5 Things in the Food World We Loved in March

One of the things all of us at America's Test Kitchen have in common is a love of food. And if you’re reading this, you probably do, too.

That's why we decided to start a series in which we share some of the things in the food world we loved over the course of the previous month: things that made us think, things that made us laugh, and things that reminded us why we relish being a part of the food world. If we enjoyed them, we thought you might, too.

Here are five things that we loved in March, submitted by ATK staff members from all over the company.

I spent the better part of my gap year before college in Indonesia and have been hunting high and low for good Indonesian food ever since. Recently, I learned about Laura Lee’s book, Coconut & Sambal, from a Samin Nosrat Instagram post and then was gifted a copy for my birthday. It has the truest representation of the food I remember and love, and I’m so excited for more people to cook some of my favorite Indonesian foods like martabak telur (a fried, eggy, garlicky pancake) or rendang daging (beef braised in spiced coconut milk until it becomes caramelized and crunchy on the outside but tender on the inside). The food is uniquely delicious and it doesn’t hurt that the book itself is beautiful. —Emily Rahravan, Assistant Editor, Cookbooks

Each episode of this Mandarin-language series is a bite-size (10- to 15-minute) exploration of a celebrated Chinese ingredient or dish. Season one focuses on Chaoshan cuisine; season two, Yunnan cuisine; and season three, Gansu cuisine. It is fascinating to see how the people of each region have found creative, resourceful ways to use ingredients. I finish each episode inspired—and excited by all the Chinese food I've yet to learn about. My favorite episodes so far: "Lily," "Gluten," and "Pickled Vegetables." —Rachel Schowalter, Lead Copy Editor

Anastasia Inciardi is a Portland, Maine–based printmaker who makes the most delightful food-themed creations. Her prints are colorful and quirky, ranging from a single teeny tiny Goldfish cracker to customizable breakfast routine prints complete with a pancake and a pat of butter, Moka pot, and raspberry jam. (She's got shirts, too—I've been eagerly awaiting a restock on her bagels and lox t-shirt.) This month she had a "Cheering Up Sale" with spring-centric prints that she'd add a personalized message to and ship for free to anyone who needed a little cheering up. I selected a bright green "Greetings from Spring Veggies" postcard and had her mail it to one of my now-out-of-state friends whom I miss terribly. It did the trick. —Brenna Donovan, Associate Editor, Cookbooks

This adorable children’s show premiered on Netflix on March 16th . . . and I finished watching all of the episodes three days later. Michelle Obama befriends two puppets named Waffles and Mochi who travel the world learning about various ingredients and how different cultures use them. I don’t have kids, but I was totally hooked! There are tons of funny moments and guest stars (Tan France! Rashida Jones!) who appeal to viewers of all ages. —Stephanie Cook, Deputy Art Director

Stanley Tucci hosts this awesome travel show that highlights the culture and history of each region of Italy through its food. Every single episode makes my mouth water! I love how food is the focus, but through the cuisine, we learn so much about what makes each Italian region unique. I especially loved learning about the origins of spaghetti carbonara and different pasta dishes, and how Italian farmers make their fresh cheeses. —Emma Kurman-Faber, Associate Art Director

See the food-related things we've loved in past months here and make sure to visit this page every day for new cooking tips, recipes, features, and more.