Catherine Rickman

Emmental (also spelled Emmentaler, Emmenthaler, or Emmenthal) is one of the classic Swiss cheeses. This mild, semi-hard cheese dates back to 13th century Switzerland, and is named for the Emme river, in whose valley it was originally produced. These days, you're most likely to find Emmental in a traditional cheese fondue recipe.

Pepper is one of those spices that you probably don't think about often, unless you're whipping up steak au poivre or cacio e pepe. But there are many different kinds of peppercorns out there, all with their own unique flavor. And while you might know black green, white, or pink peppercorns, there's one more you should keep an eye out for: Timut peppercorns.

If you're a gardener (or, at the very least, desperately trying to keep that one grocery store basil plant alive on your windowsill), you've probably been taught to fear the flowers that grow on your culinary herbs. The common advice is that, to grow the tastiest basil, chives, or mint, you need to pinch any flower buds that may appear. Doing so will redirect the plant's energy back into its edible leaves.

What do you call the shop around the block where you can stop for a snack, a lottery ticket, and a roll of toilet paper? Depending on where you are, you might refer to that place as a convenience store, corner store, bodega, or even deli. In New York City, it would be one of the last three, but the Big Apple has a unique claim to the term 'bodega.'But are these all names for the same thing?

Whether you're trying out a basic burger recipe, or want to experiment with a melty Cuban sandwich, owning a solid griddle to whip out on a hot summer's day is an essential part of backyard cooking. One of the most popular griddles on the market comes with the Blackstone grill. Also known as a flat top grill, this brand's griddles are renowned for their large surface areas that let you prepare just about any foods you want, all at the same time. The surface is made from carbon rolled steel, which is great at evenly distributing heat, but requires some maintenance.

Food writer and American in France Rebekah Peppler's Le Sud includes Provençal recipes and French market finds.

Rice noodles, which are quick-cooking, gluten-free, and delicious, are a staple in recipes from across the Asian continent, from Chinese chow fun to Vietnamese pho. You can buy them in a variety of styles and widths at Asian markets, but what if a craving strikes and your go-to store is closed for the night? In a pinch, you can make a substitute out of rice paper.

As a popular food item found in everything from sweet or spicy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to chocolate peanut butter cups, peanuts are something you might take for granted and never question. Which is why you might be surprised to learn that their name is something of a misnomer — this common snack isn't a nut at all, but rather a type of legume.

Parisian comedy clubs like Madame Safarti, Barbès Comedy Club, and Le Paname and bringing French and English stand-up to life.

If you keep in touch with efforts to keep our planet greener, you've likely heard that plastic water bottles are a personal and environmental hazard. We're not supposed to refill plastic water bottles, lest we ingest more microplastics than we already do, but if we trash them, they'll likely end up in a landfill — sometimes even when we think we've recycled them properly. Enter boxed water, a supposedly more sustainable alternative.