Several years ago, I realized that The Impressions‘ “I’ve Been Trying” is my second favorite song of all time. My rationale behind naming this sweet piece of soul my definitive #2 lies in the fact that naming a definitive #1 is a hopeless and hollow act. Favorites shift over time and space, and while the [...]

Zach’s spending two weeks in Hawaii! A preview of travel stories to follow:

My newest piece for Serious Eats delves further into the definition of barbecue – more specifically, it picks apart the scattered roots of its etymology. Click to read!

I didn’t plan to write a post this week. Settling into my new neighborhood, getting my ass kicked by work and trying not to let the blessings of the season pass by too quickly while I’m stuck behind a computer screen have lent themselves more to pure fatigue than to fruitful exploration of New York’s [...]

I’m not wont to talk about clichés or stereotypes, but I’m afraid the topic of beer is inescapable when writing about Germany. The world’s most renowned producer of this beloved libation simply cannot be discussed without at least some mention of it. Before you roll your eyes, though, let me assure you that I’m not [...]

I spent all of last weekend covering the annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party for Serious Eats. My column focuses on the diversity of American barbecue represented at this event – if you haven’t already read it, click on Ed Mitchell’s belly to check out the story!

When I talk about my favorite places to eat, I inevitably confront the fact that the conventional framing of a top tier dining establishment – service, appearance, and atmosphere – is one big bore in my greasy spoon licking, formica table staining, foreign language menu worshipping myopia of the edible. Although a measure of care [...]

There’s a basic stupidity to restaurants and bars, places that glorify the consumerism of everyday skills that even I, to a certain extent, can reproduce at home for a fraction of the cost. Unless your time is literally money, it is economically worth spending in the kitchen. Sure, there are many exceptions. I’m not going [...]

I’m sometimes asked why, as a food blogger, I don’t post negative reviews. The greater answer is that I rarely post reviews, period. Most people get this – many of the stories on The Eaten Path are more exploratory than exacting, and Hell if I know what practical service any given reader is extracting from [...]

We all know the usual signs of spring’s arrival. Flowers begin to bloom, the days become longer, birds are chirping, and love is in the air. Here in Germany the same signs are present, but there is one additional indication that a shift in seasons has occurred: the appearance of a beloved vegetable. It was [...]