Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, what's cooking on November 7, 2007 at 5:59 pm

The first snowfall of the year (you missed it if you weren't outside at lunchtime) is a perfect time to start thinking about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Or in the microwave. Jennifer Bain at the Toronto Star looks at the disappearance of the olde tyme chestnut vendors (try outside Ricoh Coliseum after a Marlies game), and talks to the owner of a company who roasts nuts and sells them via stores like T&T where customers can bring them home and reheat them in the microwave. I had some of these at the Lunar New Year festival earlier this year and can vouch for their tastiness.

Also in the Star, Susan Sampson flips for some pizza, interviewing a champion pizza dough tosser and providing a glossary on the different styles of pizza pie - who knew there were so many?? Jennifer Bain reviews Vegetable Soups From Deborah Madison's Kitchen, Josh Rubin features my very favourite local beer, the Black Irish Plain Porter by Scotch Irish Brewing, and Tamsyn Burgmann heads to Hamilton for Egyptian food at Dalina's Mediterranean and Egyptian Delights.

At the Toronto Sun, Rita DeMontis interviews chef and cookbook author Christine Cushing, and writes about something called Toppits, which appear to be pre-portioned, frozen herbs and also appear to be directed at a target market of people who hate peeling and chopping garlic. And finally, DeMontis reports that C5 at the ROM has made it onto Fodor's Hot List.

Just in time for the holiday office dinner, the Globe and Mail examines just how many calories are really in the average restaurant meal. Yowza!! And Amy Verner gives her impressions of Masaharu Marimoto's recent stint at rain (still not reading these recaps... still jealous).

Also in the Globe, Alexandra Gill looks at chef Rob Feenie's break with the two restaurants he ran and reviews Sea Harbour Seafood in Richmond, BC, while Beppi Crosariol talks with wine expert Robert Parker Jr.