Thai cuisine is celebrated globally for its vibrant, multi-dimensional flavors, but understanding what makes it “work” can feel like a mystery to the uninitiated. This guide is designed to be a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to deconstruct the Thai culinary identity, from the essential aromatics that provide its soul to the specific Thai cooking … Read more
Although the word dram was originally used colloquially to mean a small quantity of anything, it eventually came to be used primarily to describe an amount of liquid of a drink, specifically the amount of liquid drunk all at once. For instance, you might have heard, “I’m dying of thirst, can you give me a … Read more
Allspice is the dried unripened fruit of an evergreen plant in the Myrtle family called Pimienta dioca. It is commonly called the pimento tree. The tree is indigenous to Central America and grows from Southern Mexico to Panama and throughout the Caribbean. Other names for the spice is Jamaican pepper, clove pepper, pimento, and English spice. Although dried allspice … Read more
Understanding the coleslaw origin requires a quick trip back to the late 1600s. Originally known as koolsla by Dutch settlers in New York, the dish literally translates to “cabbage salad.” While it’s now a staple of modern comfort food, the journey from Dutch “koolsla” to American “coleslaw” is full of fascinating etymological twists. Coleslaw Origin: … Read more
A sweetbread is not a sugared pastry, which is what you’d be justified in thinking. Usually, when people tell you what sweetbreads are, they get it wrong, or only half right. Many people believe sweetbreads are testicles or calves’ brains. Others believe sweetbreads are just a nice-sounding name for internal organs or offal. In this … Read more
Many people are convinced that brown eggs taste different than white eggs. This is a myth. Brown eggs do not taste different than white eggs. And no, brown eggs are not better than white eggs in terms of quality or taste, or vice versa. This myth has persisted in America for decades, perhaps owing to … Read more