Free Republic

Takeout contributor Danny Palumbo recently wrote about how the fries at beloved West coast burger chain In-N-Out are very bad. Those are his words, not mine. These are now my words, not his: The fries at In-N-Out are bad. I still eat them, though, usually animal-style (mostly out of novelty, and yes, I know, I know, the fries get weird when the cheese starts cooling off, but I’m well aware of what I’m getting into). I get the obsession with In-N-Out. The burgers are awesome, and I love my Double-Doubles, animal-style. If I’m in an area that has an In-N-Out,...

Jenny Wu is trying to give me a lot of stuff for free. She’s the owner of The Red Pearl, a beloved Chinese restaurant in downtown Boulder Creek, the gateway to what’s left of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Wu lost her house in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires and temporarily shuttered her restaurant due to the fires and pandemic, and recently her business was robbed. But here she is, shoving extra egg rolls in with my order, and dashing across the restaurant to the refrigerator, insisting I take a soda, or how about two? No charge. It’s not...

Fancy Feast isn’t just for your cat anymore. The cat food brand -- owned by Purina -- announced earlier this week that it has released a cookbook for humans to celebrate the release of its new line of single-serve entrees, Petites. The "Fancy Feast Petites Feast Cookbook" is free to download online and includes 12 single-serve recipes inspired by Petites, so humans can enjoy dinner alongside their pets. "Mealtime is a bonding experience," the introduction to the cookbook says. "We sit at a dining table with our family, we gather with friends. Now Fancy Feast is asking you to extend...

When it comes to cognitive longevity, drinking a daily cup of tea is one of the tastiest, cheapest, and healthiest habits. Whichever type of tea you prefer, whether hot or iced, each sip is doing your body a favor. Different herbal teas offer different health benefits. Chamomile, for example, is linked to helping keep blood sugar levels steady and alleviating the symptoms of PMS. Yerba mate tea offers a natural energy boost. And on the beautiful Greek island of Ikaria, locals sip on savory teas steeped with herbs often overlooked in other parts of the world. Ikaria is a so-called...

Common kitchen wisdom dictates that hard-boiled eggs must be “shocked” in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and make them easier to peel, but only half of this is true, and the other half can be easily mitigated, meaning you can leave the ice in the freezer. Plunging hot eggs into a bowl of ice water has absolutely no affect on their peel-ability. I know this because I have recently been cooking and eating a massive number of hard-boiled eggs, and nary an ice cube has been used to accomplish their peeling. The only water temperature that affects...

Pasta makes everything better. This we know. But in the ancient villages of Sardinia, where the art of handmade pasta is practically a sacred ritual, there are ancestral, mouth-watering secrets that even the finest fettuccine can’t hold a candle to. We’re talking about the most beautiful and intricate shapes you’ve never seen; braided, stretched, twisted and crocheted using mesmerising bygone techniques. Did you know there’s only three women who still make one of the rarest pasta on earth? These are the disappearing recipes of Italian elders, passed down for generations by Sardinian and Italian women (and maybe a few men...

Last year, this newspaper said that “Marmite is having a massive foodie moment”, after noticing that the divisive yeast extract was increasingly featuring as an ingredient, rather than simply being smeared on toast. Yes, Marmite has come into its own. As a sandwich filling, it remains polarising, but as an ingredient it is much more subtle, lending a warm, umami bite to all manner of dishes – as demonstrated by the 10 magnificent recipes below. Marmite and thyme roast potatoes We will start with my all-time favourite Marmite recipe, as discovered on a Guardian readers’ recipe swap six years ago:...

I was at a meeting once where someone mentioned that people will argue about the silliest things, even something as simple as where you can get the best pizza. My mind screamed, “Hey, wait a minute, that is a legitimate subject to debate!” You could argue about thick crust, thin crust, toppings, sauce, dine-in, take out, bake-at-home, cut in squares, cut in triangles— the list goes on. We pizza-eaters are very opinionated. Since pizza wasn’t the reason for the meeting and since I already know where to buy the best pizza, I politely kept my thoughts to myself. Young people...

Even though we understand the impulse to want to start eating grilled cheese as soon as possible, don’t rush the cooking process. Moderate heat allows the cheese inside to fully melt without burning the outsides. Ingredients MAKES 2 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature 2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley ½ garlic clove, finely grated ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 4 thick slices Pullman or other sandwich bread 4 oz. sharp cheddar coarsely grated Preparation Step 1 Mix butter, parsley, garlic, salt, and several grinds of pepper in a small bowl until...

New Jersey is a wonderfully diverse place. Though a relatively small state, it has the highest population density in the U.S. It's also brimming with an immense amount of Italian-American residents. I'm half-Italian, but I didn't grow up speaking a lick of the mellifluous tongue. From pizza and pasta to "The Sopranos," I was raised in a place where the notion of Italy is celebrated. However, it took me some time to note that this was not Italian culture, per se, but a slightly different "sect" altogether — an Italian-American history and culture that's rich in and of itself. It...

Tater Tot Waffles with Smoked Salmon and Caviar. Here, Jen Pelka tops tater tot waffles with caviar and smoked salmon, creating a delicious and decadent dish that’s ideal with Champagne.

VIDEOIn a previous video (link below) on how to prepare Pollo Rojo, I converted very ordinary chicken leg quarters into a gourmet delight via the magic of achiote marinade blended with guajillo. In this video, I take it to the next level on the barbecue by adding guajillo sauce on top of the chicken along with shredded sharp cheddar cheese in the final 10 minutes of the smoking process. You can see my review of the result.

The Hut Traditional Fish and Chips, in Warwick Terrace in Silksworth, has often sold out the dish after the delicacy found new a following on social media. A bread bun, sliced and filled with chips and topped with curry sauce or gravy, is then closed, dipped in batter and deep fried, with the result a crispy carb-fest of a lunch or dinner. The shop also offers an ‘extras’ version, where other items are added such as a burger, cheese, chilli or beans – even Mars Bars during a Christmas offer – with the business promising: “You name it, we will...

VIDEOAchiote marinade is a big game changer for barbecuing chicken and other meats. However, adding a guajillo marinade to the mix provides a very tasty heat level equivalent to that from jalapeno. This video shows how to prepare and mix both the achiote and guajillo marinade. The result is not only highly pleasing to the taste but also provides a pleasant chili glow in the chest up to the ears.Brining:2 tbsp kosher salt 2 tsp crushed thymeGuajillo marinade:8 dried guajillo chiles 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp crushed peppercorn 3...

I am a bit of a grilled cheese purist. I like mine on white bread, slathered with butter (not mayo), and filled with gooey, processed American cheese. A good havarti is also acceptable if the mood dictates a touch of luxury, but harder, acidic cheeses like cheddar or parm are not allowed—unless you’re putting them on the outside of the sandwich. he qualities that make parmesan, cheddar, and other hard cheeses like them so poorly suited for the inside of a grilled cheese are what make them so well suited for the outside. Because of their low-ish pH, these cheeses...

Aunt Jemima will soon become a relic of the past. The pancake brand’s parent company, PepsiCo, Inc., announced it is rebranding Aunt Jemima to Pearl Milling Company. In a press release issued Tuesday, the food and beverage giant revealed the line of pancake mix and syrup will maintain its signature red color alongside the new brand name and logo, but it will have no reference to the Aunt Jemima brand.

New UC Riverside research shows soybean oil not only leads to obesity and diabetes, but could also affect neurological conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Used for fast food frying, added to packaged foods, and fed to livestock, soybean oil is by far the most widely produced and consumed edible oil in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In all likelihood, it is not healthy for humans. Chart depicts consumption of edible oils in the U.S. for 2017/18. (USDA)

Anyone in the mood for salmon? A new study finds higher omega-3 levels in the bloodstream may reduce one’s risk of dying from a COVID-19 infection. Conducted by the Fatty Acid Research Institute in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers in Los Angeles and Orange County, these findings are the first to uncover direct evidence linking omega-3 fatty acids with improved coronavirus health outcomes. Numerous scientists had theorized that omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial for COVID-19 patients, but all of that was ultimately conjecture at best. The new study involved blood samples taken from 100 COVID-19 patients taken to a...

I was taught in medical school that coronary artery disease (CAD), or the blockages that can choke off blood flow to the heart, progresses from minor “streaks” in youth, to visible plaques young adulthood, and on to complicated plaques and major problems later in life. During my training the arrow always pointed towards heart disease advancing and never reversing. This is just not true! Indeed, for nearly 3 decades it has been known that just as arteries can worsen with time, they can also improve rapidly. Some of the measures to achieve this are presented here. Statin Medication While reversal...

Potassium is an important nutrient for many body processes. Bananas are a well-known source of potassium, but many other foods contain just as much — if not more — of this nutrient. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid and blood levels in the body. Many fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of potassium. Meat, milk, yogurt, and nuts are also good sources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a diet high in potassium and low in sodium — an electrolyte in table salt and processed foods — can lower blood pressure and reduce the...