Where every meal has a back story.
The Greatest Comeback Story No One Saw Coming: Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is having a comeback moment no one predicted. Once synonymous with diet culture and Midwest diner menus, it has reemerged as a high-protein staple for a new generation—praised for its nutrition, versatility, and simplicity. But how did cottage cheese become an American daily food in the first place, and does it really deserve its renewed hype?
You Know One When You See One. How I Fell in Love with Cookbooks as Stories.
Anyone who grew up with a mom or dad obsessed with cooking magazines or recipe books knows exactly what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the parent who’s a full-time cook and part-time recipe hoarder. In my case, that is my mother Mona — a woman who loves to cook, entertain, and never met a recipe she didn’t want to “save for later.”
Read Why MFK Fisher is the Best Food Writer
I honestly can’t recall how I first stumbled on M.F.K. Fisher. All I know is one day she simply appeared in my reading life — and once you’ve read her, you never forget her.
How to 'Bragg' about Wearing Out 18 Stoves
Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Rick Bragg celebrates the flavors and stories of his Alabama roots in The Best Cook in the World. Bragg is a literary gem. Yes, it has recipes but there is so much more to enjoy and learn. Witty, funny and poignant. It’s an incredible read.
Big Night: A Little Film with a Huge Heart
Every so often a movie about food sneaks up on you. Big Night is one of those films. It’s small, quiet, and slow in the best possible way. And yet, it hits harder than any blockbuster. Set in the 1950s, it’s about two Italian brothers running a struggling restaurant called Paradise. One, played by Stanley Tucci, worries about money and survival.
My Love Affair with Blood, Bones & Butter
It started on a flight to New York with my honey — one of those crisp fall weekends when the city feels like a living movie. I was flipping through Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton, completely lost in it. By the time we landed, I was already plotting a detour to Prune, her tiny East Village restaurant, to see if that fierce, independent voice on the page showed up on the plate too.
What am I now? Animal House and Food Rebellion
If you came of age during the 70s then you know about Animal House. And rebellion. Before college was curated for brochures and “student life” became a brand strategy, there was Animal House — chaotic, stupid, hilarious, and sexually honest. It poked fun at everyone.
How to Roast a Turkey Without Losing Your Mind
Say goodbye to dry turkey. Here's my mother's fail-safe recipe that never disappoints-plus a deep-fried version from Food & Wine that worth the backyard adventure.
Ranch Recipes Every Cowboy Will Love
If you’ve watched Yellowstone 1883, or 1923 (yes I loved all three) you already get it—dust, horses, coffee boiling over a fire, everyone trying not to die. That’s the vibe. But cowboy cooking wasn’t glamorous. It was tough, dirty, and mostly about keeping people alive (and fed) while crossing half the country.
Prison. Pottery. Perspective. Eva Zeisel Had All Three.
Wedding registries can be overwhelming. So many choices — and that question that always pops up: will I still love this a year from now? Or worse, will I even use it?
Here Come the Holidays: Your Gift Guide for the Epicurious
Here come the holidays: Your Taste the Story Gift Guide for the Epicurious.