Prepare to meet the World's Greatest Dressing™. It's creamy, yet bright and punchy, and absolutely perfect when paired with tender, perfectly seasoned sliced steak, garlicky lime rice, and charred veggies. Wondering how you'll make it? Fresh cilantro, onion, garlic, jalapeño, tangy lime juice, and a bit of cumin, plus olive oil and sour cream to round it all out. Don't be surprised when you find yourself eating up every last drop...and making up excuses to recreate this dish again and again.
Downtown Camas, just 20 miles east of Portland, provides the ideal setting for a day of eating and shopping — or a stop over on the way to the Columbia Gorge. Restaurants, bars, and cafes in this historic town serve things like sushi and Hawaiian food, tacos on freshly made tortillas, and classic cocktails; they join the bounty of boutiques that dot the tree-lined streets, from the olive oil and vinegars at Navidi’s Olive Oils & Vinegars to the Soap Chest’s hand-made soaps and skincare products. But there’s more to Camas than just food and shopping — independent films and popular documentaries show daily on the two screens at the historic Liberty Theatre.
Those stopping in Camas for a full day, a weekend, or just a quick lunch can find a fun spot for a bite or drink by perusing the map below. For a guide to the dining options in Camas’s big sibling, Eater’s Vancouver map may help. Remember, maps are not ranked; they’re organized geographically.
Since 2015, Commune, in the ViBe District, has served organic, seasonal fare. Don’t miss the Commune Burger, a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside delight made from peas, potatoes, Carolina gold rice, and sorghum berries.
Once a locals’ hangout, Chick’s Oyster Bar is a go-to for watching sunsets from the back porch while dining on she-crab soup and oysters on the half-shell and sipping an Orange Crush, a grown-up blend of citrus-infused vodka, fresh-squeezed orange juice, triple sec, and lemon-lime soda. Or book a customized beach picnic, preferably on the North End, with The Picnic Co. They’ll set up a cozy, boho-inspired table and pillows or chairs, plus snacks and your own tunes.
The best breakfasts in town come courtesy of two polar opposites. Ray Ray’s at the Mayflower, a casual, hole-in-the-wall joint, serves eclectic standouts like ube pancakes, made with Filipino yams and topped with homemade condensed milk, and lox and arepas. Becca, meanwhile, is all Southern gentility and breakfast classics in a vintage garden room setting at the Cavalier Hotel. The bourbon brioche French toast, with cinnamon-pecan butter, is made using whiskey from the Tarnished Truth. Also located inside the Cavalier, Tarnished Truth is the country’s first in-hotel distillery, and it offers tours and tastings; don’t miss the sweet, smooth Bourbon Cream Liqueur.
Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Courtesy Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Where to stay
Over the past few years, several brands have opened hotels in Virginia Beach, including Delta Hotels Virginia Beach. The Marriott Resort Virginia Beach Oceanfront features Atlantic views from all 305 rooms and suites, on-site bike rentals, and an infinity pool that seems to float above the beach. For a cozy urban-apartment feel, book The Paradise Place apartment, near Mount Trashmore.
Looking to splurge? Stay at the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club. Nearly a century old, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has hosted F. Scott Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Carter, and Muhammad Ali. In 2018, following a massive four-year renovation, the plush 85-room property reopened with color-drenched décor, an indoor pool, three restaurants, a distillery, and an enviable art collection.
A spread of cheese and tinned fish from Alimentari Aurora, from our gift guide
Lauren Segal/Special to The Chronicle
It’s still not a “normal” holiday season, whatever that means, but nearly two years into the pandemic, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate. We started the year without the vaccine; we’re ending it with booster shots and vaccines for many children. Many spent last holiday season without seeing family and friends; this year, people are traveling to see loved ones once again. For The Chronicle Food and Wine team, such progress should be accompanied by plenty of delicious food and drink to celebrate. In this guide, we’ve put together everything you might need to send out the year in style.
Find personal gifts from Bay Area producers in our gift guide, illustrated this year with sculptural, playful photos from artist Lauren Segal. Besides being local, the gifts speak to the best of what’s been happening this year in the dining world, such as a new wave of artistic chocolatiers and the plethora of nutty, spicy new salsa macha options. You could also buy the food lover in your life one of this year’s most thrilling cookbook debuts, or perhaps cook some giftable recipes from columnist Jessica Battilana.
Finally, if you’re ready to splurge for a special occasion, our critics will direct you to the places worth the money: Restaurant critic Soleil Ho is debuting her best fine dining restaurant list today, while wine critic Esther Mobley offers picks for high-end California fine wines and spirits. Transportive tasting menus, grandiose dining rooms, and warming, weighty Napa Cabernet are all included.
If you end up gifting one of these things to yourself, we hope you take a moment to savor each sip. These earthly pleasures are ones to remember.
Delectable, of-the-moment gifts to buy
Artistic chocolates, custom bagels and other buzzy treats
High-end wines and spirits that are worth the cost
When you want to spend a little extra, try these seven special bottles
From left to right: Bottles of Ceritas Chardonnay from Peter Martin Ray Vineyard, Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon, Spirit Works reserve sloe gin, Wright & Brown single malt whiskey, Arnot Roberts Que Syrah Syrah, Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cruse Tradition Brut Rose on Saturday, November 13, 2021, in San Francisco, Calif.
Upwards of 30% of Americans are considered pre-diabetic, and most of them don't even know it.
Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar is elevated, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Blood sugars can hang out in the prediabetes range for years before being detected. You can assess your risk through the American Diabetes Association Risk Test.
However, managing prediabetes is possible with lifestyle changes. Improving our diet, exercise, and stress levels all contribute to better blood sugars and can prevent type 2 diabetes. In fact, research from the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program has shown that lifestyle changes can prevent or delay diabetes for up to 10 years!
So, what are the habits to kick to manage prediabetes? Here's what is recommended, and for even more healthy eating tips, be sure to read up on our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
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Eating less often may sound like the right solution to lower blood sugar, but it can actually cause greater swings in blood sugar management. Skipping meals often contributes to increased hunger later and makes it challenging to exercise portion control. Shoot for balanced meals every 4 to 5 hours to keep blood sugars steady and prevent low blood sugars.
Regular sodas have upward of nine teaspoons of sugar. Even more concerning, sweet drinks lack fiber or protein to slow down the absorption of those added sugars. If you love regular soda, consider switching to diet as a starting place to wean yourself off the sweet beverages.
Other drinks like tea, sparkling water, coffee, or zero-calorie drinks are also fun alternatives to mix up your beverage game.
Grazing or snacking frequently throughout the day is a surefire way to make blood sugars spike throughout the day. Typically, grazing produces more frequent spikes in blood sugars that increase over the course of the day.
Instead of grazing, choose one balanced snack that has a protein and a carb option together. Easy options may be an apple and peanut butter, whole-grain crackers and cheese, Greek yogurt and fruit, or nuts and dark chocolate.
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Watching TV after eating might be normalized, but it can contribute to higher blood sugar levels after a meal. Instead, take a small walk after your largest meal to bring blood sugars down faster. Even 10 minutes of activity can make a significant difference!
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It's not only what we eat that impacts our blood sugar, but also what combinations of foods we choose. For example, a high-carb meal alone is sure to spike glucose levels. Yet, choosing a carb and pairing it with protein, healthy fat, and vegetables will result in a totally different blood sugar response.
Opt for balance whenever possible by focusing on a balanced plate. Emphasize lean protein, a non-starchy vegetable, healthy fat, and a portion-sized carb to get optimal balance at each meal!
Working parents on Universal Credit plan to cut back on heating and eating to meet the cost of living in the run-up to Christmas, a charity said.
Action for Children surveyed 2,500 claimants in the UK and found energy bills and prices in shops were the main concerns in the East of England.
Of these, 24% said they were likely to replace main meals with cereal.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it was "committed to supporting families and people in need".
Kirsty Massie, support worker for Action for Children in Norfolk, said: "Day in, day out we're seeing families struggling to make ends meet."
She supports Natalia, 35, who said she had to move out of her home a few weeks into the first lockdown after splitting up with the father of her baby daughter, Chloe.
Accommodation was found with help from Action for Children, but Natalia struggled to afford the basics.
'Only heat the living room'
Action For Children
Her pay from her factory job was reduced while on maternity leave and, without a car, she said she had no option but to buy more expensive food from a local shop.
Natalia, who has since returned to work, said: "I'm still using a foodbank every week to make sure Chloe has enough to eat.
"I often go without food to make sure she has enough, and I regularly eat cereal for a main evening meal.
"I'm really worried about the bills going up.
"I'm only turning on the heating in the living room now it's got colder - I just wrap Chloe and me up in more clothes."
The poll found that 80% of respondents were concerned about heating bills, with 74% worried about rising prices.
Thirty-eight per cent said they were likely to cut back on heating, and 30% would skip meals to save on energy costs.
'Parents go without'
Some 26% also said they were likely to give their children basic essentials for a main Christmas present, such as a winter coat or school shoes, while one in five said they were likely to need help from a foodbank.
Ms Massie said: "Parents are worried about Christmas but more concerned about how they're going to provide for their children with rising costs.
"They feel they're letting their children down and sometimes it's more about making sure their child has what they need, but then they themselves go without."
Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, appealed for donations from the public.
"Our frontline workers see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crisis is having on children and families who are under pressure every day," he said.
"We can make sure they have the basics, like hot meals and proper winter clothes and offer emergency support to keep homes warm and help families pay the bills."
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "This government is committed to supporting families and people in need, we have provided billions of additional welfare support through the pandemic and continue to do so.
"Work is the best route out of poverty and the changes we have made to Universal Credit will see nearly two million working claimants better off by around £1,000 a year.
"The most vulnerable, including those who can't work, can get additional benefits, and help with essential costs is available through our new £500m support fund."
Aim for an overall healthful dietary pattern, the American Heart Association advises, rather than focusing on “good” or “bad” foods.
There are no “good” foods and “bad” foods. Rather, it’s your overall dietary pattern that matters most when it comes to healthful eating.
That’s the main message from the American Heart Association in its latest nutrition guidelines to improve the hearts and health of Americans of all ages and life circumstances.
The experts who wrote the guidelines recognize that people don’t eat nutrients or individual ingredients. They eat foods, and most people want to enjoy the foods they eat while staying within their budgets and, the association hopes, without injuring their bodies.
This doesn’t mean you need to totally avoid Big Macs, Cokes and French fries, but it does mean you should not regularly indulge in such fare if you want to stay healthy.
Dr. Robert H. Eckel, a former president of the American Heart Association, and an endocrinologist and lipid specialist at the University of Colorado Denver, told me he “occasionally” indulges in foods outside a wholesome dietary pattern. The operative word here, though, is “occasionally.”
Dr. Neil J. Stone, a preventive cardiologist at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, who praised the thoughtfulness and expertise of the guidelines committee, said in an interview, “There’s no such thing as one diet that fits all, but there are principles to form the basis of diets that fit everyone.”
He added: “The goal is to make good nutrition possible for all. The healthier we can keep everybody in this country, the lower our health costs will be.”
In the 15 years since the heart association last issued dietary guidelines to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, almost nothing has changed for the better. The typical American diet has remained highly processed. Americans consume too much added sugars, artery-clogging fats, refined starches, red meat and salt and don’t eat enough nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and whole grains that can help prevent heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
But rather than become discouraged, the association decided to try a different approach. For too long, nutrition advice has been overly focused on individual nutrients and ingredients, Alice H. Lichtenstein, the guidelines’ chief author, told me, and it hasn’t been focused enough on overall dietary patterns that can best fit people’s lives and budgets.
So instead of a laundry list of “thou shalt not eats,” Dr. Lichtenstein said, the association’s committee on nutrition and cardiovascular disease chose to promote heart-healthy dietary patterns that could suit a wide range of tastes and eating habits. In avoiding “no noes” and dietary revolutions, the new guidelines can foster gradual evolutionary changes meant to last a lifetime.
The committee recognized that for people to adopt and stick to a wholesome dietary pattern, it should accommodate personal likes and dislikes, ethnic and cultural practices and life circumstances, and it should consider whether most meals are consumed at home or on the go.
For example, rather than urging people to skip pasta because it’s a refined carbohydrate, a more effective message might be to tell people to eat it the traditional Italian way, as a small first-course portion. Or, if pasta is your main course, choose a product made from an unrefined carbohydrate like whole wheat, brown rice or lentils.
“We’re talking about lifelong changes that incorporate personal preferences, culinary traditions and what’s available where people shop and eat,” said Dr. Lichtenstein, a professor of nutrition science and policy at the Friedman School at Tufts University. “The advice is evidence-based and applies to everything people eat regardless of where the food is procured, prepared and consumed.”
The guidelines’ first principle is to adjust one’s “energy intake and expenditure” to “achieve and maintain a healthy body weight,” a recommendation that may be easier to follow with the next two principles: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and choose foods made mostly with whole grains rather than refined grains. If cost or availability is an issue, as is the case in many of the country’s food deserts where fresh produce is scarce, Dr. Lichtenstein suggested keeping bags of frozen fruits and vegetables on hand to reduce waste, add convenience and save money.
Some wholesome protein choices that the committee recommended included fish and seafood (although not breaded and fried), legumes and nuts, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. If meat is desired, choose lean cuts and refrain from processed meats like sausages, hot dogs and deli meats that are high in salt and saturated fat.
The committee’s advice on protein foods, published during the climate talks in Glasgow, was well-timed. Choosing plant-based proteins over animal sources of protein not only has health value for consumers but can help to foster a healthier planet.
Experts have long known that animal products like beef, lamb, pork and veal have a disproportionately negative impact on the environment. Raising animals requires more water and land and generates more greenhouse gases than growing protein-rich plants does.
“This is a win-win for individuals and our environment,” Dr. Lichtenstein said. However, she cautioned, if a plant-based diet is overloaded with refined carbohydrates and sugars, it will raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And she discouraged relying on popular plant-based meat alternatives that are ultra-processed and often high in sodium, unhealthy fats and calories, and that “may not be ecologically sound to produce.”
To protect both the environment and human health, the committee advised shifting one’s diet away from tropical oils — coconut, palm and palm kernel — as well as animal fats (butter and lard) and partially hydrogenated fats (read the nutrition label). Instead, use liquid plant oils like corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, canola, nut and olive. They have been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 30 percent, an effect comparable to taking a statin drug.
As for beverages, the committee endorsed the current national dietary guideline to avoid drinks with added sugars (including honey and concentrated fruit juice). If you don’t currently drink alcohol, the committee advised against starting; for those who do drink, limit consumption to one to two drinks a day.
All told, the dietary patterns that the committee outlined can go far beyond reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes. They can also protect against Type 2 diabetes and a decline of kidney function, and perhaps even help foster better cognitive abilities and a slower rate of age-related cognitive decline.
The earlier in life a wholesome dietary pattern begins, the better, Dr. Lichtenstein said. “It should start preconception, not after someone has a heart attack, and reinforced through nutrition education in school, K through 12.”
And during annual checkups, Dr. Eckel said, primary care doctors should devote three to five minutes of the visit to a lifestyle interview, asking patients how many servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains they consume and whether they read nutrition labels.
