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“How to Taste” handbook is a game changer for home cooks

Perhaps the best handbooks are the ones we didn’t know we needed. If you’ve ever wondered why your dinner turned into a disaster, or you think salt is the savior of all your culinary problems, Here to Taste ($17.99, 240 pages) is here to help. Everyday, home cooks fiddle in the kitchen without really understanding why we do the things we do — some spices here, hotter temperatures there. But are these decisions really making our food the best it can be? There’s a lot that goes into the underlying principles of flavorful food, and certainly most of us wouldn’t have time to research it all (I mean, that sounds fun and all…). But you’ll be thankful that author Becky Selengut made this her mission as well as the focus of her latest book, How to Taste. Her approach to writing includes just the right about of geeky food science, laugh-out-loud humor, and aha moments on every page to keep your attention and make you…

How your favorite chefs make mashed potatoes

If there’s one side dish we can all agree deserves a spot on the Thanksgiving table it’s mashed potatoes, but how exactly those spuds are smashed will vary in every home across the country. Not all cooking methods are created equal, so we consulted our favorite celebrity chefs for tips on how to take this traditional holiday dish to the next level. Ina Garten The Barefoot Contessa swears that Yukon Gold potatoes, with their slightly yellow color, are the best variety for mashed tots. She runs them through a food mill, then adds rich butter and sour cream for this good old-fashioned comfort food. https://youtu.be/pTJMM4yusMg ALTON BROWN Alton and Ina must share recipes. This recipe is remarkably close to Ina’s, but it’s probably more of a professional consensus that this is, in fact, one of the best ways to make mashed potatoes. Alton also swears by running Yukon Gold potatoes through a food mill then adding butter, heavy cream,…

James Beard culinary award winners announced

The 2017 James Beard Awards Gala was hosted last night, May 1, by Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ABC’s award-winning comedy Modern Family at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Industry leaders from across the country attended the ceremony and celebration where the theme of the evening was “Powered by Food,” which celebrated the exciting ways technology has sparked and strengthened our connections to food. The James Beard Foundation Awards are the “Oscars” of the restaurant world. The country’s top culinary talent is showcased and awards are given in various categories covering everything from chefs to service, culinary writing to  education, and restaurant design to lifetime achievements. Established in 1990, the awards are named for the late James Beard, cookbook author, teacher and champion of American cuisine. The James Beard Foundation continues his spirit through a variety of diverse programs, scholarships, publications and events. JBF is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in…