NONFICTION
A Life of James Beard Stocked With Tasty Morsels
James Beard in his kitchen in 1961, demonstrating how to flambé. He won the trust of readers as an “unfussy bon vivant, as much in love with a good club sandwich as he was with veal Oscar.”
By Ligaya Mishan
THE MAN WHO ATE TOO MUCH
The Life of James Beard
By John Birdsall
Illustrated. 449 pp. W.W. Norton & Company. $35.
The Forty-Year-Old Version
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Comedy, Drama | Directed by Radha Blank
Radha Blank’s film is an intimate, epic reckoning with age, ambition and everything else.
Radha Blank in her autobiographical feature, “The Forty-Year-Old Version.”
By A.O. SCOTT
Time
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Documentary | Directed by Garrett Bradley
In Garrett Bradley’s moving documentary, a woman fights for her family and justice as a husband and father’s absence reverberates.
Fox Rich in a scene from “Time,” | Directed by Garrett Bradley.
By LISA KENNEDY
Black Box
NYT Critic’s Pick | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour
An amnesiac begins to see strange visions in this engrossing thriller streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Phylicia Rashad and Mamoudou Athie in “Black Box.”
By GLENN KENNY
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG | Documentary, Biography | Directed by Alastair Fothergill, Jonathan Hughes, Keith Scholey
In this moving documentary, the famed naturalist maps how steeply the planet’s biodiversity has diminished over his lifetime.
The naturalist David Attenborough in the documentary “A Life on Our Planet.”
By NATALIA WINKELMAN
— For Bad Movie Aficionados — You Know Who You Are —
Faith Ba$ed
Comedy | Directed by Vincent Masciale
Two friends who know nothing about filmmaking try to make a Christian-themed movie set in outer space. That’s where just about all of the jokes in this comedy land.
From left, Lance Reddick, Luke Barnett and Tanner Thomason in “Faith Ba$ed.”
By BEN KENIGSBERG
Books of Blood
Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi | Directed by Brannon Braga
A Clive Barker short-story anthology is the source of inspiration for this lackluster trilogy of horror tales.
Britt Robertson in “Books of Blood.”Credit…
By AMY NICHOLSON
FOOD MATTERS
When Invasive Species Become the Meal
Is dining on nature’s predators an act of environmentalism — or just a new way for humans to bend the world to our will?
By Ligaya MishanPhotographs by Kyoko Hamada
How to Build a Better Dinner
To be a faster, more creative cook, take a cue from restaurant chefs, J. Kenji López-Alt suggests, and rely on culinary building blocks.
By J. Kenji López-Alt
A GOOD APPETITE
Twice the Cooking, but Boundless Flavor
Buttery swordfish pairs with eggplant that’s been broiled, then simmered until it collapses in a velvety heap in this sophisticated weeknight dinner.
Swordfish with twice-cooked eggplant and capers.
By Melissa Clark
FRONT BURNER
Goat Milk Caramel to Swirl Over Ice Cream or Into Coffee
Table Mountain sells four flavors of rich caramel from its farm near Boulder, Colo.
Credit…Max Hofert at Max Hofert Design.
Table Mountain Farm goat milk caramel, 5-ounce jar, $9.50; set of four 2-ounce jars, $20; tablemountainfarm.com.
By Florence Fabricant
THE POUR
California Fires Take a Deep Toll on Wine Country
Beyond the financial cost of the destruction in Napa Valley is the emotional price, as wine that’s been nurtured from vineyard to barrel flows down the drain.
Red grapes scorched by fires at Chateau Boswell in St. Helena, Calif. Many Napa wineries had not completed their harvest before the fires struck.
By Eric Asimov
Jim Murray, a Top Whiskey Critic, Faces Accusations of Sexism
Several distillers and retailers have severed ties to the British writer, after complaints surfaced about the treatment of women in his books and at events.
By Clay Risen
Warm Up With Cider Cocktails
With fresh or hard cider on hand, you have the makings of all sorts of drinks.
Mulled apple cider cocktails
By Florence Fabricant
THOSE WE’VE LOST
James Helferich, Artist in the Food World and Prison Chef, Dies at 75
A classically trained cook, Mr. Helferich worked at marine theme parks in Florida, enthralling his co-workers with his skill as an ice and butter sculptor. He died of the novel coronavirus.
James Helferich with his daughter, Jessica. He was a master creator of ice and butter sculptures when he worked in the hospitality business. He was later director of food services for a Florida prison.
By Penelope Green
Paris Chef Commits Suicide After Assault Allegations, Family Says
Taku Sekine, 39, famous for his restaurants, Dersou and Cheval d’Or, had faced recent accusations of sexual violence.
The chef Taku Sekine at his restaurant Dersou in 2016.
By Norimitsu Onishi
American Murder: The Family Next Door
NYT Critic’s Pick | TV-MA | Documentary, Crime | Directed by Jenny Popplewell
The Watts murders are revisited in this devastating Netflix documentary about marriage, social media and violence against women.
Christopher Watts in the documentary “American Murder: The Family Next Door.”
By BILAL QURESHI
On the Rocks
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Adventure, Comedy, Drama | Directed by Sofia Coppola
In Sofia Coppola’s latest, Rashida Jones plays a woman worried about her marriage. Who’s she gonna call? Bill Murray, a.k.a. Dad.
“You’re mine until you get married — then you’re still mine.” Rashida Jones and Bill Murray play a daughter and father in Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks.”Credit…
By MANOHLA DARGIS
Possessor Uncut
NYT Critic’s Pick | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Directed by Brandon Cronenberg
The assassin in this film by Brandon Cronenberg weaponizes the human mind and body of an unsuspecting stranger who has access to her target.
Andrea Riseborough in “Possessor,” by Brandon Cronenberg.
By GLENN KENNY
Dick Johnson Is Dead
NYT Critic’s Pick | PG-13 | Documentary, Drama | Directed by Kirsten Johnson
With the help of her father, the documentary filmmaker Kirsten Johnson made a surprising, endearing movie about his death.
Dick Johnson in his daughter Kirsten Johnson’s film “Dick Johnson Is Dead.”Credit…
By MANOHLA DARGIS
— Of Possible Interest —
The Boys in the Band
R | Drama | Directed by Joe Mantello
This provocative work is again revived, now for Netflix with an all-star cast including Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells.
Jim Parsons, left, and Matt Bomer in “The Boys in the Band.”
By GLENN KENNY
Save Yourselves!
R | Comedy, Sci-Fi | Directed by Alex Huston Fischer, Eleanor Wilson
The writer-directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson lovingly poke fun at the doomed generation in this apocalyptic comedy.
“Save Yourselves!” stars Sunita Mani, above, and John Reynolds.Credit…
By KRISTEN YOONSOO KIM
A Potential Downside of Intermittent Fasting
A rigorous three-month study found that people lost little weight, and much of that may have been from muscle.
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
Care for a Cup of Satanic Chamomile?
One tea company is trying to make the cozy brew a little more goth.
By KIM KELLY
The Ugly (and Glorious) Truth About American Supermarkets
In his new book, “The Secret Life of Groceries,” Benjamin Lorr argues that the kale chips and shade-grown coffee sold at supermarkets define who we are.
By ALEX WILLIAMS
The 14 Best Cookbooks of Fall 2020
Our favorite new books of the season, selected by Food reporters and editors from The New York Times.
‘Coconut & Sambal: Recipes From My Indonesian Kitchen’ Lara Lee
‘East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes From Bangalore to Beijing’ Meera Sodha
‘The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained’ Nik Sharma
‘In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers From the Eight African Countries That Touch the Indian Ocean’ Hawa Hassan
‘Modern Comfort Food’
‘Ottolenghi Flavor’
‘The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food’ Marcus Samuelsson
‘Xi’an Famous Foods: The Cuisine of Western China, From New York’s Favorite Noodle Shop’ Jason Wang
‘Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic European Desserts From Linzer Torte to Honey Cake’ Michelle Polzine
‘Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking With Confidence’ Claire Saffitz
‘A Good Bake: The Art and Science of Making Perfect Pastries, Cakes, Cookies, Pies and Breads at Home’ Melissa Weller
‘The Good Book of Southern Baking: A Revival of Biscuits, Cakes, and Cornbread’ Kelly Fields
‘Pie for Everyone: Recipes and Stories From Petee’s Pie, New York’s Best Pie Shop’ Petra Paredez
‘Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings’ Yossy Arefi
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Credit Where It’s Due
We’ve made some changes to how our recipes are presented.
By SAM SIFTON
A GOOD APPETITE
This One-Pan Pasta Still Feels Like Summer
A perfect transition into fall, this cozy dish is full of greens, and walks the line between rich and light.
One-pan orzo with spinach, feta and dill.
By Melissa Clark
Chili Season!
Make a pot to welcome the sweater weather.
By MARGAUX LASKEY
EAT
Buried in Salt, These Potatoes Are a Joy to Eat
Crack the crust tableside to reveal its mysterious contents; the delight will be palpable.
Salt-baked new potatoes are fun to serve and delicious to eat.
By GABRIELLE HAMILTON
FRONT BURNER
An Heirloom for the Kitchen
This wooden cake stand from Vermont Rolling Pins and Company is designed to last a lifetime.
Cake stands, $105 to $205, pasta pin (mattarello), $125 in maple or cherry, $130 in walnut, vermontrollingpins.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
THE POUR
How to Read a Wine Label, in 12 Easy Lessons
The wine shop can be intimidating, with so many different styles of labeling. Here’s help in decoding a dozen basic types.
By ERIC ASIMOV
Donald Kendall, Pepsi’s Chief During the Cola Wars, Dies at 99
He faced off against Coke, wooed a ‘Pepsi generation’ and bought Frito-Lay and fast food chains. Ever loyal, he downed a Pepsi for breakfast.
By SAM ROBERTS
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Ric Burns
A new documentary explores the fascinating and sometimes troubled life of the famed neurologist.
Oliver Sacks knew he was dying when he spoke about his life and work in “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life.”
By GLENN KENNY
Bird Island
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Sergio Da Costa, Maya Kosa
This compact, whimsical film about a bird rehabilitation center in Switzerland is perched wryly between fiction and documentary.
A scene from “Bird Island,” Directed by Sergio Da Costa and Maya Kosa.
By DEVIKA GIRISH
Kajillionaire
NYT Critic’s Pick | R | Crime, Drama | Directed by Miranda July
Miranda July’s third feature follows a family of small-scale swindlers in a deceptively sunny Los Angeles.
Evan Rachel Wood in “Kajillionaire.”
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
— Of Possible Interest —
Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles
Documentary | Directed by Laura Gabbert
This documentary follows the star chef Yotam Ottolenghi as he assembles a crack team to make sweets for an event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Yotam Ottolenghi as seen in “Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles.”Credit…Ifc Films
By GLENN KENNY
The Trial of the Chicago 7
R | Drama, History, Thriller | Directed by Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin and an all-star cast re-enact a real-life ’60s courtroom drama with present-day implications.
Jeremy Strong as the Yippie Jerry Rubin in the docudrama from Aaron Sorkin
By A.O. SCOTT
TRILOBITES
Aromatherapy in the Apiary Is What Bees Need
Honeybees were better at pollinating crops after scent training.
By MATT KAPLAN
Are Mushrooms the Future of Wellness?
Long thought to have medicinal benefits, fungi including reishi, lion’s mane and chaga are gaining popularity in the wellness world.
By ARDEN FANNING ANDREWS
FOOD MATTERS
Mushrooms, the Last Survivors
Neither plant nor animal, mushrooms have confounded humans since ancient times. Now, they’re a reminder of our tenuous place in an uncertain world.
By LIGAYA MISHAN
Beard Foundation Will Announce a Few More Awards, Despite a Vow Not To
After declaring that giving awards was not ‘the right thing to do’ this year, the group will name three design honorees, adding new confusion to the process.
By PETE WELLS
The Perfect Afternoon Snack Has Arrived
With its sunny lemon glaze, this one-bowl carrot loaf cake is as easy to eat as it is to make.
There is something irresistible about a carrot cake topped with a citrus glaze.
By Yossy Arefi
EAT
A Dish That Reflects Our Nation: Okra Soup
This simple Gullah Geechee dish emphasizes the freshness of its ingredients — representing at least four continents and five spiritual traditions.
By SAMIN NOSRAT
Pandemic Baking Just Got Weirder
Artists are crafting kooky, made-from-scratch cakes to exhibit on Instagram.
By EMMA ORLOW
FROM THE PANTRY
5 Recipes That Are a Sure Thing in an Uncertain Time
Started as a response to the pandemic, Melissa Clark’s From the Pantry series says goodbye.
Corn Polenta With Baked Eggs
Colcannon With Crispy Leeks
One-Pan Tuna-White Bean Casserole
One-Bowl Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake
Simple Roast Chicken With Greens (and Stock)
By MELISSA CLARK
This Spinach-Potato Pie Feels Like a Hug
This reassuring dish is just what we need right now, Yotam Ottolenghi writes.
By YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
FRONT BURNER
Persian Spices From the Source
The cookbook author Louisa Shafia now sells a kit of nearly a dozen seasonings like dried lime powder and barberries.
Feast Persian Spice Kit, $51, feast-by-louisa.myshopify.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
FRONT BURNER
A New Book Captures the Flavors of Southeast Asia
The chef Leah Cohen offers detailed recipes in her first book, “Lemongrass & Lime.”
“Lemongrass & Lime: Southeast Asian Cooking at Home” by Leah Cohen with Stephanie Banyas (Avery, $35).
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
CANADA DISPATCH
Canada’s Napa Valley Seeks Elusive Audience: Canadian Wine Drinkers
British Columbia’s wines are improbably being embraced by wine snobs around the world. But legal restrictions, and regional biases, are getting in the way at home.
By DAN BILEFSKY
FRONT BURNER
Champagne, Because You’re Worth It
A new blanc de noirs Champagne from Bollinger should be popped for any celebration.
Bollinger PN VZ 15 NV, $104.95 for 750 milliliters, sherry-lehmann.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
God of the Piano
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Itay Tal
A family drama and psychological horror story, this directorial debut examines a parent’s projection of her own failed dreams onto a talented child.
By GLENN KENNY
Residue
NYT Critic’s Pick | Drama | Directed by Merawi Gerima
In Merawi Gerima’s first feature film, a failed screenwriter returns to Washington, D.C., and finds gentrification has overrun his home.
By GLENN KENNY
TRILOBITES
The Hidden History Baked Into a Cooking Pot
An experiment with unglazed clay pots hinted at how much archaeologists can learn about ancient cultures from cooking vessels.
By KATHERINE KORNEI
THE WORLD THROUGH A LENS
Vivid Street Scenes From Salvador, Brazil
After living for nearly half a decade in the capital city of the Brazilian state of Bahia, a photographer offers an intimate look at a city where the act of celebration is indelibly ingrained.
By STEPHANIE FODEN
FRONT BURNER
A Fusilli Made for Chianti
There’s a new gluten-free pasta on the block: Fava beans power this fusilli from Explore Cuisine.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
FRONT BURNER
Cookbook Celebrates 19th Amendment
The free digital cookbook from the American Bar Association features recipes from judges and lawyers.
“The Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Cookbook: 100 Recipes for 100 Years,” American Bar Association Commission on the Nineteenth Amendment, free, 19thamendmentcookbook.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
ONE GOOD MEAL
A Late-Summer Tomato Sauce — and a Candle to Go With It
The skin-care line founders Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz share their aromatic take on a classic recipe.
By NICK MARINO
‘If it has an ingredient in the name, avoid it’: Adam Liaw on the kitchen appliances you’ll actually use
From air fryers to garlic peelers, kitchen gadgets promise to make life easier – but some shiny buys are destined to gather dust in the drawer
Adam Liaw
Today Is for Nachos
Find comfort in the easy favorite.
By SAM SIFTON
A Crop of Kitchen Gardens From Chefs Around the Globe
Meet five participants in the Kitchen Farming Project, which provides a loose “recipe” for a garden conceived by the chef Dan Barber.
By AMELIA NIERENBERG
Cook’s Country Gets a New Editor, Toni Tipton-Martin
Her appointment at the America’s Test Kitchen magazine comes as the food media addresses racial inequality.
By KIM SEVERSON
The Perfect Moment for Vegan Tacos
Hibiscus asada, vegetable trompos and nutty chorizos — thanks to creative cooks in Los Angeles, meatless tacos are thriving in the pandemic era.
By TEJAL RAO
AT HOME NEWSLETTER
Keep Track of the Tiny Details
They’ll unlock a cascade of memory in the future.
By MELISSA KIRSCH
A GOOD APPETITE
This Is the Path to Perfect Weeknight Shrimp
This twist on a buttery, garlicky scampi gets a sweet-tart lift from burst Sungold tomatoes and tangy fresh lime.
Adding a handful of tomatoes to this take on shrimp scampi makes for a bright, full-flavored meal that’s speedy and complex.
By Melissa Clark
COOKING CLASS
A Jewelry Designer’s Prized Family Vegetable Recipe
When Beth Bugdaycay serves her favorite green beans, she is not only feeding her own family but paying tribute to her husband’s Turkish heritage.
By MARIAN BULL
The T List: Five Things We Recommend This Week
Walter Price paintings, three-legged chairs — and more.
AT HOME NEWSLETTER
Endless Summer vs. Hurry-Up Fall
New season, new concerns, new ways of coping.
By MELISSA KIRSCH
FROM THE PANTRY
A Cheesy Toast to Dream About
This riff on Welsh rarebit puts that wilting spinach in the fridge to use in a creamy, verdant lunch.
By MELISSA CLARK
THE POUR
After 43 Years, the Wine Sentinel of the River Café Stands Down
Joseph DeLissio, “a blue-collar kid in a white-collar job,” saw the rise of American wine culture and put together an ever-changing, world-class list.
That Mr. DeLissio got involved with wine at all was something of a surprise, not least of all to him. He was born in Marine Park, Brooklyn, in November 1954. His father ran a neighborhood bar in Bensonhurst where wine was an afterthought.
“Wine was what my father’s friends drank when they went on the wagon,” he said. “It wasn’t considered drinking.”
By ERIC ASIMOV
FRONT BURNER
A Los Angeles Winemaker Heads in a New Direction
The vintner Mark Blatty has experimented with a white wine blend, Aurora, after focusing on reds.
Aurora, $37, red wines $45 to $100, byronblatty.com.
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Gather
NYT Critic’s Pick | Documentary | Directed by Sanjay Rawal
This documentary wonderfully weaves personal stories with archival footage that contextualizes the continued violence against Native Americans.
By LOVIA GYARKYE
Buoyancy
NYT Critic’s Pick | Not Rated | Crime, Drama | Directed by Rodd Rathjen
In this sobering, moving drama, a Cambodian teenager runs away from home and is sold into slavery on a Thai fishing boat.
By MANOHLA DARGIS