Emeril Lagasse

Holiday feasts with the family call for large, important roasts — that's something I learned long ago from the late cookbook author Sheila Lukins. Make it something succulent and impressively large, like a beef Wellington or a rack of lamb, which can be shared and passed around the table.

If you're not an expert at roasts, don't dish out valuable dollars on a piece of beef tenderloin that you'll risk overcooking. Instead, stick to a more basic (and affordable) cut like pork loin. This Latin-inflected citrus, cumin, and cilantro recipe serves up to eight and will leave guests reaching for seconds — but it won't set you back more than $25. For the recipe, read more.

At the opening of the Barneys holiday window display, we chatted with some of the hottest chefs to see how they have a foodie holiday. Watch our video and learn Jamie Oliver and Emeril Lagasse's most important cooking tips. Find out how Paula Deen, Anne Burrell, and other celebrity chefs celebrate the holidays in their home kitchens. Looking to host your own Ultimate Foodie Holiday? Then enter to win our awesome giveaway!

If you're not a fan of pumpkin desserts but want to stun guests with a seasonal finish, make this buttermilk spice cake with walnut cream cheese frosting. It's layers of moist-fluffy cake with smooth-rich frosting and a nice crunch from the toasted walnuts. The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice is found in classic pumpkin pie, and here it's used in the buttermilk-based cake batter. However, without the over powering pumpkin puree, the rich, nutty, and earthy flavor of the spices is found in each bite of cake. Bake and assemble the day before you plan on serving it, because it tastes even better the second day! To experiment with this cake, get the recipe after the jump.

It's time for my absolute favorite party of the year: my birthday party! It's coming up on Thursday, Sept. 16, and although 29 is not a milestone, that doesn't mean I'm not doing something special. Yes, it will be more low-key than the elaborate five-course dinner I hosted last year. In fact, it will be an intimate affair in Spain! I'm treating myself to some rest and relaxation at a friend's house on the coast of Cadiz. While there, we'll invite people over for an informal Sunday dinner. Since the guests will be Spanish, I want to serve all-American cuisine with a Tex-Mex twist.

We'll start with homemade queso and fish tacos. The queso pairs well with tortilla chips and icy cold beer. Thanks to Giada De Laurentiis's creativity, the fish tacos are miniature! For the main course, I'll grill turkey burgers with chipotle salsa. Yum! Mixed greens tossed with pico de gallo are on the side. Interested in the recipes I'll be using? Read them after the break.

The Fourth of July falls on a Sunday this year, and that means there's no excuse not to throw a party! Gather up a group of friends, light the barbecue, and prepare a delicious feast of eats. Start things off with two finger food favorites: lemon-herb grilled shrimp and grilled jalapeño poppers. Since no one can ever decide between chicken or ribs, please everyone and offer barbecued ribs and chicken with a tangy homemade sauce as the main course. Corn on the cob with parmesan butter and tomato and feta salad are two easy, but scrumptious side dishes.

To take a look at these classic recipes that are perfect for your all-American celebration, keep reading.

Emeril Lagasse is back in a big way: Martha helped save his empire, and this Summer he'll return to the Food Network with Emeril's Fresh Food Fast on the brand-new Cooking Channel. On top of it all, we've just learned he'll be starring in a pilot for a new game show on CBS.

The still-untitled project is a hybrid cooking show and game show. For a prize, members of the studio audience will face off at the stove under the guidance of Emeril himself. According to Deadline, the pilot could potentially replace the CBS departing daytime soap As the World Turns.

Although his pork fat-and-garlic laden cooking isn't my favorite style, I'm happy to see that Emeril — one of the very first TV successes of his culinary generation — is returning to his roots. Would you tune in to watch this game show?

The demos, food, and cocktails weren't the only things at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. There's also the tents, the people, and the beach. Basically, there was a lot going on! From celebrity chef sightings to late-night parties, I snapped photos of it all. At one point, I had total sensory overload. To get a better look at the event, I've put together a large gallery of images.

Check it out after the break.

While I've watched his television shows countless times, before the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, I had never seen Emeril Lagasse live. I wasn't disappointed: his demonstration was packed and the energetic chef was absolutely fabulous! He made Brazilian fish stew and talked about the importance of tasting your food while cooking. He also recommends seasoning everything with salt and pepper, including the individual vegetables in a salad. Lagasse served the stew with plain white rice and spent a lot of time discussing this sometimes overlooked side dish. To see his technique for cooking the best pot of rice ever, read more