Blog Posts by The Daily Meal

Whet your appetite with the best beach treatsOn the beach this summer you can count on plenty of sun and sand, but how about food?

With all the fun to be had this season, you'll be sure to work up an appetite. Whether they're prepared in a roadside food truck or a restaurant kitchen, the best beach eats from around the world are heavenly enough to compete with the ocean view.

Click here to see the Best Beach Eats from Around the World

The Daily Meal's list of the world's best beach eats includes classic seafood dishes, and also less-familiar beachside specialties, like crab bee hoon, frankies, and cod loin al pil pil. Eat barbecued jerk chicken with your fingers from a beach vendor in Boston Bay, Jamaica, cool down with a refreshing cup of Italian granita off the coast of Sicily, or scoop authentic, freshly made guacamole with crispy, fried plantain chips from the beaches of Costa Rica. No matter what you crave, you can taste the local fare without ever leaving the beach.

Click here to see Delicious Destinations: U.S. Cities

A collection of truly unique french fires, in honor of Nation French Fries DayFor the average person, there are few foods more addictive or satisfying than a serving of french fries, fresh from the fryer. Whether they're thin-cut or steak-cut, shoestring-style or Belgian-style, curly or crinkled, fries are a food that Americans hold near and dear to their hearts. So in honor of National French Fries Day, here is a look at some unique and innovative versions of this iconic dish.

Click here to see America's Most Outrageous French Fries

Just as some restaurants and vendors aim to elevate foods like pizza, burgers, and grilled cheese, many fries experts across the country are serving up their spuds in creative ways. From topping the fries with intriguing ingredients to coming up with outrageous presentations (like spiral-cut and skewered), the opportunities for innovation are endless.

Click here to see America's Best Fried Chicken

Frysmith, a popular Los Angeles-based food truck is dedicated to offering crispy, golden fries (made with Kennebec potatoes) layered

Find out which coffee drinks have the least fat and calories, and which sugary drinks to avoidWith the summer heat already in full swing, it's time to bring on the icy coffee drinks - along with the calories. While many are trying to keep their bikini bods in check, the sugary temptation of an ice-cold drink can be too much to resist. But just how fattening are these seemingly innocuous beverages? Fitness and nutrition professional Bryan Renaud shed some insight on how to get your sugary drink fix this summer without the harmful effects.

Click here to see the Best and Worst Summer Coffee Chain Drinks

In light of the recent conversation about the sugary drink ban, health officials are investigating other ambiguous beverages to determine which drinks will be affected by the ban. Starbucks Frappuccinos, for example, may qualify as milkshakes, which will not be affected by the ban.

But if the ban does eventually affect the ubiquitous Frappuccino, will the Light options still be available? That is yet to be determined, but according to Renaud, the calories and fat

Don't let the summer heat put a stop to your cookingThe heat is on - but that doesn't mean that cooking should be off. As the temperatures begin to rise this summer and many people go running to the respite of a cool, air-conditioned restaurant, now is a better time than ever to get into the kitchen and create some masterpieces with our season's bounty.

Click here to see 10 No-Heat Recipes for the Summer

So, how do you beat the heat? No, it's not cooking in your bathing suit or keeping an ice bath nearby; it's taking a little time and preparation to think of alternative solutions to cooking. These tips are simple and easy to follow, and they'll certainly keep you from shying away from the stovetop this summer.

Click here to see 9 Cool and Creative Ways to Use Watermelon

Keep the Heat at Bay
There's a lot of ways to keep the heat level at a minimum in your kitchen, including induction stoves, which uses less heat than your regular stovetop, and exhaust fans, which will send the warm air right out the window. Both are inexpensive and

Dare to dine on worms, tarantulas, snake blood, and other daunting eatsIn the field of adventurous eating, those seeking flavor-packed thrills are often ready and willing to sample the world's most exotic cultural delicacies and outrageous ingredients.

However, there are some foods out there that push those with even the most fearless palates to the outer limits of their culinary comfort zones. Considered delicacies in some parts of the world, these dishes prey on the phobias of the squeamish and even make some courageous eaters cringe.

Gross or Great? Click here to see 27 Unexpected Delicacies From Around the World

The Daily Meal's list of the world's most out-there foods, which includes insects, rotten fish, rodents, genitals, venom, placenta, and semen, will leave both apprehensive and audacious eaters alike chewing over the same question: you eat what?

Click here to see Andrew Zimmern's Most Bizarre Foods in America

"Some of the craziest food in the world is so arcane or so seldom seen that it's almost like a cult of people who

Last August I had a revelatory experience. A good friend, and Starbucks non-enthusiast, had accompanied me to the local 'bucks to pick up a quick drink. I ordered my usual, reciting the string of descriptors with the greatest of ease. And she… well, she ordered something I had never heard of - an Iced Grande Dirty Chai.

Click here to see Starbucks Secret Menu: The Ultimate Guide

I was floored. How had she gotten this intel? And how had it evaded me for so long? And man was this drink good. Naturally, I began to wonder about the other off-the-menu items I had been missing out on, and how many there were. As it turned out, quite a lot. Green Eyes and Double-Dirty Chais, Zebra Mochas and Crunch Berry Frappuccinos - an entire "secret menu," revealed.

Click here to see Fast-Food Iced Coffees to Avoid

When I shared what I'd learned shortly thereafter, it sparked a flood of comments from fans and haters, former employees and current Starbucks baristas alike. Most were in fervent

Experts weigh in on how to take the American classic to the next levelBall games, barbecues, and boardwalks all share one very tasty link - the hot dog. Although it's about as iconic as a food can get in this country, the wiener's origin remains surprisingly unclear. On one point, however, we're all in agreement: On a summer afternoon, it's perfect washed down with a glass of something bubbly and ice-cold.





Click here to see 11 Tips for Making the Perfect Hot Dog

Yet there are lots of ways to prepare this most crowd-pleasing of treats - and just as many experts out there who are elevating the art of the dog. To start, there's the choice of the meat itself, then the cooking method (grilling, boiling, deep-frying), the matter of what to put on top (salty, sweet, cheesy), and how to handle the bun (toasted, soft, handmade). To help us assess the options and learn how to create the perfect hot dog at home - after all, most of us don't have access to equipment more advanced than a stovetop or a barbecue - we checked in with masters Randy Watts of Nathan's

Plan ahead with snacks and activities to fuel your future Olympian during trips this summer.Helping your child eat healthy while traveling can be a challenge. Fueling Olympians and future Olympians on the go is difficult because of unfamiliar foods, lack of knowledge about the local food scene, and other factors.

Dr. Douglas N. Graham, an Olympic health trainer and coach who has worked with the likes of tennis ace Martina Navratilova, NBA star Ronnie Grandison, and professional bowler Bruce Hamilton, counsels Olympians and Olympic hopefuls on the techniques, practices, and benefits of healthy living and eating.

Click here to see Tips for Fueling Future Olympians

Graham, who has written The 80/10/10 Diet, and lives a raw vegan lifestyle, helps his clients maintain a routine while on the road.

Click here to see the World's Wildest Dining Experiences

"I'm not obsessed about food but I cover my bases," said Graham, who has trained a number of Olympians, including Jamaican hurdler Isa Phillips.

Click here to see Airplane Restaurants and Hotels from Around the World

Graham