PHIN ON FOOD

Despite all that, brunch is still one of my favorite pastimes. Check out the full article from HuffPo. 

Meat, beans and cheese: the staples to almost every Mexican dish, which makes it pretty impossible to dislike. From the classic burrito, to a more gourmet style Mexican restaurant, here are my top 5 picks in NYC.

If you prefer a more traditional bagel, check out my top bagel stores here: http://youtu.be/gf3fH5Kg5Gw

To learn more about peppercorns, check out my Phin Upham Presents series: http://www.phinonfood.com/post/91762018851/phin-upham-presents-peppercorn-part-1-using

Chinatown, NY is home to the largest enclave of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere and one of six Chinatown neighborhoods in NYC. As such, you can imagine the infinite number of eateries across New York City.  Seeing as Chinese food is one of my favorite cuisines, I took it upon myself to pick my top five across all of the boroughs. Check it out!

Pepper as a fad is a strange journey into fashion. The pink peppercorn, which resembles a true peppercorn but is actually closer to poison ivy, was considered a fashionable spice during the 1980s. The peppermill, used to crack pepper freshly, can trace its origins back to France. It became popular in America in the 1880s, when the Americans replaced their packaged and ground pepper with the fresh alternative.

Pepper, in both black and white, is from the dried piper nigrum plant. The tropical plant is native to the East Indies, and must be harvested before it is ripe to get the proper flavor. Throughout history, pepper was a symbol of wealth. Pepper was used as currency, and it was also given as gifts too. It was a huge honor to receive pepper from a friend or cohort in ancient times. Pepper also has some connection to Christmas food, which harkens to a time when cooks would save their best for last. Pepper was among many spices that would come out at the end of the year, resulting in tasty creations like gingerbread. 

Tis the season for cold treats! It’s summertime in the Big Apple and everybody is looking to cool down. Personally, nothing cools me down faster than a nice cold Ice Cream. While you can never go wrong with Mister Softee, I’ve been on more of a gourmet ice cream kick lately. For some of my favorite spots, check out this vid. 

TRUTH. 

Sourdough Bread has been a large part of the culture of San Francisco since the California Gold Rush, when French bakers brought sourdough techniques to Northern California. In fact, the mascot for the San Francisco 49ers is named, “Sourdough Sam.” In this video, I point out some of the most popular sourdough spots in San Fran.