Mezcal’s the Thing in a New Cocktail Book

You know who you’re dealing with when Robert Simonson, the author of “3-Ingredient Cocktails” and a New York Times contributor, suggests drinks made with mezcal and tequila. Simplicity reigns. Of the more than 60 cocktail recipes in his new book, “Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails,” most rely on mezcal, a good thing because though several tequila…

The Symposium’s Saucy History

The symposium in ancient Greece was a formal postprandial drinking party for men, during which topics of interest were discussed as tongues were loosened. Plato has famously documented it. In its series, “Archaeology Abridged,” the Archaeological Institute of America is offering a Zoom lecture by Kathleen Lynch, a professor of classics at the University of…

Red Sauces With the Carbone Touch

Major Food Group has introduced three jarred pasta sauces. They’re straightforward renditions of marinara, chunky tomato-basil and spicy arrabbiata, worth keeping in the pantry for an easy dinner. As for preparing Carbone restaurant’s famous spicy rigatoni vodka, some day the sauce line might include it, but not at this time. The jarred sauces offer fine…

Make Sake Cocktails This Sakura Season

In Japan honoring sakura, cherry blossoms, is perennial in spring. For the occasion, the Japan Society has organized a virtual celebration with a Zoom class about sakura-themed sake cocktails, including Cherry Blossom Fizz, Sakura Highball and Ichigo Cocktail (ichigo means strawberry). Participants will receive the link in advance, with recipes, lists of ingredients and equipment,…

New Porcelain Designed With the Chef in Mind

Made In, the company that sells cookware directly to consumers, has introduced French porcelain baking dishes, manufactured by a company that has been in business for more than 200 years. The generous square, oval and rectangle pieces — available now and designed in collaboration with the chef Nancy Silverton — are white with a choice…