
Food Culture
WBUR stories focused on food and how it shapes our lives.

The Ground Round returns after two decades
Husband and wife team Joseph and Nachi Shea hope that a blend of modern appeal and nostalgic pull is enough to bring guests through the door.

Celebrating the queer community's culinary contributions
The inaugural weeklong Big Queer Food Fest will bring chef dinners, talks, parties and cocktail competitions to locations around the city.

Boston chefs and bars named James Beard Award semifinalists
The 35th "Oscars of the dining industry" has announced its list semi-finalists for exceptional culinary artists and establishments.
Two Indigenous restaurants building community through food
WBUR’s Amanda Beland reports on two restaurants combining food with native traditions.

Local Indigenous communities are reclaiming their food sovereignty
From restaurants to seed stewarding, tribal members are working to reconnect with their foodways and culture. "Our food is our stories. It's our sovereignty," said chef Sherry Pocknett. "And without...
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When oysters were king on Christmas
Oysters became a bonafide holiday favorite in the late 19th century. “And the reason for that came with the celebration of Christmas becoming a more elaborate affair,” says food historian...

From plate to pint, Mass. brewers use seasonal foods for holiday beers
Local brewers are getting creative with their seasonal selections, adding festive ingredients like sweet potatoes and apple pie to their recipes.

Sandwiched between cultures: new exhibit explores the pain of 'lunchbox moments'
At the Pao Arts Center, artist Amie Bantz uses lunchboxes to examine how people have explored the complex relationship between food and culture in their childhood.
Too much turkey? How to make the most of Thanksgiving leftovers
Solon Kelleher, an arts fellow for WBUR, grew up working in his family's Worcester restaurant kitchen. He shares some of his favorite recipes for how to put leftovers to good...

For Diwali, Boston-brewed Rupee is putting the 'India' back in India Pale Ale
Diwali, India's biggest holiday, is Sunday, Nov. 12. To celebrate the festival of lights, an Indian-owned craft beer brand brewed in Boston is releasing its first India Pale Ale.

We asked top chefs where to eat in and around Boston
Five local chefs shared where they like to dine once they hang up their aprons for the day. We’re talking quick bites, date-night hotspots and dining in for special occasions.

To help fight invasive green crabs, restaurants are putting them on the menu
Hundreds of years ago, the invasive European green crab first arrived in the region. Today, they’re everywhere, and that is putting pressure on other seafood industries. One solution? Eat them....
A reckoning in restaurants, continued...
In recent months, several stories have surfaced that highlight toxic behavior by figures in Boston's restaurant scene. Irene Li of Mei Mei Dumplings and James Beard Award-nominated writer Hannah Selinger...

Lynch allegations spark calls for changing toxic restaurant culture
The restaurant community continues to reel in the wake of abuse allegations against Boston chef and restaurateur Barbara Lynch. The accusations are raising broader questions about restaurant culture, and its...

Lynch defends herself as abuse allegations against the Boston chef stir industry
Several workers accused Barbara Lynch, who owns several award-winning restaurants in Greater Boston, of physical, verbal and sexual abuse, according to recent news reports, claiming she frequently got drunk inside...
A reckoning at Barbara Lynch restaurants
Former employees of establishments owned by local celebrity chef Barbara Lynch are stepping forward, accusing Lynch of creating a toxic workplace. Boston Globe Business Enterprise Reporter Janelle Nanos joins The...

Boston restaurant industry reacts to reports of workplace abuse by chef Barbara Lynch
A flurry of enraged and sympathetic comments regarding Lynch's alleged behavior flooded social media.

Woof! New England's first dog bar opens for pet parents and their furry friends
Park-9 is New England's first full-service dog bar, a 10,000 square-foot space located in Everett's brewery-heavy “fermentation district.”
Chef Tiffani Faison on marking the Boston Marathon bombings, and how to improve workplace culture in restaurants
Celebrity Chef Tiffani Faison joins us for our monthly check-in. She talks everything from how TV food competitions are changing, to remembering the Boston Marathon bombings, 10 years later.

For Easter, a trip back to the jelly bean's history in Boston
Food historian Susan Benjamin traces the colorful candy's origin from the Turkish Delight to the hard-shelled confection we know today.