Vermouth & Tapas For Cocktails & Brunch: A Spanish Tradition

Vermouth is enjoying a renaissance. Vermouth (ver-MOOTH) is a fortified wine—one that includes a base spirit—flavored with a proprietary mixture of botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, spices). A glass of sweet red vermouth with an orange slice or twist was long a fashionable apéritíf for café society*. In Barcelona today, vermouth and tapas are…
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FOOD HOLIDAY: National Lobster Day

For a long time, National Lobster Day was celebrated on June 15th. But according to The Boston Globe, on August 5th, National Lobster Day was officially declared by Congress to take place on September 25th. Sponsored by Senator Angus King of Maine, the resolution was agreed to “without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Channel Peeler

Like to garnish? It’s one of the easiest ways to make everyday foods look special. For quick citrus peel garnishes, get a channel peeler (a.k.a. channel knife), an inexpensive kitchen gadget. (The channel peeler in the photo below is on sale for less than $6.) The channel knife was originally devised so that bartenders could…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Grilled Lemon

A grilled lemon half with roast chicken. Photo courtesy The Fillmore Room | NYC.   One thing we’ve been noticing at restaurants: grilled lemons. Instead of a plain lemon half to squeeze over food, the lemon comes nicely charred. Why? In addition to eye appeal, the heat from grilling or pan-charring a sliced lemon helps…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Fall Fruits & Vegetables

Have you seen a huckleberry up close and personal? The photo shows the fruit that gave Huckleberry Finn his nickname. It’s a fall fruit, a good choice for today, the first day of fall. As summer fades, so does the large assortment of fruits and vegetables. Rather than pay more for imported produce that is…
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