Erin Zimmer

If you grew up on the West Coast like I did, you were probably used to seeing short, stubby butter sticks. But an East Coaster might come along and wonder, “why is that butter stick so stubby?” In most regions east of the Rockies, butter sticks are longer and skinnier in shape. What’s up with this bicoastal butter disparity? (And why are you only finding out about this now?) We found out when designing our Butter Dish in 2014.

"The two bageleries are only a few blocks apart so picking one doesn't usually involve convenience—it's about loyalties." [Photographs: Erin Zimmer] Montrealers have a lot of pride in the their bagels. Plus in a French accent, the word just sounds better: bay-gal. Depending on who you ask, "the best" are either from Fairmount or St-Viateur, both of which sell them fresh 24 hours a day. Before touching on the rivalry, let's define the Montreal bagel. What's All the Fuss?

Bánh cuốn The bánh family includes a number of steamed rice cake-like dishes. So soft and delicate, my favorite was this bánh cuốn straight from the steamer. Our Intrepid Travel guide took us to a third-generation bánh cuốn master in Hanoi who mesmerized us with her skills.