Feature Why Do Beans Make You Gassy? And how to stop the toots. Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you ingest large … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Are Oysters Really an Aphrodisiac? There are more effective ways to get in the mood. No matter how far we progress as a civilization, one pursuit that … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is a Bain Marie? All about your cheesecake’s best friend. Anyone who’s hard-boiled an egg knows that they can go from firm and creamy to rubbery … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Do Twinkies Really Last Forever? The end of the world will not be full of snack cakes. “When the world comes to an end, all that will … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between Greek and Turkish Coffee? Don’t tell the Turks and Greeks, but they’re more similar than different. Crowned with dark foam, delightfully bitter, and silty as fresh … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Why Do We Call It Dry Wine? Behind the paradoxical wine lingo we’ve swallowed forever. “Anything as long as it’s dry” has been the American wine drinker’s mantra for … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Does Fresh Fish Really Make the Best Sushi? Most of the seafood that goes into your sushi is actually aged—intentionally and not. It’s a romantic idea: tuna bought fresh at … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented Carrot Cake? It had nothing to do with cutting back on sugar. Maybe you’ve been told that carrot cake was a way for beleaguered … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented the English Muffin? They’re not really muffins, but the term sounded better than “griddle cake.” Samuel Bath Thomas, an Englishman who migrated to the United … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature How Did Ketchup Become the Default American Condiment? It’s in almost every American kitchen. But it comes from the other side of the world. Mayo may be the top-selling condiment … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between a Crisp and a Cobbler? They’re actually completely distinct desserts. The terms “crisp,” “cobbler,” and “crumble” often get used interchangeably, but if you dig into their origins, … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between Tamari and Soy Sauce? The important thing to know about the sainted sauce of hippies and gluten-free eaters. For people avoiding or abstaining from gluten, tamari … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Pancake Syrup Made Of? How a sweetener with zero maple flavoring winds up tasting like maple syrup. One crisp morning in the fall of 2005, dozens … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Hainanese Chicken? A little island off the coast of China turns poached chicken into something extraordinary. The United States may be all about fried … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Paprika? The red powder has a history way beyond Hungarian food and deviled eggs. You might think of paprika as an age-old spice … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Brown Butter? The baker’s secret to better cookies and cornbread. Whether you’re pan-searing fish or baking a pan of cornbread, you might have come … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Served the First Doughnut In America? Hint: It starts with the Dutch word for “oily cakes.” Though the doughnut seems like a quintessentially American invention, it’d be more … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda? And why your cake never rose in the oven. It happens to everyone: You make a perfect cake batter, and as you … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Where Was the First Tailgate Party? Do you need a car and a parking lot to do it? Here’s a philosophical question for you: If you don’t watch … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Mortadella Exactly? Is the fancy Italian deli meat worth the hype, or is it all just baloney? Once an obscure element of Italian charcuterie … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Neapolitan-Style Pizza? And why it’s so tricky to make right at home. The Italian definition for Neapolitan pizza is both incredibly vague and neurotically … Story: Max Falkowitz
