French onion soup is the world’s most elegant dish. Not the kind of elegance you’d find on a white tablecloth with extra silverware, but elegant in the sense that scientists use the word. Like when a simple equation can express the relationship between matter and energy with as few ingredients as a pot of French…

A classic of French bistro menus, poires belle Hélène is a dessert of sweet and gently spiced poached pears served with vanilla ice cream and draped under a glossy sheet of warm chocolate sauce. It plays the part of an elegant and indulgent dessert, yet it’s incredibly simple to make. The invention of the dessert…

Those involved in a close liaison with wine for decades make lots of demands on the wines we’re happiest to consume. Just because a wine is tasty is no reason to get excited about it, I believe, if it fails one crucial test: It doesn’t smell sort of like the grape listed on the front…

Burton-upon-Trent has a long history of brewing. The town, a tad over 100 miles northwest of London, once dominated the beer business, counting more than 30 breweries in the late 19th century, including Bass Brewery, which became the largest brewery in the world in 1877. Burton’s brewing history goes back to its namesake abbey in…

Air fryers are sweeping the nation. But what is an air fryer? How does it work? And, most importantly, do you need one? Here’s the lowdown. Several years ago, a “miraculous” kitchen appliance appeared on the scene promising us that we could fry with air. A new treat for your health—up to 90 percent less…

It’s rich, it’s festive, and it’s perfect for holiday brunches. Whether you call this oven-baked French toast or bread pudding, the method is still the same: Dried-out bread is soaked in custard and then baked. Panettone is a tall, domed shape bread that is studded with candied fruits. This soft, sweet bread hails from Northern…

The fancy French word for dough shaped in a ball is boule. Bread makers use the same technique to form a tight ball of dough for a large loaf of bread and for small individual dough balls such as these fluffy dinner rolls. While it takes two hands to form a large loaf into a…

The holidays are about spending time with friends and family. Toasts will be made, which calls for something bubbly. To make shopping easy, we’ve created a list of sparkling spirits to cover every occasion and every guest. Just Dance—and Toast Dom Perignon Vintage 2010 Lady Gaga Limited Edition  $239.99 The extraordinary pairing of Dom Perignon…

Did you grow up hearing your mom say, “Eat your vegetables!” at the dinner table every night? She was right, according to Farmer Lee Jones of The Chef’s Garden. The 350-acre family-run farm in Huron, Ohio, is hallowed ground for chefs around the world seeking the most delicious and nutritious vegetables. It has counted Emeril…

No matter what time of year it is, I am always up for a grilled steak. If it’s too cold outdoors, you can use a seasoned iron skillet on high heat for a successful result. For years, I’ve used seasoned compound butters to add loads of flavor to many dishes. What is a compound butter?…