Wines for the Times

Premium Chocolate Holds Steady

Even in a recession, consumers shell out cash for popular premium chocolate, but the variety they purchase depends on its value, quality and manufacturer.

Premium Tuna Sells for $104,400 in Auction

Two sushi bar owners paid more than $100,000 for a Japanese bluefin tuna at a Tokyo fish auction, several times the average price and the highest in nearly a decade.

Perseverance Answers Vegans' Prayers

Seth Tibbott, inventor of Tofurky and founder and president of Turtle Island Foods, on how he got to where he is today.

For 2009, a To-Do List for Wine

Taste a flight, find a new store and lose that old corkscrew. A checklist of 20 things to try this year.

• Video: Wine-Related Things to Do This Year

Making Fernet-Branca Easier to Drink

Eric Felten suggests a cocktail using Fernet-Branca, which despite its undrinkability seems to be enjoying a new-found fashionability.

High-Rated, Bargain-Priced Wines

Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher on delicious bargain-priced wines, including high-rated bottles for $10 or less.

• Video: This Year's Best Bargain Wines
• Wine Notes: Putting Tastes Into Words

Putting Tastes Into Words

Exclamations like "That's good!" or "This is awful!" are the bottom line when it comes to wine descriptions. But if you want to start breaking down tastes, think about what you're sensing and write it down.

Gastropolis: Food and New York City

In "Gastropolis," what should be a book about the food melting pot in New York City sometimes morphs into an academic pot luck.

Drinking the Chicago Way

Eric Felten on how the Cohasset Punch -- a drink named after the town of Cohasset, Mass. -- came to be the definitive Chicago cocktail.

2008's Most Thrilling Wines

Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher's yearly round-up of their "Delicious"-rated wines: the ones that not only taste good, but are genuinely exciting.

• Video: Favorite Nine of 2008

Hosting a Holiday Party on a Budget

For those on a holiday budget, here are seven cost-saving tips for throwing a fete without losing flair.

Tasting Seasonal Brews

In the past few years, brewers have rolled out more holiday beers. A look at some seasonal brews blended with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

For Eateries, Oatmeal Is Hotter

Jamba Juice plans to serve oatmeal at its Chicago locations, as restaurants turn to the breakfast staple.

Scoring a Pizza Delivery Via Facebook

We tested some of the digital ordering methods offered by major pizza chains to see if technology offers an edge when ordering a pizza pie.

Champagnes That Pair Nicely With Food

Nonvintage Brut sparklers add effervescence to parties -- but don't hesitate to enjoy them at dinner, too.

• Video: Toasting With Bubbly
• Wine Events | Wine Notes

Reviving the Martini's Lost Ancestor

On the evolution of the Martinez, a drink that soon came to be known by the more popular name Martini.

Just Asking… Alinea Chef Grant Achatz

The molecular gastronomy maestro talks about cooking with Thomas Keller, the downside of celebrity-chef status and his favorite cheap comfort foods.

• Eating Out: Savoring a 25-Course Meal

Home for the Holidays

A list of kitchen tools worth investing in if you're an ardent home-cook.

The Way to a Man's Heart? These Wines

A look at what single, young men are drinking these days.

Italy Ponies Up the Cheddar for Parmigiano

While the world is bailing out banks and car companies, Italy is coming to the rescue of parmigiano cheese.

• Photos: Italy's Cheese Bailout
• Video: The Making of Parmigiano

Giving the Wonderful World of Wine

A sampler case of 12 wines from across the globe makes a palate-pleasing holiday gift.

• Video: A World-Wide Sampler

The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2009

"The Best of America's Test Kitchen" is a lucidly written and beautifully illustrated volume with 200 of the editors' top annual recipe picks.