Food Facts & Fun

If you're planning a trip to Italy, Liguria might not be the first destination on your list. Tuscany is next door, with the art and shopping of Florence and the historic sweep of Siena. But don't overlook the flavors of this small region.

By Eleanor Duse

Like milk, wine can spoil, and changes in temperature or light exposure can speed up the spoilage. Wine cellars work to protect bottles from the elements, and they also give you a nice place to show off your collection and store those vintage labels.

By Olivia Page

Sure, you know Champagne and Bordeaux, the celebrities of the French wine world. But how familiar are you with the wines of the Rhone Valley wine region? It is an ingenue by comparison.

By Sarah Siddons

As a rule, alcohol can be expensive. But even those who don't shy away from paying $150 for a bottle of Dom Perignon or $350 for a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne may be shocked to see just how much some wine collectors spend.

By Vivien Bullen

Whether you've got a library of aged Italian wines or case of two buck chuck, you need a place to store those bottles. Why not build a wine rack?

By Richard Winter

While some scientific research indicates that drinking wine has a healthy benefit, that doesn't mean you have a free pass to indulge -- especially if you're dieting. The calories in beverages containing alcohol can really add up, wine included.

By Vivien Bullen

If you're throwing a wine-tasting party and want to kick things up a notch, buy a wine aerator. It'll make the wine taste better, and you'll impress all your friends.

By Rosalind Jackson

For a few years, scientists have been speculating what effect wine has on the prostate and prostate cancer. Early research did not show much useful information, but new studies suggest a link between wine consumption and prostate health.

By Vivien Bullen

They say good things come in small packages. This might not always be true, of course, but it certainly applies to Italy's Aosta Valley wine region.

By Eleanor Duse

Whether you prefer red or white wine, Italy's Emilia-Romagna region delivers flavorful choices to delight your palate.

By Andrew Aguecheek

Potentially violent volcanic activity lies deep beneath Latium, one of the most important winemaking regions of Italy. It helps the area produce wonderfully distinctive grapes and wines.

By Eleanor Duse

Your date tells you he's in the mood for a French wine. You nod enthusiastically, but really you don't know a thing about wine, French or otherwise. What sets this region's wine apart?

By Vivien Bullen

On the east coast of Italy, south of the boot cuff, in the temperate region known as the mezzogiorno, is Abruzzo.

By Eleanor Duse

Movie stars, musicians and professional athletes have had the celebrity corner locked down for decades. But these days, there's a new breed of celebrity that wields a whisk and a wooden spoon instead of a guitar or baseball bat.

By Alia Hoyt & Emilie Sennebogen

Where can you find the world's best pasta? The obvious answer is Italy, where the food staple originated. But did the Italians take a culinary cue from the Chinese? Were Marco Polo and Kublai Khan swapping recipes in the 13th century?

By Cristen Conger

Congratulations! Your baby is ready to start eating solid foods. Now what? You could buy jars of baby food off the grocery store shelf to meet this need, but making homemade baby food is almost as easy as boiling water.

By Heather Kolich

Find yourself dreaming about mounds of sweet, delectable candy? You aren't alone. The average person in the United States eats 10 pounds of chocolate per year -- and that's just chocolate! Join the ranks and check out this candy image gallery.

By Marie Bobel

When farmers go to market, they cut out the middleman and bring fresher products to the consumer. So how do farmers' markets run, and where can you find one?

By Maria Trimarchi

If your morning routine includes a cup or two of coffee, you may know a few things about it. It's a stimulant drink, it comes from beans that are roasted and ground and, for many of us, it's a staple of life.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

In the 1,400 years since the pretzel was invented, bakers have come up with a wide variety of shapes and flavors. These fun facts show how adaptable and versatile this twisted snack truly is.

By Jeremy Glass

You'd be hard pressed to find a Canadian restaurant in the United States (except for the 300 Tim Hortons franchises...we'll get to that), but Canada's cultural and geographic diversity has produced quite a few foods that can boast Canadian heritage.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Cheese has been around in the Mesopotamian region since before 6000 B.C. That's a long time for a food to gain notoriety in the culinary world. See what cheese has been up to for the past couple of thousand years in this cheese facts article.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Mushrooms, whether cultivated or harvested wildly, can provide a delicious addition to any meal. Learn more mushroom facts about these fungi.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Organic foods and other products are popping up everywhere. USDA organic seals make them fairly easy to spot. But what's behind the label? How do products become certified organic?

By Maria Trimarchi

Many people believe buying organic or local food helps the environment. But which purchase is more environmentally sound? Is it better to buy pesticide-free food from exotic spots or local food from non-organic farms?

By Maria Trimarchi