Sam Stone
Staff Writer
Sam Stone reports on nearly everything for BA, including food culture, restaurant news, and sneaky cooking ideas that (hopefully) make your life easier. A Rhode Island native, he’s currently based in New York City where he can usually be found searching out the city’s best bakeries. Before BA, he spent years working in fine dining while also writing for several publications about food, queer culture, entertainment, and how they intersect. In his free time, Sam occasionally writes humor pieces like this one. samstone.nyc
Culture
Celebs, Please Stop LARPing as Service Workers
It’s weird. It’s out of touch. It’s Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran, and even Prince William “working” at restaurants and grocery stores.
Culture
Aspartame Isn’t Great For You, But It (Probably) Won’t Kill You
Rejoice, Diet Coke fans. Although the WHO declared the artificial sweetener “possibly carcinogenic,” it probably won’t be the cause of your demise.
Restaurants
Get to Know One of Texas’s Most Beautiful Restaurants
The Nicolett in Lubbock, Texas, pays homage to the region in ways that go beyond the menu. Here’s how chef-owner Finn Walter designed his tribute to the region.
Culture
Kristen Kish Will Replace Padma Lakshmi as New ‘Top Chef’ Host
Lakshmi, who hosted the show for 19 seasons, announced her departure in June.
Cooking
A Very-Worth-It Egg Hack From ‘The Bear’
For restaurant-quality omelets and scrambles, don’t skip this quick step.
Cooking
Which Ice Cream Sandwich Is Best? A Blind Taste Test of Trader Joe’s, Toll House, Chipwich, and More
One corner-store stalwart rose above the rest.
Cooking
A Dense and Doughy Taste Test of 5 Supermarket Bagel Brands
If you’re not near a good bagel shop, there’s only one grocery brand you should be eating instead.
Culture
More Than 150 Starbucks Stores May Close Next Week Due to Worker Strike
Employees are protesting the company allegedly asking to take down Pride decorations in stores.
Culture
‘The Bear’ Season 2 Asks, ‘Why Work in the Troubled Restaurant Industry at All?’
“The Bear” Season 2 has premiered on Hulu. The cast chaotically tries to build a new restaurant—and gets existential about working in the food world.
Restaurants
The World's 50 Best Restaurants, According to the ‘World’s 50 Best’ List
This year’s controversial but hotly anticipated list was announced on June 20 at a ceremony in Valencia, Spain.
Culture
Why Did Instant Pot—Revered, Cherished, Iconic—Just File For Bankruptcy?
It might seem baffling that such a popular kitchen tool is failing. But the fact it's such a high-quality appliance is a part of the problem, actually.
Culture
The Baffling, Wonderful Lives of the Olive and Cream Cheese Sandwich
From New York to Lebanon to California to Argentina, people recall eating the creamy-salty sandwich while growing up. What are its real origins?
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Editors' Picks
Forget a Blender, My Most Used Kitchen Appliance Is This Bluetooth Speaker
There may be more useful kitchen accessories, but none more joyful.
Reviews
Faberware’s Countertop Dishwasher Works as Well as a Full-Sized One
This portable dishwasher has entirely changed my relationship with cooking.
Restaurants
Have Big Cities Lost Their Edge As Dining Destinations?
The real winners of this year's James Beard Awards were small cities and towns, which boxed out places like New York and San Francisco. It’s just one example of the way once-ignored places are taking center stage.
Lifestyle
All-Meat Diets Are Real and Yeah, They're Extreme
The carnivore diet, lion diet, and animal-based diet have all become popular on social media recently. Here's what to know.
Culture
‘The Bear’ Season 2 Trailer: The Crew Gets Even More Chaotic
In the new official trailer for FX’s “The Bear” Season 2 on Hulu, the team tries to open a new restaurant. Watch it here.