Food Facts & Fun

The sugar cookie may seem like the unimaginative half-brother of the much-ballyhooed chocolate chip cookie, but it actually has its own long history and distinguished pedigree.

By Sara Elliott

The next time you raise your glass or can of cola, say a silent thank you to the Coca-Cola Company. Even if your preference is Pepsi Cola or another lesser-known brand, it all began with Coke.

By Sara Elliott

Even before Louis Pasteur made his breakthrough with pasteurization way back in 1862, science has had a close relationship with food. And that relationship continues to this day with modern food science.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Potatoes? Beef? Salt? Isn't that what comprises the sack of fast food you just paid for? Sort of, along with xanthan gum, caramel color and some other stuff you probably won't find in your kitchen.

By William Harris

Ever wonder why you hated broccoli as a kid but now eat every spear on your plate? The answer: the evolving palate.

By Sarah Siddons & Sara Elliott

If you've seen someone performing an actual wine tasting, you know there's a lot of swirling, sniffing, sipping and spitting going on, but how exactly does one determine specific notes and flavors?

By Elizabeth Abbess

The big shot chefs on TV make cooking seem so glamorous. And they also make it look so easy. What does it take to become chief of cuisine at a restaurant?

By Charles W. Bryant

If you're a wine buff, you may have a surprising number of careers open to you. A sommelier is one of the most prestigious. So how do you make it happen?

By Martha Barksdale

A perfect storm of climate and soil conditions produces the Marlborough region's Sauvignon Blanc -- the most famous New Zealand wine and one of the most popular in the world.

By Sarah Siddons

Nelson, New Zealand, is a tiny area that produces some big wines. You might have to actually travel there to taste them, but it's a trip well worth taking.

By Rosalind Jackson

The country of New Zealand -- and its wine industry -- was born in the Northland region. You might not think a subtropical area with volcanic soil would turn out good wine -- but it does.

By Eleanor Duse

In the young wine culture of New Zealand, the up-and-coming Wairarapa region is starting to capture a lot of attention.

By Andrew Aguecheek

The Bay of Plenty might not be the most well-known -- or productive -- wine region in New Zealand, but it fares well with its small but robust collection of wineries.

By Rosalind Jackson

Spain is a beautiful land filled with history, art and culture. It's also filled with wonderful wine. The Penedes region in the Catalonian countryside west of Barcelona is second only to La Rioja in the worldwide popularity of its wines.

By Andrew Aguecheek

The Ribera del Duero wine region is overwhelmingly devoted to a single grape that makes a single wine, the Tinto Fino, also known as the Tempranillo. This lone grape is responsible for approximately 95 percent of all wine production in the region.

By Sarah Siddons

Rural and rustic, without the urban bustle of Madrid and Seville or the sweeping architecture of Barcelona, Bierzo is home to several up and coming wineries.

By Eleanor Duse

Italy is widely recognized as a top tier wine producer and Veneto, one of the nation's wine regions, is a great attribute. The region produces many DOC wines and plays an important role in the entire country's wine industry.

By Sarah Siddons

Lying on the fringes of the eastern border of France with Switzerland and Italy, the Savoie wine region is ideal for both skiing and wine.

By Richard Winter

Tasmanian wines are starting to get noticed and it might not be long before the island is known more for its Pinot Noir than it is for the Looney Tunes character Taz.

By Elizabeth Abbess

Although the Basilicata wine region is one of Italy's smallest -- it devotes barely more than 1 percent of its land to wine production -- it is known for turning out one of Italy's most well known and celebrated red wines, the Anglianico del Vulture.

By Sarah Siddons

Can you slice and dice like a professional chef? If not, you're not alone. But the best chefs know that there's more to knife skills than how to julienne.

By John Fuller & Natalie Kilgore

Any backyard vintner can turn grapes into alcohol, but only a few can craft a good bottle of wine. With these five hints, you might just go from booze to Bordeaux.

By Robert Lamb

If your sweet tooth is aching, what are you likely to reach for? Ice cream, cheesecake, any cake? If you're American, you're most likely to pick one of these 10 desserts.

By Alia Hoyt & Sascha Bos

You don't need a clunky yogurt maker to whip up a batch of the deliciously smooth dairy concoction at home. In fact, you've probably got everything you need in your kitchen already. How do you make your own yogurt, and why would you want to?

By Julia Layton

You may be familiar with the names of most of the herbs and spices on our list, but do you know which ones will accent a particular dish best, or better yet, which offer health benefits to you and your family?

By Jonathan Strickland & Natalie Kilgore