CHOW Tip

Shucking an Oyster

Differentiate the cup and flat sides, the pointed and rounded ends.

CHOW Tip

How to Clean a Rack of Lamb with String

Save your knives for cutting.

Field Trip

Tomato Farmer

One man, a dog, and 15,000 heirloom plants. (By Meredith Arthur, Eric Slatkin, and Blake Smith)

CHOW Tip

Dessert Wines Are Not Just for Dessert

It’s an oenological bombshell.

CHOW Tip

Which Spices Should You Buy in the Supermarket?

And which should you seek out from a dealer?

CHOW Tip

Save Your Bacon Grease

It comes in handy when cooking more bacon.

CHOW Tip

How to Make a Quick Shrimp Stock

Add the essence of the sea to your gumbo without the fishy smell.

CHOW Tip

Don't Ruin Your Roux

Don’t lose that hard-won nutty brown color.

CHOW Tip

How to Use the Lemon and Hot Towel You're Given in Restaurants

Squeeze the lemon onto the towel, not your hand.

Obsessives

Obsessives: Knifemaker

Joel Bukiewicz sharpens and hones. (By Meredith Arthur and Eric Slatkin)

CHOW Tip

Incorporating Flour into Batter

Don’t let it puff up in your face.

CHOW Tip

Should You Freeze Cheese?

Cheesemonger Norbert Wabnig doesn’t encourage it.

Feature

How to Dice an Onion

From round, layered object to small, neat dice in a few easy steps

Supertaster

Better Bad Pizza

This week’s mission: a new higher-end pie by Pizza Hut. (By James Norton)

Feature

Will This $20 Change Your Mind?

Bribing the host or hostess for a table. (By Helena Echlin)