At holiday time, food pantries abound with donations from big-hearted, charity-minded citizens. The rest of the year can be a lot leaner.

But that doesn't stop the 460,000 people (including 178,000 children) in the Maryland Food Bank's service area from needing to eat for the other 11 months of the year. To call attention to the shortfall, the group teamed with local architecture firms to create eye-catching sculptures out of stacked cans of food. The results are currently on display at a popular shopping mall as part of the AIA Baltimore 2013 Canstruction design competition.
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Many locals experience a shock the first time they visit Liu Yang’s shop: they’ve never seen something quite like this before.

Some just pass by, merely peeking in the windows of his tiny, two room workshop.

“I think some people before they come by prepare themselves psychologically,” says Yang. “Maybe they’ll come back, maybe they won’t. We won’t get disappointed because of this. Most Chinese people are not used to cheese culture.”
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While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Sometimes getting back to the basics is just what we need - especially in the middle of a long week. Vanilla pudding is the perfect antidote to the mid-week doldrums: it’s simple, easy to make, but satisfying as all get-out.

Sure, you could make your pudding with eggs. You could separate them, whisk them until smooth and then temper them into a perfectly thickened custard. You could definitely do all that...or you could use a little cornstarch and save yourself some time (and eggs).
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Despite unemployment being close to 12%, Italians are snubbing traditional jobs like pizza-making.

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

Mmmm...dreamy. May 21 is National Strawberries and Cream Day!

How could we forget one of the most obvious uses for all those strawberries you’ve been picking? We speak of course, of strawberries and cream.

The beauty of the dessert lies in its simplicity – it really is just strawberries and thickened cream. Kitchen types aren’t known for leaving well enough alone, so there are a few ways to dress up this basic dessert.
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Previously on Parts Unknown:
Peru
Peruvian food is having a moment
Make perfect pisco sours and ceviche
South America's pisco enjoys North American revival
Libya
Breakfast in Libya
Where fast food tastes like freedom
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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.
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Editor's note: The Southern Foodways Alliance delves deep in the history, tradition, heroes and plain old deliciousness of Southern food. Today's contributor, Emilie Dayan, writes a weekly SFA blog series called "Sustainable South" about food and the environment, nutrition, food access, food justice, agricultural issues and food politics.

In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about urban agriculture and the solution it provides for sustainable and healthy living. The Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) in Birmingham, Alabama, however, is much more than an urban farm. Their vision is to educate 10,000 Birmingham children annually.
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Ray Isle (@islewine on Twitter) is Food & Wine's executive wine editor. We trust his every cork pop and decant – and the man can sniff out a bargain to boot. Take it away, Ray.

Spring is in full flower - I know this, because I am sneezing continually - and in addition to the burgeoning boughs and all come asparagus, snap peas, watercress, spinach, artichokes, you name it. Basically, everything’s gone green.

With that, if you’re a wine lover, there’s also the question: What wines go best with green vegetables?
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