holidays and traditions
Nate Silver swears the 49ers will defeat the Ravens this Super Bowl Sunday in New Orleans. So get ready to toast our hometown team with 49er Red and Gold Beet Salad, Lip-Smacking Lip-Synching Barbecued Shrimp, and Bourbon St Chocolate Cake.
Instead of being tart as one would expect from a grapefruit-based drink, this margarita is slightly smokey, crisp, and just a little spicy. It’s perfect for winter. It’s also perfect for the Big Game as there isn’t a food or snack it won’t go with.
The Super Bowl isn’t just about football — it’s also about food. For chef and restaurateur Jose Garces, watching football as a boy meant enjoying homemade empanadas with his brothers in front of the television on Sunday afternoons.
Mary Ladd interviews Chuck Siegel, who used Kickstarter to revive his company, Charles Chocolates. Siegel is gearing up to open a 7,600-square foot chocolate kitchen and retail space in the Mission.
Mary Ladd interviews Bay Area resident and Master Chef Martin Yan, who has opened a new Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. Yan dishes about his new TV show, the Year of the Snake, and where he likes to eat locally.
Across Scotland and around the world, poetry lovers gather in appreciation of 18th century bard Robert Burns. Central to the menu of all these Burns Suppers is, of course, haggis, paraded into the room on a silver platter.
One of the best parts about traveling is the exposure to new and exciting things. And it doesn’t always require busting out your passport. This little gem comes from one of my many trips to Texas. Austin, Texas to be specific. I am a SXSW regular, you see, and this little puppy has kicked off many a tequila-filled night while there. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The Super Bowl will be here in just over a week and you are probably looking for some fun appetizer to wow the crowd with. Well, look no further! The great thing about these risotto balls (called arancini) is that they not only make a great starter but you can put them on a salad or have them as a side. Super versatile! And the fact that they are made with beer and cheese doesn’t hurt either.
This updated version of the traditional end-of-weekend meal is a great way to turn a lazy weekend into an occasion, to gather family or friends for good food and good times.
Mary Ladd visits Dandelion Chocolate’s new cafe, where a team of passionate chocolate makers use beans that are sourced directly from quality small farms to make chocolate bars, smoothies, tea and iced chocolate drinks.
Presley’s legendary love for peanut butter and bananas and bacon helped lead to his outsized body toward the end of his life, and a lasting food legacy. And, oh yeah, he could sing too.
Peruvian food, iPad menus and artisan cheese are all on the menu for 2013, but woe to the gazpacho. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, the tangy soup and those teeny sliders are on the way out.
Plastic bags, foie gras, soda taxes, backyard chickens, sustainable seafood: they all made it to the headlines this year. See the best and worst of 2012′s food news and trends as we head into the new year.
Here are a few things to look for if you’re trying to distinguish the age of your bottle of bubbly or the method by which it was made. And if you just want to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to preserving the bubbles, consider how you pour.
Some early Europeans toasted to profess their love to young women, while others lifted their arms to honor their kings. Toasting, which dates back to ancient times, is a ritual shrouded in urban legends. But one historian says some of the tall tales are actually true.
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.
Can A Piece Of Hair Reveal How Much Coke Or Pepsi You Drink?
People are notorious for under-reporting what they consume — they lie, forget or just guess wrong. For researchers who want to know how much soda we’re drinking, a high-tech analysis technique could help.
ADHD In Childhood May Feed Obesity In Adults
People diagnosed with ADHD as children may be more apt to be obese in adulthood, scientists say. Differences in brain biology or the impulsiveness typical of ADHD may contribute to lasting, bad eating habits.
Flax Seed: The Next Superfood For Cows And Beef?
After years of research, an animal scientist looking for ways to keep inflammation down in cattle came up with a novel approach: feed them flax. The flax in their food helps keep animals healthy and has an added benefit for those who later eat their meat: omega-3 enriched beef.
Try A Do-It-Yourself Mother’s Day
Rather than waiting for someone to give you a treat, why not make one of your favorites for yourself? Something you can snack on all week when no one’s around. Or, better yet, something you don’t have to share. Food writer T. Susan Chang recommends slow-roasted pecans, salty-sweet matzo candy and more.
A Fresh Pod Cast: Savoring Spring’s Green Peas
Emerald green and tender, yet with a gentle crunch, garden peas can be so delightful when fresh — and so disappointing when not. Try them now in their seasonal prime in these recipes for chilled soup, a citrusy spread and a traditional rice dish.
Spring has sprung! And it’s time to bask in the garden, celebrating the sweet greens of spring with Fava-Bean Crostini topped with mint and Pecorino Romano cheese.
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.
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).
Celebrate the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market 20th Birthday Bash with CUESA
In honor of its 20th anniversary, Bay Area Bites looks back on how the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market has become a San Francisco institution for chefs, home cooks, and curious eaters from around the world.
Exploratorium Elevates Museum Eating Experience
Chef Loretta Keller, the force behind the Exploratorium’s new culinary options, talks bee jet lag, living foods, and seawater cocktails with BAB’s Sarah Henry.
Grits, Fried Chicken and Gospel Brunch – Chef David Lawrence Discusses Life at “1300 on Fillmore”
Mary Ladd interviews Chef David Lawrence about his restaurant “1300 on Fillmore” which is known for fabulous grits, fried chicken and a lively Sunday Gospel brunch.
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).
Pompei’s Grotto, Lillie Mae’s House of Soul Food, SPQR: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
The fourth episode of Season 8 features these restaurants: Pompei’s Grotto (San Francisco), Lillie Mae’s House of Soul Food (Santa Clara) and SPQR (San Francisco). Leslie Sbrocco shares wine tips about Napa Valley wines.
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.
Michael Pollan talks about his new book ‘Cooked’
As in his previous books, Michael Pollan argues in “Cooked” that relying on processed food disrupts our link to the natural world and weakens our interpersonal relationships. But this time he takes a more hands-on approach, doing apprenticeships with a variety of culinary masters who teach him the fine points of fermentation, the benefits of bacteria, and other secrets of honest cuisine. He joins KQED’s Forum in the studio.
KQED’s Forum: Mark Bittman on Part-Time Veganism
Mark Bittman talks about his new book, and how a full-time meat lover adapted to part-time veganism.
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.
Deaf Foodies Savor Gourmet Ghetto Tasting Tour in Sign Language
A dozen Deaf Foodies relish the tastes and history of Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto in a 3 hour tasting tour presented completely in American Sign Language (ASL) by food writer (and ASL interpreter) Anna Mindess through Edible Excursions.
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