News items you might have missed this week, some amusing, some not so much: The Anxiety of Influence. Molecular gastronomy expert Grant Achatz, in his
Good Wine Lovers, Bad Lies
The Wine Spectator’s Matt Kramer wonders why good wine lovers tell bad lies. If You Like It, It Is Good. This is, without question, the
Mindful Eating and The Quality of Pleasure
I ran across two items last week that illustrate a peculiar mistrust of pleasure in American life. The first is this article from the NY
Wine Review: Star Lane Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009
The aroma and bouquet is typical California Sauvignon Blanc—a core of tropical fruit on a bed of citrus with plenty of ginger to spice things
Irony and Chop Suey
One of the enduring memories of my childhood is a can of chicken chop suey—a mixture of chicken, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, onions,
The Travails of Wine and Food Criticism
According to a recent study, when loud music is playing, alcohol tastes sweeter and we more easily misjudge alcoholic strength. If you have spent much
Exploring the Philosophy of Food and Wine 