The isles of Manhattan and Pulau Rhun could hardly be farther apart, not just in geography, but also in culture, economy and global prominence. Rhun, in the Banda Sea in Indonesia, has no cars or roads and only about 20 motorbikes. Most people get around by walking along its paved footpaths or up steep stairways, […]
Read MoreTag: Spices
A Really Great Polenta Finishes Off Strong
Recipe: Spicy Roasted Mushrooms With Polenta Incidentally (or maybe not), using flavored oils is another example of how I can, quite literally, see flavor happening. The best illustration for this is cilbir, a Turkish dish of poached eggs, served huddled in a bowl over garlic yogurt. To finish it off, simmering butter gets an infusion […]
Read MoreWhere to Buy Spices Online (Because No One Likes Bland Chicken Breast)
As Jimmy Buffett (RIP) once said (he didn’t), you don’t need a passport to fly your tongue to Flavortown. You just need to actually, finally invest in the spices that will help you feel something. Venturing out to your local, storybook spice shop that made it through lockdown (thank goodness) will definitely make you feel […]
Read MoreHow Did Vanilla Become a Byword for Blandness?
FROM A PROFIT perspective, the appeal of synthetic vanillin is clear. True vanilla is a demanding crop, so labor-intensive that at times the market value of the beans has surpassed that of silver, weight for weight. And since each bean yields only 2 percent vanillin at best, the cost of pure vanilla is even higher. […]
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