Birkir Snaps + Björk Liqueur

Imbibe in the power of Icelandic birch with these two smooth spirits

Created by the co-owners of Reykjavik’s renowned Dill restaurant, Björk liqueur and Birkir snaps boast a uniquely smooth, earthy flavor thanks to the Icelandic duo’s clever use of indigenous flora. During spring, sommelier Ólafur Örn Ólafsson and chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason gather felled birch limbs from the half-century-old forest at the foot of the Haukafell Mountain, and infuse the branches’ natural aroma into the spirits …

Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables

The quirky, anecdotal history of produce

As the homogenization of fruits and vegetables spurs concern among the food-obsessed, interest in heirloom cultivars and their respective origins grows. “Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables” delves into the history of the breeds, forming a kind of miscellany of interesting tidbits around the various types of produce. More of a historical study than a contemporary guide, the book succeeds in building out the mythology of heirloom …

WikiCells

Biomimicry spawns edible packaging for food and cocktails

In an innovative approach to consuming with minimal waste, Harvard Professor David Edwards and his team have developed WikiCells, self-contained, edible packaging for liquids, mousses and emulsions. The membrane that houses the various WikiCells flavors is made from vegetal elements, with a taste deliberately paired to match its contents. What started as an experiment to reduce the waste from packaging on food delivered to impoverished …