champagne

• 30 amazing and easy ways to upgrade ramen noodles. — Serious Eats
• The author of Modernist Cuisine attempts to translate his food to the masses on The Today Show. — Grub Street NY
• 20 recipes for vegan comfort food. — Chow
• Bill Buford's book Heat about working the line in Mario Batali's kitchens is becoming a movie. — Eater
• How Jay-Z changed one Champagne house forever. — The Atlantic
• Fast and easy dinner idea: salmon with couscous. — The Kitchn
• San Jose, CA, is the latest city to get its very own food truck festival. — The Feast SF
• What's so great about quinoa anyway? — Huffington Post Food

Afer a long day, a glass of wine may just be what's in order, especially since so many studies have proven it to be so good for us. In fact, alcohol in general has certain health benefits, like reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as well as decreasing the risk of developing gallstones. However, all these happy benefits come with a huge caveat: they are only seen in moderate drinkers (which for women means one glass a day). Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of breast cancer as well as a host of other well-known alcohol-related problems.

Wine is one of the best ways to celebrate the benefits from one-a-day drinking. But not all wine is equal, and there are definite cons to go along with all those antioxidant pros in your glass.

Are you a fan of red, white, or bubbly? Read on to find out what the pros and cons of your drink of choice are.

When one hears the words "classic cocktails," martinis and Manhattans instantly come to mind. But did you know that champagne has its own signature preparation that dates back to the mid-1800s? It's a simple, but delightful combination of sugar, bitters, and sparkling wine. If making this drink to celebrate the New Year, be sure to select a good quality bubbly. It's not like a mimosa where the flavor of the sparkler will be overshadowed by orange juice; in the champagne cocktail, the bubbly is enhanced by the bitters and sugar. Read more to learn the easy technique.

If you aren't able to take our advice on preventing a hangover this New Year, here are a few tips on making it more bearable. Remember: lots of water, but mostly just time. Or, if you're PartySugar, your remedy might be another cocktail. We suggest a Bloody Mary; the vitamin C, lycopene, and hot pepper might be what it takes to get you up and moving!

• Hydrate — We cannot stress this enough. Since dehydration is a major component of a hangover, it's important to replenish with water — lots of it. If you feel like you really overdid it, have a non-sugary drink like coconut water, which will help replace lost electrolytes.
• Kill the pain — If you have a headache the next day, take an OTC pain reliever. If you can, take it after you've eaten so that you don't upset your already aggravated stomach.
• Eat — Eating food will help break down and process the alcohol in your system. It will also provide energy if you're feeling sluggish. Here are YumSugar's picks for the best hangover foods.
• Take a nap and then get up and go — Depending on how bad your hangover is, you may just need to sleep it off a little more. If you can, try and get up and get moving to sweat out all of those toxins.

• Elia was humiliated on the first episode of Top Chef All-Stars. — The Feast
• On the birth of the American cookie. — Huffington Post Food
• Watch the Franks of Frankies Sputino make their go-to dish. — Chow
• Find out what a 200-year-old bottle of Champagne tastes like. — Decanter
• A look at the fashion of New York City's female chefs. — Eater NY
• The ultimate slider recipe. — A Hamburger Today
• What a 13-course meal at award-winning Meadowood looks like. — Grub Street SF

Photo courtesy of Bravo

When it comes to hostess gifts to bring on Thanksgiving, there are seemingly endless ideas. But what should you bring if you've been invited over to dinner by the ultimate hostess? My advice: come with a bottle of Beau Joie Champagne.

This lattice bottle, which is encased by a copper suit of armor, might be the most stunning bottle of wine we've ever seen — and it's sure to be the talk of the table. What's more, that jacket isn't just a gimmick; the casing (made from 100 percent recycled scrap copper) helps to keep the Champagne colder for longer and easier to grip when pouring. It's recyclable after use, too — that is, if you can bear to part with the bottle in the first place.

But what's in the bottle is what matters — and thankfully, it's quality stuff. Made from 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay grapes from France's Epernay region, this bubbly has a yeasty, bread-like bouquet, light body, and a zippy finish. At about $80 it doesn't run cheap, but it's a hostess and holiday gift easily rolled into one. What's the most standout bottle of bubbly you've ever had?