Entries by Grant Alkin

Sugar Chemistry of Hard Candies

Old-fashioned candy-making is a fascinating spectacle, if one ever gets the opportunity to watch. Fortunately, the Internet is full of videos like this one, which shows how hard candies (specifically, candy canes) are made by hand: The process that turns ordinary, granulated table sugar into solid, glassy, hard candy is as dynamic on a molecular […]

Banana

Among fruits, bananas enjoy huge popularity. The Market and Policy Analyses of Raw Materials, Horticulture and Tropical (RAMHOT) Products Team even reported that within the U.S. in 2012, per capita banana consumption was calculated at 13.8kg [1]. The humble banana even reigns as the main fruit in international trade, according to the Food and Agriculture […]

Vinny Dotolo

Vinny Dotolo is one half of the culinary duo dubbed as “Kings of Dude Food”. Alongside John Shook, the pair opened Animal, a meat-centric restaurant located in L.A.’s Fairfax Village. Following the success of Animal, the duo have since opened the equally acclaimed Son of a Gun, Trois Mec, and Petit Trois. What hooked you on cooking? Mainly […]

Healthy Eating & Feeding People

Jo Robinson of Eating on the Wild Side explains nutrients in fruits and vegetables, while scientists use a crop modeling system to help guide future food production in response to growing populations and changing climates.

Ramen and the Perfect Egg

The arrival of autumn comes with the promise of changing leaves and chillier climates, often cueing our urge to prepare warmer meals aimed at combatting the frigid weather. One foolproof method that guarantees victory against the cold is a hot bowl of soup, such as ramen.  There are many variations of ramen but one dear […]

Ginger

One rhizome, many tastes. Ginger can be charmingly sweet as candied ginger, gingerbread, and ginger ale. Just as easily, this root can be spiritedly pungent, as in gari (sushi ginger) or unsweetened ginger tea. From sugary snacks to savory dishes, ginger shares similar flavor versatility as cardamom, which should come as no surprise; the two […]

10 Things About Sushi

At our 2014 Science of Sushi event, Dr. Ole Mouritsen and Chef Morihiro Onodera illuminated the science underlying some of our favorite components of sushi. In case you still haven’t had your fill, here are 10 scientific facts related to sushi:

The Science of Sushi

The Science of Sushi Featuring Dr. Ole Mouritsen and Morihiro Onodera April 23, 2014 To kick off our 2014 public lecture series, Dr. Ole Mouritsen joined Chef Morihiro Onodera to satisfy our craving for sushi-related science. The duo explained everything from sushi’s early history to the starchy science of sushi rice. Watch the entire lecture […]