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Aug 24, 2026

The Waffle Iron Has a Birthday Today

National Waffle Day actually has receipts: on August 24, 1869, Cornelius Swartwout patented an improved stovetop waffle iron designed to flip safely without burning the cook. Syrup-catching grids came later. Breakfast technology has come remarkably far.

Aug 22, 2026

Today Is Also an Excellent Day for Peaches

It’s National Eat a Peach Day, landing exactly when late-summer peaches are at their fragrant, juice-running-down-your-arm best. Buy the ones that actually smell like peaches. Eat over the sink. Dignity can resume in September.

Aug 18, 2026

Fajitas Were Born From the Scraps

August 18 is National Fajita Day. The Tex-Mex staple traces back to Mexican vaqueros in 1930s Texas, who were sometimes paid with less-desirable beef cuts like skirt steak. Proof that “cheap cut” and “bad dinner” are very different things.

FRESH ON THE MENU

Latest Recipes

a pile of parmesan sitting on top of an orzo pasta dish on a white plate

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One pot, whatever vegetables you’ve got, and dinner on the table before delivery finds your building.

Lemon Chicken Orzo for When You Don’t Want to Cook

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Czech bread dumplings: yeasted dough, stale bread, and a pot of boiling water.

Knedlíky

a plate of Svíčková with dumplings and toppings and a side of lemon on a white plate

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Czech braised beef in a blended root vegetable cream sauce, made for Allen’s 40th on a Wednesday.

Svíčková

a close up of kimchi soup

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Beef fat stands in for pork belly in a lazy one-pot stew that waits until everyone gets home.

Skirt Steak Kimchi Jjigae with Leftover Pot Roast Fat

an overhead shot of massaman curry in a white dish

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Leftover chuck finishes in a coconut curry built in its own pot, in under an hour.

Pot Roast Massaman

A close up of pot roast with gravy

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A neutral slow cooker chuck roast built to become two more dinners.

Plain on Purpose Pot Roast

Eat well. Read better.

Recipes, restaurant finds, and musings. No reservations needed

Vector

Welcome to the party. Check your inbox.

Eat well. Read better.

Recipes, restaurant finds, and musings. No reservations needed

Vector

Welcome to the party. Check your inbox.

Eat well. Read better.

Recipes, restaurant finds, and musings. No reservations needed

Vector

Welcome to the party. Check your inbox.