cooking techniques and tips
You may have to seek out the Oakland Fire Department’s corner of the People’s Choice category at the 2nd annual Bay Area BBQ Championship. But having tasted what Station 12 is bringing, I recommend looking for it, and saving some space. Recipes included.
Mary Ladd reports on the history behind the SF Chefs food festival, which is celebrating its fourth year this summer with a bounty of dinners, tastings, classes, and cooking demos. SF Chefs is the brainchild of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and celebrates our culinary community.
From Secret Breakfast to Bacon Peanut Brittle, Foie Gras Ice Cream Sandwiches to Hibiscus Beet Sorbet, the Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream Book has all the inside dish (and recipes) a fan could want.
What to cook when it’s too darn hot? Ice cream, of course! This week, Stephanie Rosenbaum reviews Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones, a how-to guide from San Francisco’s Bi-Rite Creamery, with a recipe for Balsamic Strawberry Ice Cream.
Mary Ladd interviews Chef Ben De Vries, chef-owner at Luella, a Russian Hill restaurant that is celebrating its “seven year itch” with specials on chicken and ribs and bottles of wine. Chef De Vries dishes on why he makes La Venganza hot sauce, and what he’s up to in the kitchen.
Mary Ladd profiles blogger Michael Natkin, a Seattle cook who created the award-winning Herbivoracious blog and has a new cookbook. Natkin describes what it’s like to be on tour and possibly opening a pop-up restaurant that is a live version of his blog.
Mary Ladd profiles Absinthe chef Adam Keough, who shares his spicy rabbit meatball recipe and talks about cooking, food and his culinary mentors.
Azahar is a coffee company doing something that no one else is–or probably ever has. Their coffee is “Farm Fresh” from Colombia; they roast their beans only two weeks to two months off the farm, versus other companies, whose beans are up to a year old before they are roasted. Azahar’s focus on quality and freshness is combined with a sustainable business practice (economic, social, and environmental) that also happens to be incredibly beneficial to the farmers with whom they work.
Mary Ladd profiles Grand Café executive chef Alicia Jenish, who is cooking up misfit dinners that include goat, lamb and rabbit dishes. Jenish shares who her cooking mentors are and why she calls Charles Phan “the Spotted Owl.”
Foods that trick the eye and please the palate appeal to caterers Simone Fung and Sebastian Mendieta of S+S Gastro Grub. Their inventive dishes, which often use the techniques of molecular gastronomy, sous vide cooking and spherification, surprise and delight diners at pop ups, underground dinners and fundraisers around the Bay. They also do a succulent roast pork on their mobile pig roaster.
It’s spring, and the chickens are laying again! Time to start (or end) the day with tender, eggy Cottage Cheese Pancakes.
Since the KQED Interactive team is behind a computer for most of the day tinkering in the virtual realm, it’s nice to take a break and interact with our colleagues in the real world — and there’s no better way to do that than with a gathering that’s centered around food.
A complete source of protein, hemp is a delicious alternative to soy for creating tofu. Nutty, earthy, and creamy all at once, hemp tofu is great for scrambles, stir-fry, seared, or simply drizzled with some sweet soy sauce!
Kitchen on Fire, a cooking school based in the Gourmet Ghetto, opens a satellite classroom in West Berkeley this week.
Bay Area Bites (BAB), KQED's public media food blog, feeds you visually compelling food-related stories, news, recipes and reviews from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Enter your email address to receive updates each time we publish new posts.
Hot Dogs, Bacon And Red Meat Tied To Increased Diabetes Risk
A fresh study looks at what happens after people change their meat-eating habits. Those who upped their intake — about 3.5 servings more per week — saw their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes during four years of follow-up increase by almost 50 percent.
Nudging Detroit: Program Doubles Food Stamp Bucks In Grocery Stores
Incentive programs that double the value of food stamp dollars spent at farmers markets have been hailed as one of the most effective ways to encourage healthful eating and support local farmers. The flaw: Most people don’t shop at farmers markets. So a new program will soon pilot the concept at three grocery stores in Detroit.
Sorry, Dr. Oz, Green Coffee Can’t Even Slim Down Chubby Mice
An extract from raw, green coffee beans has been called a “miracle” weight-loss aid. But a study in mice casts doubt on the supplement’s fat-burning effects — and even offers preliminary evidence that it could be harmful.
Perfect for Summer! Recipe for Herbed Zucchini Fritters with Stone Fruit Salsa
Too many zucchini? Get the jump on summer’s abundance with this recipe for tasty Herbed Zucchini Fritters with Stone Fruit Salsa.
Kitchen Window: A Guide to Grilling Beyond ‘Dude Food’
As Father’s Day approaches, you can remind Dad that there’s more to Father’s Day grilling than just cheeseburgers.
Spotlight on Summer Vegetables: “River Cottage Veg” Cookbook
British homesteader and meat-lover Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall comes to San Francisco to spread the gospel of greens with his new book, River Cottage Veg. With a recipe for River Cottage Summer Garden Soup.
Watch Master Fruit & Vegetable Carver Jimmy Zhang Make Melons Bloom and Carrots Fly
Want to carve a rearing horse out of taro, tropical fish from carrots or a roaring dragon out of giant radishes? Watch Chef Jimmy Zhang, Master of the Chinese Art of Fruit and Vegetable carving in this video as he fashions an exquisite watermelon rose and shares the secrets of this ancient craft.
Hunan Home’s Restaurant, Radius, Guerilla Café: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Restaurants reviewed: Hunan Home’s Restaurant (San Francisco), Radius Restaurant and Café (San Francisco) and Guerilla Café (Berkeley).
Chris Hadfield: Space Chef In Chief
The Canadian astronaut didn’t just tweet and sing his heart out during his five months as commander of the International Space Station. He also took time out to show the world what it’s like to eat up there.
Watch Master Fruit & Vegetable Carver Jimmy Zhang Make Melons Bloom and Carrots Fly
Want to carve a rearing horse out of taro, tropical fish from carrots or a roaring dragon out of giant radishes? Watch Chef Jimmy Zhang, Master of the Chinese Art of Fruit and Vegetable carving in this video as he fashions an exquisite watermelon rose and shares the secrets of this ancient craft.
Sunset’s Celebration Weekend: Yigit Pura Demos and Shares Thai-Hawaiian Inspired Dessert Recipe
Stephanie Rosenbaum shares some highlights from Sunset’s Celebration Weekend — including a recipe for Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Papaya and Mango from Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet Patisserie.
Modern Day Food Foraging Comes to San Francisco
Gina Scialabba attended the third annual Wild Foods Dinner at the Hotel Vitale. Americano’s Executive Chef Kory Stewart and food foraging expert Connie Green, author of “The Wild Table” prepared a unique six-course meal that was shaped largely by the bounty they located in nature.
Burger Bonanza in the East Bay
Moxy Burger, The Bureau 510 and Grazzy Burgers are several of the latest arrivals to the East Bay burger scene.
Hunan Home’s Restaurant, Radius, Guerilla Café: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Restaurants reviewed: Hunan Home’s Restaurant (San Francisco), Radius Restaurant and Café (San Francisco) and Guerilla Café (Berkeley).
First Impression: Healdsburg SHED
What would a wine country locavore’s paradise look like? Stephanie Rosenbaum talks to Cindy Daniel, owner of Healdsburg’s new SHED, a 21st-century grange, store, and sustainable-living center.
Bocanova, Willi’s Wine Bar, The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews these restaurants: Bocanova (Oakland), Willi’s Wine Bar (Santa Rosa), The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus (San Francisco).
Spotlight on Summer Vegetables: “River Cottage Veg” Cookbook
British homesteader and meat-lover Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall comes to San Francisco to spread the gospel of greens with his new book, River Cottage Veg. With a recipe for River Cottage Summer Garden Soup.
Sunset’s Celebration Weekend: Yigit Pura Demos and Shares Thai-Hawaiian Inspired Dessert Recipe
Stephanie Rosenbaum shares some highlights from Sunset’s Celebration Weekend — including a recipe for Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Papaya and Mango from Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet Patisserie.
Cheese Books for the Curd Nerd
Every aspiring curd nerd yearns to embiggen their knowledge base about the dairy darlings they adore. Garrett McCord shares two books that help you gain a broader understanding of cheese and supply you with tasteful cheese-centric recipes.
Watch Master Fruit & Vegetable Carver Jimmy Zhang Make Melons Bloom and Carrots Fly
Want to carve a rearing horse out of taro, tropical fish from carrots or a roaring dragon out of giant radishes? Watch Chef Jimmy Zhang, Master of the Chinese Art of Fruit and Vegetable carving in this video as he fashions an exquisite watermelon rose and shares the secrets of this ancient craft.
Are the benefits of genetically engineered foods worth the risks? Check out this half-hour special from QUEST Northern California that explores the pros and cons of genetically engineered crops and what the future holds for research and regulations.
Baby & Toddler On The Go: fresh, homemade foods for a busy life (VIDEO)
A precociously independent toddler packs a healthy homemade lunch and heads off to snack in Bernal Height’s Holly Park in San Francisco. This video is a promo for Kim Laidlaw’s new book: Baby & Toddler On The Go: fresh, homemade foods for a busy life.
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