The first glimpse I had of what Mario Batali's friends had described to me as the 'myth of Mario' was on a cold Saturday night in January 2002, when I invited him to a birthday dinner. Bill Buford batalibirthdaycold Change image and share on social
If kept dry, a chocolate with a high cacao content, I've discovered, rarely spoils. Bill Buford cacaochocolatecontent Change image and share on social
I ended up wanting to be a cook and hold my own in a restaurant. Bill Buford cookendhold Change image and share on social
Most chartreuse recipes call for one bird, a fat one, like a pigeon or a partridge, secreted inside the casing, a vegetable mold, which is then turned out onto a plate. Bill Buford birdcallcase Change image and share on social
The 'classic' pig is inspired by northern Italy. It is made up of meat and fat, rosemary and garlic, salt and lots of black pepper. Bill Buford blackclassicfat Change image and share on social
Tuscan sausages are smaller than their American cousins, each one demarcated with a string, a graceful loop drawn tightly into a knot - looping and tightening, looping and tightening, a symmetrically floppy, aesthetically appealing rhythm. Bill Buford aestheticallyamericanappeal share on social
For reasons I didn't understand, I felt I needed to learn how to cook the food of France and knew that I was going to have to get over to the country: to Paris, I'd always assumed. Bill Buford assumecookcountry Change image and share on social
Kasha is the hardy starch of a Slavic winter - buckwheat, in fact - but when cooked properly, it gets a nutty, deep-brown crust. Bill Buford brownbuckwheatcook Change image and share on social
Gordon Ramsay, the only chef in London honored with three stars by the 'Guide Michelin,' is not a monster. Bill Buford chefgordonguide Change image and share on social
Giada De Laurentiis, of 'Everyday Italian,' is not a chef, although she has culinary expertise - she was trained at the Cordon Bleu and worked as a private cook for a wealthy Los Angeles family. Bill Buford angelesbleuchef Change image and share on social
