[Photograph: Maggie Hoffman] I'm just going to be honest with you: I think it may be time to forget Oktoberfest (if you haven't already.) Märzenbier is tasty stuff, but I've decided that American rye beers are really the perfect autumn brew. By substituting rye for some of the barley in the mash, brewmasters give these beers a hint of spicy warmth and a touch of rye-bread flavor. Though the Germans have used rye in their pumpernickel-brown roggenbier since medieval times, the ryes we tasted were distinctly American. There's no hard and fast rule as to what an American rye must be, but these tended toward reddish amber, fruity, and generously hopped. They're a little spicy, with a sour kick...
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We tasted ten brown ales—from bright, hoppy ones to the sweet and pruney. Whether you're looking for something bitter to see you through the World Series or a more warming, chocolately beer on a rainy night, we have favorites for both.
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What defines American food? In a compelling examination of the connection between American cultures and the foods they create, Museum on Main Street, a project of the Smithsonian Institution, has put together a collaborative online cookbook featuring recipes and personal anecdotes from across the country for their exhibition, Key Ingredients. The recipe database, searchable by type of food, story, heritage, or region, includes everything from Iowa Fried Pheasant or Squirrel to Armenian Eggplant. The site also provides recommendations for local food events and traditions by region. The physical exhibition, which will have visited over 200 venues across the country by 2013, is currently in Woodbine, New Jersey; Vancouver, Washington; Elloree, South Carolina; Vienna, Georgia; and Honolulu, Hawaii. [via The Village...
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If you've ever wondered which part of the pig your favorite cut of pork comes from, thank Wikipedia user GameKeeper for working up diagrams of both the British and American common cuts of pork, as described in Larousse Gastronomique. Personally, nothing comes close to the pork belly. Mmmm, delicious bacon....
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