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The Salt
Building A Rover Of The Edible Kind
December 18, 2012 If you've ever wanted to eat a replica of the Mars rover Curiosity that made history this summer, here's your chance. A Caltech chef made one out of gingerbread, and it's on display in the lobby of the Athenaeum, a faculty and staff club on the Caltech campus.
The Salt
Wine And Food May Rekindle Love Lost Between Russia And Georgia
December 17, 2012 Many Russians will join their Georgian neighbors in feasting on Georgian specialties for St. Barbara's Day. But the countries' political relations have led to restrictions on imports of Georgian wine and mineral water. A recent thawing offers hope for a sweeter future.
The Salt
Not Just For Coffee Anymore: The Rise Of Caffeinated Foods
December 17, 2012 Are we getting "Jack'd"? A surge in new caffeine-containing foods leads to new questions about just how much caffeine we're getting in our daily lives. Some advocates are calling for labeling, and they raise concerns about children's and teens' consumption.
The Salt
Your Kitchen Trash Reborn As Abstract Art
December 15, 2012 Empty, forgotten, forlorn — the curbside recycling bin can seem like a sort of existential low point for all those soda bottles, tin cans, egg cartons and other containers whose contents we consume. But then – voila! Sorted for recycling, they become a thing of beauty.
The Salt
Archaeologists Find Ancient Evidence Of Cheese-Making
December 13, 2012 Scientists have detected milk fat on 7,000-year-old pottery vessels from archaeological sites in Northern Europe. They think it's the earliest evidence of cheese-making, and they argue dairy products gave early farmers an evolutionary edge.
The Salt
A Sign From Above? Needing New Roof, Monks Sell Rare Beer In U.S.
December 12, 2012 Westvleteren 12, a Belgian beer often called the best in the world, officially hits U.S. store shelves for the first time Wednesday. But fans of the beer may want to act quickly: The Trappist monks who brew it are only selling enough overseas to raise money to pay for a new roof and other renovations.
The Salt
Want To Find A Restaurant That Treats Workers Well? There's An App For That
December 10, 2012 The latest addition to the field of smartphone apps that help people eat responsibly is designed for diners who care about the plight of the people who prepare and serve the meals. The restaurants were rated on pay, sick days, and opportunities for advancement.
The Salt
U.S. Olive Oil Makers Say Imports Aren't Always So 'Extra Virgin'
December 6, 2012 Across the U.S., olive oil production is expanding. But domestic product accounts for only a small sliver of olive oil sold in the U.S. American producers say their foreign competitors aren't playing fair. One issue: mislabeling.
The Salt
A Hidden Hanukkah Tale Of A Woman, An Army And Some Killer Cheese
December 4, 2012 Many Jewish families celebrate with foods such as latkes and donuts that are fried in oil, to honor a holiday miracle. But some Jews also eat dishes like blintzes and kugels that are made with cheese. How did cheese make it onto the menu? The story starts with a beautiful widow.
The Salt
Caught: Lobster Cannibals Captured On Film Along Maine Coast
December 3, 2012 Gotcha! An underwater camera caught large Maine lobsters gobbling up their younger brethren along the coastline. Biologists think this turn to cannibalism may be due to a recent spike in the Maine's lobster population, combined with a decrease in the numbers of their natural predators.
The Salt
Mark Rice-Ko: Where Food and Rothko Meet In Delicious Harmony
November 30, 2012 Troubled artist Mark Rothko famously hated the rich and glamorous. These were the same people who were expected to see his art in New York's Four Seasons restaurant in a project commissioned back in the 1950s; he never completed the work. Recently, two modern artists decided to interpret these Rothko works in colored rice for the rest of us.
The Salt
Tastier Winter Tomatoes, Thanks To A Boom In Greenhouse Growing
November 29, 2012 Just because it's cold doesn't mean we should have to give up delicious tomatoes. The "buy-local" movement has spurred a boom in greenhouse grown winter tomatoes in cold climates from Jackson Hole, Wyo., to Madison, Maine. And it uses less water and less land than conventional methods.
The Salt
Guerrilla Cartographers Put Global Food Stats On The Map
November 28, 2012 The mapmakers have amassed some 80 maps for Food: An Atlas, ranging from surplus in Northeast Italy to meat production in Maryland. The goal is to spread information about various food systems so they can be adapted locally.
The Salt
Real Chefs Grind It With A Mortar And Pestle
November 25, 2012 With mixers, blenders and food processors found in most kitchens, the primitive mortar and pestle may seem out of place. But the Stone Age tool can't be beat when it comes to creating tasty salsas, pestos and curries, chefs say.
The Salt
Why Greek Yogurt Makers Want Whey To Go Away
November 21, 2012 That extra-thick, rich taste of Greek yogurt is popular, but you get it by creating lots of waste. For every pound of authentic strained Greek yogurt, there are 2 or 3 pounds of liquid whey. And getting rid of it can be expensive.