ArcaMax

With apologies to John Milton, a hamburger is often the final infirmity of a noble restaurant.

When times get tough, even the best chefs will succumb to the popular appeal and simple economics of a ground beef patty slid between well-buttered buns. Cheap chopped meat can conceal a lot of shortcomings and do wonders for the bottom line.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Charlie Burrows is obsessed with finding “the next corn dog,” a runaway food hit that becomes an essential stop on any Minnesota State Fairgoer’s list of must-eats.

He’s come pretty close. The popularity of the Tot Dog a few years ago — a Tater Tot-wrapped hot dog on a stick — took him by surprise, and had his LuLu�...Read more

This chipotle grilled chicken with pineapple and avocado strikes the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. Enzymes in the fresh pineapple help tenderize the chicken breasts in only 15 minutes. Be sure to take them out of the marinade after the 15 minutes is up to prevent the meat from breaking down. To save time, you can use pre-cut pineapple.

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Q: Do sweetened foods and drinks affect my metabolism?

A: Sweeteners (even sugar-free options) can have an impact on your metabolic health. Sugar-sweetened products like sodas, desserts, and many processed foods are high in calories and can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. Over time, high sugar intake is linked to increased risks of...Read more

Cold soups hit the spot when the weather is agonizingly hot and humid. It’s been a tough summer this year, but cooling soups that require no cooking are the perfect solution.

Chilled melon soups are an Asian contribution to California cuisine. Most Asian melon soups are warm and savory, but this one is chilled and subtly sweet, and it comes ...Read more

Bins of gorgeous assorted peppers and fresh chiles overflow at farmers markets in August. We enjoy as many as we can, cut up into salads and as a late-afternoon snack. No matter, the fridge still holds an abundance from our enthusiastic purchases.

Roasting those peppers saves them from getting tossed. I roast small hot chile peppers and then ...Read more

Chayote — which also goes by vegetable pear, mirliton, and Buddha’s palm, among other names — is a type of squash that’s native to Mexico. In the Philippines, it’s typically cooked in sautéed and stewed dishes, as well as ...Read more

Warm summer weather means breaking out the grill and doing as much cooking outside as possible to enjoy the season. Plus, cleanup after cooking is so much easier! My family leans heavily into homeandleisure/recipes/varietymenu/s-3817430">Read more

For a quick and easy barbecue-style dinner, I prepared these flavorful pork kabobs under the broiler instead of on the grill. They cook in just minutes but still deliver that deliciously charred taste.

A simple sauce made from honey, mustard, and soy sauce adds a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. It’s used both to glaze the pork ...Read more

CHICAGO -- At the recent soft launch opening of Shibam Coffee in suburban Glendale Heights, customers swarmed in, lined the red-roped entrance area and stared in wonder at the lavishly decorated interior, with marble floors and Arabic calligraphy on the walls. A few patrons started snapping photos even before getting to the main door. A teenager...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- I will never understand the allure of the fat French fry. Steak fries are contemptible. Wedges of bland starch with no crunch, like a mouthful of molded mashed potatoes. There is no amount of ketchup, ranch or aioli that can save thick fries from the lower depths of tuber hell. Just order a baked potato and be done with it.

Curly...Read more

You can learn a lot about what’s on the minds of culinary professionals by the types of cookbooks being published.

We’ve seen waves of baking books and tomes inspired by global cuisines (Italian and Korean cooking are especially popular). Now food preservation is having a literary moment, and the timing couldn’t be better.

To help you ...Read more

There is something about cherry tomatoes that tomato lovers find irresistible.

Perfectly portioned for one juicy bite, they're an adorable fruit. They're also so sweet and intensely flavored that they make a great afternoon snack when plucked off the vine, still warm from the sun. Even our dog Harry couldn't resist the tiny tomato's charms, ...Read more

Now that it’s corn season, everyone has an opinion about the best way to cook corn. In a pot of boiling water? Lightly steamed?

And what about grilling? Is it best to soak the ears in their husks first; pull back the husks, remove the silk and wrap them back up before grilling; or remove the husk and silk and wrap them in tin foil? The ...Read more