Author Archives: Larry Sanderson

Food! Glorious Food! — The No Fowl Edition

Going Local on the Island of St. Lucia
Creole cooking classes, boisterous street parties, a tour of a cacao plantation and visits with islanders preserving local traditions: A traveler explores a more intimate St. Lucia.


St. Lucia, known for its inviting beaches, gorgeous scenery and luxury resorts, is increasing its emphasis on local culture, with new tours and experiences that get visitors into the community.
By SHAYLA MARTIN

FRONT BURNER
For Novice Cooks, Gavin Kaysen’s ‘At Home’ Is a Good Place to Start
Pick up the chef’s debut cookbook, attend a talk about the seasonality and nutritional value of Japanese ingredients, and more.


The cookbook cover for ”At Home by Gavin Kaysen.” A man stands in a kitchen. Behind him there are shelves with plates and other dishware on them. He’s standing at a counter tasting from a spoon next to jars of produce and herbs.
“At Home” by Gavin Kaysen and Nick Fauchald (Spoon Thief Publishing, $35)
By Florence Fabricant

NEWSLETTER
The Veggie
Holiday Gift Ideas From The Veggie
Vegan chocolate bars, dreamy cookbooks and more small luxuries to give this year, as well as some ideas for your Thanksgiving leftovers.
By Tejal Rao

A GOOD APPETITE
You Can’t Resist This Easy Squash-Chickpea Recipe
Just try not to nibble all the caramelized and spiced bits straight off the pan before dinnertime — we dare you.


Crunchy spiced chickpeas complement roasted cubes of squash in this sheet-pan meal.
By Melissa Clark

NEWSLETTER
Five Weeknight Dishes
Anything but Turkey
Garlicky chile shrimp, citrusy chicken thighs, sheet-pan salmon: These recipes put Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror.
By EMILY WEINSTEIN

The Cake Recipe That Was a Secret for Two Decades
With an origin story out of Old Hollywood, chiffon cake is at once airy and rich.


By Ligaya Mishan

Fruitcake Is Delicious, and This Recipe Proves It
Claire Saffitz’s version skips the long aging process, baking up in a day, and doubles down on deliciousness.

A fruitcake that’s been baked in a Bundt pan and glazed sits on a cutting board and partly sliced. To the right are a few glasses full of amber liquid.
This one-day fruitcake is no joke.
By Claire Saffitz

Food! Glorious Food!

F🍑🍑D MATTERS
How Did 🍆 Become Our Default Sex Symbol?
A variety of fruits have long been used to convey eroticism, but in their emoji form, one seems to have won out.
By LIGAYA MISHAN and MELODY MELAMED

Oldest cooked leftovers ever found suggest Neanderthals were foodies
Pancake/flatbread with a ‘nutty’ taste is first evidence of complex cooking and food culture
Linda Geddes

A Cure for Thanksgiving Stress? For Many, It’s a Cruise.
No cooking, no cleanup, no script: A growing number of Americans are spending the holiday at sea, making new friends and traditions.
By Priya Krishna

At Danksgiving, There’s No Need to Go Outside for a Smoke
For a certain kind of Thanksgiving celebration, cannabis — in all its forms — is a key component of the year’s biggest meal.
By Jackie Bryant

Last-Minute Thanksgiving
It’s not too late, and here’s how you can get it done in style.
By MELISSA CLARK

Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Makes the Best, Coziest Soups
After the meal, let the meat simmer away into a gumbo, a congee or a barley soup, dishes as thrillingly varied as the meals they came from, Melissa Clark writes.


Leftover roast turkey is rounded out with plump shrimp, chicken wings and collard greens in this take on gumbo from Gail Jennings of North Carolina.
By Melissa Clark

What Temperature Is a Turkey Done? And More Thanksgiving Questions, Answered
We have all your Thanksgiving turkey questions covered.
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Got Thanksgiving Leftovers? Make Turkey Ramen.
In this rich, silky ramen, the bird gets a second turn at the table.


By LIGAYA MISHAN

How Jellied Cranberry Sauce Is Made
Americans buy 75 million cans a year, with 85 percent sold during the Thanksgiving to Christmas season. Here’s how it’s made, from the farm to the factory.


By ROSS MANTLE and CHRISTINA MORALES

How Ocean Spray Harvests Two Billion Cranberries Every Year — Dan Does

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Stutz
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Documentary | Directed by Jonah Hill
In his documentary, Jonah Hill gently turns the tables on the psychiatrist and author Phil Stutz.


Phil Stutz, the subject of the documentary “Stutz,” directed by Jonah Hill.
By LISA KENNEDY

She Said
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama, History | Directed by Maria Schrader
Maria Schrader directs this adaptation of the book about reporters’ efforts to document sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein.


Carey Mulligan, left, and Zoe Kazan as reporters trying to persuade women to talk about sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein.
By ALEXIS SOLOSKI

There There
NYT Critic’s Pick | Comedy, Romance | Directed by Andrew Bujalski
The one-acts that make up Andrew Bujalski’s film percolate with sly humor, decency, curiosity and sheer nerve.


Lili Taylor in “There There.”
By NICOLAS RAPOLD

The Inspection
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Elegance Bratton
Elegance Bratton’s autobiographical first feature is a lyrical, wrenching look at a young Marine’s journey through basic training.


Jeremy Pope, left, and Raúl Castillo in “The Inspection,” directed by Elegance Bratton.
By A.O. SCOTT

The Menu
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Comedy, Horror, Thriller | Directed by Mark Mylod
Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy face off in this pitch-black satire of class and high-end dining.


Ralph Fiennes, left, with Anya Taylor-Joy in “The Menu.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

EO
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
The titular character of this fantastic adventure is no Disneyfied, cutesy creature. The director Jerzy Skolimowski emphasizes his animality and un-knowableness.


This wild, boldly expressionistic movie conveys the life of its largely silent protagonist, EO the donkey, with a bare minimum of dialogue.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

— Of Possible Interest —

Flaming Ears
Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Directed by Ursula Puerrer, A. Hans Scheirl, Dietmar Schipek
An Austrian experimental feature from the 1990s presents a post-apocalyptic world as an artist’s utopia.
By Teo Bugbee

The People We Hate at the Wedding
R | Comedy | Directed by Claire Scanlon
A star-studded cast led by Allison Janney adds luster to this breezy family comedy.
By BEANDREA JULY

Food! Glorious Food! — The Fowl Edition

For a Chef Beloved by the Art and Fashion Worlds, Flowers Make a Main Course
At the artist Danh Vo’s farm north of Berlin, the restaurateur Rose Chalalai Singh created a lively lunch centered on the blossoms that grow there.
By GISELA WILLIAMS

36 HOURS
36 Hours in Sydney
Swim in a magnificent ocean pool, slurp a curry laksa and meet new friends in a teeny mezcal bar: Sydney is back.
By TACEY RYCHTER

36 HOURS
36 Hours in Barcelona
Leafy pedestrian “superblocks,” restored architectural gems and new outstanding restaurants only add to the allure of the Catalan capital.
By LISA ABEND

T WANDERLUST
Thai Creatives Breathe New Life Into Bangkok’s Oldest Neighborhoods
A nostalgic romp along Charoen Krung Road reveals salvaged shophouses, boutique inns and a scuba-diving cafe.
By CHRIS SCHALKX

In Cleveland, They’re Cooking Up a Gay Neighborhood From Scratch
Restaurants, kitchen classes and gardening are key parts of an effort to create an L.G.B.T.Q. district that can help lift the area’s economy.
By ERIK PIEPENBURG

Fowl Day

Thanksgiving With Ina Garten
We asked Ina, and she said that “store-bought is fine.”
By MELISSA CLARK

I Cooked 20 Thanksgiving Stuffings to Create the Ultimate Recipe
In search of the highest form of the holiday favorite, Eric Kim traveled back in time — and ate a lot of bread.
By ERIC KIM

14 Seconds-Worthy Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Our Readers Love
From classic cornbread dressing to a stuffing inspired by pizza, these are the dishes our readers always put on the Thanksgiving table.
By NIKITA RICHARDSON

Turkey in a T-Shirt, and Other Thanksgiving Gimmicks We’ve Tried
From brining to bagging to clothing the bird in cotton, every year brings a fresh cooking trick that promises perfection. Here are the oddest and most memorable.
By KIM SEVERSON

The Secret to Great Thanksgiving Turkey Is Already in Your Fridge
A mayonnaise-based marinade gives this bird from J. Kenji López-Alt its gorgeous finish. Spatchcocking and a simple brining technique get it evenly cooked and juicy.


Turkey’s light and dark meat are fully cooked at different temperatures, making it tricky to cook evenly.
By J. Kenji López-Alt

This Is What Your Thanksgiving Meal Is Missing
Yotam Ottolenghi thinks American holiday meals are bland. These flavor-packed brussels sprouts will liven yours up.


By YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

How to Make Thanksgiving Vegetarian
By MELISSA CLARK

3 Lively Vegetarian Sides That Add Color to the Thanksgiving Table
A vibrant kale salad, a creamy chard casserole and carrots glazed in miso bring hearty flavor to the holiday in this menu from David Tanis.
By DAVID TANIS

28 Cheap Thanksgiving Recipes for an Easy, Impressive Feast
You don’t have to spend a lot to create a spectacular, inflation-friendly holiday menu.
By MARGAUX LASKEY

These 6 Thanksgiving Dishes Are Best When They’re Made Ahead
Prepare mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and more holiday favorites in advance for dishes with the best texture and flavor.
By GENEVIEVE KO

A Thanksgiving Dish That’s a Delicious Nod to Brazil
Purê de mandioca, or yuca purée, made with an indigenous Brazilian root vegetable, takes the place of mashed potatoes for some expats during the holiday.
By CHRISTINA MORALES

Your Most Colorful Thanksgiving Yet
With an ombré gratin, crispy, saucy roasted mushrooms, and more, this vegetarian menu makes vegetables look livelier and taste more delicious than ever.
By ALEXA WEIBEL

How to Make a Cheese Board
A few cheeses, some fruits and nuts, and bread or crackers are all you need to build an artfully arranged platter.


A cheese board is easy to pull together for a party.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT

These Thanksgiving Salads Are Bright, Bold and Easy
Grapefruit and herbs, apples and greens, beets and yogurt: These three pairings are designed to balance out all that holiday richness, Yewande Komolafe writes.


These three salads bring together familiar flavors and unique combinations.
By Yewande Komolafe

THE FIX
You’ve Planned the Holiday Menu. Now Where Will You Put All the Guests?
If you’re expecting a big crowd for Thanksgiving, you’ll need a flexible space that can accommodate everyone. Here’s how to design it
By TIM MCKEOUGH

Make Room for Pie
Stunning but not hard to pull off, these nine new pies from Genevieve Ko will be the highlight of your holiday.
By MELISSA CLARK

They Make Bespoke Cider. In a Garage. With Apples They Find.
The founders of Floral Terranes take foraging fruit to a whole new level.
By ALYSON KRUEGER

WINES OF THE TIMES
Picking the Thanksgiving Wine Is the Easy Part
For this meal, selecting bottles is so simple that wine’s ceremonial importance is sometimes forgotten in the blizzard of preparations.


At Thanksgiving, you don’t need to worry about pairing wines with dishes.
By ERIC ASIMOV

FRONT BURNER
A Hard Cider That Takes Its Cues From Sake
Try Oishii Cider, made in collaboration with Brooklyn Kura; check out a new market from Pilar Cuban Eatery in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; and more.

Wölffer No. 139 Oishii Cider, $11 for 375 milliliters, wolffer.com.
By Florence Fabricant

Joyce Molyneux, Noted British Chef, Is Dead at 91
Her restaurant in Dartmouth, England, received a Michelin star in the 1970s, a rare honor for a kitchen presided over by a woman.


Joyce Molyneux at her home in Bath, Somerset, in 2011. “She was a champion of local growers and fishermen way before it became the fashionable thing to do,” her collaborator on a popular cookbook said.
By NEIL GENZLINGER

Julie Powell, Food Writer Known for ‘Julie & Julia,’ Dies at 49
She attempted to cook every recipe in a classic Julia Child cookbook and documented the effort in a popular blog that became a best-selling book and a hit movie.


Julie Powell in 2009, the year Nora Ephron’s movie “Julie & Julia,” based on Ms. Powell’s book, was released.
By KIM SEVERSON and JULIA MOSKIN

Gael Greene, Who Shook Up Restaurant Reviewing, Dies at 88
She brought sass and sensuality to the job as a critic for New York magazine for four decades. She also helped create the charity City meals on Wheels.


Gael Greene in 1971, three years after Clay Felker hired her to be his new magazine’s restaurant critic, a role she had never had before. “I felt that I was an impostor,” she said.
By WILLIAM GRIMES

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Incredible But True
NYT Critic’s Pick | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery | Directed by Quentin Dupieux
A suburban couple makes a life-altering discovery in the basement of their new home in this delightfully odd comedy.


Léa Drucker in “Incredible but True.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS

The Box
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Lorenzo Vigas
This unsettlingly cryptic thriller | Directed by Lorenzo Vigas follows a teenager after he retrieves the remains of his father who was found in a mass grave.


Hatzín Navarrete in “The Box.”
By BEATRICE LOAYZA

A Couple
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Frederick Wiseman
In a rare turn to dramatic work, Frederick Wiseman directs a one-woman film about the long-suffering wife of a famous author.


Nathalie Boutefeu in “A Couple.”
By BEN KENIGSBERG

The Fabelmans
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Drama | Directed by Steven Spielberg
The director’s latest movie focuses on a budding filmmaker a lot like himself. But Michelle Williams, as his mother, is the soul of this fractious family drama.


The actor Gabriel LaBelle plays an adolescent Sammy Fabelman, a stand-in for Steven Spielberg.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

— Of Possible Interest —

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Ryan Coogler
Shadowed by Chadwick Boseman’s death, this sequel focuses King T’Challa’s mother and the women helping her to contend with a slippery new villain.
By A.O. SCOTT

Being Thunder
Documentary | Directed by Stéphanie Lamorré
A gentle documentary about a young person whose gender identity is woven through their life in a Rhode Island Indigenous community.
By TEO BUGBEE

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
NYT Critic’s Pick | Biography, Comedy, Music | Directed by Eric Appel
The parody musician makes a joke of his own life, with the help of Daniel Radcliffe, in this uproarious sham biopic.


Daniel Radcliffe with Quinta Brunson in “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.”
By AMY NICHOLSON

Good Night Oppy
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Documentary | Directed by Ryan White
NASA’s Opportunity and Spirit rovers didn’t shoot cinematic-quality footage of Mars, but this documentary offers the next-best thing.


The documentary “Good Night Oppy” looks at rovers NASA created to survey and photograph Mars.
By BEN KENIGSBERG

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Documentary, Biography | Directed by Alek Keshishian
Sincere and soul-baring, the documentary, directed by Alek Keshishian, captures Gomez’s challenges with mental illness, lupus and fame.


In “Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me,” the singer is in the trustworthy hands of the veteran director Alek Keshishian.
By CHRIS AZZOPARDI

— Of Possible Interest —

Utama
Drama | Directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi
In Bolivia’s official submission to the next Oscars, an old Quechua couple struggle to find water to sustain them, their crops and llamas.
By MANOHLA DARGIS

Enola Holmes 2
PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery | Directed by Harry Bradbeer
Millie Bobby Brown delivers an understated, playful performance in this young-adult mystery sequel.
By BEANDREA JULY

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Armageddon Time
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by James Gray
New York in 1980 is the setting for James Gray’s brooding, bittersweet story of family conflict and interracial friendship.


Jaylin Webb, left, as Johnny and Banks Repeta as Paul in “Armageddon Time,” from the director James Gray.
By A.O. SCOTT

The Novelist’s Film
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Hong Sang-soo
In Hong Sang-soo’s latest study in small moments and chance encounters, a visit to an old friend prompts a writer in crisis to try something new.


Kim Min-hee in “The Novelist’s Film.”
By AUSTIN CONSIDINE

Food! Glorious Food!

Geez, Even Fargo Has Gone Upscale
Visitors to the North Dakota town expecting a scene right out of the movie might be surprised by the James Beard-nominated chefs, Pride flags, hipster boutiques and craft breweries. Oh, and a museum dedicated to the bison.


The city of Fargo has poured millions into revitalizing its downtown.
By Danielle Braff

Turkeys Will Be More Expensive Than Ever This Thanksgiving, and Harder to Get
With avian flu, inflation and supply-chain challenges, this could be a rough year for getting just the bird you want.
By Kim Severson

The Company Once Known as Restoration Hardware Is Opening Restaurants. Why?
The furnishings store has moved into the hospitality business — but the food may not be the point.
By PRIYA KRISHNA

The Rogue Valley Was Set to Become a Food Paradise. Then It Burned.
Two years ago, the Almeda fire tore through southern Oregon. Many people haven’t fully recovered, but farmers, chefs and others have rallied to sustain the area.
By BRETT ANDERSON

Researchers Find Benzene and Other Dangers in Gas Piped to California Homes
A new study estimated that each year California gas appliances and infrastructure leak the same amount of benzene as is emitted by nearly 60,000 cars.
By ELENA SHAO

Ina Garten Makes Risotto With a Longtime Fan
The designer Daniel Roseberry learned everything he knows about preparing a meal from the beloved cookbook author. For a new T series, the two finally met.
By MIMI VU

Cash or Card for a Cone? Van Leeuwen Must Take Both, N.Y.C. Says.
The high-end ice cream chain agreed to comply with a New York City law that prohibits businesses from refusing to accept cash. It agreed to pay $33,500 in fines.
By REMY TUMIN

A GOOD APPETITE
Give Your Gnocchi the Shrimp Scampi Treatment
Take the classic over the top by tossing in crisp, bouncy potato gnocchi, Melissa Clark writes.

A light gray bowl filled with toasted gnocchi and tail-on shrimp, tossed in herbs, sits against a light background. To the top of the bowl are two squeezed lemon wedges. A fork sits to the right of the bowl, and a small bowl of red-pepper flakes peeks in from the top.
The gnocchi round out this easy dish, giving it heft, absorbing the sauce and lending a chewy-crisp texture.
By Melissa Clark

Garlicky Braised Greens and Meatless Recipes
After moderating a panel on the climate crisis, Melissa Clark suggests a few recipes that are on her mind.
By MELISSA CLARK

Vegetarian Snacks for Diwali and Beyond
Sweets, extra-crispy samosas, nachos layered with chutney and more recipes.
By TEJAL RAO

NYT Critic’s Pick Movie(s)

Descendant
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Documentary, History | Directed by Margaret Brown
This documentary recounts the salvaging of the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to America, and tracks down their progeny.


Veda Tunstall, one of the interview subjects in Margaret Brown’s documentary “Descendant.”
By LISA KENNEDY

All That Breathes
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Shaunak Sen
Shaunak Sen’s poetic documentary chronicles the efforts of three New Delhi men to help the city’s birds of prey.


A scene from “All That Breathes,” a documentary | Directed by Shaunak Sen.
By A.O. SCOTT

Aftersun
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Drama | Directed by Charlotte Wells
A daughter’s memory of a vacation in Turkey is at the heart of Charlotte Wells’s astonishing and devastating debut feature.


Frankie Corio and Paul Mescal in “Aftersun,” from the Scottish director Charlotte Wells.
By A.O. SCOTT

— Of Possible Interest —

Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas
TV-14 | Documentary, Biography | Directed by Laurent Bouzereau
In this documentary, the Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black looks at how his relationship with his mother motivated his L.G.B.T.Q. activism.
By KYLE TURNER

Black Adam
PG-13 | Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi | Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Dwayne Johnson stars in this overstuffed superhero film about an ancient figure granted god powers.
By MAYA PHILLIPS

The Pez Outlaw
Documentary, Comedy, Family, Romance | Directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel, Bryan Storkel
A purveyor of candy contraband becomes a black market hero in this blithe, lighthearted documentary.
By CALUM MARSH

My Policeman
R | Drama, Romance | Directed by Michael Grandage
A schoolteacher, her police officer husband and his lover deny each other romantic satisfaction in this dismal melodrama.
By TEO BUGBEE

Voodoo Macbeth
Drama | Directed by Dagmawi Abebe, Victor Alonso-Berbel, Roy Arwas, Hannah Bang, Christopher Beaton, Agazi Desta, Tiffany K. Guillen, Zoe Salnave, Ernesto Sandoval, Sabina Vajraca
A historical look back at Orson Welles’s production of “Macbeth” with an all-Black cast in Harlem in the 1930s.
By BEANDREA JULY

Food! Glorious Food!

TRILOBITES
The Search Is on for Mysterious Banana Ancestors
A new study shows that domesticated bananas have genetic markers tying them to three types of wild bananas that have not yet been found.
By OLIVER WHANG

A GOOD APPETITE
The Best Part of This Chicken Dinner? The Crispy Mushrooms, of Course.
The two are paired with a buttery pan sauce for an easy, low-lift, high-reward weeknight meal.

A blue oval platter sits against a light background. Atop are cooked chicken thighs, onion wedges and mushrooms.
A bit more sophisticated than many others of its ilk, this sheet-pan dinner recalls chicken Marsala in its flavors.
By Melissa Clark

Salisbury Steak Deserves Another Chance
Forget the TV dinners. Made well, this easy classic can be hearty, soul-warming comfort food.


By ERIC KIM

Need for Speed
Make all these recipes in less than 30 minutes.

Apple Season Is Here
And you don’t need to do any peeling for Genevieve Ko’s apple crisp.
By MELISSA CLARK

It’s Not Diwali Without Mithai
We visited five South Asian sweet shops across the United States as they prepare colorful treats for one of their biggest days of the year.

Maharaja Sweets, one of New York City’s most beloved South Asian sweet shops, does brisk business on Diwali.
Maharaja Sweets, one of New York City’s most beloved South Asian sweet shops, does brisk business on Diwali.
By Priya Krishna

How to Make the Best Soufflé (It’s Much Easier Than You Think)
And yes, it’s supposed to fall, Claire Saffitz writes.

Three chocolate soufflés, sprinkled with sugar, rise beautifully from three white ramekins. They sit on a marble countertop and against a gray background. A few spoons sit to the bottom right of the frame.
Delicate and sensitive soufflés are absolutely worth the effort.
By Claire Saffitz

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THE POUR
Don’t Pass Up These 12 Loire Reds
Despite the high quality of many of the region’s wines, they have not caught on with American consumers. Let’s make this our little secret.


Red wines from the Loire have passed under the radar, but their quality cannot be beat.
By ERIC ASIMOV