New Workhorses for Your Spice Drawer

Now that you’re stuck indoors, have you reorganized your spice rack? (It’s a great project to tackle with kids: They can tell you which tin of paprika or curry has faded in color or aroma and needs replacing.) And while you’re at it, maybe it’s time for a real upgrade. Burlap & Barrel, a spice…

Sea Urchins Star in This Food Film

The story of the sea urchin, from ocean floor to the dinner plate, is the subject of this vibrant documentary that was released for streaming last week on Somm TV. With commentary from food celebrities like Andrew Zimmern and chefs like Kyle Connaughton, it follows the gourmand’s taste, from ancient times to the present, for…

Now From Mexico: Corn Whiskey

We appreciate tequila, have tried mezcal and are sampling sotol. Still there is more to learn about Mexican spirits. Corn whiskey, for example, is a rarity. But now there’s one that’s new. Abasolo, El Whisky de Mexico, from Jilotepec de Abasolo, just north of Mexico City, is made entirely from heritage corn that has undergone…

Will Shopping Ever Be the Same?

When department stores reopen their doors, a familiar whoosh will still greet customers at the entrance: the sudden gust of air-conditioning, the gleam of polished marble floors, the sensation of not really knowing where to start. But beyond the doors, new and unfamiliar sights await: hand-sanitizer dispensers scattered on every surface, employees smizing through their…

Chocolate and Cheese, if You Please

Closed stores and restaurants are also taking a toll on parts of the food industry, like cheesemakers, as they lose the normal outlets for their perishable products. Your local cheese shop should be your first stop, but, on Janet Fletcher’s Planet Cheese website, there’s a national list of the cheesemakers and retailers that ship their…