We had a blast at the 2012 Winter Fancy Food show that took place this past Sunday through Tuesday. We spotted so many exciting new trends and taste-tested a lot of new things. Some were really great, some (like a raw cacao bean) were really not. But either way, we appreciate any chance to be surrounded by food and people who love food. Check out some of our behind-the-scenes snaps!
I often like to make my own chickpea spread, but lately I've been leaning heavily on another plant-based purée: white bean dip. With little more than canned beans and lemon juice, it's almost easier than hummus; there's no mess of transferring tahini paste into the blender.
This recipe, courtesy of our friends Cara and Phoebe, is the right blend of rusticity, thanks to the rosemary, lemon, and garlic. Depending on my mood, I'll play around with it, switching up the herbs, taking out the garlic, or adding a dash of lemon zest into the mix. Serve the wholesome dip with flatbreads or carrot sticks for a healthy, meat-free snack. For a simple everyday appetizer recipe, keep reading.
Adapted from In the Small Kitchen: 100 Recipes From Our Year of Cooking in the Real World by Cara Eisenpress and Phoebe Lapine
Ingredients
One 15 oz. can cannellini or white beans, rinsed and drained
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more if needed
1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Makes 4 to 6 appetizer servings.
Here in the Bay Area, everybody is seriously excited for Sunday's 49ers game versus the Giants. But everybody knows that no football game can be fully enjoyed without good food and drinks. Here's an idea for a simple menu that is perfectly complemented by the cold weather we seem to be having all over the country.
Have friends and family come over to your place and throw the game on TV. Serve lime shandies (for something slightly more exciting than just a beer) and spicy cheese diablo wafers to start. Crock-Pot beef chili can be made in advance and will warm everybody up from the inside out. A refreshing seasonal citrus salad with avocado is the perfect side dish to this hearty meal, and classic chocolate brownies will keep everyone smiling, no matter the outcome of the game. Who will you be rooting for — and what will you be eating?
Heading to Philly? This Spring is a great time to check out the city — especially with Virgin America launching its low-fare, high-frills daily nonstop flights from LAX and SFO to PHL as of April 2012. Known for its tricked-out new planes, touch-screen entertainment, and amenities like fleet-wide WiFi, the airline has created a cult-like following on the coasts. And the airline's in-flight entertainment does credit to its California roots — with an iPad-like seatback touchscreen for flyers with 35 films, live TV, Google Maps, video games, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 3,000-song library, an on-demand menu, and more.
To mark the quickly growing airline's Philly launch, Virgin America first shared the news with its social media fans via a video that spotted the beloved and mysterious "Greenman" from the hit FX television show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia near a Virgin America aircraft. In addition to grabbing those super-low fares to Philly, 
visitors to the airline's Facebook page can enter for a chance to win round-trip flights and the ultimate It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan pack, consisting of seasons 1-6 DVDs, a Paddy's Pub t-shirt, the official board game, and a guide to the characters' favorite haunts. Oh, and of course, you can check out It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia en route at 35,000 feet on Virgin America.
Winter's prime time for comfort foods, and what could be more reassuring on a bleak day than truffle mac and cheese? Cooking in Pajamas expounds.
You could go to a restaurant and pay $15 for a bowl of this decadent pasta, or simply make it at home for a fraction of the price. That's right. You can make this at home for a surprisingly reasonable price. The secret is truffle oil.
The use of truffle oil has become controversial in culinary circles. Ask any chef what they think of truffle oil, and they will most likely turn up their noses and declare it to be an unacceptable substitute to the real thing. One of the biggest reasons for this is that many truffle oils on the market do not contain any actual truffles. They use a synthetic ingredient to duplicate the aroma of the truffle, but their are a few brands that contain natural truffle to infuse the oil.
Keep reading for her truffle macaroni and cheese secrets.
The 2012 Winter Fancy Food Show was filled with a lot of walking, drinking, and of course, eating. There were some obvious trends we noticed that we think are going to take hold this coming year. Given what we tasted and saw, it's going to be a great year for food! Check out what trends we spotted.
During the Winter months, it's all too easy to pine for warm weather and the Summer fruits and vegetables that go along with it. But don't overlook the fact that, as California chef Annie Somerville put it, some living forces actually flourish in cold climes! Here are five of our favorite pieces of produce this season and a few great ways to eat them.
As NFL playoffs continue and the Super Bowl approaches, show your guy some love — and score some serious points — by surprising him with a football-themed gift. Not only will he appreciate the unexpected gesture, but he'll also be grateful that you respect his sports obsession. Here are eight gift ideas for the football lover in your life.
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