When you go to a great bar, you know what to order. Whether it’s a vintage Champagne, locally brewed beer, or the joint’s signature molecular gastronomy cocktail, you know you’re getting a great drink of some sort. But what about when you aren’t at a destination bar? When you’re just looking for a drink before a concert, when you’re on the road and looking for anywhere to rest your weary feet, or when you need to whet your whistle in a dodgy part of town?

This month we’re looking back on all the strange and wonderful food jobs people have held during the summer. Whether it’s a job at a local scoop shop, a grocery store, or the concession stand at a baseball field, the skills and memories you gather in those short, hot months usually turn out to be invaluable.

Kids ruin everything. Really (not really, but you see where this is going). You can’t enjoy a great night out without worrying about a hangover the next day. Every trip you plan, you think out worst-case scenarios, pack a great quantity of medicine, and invariably freak out when the airline messes up your seats and places you far away from your toddler. They especially ruin lazy holidays.

The best part about being pregnant is the fantasies you have before the baby comes. Nothing x-rated here — it’s all about brunching with your snoozing baby, the beauty and ease of naturally breastfeeding, finally fitting back into your pre-pregnancy clothes, and having that unicorn baby who magically figures out how to sleep through the night at six weeks old.

Being a teacher isn’t all “Best Teacher Ever” mugs and sharing funny stories about the kids’ antics during class breaks, you know. In fact, it seems like it’s hardly ever that stuff. From where I sit, teaching seems like a ton of work.

My evening checklist for my toddler son goes something like the following: 1. Did you say any new words today? 2. Did you injure yourself or others today? 3. Did anybody try to screw with you on the playground today? Because if they did, Mama’s not afraid to give them a piece of her mind (mostly kidding). 4. Did you poop today? 5. What did you eat today? That last thought is an important one.

There are very few things parents can agree on. Everything from when to feed solid foods to what kind of preschool is best for developing minds is up for debate, questioning, and, yes, judgement. However, there is one ritual that is sacred and that no parent dares shame another for: that morning cup of coffee.

Dinnertime is usually an elegant, relaxing affair at my home. Candlelight, real china dishes, several courses of fine French fare, and stimulating, joyous conversation from the whole family. Oh wait, no — that was a scene from a Merchant Ivory film. Dinner at my toddler-run household can involve anything from sweet potato gnocchi and frozen chicken nuggets to pointing out different objects and naming them to tears and crying and The Little Mermaid on TV.

Any avocado aficionado knows the most annoying part of eating the beloved fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) is all the prep work. The cutting, the slicing, the peeling, the scooping — it can be a lot of work, unless you’re ready to dig directly into the avocado with a tortilla chip. What’s a guacamole-lover to do? Lucky for you, a handy tool from OXO wants to help you streamline all your avocado prep.

Grabbing a glass of fresh beer or an expertly mixed cocktail might soon be as easy as brewing a cup of coffee using a pod. Keurig has teamed up with Anheuser Busch-InBev to create an “in-home alcohol drink system,” reports Mashable. The machine hasn’t been invented yet, so there is no concrete information on how it will work or look, what materials will make up the pods, or what the machine will cost.

Bacon roses are so two years ago. This year, the best way to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day involves a new kind of meat: beef jerky. Lucky for you, Say It with Beef sends beautiful “brouquets” of flowers for $35. The daisies or roses come in pint or beer glasses and are available in teriyaki, peppered, or original. If you can’t decide on your preferred flavor, you can always get a mixed “brouquet.” So sweet! Or should I say savory.

If you love sushi but your boyfriend or girlfriend can’t stand raw fish, you might finally have the perfect sushi date waiting in Tokyo. Japan’s first Kit Kat sushi shop hits the streets of Tokyo February 2 (today!) and will sell a limited quantity of sweet sushi through February 4.

It’s February, which means it’s officially the time of year when winter has just gotten depressing, your bank account is still depleted from the holidays and, oh yeah, you have to think about getting yourself or your loved one something for Valentine’s Day. What are you supposed to do?

People love Starbucks. People love taking pictures of cute food and drink items. People love things that are limited-edition. Throw all that together and you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a big success on your hands. When, however, Starbucks introduced its cheery red and white seasonal snowflake cups 20 years ago, it couldn’t possibly have imagined how people would clamor and squeal every year Now that spring is here, maybe it’s time to think pink (or, at least, pastel).

In case you’ve been living under a rock, or maybe on another planet, let us clue you in: People love Mason jars. No, like really. People love these jars that have been used for over 130 years for everything from canning to wedding decor. Now, just in time for spring 2017, they are getting a new look. As part of the Collection Elite Design Series, the new jars have a spiraled side design. There are also four-ounce mini jars released in the classic, straight-sided design.

Forget lattes and bagels — the newest unicorn trend is so hot it glows. Literally. Disney’s latest treat is a white and color swirled cotton candy on an illuminated wand, as reports Disney Food Blog. The wand appears, from numerous social media posts, to change lights and make the cotton candy glow and change colors.

If you’re sick of hearing about fidget spinners (the pros, the cons, and everything in between), I recommend taking a break and getting a snack. Except … now your meal might come to you courtesy of fidget spinners. Yes, really. At least, that’s what could happen if the social media post from Houston restaurant Reef goes even more viral.

Choosing the perfect meal to line up with your perfect night of television isn’t just another thing to do, it’s a delight. Is there anything better than a juicy patty melt while watching Bob’s Burgers, or the garlickiest bowl of aglio e oli0 while enjoying Goodfellas? It’s the best. However, there are some television shows which defy the laws of nature. They are simply un-pairable with any food or wine — the artichokes of the entertainment world.

When I was in my mid-20s, I was sure 10 years down the road that I’d be firmly ensconced in my chosen career as an actress, probably living in some magnificent estate in Connecticut, and starting to think about settling down. Fast forward to my life as a journalist, living in an apartment in Manhattan — life isn’t always the way you think it will be. I gained Central Park and gave up the idea of a backyard. I lost my independence and gained my little son.

Instagram is home to many a food sensation. There’s #putaneggonit, and #eeeeeats, and of course #meatsweats, among other popular hashtags that let food lovers rejoice in photographs and videos of mouth-watering dishes. One of my favorite hashtags, #cheesepull, has over 11,000 images. Get on the dairy appreciation train and take a look at some of the most stretchy, gooey, melty displays of cheese on the ‘gram that we could find. Chicago Pizza is a hotly debated food.

The potluck is a time-honored tradition that makes most of us pull out our slow cookers, dust off our festive-themed holiday serving dishes, and indulge in way (way) too many cookies. However, it’s also a time when the best of intentions go awry. From raw chicken to accidental babysitters, here are some of the most cringeworthy potluck experiences ever. Rose B.

If you love Alton Brown’s scientific and thorough way of demystifying cooking, you’re probably thrilled that the show that brought him international prominence, Good Eats, is coming back In this, his new teaser video he posted on social media, he takes you on what may be the spookiest teaser video since the “The Ring” preview. OK, so maybe it’s not that creepy, but it’s definitely a little more Twin Peaks-inspired than most cooking show videos.

There’s nothing better than a kitchen item that does double duty. The exception to this rule, of course, is a fashionable and inexpensive kitchen item from IKEA. That’s why I’m so excited about IKEA’s newest invention. It’s a thing of beauty that could become a darling of home cooks. The Swedish company’s Canadian branches just released a recipe pamphlet where the recipes are laid out visually on parchment paper.