Nothing warms you on a winter day like a bowl of soup and a slice of crusty bread. But, especially around the holidays, not all of us have time to sink into making stock and chopping veggies. And soup to go can be an iffy proposition. ... Read more

Family meals can be tricky in my house. My wife has been a vegetarian since college. She also hates mushrooms and olives. I, on the other hand, am a whole-belly-clam-swilling, beef-jerky-snapping, “I’ll have extra of the clear meat in my banh mi” kind of guy. You could say we embody the attraction of opposites, at least culinarily speaking. ... Read more

Thanksgiving turkey. Christmas ham. Hanukkah brisket. Every holiday seems to have meat as its gustatory centerpiece. ... Read more

Colonialism isn’t cool. But when conquerors take over, the resulting blend of cuisines can be a delicious legacy. Maybe it’s Pollyannaish to say so, but if France hadn’t occupied Vietnam for nearly 100 years, there would be no banh mi. ... Read more

Soup is a staple. It’s one of the simplest, cheapest comfort foods, not to mention one of the best ways to use extra vegetables from a garden or farm share. For many of us, it’s the foundation of cold-weather cooking. When leaves turn russet and copper and salads stop seeming like filling meals, soup is where our thoughts turn. So, why is it so hard to get it right?

We’ve all had the experience at a restaurant or dinner party: The cook or server places a crock in front of you. Anticipating a rush of rich flavor, you lift the spoon to your lips and blow away the steam. ... Read more