Blog Posts by Epicurious.com

Chef Pichet Ong transforms traditional Chinese treats into elegant recipes for New Year's celebrations.

Celebrated for 15 days, Chinese New Year is like many holidays rolled into one. Performers in shimmering dragon costumes dance through the streets. Families gather to feast and shower children with money-filled "lucky" red envelopes. Homes undergo "spring" cleaning, romances blossom, and ancestors are remembered.

As a child, however, my favorite part of the holiday (aside from receiving those envelopes) was ogling my mother's black and gold lacquered candy tray. Ringed with eight compartments, it brimmed with sweets ranging from sesame brittle to slivers of candied melon and was a fixture in our house throughout the festival.

These days, although my mother is nearly 3,000 miles away, I still make sweets a part of my celebration. This year, I'm hosting a desserts party using recipes from The Sweet Spot, a book I coathored with chef Pichet Ong. His confections are based

Barack Obama will be embracing his inner Abe Lincoln today in more ways than one; he's not just stepping into the man's speech-writing head, he's chowing down like our 16th president too. Following the inaugural ceremony today, there will be a luncheon with dishes that Lincoln enjoyed, served on replicas of china picked out by Ms. Lincoln back in 1861 (see photo).

THE MENU

Appetizer
Seafood stew in puff pastry including scallops, shrimp and lobster
(Abe loved seafood)

Main course
"Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck)" served with sour-cherry chutney and molasses sweet potatoes
(Abe ate root vegetables and wild game as a child in Indiana )

Dessert
Apple cinnamon sponge cake and sweet cream glacé
(Abe liked apples)

Interested in re-creating this menu yourself? Recipes are provided online in downloadable PDF format.

Additionally, check out the Chicago-inspired menu Epicurious put together for Inauguration Day.

This patriotic

Here in New York City , it's currently 16 degrees, going down to a frigid 8 tonight. (Though I guess I can't complain too much, given that in Pollock, South Dakota , it was minus 47 yesterday!) But luckily, we're heading into a holiday weekend. I plan on not leaving the house for a day or two, hunkering down with a cozy blanket, a fire in the fireplace, and a nice, hot bowl of stew.

There really is no more perfect dish for cold winter days. Good, hearty stew fills your belly and warms you up from the inside out. But the traditional European version can get a bit monotonous, so instead, I like to draw inspriation from a Greek dish called stifado.

Stifado is a rich stew that can be made from rabbit, beef, lamb, or a variety of other meats. But what makes it special is not the meat, but the recipe's unique, delicious combination of tomatoes, onions, spices, and sweet and sour flavors. My mother discovered stifado when she bought a Greek cookbook in the 1980s. The first time she

The overview on this more traditional eating plan, including recipes and menus, and advice from a nutritionist

Looking to lose weight or just eat healthier in the New Year? Let us help you weigh the many options out there with our Diets 101 series. Today's diet is the Mediterranean Diet.

The Concept

• Mimic the simple but sumptuous diet of a third-century Greek fisherman to lose weight, live longer, and lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Distinguishing Features

• Olive oil is the primary source of fat
• Fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables are the centerpiece of every meal
• Bread and pasta are served without apology
• Meat takes a backseat-it's eaten less frequently and in small portions
• Dinner usually includes a glass of red wine
• Flagship flavors: basil, oregano, rosemary, lemon, garlic, and mint

This Is Your Diet If...

• You're a carb lover
• You enjoy a glass of wine with dinner

In Epicurious's ongoing video series Chef Pierre LeBlanc, from The Culinary Institute of America, demonstrates how to make maple sugar pie-a signature dessert of Quebec , Canada .

When we first published our complete list of 80 iconic recipes to appear in our Around the World in 80 Dishes video series, no pick was debated more than maple sugar pie, the dish we chose for Canada . Some, like kwokmun, were upset we didn't include other Canadian dishes: "Like America , Canada is a very diverse country. Sugar Maple Pie alone is not adequate to represent the country. Where's poutine, from Quebec or even Nanaimo bars from British Columbia , for example?" But others, such as ame66 wrote, "Yes Maple Sugar pie is a Quebec dish and it will make your teeth hurt it can be so sweet, but is sooooo good!"

Who better to turn to then for a demonstration of this ooey-gooey dessert than Canadian chef and the CIA's Associate Professor in Culinary Arts, Pierre LeBlanc. Chef felt this

The skinny on this eating plan-advocated by Nicholas Perricone and the Zone's Barry Sears-including recipes and menus, and advice from a nutritionist

Looking to lose weight or just eat healthier in the New Year? Let us help you weigh the many options out there with our Diets 101 series. Today's diet is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

The Concept

Eating anti-inflammatory foods-and avoiding inflammatory ones-can make weight loss easier, slow down the aging process, and prevent disease.

Distinguishing Features

• Salmon, flax, walnuts, and other omega-3 rich foods are central
• There's an emphasis on colorful, antioxidant-rich fruits andvegetables
• Avocados, nuts, and olive oil provide monounsaturated fats
• Liberal use of spices, especially the "hot" ones
• Flagship flavors: curry, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers

This Is Your Diet If...

• You love exploring international cuisines
• You're on an anti-aging crusade

The lowdown on giving up meat to lose weight-à la Skinny B---- and The China Study-including recipes and menus, and advice from a nutritionist

Looking to lose weight or just eat healthier in the New Year? Let us help you weigh the many options out there with our Diets 101 series. Today's diet is the Vegan Diet.

The Concept

• A plant-based diet will slim you down and reduce your risk of cancer and other illnesses.

Distinguishing Features

• No meat or fish (basic vegetarian)
• No dairy or eggs (vegan lite)
• No honey or gelatin (hard-core vegan)
• No caffeine, alcohol, sugar, or processed foods (ultra-pure option)
• Flagship flavor: soy

This Is Your Diet If...

• You have moral or ethical issues with using animals for food
• You don't mind rowing against the current
• You never met a vegetable you didn't like
• You're worried about your cancer risk
• You'd like to reduce the carbon footprint

Looking to lose weight or just eat healthier in the New Year? Let us help you weigh the many options out there with our Diets 101 series. Today's diet is the Low-Carb and Smart-Carb Diet.

You know the names: Atkins, South Beach , New Glucose Revolution, and Low GL. Find out how these carb-counting diets work-plus get our low-carb recipes and tips from a nutritionist.

The Concept

• Carbohydrates are the root of all evil.

Distinguishing Features

• The day starts off with a high-protein meal, and continues in the same vein
• Fast-burning carbs such as white bread, rice, potatoes, and sweets are off the table
• Beans, whole grains, and fruits are allowed in moderation
• Nonstarchy vegetables add nutrients and fiber
• Fat is your friend

This Is Your Diet If...

• You're looking for a high-protein diet
• You're ready to give up white foods
• You need to control your blood sugar
• You'd rather count carbs