Aioli - not your average Mayo

Making your own mayonnaise is pretty darn simple, and yields a noticeably fresher-tasting spread. You control the ingredients, including cage-free eggs, gluten-free mustard, or any other aspects of special importance to you. And you can add any flavorings you like, such as the garlic that defines aioli.

Image: Epicurious

Aioli is a staple of northeast Spain (land of tapas), southern France (the better butter of Provence), and parts of Italy.
For tapas, it is usually spread on bread, then topped with veggies.

Cooking Tip:
Prepare ahead and keep some on hand. Stores well for a week or more in the fridge.

To Prepare:

• Peel 4 to 5 garlic cloves and chop coarsely.
• Crush in a pestle, or blend in a food processor, with 1/2 tsp salt.
• Add 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, and a pinch of white or lemon pepper.
• Mix well.
• Use immediately, or refrigerate promptly.

Variation: for a milder flavor, try using roasted garlic instead of raw (may require a few more cloves).

Tasting Club - Book Review

Dina Cheney's enjoyable book introduces socially-minded food lovers to a new concept: the tasting club.
Patterned after the better known book club model, members get together at each other's homes to sample one particular food at each meeting.
Dina teaches you how to host this type of gathering, including the ideal number of guests, how to set up the space, and what to serve as drinks, palette cleansers, and accompaniments.

Strong Points:

• There is very useful background provided on each of the highlighted foods (which have separated chapters).
• The how-to's for each would put any novice at ease.
• The recipes for accompaniments look tasty.
• Gorgeous photos dress up every section of the book.
• The perspective is well-educated on food, but not elitist - you need not be a 'foodie' to enjoy it.

Points to Improve:

• Stong bias for foods from New England may leave some readers at a loss.
• Local foods could be promoted much more strongly. The emphasis on imported foods serves to reinforce the 'good things only come from abroad' fallacy.

Foods Highlighted:
Wine
Chocolate
Cheese
Honey
Tea
Olive Oil
Cured Meats
Apples
Beer

My Twist:
Follow Dina's template, but highlight the best seasonal foods of your local area.