Cilantro: An Herb That’s Not for Everybody

Normally we think of taste as a purely subjective matter. Whether people like or dislike a particular food is considered a function of whether they have eaten it before, and whether they like the sweet or sour or bitter flavor that everyone agrees that the food possesses. There are exceptions. Take cilantro. Cilantro is a […]

Which Butter is Better?

If you lived in Juneau in the 1980’s, you’ll remember Le Petit Paris bakery. Its proprietor, Tom Loatman, made perhaps the best croissants on the West Coast. He insisted on using only French butter in his baking. Occasionally he would run short on imported butter, and come to our shop to get organic butter. I […]

Butter is Good

Unless you have been living in a cave, you have probably heard that trans-fats are bad for you. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils like margarine and vegetable shortening are definitely “out.” The evidence is mounting that these chemically altered fats may contribute to health conditions ranging from heart disease to certain cancers to immune system […]