Recipes

Linda Fortune's family was forced out of District Six when she was 22. Growing up, the family often ate crayfish her father caught as a hobby. "If you had an overabundance of fish, you would share it with the neighbors," she recalls.

South Africa's District Six Cookbook Helps Preserve A Lost Community

2:33pm June 19, 2017

by Alan Greenblatt

By the 1980s, 60,000 people had been forcibly removed from this mixed-race section of Cape Town. But the area's food traditions reflect the spirit of helpmekaar, an Afrikaans term for mutual support.

Favorite Ramadan drinks vary by country. In Jordan and Lebanon, tamer hindi, a tamarind-based beverage (seen above), is often offered alongside qamar al-deen, a thick apricot nectar.

All Over The World, Thirsty Muslims Have Their Ramadan Go-To Drinks

4:41pm June 08, 2017

by Amy E. Robertson

After a long day of fasting, especially in summer, thirst can be stronger than hunger. The drinks of choice are usually sweet and fruity, but each country puts its own spin on a refreshing beverage.

Mike and Amy Mills' famous smoked chicken wings, as prepared in Ari Shapiro's backyard.

Books
Arts

'Praise The Lard': A Barbecue Legend Shows Us How To Master Smoked Chicken Wings

4:33pm May 26, 2017

by Ari Shapiro

Mike Mills' chicken wings have been named the best in the country. He is even in the Barbecue Hall of Fame. His new book with daughter Amy Mills shares the gospel of barbecue with home cooks.

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Dates are a popular food across the Middle East, but in Oman they hold a place of honor in the national culture and cuisine.

A Love Affair With Dates, The Fruit At The Cultural Heart Of Oman

11:34am May 08, 2017

by Amy E. Robertson

In this country at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the nutrition-packed palm-tree treat is essential to tradition, sustenance and the economy — and has been for hundreds of years.

A typical masala soda shop in Mumbai. Flavors sold here range from traditional Indian ones with mango, pineapple and lemon, to more westernized flavors, like strawberry, kiwi and mojito.

On A Hot Day, Indians Love To Sip A Spicy Soda That's A Bit Funky, Too

1:17pm April 14, 2017

by Leena Trivedi-Grenier

Masala soda comes in many flavors. It's usually sold by street vendors and small shop owners. Indians love this drink so much, that big soda companies are now selling it, too.

Joan Nathan, the author of 11 cookbooks, has sought out local Jewish food traditions as she's traveled the world.

Religion

A World Of Flavors In A Single Dish: How Jewish Food Spread Across The Globe

1:44pm April 11, 2017

by Jonathan Baer

Cooking legend Joan Nathan documents the worldwide reach of Jewish food in her new book, King Solomon's Table. One example is haroset, a Passover staple that's been adapted to suit many local tastes.

The league-wide's secret recipe to success is out: The NBA and the PB&J go together like, well ...

The Pregame PB&J: How The Comfort Food Became The NBA's Recipe For Success

11:29am March 25, 2017

by Scott Simon

"If there's a locker room that doesn't have it, I haven't seen it," says ESPN reporter Baxter Holmes, who expands on his recent story, which details professional basketball's obsession with the snack.

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Fanesca is made with grains and vegetables, and includes toppings such as peanuts, fried plantains, hard-boiled eggs and mini empanadas.

Ecuador's Fanesca Is A Lenten Soup Flavored With Centuries Of Tradition

12:35pm March 02, 2017

by Amy E. Robertson

This thick, creamy stew features 12 "grains" to represent the Twelve Apostles and cod to denote Jesus. It takes days and many hands to prepare, a meal befitting Ecuador's elaborate Lenten traditions.

For Barrow Street Theatre, pie shells are baked and filled with the chicken and vegetables, cooked in a little white truffle butter, then sprinkled with truffle zest.

In NYC, 'Sweeney Todd' Baker Serves Up Some Bloody Good Pies

4:38pm February 27, 2017

The off-Broadway musical, in which a barber's clients become filling for meat pies, may make you lose your appetite. But former White House pastry chef Bill Yosses bakes a tempting pre-theater treat.

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Medhu vadai, with chutneys and sambhar (a lentil-based gravy), are best served piping hot.

World News

How A Broken-Hearted Young Girl Found Healing In Her Grandmother's Vadais

10:00am February 21, 2017

by Awanthi Vardaraj

Love can come from where you least expect it. And while a girl learns from her grandmother how to make her favorite Indian breakfast treat, she finds that food, family and love are often intertwined.