"ChelseaMarket" news and stories

Fresh hops. Photo: david.nikonvscanon, Flickr.

• A guide to beer additive hops, and the differences between what's fresh and dried.
• The Minimalist makes Bok Choy with Shiitakes and Oyster Sauce.
• Why do San Francisco residents eat local so fervently, yet drink European wines? Plus: A look at the primo vino locales in the Bay Area.
• Room for Debate peeks into bento-box culture, wondering what aesthetically pleasing food says about Japan.
• Michael Bao Huynh may think he's just a businessman, but he's building an empire of Vietnamese-inspired restaurants.
• Avenue C's Summit Bar serves up classy cocktails with a side of laidback conversation.
• Free and clear of "Gourmet," Ruth Reichl partakes in a Q&A with the Times.
• A Good Appetite amps up wild salmon with brown butter cucumbers.
• Recipe Redux takes a recipe for homemade Worcestershire sauce from 1876 and compares it to modern concoctions.
• Food and Travel: Restaurateur Terence Conran starts new establishments in London, exploring the food of Charlevoix, Quebec farm country and Singapore's culinary melting pot.
• Central Park South's Marea offers pricey seafood and atmosphere that's "unfussy, as welcoming as a luxe clubhouse."
• $25 and Under finds a bunch of notable and classic Manhattan food carts.
• Food Stuff finds: Kobe-style beef, fresh meats at Chelsea Market and crab apples.
• New York's openings and closings and food calendar.

Sandra rolls in Elvis style. Photo: Sara Bonisteel

Bacon and Sandra Lee took center stage Thursday for the kickoff of the New York City Wine and Food Festival in Manhattan.

Lee held court in Chelsea Market (home of festival sponsor, the Food Network), where a ginormous "Sandra Lee" sign heralded exactly where everyone's favorite semi-homemade host was holding court, signing copies of her latest book "Cocktail Time."

At the Standard Hotel, those lucky enough to get into Tyler Florence's "Bacon and the Blues" event found bacon gratin, chocolate covered bacon, pulled pork and great steamed slabs of bacon all for the taking. Check out our photos from the scene after the jump.

The Tasting Table announced today that the Food Network will be offering behind-the-scenes tours of its Chelsea Market studios and test kitchens in New York City starting this week. So why now are they opening their doors to the public? Could the recession be hitting them hard? Or are they just trying to be nice? Either way, if you have relatives coming in from out of town this holiday season, with tickets priced at just $20, it's actually not a bad idea to take them on a tour of their favorite Food Network Show. Who knows? Maybe you'll be lucky enough to run into Bobby Flay. If anything, it's better than taking them on a tour of Times Square!

Tours will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through January 15; tickets can be purchased at Chelsea Market Baskets or by calling 646-336-3736.