Father's Day is complicated when your father is gone. You still want to mark the day. You just need a different way in. One that feels like tribute rather than absence. This year, I am honouring my dad, Steve Denecky, KC, by cooking the food he loved. He passed away the day … [Read more...] about For the Fathers We Have Lost: Celebrate Them at the Table
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Why Food Quality Begins Long Before the Food Reaches Your Kitchen
Have you ever looked at a bright red apple in your kitchen and wondered how it got so perfect? You probably think you made a great choice at the grocery store. You walked down the aisle. You looked at the pile and picked the best one. But that apple's quality was decided … [Read more...] about Why Food Quality Begins Long Before the Food Reaches Your Kitchen
A Look at Dining Etiquette and Guest Appearance Through the Centuries
Dining has always meant more than simply eating a meal. Across different eras and cultures, it has reflected how societies organize themselves, what they value, and how people are expected to behave in social settings. From ancient royal feasts to today’s casual dinner … [Read more...] about A Look at Dining Etiquette and Guest Appearance Through the Centuries
Victorian Picnic Food: What English Aristocracy Packed for Days Out
When the English Picnic Was a Full Social Performance A Victorian picnic was not a blanket, a sandwich and a lazy afternoon. For the English upper classes, it was a portable dining room: cold meats, pies, lobster, puddings, servants, linen, bottles and enough social rules to … [Read more...] about Victorian Picnic Food: What English Aristocracy Packed for Days Out
The History of Biltong: How South Africa Cured Its Meat Long Before the Icebox
Every cuisine has its answer to the same old problem: how do you keep meat from spoiling before refrigeration exists? In a grand Edwardian kitchen the solution was salting, potting and curing. Hams hung in the larder, game was preserved, and nothing was wasted. Thousands of miles … [Read more...] about The History of Biltong: How South Africa Cured Its Meat Long Before the Icebox
