Put MSG in Everything, You Cowards
By now, we should all be completely unafraid of monosodium glutamate, the umami-boosting molecule more commonly referred to as “MSG.” It will not give you headache, it will not make…
The World Health Organization Says Aspartame is Fine, Actually
The World Health Organization has said three different things about aspartame this year. First, they said not to use sweeteners like aspartame for weight loss. Next, they designated aspartame, the…
Three Unexpected Times You Should Eat Sour Patch Kids
Sour Patch Kids have always been my favorite movie candy (sorry to those who prefer Raisinets or whatever the kids are eating these days). But they can do more than…
You Should Salt Your Cheap Candy
You may have heard that things are happening, and these things are bringing up some emotions for me. I’ve been eating my feelings over the last few days, and those…
Add a Little MSG to Your Next Pickle Brine
I love the whole spectrum of pickles—sweet, sour, half-sour, etc.—but my favorite kind of pickle is one that’s so aggressively flavored, it’s almost uncomfortable to eat. I like a challenging…
Add This Not-so-Secret Ingredient to All Your Party Snacks
Photo: Claire Lower I love ham and roasts and all of the potatoes and pies, but December is, to me, Snack Season. It’s the time for texturally pleasing, salty bites,…
This One Ingredient Will Make Your Mayo More Dippable
Last week I went to the much anticipated opening of Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Benjamin Amberg’s new bar, Pacific Standard. (If you read this site regularly, you may be familiar with…
The Color of Dog Poop, and 9 Other Things That Changed Without You Noticing
It’s now widely accepted that Red Delicious apples are the worst apples. You’ll see a basket of them at every bad continental breakfast—dark red, rock hard, and tasting like a…
Eat Caviar Off the Back of Your Hand
Photo: Claire Lower A few years ago, I embarked on a dream trip to the South of France, where I took cooking lessons at La Pitchoune (Julia Child’s summer home…
You Should Sprinkle a Little MSG on Your Garlic Bread
Photo: Africa Studio (Shutterstock) “Garlic bread” can mean a lot of different things (all good, of course). The first iteration I was introduced to was white toast with Country Crock…