Hank Shaw is the author of Hunt, Gather, Cook: Finding the Forgotten Feast.  This week on Good Food he talks to Evan about foraging for prickly pears in Los Angeles.  Hank likes to make Prickly Pear Syrup with his foraged fruit.  A recipe is below.

Commercial versions of this syrup are used for fancy margaritas or poured over pancakes, two excellent ideas. I strongly advise you to buy citric acid for this recipe,to keep the flavors pure. You can often find it in the canning aisle of …

We’re holding our next Good Food Happy Hour at Stark Bar, the new hot spot at LACMA.  They’re creating a one-of-a-kind cocktail for us and there will be a specially priced beer and flat bread pairing.
WHAT: Good Food Happy Hour
WHEN: Thursday, May 12, 7-9 pm
WHERE: Stark Bar at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA
LACMA is the home to the 3rd Annual Good Food Pie Contest, to be held September 18 on the lawn.  This happy hour is kicking off our “Summer of Pie.”  Stay tuned for special pie-themed podcasts, recipes, …

Alie and Georgia visited us here on Good Food the other day and they wowed us with their creative — and gross — cocktails.  For example, a ham daiquiri anyone?  How about a cranberry cocktail served with cubes of turkey and stuffing?  The videos, which features the two women demonstrating how to make their concoction, are all kinds of culinary vintage fun.  During the interview we taped that day, Evan joked with them about serving a drink in a shot glass made of ham.  When they left the studio, …

When it comes to cocktails in Japan, Kazuo Uyeda reigns supreme as the premier bartender of the nation. Uyeda’s unique approach to mixology is grounded in the Japanese Tea Ceremony.  You can see his perfectionist’s touch in this video on how to properly shake a cocktail.

Two of LA’s own food bloggers, Eddie Lin & Bill Esparza will be guest judges this Wednesday, May 12, on Top Chef Masters.
You can join the two at a viewing party at the Edison downtown.  Eddie and Bill will be celebrating with the Edison’s famous cocktails in the Tesla Lounge and the Generator Lounge from 9pm until after the show.

Matthew Biancanello is an artist, an educator, an entertainer, oh and yes….he’s also a bartender.  The brains behind the unwritten cocktail menu at the Roosevelt Hotel’s den-like Library Bar, Matthew has developed a drink list that will surprise and delight even the most seasoned spirits connoisseur.  On a recent visit, I sat on a zebra print bar stool and oogled over fresh produce that lines the bar – golden raspberries, kumquats, limequats, a bouquet of flowering sage from Maggie’s Farm.  And then my drink arrived…in an egg.  Yes the …

Gus McShane of the Santa Monica bar Copa D’Oro mixed up some amazing cocktails for us on Sunday afternoon.
Anise and Passion Fruit Sour
2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
1/2 tsp of Pernod Anise
2/3 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz egg white
½ Passion fruit
Shake and finely strain.
Passion Fruit and Ginger Beer Cocktail
1 ½ oz London Dry Gin
½ oz Bianco Vermouth
½ Passion Fruit
½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup
Ginger Beer
Spoon Half a Passion Fruit into a mixing glass.  Add remaining ingredients except Ginger Beer.  Shake and strain over crushed.  Charge with Ginger Beer.  Serve in a …

I’m always looking for new cocktail ideas.  So I was excited to see these recipes that the folks from Campari sent:
Red Hot Chocolate
Originally served at 116 Crown in New Haven, CT, created by mixologist John Ginnetti
1 oz Campari
2 oz Brandy
3 oz  Whole Milk
1/2 oz heavy cream (optional)
2 Tablespoons of dark chocolate chips
Put milk, cream & chocolate in a milk frothing cup used for espresso.
Froth milk as you would for cappuccino.  When milk is hot remove frothing wand and whisk or stir vigorously until chocolate is completely melted. Add …

Consider giving the gift of livestock this season. Elizabeth Bintliff of Heifer International explains what exactly that entails.
The history of humanity is intrinsically linked with food, says Tom Standage. In this week’s show, how agriculture and trade changed the world. Tyson chicken is trying to change our future by converting chicken fat into fuel. It’s a new kind of renewable energy source. Jeff Webster has the details.
Lesley Bargar of Los Angeles magazine has some suggestions for where you should ring in the new year. …

Can a cocktail cure the flu?  One bartender in NYC thinks so.  Drop Off Service (in the East Village) is serving a garlic/jalapeño/lemon/orange/honey drink with a few drops of liquid echinacea.  Drop Off Service is not alone.  A few other bars around the city are serving drinks with health claims attached (Throat Coat and Western Smash, for example).  Read more.