Food! Glorious Food! | Larry's Blatherings

The Most-Read Food Stories of 2020
Readers turned to the Food section for advice on quarantine cooking, expiration dates and comfort food — lots of comfort food.
By SARA BONISTEEL

Remembering the Restaurants America Lost in 2020
This has been a harrowing year. From fine-dining trailblazers to longtime neighborhood favorites, we commemorate just some of the many places that had to close their doors forever.

CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK
Before They Closed, Restaurants Opened Doors for Us
Ligaya Mishan counts the many ways she misses eating out, and the lessons it taught her about the world and its possibilities.
By LIGAYA MISHAN

Is Dairy Farming Cruel to Cows?
A small group of animal welfare scientists is seeking answers to that question. Facing a growing anti-dairy movement, many farmers are altering their practices.
By ANDREW JACOBS

GOOD QUESTION
Will My Popcorn Explode?
The odds that all of your popcorn kernels will pop simultaneously aren’t zero. Maybe think instead of the multiple lotteries you’re more likely to win.
By RANDALL MUNROE

Road to Recovery
Grocery trends: Fewer new products, but more changes in supermarkets and shopping
By Cara Rosenbloom

With a Fortifying Soup, Haitians Share Their Pride in Independence
Even in the pandemic, they’ll celebrate Jan. 1 by doling out soup joumou, a dish defined by national and familial traditions.

Soup joumou is traditionally made with squash, beef, pasta and assorted vegetables. This version, from the New York author Cindy Similien, includes handmade dumplings.
By PRIYA KRISHNA

FRONT BURNER
Green Chutney From a Minneapolis Family Recipe
The sisters Sheilla and Yasameen Sajady turned the cilantro chutney made by their mother, Fatima, into a business.

Maazah Chutneys and Aioli, $8.99 for eight ounces, maazah.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Ending 2020 With a Sweet Bit of Release
The hot chocolate bomb is a tasty metaphor for a pent-up year.

By HANNAH SELINGER

Voraciously
If you want to see 2020 go up in flames, start with these 3 recipes
By G. Daniela Galarza

8 sweet and savory shortbread cookies to pair with tea, coffee or wine
By G. Daniela Galarza

FRONT BURNER
A New Source for Alcohol-Free Libations
Chris Becker, a former technology consultant, has about 170 nonalcoholic beers, wines and spirits on his website, Better Rhodes.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Indulge in Some Hot Cocktails
Festive and full of good cheer, these warm drinks will bring comfort to cold nights ahead.

The Winter and Smoke combines Scotch whisky and Lapsang Souchong leaf tea.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT