EATING AND DRINKING
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All up in That Grill: Calçots
Creative cuisine and classy restaurants may have put Catalunya on the culinary map, but it’s food of a far more primitive nature that provides the real flavor of the place—and this season. Read more
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Ratafia: Catalunya's Sweet Herbal Liqueur
With origins that date back two hundred years, ratafia's mysterious blend of fruit, nuts and herbs is now cemented into Catalan culture. We hear from those who are working hard to keep the tradition alive and brewing. Read more
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Italy’s Pasta Row: How to Cook Spaghetti Properly and Save Money
When a Nobel Prize-winning Italian physicist weighed in with advice about how to cook pasta perfectly, it upend everything the countries’ cooks had been doing in the kitchen for centuries and caused an almighty row. Read more
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Five Historical Hot Cocktails That Are Perfect for Cold Weather
When it's cold outside, there’s nothing quite like a hot drink to warm the cockles. Read more
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The History of Chocolate: When Money Really Did Grow on Trees
Huge tins of bon bons and steaming cups of hot chocolate festooned with whipped cream and marshmallows are all much-loved wintry staples. But how many of us stop to think about where chocolate actually comes from and how it made its way into our culi Read more
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Brussels Sprouts Have as Much Vitamin C as Oranges
Pound for pound, you’ll get more vitamin C from them when eaten raw than from oranges. Cooked Brussels sprouts still contain vitamin C, though—about the same pound for pound as you’d get from orange juice and raw oranges. Read more
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Why Some like It Hot: The Science of Spiciness
Nowadays, more than three million tons of chili peppers are produced yearly for a global market that is well over US$4 billion. Read more
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Egg Shortage: The Best Egg Alternatives
The egg shortage has been blamed on the avian flu which has risen to a record number of cases. However, egg producers are also reporting that the unprecedented level of inflation and spiraling costs driven by global events are key factors. Read more
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Strong Headed: Garlic in Spanish Cuisine
Despite its bad press, garlic is an essential part of Spanish cuisine. Read more
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What Makes a Vegan-Friendly Wine Vegan?
Increasingly in Europe, wines are now often labelled as “vegan-friendly” or “no animal products were used in the preparation of this wine.” Read more