At the Independent, many things change every year: the headlines, the bylines, the deadlines, and, for a few, the hairlines. But some things never change. Independent writers are back in […]
Food & Drink
Cook, mix, pour, and pull up a chair.
Browse all Food & Drink stories below or dive into a topic:
FOOD MEMORIES
In Search of a Fourth of July Wattamelon
A DIY adventure recreates the inner goodness of Friendly’s famous dessert roll
I lived out in Oregon for more than a decade before moving home to the Cape in 2022. My husband and I often planned trips here around the Fourth of […]
FOUND AT THE FARMERS MARKET
Sunflowers Rising
June 28-29, 2025 Wellfleet and Truro If you’ve just missed the farmers market, try exploring some of the local farm stands. Sea and Soil Botanical Designs (Pole Dike Road, Wellfleet) […]
FROM THE LARDER
A Forgotten Jar of Sumac Brightens a Rainy-Day Dinner
Palestinian mussakhan marinated for the grill is just as good roasted indoors
In food, as in art, one never quite knows where inspiration will come from. Sometimes the fruits of the season demand attention, such as when the peas come in, or […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
Discovering the ‘Kapow!’ of a Homemade Smoothie
Favorite summer blends in a rainbow of colors
Each summer for a couple of weeks, my family trades our hometown tourist destination for another one: we make the short trip across Nantucket Sound to Martha’s Vineyard. Like all […]
FOUND AT THE FARMERS MARKET
Double the Bok Choy
June 11, 2025 8:15 a.m., Wellfleet Chris Murphy of Truro’s Nestwood Farm has two kinds of bok choy on offer, Mei Qing Choy and Black Forest. They come complete with […]
THE ESSENTIALS
Lettuce and Peas for Lunch
An unexpected pairing that perfects a late spring garden menu
It won’t be long now. Most anyone who keeps a vegetable garden is waiting and watching for the first peas, that fresh, green taste of springtime that means the weather […]
FOOD REVOLUTION
Alice Waters Makes Asparagus Great Again
Eastham’s former glory vegetable is at home with scallions and buckwheat noodles
I miss the things I used to worry about. Those anxieties seem so pleasant in retrospect. One of the main things I used to like to mull in the years […]
HOME COOKING
Dig Your Own Dinner
On the Outer Cape, a bucketful of quahogs calls for stuffies, made from scratch
Stuffies are a thing on Cape Cod, partly because they go way back — a lot of people here grew up on them and have family recipes they swear are […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
Mastering the Art of a French-Style Potato Salad
A fan changes a recipe, but in ways Julia wouldn’t have minded
As the late-night television personality David Letterman used to say, my guest needs no introduction. But I’m going to give her one anyway. She is the American queen of French […]
FROM THE LARDER
Redeeming the Loveless Lima Bean
A lemony yogurt dressing and a fistful of fresh herbs give butter beans the boost they need for spring
Here’s an experiment: the next time you’re chatting with a friend, mention that you’re going to make lima beans for supper. Nine times out of 10 the response you’ll get […]
BAKE IT EASY
Popovers That Promise Good Stories on the Side
A family recipe for the perfect crisp-yet-custardy pastries to slather with butter and jam
My aunt Mary Jane is here for a visit, which means there will be family stories over a Mother’s Day brunch — my mother’s side loves to reminisce. Even though […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
Enchantment in the Land of Chard
Turning a leafy green mountain into lovable mini gratins
You know how it is with cookbooks. There are certain ones you delve into over and over again, becoming friends with the authors as they tell you about their favorite […]
FROM THE LARDER
A Soup to Come Home To
After a winter escape, a return to spring minestrone
There is something perhaps unadventurous in an annual pilgrimage. But travel is only half about seeking: the other half is escape. I didn’t dream that up, but when I read […]
SPRING BREAK
A Practical Baker’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Tart
It’s OK if the magic of your mille-feuille is store-bought
After the harshness of this winter, signs of spring are more welcome than ever. The daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths I had forgotten we planted are thriving in our Cape light. […]
