EATING AND DRINKING
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An International Battle over Cheese Has Left European Producers Feeling Bitter
For most cheese lovers, whether it’s a tangy blue Stilton or a creamy oozing Camembert, the most important element is the eating. But cheese has profound political and economic properties too, with implications for international trade deals. Read more
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Eggs: From Pagan Symbol to Christian Ritual
The humble hen's egg is the basis of many traditional dishes (and superstitions) in Catalunya and Spain Read more
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Reflections in the rice fields at the Ebro Delta in southern Catalunya. Photo by Agustí Descarrega (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
The Story of Spain’s Love Affair with Rice
From the juicy "calderos" of Murcia to the Costa Brava’s "arròs negre" to the famed "paellas" of Valencia, the extraordinary depth and diversity of Spanish rice dishes, in feast and in famine, is one of the country’s greatest gastronomic achievements Read more
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Photo by Mpellegr. (Flickr)
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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Making the traditional ratafia. Photo by Anna Fuster.
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
