They say the classic macaroni and cheese was introduced to America in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson upon returning to Virginia from a trip to Italy. In 1937 the Kraft Company put it in a box. Growing up, it was my favourite meal. I preferred the spirals. Sometimes emboldened I’d throw in pieces of hot dog. Since then my tastes have broadened—I no longer eat fluorescent orange powder. I do, however, still crave the warmth and comfort of a good hearty bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese. In this, happily, I am not alone. S’Mac, in New York’s East Village, is…

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The 1763 martini began with the marriage of gin and wine. With the huge improvements in both gin and wine production, not to mention the delicacies Bombay Sapphire has to offer, or the fact that so many good wines were close at hand, Jamie Walker was struck by a thought. Was this relationship between gin and wine worth a second, closer look? He decided to experiment with many different wines to see how they would compliment Bombay Sapphire’s subtle nuances. Could they be coaxed down the aisle together again, nearly two and a half centuries later? They could. Very…

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“Canada and Icewine are Synonymous” - Donald Ziraldo. One cannot imagine Canadian Icewine without Donald Ziraldo. He raised the industry from its infancy to its current standard of excellence for which Canada is so proud. Founder and former president of Inniskillin Wines, he has held numerous directorships and chairs including the Founding Chair of the Vintners’ Quality Alliance 1988-1995, and is current Chair of the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre Board. Ziraldo consults on an advisory basis for various disciplines within the wine sector, and is the author of Icewine; Extreme Winemaking (2007, in book…

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Who doesn’t look forward to a day off...or at least a day with nothing to worry about and no reason to rush out of the house? Especially with the cold weather fast approaching, today is the perfect day for braising. The best part is that one does not necessarily need the luxury of a full day of vacation to put a gorgeous braised short rib on the table. Braising is one of the easiest preparations to master. With relatively few ingredients and little preparation, the meat practically cooks itself without even having to…

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Garlic: everyone from Homer to Aristotle, from modern scientists to Doctor Mom, has praised its uses. Egyptian pharaohs kept garlic in their tombs to keep themselves healthy in the afterlife. Ancient Greek Olympians used it as a performance enhancer during games. Roman legions are said to have eaten it to give them courage in battle. Even the bible mentions the usage of garlic. Long thought of as vampire deterrent, this internationally grown plant, revered for its nutraceutical qualities and reviled for its pungent odor, is now attracting tourists by the droves to Stratford,…

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