Hey there, reader. After nearly two years off the air, HBO comedy The Righteous Gemstones returned on Sunday with a gritty, standalone Civil War episode starring Bradley Cooper. It was a big swing for the series — and one that we ultimately think paid off. We also spoke with several culinary stars about which ingredients they think will have a moment in 2025. Enjoy!

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Get to Know the Winemakers of Dry Creek Valley

BY AMANDA GABRIELE

We love a good wine festival. There are few things better than getting to know the producers of one of the most interesting beverages in the world while also sampling the fruits of their labor. There are a lot of great ones out there, but there’s one in particular that stands out among the rest. Passport to Dry Creek Valley, which is taking place April 25-27, 2025 in Healdsburg, California, isn't your average “tented” wine festival. Rather than just moving from table to table for pours of wine, participating wineries actually open their doors (more than 25 each day) for tastings so you can get to know the labels and wines on a deeper level.

As we gear up for the April festivities (we hope you’ll join us out there next month!), we caught up with three Dry Creek Valley winemakers to learn more about how they got started in the industry, the grapes they're most excited about this year and other cool stuff going on in Healdsburg right now.

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"The Righteous Gemstones" Took a Huge Swing — And It Paid Off

In the current era of prestige comedy, there are a few TV shows that have pushed the limits of the genre’s traditional format so much that many have questioned whether they’re really comedies at all. We’ve come to expect a certain amount of experimentation from The Bear, whether it’s the episode in the first season that’s filmed in one long, continuous take, or the third season’s premiere, which was told nonlinearly through a series of pieced-together flashbacks. More recently, The White Lotus began working in some Sopranos-esque dream sequences, rich with symbolism and possible hints about what doom lies ahead for its ultra-wealthy characters. But surprisingly, it was HBO’s other Sunday night comedy that took one of the biggest risks in recent memory.

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5 Foods You’ll Eat More of This Year, According to Top Chefs

BY AMANDA GABRIELE

Back in January, I traveled to the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman for the hotel’s annual Cayman Cookout, a five-day culinary event that brings together some of the biggest chefs in the world. The long weekend is packed with cooking demos, barbecues, dinners and parties, and I had some of the most exquisite bites of food I’ve ever tasted in my 72 hours in the Caribbean. I also got to chat with some of the best chefs in the world, from Eric Ripert to Kristen Kish, and ask them what foods they think are due for the spotlight. According to their expertise, here are five trending ingredients you’ll be eating more of this year.