My family isn't doing presents this year. Instead, each of us will cook a spectacular feast for the others during the upcoming holiday break. I want to cook a Japanese feast!! Difficulty: must be vegetarian. [more inside]
posted by Cygnet on Dec 17, 2009 - 21 answers

This Christmas, I'm giving everyone the gift of delicious and healthy home-cooked meals, but I'm blanking on how to wrap and/or present them at the Christmas Eve festivities. Everything will be pre-frozen, which probably rules out putting them by the tree with the other gifts, and the only other solution I can think of is leaving them in my car and letting everyone take theirs on the way home, which is lame. There must be a better way. [more inside]
posted by anderjen on Dec 2, 2009 - 15 answers

How can I best approximate a real Thanksgiving turkey— with chicken, a gas burner, and toaster oven? What other kinds of traditional fare can I make, given the limited ingredients available where I live? Help me have a real Thanksgiving far from home! [more inside]
posted by bookish on Nov 24, 2009 - 21 answers

What is your favorite online source for recipes? I'm looking for reliable recipes. Bonus points for the ones with recipe ratings. [more inside]
posted by Neekee on Nov 17, 2009 - 31 answers

PhillyFilter: So .... what's the story with the "Beef-and-Beer" benefit parties that I keep hearing about as a new arrival in Philadelphia? [more inside]
posted by scblackman on Nov 10, 2009 - 24 answers

I'm working on a video project about the backlash to Obama mentioning the price of arugula at Whole Foods. Can you think of any other examples, real of fictional, of food being framed as elitist or snobby? [more inside]
posted by loping on Nov 8, 2009 - 35 answers

Give me your recommendations for good bars in Berlin and Hamburg-with a few provisos! [more inside]
posted by ClanvidHorse on Nov 2, 2009 - 7 answers

Is there a Yelp-type site for restaurants in Paris (or Europe, as a whole)? [more inside]
posted by kenzi23 on Nov 1, 2009 - 9 answers

Restaurantfilter: Downtown Chicago, dinner recommendations for a couple of grad students with a foodie bent in town for a conference. [more inside]
posted by porpoise on Oct 20, 2009 - 14 answers

Cats are weird. Help me figure out if this shift in eating habits is a problem. [more inside]
posted by Scattercat on Oct 19, 2009 - 17 answers

what are 80s style foods? [more inside]
posted by askmehow on Oct 12, 2009 - 80 answers

My lovely castle cake pan is sadly suffering from disuse. Help me out with your favorite bundt cake recipes and glazes. [more inside]
posted by misha on Sep 28, 2009 - 13 answers

It's a common enough question, what should I do on my holidays in New Zealand? But we're not regular folks so finding good information has been difficult. We have 10 days in late October and we fly in and out of Auckland. We're Australian but well traveled and will most likely stay on the North Island unless some compelling information arises. We've hired a campervan and intend to travel about and camp where we can. Maybe a bed and breakfast or two. Though we are on a budget the main goal is to relax and enjoy the scenery rather than try and cram in too much. [more inside]
posted by dinoworx on Sep 27, 2009 - 8 answers

PepperIdentityFilter: I serious don't know my peppers. I was trying to pick up serranos, but picked up what looks like the pepper on the left in this image. What is this? A banana pepper? Extra points if someone knows whether if i boil this'll spice up or ruin the chili I plan on making. I plan on boiling this pepper in the sauce prior to adding the meat to it.
posted by miasma on Sep 25, 2009 - 8 answers

Where in Boston's North End should my wife and I have our anniversary dinner? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff on Sep 24, 2009 - 11 answers

I have just opened a new jar of apple butter. It was not very difficult to open at all, which surprised me. Perhaps I am paranoid, but there is also a little bit of dried apple butter under the lid of the jar. Does this mean that air got in the jar? I didn't can it myself or anything, so I have no idea when it was done. It smells fine, but that obviously isn't foolproof. Do I need to throw it out?
posted by itsonreserve on Sep 19, 2009 - 11 answers

Where can I find the best bagel in NYC? [more inside]
posted by whimsicalnymph on Sep 16, 2009 - 45 answers

I just made a huge batch of zucchini/apple muffins and they look beautiful. Unfortunately, they taste well, not horrible, but very, very baking soda-y. What should I do with them? [more inside]
posted by munichmaiden on Sep 11, 2009 - 17 answers

How can I bring homemade white chocolate cupcake toppers cross-country without melting or breaking them? [more inside]
posted by Meg_Murry on Sep 9, 2009 - 10 answers

Looking for recipes for marzipan. Actually making it, not things to do with it. [more inside]
posted by mephron on Sep 9, 2009 - 10 answers

Why doesn't food in a freezer last forever? [more inside]
posted by Phcyso on Sep 5, 2009 - 4 answers

I need to purchase hamburger toppings and condiments without knowing in advance the preferences of the diners. [more inside]
posted by Matt Arnold on Sep 4, 2009 - 31 answers

Since my FiL died, me and my good-cookin' fella have been reliving the Czech food of his childhood. While he remembers most of the dishes he has forgotten many of the recipes his old man used. Feed our imagination please and give us your best Czech recipes. [more inside]
posted by Kerasia on Sep 3, 2009 - 8 answers

It used to be that pretty much any old deli in town had those classic NY onion rolls, but lately they seem to have become increasingly hard to find. Are there still places where I can get a nice toasted onion roll with butter for breakfast, especially in the Penn Station area?
posted by monospace on Sep 2, 2009 - 5 answers

Lazy Last Minute Dinner Help: So I forgot it was my turn to cook dinner and all I have in the house are some scraps of cooked meat (chicken, lamb) and a bottle of Loyd Grossman's pre-made Korma sauce. How can I jazz this up while using up the scraps in my cupboard? Preferably stuff I can add while it simmers? [more inside]
posted by The Whelk on Aug 30, 2009 - 6 answers

My first trip to the US is coming up; having been brought up with American films and American TV shows, I am compiling a list of all the things we just don't have in the UK (mostly food) to try. Only my list isn't too long at the moment. Can any MeFites help? [more inside]
posted by Nufkin on Aug 29, 2009 - 122 answers

I just moved to Philly and I want to know what some of the best places to eat around town are. I've checked Philly Magazine, but a lot of those restaurants seem to be upscale and out of my price range. What are some affordable, good places that I should check out? I'm interested in all varieties of food, so any suggestions are welcome.
posted by Aanidaani on Aug 26, 2009 - 33 answers

I have close family in Orlando (near downtown) that have suffered a major loss. I want to have a nice meal delivered to them tomorrow night. [more inside]
posted by pearlybob on Aug 26, 2009 - 4 answers

How would you store half a tomato? [more inside]
posted by Bleusman on Aug 24, 2009 - 26 answers

Help calculate the calories/fat in my favorite NYC street food: lamb over rice. [more inside]
posted by falameufilho on Aug 19, 2009 - 9 answers

Where can we make out with French boys, what foodie things can I not miss in Paris, and what is the Kampa Park of Brussels? [more inside]
posted by IWoudDie4U on Aug 17, 2009 - 15 answers

Why do we eat leaves from plants that grow on the ground, but not from trees? [more inside]
posted by escabeche on Aug 17, 2009 - 26 answers

hotdogfilter - Why do BallPark Franks plump when you cook them? [more inside]
posted by Paleoindian on Aug 6, 2009 - 22 answers

Looking to purchase a new good quality food steamer, price no bar. [more inside]
posted by the_ancient_mariner on Aug 2, 2009 - 7 answers

Fun/Geeky things for me to do in the Bay Area next week either by myself or with my (retired but adventurous) parents? Details in extended. [more inside]
posted by kalessin on Aug 2, 2009 - 23 answers

LettuceFilter: I love those big containers of mixed small lettuce leaves - the schmancy type like this. But the red lettuce always goes bad so quickly! What can I do? [more inside]
posted by Billegible on Jul 29, 2009 - 11 answers

Turn my plain-jane banana bread into a bombshell dessert thingy. [more inside]
posted by wowbobwow on Jul 27, 2009 - 21 answers

Post-ComicConFilter: Best Sunday brunch in San Diego that's not the Hotel Del Coranado? Near downtown a plus. Views or unusual atmosphere doubleplus.
posted by The Whelk on Jul 25, 2009 - 9 answers

What is the name of this cold noodle dish? Most likely Korean or Chinese food. [more inside]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm on Jul 21, 2009 - 25 answers

Please help me identify this yummy Armenian treat. [more inside]
posted by contessa on Jul 14, 2009 - 11 answers

Is the chicken sell-by date a safety paradox? [more inside]
posted by underwater on Jul 11, 2009 - 20 answers

Where to eat in Baltimore? [more inside]
posted by ellenaim on Jul 10, 2009 - 14 answers

I like almonds (the nut) and cherries (the fruit), but once they're "processed" in any way, the flavor changes and I dislike it to the point where it'll almost make me queasy. Even baked almond slices on a croissant, for example (to a lesser extent) or something like a Yoplait natural yogurt (which I just tried and was what prompted me to write this) which actually has little bits of cherry has a component to the taste that I find really distasteful. And don't even get me started on almond or cherry "flavor". [more inside]
posted by edjusted on Jul 6, 2009 - 10 answers

Home canning filter: do I need to sterilize Mason jars/lids by boiling or oven or some other method if I'm using them for fridge pickles and freezer preserves, or am I okay just washing in hot soap and water? [more inside]
posted by rhoticity on Jun 30, 2009 - 10 answers

Please suggest me some snacks, light or portable dishes that are both healthy and involve baking or cooking. [more inside]
posted by schmoo on Jun 21, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me self-catering a large party in central London [more inside]
posted by ninebelow on Jun 15, 2009 - 4 answers

Kind of a last minute request: I'm doing a bbq at my place tomorrow for my birthday, and I'm kind of stumped as to side dishes. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah on Jun 12, 2009 - 45 answers

Please suggest tasty vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free recipes that are not too difficult for a first-time vegan cook to attempt. [more inside]
posted by pseudostrabismus on Jun 10, 2009 - 15 answers

TravelFilter! A friend and I will be spending two days in downtown Seattle without a car. Any recommendations for cheap yet delicious eats? Aside from Pike Place Market, what should we make sure we see or do?
posted by 2oh1 on Jun 8, 2009 - 20 answers

Another "safe to eat" question, this one about tofu. [more inside]
posted by zadcat on May 31, 2009 - 15 answers