Local wineries win big at world competition

Kentucky made an impressive showing at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition earlier this month. A record 5,500 wines were entered in the world's largest competition of American wines, and two Kentucky wineries brought home medals.

The history of the clootie dumpling

Scotland’s famous pudding, the clootie dumpling, is the perfect Burns Night treat for sweet-toothed revellers, but there’s more than one way to make this traditional pud

Not your grandma's pie: Redefine America's favorite dessert in time for National Pie Day

Not many American food days have immediate recognition -- or attention. For good reason.

Viewing parties accompany passion for buttoned-up drama 'Downton Abbey'

NEW YORK -- To much of the civilized world, the "entail" sounds like some part of a cow that Mario Batali might serve alla Romana. But to aficionados of "Downton Abbey," which recently began a second, highly anticipated season on PBS, it is "the great matter," the root of all evil -- and all delight.

A passion for Downton Abbey inspires viewing parties — but without butlers

The series was introduced last year to a North American audience of Anglophiles parched for a refreshment of costume-heavy British soap opera.