Photo: dbking/Flickr
LOCAL BITES
How to Cinco
Today is Cinco de Mayo, a day of celebration commemorating the Mexican militia’s victory over the French in 1862. Translation: a day of revelry, festive food and drink. Looking for ‘food ways’ to celebrate? How2Heroes offers loads of ideas. Learn how to make Chiles en Nogada (poblanos in walnut sauce), Mexican Black Beans, Beef Empanadas, Chicken Enchiladas Verde or Chicken Chicharrones. Don’t forget the margaritas.
Antique Cookbooks
Here’s your chance to buy an early printing of the Joy of Cooking or maybe a rare cookbook of wartime cuisine: The Boston Book and Paper Expo, this Saturday, May 7, at Shriner’s auditorium in Wilmington. The event has promised variety of over 90 exhibitors, including vendors it says are like little book stores. Admission is $7, but students with a college ID and those under 17 get in free.
Beyond Chicken
Yesterday, while sitting in a coffee shop, I overheard someone saying she only eats chicken. She said she loves fish but never eats it because she doesn’t know how to cook it. If you can relate, Culinary Underground in Southborough offers courses in Sustainable Seafood Cookery, vegetarian raw cuisine, and more. The school teaches weeknight and weekend courses for kids, teen and adults. Summer registration is underway. Check out the class calendar here.
History Lesson
Take a historic culinary tour at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington on May 28th at 2 p.m. Kathy Fitzgerald and Keith Stavely, authors of books on New England food and culinary history, will present “Pottages and Pippin Tarts: The Surprising Story Behind a Typical Diner Meal.” The event is meant to celebrate the museum’s exhibition, Night Road: Photos of Diners by John D. Woolf. The lecture is free, for more information call the museum at (781) 861-6559.
NATIONAL TREATS
Churchill Downs-the-Hatch
Just when you had thought you’d had your fill of women’s hats from the royal wedding, the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday. Take refuge in the food traditions, instead. Vera Westbrook at Culinate has explained the Mint Julep tradition and includes a recipe for the trying.
Breakfast in Bed
Does every Mom dream of getting served breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day? That fantasy probably consists of a well-dressed, well-groomed, Master Cook spouse serving up a feast, with well-behaved children in tow who deliver freshly picked flowers and orange juice. Saveur magazine plays into this vision with a breakfast in bed menu and list of its 16 favorite breakfast recipes. In reality, you might want to post a few print outs on the fridge so you don’t end up with burnt toast and cereal.
Caffeine and Pacifiers
This is such a timely and well-written article from Stefanie Gans of the Washington Post: a mix of new, working mothers in the restaurant and food business and how they juggle baby and plate.
James Beard Awards
Who’s going to win this year? Daniel Maurer of Grub Street presented two publications that think their predictions will ring true.