Spilling the Beans

Book Review: “Eating to Extinction”

By Emily Adams / September 6, 2026 /

Saladino is a longtime food journalist for BBC Radio, and it shows. The book reads less like a dense academic text and more like a very well researched travelogue, hopping from a honey hunt in Tanzania to a cheese cave in Albania to a wheat field in Anatolia. I listened to the unabridged audiobook, read…

Kombu and Beans: A Quiet Kitchen Partnership

By Emily Adams / September 5, 2026 /

There is an old habit in Japanese cooking that heirloom bean lovers everywhere should borrow: dropping a strip of kombu into the pot before the beans ever hit a simmer. It sounds like a small addition, barely worth mentioning, but the effects on digestion, nutrition, and flavor are real enough that plenty of cooks now…

Peruano Bean, Radish, & Pickled Onion Salad

By Emily Adams / September 4, 2026 /

Made this for lunches this week and I’m already thinking about making a second batch. Simple, bright, and it holds up well over a few days in the fridge, which is exactly what I need from a weekday lunch. A Note on Peruano Beans These came from Primary Beans, though I ordered them through Foodocracy,…

Bean Profile: Red Hidatsa Beans

By Emily Adams / August 30, 2026 /

I picked these up from Rancho Gordo mostly out of practicality. I had chili on the brain and wanted a red bean in the mix, and once I actually looked at my pantry, I realized almost every bag I had on hand was white, black, brown, or speckled. Where were the red beans? So this…

Venezuelan Bean Salad with Ayocote Negros

By Emily Adams / August 25, 2026 /

Made this for a Venezuelan potluck, and it was a huge hit with everyone there. My only regret is that I didn’t double the batch, because it disappeared fast. Found a version of this recipe online and adapted it to fit the Ayocote Negros & ingredients I had on hand. A Note on Ayocotes I…