Food is more than just nourishment. It is companionship, comfort, ritual, relaxation. Over the years, the kitchen has become one of the most important rooms in the house, moving from the basement or outbuilding to the center of the living area. Our holidays and celebrations feature special foods and meals which are integral parts of the festivities.
Coffee is a tree of genus Coffea, its seeds, and a stimulating beverage prepared from those seeds. It is widely cultivated in tropical countries in plantations for export to temperate countries. Coffee ranks as one of the world's major commodity crops and is a major export of some countries. | 
Cooking is the art, science, profession, and hobby of preparing food for human consumption. The term is often used in the narrower sense of applying heat to chemically transform a food to change its flavor, texture, appearance, or nutritional properties. | 
When you mention the word "diet", many people think about an attempt to lose weight. However, a diet is the combination of all the foods you eat, whether for a special purpose or not. (European readers may wish to visit our UK selection of books.) |
Our bodies need a variety of chemical substances, nutrients, to provide energy and function properly. Nutrition is our consumption and use of foods to provide these substances. | 
The beverage tea is an infusion made by steeping the dried leaves or buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis in hot water. Tea may also include other herbs, spices, or fruit flavors. An herbal tea--that is, a tea with no tea leaves in it--is more properly called an infusion or tisane. | 
Vitamins are any of a group of complex organic chemical substances found in various natural foods and essential to health. Vitamins help to provide enzymes and hormones the body needs to perform physiological functions such as growing, healing injuries, fighting infections and removing wastes. |
Whether it is the occassional glass of champagne at a special celebration or a glass to complement your dinner, wine has been part of human civilization for thousands of years. Made from the fermented juice of grapes, wine can be divided into three classifications: natural, fortified, and sparkling. |
