Tucked away down an attractive alleyway in London’s Shoreditch sits the tiny Umbrella Workshop that houses an atmospheric off-licence that also serves some sharp cocktails to destination drinkers who’ve come to imbibe the vibes and lift the spirits. If that all sounds a tad flowery the cocktails are certainly not. Our visit coincided with the…

DISCLAIMER: Swimming, tubing, and floating is officially FORBIDDEN in all Munich waterways — including the Schwabinger Bach described here. The city of Munich takes no accountability for anything that happens to you. And of course, neither do I! If you choose to do this, you do it entirely at your own risk. Don’t be stupid. Be aware of your surroundings, respect the water, and know your limits. The Schwabinger Bach is one of Munich’s best-kept summer secrets. While tourists crowd around the…

There’s something wonderfully comforting about a tray of perfectly roasted bone‑in chicken thighs coming out of the oven — golden, crackling skin, tender meat that practically melts in the mouth, and a kitchen filled with the kind of aroma that makes everyone wander in asking what’s for supper. This simple, foolproof method is one you will find yourself turning to again and again, especially on busy days when you want a meal that feels special without any fuss. With just a few pantry staples…

Cuttlefish and Wobbegong Shark spottings In Shelly Beach

More Daffy than Donald I fear, but I gave it a try! Well, I barely hide my disdain for the schmaltzy, 'classic' Disney characters, but when Brain Berke, roving reporter in New York sent me these, I have to say, I was quite chuffed, as it's an exquisite treatment of the dime-store style, row-crop tractor genre, and it is a genre, with die-cast and tin-plate, there's a whole field of

Mudei-me para Palo Alto, em Stanford, em 25 de agosto de 2025. Minha volta foi em 15 de junho deste ano – cerca de 290 dias em solo americano, com duas vindas curtas para o Brasil. Foi muito massa, mas eu já estava pronto para voltar pras minhas cachorras. Foto da fachada da casa que morei, na manhã eu que fui embora (15.jun.2026)

Ever since I was a kid, I would always eat the crust of the pizza first so I could have the yummy part after. This is how I know I'm #disciplined💪🏾

Well it’s been awhile – probably doesn’t seem like it to you since I post daily, but for me it’s January 8th. Back to the regular thing after the holidays! Wheee! I thought I’d try this one to start things out. Let’s give it a go! Menraku Spicy Miso Tonkotsu Taste – United States Detail of the packaging (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, boil noodle is 2 cups water for 2 minutes. Add in sachet contents. Finally, stir and enjoy! An individual pack from…

A well-cooked chicken cutlet is a thing of beauty! I would order one every time I saw it on a menu if I didn’t encounter so many that were overcooked and dry. For at home, Ina Garten’s Chicken Piccata is one of my all-time favorite ways to prepare them. Even with the breading mess (at least in my chaos kitchen) it’s a simple dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner but elegant enough for a dinner party. Get you a chicken that can do both! Inspired by the veal piccata she always ordered at The…

This is an irregular column that rewinds the clock back some years to see what was on the taps at certain pubs. Too many of these will no doubt be from my local, The Great Northern Railway Tavern (GNRT), in North London that has been a tremendous pub over the years for its beer selection.…

No sé cómo es posible que esta escritora chilena haya permanecido fuera de mi radar durante tanto tiempo. Nació en Chile en 1910 y, a los nueve años, se trasladó a París, donde terminó la secundaria y comenzó sus estudios universitarios. Haber estado en el París de Hemingway, Joyce y Gertrude Stein durante los años veinte, y siendo además de la misma generación, ¡guau! Después de terminar sus estudios, volvió a Chile, donde inició una relación con un piloto. Cuando la relación terminó, no lo…

We need a new anthem: Let’s root root root for Cape Verde If they don’t win it’s a shame… Actually, that tie will do just fine. Just fine. Still, Uruguay has have the best strip. We remember the Graf Spee after all. Isn’t it fun how many old simmering bigotries and grudges come out during international sporting events! Speaking of fabulous cups, Lars shared that image this week: “… carved by a Norwegian farmer… The king bought this mug in 1798 for 60 riksdaler, an absolutely wild amount,…

Setelah ikutan minibootcamp dari RevoU selama 5 hari tentang pengenalan software engineer saya merasa bahwa ini merupakan awal lembaran baru, istilahnya baru buka halaman kata pengantarnya saja. Karena sesi yang berlangsung 1 jam setengah ini terasa begitu singkat, kita hanya mencicipi secuil materi dari seluruh materi yang berlangsung selama kurang lebih 6 bulan jika membeli versi full stacknya tergantung dari kelas mana yang kita pilih.

If you’re looking for a quick, flavour‑packed weeknight dinner that cooks in just one pan, these Skillet Chops & Rice are a delicious choice. Tender boneless pork loin chops are browned to a golden finish before simmering gently on a bed of aromatic rice seasoned with onion, garlic, oregano, coriander, chili powder, and a touch of cayenne for gentle heat . Everything cooks together for a no‑fuss, no‑muss meal that’s hearty, satisfying, and full of layered flavour.Finished with chopped…

We previously wrote about loving Crafthouse Cocktails‘ excellent canned Mai Tai, and the kind folks at Crafthouse sent us some others from their lineup to try out. As with any product ranges there are some that work better than others, so here are our thoughts. Moonlighter Vodka Spritz includes some blanco vermouth and very light floral flavors but didn’t really do it for me, but I’m not really a Vodka Soda drinker and prefer bolder flavors. Surprisingly better for me was the Moscow Mule,…

On the first day of our roadtrip down the Izu Peninsula, we stopped by a local coffee roaster called ITOKU COFFEE. I’m amazed by wherever I go in Japan, there seems to be a coffee roaster somewhere nearby (isn’t it great). They have a range of beans available, including both single origin and their blend beans. The main display at the front of the shop stocks medium to dark roast beans (from left to right). These are at a fairly reasonable price point - around 1600 - 2000 yen for 200g. They…

Been wanting to try Single O, a cafe from AustraliaThey have several locations around Tokyo, and there is one in YurakuchoI tried their Ethiopia Hallo Beriti cold brew...fruity! deliciousAvo Show...toasted focaccia topped with avocado, pickled fennel, cashew "cheese", chili oil and some arugula & radish...loved the different flavors from each ingredient...1550 yen (tax included) for the

In 2007, when this website was still in its infancy, I shared a recipe for a layered strawberry chiffon shortcake. I’d never made a chiffon cake before, but I brought it to a friend’s rooftop birthday BBQ, correctly assuming that no one would be unhappy with a towering, featherweight cake sandwiched with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, however inexpertly made. While I could appreciate a chiffon cake back then, I wasn’t a superfan. Chiffon cakes seemed a little stiff and lean. Plus,…

Here’s one from James of Lakeside, California – thanks! This looks kind of interesting – says there’s coconut in it. Lets try it! Chin-Su Pho Story Vietnamese Pho Beef Flavored – United States Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains fish. To prepare, add everything in and fill to line with boiling water. Steep 3 minutes. Finally, stir and enjoy! Detail of the lid (click to enlarge). The rice noodle. A sachet of soup base powder seasoning. A sachet of liquid soup base. Finished…

Here’s a modest puzzle: The quantity supplied of milk is way up, but the price is also way up. One usually expects higher supply to drive down the price. What’s happening? Here’s a meandering commentary on supply and demand in US dairy. On the supply side, Jeffrey Gillespie and Eric Njuki of the US Department of Agriculture discuss “Fewer Farms, More Milk: The Changing Structure and Costs of U.S. Dairy Farming” (Amber Waves, Februar 23, 2026). The pattern over the last couple of decades is…

For our June Cookbook Club, we kicked off Maine Summah with Aragosta’s A Kitchen on Goose Cove, Devin Finigan’s recently released cookbook packed with dishes infused with seasonal Maine ingredients, just like the restaurant on Deer Isle. I can only imagine reservations are going to be even harder now that this beaut is out in the world. Lobster Toast, page 38A delicious take on shrimp toast, but make it Maine. Crab Gazpacho, page 62Fresh and light, and adding crab has officially ruined me for…

If you love the warm, cozy flavors of gingerbread, you’re going to adore this homemade Gingerbread Almond Butter. It’s everything we crave at any time of the year — toasty almonds blended until silky smooth, lightly sweetened with molasses and maple, and spiced with all those comforting gingerbread notes that make the whole kitchen smell like a hug. This is one of those simple little recipes that feels wonderfully special, whether you’re spreading it on toast, spooning it over porridge, or…

This is my report: Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2018 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunningly good wine.

Mrs. Mai Tai wanted to go to Livermore for a night out and we eventually found ourselves at Tikeasy at Rosetta Roasting. Julie expressed interest in trying the Yuzu Fuzz, Rosetta’s award winning original cocktail that features Japanese Gin, yuzu reduction, and lemon – garnished with a buzz button blossom. It’s really great and very well-balanced, especially if you like floral notes in a cocktail. The buzz button numbs the tongue if you take a little bite and I guess makes the drink taste sort…

Did you think this was gonna be some grand metaphor blog post? Nope. You probably know: if you put Mentos in Diet Coke, it makes the carbonation go crazy and fizz shoots out of the bottle. It’s a “science” experiment akin to baking soda & vinegar volcano, freezing a banana in liquid hydrogen and shattering it, or playing with a bit of mercury in your hands. No? Just me? Anyway. What do you picture in your mind when you think of getting that tube of Mentos into the Diet Coke bottle? I bet you…

A yogurt cake is a classic French home dessert, so it’s no wonder that, as a part-time Parisian, Dorie has made it a classic dessert of hers as well. Mixed by hand and infinitely adaptable in terms of flavor, it’s a true anytime cake. I think we’ve made at least a few versions by this point in our bake-alongs, but this one– a Berry Yogurt Cake– is particularly suited for summer, when fresh berries are at their peak. In the cake, I used a combo of the sweet local strawberries that are at the…

I've tasted all of the flat whites in town, so you can always find a good one ☕️

Here’s a variety that I found in one of MiauMall’s Nakama Noodles subscription boxes! These boxes are discontinued, however you can find their stuff at MiauMall – here is what they said about this one – “Here’s a bowl that shows more love to the Kansai area! This tempura soba has a tasty traditional Japanese dashi made with kelp and bonito and is topped with crunchy tempura. And add the special Wakayama pepper, and you’ll have a flavorful Kansai soba! Instructions:” This is interesting. I’ve…

First, the inspiration: Which isn't bad, I guess, if you've got a Brave Heart kind of vibe going for your wedding. Certainly it's executed well. Anyway, here is what the paid, "professional" baker provided: Erm.[glancing between the two photos]It’s like seeing double, isn’t it?I mean, sure, the second one is collapsed in on itself, slumped over to one side, and channeling a bit more Bob Marley than William Wallace, but besides all that I’d say the decorator was bang on, wouldn’t you? Ok, ok, if…

Meredith Hayden’s Farro Broccoli Salad is a riff on one of my most-made salads: the Charlie Bird Farro Salad. TBH, once you start adding farro to your salads, you’ll never look back. Similar to Charlie Bird, Meredith simmers the farro in apple cider, then builds from there with roasted broccoli, pistachios, halved cherry tomatoes, and arugula. Everything gets drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil, then finished with shaved Parmesan and torn basil. The broccoli makes it a little heartier,…