Take a moment today to say thanks to the men and women who've sacrificed so much to keep our country strong and safe, then celebrate our freedom with a meal shared with friends and family.

We've got some seriously smokin' grilling advice right here.

- Burgers – a step-by-step guide

- Up your grilling game

- Red hot grilling tips from Eatocracy readers

- Best. Burgers. EVER and Best. Cheeseburger. EVER

- 5 grilling mistakes – and how to fix them

- Bring your indoor favorite to the great outdoors

- Grate balls of fire? Not on our watch.

- Bring your indoor favorites to the great outdoors

- Make a Mexican-inspired outdoor feast

- Best burger-friendly wines

- What every carnivore should know

And feast on the results of The Picnic Poll to find out what your fellow chefs like for a main dish and drink, burger topping, side dish and dessert.

Talk about a bitter brew! In a cost-cutting move, Cuba is mixing the ground coffee it offers on its ration card with...roasted peas.

The unusual combination isn’t new to Cubans, but in 2005 the government said it would provide the coffee-loving nation with pure, uncut coffee.

Soaring international prices prompted a change of heart.
FULL POST

Thinking of nixing lettuce from your diet after reading about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany and domestic lettuce recalls?

Not only can at-home growers skip this risk - you'll also save money, enjoy a nearly endless variety of organic and heirloom options and have fresh salads at their fingertips all year around - even without an outdoor garden.
FULL POST

Amid deepening public concerns over the country's food safety following a wave of recent scandals, China's highest court has ordered judges nationwide to hand down harsher sentences, including the death penalty, to people convicted of violating food safety regulations.

In a directive released by the state-run Xinhua news agency over the weekend, the Supreme People's Court said in cases where people die from food safety violations, convicted suspects should be given the death sentence, while criminals involved in non-lethal cases should face longer prison terms and larger fines.
FULL POST

Admittedly, I'm not the best photographer in the universe, but in my defense, potato salad ain't pretty. It is, however, delicious and my husband Douglas makes the best rendition of it I've ever had.

A few subtle touches - fresh thyme, a kiss of smoked paprika and crunchy celery leaves - elevate this picnic staple from side to stand-out.
FULL POST

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Double your pleasure, double your fun -  not only is it Memorial Day (grilling, anyone?), but May 30 is also National Mint Julep Day!

Mint juleps may be the official drink presiding over Kentucky Derby fare (since 1938) - over 120,000 are served at Churchill Downs over a two-day period each year - but it's a Southern comfort you can sip all year long.  While the true origins of this fine concoction are unknown, it has almost always consisted of mint, bourbon, sugar and water.  The drink has become so popular, people are even making mint julep cookies.

The term "julep" signifies a sweet drink, usually one with medicinal properties, so you aren't far off the mark when you toast to your health.  You can even drink to the health of retired race horses for charity at the Derby by purchasing an extra-premium custom-made mint julep.  For $1,000 each, you can sip a Woodford Reserve Bourbon-made mint julep mixed with ice from the Bavarian Alps, sugar from Australia and imported mint from Ireland served in a gold-plated cup with a silver straw.

So grease up the grate, sip on your cool mint julep and enjoy this slide through the door into summer, y'all.

Pssst! Got a sec to chat?

We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.

Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.
FULL POST