BBQ, Grilling, Churrasco, Asado... What Are We Even Talking About?
One person's BBQ is burgers and hot dogs. Another person's BBQ is skirt steak, picanha, grilled vegetables, and an afternoon around the fire. A look at how cultures define BBQ differently and why cooking over fire remains one of humanity's oldest traditions.
No, No, Nanette: Why the Dodger Dog Beats the Fenway Frank
I may live in New England, but don't mistake me for a Red Sox fan. After eating both baseball legends, I'm ready to settle the debate once and for all: Dodger Dog vs. Fenway Frank.
Please Pack Your Knives and Question Your Television Choices
Padma left and I thought I was done with Top Chef. Then a friend convinced me to give it another shot and now I'm hooked all over again. From Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay to Chopped and Triple Threat, here's my completely unbiased and probably incorrect ranking of cooking competition television.
Drive-Thru Dreams: What Famous TV Cars Would Order
If famous TV cars got hungry, where would they stop for lunch? From KITT at Arby's to the Mystery Machine at Taco Bell, here's my completely scientific guide to matching iconic vehicles with drive-thru restaurants.
Tiny Chef vs. The Swedish Chef: A Culinary Heavyweight Bout
Tiny Chef has recipes. The Swedish Chef has chaos. One carefully seasons his food while the other wages war against poultry. It's time to settle the culinary showdown nobody asked for.
Firehouse Chef: Glory Duty or Kitchen Punishment?
Are firefighters really great cooks, or is that just a stereotype? A look at firehouse meals, station chefs, kitchen duty, dietary restrictions, and the mysterious fate of whoever forgets to wash the dishes.
the $20 salad
A salad seems like the responsible lunch choice until it hits the scale and somehow costs twenty dollars. Then comes the race back to work, the rushed lunch, and the inevitable hunger that returns an hour later.
Whole Paycheck, wealthy living, and the great Grocery Store Mystery
Why do some grocery stores feel more expensive than others? Is it quality, sustainability, convenience, or simply perception? From Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to H Mart and Costco, I'm wondering what we're really paying for when we fill our shopping carts.
ONE BITE BEFORE JUDGEMENT
A bad encounter with eel at a business lunch, a redemption story involving anchovies in Spain, and the family rule that everyone gets one bite before passing judgment. A reflection on food, respect, travel, and keeping an open mind at the table.
Yo Quiero... Whatever This Is
I know Taco Bell isn't authentic Mexican food. I know the arguments. I know the history. And yet every once in a while, I still find myself in the drive-thru ordering a Crunchwrap Supreme and questioning absolutely nothing.
food witness protection program
Why does a hot dog have a dozen aliases while a taco is just a taco? A completely unnecessary investigation into Fenway Franks, heroes, hoagies, grinders, sammies, and the strange nicknames we give our favorite foods.
homo erectus was on to something
Somewhere in prehistory, one brave Homo erectus looked at a piece of meat, looked at a fire, and made a decision that changed civilization forever. Did humanity's first cook eventually evolve into a Texas pitmaster or a South American gaucho? A completely unscientific investigation into barbecue, curiosity, and our enduring love affair with fire and food.
operation: conttraband carrot sticks
I have a confession to make: I sneak snacks into movie theaters. Not because I'm trying to save money, but because sometimes I want something other than popcorn, candy, or nachos swimming in molten orange cheese. If theaters sold apple slices, carrots, or fruit cups, I'd gladly buy them. Until then, the underground snack-smuggling operation remains active.
i still want the sandwich from tom & jerry
Long before food influencers and cooking shows, Tom and Jerry gave us some of the most unforgettable meals in animation. From impossible deli sandwiches to glossy cartoon hams, here's why those animated foods still live rent-free in my memory.
sand in the sandwich
Some people remember sunsets, surfboards, or family vacations. I remember a sandwich. Wonder Bread, Oscar Mayer bologna, Kraft Singles, and a few grains of Malibu sand that somehow made every bite better. A nostalgic look back at the simple beach lunches that never left my memory.
party at the moon tower
If you found yourself invited to the legendary Moon Tower party from Dazed and Confused, what beer would you bring? From Miller Lite to the timeless wisdom that the best beer is a free beer, a nostalgic look at movie parties, cold cans, and one of cinema's greatest beer-drinking scenes.
straight to jail
I trust carbonara. I trust eggs Benedict. I trust my parents' sunny-side-up eggs. But hand me a perfectly cooked ramen egg and suddenly I'm a bureaucrat enforcing breakfast regulations. Welcome to the Egg Circle of Trust.
don’t clap between movements
My wife taught me that you don't clap between movements at the symphony. The more I thought about it, the more I realized restaurants have their own unwritten rules. Ordering before opening the menu, shouting across the dining room for a server, and demolishing the bread basket before drinks arrive might just be the culinary equivalent of applauding before the music is over.
a glass of milk please
Every restaurant has them. The people who confidently order a glass of milk and the people who eat every fry before touching their burger. I don't understand either group, but I respect their commitment to chaos.
one meal three drinks zero logic
What do you drink with your meal? A Paloma with tacos? A dirty martini with sushi? A Diet Coke "fridge cigarette" with Chinese takeout? This is a journey through lemonade, neon-red Shirley Temple cherries, Vermont root beer, and the realization that beverage pairings are mostly suggestions anyway.