Imagine your favorite comfort food. Is it sweet or savory? How does it sound when you take your first bite? How does it feel when you take the first taste? Chances are good that it’s soft or creamy, and that it takes little effort to chew. I’ve been thinking a lot about comfort food lately. […]

Ready to break out of the produce rut of apples and bananas? Try a kumquat. Citrus is in season now, so these little orange goodies are at their best. They’re super easy to eat because they don’t need to be peeled. Plus, it’s just really fun to say “kumquat.” Try it. Say it with me. […]

The majority of market share in the grocery industry is held by large chains. Decisions about what products to stock and how much to charge are made at the corporate or regional level. Profits flow out of the community to holding companies or stock holders that own the chain at a national (or even international) […]

In the late 18th century, France struggled with wheat shortages, starvation, and food riots. Antoine-Augustin Parmentier believed he had a solution. As a prisoner in Germany during the Seven Years War, Parmentier was introduced to the potato. He was an avid believer in the potato’s health benefits and potential as a wheat alternative. The French […]

Recently, several people have asked me to tell them more about my book. It is called A Taste of Broadway: Food in Musical Theater. It will be launching in January from Rowman & Littlefield. I’m not sure which book stores will carry it, but it’s available for pre-order now from Amazon (click here for the […]

In August, my extended family spent ten days in Portugal. Our apartment in Lisbon had an amazing view of the city. We’d often spend the evenings enjoying a pitcher of sangria or a bottle of wine while discussing the day and watching the world go by outside. Here’s a photo: Throughout the trip, we encountered […]

Hello! I am your host, Jen Packard. Please make yourself comfortable.