"the seattle times" news and stories

• Tips and recipes for indulging in the pleasures of pound cake.
• Gee, do you know what ghee is? Also, what's a good substitute for mirin?
• Le ouch -- French wines are hurting after households drank almost 10 percent less wine in 2008 than 2007.
• Grill a whole chicken this summer, not just a part or two.
• Anthony Bourdain visits Seattle and chats about Mario Batali.
  
• How to get the whole family involved when you make super tasty and creamy mac 'n' cheese.
• Busting bacteria -- tips to keep away food poisoning at outdoor parties.
• Restaurant chains bust out more value meals to increase customer traffic.
• Diving into unusual varietals -- widen your palate with wines from Tempranillo to Malbec.
• Merlot is thriving in Washington state.
• Recipes: Grilled Eggplant and Red Pepper with Mint-Cumin Dressing, Lamb Loin Chops with Port Wine Sauce, Lemon Meringue Pie, Fennel Seed and Thyme-Crusted Grilled Shrimp, Smart Coleslaw with Pears, Walnuts and Cranberries, Smoked Turkey and Cheese Panini, Western Tennessee-Style Bone-In Pork Rib Chops

On the way to the beach, restaurant critic Nancy Leson makes a pit stop at Ranch House BBQ, notes that Bambino's East Coast Pizzeria will be another addition to the Seattle-as-pizzatown sweepstakes, and praises the fancy cocktails at Stix Billiards & Brewhouse.

They may be hurting in Genoa, Italy, but Seattle gardens and markets are bursting with basil. Recipes are for: Recipe: Fillet of Beef with Pesto, Recipe: Tomato and Pesto Farrotto, Recipe: Pesto Sauce, Recipe: Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto, and Recipe: Tomato Soup with Pesto.

Since it's still hot outside, throw together a "fool" for dessert: Recipe: Berry Ginger Fool and Recipe: Bittersweet Chocolate Fool with Mocha Affogato.

Borrowing from Europe, dining at a communal table is gaining popularity with restaurateurs, but how do the customers feel?