3 Michigan chefs up for James Beard award

Three Michigan chefs have been named to the list of semifinalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards. Luciano De Signore of Bacco Ristorante in Southfield, David Gilbert of the Forest Grill in Birmingham and Matthew Millar of the Reserve in Grand Rapids have been selected from a record 57,000 online entries as among the 20 semifinalists in the Best Chefs: Great Lakes category for the nation's most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries.

Here’s a toast to chocolate biscotti to dip and dunk

I don't spend a lot of time in bars, but I always manage to meet the nicest people there. I'm a shy sort of girl, but put a glass of wine or a cocktail in front of me, and suddenly everyone is my friend.

Broth-based soups are just what dieters need to stay on track

Since almost the beginning of Weight Watchers, one thing has remained constant: The eat-as-much-as-you-want Garden Vegetable Soup. Through various points regimens and before that exchanges, even back to the days of fish five times a week and liver once, a bowl of veggies in broth has been prescribed to quell hunger, both mental and physical.

Roast pork dinner is a cut above with meat from Michigan farm

I've been making an effort to not eat meat so much lately. Between altering my diet, taking long walks and getting up earlier, I've become a regular health nut. Sure, I'm exaggerating somewhat, but I can't argue with the fact that I'm feeling better.

Good Stuff

Check out a good event, a good store and good tip.

Blondies easy to make from scratch

Next to chocolate chip cookies, brownies and blondies are some of the most popular sweet treats. Unfortunately, most people bake them from boxed mixes when in fact they are too easy to make from scratch. You can find all the ingredients you need in your pantry.

Around for 15 years, Beans & Cornbread has remained relevant

Is it possible to be down-home and upscale at the same time? Patrick Coleman of Beans & Cornbread thinks so, and he can prove it. Soul food was most often found in obscure storefronts with few frills until he decided to open his own restaurant.

‘Silly’ bites of flavor

Kamryn Brown, age 5, of Dearborn kid-tested this dessert. Her family made a New Year's resolution to eat healthier, so they liked this recipe since it was lower in calories and contains some fruit. Kamryn and her mom, Stacey, had a good time making and devouring (with some help) these yummy little cakes.

Spaghetti squash good way to warm up insides

A couple of weeks ago, my son Leo broke his arm on the basketball court. We stayed close to home for a few days, so we needed the sort of food that would warm us inside. This recipe did the trick. Because spaghetti squash keeps for about two months, I didn't have to go farther than my pantry for my vegetables.

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is one hot chili

Albuquerque, N.M. — There are super-hot chili varieties. And then there’s the sweat-inducing, tear-generating, mouth-on-fire Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.

Age-old process offers modern health benefits

Fermented foods such as natural pickles, kimchi, tempeh and miso, yogurt and kefir, and sauerkraut have been celebrated by many cultures for centuries, but today they're in the spotlight for their potential health benefits.

Chew on these 7 whole grains

Add more healthy whole grains to your diet this year. Here's a guide:

Numbers show stainless steel cookware mostly iron

Q. Please tell me what the numbers 18/10 refer to in stainless steel cookware. Do they have something to do with the weight of the cookware? If so, should the number be higher or lower for quality cookware, and what do the professional chefs use?

Tainted sprouts again linked to Jimmy John's

Washington — Sprouts from the sandwich chain Jimmy John's have been linked to an outbreak of foodborne illness — again.

Roadside B & G, another Bill Roberts restaurant, opens

Bill Roberts' newest restaurant, Roadside B & G, opened Monday in Bloomfield Township at 1727 S. Telegraph Road, just north of Square Lake Road. The location ...

Upscale but casual Roadside B & G opens today

Bill Roberts' newest restaurant, Roadside B & G, opened Monday in Bloomfield Township at 1727 S. Telegraph Road just north of Square Lake Road. The location ...

Buffalo Wild Wings eyes Detroit location

Get your wet wipes ready, plans are in the works for a Detroit location of Buffalo Wild Wings, a server at the company's Ferndale location confirmed Friday. ...

‘Culinartist’ takes recipes to the next level

Georges Mokbel is a perfectionist. His manner is calm, his senses keen and his expertise in design coupled with his culinary skills is impressive, to say the ...

Detroit Red Wings doughnut to help fund worthy causes

Attention hockey fans and doughnut lovers: Beginning today through Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings and Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop are offering an "I Love the ...

Show your Valentine you care by serving a heart-healthy menu of crimson-colored foods

Why not cook up a big pot of love for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day and serve red for romance instead of the requisite chocolate?

Raspberries just as nice as chocolate

I eat at least one bite of chocolate every day. I know it's good for me, and by limiting myself to one square of the best dark chocolate after lunch — ...

Good Stuff

Try a new ingredient, indulge in a heart-shaped Krispy Kreme doughnut or salute America through its favorite sandwiches at Mudgie's Deli in Detroit's Corktown.

Dark chocolate triple-threat treat

What do you get when you encase luscious red cherries in rich dark chocolate? The answer is cherry cordials, a delicious treat to give to your sweetie on ...

Healthy chili can still be an awesome dish

Chili is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. More than simply delicious, healthy chili is an easy one-pot meal made with ingredients you already have on ...

Pain-killing cloves add sweet aroma, flavor to foods

Unfortunately, my first memory of cloves is associated with excruciating pain. I must have been about 10, with a horrid toothache. My father wrapped two cloves ...

Lockhart’s BBQ's brunch menu racks up barbecue fans

Think about a destination for Sunday brunch, and a restaurant dedicated to smoked brisket, pulled pork and racks of ribs is probably not the first thing that ...

Ashley’s Belgian beer fest doubles its celebration

Last year’s Belgian Beer Festival at Ashley’s in Westland was so popular that owners Jeff and Roy More decided to double the length of the celebration, ...

Wal-Mart debuts ‘Great for You’ seal

You may like the food you buy, but is it "Great for You"?

Olive oil is better choice than butter

Q. Is olive oil better for me than butter?