Jams and Jellies

Farmers Markets: It's prime time for apricots

2013-05-31 00:00:00

After a month of mediocre early-season apricots, the prime varieties, sweet, juicy and flavorful, are here or will be soon. Beyond the celebrated Blenheim, there are other worthwhile varieties, and a few are even better. Here are the leading apricots...

Fig chef Ray Garcia wins Cochon 555, while wearing tights

2013-05-06 13:52:00

In the end, it’s kind of hard to say what won the day for Ray Garcia. Sure, the Fig chef rocked the Cochon 555 competition Sunday at the jam-packed House of Blues with a tender blood sausage served on cotija grits, a letter-perfect pozole and a...

Stella Barra to open in Hollywood in May

2013-04-18 14:58:00

Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group and Jeff Mahin, the chef behind Stella Rossa Pizza Bar in Santa Monica and Do-Rite Donuts in Chicago, plan to open Stella Barra in Hollywood. Located in the former BoHo space in the ArcLight Cinemas complex on Sunset...

Sharing your food photos? Make that dish look as good as it tastes

2013-04-17 07:00:00

We've seen you in restaurants. We know what you're doing.� Taking pictures of your food to share on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and more is great fun.� And it makes your friends jealous.� How can you make those photos look great?� Think about the...

How to build the ultimate PB&J

2013-04-02 08:00:00

Happy National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! We're here to help you celebrate... with peanut butter and jelly recipes, of course! Sure, you can go out and buy the spreads, but why not get creative -- like, DIY creative -- and make your own? Believe it or...

PB&J bacon burger and more for National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

2013-04-02 06:13:00

When you're 12, few things beat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - If you don't count video games, spending your allowance on candy from the Sweet Factory or slurpees of course. But after a hard morning's work at school, there's nothing better than...

Portland, Ore., sweets, just in time for Valentine's Day

2013-02-11 12:35:00

Perhaps you're thinking about sweets and Thursday's big event -- Valentine's Day.�Well, it's possible to find romance even in the gloomy Pacific Northwest, especially when chocolate frosting is involved. Portland, Ore., has a reputation as a growing...

Limited edition box set: Sqirl preserves x Laura Owens

2013-01-31 16:45:00

Art bookstore Ooga Booga opened its second location earlier this month. Located in Boyle Heights, Ooga Booga 2 made its debut with an exhibit of paintings by post-conceptual artist Laura Owens, known for her large, airy, angst-free paintings. A handmade...

'Rachael vs. Guy' recap: Dinner theater and then some

2013-01-07 13:33:00

The Food Network premiered its latest reality food show competition Sunday night with the second season of "Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-off." The network's version of "Dancing With the Stars" -- they even got an ex-contestant to compete -- is gearing...

Counter Intelligence: Sqirl sticks to the very basics

2012-12-15 00:00:00

Isaiah Berlin, in his famous essay, once divided thinkers into two groups: hedgehogs, who know one big thing, and foxes, who know many things. Proust and Shakespeare. Separating writers into one camp or another has long been a sport of undergraduate...

Critic's Choice: Hearty breakfasts worth a wake-up call

2012-12-08 00:00:00

I'm always receiving emails or texts from friends needing to know (right away!) where to go for breakfast in this or that neighborhood. The first meal of the day is ideal for catching up with friends or meeting up with a colleague or out-of-town visitor....

Holiday cookie recipe: Chocolate raspberry linzer cookies

2012-12-04 08:00:00

Fois Gras Mousse, Strawberry Jam, Toast $13, at Monarch. Phil Vettel/Chicago Tribune.

2013-04-26 10:56:43

Peanut butter and jelly cupcake at Oinkster.

2013-04-02 09:54:00

Homemade strawberry preserves.

2013-04-01 16:56:35