We challenged three chefs to come up with two recipes for a Valentine's Day feast - one for a simple dish and the other for a more impressive appetizer, entrée or dessert.

We challenged three chefs to come up with two recipes for a Valentine's Day feast - one for a simple dish and the other for a more impressive appetizer, entrée or dessert.

One of dietitian Jill Weisenberger's clients kept a puzzling food journal: The calorie counts were all out of whack. The woman wrote that a tuna sandwich had 33 calories; an apple, 144.

For cocktail lovers, this is a bitter blow: The world is experiencing a shortage of Angostura Bitters.

Why take a walking tour inspired by a cable series you've never seen? If the series is Bravo's “Top Chef,” then the tour will be about cooking and food. And that's something most people can relate to.

FRENCH FRIES! And restaurant writer Helen Schwab wants to know your favorite fry place.

... about (drum roll please) french fries! Send me your favorite fry place by Feb. 16. I'll scout...

On Dining

Q. I boiled a chicken to make soup. I put the pot with the chicken and the cooking liquid into the refrigerator, but it took 5 to 6 hours to become cold. It was still quite warm for several hours. Should I have done it differently?

Most people know beans are a frugal cook's best friend. They are inexpensive, nutritious and filling. But many people may not realize - perhaps because so few Americans eat them regularly - that lentils share those qualities.

It doesn't take two to tango in Mooresville. The wine shop 202 Wines, 202 N. Main St., is now off...

I'll Bite

Dining on a Budget: Gastropub's menu includes fish and chips, along with a selection of pastas, steaks, sandwiches and salads.

Browse the collection of Observer-tested recipes from Food Editor Kathleen Purvis and other trusted publications. Or you can search recipes submitted from readers around the region.

Oh man, this is one yummy one. I'm talking "lick your lips, make a detour to check out the label and pour another glass" good.