trouble you a little. Beer? Is that really the best you can do? Isn’t it a little, er, uncreative? […]
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An all-American Fourth of July picnic will cost slightly more this year, but still comes in at less than $6 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost for a summer picnic for 10 is $58.72, or $5.87 per person. That’s about a 5 percent increase […]
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By Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times When you fantasize about a classic burger, you think of a juicy patty, your favorite toppings, a warm bun and maybe a little bacon. Chances are you aren’t dreaming about eating any wood pulp. But if you eat at some of the nation’s top fast-food restaurants, you could be […]
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