Vacation Rental: Modern Zen Studio Cottage in Temescal, Oakland, California
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Price: From $95 per night
Why We Wanna Cook Here: Cozy morning vibes.
Okay, so you can’t really cook much in this tiny kitchen, but it has a mini fridge and a microwave, which means you can make bacon and eggs. And it’s a five-minute walk from shops, cafes, and restaurants in the Temescal neighborhood, making takeout a totally feasible option.
Ever notice how some arguments have had the same opposing sides for what seems like all of time? We’re exploring the discourse around common kitchen arguments in our series on ancient debates and food rivalries. There are always two sides to a story, and sometimes everyone’s right.
Have you ever gotten into a good-natured screaming match with someone you’ve only known for two-and-a-half days? We did. It was about pizza.
It won’t be surprising that we met at a program dedicated to food writing. Predictably conversations centered on food, and on the 4th of July, the topic wandered into pizza. We were off.
At the heart of a cheese ball is, of course, the cheese, so it’s important that the cheese used is a great one if you want stellar results. Almost any cheese can be transformed into a party-friendly ball, but we have a few favorites that we always turn to when building our creation. Here are our top five picks.
After marching down every aisle at the Winter Fancy Food Show this week, I realized that some of my favorite bites were decidedly cheesy and savory, helping to counteract the endless booths of cookies and chocolates.
If you also love cheese snacks, check out these new ways to devour them all day long. And look for them to start popping up in grocery and specialty stores soon.
Planning a first birthday for your own little one? Attending a first birthday party as a semi-enthusiastic guest and helpful cake-maker? You’ll want to read these stories before that wonderful 365th day.
When it comes to our favorite Chinese foods, the path from China to our plates isn’t as straightforward as you’d think. Several books that have come out in recent years — such as Chop Suey, Chop Suey USA, and Chow Chop Suey (no joke!) — tell the story of a uniquely American cuisine that was born out of a complex relationship between Chinese immigrants and their host country. (There is currently an excellent exhibit on this very topic at the Museum of Food and Drink in New York City.)
Turns out, going into the restaurant business was one way that Chinese transplants established themselves in a country that, through racial discrimination and harsh immigration policies, made it extremely difficult to do so.
Every January the Winter Fancy Food Show descends on San Francisco, and thousands of booths and people fill the city’s vast convention center. It takes days to walk down every aisle and see and sample the latest drinks, snacks, gourmet foods, and ingredients. It’s the place to spot the food trends for the coming year: Is matcha still in? Is coconut water on its way out?
Both my feet and taste buds were completely worn out at the end of every visit, but I wouldn’t want to have been anywhere else. Here are some of my favorite offerings from this year’s show. (And yes, matcha is still very much in!)
I can’t tell you how many of my friends store their slow cookers on top of their upper cabinets. Sure, that space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling would otherwise go wasted, but I can’t figure out why people think that is the place for a heavy and cumbersome electronic appliance.
I get that maybe these folks don’t use their slow cooker every day, or even every week, so it might not make the most sense to let it take up valuable real estate on the counter.
But there’s a better home for it!
The beauty of including cheese balls in your appetizer spread is their simplicity and ease of preparation. In fact, cheese balls don’t require a recipe so much as they do some good ingredient inspiration, while following a four-step assembly process. Even so, there are a few missteps that have the potential to stand in the way of making a cheese ball that’s a total win.
(Image credit: Rotem Raffe)
Vacation Rental: Luxury Casita in Rockridge Garden, Oakland, California
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Price: from $159 per night; 2-night minimum
Why We Wanna Cook Here: Our reason for loving this place is less about cooking and more about grilling. Scroll down! Did you see that patio?
We know what you’re thinking: “This isn’t a kitchen! It’s a bedroom!” But look at the far wall and you’ll see a cute kitchenette with a mini-fridge, a tea and coffee bar (with a French press and free locally roasted coffee and teas), and a sink (thank goodness!). The best part isn’t in this photo, though — it’s the grill.
