Blog Posts by bon appétit magazine

Last week, we examined the Valentine's dinner preferences of our female readers, and we found out that most of them want to eat big, hearty meals. Valentine's Day is all about indulgence, after all. (Wait, we thought that was Thanksgiving?)

It's only fair we asked our male readers (and a few guys around the office) the same question. Here's what they had to say:

-Alex Vielbig prefers a simple but sophisticated spread of "oysters, champagne or sparkling wine, and chocolate."

-Roberto Cesar, on the other hand, wants to have a "juicy rib-eye, garlic mashed potatoes, some fresh bread from the oven. Something chocolate. And a great bottle of wine."

-Bon Appétit staffer Barrett Baffert says he "wouldn't mind being fed ... How about a nice little pizza/flatbread thingy? That with a simple salad and enough booze to blind a pirate..."

-Another BA staffer, Michael Singer, tells us that his wife is a vegetarian so he has "more of an excuse to desire the total cliché v-day meal of a seared

A whimsical recipe from beloved pastry chef Elizabeth Falkner.

Ingredients:
Cake:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half

• 2/3 cup cherry jam
• 2 tablespoons kirsch (clear cherry brandy)
• 4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon chai-spiced tea leaves or Lapsang souchong smoked black tea leaves (from 1 tea bag)
• 5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 8x8x2-inch heart-shaped cake ring on sheet of foil. Wrap foil up

At the start of the new lunar year, Chinese families come together (or tuan yuan, reunite) to celebrate the most anticipated holiday in the Eastern hemisphere, Spring Festival. CCTV reports that 150 million migrant workers in China have already begun their journey, which for many people is the only opportunity to travel home throughout the year. The holiday's travel peak is also the largest mass movement of people in the world.

All over China, homes become joyous settings for a two-week long celebration. After all, Lunar New Year is a big deal, and proper fulfillment of the holiday's customs will determine a person's luck for the coming year. Spring Festival traditions include culinary customs that require careful prepping of the home, kitchen, and dining table. To expunge any bad luck of the past year, homes are swept clean and new clothes are purchased. Tangerines and red envelopes filled with money (see image above) symbolize good luck. Dinner menus are planned around the cultural

A hearty bowl of homemade soup or stew will warm you up deliciously on a cold day.

"Twice-Boiled" Vegetable Soup with White Beans (pictured at right and recipe below)

Yucatan-Style Chicken, Lime, and Orzo Soup

Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom Soup with Goat Cheese Croutons

Curried Red Lentil and Swiss Chard Stew with Garbanzo Beans

Crab-and-Corn Chowder with Bacon and Chanterelle Mushrooms

Pork and Hominy Stew

Spicy Shrimp and Coconut Noodle Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms

Black Bean Soup with Chipotle Chilis

Creamy White Bean and Chorizo Soup

Beef Barley Soup with Wild Mushrooms and Parsnips (pictured at left)

Lamb Stew with Lemon and Figs

Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Orange Cream

Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup with Sesame and Green Onions

Spicy Cajun Crab and Greens Soup

Escarole and Orzo Soup with Turkey Parmesan Meatballs

Hungarian Goulash Soup

Pork Stew with Fennel and Butternut Squash

"Twice-Boiled" Vegetable Soup with White Beans
Ingredients

• 2/3 cup dried Great Northern

Woo your favorite foodie with any of these 17 seductively delicious dishes.

Whole Wheat Blinis with American Caviar (picture at left and recipe below)

Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles

Pomegranate-Marinated Lamb with Spices and Couscous

Ricotta, Fig, and Onion Bruschetta

Truffled Red Wine Risotto with Parmesan Broth (picture below)

Warm Jasmine Rice Puddings with Passion Fruit

Chocolate Pudding with Espresso Whipped Cream

Roast Beef Tenderloin with Port Sauce

Pomegranate Panna Cotta

Composed Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Duck Confit and Collard-Stuffed Crepes

Ricotta Gnudi with Wild Mushroom and Truffle Sauce

Pistachio Brittle Cheesecake

Poached Oysters in Fennel-Saffron Soup

Molten Chocolate Cakes with Cherries

Maine Lobster with Wild Mushroom and Rosemary Vapor

Cauliflower Soup with Seared Scallops, Lemon Oil, and American Caviar

Whole Wheat Blinis with American Caviar
Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons warm water (105°F to 115°F)
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry

Make your favorite dish even better with these 15 outstanding recipes made with irresistible cheeses.

Cheesemonger's Mac and Cheese (picture at left and see recipe below)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated Gruyère cheese
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups diced rindless Brie (cut from 1-pound wedge)
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 3/4 teaspoon (scant) nutmeg
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 3/4 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 8 teaspoons whipping cream (if making 1 day ahead)

• It's easiest to remove the rind and dice the Brie if you put it in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up first.

• Mix all cheeses. Set aside 1 cup for topping; cover and chill. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium heat.

Our Super Bowl snacks are guaranteed to win over any crowd--large or small. These recipes are perfect for the big game, or any get-together that calls for big-deal snacking.

Bourbon Glazed Chicken Drumettes with Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce

Coconut Shrimp

Mini Sage-and-Fontina Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Pancetta-Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Manchego Cheese and Mint

Spicy Popcorn with Piment d'Espelette and Marcona Almonds

Spicy Lamb and Chorizo Chili

Smoky Chipotle Hummus with Garlic Bagel Chips

Crunchy Chili Onion Rings

Macaroni and Cheese with Mustard and Worcestershire (pictured above and recipe below)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound small elbow macaroni (about 2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 2 1/2 cups (packed) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (10 ounces)
• 2 5-ounce cans evaporated milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch glass

Photo: Courtesy of Stumptown RoastersThere is no end to the contraptions available for brewing coffee (or for keeping your coffee warm, for that matter). There are dual-chambered glass coffee vacuums; platinum machines that look like futuristic robots prepared to ingest your freshly ground beans; and there's the Eva Solo "CafeSolo"--a coffee maker that wears a neoprene jacket. Many baristas stand by the Eva Solo, but here at Bon Appetit, we stand by the old-school Chemex brewer or a French press to get the job done.

Once you have the right tools, follow these steps.

• Step 1: Purchase your beans weekly from a local roaster you trust (such as one of Bon Appétit's top 10 boutique coffee shops) or order online from a specialty webstore, like GoCoffeeGo. (To go one environmentally-friendly step beyond "fair-trade" coffee, buy trade direct.) According to Counter Culture, "Store whole-bean coffee in an airtight container and keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat, cold, and moisture. Avoid storing your beans in