Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

Food & Drink

About

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for the best 40-ouncer of beer or the best $40,000 whiskey, because we cover it all. From profiles of industry-leading chefs and bartenders to recipes for homemade cocktails or brisket, The Manual serves up content that will make you hungry, thirsty, and ready to put your apron on.

Vodka martini with olives in a martini glass

How to craft a heavenly vodka martini: Shaken or stirred

The vodka martini is perhaps the most classic of classic cocktails. Find out its origins as well as how to make a home bar-worthy vodka martini here.
Knife blades closeup

This is how to sharpen a serrated knife the right way

White wine glass tip

Far older than you think: A beginner’s guide to Mexican wine

The Big Green Egg Chiminea.

Big Green Egg brings back a fan-favorite item for a limited time

the best home bar glassware version 1612854960 for your 2021

How to start your own home bar: the tools and mixers

Cocktails

We know the most popular cocktails — Try these underrated drinks instead

A vineyard in the Russian River Valley between Guerneville and Healdsburg, California.

These are the wine regions in jeopardy due to climate change, study says

cooked elk with cup

Upgrade your next barbecue with elk, the healthy red meat you should be eating

Dirty Martini

This is how to make the perfect dirty martini

A trio of whiskies

Ranked: 5 popular Scotch whisky bottles (all under $50)

Closeup of croissant lobster

How to brunch like the French with lobster croissant and champagne

Ducks in the Pig Pen

The 11 best grill and smoker recipes to make now

Pea puree with fish

Your guide to the pescatarian diet for healthier living

Are you thinking of changing your diet? If a healthier you is on the to-do list this year, you might consider the pescatarian diet.
Brandy in the sunlight

Cognac vs. brandy: What’s the difference?

What's the difference between brandy and cognac? Turns out, it's all about region, grapes, and process. Here's the breakdown.
KitchenAid Espresso machine

This fan-favorite kitchen brand just launched a new espresso machine collection

If you - like us - value a great espresso machine more than you probably should, this collection is the perfect place to look. 
Alcoholic cocktail with pieces of fruit and berries in a bowl

Get creative: How to use hibiscus in your cocktails this spring

Hibiscus is a great ingredient to use in cocktails. Here are a handful of spring-forward recipes.
ooni koda pizza oven review

From $350 to $1,399: The 5 best outdoor pizza ovens in 2024

If you're thinking about buying an outdoor pizza oven but you're currently overwhelmed by all of the options, you should check out our recommendations here.
The caviar at Hancock St. with potato chips and champagne

What is caviar? A seafood expert breaks down all the details

Delicate and buttery, caviar is a luxurious delicacy. To guide us, caviar expert John McDonald of Hancock St. teaches us how to enjoy this prized ingredient.
Pork carnitas tacos

How to make the perfect carnitas, according to a chef

Carnitas are the go-to Mexican filler for tacos, burritos, and everything in between. Check out how to make carnitas to perfection.
A person cutting up tomatoes for a healthy meal

The 10 best brunch recipes for restaurant-quality meals at home

Brunch season is here! Check out these 10 recipes from chefs and other food pros to make your own brunch at home.
Gin and tonic lime lemon rosemary

The 10 best gins for a refreshing gin and tonic

When it comes to refreshing gin and tonics, these are the spirits to reach for.
Sliced steak on cutting board

How to reverse sear for a flawless steak every time

This delicious method requires absolutely no specialized equipment - just an oven and a good-quality pan. 
Steel Hibiscus cocktail.

You’re overlooking the most important ingredient in your cocktail

However I think there's one ingredient that can make or break a good cocktail, and it's something many drinkers don't ever stop to consider.
Home Bar

How to start your own home bar: the essential spirits

Most cocktail experts agree that there are a few spirits that are required for a well stocked bar, and we've compiled a list of what to buy.
Rose wine glasses

The 10 best rosé wines that everyone should drink

Whether you're looking for a cheap bottle or a healthier drink, we got you covered with the best rosés for this season and beyond.
Chef Jack Strong.

The Native American cuisine movement is on the rise

Native cuisine has been here longer than any food trend imaginable. Now, it's gaining some long overdue attention and sparking a movement.
Beer foaming over the glass

The freshest pilsners to drink this spring

While the great American beers of Budweiser and Miller claim pilsner lineage, there are plenty of full-flavored options to show what the style really is.
cheeseburger

American cheese isn’t really cheese: The truth behind the burger topping staple

What exactly is American cheese and is it healthy to consume? We'll break down the details of this popular burger topping.
most popular cocktails friends toasting with

These are the 10 most popular cocktails in the U.S.

The ten most popular cocktails in the US, according to NielsenQ data.
Rose wine in ice bucket

Don’t make this super common mistake when chilling wine in an ice bucket

Even with all the fancy products available, it's hard to beat an ice bath when it comes to chilling wine. Here's how to get the technique right.
Whiskey in a glass

This is why you add water to whiskey (plus, our best tips)

One of the best ways to heighten your whiskey-tasting experience is to add water. We aren’t talking about a cup of water, we’re talking about a few splashes.
casamigos jalapeno tequila release cindy crawford casamigas jalape o tif

Where to get George Clooney, Cindy Crawford-backed Casamigos Jalapeño Tequila

Casamigos thinks that the spicy, thin, bright green pepper we love to add to salsa, tacos, and guacamole deserves its time to shine in the alcohol world.
grasshopper cocktail

The grasshopper drink is a retro blast from the past — this is how to make it

This dessert-like, after-dinner drink tastes like a fresh, boozy mint.
Whiskey glass

5 fan-favorite budget bourbon bottles, ranked

We selected five of the best, fan-favorite budget bourbon bottles and ranked them based on value-to-quality ratio.
Wine barrel barrique

What is a barrique? Exploring wine’s most popular barrel size

Barriques are the most common size and type of barrels in the wine game and are lauded for their functionality and ability to mature fermented juice.
Jefferson's Bourbon Rye.

Jefferson’s Bourbon makes the most well-traveled spirits you’ll ever drink

Jefferson's Bourbon has made aging at sea cool again. Here's what else the producer is up to as American whiskey continues to make strides.
A southern Crawfish plate

Here’s how to crawfish boil the right way (and everything else there is to know about crawfish)

Crawfish, crayfish, crawdads, mountain lobsters, yabbies, or mudbugs — whatever you call them, they're delicious. Here's how to eat them.
A Banh Mi sandwich

When lunchtime (or anytime) hunger strikes, these are 13 best sandwich recipes to make

There's a reason why everyone loves sandwiches — they're perfect for a quick meal and easy to handle. Read on for the best sandwich recipes to throw together.
Chef Eduardo Garcia.

Pro tips from Chef Eduardo Garcia for cooking outdoors like a true mountain man

The mountain men of today are self-sufficient but also eat well when outdoors. Here's out to pull of the role.
Sauces and spiced spreads in small jars

A guide to the five mother sauces of classical cuisine and their uses

These techniques are some of the basic skills needed in cooking, and they still need to be combined into finished sauces for richness, flavor, and color.
Grill barbecue gourmet filet entrecote steaks at summer party

How to grill filet mignon on a gas grill: Advice from an expert

It's grilling season and there's hardly a more iconic steak than filet mignon. Here's how to grill the cut correctly.
Banana liqueur cocktail

The 10 best banana liqueur cocktails for a taste of the tropics

Warning: This post contains a bunch of delicious and unique banana liqueur cocktails. You'll go B-A-N-A-N-A-S for these recipes. (Sorry-not-sorry for the puns.)
Bloody Mary

I’m a cocktail expert — my picks for the best vodka for a Bloody Mary

If you're on the lookout for a vodka to use in a Bloody Mary, then I'm recommending a selection of mid-range options which have the qualities to fit the bill.
Gose beers

What is a Gose style beer? All about this unique drink

It’s always a good idea to learn a little bit about some of the lesser-known beer styles. Today, it’s the Gose style of beer’s turn.
Eggs Benedict from Hash Kitchen

How to make a buttery hollandaise sauce like a professional chef

Hollandaise can be an unforgiving sauce to make. Check out how to make the perfect hollandaise sauce according to Chef Joey Maggiore.
Baskets of dim sum, a traditional breakfast

What is dim sum? A guide to China’s most famous culinary tradition

Dim sum restaurants are a culinary institution in many American Chinatowns.
Hands holding trout

The complete guide to cleaning a fish for beginners

Landed a big catch? Nice work! Tasty, fresh fish meat is just a few slices away. Follow this guide to learn how to best prepare a fresh-caught fish.
The Quixote Bar.

The best bars in New York City: Our top picks

NYC has no shortage of great bars. Here are the very best of the bunch.
Pouring whiskey

A guide to all the different types of whisk(e)y

When it comes to whiskey (and whisky), there are six categories you need to know. Here's what they are and how they all differ.
Garlic Hawaiin fried chicken

How to make sweet and crispy Hawaiian fried chicken

From fragrant garlic chicken to sweet mochiko chicken, Hawaii is a fantastic place for fried poultry.

Liquor, Beer, and Wine

Advice and insights

Recipes