Mark Bittman

Q & A With Nancy Harmon Jenkins: On the Mediterranean Diet, Her Cookbook(s) What Took Us So Long

For many of us whose idea of good food is a bowl of olives, a plate of mezze, a huge dish of paella or Catalan soup or lamb with couscous, Nancy Harmon Jenkins' cookbook The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, or her newer The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, is one of the basic books of the kitchen. First ... More >>

IACP 2013 Food Writing Award Finalists Announced

The IACP, which would be the International Association of Culinary Professionals and not the International Association of Chiefs of Police -- yes, that's an old joke now, but you try googling IACP and see what you get -- announced their 2013 award finalists this morning for four of their prestigious ... More >>

An L.A. Evening With Mark Bittman: A Free Lecture

Cookbook author and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman will be coming to town on Nov. 14 to give a free lecture titled "Behind the Scenes of What We Eat" at Chinatown's California Endowment Center for Healthy Communities. Bittman, who penned the best-selling cookbook How to Cook Everything, wil ... More >>

Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Episode 4, Stocks

Squid Ink is going back to basics with Martha Stewart's Cooking School, airing every weekend through the end of the year on PBS. Join us. See also: Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Episode 1, Eggs See also: Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Episode 2, Sauces See also: Martha Stewart's Cooking School ... More >>

Proposition 37 Genetically Modified Food Fight

Could spawn endless lawsuits against small shops

Read This Now: The New York Times' Profile of Christopher Kimball

If you've ever followed a Cook's Illustrated recipe the way it is intended to be followed -- that is, precisely -- and, as pleased as punch as you may have been with the outcome, nonetheless still thought, Gee, they take the fun out of cooking -- well, that's sort of the point. "I hate the idea tha ... More >>

The Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free), it's where most of your content comes ... More >>

Cookbook Of The Week: Leafy Greens by Mark Bittman, Take Two

If you still have a copy of Mark Bittman's 1995 cookbook, Leafy Greens, you've likely already tossed spinach with lime juice and chiles (p. 128) a time or two. For the rest of us, the re-release of Bittman's classic is a timely look back at our simple -- and upon reflection, really quite tasty -- Ni ... More >>

The New York Times Announces Meat-Ethics Essay Contest Winners

Last month, The New York Times' Ariel Kaminer announced an essay contest in the paper's op-ed section: Carnivorous readers must defend, in 600 words or less, why it is ethical to eat meat. Entries were judged by some of the foremost authorities of modern food practices including Peter Singer, Michae ... More >>

James Beard 2012 Award Winners

The James Beard awards are the food equivalent of the Oscars: prestigious golden whatsits, fancy dress event, silly acceptance speeches, requisite grouching about the whole thing being rigged. Oh, yes, and lots of highly talented people getting much-deserved recognition. This year's awards ceremony ... More >>

The Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

You can't replace the feeling of lounging on the couch with a scrunched-up newspaper. But with the web, at least you don't need to worry about getting ink on your hands and bagel. Here's a roundup of some food-related stories from our country's newspapers this week. Lucky for us, it's mostly free. F ... More >>

Majority of Californians Support Soda Tax

Three out of five California voters would support a special tax on soda and soft drinks to fight childhood obesity, according to a new Field Poll. New data collected as part of the Field-The California Endowment Childhood Obesity Prevention Survey found that 48% of participants cited unhealthy eat ... More >>

Food News Roundup: Farmers Challenge Monsanto, Sous-Vide Cocktails Possible Bourdain Book Deal for Marilyn Hagerty

Reuters: Organic farmers vow to continue challenging Monsanto's patents on genetically modified seeds, defying a court that ruled no controversy exists. Food Arts: Julian Cox, and others, are using sous-vide for cocktails. Call it "flash brew." Grand Forks Herald: A book deal with Anthony Bourdain ... More >>

The Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

You can't replace the feeling of lounging on the couch with a scrunched-up newspaper. But with the web, at least you don't need to worry about getting ink on your hands and bagel. Here's a roundup of some food-related stories from our country's newspapers this week. Lucky for us, it's mostly free. F ... More >>

Quorn: The Questionable Joys of Faux Meat

Fake chicken products were the subject of a piece by Mark Bittman in this past Sunday's New York Times, in which he described one faux meat, known by the brand name, Quorn, as "pretty appealing in some instances." While the name Quorn conjures up images of the charming English village for which it's ... More >>

Salma Hayek's Got Milk Campaign Top 5 Easy Breakfast Ideas

Recently, actress Salma Hayek was announced as the latest celebrity to be milk-mustached by the Milk Processor Education Program, otherwise known as the "Got Milk" people. Hayek's ads will promote the new The Breakfast Project campaign, which touts milk as key to a good breakfast. In the commercial, ... More >>

Q & A With Gabfest Host Stephen Metcalf: Who Won the Great Granola Off, Secret Recipes, Cereal Reverse Engineering Why Granola Is NOT Bathroom Patchouli

Since Monday, after you read our conversation with Andy Bowers, executive producer of Slate's Culture Gabfest podcast, you've probably been wondering, "Who won the Granola Off competition?" The answer is not Gabfest host Stephen Metcalf. How do we know this? First of all we listened to the podca ... More >>

Trader Joe's Tomato Protest Today in Monrovia

Top: Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Bottom: Guzzle & NoshWorkers protest Trader Joe's tomato policies.​A one-cent per-pound increase in the price of tomatoes may not mean much to most consumers, but to many of the workers who pick these tomatoes -- a physically exhausting job with no health b ... More >>

Accessories for Keeping Your iPad Out of the Chicken Stock

The only thing that has stopped us from buying an iPad -- besides lack of money -- is our paranoid fear that we'll use it in the kitchen and accidentally knock it into the simmering pot of chicken stock. Or helplessly smudge it with flour-dusted fingerprints. Or absentmindedly put the milk in the ... More >>

Sam Sifton Steps Down As New York Times Restaurant Critic

New York Timesthe anonymous (?) restaurant critic​After two years as restaurant critic for The New York Times, Sam Sifton is getting a new table. As he tweeted this morning, "I'm stepping down as restaurant critic to be the national editor of The Times. #checkplease." Sifton, who replaced Fr ... More >>

What's In Season at the Farmers Markets: Heirloom Tomatoes Peaking

Felicia FriesemaHeirloom varieties on display at the Good Food Festival kick off celebration for the 30th anniversary of the Santa Monica Farmers Market.​ We're currently smack dab in the middle of what has been a pretty enjoyable tomato season. Last year, it seemed like everyone was experien ... More >>

Happy 100th Birthday, Lucy: Lucille Ball's Chocolate Conveyor Belt Moment

Thanks to YouTube and The New York Times' @SamSifton for a reminder of this one, the classic I Love Lucy candy wrapping episode. Lucille Ball would have turned 100 years old on August 6th, and even in black & white, she's still funnier than pretty much anybody else. If you want to try this at home ... More >>

Food News Roundup: Adrià Games, How To Throw A Pie Taxing Bad Food

-- Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables. Or so says Mark Bittman. [The New York Times] -- The El Bulli dish-name generator. [Slate] -- Modern beans on toast. [Rancho Gordo] -- Paradise by the dashboard light -- can you bake cookies in a car? [Off the Clock, via food52] -- Marion Nestle ... More >>

Ten Things to Cook During Carmageddon

Susan ParkBibimbap Plating by Lisa Gilliam​ You either planned ahead or you didn't for feeding yourself during carmageddon. If you're a planner, this weekend is perfect for making dishes that take all day or even two days. If you're not a planner, well, clean out your pantry and refrigerator t ... More >>

Food News Roundup: Somebody Really Hates Pie, Stumptown Sold More Fun in School Cafeterias

-- In which Slate's Nathan Heller goes off on pie. Yes, pie is un-American and well, just generally terrible. Maybe somebody needs a better pie recipe. [Slate] -- Stumptown Coffee sold to a New York investment firm. [WW] -- Dorie Greenspan wins IACP best cookbook award. (Heller might want to try ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

Flickr/dubh​ What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free), it's where most of ... More >>

2011 IACP Finalists Announced

​The IACP, which would be the International Association of Culinary Professionals and not the International Association of Chiefs of Police -- which comes up first on a Google search, proving maybe that cops can SEO better than writers -- yesterday announced the finalists for both the 2011 Coo ... More >>

And Now, A Brief (Retweeted) Message From Mark Bittman

screenshot of Mark Bittman's Twitter page​

Best 2010 "Diet" Cookbook That Isn't A Diet Book: Mark Bittman's Food Matters

​Diet may be a four letter word on a food blog, but eventually too much bacon really does catch up to you (or so we're told, as we have yet to reach our limit). But as it is perilously close to the New Year's resolution hour, we have been looking back on 2010, and the large amounts of cured me ... More >>

Web Surfing: A Roundup of News from L.A. Food Blogs & Beyond

-- The Unbearable Heaviness of Cookbooks. [Zester Daily] -- The joy of cooking squirrel. [The Ethicurean] -- Today's federal programs make you long for the Depression. [Mark Bittman] -- Seriously, What Is Up With These Pistachio Ads? [Grub Street] -- Divorce Cakes: 10 Outrageous Confections. [Hu ... More >>

And Now, A Brief Message From Mark Bittman

screenshot of Mark Bittman's Twitter page​

We Are Fat, Starving, and Can't All Be Mark Bittman: Or, Hunger Levels at a 15-Year High

N. GalutenChili cheese dog​ Yes, we are a big country with many different people -- but there is something wrong when we are both fat and hungry. CNN is citing a federal report telling us that U.S. hunger levels continue to be at a 15-year high. Why 15 years? Because that's as long as the Depa ... More >>

Cooking With the Critic

And Marion Cunningham, Alice Waters, Rick Bayless et al.

Gunshots & Tweets: Mark Bittman's L.A. Moment

Want a thumbnail sketch of life in Los Angeles? Read the following Twitter exchange between Mark Bittman, New York Times columnist and prolific cookbook author, and Ruth Reichl, former editor of Gourmet and, well, you know who she is. Seems that when Bittman was in town last week to give a talk at t ... More >>

Ask Mr. Gold: Cooking With the Critic, Or The Top 10 Most Battered Cookbooks in Jonathan Gold's Kitchen

Anne FishbeinMr. Gold, with dim sum menu​Dear Mr. Gold: Do you always eat out? Do you ever eat at home? Do you have any cookbooks that you use a great deal? Just curious. −Maggs, Mar Vista Dear Maggs: Actually, I cook kind of a lot. A weird amount. I'm the guy who cooks red beans and rice ... More >>

Bittman At The Skirball Tonight: Food Matters, Et. Al.

markbittman.com​ When cookbook author Mark Bittman shows up tonight, October 26th, for a discussion and book signing at the Skirball Cultural Center, he's likely to be a walking, talking endorsement for his new book, The Food Matters Cookbook: 500 Revolutionary Recipes for Better Living. Sin ... More >>

Cookbook Review: Mark Bittman's Food Matters Cookbook -- Because It Does Matter

​That Mark Bittman has cooked pretty much everything during his career is what has made him a household name (at least among New York Times subscribers). When he proclaimed that

Now Downloading: Mario Batali, Cook's Illustrated & Salsa-Making Apps

iTunes​ Whether you've got an iPhone, iPad, a Droid or a Blackberry, the application marketplace is an ever-growing beast of super-sized proportions. Especially when it comes to cooking programs. In the past we've shared the professional chefs' favorite apps, baker and blogger David Lebovitz' ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

A Brief History of North America, in Coca-Cola Ads

It's an anniversary of sorts for Coca-Cola. 25 years ago today the soft drink giant launched New Coke, a product that the company hoped would help them win the Cola Wars. It was an unmitigated disaster. People hated it, and quickly began hoarding cases of the original Coke. They staged protests, fil ... More >>

Must Have Kitchen Tool? The Celebrity Chef iPhone App

Brooke Burton​ The list of necessary kitchen utensils - whisk, wooden spoon, fish spatula, immersion circulator, nitrogen canister - now seems to include an iPhone. Because now not only must the celebrity chef have the de rigueur stack of cookbooks and (ideally) a reality television show, but ... More >>

How To Download Everything: Mark Bittman's New iPhone App

​If your tattered, sauce stained copy of Mark Bittman's encyclopedic (by definition) cookbook, How To Cook Everything, is just too big and wont to drop its pages for you to cart around to the grocery store, you're in luck. Now you can just flip through the digital equivalent of Bittman's 5-pou ... More >>

Mark Bittman Weighs in on Soda: How Not to Drink Everything?

Is soda the new tobacco? New York Times food writer and cookbook author Mark Bittman asks the question in an article in the NYT yesterday. And he's got a very compelling case. Bittman points out that nationally we consume 50 gallons of the stuff per person each year, a ridiculous level that appears ... More >>

Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Today's Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections on Wednesday. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is ... More >>

The Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Today's Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections on Wednesday. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is ... More >>

A Conversation with Baker Jim Lahey His Recipe for No-Knead Bread

Sarah GoodfriendBaker Jim Lahey​Baker Jim Lahey, owner of New York's Sullivan Street Bakery and author of the recently published cookbook My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method, was in town the other day on a brief 2 day leg of his current book tour. He sat down with us to talk a ... More >>

Adventures With Frozen Sperm