WFAEats

Now that we have finally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, the finalists will be determined this week, and we should all be prepared to plan our drinking accordingly. The countries that remain vying for soccer supremacy are Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and the Netherlands. All of these countries have their own drinking culture, and here with a few easy-to-make cocktails, we will give you a quick taste of each.

With summer celebrations in full swing, you may be wondering: What should I do when faced with the challenge of how to elegantly handle inelegant foods in a social setting?

Have no fear, Etta Kate is here to advise you.

One of the great things about the World Cup season is that it gets Americans thinking about other cultures. Few of us can go and experience each of these places first hand, but a great way to do it without leaving home is through the flavors of a country or region’s cuisine.

As temperatures rise, we turn to light, refreshing treats from the kitchen. With the abundance of vegetables and fruits that grow in our area, it's not hard to whip up light, cool dishes and drinks that are full of summertime flavor. Today on Charlotte Talks, a trio of guests talked about their favorite foods and beverages of the season. 

Peter Reinhart, Johnson & Wales Chef on Assignment, shares two of his summer treats. Bonus- they can be made sugar-free.
 

Circa 2008, there was a single ingredient that started making its way into just about everything: bacon. Without its magical touch, it seemed nothing would ever be the same. By god, bacon had never seen such a glorious day until it suddenly elevated every ordinary pancake, muffin, oil, chocolate bar, cocktail, or dessert into the fashionable bacon variety – who knew chocolate and bacon were long-lost lovers?!

I live with a chef.

This revelation is met with a template reaction. There’s usually a slightly uplifted chin, a sudden opening of the eyes, and a broadening of the smile. I wait to see which response I’ll get:

“Oh, so you must eat really well!”

It’s like winning an Oscar for your first film, and food writer Adrian Miller has done it: He won a James Beard award for his first book, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time. 

Welcome back to “In Good Taste,” where we explore all things mannerly pertaining to food and how to enjoy it with others. Today we’ll explain how to be the perfect dinner party guest.

Food is a telling thing. For a true venture into cultural anthropology, visit a local grocery store – preferably a mom-and-pop operation. I’ve shopped for groceries on three continents and in many states of the US. I always find interesting things to take home.

Welcome to “In Good Taste,” where we’ll explore all things mannerly pertaining to food and how to enjoy it with others. Today we’ll explain how a host can make dinner party guests feel welcomed.