[Drink] The Champagne of WhiskeysAs we turned around, the liquor-store attendant approached us from behind the counter and reached to the bottom shelf to grab a bottle of whiskey. My friends and I were in Gulf Shores, Ala., for a weekend at the beach. …
The Wide World of Tea CakesWith fall's cooler temps, my palate shifts to warmer, cozier and more comforting foods. I realize that I can once again turn on my oven without causing myself or my two dogs to suffer from heat exhaustion. I vowed not …
[Drink] Bragging RightsNot to toot my own horn or anything, but I have just returned from what I believe to be one of the finest trips to wine country anyone has ever taken. One of the perks of having a career in …
Winging ItGrowing up, the only experience I had with chicken wings were the ones covered with feathers belonging to the small population of egg-laying hens on our Montana farm. Raised in incubators, these chickens were more than egg producers: they were …
[Drink] National BeerSpicy food provides one of the only excuses for drinking domestic beer, which is generally watery with a metallic tinge. But when you're sitting outside eating spicy chicken wings on a Sunday afternoon, it almost has to be domestic, doesn't …
Fruit or VegetableDo you think you know the answer to the age-old question, "Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable?"
[Drink] Mixin' It UpOften, it's hard to decide on just one type of wine. Sure, if you're shopping for yourself, you can go for what you like or take a chance on something unusual, but if you're choosing a wine for other folks …
You Say Tomato…Referred to as pommes d'amour, or love apples, by the French due to their supposed power as aphrodisiacs, the tomato is an irresistible summertime indulgence that I look forward to every year. As the dog days of summer come to …
Cookbook ObsessionsI have a problem. I can't quit buying cookbooks. I have a bookshelf full of them, and still I buy more. I don't care that I can find thousands of recipes on the Internet; there is something comforting about an …
[Drink] The Forces of Light and DarknessBetween my freshman and sophomore year of college, I lived in Harlem, owned a MetroCard, ran in Central Park everyday and found out quickly that I didn't need a fake ID to buy beer—as long as I projected enough New …
The Comfort of Coast CuisineBefore I met my husband I had no idea about the simple pleasure that comes from eating an oyster po-boy and gulping down an ice-cold Barq's root beer from a bottle. I thought Mardi Gras parades were only in New …
[Wine] What Do You Wanna Drink When You Grow Up?You know how some of those interior-design magazines frequently feature "designer v. knock-off" stories, where one photo boasts a room full of original designs worth thousands of dollars, and another photo shows virtually the same room, but with copycat stuff …
[Annual Manual 2006] Quick MealsWhen I left the comforts of my mom's kitchen for a dorm room equipped with a sink, micro-fridge and microwave, I knew it was time to look out for myself. I also discovered I had to defend myself from the …
Cornbread ConnectionWhen I first came to Mississippi, I faced college cafeteria lines of steaming fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried okra and grits, and I felt very lost. Then, at the very end of the line, on a tiny sliver of …
[Wine] Off The Beaten PathIn most aspects of our lives, we tend to stick to what we know. When shopping for wine, most of us would much rather buy what we're familiar with rather than run the risk of getting something we may end …