If you follow Deb Perelman on her enormously popular blog, Smitten Kitchen, you are already familiar with one part of her East Village, NYC home kitchen very well. There is a 36-inch span of black speckled countertop where she preps, plates and shoots just about anything that ends up on the pages of the site. It's the same little nook, perched high above a busy avenue, blessed with perfect afternoon light, that serves as the set for most of the more than 300 photos in her new book, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

So when Deb invited me over to cook with her, I jumped at the chance to see the teeny-tiny rental kitchen for myself.

More

Have you ever wondered where baby carrots come from? These bite-sized crunchers have experienced a pretty incredible journey by the time they wind up in our lunch boxes and snack trays. I recently got the carrot's-eye view of this whole process during Grimmway Farms' fall carrot harvest. It all starts with a big field, rows upon rows of green-topped carrots, and the hot California sun. More

Willi Galloway is a garden educator and author who recently published Grow Cook Eat, a lovely book that combines gardening instruction with recipes. In addition to her writing, she hosts a radio show about seasonal cooking and growing. Willi and her husband rent a small bungalow in SE Portland, Oregon. When she's not juggling one of her many projects, she can be found brewing another pot of green tea in her adorable green kitchen. Yes, this space is a rental, but Willi has made it her own.

More

Who: Antonio Ramos and Caroline Mak
What: Founders and head juice makers of Brooklyn Soda Works
Where: Brooklyn, New York

It all started on a whim. Back in early 2010, Antonio, a chemist, and his partner Caroline, an artist, just wanted to make a good ginger beer at home, but what followed was the basis for a new business: intensely flavored carbonated fruit sodas made not from syrups (as is the norm) but rather fresh-pressed juice, with over 40 unusual spicy/sour/sweet flavor combinations, like Grapefruit Jalapeno and Blueberry Lavender. But what's interesting about Brooklyn Soda Works is how very unlike a soda company they are: they don't use syrup and they don't bottle. Instead, they sell their soda in 5 gallon kegs so they can be on-tap at local restaurants and bars. They're really more like beer brewers, but for non-alcoholic soda. More

Who: Jeff Stuffings and Michael Steffing
What: Founders of Jester King
Where: Austin, Texas

Craft beer might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Texas, but a few new upstart breweries near Austin are trying to change that. One of those breweries is Jester King, an authentic farmhouse brewery nestled along the open landscape of Texas Hill Country. By incorporating wild yeast and interesting techniques (barrel aging, natural carbonation) Jester King is elevating beer into something truly special. Join me for a behind-the-scenes Maker Tour of the facilities where all the magic happens. More

Upon entering Doug's kitchen, I immediately thought of Studio 54 and the Palladium: shiny, with the promise and allure of excitement. And yet, it's not an 80's nightclub. It's a place to prepare meals and spend time with family!

More

Who: Charley and Jessica Wheelock
What: Woodblock Chocolate
Where: Portland, Oregon

You may recognize Charley and Jessica from their warm kitchen and home tour published a few months ago. Since then they've opened up their own manufactory to produce their pure and delicious bean-to-bar chocolate bars, and they've barely been able to keep up with the demand! It's a very exciting time for this husband/wife company. More

Hanna and John live in a bungalow in SE Portland with several cats and a few constantly-escaping chickens. They cook and eat outdoors in their abundant garden whenever weather permits, and their kitchen and cooking philosophy are full of ingenuity, warmth, collaboration and laughter. Join us for a tour with this food writer and second grade teacher.

More

When I first visited Quail Hill Farm in late March, the new batch of farm apprentices had only recently arrived. Farm work is typically a one-season contract, so young farmers move around a lot, working on new farms every year. I've always been curious: who are these young farmers who've signed up for a 5-8 month contract working on a CSA farm? How did they come to farming? Do they have time to eat what they grow? What do they think about city folk like me coming out to ask them a bunch of questions? Meet Barrie, Rachel, Kate, Sean, and Calvin. More

Jeanine and Jack of the food blog Love & Lemons, fell in love and then developed together a love affair with food — savoring not only its many tastes and flavors, but also its colors, shapes, and textures. Eating is a celebration. Experiences with food culture — from Spain and Italy to the neighborhood food trucks and culinary spots in their hometown of Austin, Texas — have taught them how keeping things simple and fresh can help create a transcendent meal. Jeanine and Jack decided to share their passion and recipes online through their blog.

Today we go behind the scenes and take a tour of their pristine cottage-modern kitchen where all their lovely food and photography are produced.

More