Food & Wine December 2018

SUNTORY HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY WHISKY ($100) Sipping Suntory’s lightly honeyed Hibiki Japanese Harmony, a blend of malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries, is always a pleasure. And the limited-edition gift bottle they’ve done for the holidays this year is truly beautiful—a perfect gift for whiskey lovers, I’d say. 2017 TIBERIO CERASUOLO D’ABRUZZO ($20) Is there such a thing as a rosé for winter? I’d vote for the Cerasuolos of Italy’s hilly Abruzzo region—hovering between a light red and a rosé in body, they are filled with deep, wild-berry flavors. Tiberio’s version is one of the best. 2014 WATERS WASHINGTON STATE SYRAH ($32) Winemaker Jamie Brown fashioned a killer Syrah in 2014. Bold, spicy, gamey, and rich, it will make a fantastic accompaniment to any holiday roast. Or just a big…

THERE’S AN ENTRY ON p. 754 of my grandmother’s 1964 edition of Joy of Cooking that defines eternity as “a ham and two people. But one may while away the time more than tolerably if he remembers to serve the choicer parts of a ham first.” This time of year, when country ham is on my menus from Christmas to beyond New Year’s, they’re all the choicer parts. Holiday prep starts when a box postmarked Madisonville, Tennessee, lands on my doorstep smelling of hickory smoke and glorious ham funk. Inside is a 14-pound, 24-month-aged hind leg of pig from Allan Benton’s smokehouse. For years I adhered to the traditional Southern approach: I soaked my hams in several changes of water, scrubbed them, and simmered or slow-baked them. That was before I spent…

1 GIVE BACK F&W supports these five organizations: No Kid Hungry provides vulnerable kids with nutritious meals; Wellness in the Schools promotes healthy eating in schools; Jones Valley Teaching Farm delivers food-based education in Birmingham, Alabama; Brigaid taps chefs to serve delicious, from-scratch food in school kitchens; and Wholesome Wave increases access to healthy ingredients. 2 THE TASTEMAKER My former editor (and French pastry–loving friend) Christine Muhlke is the ultimate insider, known for connecting chefs and entrepreneurs to the best restaurants, hotels, and shops. Sign up for her snazzy new newsletter at xtinenyc.com. 3 #SEEHER Food & Wine and parent company Meredith Corporation are teaming up with the #SeeHer Initiative to increase the number of more authentic portrayals of women and girls in advertising, media, and programming by 20 percent by 2020, the 100th anniversary…

Tell ho-hum holidays to take a hike – you’re going to Scottsdale! Here, resort winter wonderlands, farm-fresh season’s eatings, holiday events and millions of glittering lights will put some serious sparkle in your season. And best of all, our sunny skies and warm winter temperatures mean you can enjoy all the season’s finest offerings without a snow shovel in sight. RESORT WINTER WONDERLANDS Every year, Scottsdale’s resorts transform into enchanting winter wonderlands swathed in all the splendor of the season. In true Fairmont style, “Christmas at the Princess” features a four-story musical Christmas tree, desert ice skating rink, and Santa’s Secret Headquarters. At the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, a life-size Gingerbread Cottage is sure to induce dreams of sugar plums and candy canes. And at The Phoenician, posh holiday offerings…

1. LA TIENDA TAPAS PARTY GIFT BOX Make like chef Josiah Citrin (Melisse and Charcoal, Los Angeles) and head to La Tienda for all kinds of edible Spanish gifts. “You can get sampler packages of jamón, Spanish cheeses, olive oils, wines—anything and everything for your food-loving friends,” he says. ($115; tienda.com) 2. SEED + MILL ULTIMATE GIFT PACK Butcher Jocelyn Guest (formerly of White Gold Butchers, New York City) puts tahini in everything from cookies to marinades: “Seed + Mill does it the right way. They’re thoughtful, small-batch, and lady-owned!” And if she had to pick a mail-order meat to send friends over the holidays, it would be Heritage Foods’ Bacon Lover’s Sampler. (Tahini pack, $84; seedandmill.com. Bacon pack, $129; heritagefoods.com) 3. JOSÉ GOURMET CANNED SEAFOOD Eye-catching packaging is “a huge draw” for chef Jamie…

TIME-LIFE THE GOOD COOK SERIES (1978–80) “This series is deliciously retro and still so relevant. The volume Outdoor Cooking is a touchstone for cooking over fire. I also like Beverages, Vegetables, and Snacks. The step-by-step instructions and technique explanations are right on target.” —Mary-Frances Heck, senior food editor THE ZUNI CAFE COOKBOOK (2002) “I first went to Zuni as an impoverished grad student. I ordered Judy Rodgers’ roast chicken, took one bite, and my head essentially exploded: It was that good. In this book, filled with wonderful recipes, Rodgers’ overarching brilliance teaches you something on every page. It’s as much a pleasure to read as it is to cook from.” —Ray Isle, wine editor THE TASTE OF COUNTRY COOKING (1976) “Edna Lewis’ loving ode to the Virginia Piedmont farming community in which she was raised…