Food

Big Question

Don't "Chai" and "Tea" Both Mean the Same Thing?

Next time you order a chai tea from your corner coffee shop, take a moment and appreciate your killer multi-lingual skills. After all, etymologically speaking, the words “chai” and “tea” refer to exactly the same thing, just in different languages. So what’s the deal? Almost five thousand years ago, when folks in China started sipping a yummy, steeped beverage made from dried leaves and buds, different regions had different names for it. Most Chinese languages, including Mandarin and... READ ON

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What Are You Looking At?

Quick, what's this a picture of? Here's a hint: it's not a bird and it is a food product. In fact, it used to live under the ocean before it was cooked and photographed. Give up? OK, it's a shrimp's tail. Caren Alpert has lots of other awesome microscopic images of food stuffs over on her page for your viewing pleasure, including Oreos, Life Savers, Cake Sprinkles and pineapple leaves. It's interesting how some of them make you hungry while others are just the type of thing to ruin your... READ ON

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Art From Used Chewing Gum

Most of us only think about chewing gum on the sidewalk when it sticks to our shoes, but if you live in North London, that gum stain on the sidewalk might just be a tiny masterpiece. Artist Ben Wilson has been turning nasty spots of used chewing gum into miniature paintings in the North London neighborhood of Muswell Hill. While many people don't notice his tiny city adornments, those who do tend to appreciate the colorful works of whimsy spicing up the otherwise dull city streets. [Image courtesy of... READ ON

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The Chef Who Plays With His Food

If you think this is a picture of nachos, you'd be forgiven. That was most certainly the intention of Homaro Cantu when he created the dish. But the apparent chips with hamburger and cheese seen above are actually an elaborate dessert. The chips are actually candy. The beef is chocolate and the highlight of the treat is the mango sorbet that is frozen with liquid nitrogen and shredded to look like cheese. As the patron enjoys the dessert, the sorbet even starts to melt, resembling the melting cheese you'd... READ ON

List

10 Movie-Inspired Cakes Worth Filming

Whether prepping for a geeky friend’s birthday party, celebrating the release of a film you’ve been dying to see or as part of a fun wedding reception, movie-themed cakes are always in good taste.”These ten creations go beyond fandom and into a whole new realm of cake design mastery. 1. Kung Fu... READ ON

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Crazy Canstruction Creations

Most people take shopping displays for granted, but the artists who compete at Canstruction competitions show just how awesome these stacks of groceries can be. If you're one of the naysayers who thinks it's a waste of time, there's more going on at this contest than the math and art skills it takes to make these amazing sculptures. The contest is also an opportunity to collect cans of food for charities to help feed the hungry. If you're interested, Canstruction events occur all over the U.S. and... READ ON

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What to Do When Life Hands You Lemons

Lemons might be sour, but the number of ways they can help you around the house is pretty sweet. Here's a lengthy collection of 55 uses for lemons that covers everything from improving your appearance to treating sore throats to helping you out with spring cleaning. I can add one more to the list. One of my favorite household lemon uses is to remove stains in old Tupperware (mine were all tomato sauce-colored before I learned this trick). Just cut the fruit in half and use it to scrub out stained... READ ON

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Tasting a $777 Burger

Most of us wouldn't order a meal that costs more than, say, $555. But for those who scoff at that price tag, the Paris Casino in Las Vegas has you covered—with a hamburger that costs more than the average American's paycheck. How can a burger be so pricey? By combining Kobe beef, lobster, caramelized onions, brie, pancetta and 100-year-old balsamic vinegar...oh, and by being served alongside a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon Champagne. A few bloggers from NPR were invited to test the burger. While their... READ ON

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Too Many Christmas Leftovers? Smear Them on Your Face

Holidays that involve feasts, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas, also tend to involve massive amounts of leftovers. While some people, myself included, relish the leftovers and the delicious sandwiches they become a part of, others can't stand leftovers or simply can't eat all of them. For those people, skin and beauty expert Stacy Cox suggests using your side dishes and desserts for less traditional purposes. She says that pumpkin pies can be used for exfoliating skin treatments while cranberries... READ ON

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The Thanksgiving Turkey Cake

While we're still years away from housing an entire meal inside of a gumball, a la Willy Wonka, a recent Chow article shows just how to incorporate a whole Thanksgiving meal into one cake. If you thought the picture above looked a little strange, just wait until you learn what the layers are made of. The first is a sort of turkey loaf, topped with a mashed potato filling and a quick spread of cranberry sauce. The next layer is made of stuffing shoved on top of the cranberry sauce, which is then covered... READ ON