Category Archives: New Products

“To Lahaina, With Love”

Posted on by 3 comments
A simple and delicious recipe from Chef Lee Anne Wong, who lost her restaurant in the devastating Lahaina fires.
A simple and delicious recipe from Chef Lee Anne Wong, who lost her restaurant in the devastating Lahaina fires.

In times of natural disasters or catastrophic world events, not only do firefighters and paramedics immediately mobilize to help, but so do chefs, cooks, and others in the hospitality industry.

After all, they know better than anyone the power of food to comfort, nourish, and heal.

As I watched the news accounts of the gut-wrenching destruction wrought by the Southern California wildfires, it reminded me eerily of the 2023 firestorm that obliterated the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui.

In each case, restaurateurs and their employees — including some whose establishment or homes had been ravaged by flames — turned up in droves to cook meals for anyone in need, despite their own dire circumstances.

Wildfires may be growing more severe nowadays due to climate change. But it’s heartening to witness the indefatigable resilience, resourcefulness, and compassion of a community rising to meet it.

“To Lahaina, With Love” exemplifies that. Proceeds from this cookbook, which debuted last month, benefit Fresh Help Maui, a non-profit that provides meals and locally-caught fresh fish to those impacted by the Maui fires.

Read more

Crunch-A-Licious Chickpeas

Posted on by 2 comments
Roasted to a deep crunch, these chickpea snacks satisfy when you want a crispy nosh.
Roasted to a deep crunch, these chickpea snacks satisfy when you want a crispy nosh.

Chickpeas are an indispensable legume. They’re what give hummus its body. They bulk up soups, stews, and salads, and add a lovely nutty flavor.

They also give potato chips a run for their money in the form of Festive Chickpeas, a snack of crispy, fried garbanzos that have 5 grams of protein, 190 milligrams of potassium, and 4 grams of dietary fiber per 1-ounce serving.

They come in a variety of flavors, of which I received samples recently. They are soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan (with the exception of the BBQ variety). They are roasted in canola oil, then seasoned with sea salt, sugar, yeast extract, and other seasonings.

Read more

Sweet On Big Picture Farm Caramels

Posted on by Leave a comment
Discover Big Picture Farm caramels made by a family farm in Vermont.
Discover Big Picture Farm caramels made by a family farm in Vermont.

They are creamy, sticky, buttery, redolent of caramelized sugar, and come in some surprising flavors.

Big Picture Farm caramels, of which I received a sample, are made by a family farm in southern Vermont using milk from their herd of adorable goats.

The farm is completely solar-powered. Its 100 acres are grazed by the goats on a rotational basis to maintain soil health. The caramels also make use of local ingredients from their fellow farmers.

Owners Louisa Conrad is a photographer and mixed-media artist, and her husband Lucas Farrell is a writer and poet. And it shows.

Read more

Coffee Shop Banana Bread Crunch Muffins To Make Together — Or Not

Posted on by 2 comments
A crunchy corn-flake streusel tops these delicious banana bread muffins.
A crunchy corn-flake streusel tops these delicious banana bread muffins.

Some couples love to cook together.

Others — whether because it’s more efficient or perhaps a little control-freak-ism at work — divvy up the duties so that one cooks, while the other cleans up afterward.

Which camp do you and your partner-in-crime fall into?

For me, it’s usually the latter.

But if more harmony and togetherness in the kitchen is what you desire, then “A Couple Cooks” (Chronicle Books) is right up your alley.

The cookbook, of which I received a review copy, is by Sonja and Alex Overhiser, a photographer-and-writer couple in Indianapolis who created the award-winning blog, A Couple Cooks.

Read more

Holiday Goodies For You (Or Others), Part II

Posted on by Leave a comment
The Perfect Pair gift pack from Ancient Olive Trees.
The Perfect Pair gift pack from Ancient Olive Trees.

Ancient Olive Trees Perfect Pair

Marin County’s Ancient Olive Trees company knows a thing or two about olive trees.

After all, it’s been tree farming full-time since 2007. Its lush olive trees have been planted on the grounds of the Frank Gehry-designed Tin House in Los Angeles, The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, and many wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties.

So, it only makes sense that in 2015, it started crafting its own extra virgin olive oil, as well as balsamic vinegar.

Any cook or enthusiastic eater is sure to appreciate its Perfect Pair ($69) snazzy gift set that features a 375ml bottle of each.

Read more
« Older Entries Recent Entries »