Monthly Archives: July 2022

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

A Love Song
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Romance | Directed by Max Walker-Silverman
Two former childhood friends rekindle their connection in this sweetly hopeful story of romantic longing.


Wes Studi, left, with Dale Dickey in “A Love Song.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

Resurrection
NYT Critic’s Pick | Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller | Directed by Andrew Semans
A successful single mother encounters a terrifying man from her past in this crazily enjoyable horror movie.


Rebecca Hall in “Resurrection.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

We Met in Virtual Reality
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Joe Hunting
This innovative documentary tags along with people who are finding happiness in a graphical online world.


A still from “We Met in Virtual Reality.”
By NICOLAS RAPOLD

Food! Glorious Food!

Melting Profits Threaten the Ice Cream Man
Inflation and its rising fuel prices have pushed some ice cream truck owners to the brink.
By CHRISTINA MORALES

The Choco Taco, Ice Cream Snack of American Summers, Is Discontinued
A fixture of ice cream trucks and convenience stores is no more after Klondike said it would focus on other products.
By DANIEL VICTOR

The Jewish Deli: An American Tale Told in Pickles and Pastrami
“I’ll Have What She’s Having,” a traveling exhibit on the Jewish delicatessen, looks back at a vibrant institution fueled by immigration and irresistible food.


In a display of history and nostalgia, the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles is memorializing a fading cuisine: the Jewish delicatessen.
By Adam Nagourney

Welcome to Chicago, Hot Dog Town, U.S.A.
Just don’t even think about asking for ketchup.


The standard form of the Chicago hot dog is available at stands all over town and binds the city together.
By ERIC KIM
Recipe: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

The Irresistible Thrill of Kung Pao
Chiles and a sweetened soy-vinegar sauce define the dish, but you can make it a million ways at home.


Flashes of chile heat in a salty, sour, sweet sauce make every bite of kung pao a little thrill.
By GENEVIEVE KO
Recipes: Easy Kung Pao Chicken | Kung Pao Shrimp

Eggplant Five Ways
Gain confidence cooking this summer icon with these essential techniques.
By TEJAL RAO

20 Easy Salads forHot Summer Days
Using vibrant vegetables and fruits at peak freshness is a great way to eat well — and inexpensively — throughout the season.
By Cathy Lo

Cooling Salads for Hot Days
We have scores of recipes to help you avoid the stove.
By SAM SIFTON

19 No-Cook Recipes for a Heat Wave
Forgoing the stove or the oven doesn’t mean missing out on flavor.
By Nikita Richardson

How to Pack the Perfect Beach Cooler
With the right recipes and a few expert tips, a picnic in the sand can be a stress-free treat.


A day at the beach is made all the more enjoyable with a thoughtfully packed cooler full of sandwiches, salads and dips that can withstand a day on ice.
By Naz Deravian
Recipes: Fresh Ranch Dip | Artichoke and Olive Farro Salad | Ham and Jam Sandwiches | Caramelized Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats

20 Wines Under $20: Great Summer Values
The selection in stores is a little thin as the global economy has slowed, but plenty of great seasonal bottles are still available.


By ERIC ASIMOV

CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK
Diana Kennedy’s Complicated Relationship With Mexican Cuisine
The brilliant and opinionated author, who died on Sunday, chronicled the recipes and culinary traditions of Mexico. Our critic considers her legacy.


Diana Kennedy, whose 1972 book, “The Cuisines of Mexico” was a breakout hit, helped introduce the diversity of Mexican home cooking to an American and British reading public
By TEJAL RAO

Diana Kennedy, Authority on Mexican Cooking, Dies at 99
Her books taught Americans about the regional nature of the cuisine. Also: “There is always someone who wants to know how to clean an iguana, so why not?”


Diana Kennedy at her home in Mexico in 1989. The Mexican food known to most Americans, she wrote, was a travesty.
By William Grimes

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Nope
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele’s genre-melting third feature stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as brother-and-sister horse wranglers defending the family ranch from an extraterrestrial threat.


From left, Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Brandon Perea in “Nope,” the latest feature from the director Jordan Peele.
By A.O. SCOTT

A Dark, Dark Man
NYT Critic’s Pick | Crime, Drama | Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov
This exceptionally grim police procedural recalls films like Bong Joon Ho’s “Memories of Murder” and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia.”


Dinara Baktybayeva plays a reporter in “A Dark, Dark Man.”
By BEN KENIGSBERG

Aftershock
NYT Critic’s Pick | TV-MA | Documentary | Directed by Paula Eiselt, Tonya Lewis Lee
Black mothers are dying from childbirth at alarming rates. A new documentary explains why.


Shawnee Benton Gibson and Bruce McIntyre, at right, are central figures in the documentary “Aftershock,” from the directors Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee.
By BEANDREA JULY

— Of Possible Interest —

The Day the Music Died/American Pie
Documentary | Directed by Mark Moormann
Don McLean tries to clear up some misapprehensions about the eight-an-a-half-minute song that took on a life of its own, in this documentary.
By GLENN KENNY

Anything’s Possible
PG-13 | Romance | Directed by Billy Porter
Self-preservation and allyship are also wrapped up in this sweet young adult romantic comedy, which is Billy Porter’s feature film directorial debut.
By KYLE TURNER

Food! Glorious Food!

On Gum Drop Grapes and Other Fruits Designed to Taste Like Candy
Advances in plant breeding and indoor growing have led to produce that promises to be perfectly sweet.


Clockwise from top right: Grapery Cotton Candy grapes and Moon Drop grapes; a Del Monte Pinkglow pineapple; Driscoll’s Berry Big strawberry and Rosé strawberries; Wish Farms Pink-A-Boo pineberries; Driscoll’s Sweetest Batch blueberries; and a Dapple Dandy Pluots.
By Alex Beggs

FRONT BURNER
A Banner Year for Bristol Bay’s Sockeye Salmon Harvest
This year’s catch in Alaska is expected to be among the largest on record; Pride of Bristol Bay is a reliable source for delivery in September.


Chris Dabney, a fisherman in Bristol Bay, with a sockeye salmon.

bristolbaysockeye.org; to order, prideofbristolbay.com.
By Florence Fabricant

ONE GOOD MEAL
From Adam Pendleton, Pancakes That Taste Like Perfection
When it comes to cooking, the artist brings an attention to detail he normally saves for his studio practice.


The artist Adam Pendleton in the kitchen of his apartment in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood.
By Coco Romack

The Burger J. Kenji López-Alt Can’t Improve (Only Tweak)
Oklahoma onion burgers, which cook in moments, are so perfect in their simplicity that they can’t be better, he writes.


Invented during the Great Depression, Oklahoma onion burgers can stretch ground beef without sacrificing flavor.
By J. Kenji López-Alt
Recipe: Oklahoma Onion Burgers

20 Easy Salads for Hot Summer Days
Using vibrant vegetables and fruits at peak freshness is a great way to eat well — and inexpensively — throughout the season.


By Cathy Lo

A GOOD APPETITE
Make the Most of Too Much Summer Squash With the Zucchini Slice
Popular in Australia and New Zealand, this cross between a frittata and savory quick bread is perhaps even better than either on its own.


Cheesy, eggy and chock-full of vegetables, this slice is a perfect thing to do with a surfeit of summer zucchini.
By Melissa Clark
Recipe: Australian Zucchini Slice

The Case for Grilling Cucumbers
The cucumber’s fresh crunch has gone, but in its place is something more substantial to deliver a smoky, savory flavor.


By Yotam Ottolenghi
Recipe: Grilled Cucumbers With Tomato-Cardamom Dressing and Mozzarella

NEWSLETTER
The Veggie
Summery Marinated Vegetables
Grilled and raw vegetables shine when they soak in deliciously seasoned oils and vinegars.
By Tejal Rao

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Marx Can Wait
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Marco Bellocchio
In a moving new documentary, the Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio gathers his fascinating, aging family members to make sense of their brother’s suicide.


Three of the Bellocchio brothers, from left: Marco, the filmmaker; Alberto; and Camillo, who killed himself at 29. In “Marx Can Wait,” the family’s surviving members delve into Camillo’s death.
By A.O. SCOTT

Don’t Make Me Go
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Hannah Marks
John Cho and Mia Isaac play a father and daughter on a road trip in this twisty drama, which explores the gulf between familiarity and intimacy.


John Cho and Mia Isaac in “Don’t Make Me Go.”
By AMY NICHOLSON

She Will
NYT Critic’s Pick | Thriller | Directed by Charlotte Colbert
A traumatized star is supernaturally primed for vengeance in this gorgeously ghostly thriller.

Alice Krige in “She Will.”
Alice Krige in “She Will.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULI

— Of Possible Interest —

The Deer King
R | Animation, Action, Adventure | Directed by Masashi Ando, Masayuki Miyaji
A series of Japanese fantasy novels is the basis for this tenderly wrought and brilliantly animated adventure movie.
By CONCEPCIÓN DE LEÓN

Persuasion
PG | Drama, Romance | Directed by Carrie Cracknell
Dakota Johnson smirks her way through a Netflix adaptation of the rekindled romance in Jane Austen’s last novel, our critic writes.
By TEO BUGBEE

Food! Glorious Food!

The Business Lunch May Be Going Out of Business
As remote work persists and business deals are sealed online, many upscale restaurants that catered to the nation’s downtown office crowd are canceling the meal.
By BRETT ANDERSON

Restaurants Face an Extortion Threat: A Bad Rating on Google
Emails sent to dozens of restaurants, including those with Michelin stars, threaten a barrage of one-star reviews unless owners pay.
By CHRISTINA MORALES

In Portugal, Taking a Dive Into Sardines
The canned fish are having a moment in the food world. A tour of a canning factory in Porto gives an up-close view of a century-old business.
By LILY PUCKETT

What Amazon Prime’s Deal With Grubhub Means for Consumers
A new collaboration between the retailing giant and the food distribution service includes free restaurant delivery for Prime members.
By CHRISTINA MORALES

In ‘The Bear’ on Hulu, a Kitchen Staff Is Nearly Eaten Alive
The new FX television show is one of the most vivid, authentic portrayals of what it’s like to work in food service.
By Julia Moskin

Fried Okra, Beyond the Batter
The classic Southern dish does more than just nourish: It tells a bigger story of the Black American cooks who have preserved its legacy, while creating their own versions.


There’s a familiar structure to fried okra: Textured, forest-green pods are typically sliced into small rounds, coated in a seasoned batter and fried to a cook’s liking.
By KAYLA STEWART
Recipes: Pan-Fried Okra | Fried Okra With Rémoulade

The Case for Grilling Cucumbers
The cucumber’s fresh crunch has gone, but in its place is something more substantial to deliver a smoky, savory flavor.


By YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

A GOOD APPETITE
A Sheet-Pan Chicken Recipe for Lovers of Sweet and Savory
Roasted chicken thighs are paired with tangy sour cherries and finished with a creamy, cooling cucumber yogurt in this balanced weeknight meal.


Sour cherries give this sheet-pan dinner a tangy flavor and rosy hue.
By Melissa Clark
Recipe: Chicken Thighs With Sour Cherries and Cucumber Yogurt

Can taking a pill really stop you getting a hangover? There’s one way to find out …
Even at £30 a packet, the Myrkl ‘pre-drinking’ pill sold out before its UK launch. I spent four days finding out if it does indeed reduce the effects of alcohol
Tim Dowling

TRILOBITES
Don’t Let Your Wine Go to the Grocery Store Naked
Recent research helps explain how clear bottles can result in wine that smells like “wet dog” and “boiled cabbage.”
By OLIVER WHANG

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Moon, 66 Questions
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama|Directed by Jacqueline Lentzou
This elliptical drama by the Greek writer-director Jacqueline Lentzou rousingly summons the inner turmoil of a young woman who returns home to care for her ailing father.


Sofia Kokkali in “Moon, 66 Questions,” directed by Jacqueline Lentzou.
By BEATRICE LOAYZA

This Much I Know to Be True
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary, Music | Directed by Andrew Dominik
A new music documentary by Andrew Dominik explores the collaboration of Cave and Warren Ellis.


Nick Cave, left, and Warren Ellis in “This Much I Know to Be True,” a documentary by Andrew Dominik.
By GLENN KENNY

Fire of Love
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Documentary|Directed by Sara Dosa
Sara Dosa’s new documentary chronicles the lives and deaths of the French scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft.


Maurice and Katia Krafft, scientists who were devoted to each other and to volcanoes.
By A.O. SCOTT

— Of Possible Interest —

Thor: Love and Thunder
PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Music, Romance, Sci-Fi | Directed by Taika Waititi
The director Taika Waititi injects antic silliness, once again, into this Marvel franchise starring Chris Hemsworth, who swings a mighty hammer and flexes mightier muscles.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

The Sea Beast
PG | Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy | Directed by Chris Williams
In this new animated film from Netflix, a monster hunter and an orphan become unlikely allies at sea.
By LENA WILSON

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between
Comedy, Drama, Romance | Directed by Michael Lewen
In this adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith’s young adult novel, two high school seniors agree to split up in a year. Will they honor their pact?
By LISA KENNEDY

The Princess
R | Action, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller | Directed by Le-Van Kiet
Joey King is credible and compelling as a vengeful would-be princess bride in this over-the-top action fantasy tale.
By AMY NICHOLSON

Food! Glorious Food!

WHAT’S NEW 2022
In Athens, Creativity in Art, Food and More Rises
The Greek capital has added impressive arts venues, daring restaurants and a blossoming hotel scene to its well-known Classical draws.
By Niki Kitsantonis

Family Recipes Etched in Stone. Gravestone, That Is.
They say you can’t take it with you, but recipes do disappear when loved ones die. These families have found a novel way to record them for posterity.


People around the world have embellished the graves of loved ones with favorite recipes. Maxine Kathleen Poppe Menster is remembered with this one in a cemetery in Cascade, Iowa.
By Christina Morales

THE SATURDAY PROFILE
‘Mango Man’ Is the Fruit’s Foremost Poet, Philosopher, Fan and Scientist
With 300 types of mangos to his horticultural credit, Kaleem Ullah Khan is quick to tell anyone in India and beyond about the infinite potential of the fruit and its tree, including as medicine.
By MUJIB MASHAL and HARI KUMAR

A Lentil Soup With Its Heart in Armenia
Tsirani vosp apur gets its distinctive earthy, tangy flavor from apricots, the country’s national fruit.


Lemon and pomegranate syrup add tanginess to this Armenian soup.
By Joan Nathan
Recipe: Tsirani Vosp Apur (Armenian Apricot and Lentil Soup)

The Secret to Summer’s Best No-Sweat Dessert
There’s nothing to fear about making airy, just-rich-enough chocolate mousse. Genevieve Ko writes that you start by learning to let go.


Cool, silky and so light, a chocolate mousse is the perfect dessert for parties.
By Genevieve Ko
Recipe: Chocolate Mousse

NEWSLETTER
The Veggie
Heatless Cooking for Hot Days
You don’t have to light a grill to make the most of summer produce.
By Tejal Rao

Epic Tacos
We can’t think of a better recipe for a day off than Pati Jinich’s take on Sonoran carne asada tacos.
By EMILY WEINSTEIN

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Down with the King
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Diego Ongaro
In Diego Ongaro’s patient and subtle new film, Freddie Gibbs plays a hip-hop artist struggling with a career malaise.


The real-life rapper Freddie Gibbs stars as the hip-hop artist Money Merc in “Down With the King,” | Directed by Diego Ongaro.
By A.O. SCOTT

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Documentary, Biography, Music | Directed by Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
A new documentary tells the entwined stories of a songwriter and his best-known composition.


The documentary “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song” is likely to be a source of illumination for both die-hard and casual fans, our critic writes.
By A.O. SCOTT

— Of Possible Interest —

Rubikon
Sci-Fi | Directed by Magdalena Lauritsch
In this somber morality tale, the bare-bones crew of a space station is faced with an impossible choice.
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS