Reacher star Alan Ritchson is the perfect Jack Reacher for TV even if isn’t the precise physical embodiment of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. No one in Hollywood actually has hands the size of plates, after all, but Ritchson does a damn fine job, even if he is 6’2″ rather than 6’5″ — and that is not to take away from Tom Cruise’s portrayal in the two Jack Reacher movies.
Ritchson has taken great pains to mention how much he values Cruise bringing this franchise to theaters and also setting the stage for a TV show. He reiterated this in the above video while visiting Jimmy Kimmel, yet Ritchson’s attempt to tell Cruise these things did not exactly go off without a hitch. At around the 4:00 mark above, Ritchson laid it all there with how he penned a “heartfelt” letter to the Top Gun: Maverick star:
“Here’s the thing, I know what you know. He’s taken some criticism for the role, because he doesn’t aesthetically fit the role of Reacher perfectly, according to the books. This guy still did two movies that grossed over $300 million, and doesn’t even fit. He’s brought so many eyes to this series. We would not have the success that we have without it. So out of gratitude, I write him a loving, heartfelt letter, a page-long letter, and I give it to Don Granger, a partner of his at Skydance…”
How did Don Granger respond? Ritchson was frank: “He said, ‘We’re not going to give it to him. It’s a terrible idea. He’s fine with it because he’s moved on in life. He’s moved on and you need to move on, too.’”
Fair enough. That had to sting a bit because, you know, it was a heartfelt letter! Yet everything worked out as it should, with Cruise going on his merry way to drive motorcycles off cliffs and Reacher now cranking through Season 2 (with Season 3 in the works) on Amazon.
Did you know that potatoes are the world’s best superfood? They’ve got vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6! There are so many benefits and positives to eating potatoes. Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore does not care about this, but she did give us a harrowing performance in May Decemberso there are just some things we need to accept about her.
Moore was at a cast panel alongside costars Natalie Portman and Charles Melton when she admitted that she has a hatred for the golden side dish of the holiday season, mashed potatoes. She pondered, “Why do people like mashed potatoes? It’s just mush. It’s just mush!” she exclaimed. Melton was quick to defend the starchy dish, but Moore wasn’t having it. “I know, people love it, they love them — it’s just mashed mush.” That vitamin-rich mush could also prevent scurvy, so keep that in mind.
Surprisingly enough, this is not the first time Moore has spoken out against mashed potatoes. In a 2017 Wired Autocomplete interview, she doubled down on her hatred. “Julianne Moore does not like mashed potatoes. That’s Julianne Moore’s least favorite thing,” she said at the time.
In an effort to deflate the tension, Portman shared her least favorite food, fruit in salad. “I’m not into it. I like fruit salad, but I don’t want a savory salad with fruit in it. It bothers me,” she confessed. The Wiggles could not be reached for comment.
Finally, after the whole potato ordeal, Melton shared his least favorite food: bleu cheese. That’s a fair and respectable choice because bleu cheese is smelly and cannot be mashed.
Rick and Morty Season 7 is heading to streaming very soon. The Adult Swim series just aired its season finale over the weekend, and according to Collider, the latest season of the time-traveling weirdos will hit Max on January 22.
Season 7 brought about some significant changes for Rick and Morty. Following the departure of Justin Roiland, who is currently facing several allegations of sexual misconduct, the two leads required a recast. Voice-acting upstarts Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden took over the roles of Rick and Morty, respectively, after a massive talent search for the hit animated series. The two were welcomed warmly by fans after they surprisingly melded perfectly into the parts. You can barely tell that Roiland was gone.
Meanwhile, Season 7 moved the story forward by having Rick finally confront his past and chase down an alternate version of himself that committed a heinous crime that has haunted Rick for years. That creative decision led to a wild and shocking finale whose events we won’t spoil.
As for when Rick and Morty Season 8 will come out, that’s going to be a bit, but not incredibly long compared to past gaps between seasons. Showrunner Scott Marder recently told Comic Book that Season 8 will arrive in late 2024 at the earliest. So fans are looking at a year wait, which isn’t too bad.
Rick and Morty Season 7 starts streaming January 22 on Max.
Did you know that potatoes are the world’s best superfood? They’ve got vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6! There are so many benefits and positives to eating potatoes. Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore does not care about this, but she did give us a harrowing performance in May Decemberso there are just some things we need to accept about her.
Moore was at a cast panel alongside costars Natalie Portman and Charles Melton when she admitted that she has a hatred for the golden side dish of the holiday season, mashed potatoes. She pondered, “Why do people like mashed potatoes? It’s just mush. It’s just mush!” she exclaimed. Melton was quick to defend the starchy dish, but Moore wasn’t having it. “I know, people love it, they love them — it’s just mashed mush.” That vitamin-rich mush could also prevent scurvy, so keep that in mind.
Surprisingly enough, this is not the first time Moore has spoken out against mashed potatoes. In a 2017 Wired Autocomplete interview, she doubled down on her hatred. “Julianne Moore does not like mashed potatoes. That’s Julianne Moore’s least favorite thing,” she said at the time.
In an effort to deflate the tension, Portman shared her least favorite food, fruit in salad. “I’m not into it. I like fruit salad, but I don’t want a savory salad with fruit in it. It bothers me,” she confessed. The Wiggles could not be reached for comment.
Finally, after the whole potato ordeal, Melton shared his least favorite food: bleu cheese. That’s a fair and respectable choice because bleu cheese is smelly and cannot be mashed.
Rick and Morty Season 7 is heading to streaming very soon. The Adult Swim series just aired its season finale over the weekend, and according to Collider, the latest season of the time-traveling weirdos will hit Max on January 22.
Season 7 brought about some significant changes for Rick and Morty. Following the departure of Justin Roiland, who is currently facing several allegations of sexual misconduct, the two leads required a recast. Voice-acting upstarts Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden took over the roles of Rick and Morty, respectively, after a massive talent search for the hit animated series. The two were welcomed warmly by fans after they surprisingly melded perfectly into the parts. You can barely tell that Roiland was gone.
Meanwhile, Season 7 moved the story forward by having Rick finally confront his past and chase down an alternate version of himself that committed a heinous crime that has haunted Rick for years. That creative decision led to a wild and shocking finale whose events we won’t spoil.
As for when Rick and Morty Season 8 will come out, that’s going to be a bit, but not incredibly long compared to past gaps between seasons. Showrunner Scott Marder recently told Comic Book that Season 8 will arrive in late 2024 at the earliest. So fans are looking at a year wait, which isn’t too bad.
Rick and Morty Season 7 starts streaming January 22 on Max.
The formula for making a rap hit has changed a lot over the past five decades but at the same time, it seems that one almost surefire way to craft an inescapable bop is do what rap’s first-ever hit did: Sample a previous hit and turn it into something that would make the original creators’ heads spin.
We’ve seen a lot of the biggest hits in hip-hop lately do just that. Latto’s “Big Energy” liberally interpolates Tom Tom Club’s 1981 dance floor rocker “Genius Of Love,” while more recently, Doja Cat revivified Dianne Warwick’s “Walk On By” with “Paint The Town Red” and Coi Leray’s “Players” became the latest in a long line of songs looping Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message.”
In the same way, Milwaukee rapper Myaap is on the cusp of a huge breakout of her own thanks to a sample coming from one of the unlikeliest, un-hop-hop-iest song imaginable. “Getting To It,” which — like many of the aforementioned hits — derives much of its propulsion from an endless stream of TikTok videos utilizing the sound, employs Abba’s mournful 1976 hit “Dancing Queen,” slotting in blunt boasts over the original’s bright, disco production for a sweet and spicy blend that only needs the proper clearances to take off.
(Myaap’s music video for the track was wiped from YouTube over a copyright strike from Universal Music Group, but make no mistake — if it continues to gain momentum on TikTok, I have little doubt it’ll be back.)
So, who is the Milwaukee artist and what’s making her such a draw?
Well, unlike fellow Milwaukee star Lakeyah, she sticks to more of a locally-grown production style on tracks like “Wham” and “Party Crackin.” While Lakeyah’s connection with Atlanta-based hit factory Quality Control Music has put her on the national radar, Myaap’s approach ensures a dug-in hardcore hometown fanbase that’d be hard to uproot. From such a solid foundation, any moves she makes will likely be amplified by her hometown supporters — and if they can get loud enough, it’ll make it hard as hell for outsiders to ignore.
She’s also proven adept at capturing attention on TikTok — hard enough to do with the way that app is set up — and if she can keep getting minor viral hits there, it’s only a matter of time until interest in her off-platform music hits critical mass. But the key will almost certainly be whether “Gettin To It” can make a return to streaming services, as it’s clearly a hit in the same fashion as Sexyy Red‘s “Ah Thousand Jugs” — and we all know where Big Sexyy ended up: on top.
In the realm of everything travel, maximizing rewards and points on credit cards is essential. Why go through the mundanes of taking 20+ flights a year to only miss out on the thousands of points that come along with it?
That’s why Uproxx is rolling out a series of articles for the new year ahead with the best credit card and travel hacking experts out there — to ensure that you know the best ways to maximize your travel points. From the renowned Chase Ultimate Rewards program to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, this expert roundup navigates through the intricacies of foreign transaction fees, spending requirements, and the optimal timeframe for redeeming travel rewards.
Because flying first class doesn’t have to be a pipe dream for everyone… not if you use your points correctly.
Whether you’re seeking elevated experiences in hotels and flying first class or accruing benefits at gas stations and grocery stores, let’s dive into the most valuable credit card sign-up bonuses for holiday travel.
Vivian Tu (@your.richbff): Ask Amex Platinum For More
Pre-order “RICH AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life” here.
VIVIAN TU
This is somewhat of an urban legend but the Amex Platinum — depending on your spending through other Amex cards and how you might have in your savings account — they may offer certain people more to sign up than others. The hot tip here is no matter what you’ve been offered you can call them and just ask for more. You can ask for a 100,000-point signup bonus and some of the time depending on the customer service representative you talk to, you can snag it.
I also think that Capital One Venture X is currently offering a 75,000-mile signup bonus through the end of the year which is a great option, especially knowing their annual fee is $395. Chase Sapphire certainly had a higher welcome signup bonus back in the day of 100,000 but it is now 60,000. But I still think these are worth having. If you want something with a lower annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is also offering 60,000 bonus signup points and it’s only a $95 annual fee.
Ask your family and friends if they have a referral link for the Capital One Venture X. We consider this to be the best overall card and the signup bonus by referral right now is 90k points after $4,000 in three months. That’s easily one of the best offers for a personal card.
If you’re not feeling the premium-heavy Venture X, the regular Venture card also has a great offer of 75k points after $4,000 in 3 months.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a go-to for many travelers for the ease of redeeming points – especially for domestic travel – and it has a signup bonus of 60k after $4,000 in 3 months.
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel hacking deals out there because you can get buy one, get one free flight for almost two years. For the companion, you just need to pay for the taxes $5.60+ each way.
So, for almost all of 2024 and 2025, you can get unlimited buy one, get one free flights.
If you sign up for 2 credit cards (1 business and 1 personal credit card) then you can get Southwest Companion Pass, since the signup bonuses count towards the 135,000 points to get Southwest Companion Pass.
For a personal credit card, I would go with either 1) Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($69 Annual Fee) 2) Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($99 Annual Fee), or 3) Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($149 Annual Fee).
Then sign up for a business credit card. Either 1) Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card ($99 Annual Fee). You can earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Or 2) Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ($199 Annual Fee). You can earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
If you sign up after December 11th, 2023, most likely the signup bonus will drop to 50,000 points so you would need to get one of the personal credit cards and the more expensive business credit card at $199 to get the Southwest Companion Pass.
You can also get both Southwest business cards, but wait at least 30 days between applications. You can find all of Southwest’s credit cards mentioned above here.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited’s new sign-up bonus that offers unlimited matched cashback for 12 months is amazing. The card earns 1.5% on non-bonus spending which doubles to 3% after 12 months. For dining and drugstore purchases that typically earn 3%, that doubles to 6%.
Even better, if you pair the Freedom Unlimited with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can turn that cashback into fully transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Once you do that, you can take advantage of Chase’s many airline and hotel transfer partners.
Thomas Lonergan (@travelliketommy): Capitol One Venture, Chase Sapphire Reserved & Chase Marriott Boundless
American Airlines Barclays Aviator Red – 60,000 bonus AA miles for making just one purchase! You could buy a pack of gum and earn enough points for a one-way ticket to Europe in business class!
Chase Marriott Boundless – Earn three free nights (worth up to 50k points each) for spending $3,000 in 90 days.
Amex Hilton Surpass – Earn 170,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 180 days.
Allison Tackette (@luckytictac): American Express Platinum
It’s hard to pass up The Platinum Card from American Express with its 100,000 points welcome offer. That’s easily a round-trip flight in business class to Europe using the right transfer partner. It’s also great for lounge access and lifestyle credits. Business owners should take a look at the Chase Ink Unlimited. It’s currently offering 90,000 points that can be used for flights or hotels.
Jess Bohorquez (@pointsbyj): Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capitol One Venture X & Chase Freedom Unlimited
There are a few amazing credit card sign-up bonus offers available that will make holiday travel so much more rewarding! See below for my top three, and check out pointsbyj.com/cards for a full credit card guide.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is my top recommended card for friends and family who are looking for their first travel credit card for earning and redeeming credit card points. The sign-up bonus is 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. It has all the essentials of a great travel card: reasonable annual fee, strong points earning potential, and awesome travel insurance. In fact, it was my first travel credit card in my early twenties, and I still have it today. My personal favorite way to use my Chase points? Transferring my points out to Hyatt for luxury hotel stays. Click here to learn more.
The Capital One Venture X credit card is my #1 most-recommended card to people who want airport lounge access. The sign-up bonus is great: 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That’s equal to $750 in travel. It does have a substantial annual fee of $395, but offers a $300 annual travel credit and 10k bonus mile anniversary gift – which completely offsets the cost. So, airport lounge access, up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and no foreign transaction fees are all cherries on top. Plus, the card earns 2 miles for every dollar you spend. That simplicity is incredibly valuable if you dislike having to keep track of bonus points-earning categories! Click here to learn more.
Right now, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card has a special sign-up bonus offer: at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn. The best part is that this will be given in the form of Ultimate Rewards points, so cardholders can transfer points earned into a Chase Sapphire account to maximize their value for travel redemptions! Click here to learn more.
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is offering 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening an account. Capital One Miles are awesome because not only can you transfer them to Capital One’s hotel and airline partners, but you can also redeem them for one cent per point to erase ANY travel purchases you charge to your Venture Rewards card.
Not only does that include flights and hotels but also things you normally wouldn’t be able to redeem points for like cruises and Ubers making this bonus worth around $750!
The Capital One Venture X card offers a valuable sign-up bonus of 75,000 points, which could translate to over $1,400 in travel if you transfer them to hotel or airline partners. Though it might be a stretch to earn the bonus before the holiday season ends, holiday travelers would still have access to immediate perks like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and 2x points on all purchases.
Lorde’s latest album is Solar Power, which she dropped in August 2021. It’s been a while since then, so fans are eager to hear new music. But…
Is Lorde working on a new album?
On Instagram yesterday (December 17), Lorde shared a couple photos of herself wearing headphones, captioned, “Listening to myself.”
This got fans excited, like one who speculatively wrote, “L4 SEASON IS UPON US. Lorde is TEASING NEW MUSIC on her Instagram post this is NOT a drill!!!!!!” She tried to temper expectations with her response, though, commenting (as Billboard notes), “We’re not CLOSE close you guys… i’m just getting so hype n needed to let u know .. start ur excitement on a low flame and bring it up to a gentle simmer .. we building stamina for this chapter.”
This follows another teasing Instagram post from this past August in which Lorde wrote, “After the show we went swimming.. these times are beautiful and they freak me out and there’s so much to tell you. No this is not the start of anything out there, just want u to know there’s a light on inside me .. show it to you soon.”
In a February interview, she also noted, “You know, it’s my intention, it’s always my intention, to move as quickly as I f*cking can, and then that ends up taking different forms. But this one, I really am trying to. I don’t want to wait, you know, so take from that what you will.”
Condiments are everything. Your favorites don’t just add some flavor to a finished dish, they elevate it, transform it into something new, pull flavors together into a harmonious whole, and turn good food into great food. The best condiments help a simple bite become an absolute flavor bomb. There’s a reason every fast food chain lives and dies by its dipping sauces but remember, good condiments and sauces aren’t just a fast food or restaurant thing, you should have your own arsenal of secret weapons in your kitchen pantry that help to deepen the flavors of your home cooking.
With so many options in the market aisles beyond the obvious ketchup, mustard, and mayo, it can be tough to separate the good stuff from the bad. So we’re here to provide you with some winning suggestions from our food writers. From the international aisle to the online marketplace, here are all our favorite condiments and sauces that we can’t live without.
Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce — Dane Rivera
Bachan
Why We Love It:
Bachan is essential. A delicious light teriyaki-like sauce that is perfect for finishing dishes or for basting while cooking. It’s salty, it’s sweet, and it’s well made. The ingredients list is sparse, as it should be: just soy sauce, cane sugar, mirin, tomato paste, ginger, green onion, rice vinegar, garlic, sea salt, and a hint of sesame oil, which helps to deepen the flavor of anything you’re cooking.
Anything you add it on, whether you’re pouring it over rice or searing a steak, will take on this sweet umami-rich flavor that will please your palate.
How I Use It:
On everything! If I’m cooking a stir fry I’ll pour this stuff all over it. If I’m trying to liven up some white rice, I’ll pour this stuff all over it. If I’m cooking any type of meat, I’ll pour this stuff all over it. Hell, I’ve even marinated some chicken in it, Bachan’s Barbecue Sauce is a kitchen workhorse that works on everything.
Where I Buy It:
A couple of years back Bachan was a bit harder to find at your local market but now it’s everywhere from Walmart, to Target, to Whole Foods, Kroger, and Costco. And there is a reason for the expansion — because it’s f*cking delicious.
Find your nearest store stocking Bachan here, and if you want an extra kick of heat be sure and try the “hot and spicy” version.
Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce — Dane Rivera
Mami Tran
Why We Love It:
Mae Ploy offers a wonderful balance of sweet and gentle spicy flavors. Let me get this right out of the way, this stuff isn’t hot sauce — it’s not going to ignite your palate and form sweat on your brow. But it has enough of a kick to it that it’s addicting and will pull you in.
The flavor begins sugary sweet with a hint of tang to it before the heat starts to build on the aftertaste. If you love restaurant egg rolls, you’ve probably dipped them in a sauce that is a lot like this one. The ingredients list is simple: sugar, water, pickled red chili, vinegar, garlic, salt, and xanthan gum to keep the sauce shelf stable.
How I Use It:
The obvious way to use this is to dip egg rolls in it, but I like to get a spoonful of this stuff after I make a stir fry and mix it around in my bowl for some extra sweetness and gentle heat. Because it’s such a simple sauce this stuff works on pretty much anything.
Where I Buy It:
You’ll find Mae Ploy in the International Aisle of most markets. Click here to find it at a store near you.
Mrs. Renfro’s Jalapeño Green Salsa — Dane Rivera
Mrs Renfro
Why We Love It:
I live in Southern California, so I’m lucky enough to have access to more Mexican food spots than I can ever eat at in an entire lifetime. That means there are about 50 different random salsas in my fridge at any given moment, so most of the time I’m topping meals with salsa from my favorite Mexican joint. On the rare occasion when I have no leftover salsa — or they’ve been in the fridge for way too long — Mrs. Renfro’s Jalapeño Green Salsa is my go-to.
I know this is a Texas-based brand so I’m betraying my California roots but I have to hand it to the Lone Star State — this salsa is the best.
It’s thick with a mild vegetal heat that adds brightness to meat dishes and a dark and savory finish to meatless meals. Aside from the earthy and roasted flavor of jalapeño, you’re getting a good dose of onion and garlic here too, which adds a lot of complexity to anything you pour it on.
How I Use It:
Anytime I make homemade nacho fries. There is something about the way this salsa soaks into homemade fried potatoes that just tastes like heaven on Earth. Cut up some potatoes and fry them, top it with some freshly seared carne asada, beans, cheese, cilantro, and avocado, top it off with Mrs. Renfro’s, and BAM you’ve got a meal that is going to make everyone on Instagram jealous.
And you will post about this dish because it looks that good.
Where I Buy It:
You should have no problem finding this in the salsa aisle of your local market. Find your nearest store stocking Mrs. Renfro’s here.
Momofuku Hot Honey — Steve Bramucci
Momofuku
Why We Love It:
Everyone else’s hot honey is honey first and heat second. This is heat first — it’s still labeled a chilli crisp — but boy that hit of sweetness is lovely and layered. It sort of feels like a reversal on the hot honey trend and that’s perhaps why I use it so much. It’s much more versatile because it’s not overly sweet while still adding those floral, honey notes.
How I Use It:
This will change your life… ready? Roast a chicken. Get to the point where you’re 45 minutes from done. Lather this on with a basting brush and roast those final 45 minutes. The hot honey chicken you create will be a joy in your household for a whole week.
I reviewed this product when it first came out and in the year since, I’ve only grown to like it more! Here’s my original review:
Don’t wedgie me, but.. this smells like the inside of a pizza oven that has been used a few hundred thousand times. You get the meaty notes and the earthiness. There’s a little bit of funk but it’s light enough that it could as easily be from a few stray mushrooms and some cheese that slid into the oven’s deepest reaches as it could be from some super scientific process invented by Noma Projects.
It tastes mostly like mushroom broth with… a bit more. There’s some smokiness. There’s some funk. It’s a less funky fish sauce but certainly doesn’t taste un-fishy. There’s a meatiness. That’s the flavor this product seems to cultivate the most “meatiness without real meat.” There’s a light fermented note.
After sipping a spoonful I wrote this down: “Yet another reminder that we don’t need ‘fake meat’ to imitate beef and pork. We already have mushrooms.”
It’s also pungent and pronounced enough that once you’re used to it you can kinda-sorta discern its presence (like fish sauce), rather than just using it because you believe my review or have faith in Noma’s prowess. I like that it doesn’t just fully vanish into a dish.
A capful in taco meat.
A capful in ground beef for smash burgers (which my nephew deemed “Better than Mcdonald’s!”)
A capful in carbonara sauce.
A capful in chicken soup.
Two capfuls in stewed dandelion greens.
Three capfuls in Thai beef larb.
Three capfuls in ramen broth.
Four capfuls in vegan “cheesy” potatoes.
You get the idea. I tried it with everything. Sometimes vegan; sometimes not. I often paired it with other flavor enhancers, like MSG or actual fish sauce. And of course, I also tasted it plain for the sake of this review:
I love dumplings. Steamed or pan-fried. Stuffed with pork or veggies, chicken or shrimp—it doesn’t matter, I want to eat them. If you put a platter of them in front of me, I will inhale that platter and leave not a single one for you. I will order them from anywhere at any time on any day or night. I will hop on the train to Chinatown when it’s 20 degrees and snowing just to eat my weight in Shanghainese Soup Dumplings at Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and I won’t feel the least bit bad for placing a second order to go.
Shumai? Goyza? Potstickers? Frozen dumplings from my local grocery store? Give them to me. I’ll eat those too.
Naturally, as a self-proclaimed dumpling enthusiast, I know that the best way to enjoy dumplings is with the proper sauce. You could go the traditional soy-sauce route (trust me, I do that, too), but nothing quite brings out the flavor of the filling or compliments the dough quite like the salty, sweet, sometimes spicy, sometimes tangy dumpling sauce. Most have a dash of sesame oil that punches up the flavor with a little nuttiness, and there’s a barely-there sweet aftertaste that’s a little more satisfying to the senses than straight-up soy sauce.
There are plenty of dumpling sauces that exist in this world, but my go-to is Wei-Chaun. I prefer the hot flavor, but there’s a mild version for those who can’t stand the heat.
How I Use It:
I quite literally bathe my dumplings in this stuff. The way it enhances the dumpling’s natural taste, I need it on every bite. But you can use this sauce for more than that. Drizzle a little on the top of a burger hot off the grill. Are you eating veggie and meat kabobs? Dunk those suckers in that sauce, too.
Where I Buy It:
You can find some brands and styles of dumpling sauce in the international food aisle of most grocery stores, and there’s always Amazon. But for the most variety, hit up your local Asian market.
Fish Sauce — Zach Johnston
Amazon
Why We Love It:
Fish sauce, specifically Squid Brand, has been a part of my life for a very long time. I’d like to say I picked up using the fishy-smelling juice when I lived in Southeast Asia back in the mid-aughts, but I’d already been using it for years before that. I was sort of always aware of fish sauce — having grown up in the Pacific Northwest where a decent bowl of tangy soup or fried noodles was never far away — then started using it heavily for myself in Prague in 2003.
There’s a large Vietnamese community in Prague (mostly thanks to those two countries both being communist regimes in the 20th century) and that means there are a few markets around the outskirts of the city devoted to imports from Vietnam and Southeast Asia, in general. Those spots turned me on to a lot of good food. My addiction only grew once I actually lived and worked in Southeast Asia.
These days, fish sauce is something I use all the time. So much so, that I buy the big bottle of Squid Brand — the one that’s the same size as a whisky bottle. And it only lasts about as long as a bottle of good whiskey. Put simply, it’s one of the most versatile condiments/flavor enhancers there is. It’s like Worchestershire times a million or soy sauce with a nice funk that’s somehow lighter while also bringing more umami.
An absolute must for any serious home cook.
How I Use It:
A trick I learned working in kitchens in Europe was that chefs would use Squid Brand fish sauce in place of more expensive anchovy in recipes from all over the continent (fish sauce used to be huge in Roman cuisine, for instance). It’s ~basically~ anchovy essence that’s also pure umami. So I started adding it to yolk-based salad dressings. It also works in things like meatballs when you want that extra savory oompf. Dash some on rice when you fluff it to add new depth. Hell, dash some on freshly popped popcorn.
Of course, there are soups, stews, and dry noodle applications. One of my favorite uses is a cold noodle side that’s just fish sauce, crushed garlic, diced green onion, brown sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Spritz it all with lemon juice and you have one of the best sides for steak or salmon ever.
The point is that, yes, this is very much a necessity if you’re trying to figure out dishes from the eastern reaches of Asia. But don’t stop there. Umami is a key flavor component in cuisines the world over (anchovies were a huge trading commodity of my father’s people around the Salish Sea before Europeans showed up) and fish sauce makes almost everything savory better.
Where I Buy It:
Generally, the Costco-like store I do my weekly shopping at has Squid Brand for around $4 for a big bottle. You can find it in any Korean, Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese supermarket in the States if you’re in a region where those pop up.
Growing up, I didn’t pay attention to the various brown liquids in my mother’s pantry besides the xì dầu (soy sauce) and nước mắm (fish sauce). In our house, the soy sauce that my sisters and I loved on our rice and eggs, lived in a small bottle with a bright yellow label and red lettering spelling out “MAGGI.”
How I Use It:
In 2006, I had the chance to go to France and Italy at the end of my high school senior year as part of a special trip for AP Gov. While preparing for my trip, my aunts asked me if I could bring them back Maggi Sauce from France and to “make sure it’s the French version.” I was surprised that out of anything they could have asked me to buy, they asked for something so readily available in our supermarkets.
It was only then that I learned Maggi wasn’t soy sauce at all. Maggi is a seasoning sauce (made from hydrolyzed vegetable protein instead of soy) and different countries produce different versions. For my aunts, the French version was the best and it was not yet available in our markets at that time.
I like to use the Chinese Maggi in my everyday cooking—it has a strong, salty, umami profile that goes well with stir-fries and soups.
Where I Buy It:
Luckily today, you don’t have to travel far to try out the different versions of Maggi. They’re readily found in supermarkets and online. As a standalone condiment, I prefer the Maggi Arome Saveur French version, which is a bit milder. If you’re able to get your hands on the Mexican version “Jugo Maggi Limon,” you’ll be able to taste a nice kick of lime in your seasoning sauce.
However…I have yet to get my hands on the Filipino version of Maggi, which is supposed to have more of a garlic flavor to it. Perhaps a trip to the Philippines is in order, post-Covid. As high school me learned: This is a sauce worth traveling for.
S&B Umami Topping-Crunchy Garlic With Chili Oil — Vince Mancini
Instacart
Why We Love It:
A friend introduced me to this stuff from the Asian market a while back and I haven’t gone a day since without it in my fridge. It’s great because while I love all things spicy, my stomach and bowels don’t always agree. This stuff comes in “spicy” and “mild,” but neither are really what I would call “hot.” They add a deep, rich concentrated spice flavor that I can eat as much as I want without worrying that it’s going to put me on the toilet all morning.
How I Use It:
Frying up garlic is something that you *can* do on your own, but having it pre-prepared in a jar is my kind of labor saver. I most often use it on salmon, pork tenderloin, or noodle soups (ramen, pho, etc) but I’ve yet to find a food that it doesn’t improve.
Where I Buy It:
I buy mine at the Asian market in Fresno, but it’s available on Amazon.
Harissa — Janice Williams
My Panier
Why We Love It:
During my brief tenure as a waitress in New York City, I worked at a dashing restaurant in the West Village named Bar Bolonat. It was the sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed Balaboosta, owned by the feistiest, sassiest and liveliest woman I’ve ever met, chef and cookbook author Einat Admony.
It was at that little restaurant, which specialized in Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine, where I learned the value and significance of harissa—a vibrant and beautiful red hot chili pepper paste that set my mouth on fire the first time that I had it slathered atop of slice of grilled eggplant with a little tahini, togarashi, and crispy shallots. I was hooked!
Spicy and aromatic, harissa is commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. The recipes for the condiment vary from country to country, but the classic components are usually the same across the board: hot and smoked chili pepper, olive oil, garlic, and a blend of spices like cumin, caraway, and coriander.
My waitressing days are behind me, and Bar Bolonat no longer exists (you can still visit Balaboosta, though!). So now I get my harissa fix via Les Moulins Mahjoub, a Tunisian company that produces a variety of tasty natural grains and spices.
How I Use It:
Use it as a spread. Use it as a dip. Blend it into your soups and stews. Use it to marinate your grilled meats and fish, too. Got bread? Scoop it up and get it in your mouth. There is no wrong way to use harissa, but one of my favorite ways to use the condiment is as a baste for baked chicken legs and thighs. Spread it over the chicken along with a little salt, pepper, and garlic. Toss it in the oven for a good 45 minutes and—BOOM!—dinner is served.
But beware: this condiment lands high on the hot and spicy meter. So a little goes a long way.
Where I Buy It:
I order jars of harissa from my favorite online artisanal grocery shop, My Panier, but you can find Les Moulins Mahjoub and other brands at Whole Foods and Middle Eastern Markets.
Lizano Salsa — Steve Bramucci
Lizano
Why We Love It:
In Costa Rica, they have these beans in a bag — also made by Lizano — that are backpacker-famous (and locally beloved!). Especially among surfers. And because the various styles of beans (red, black, and pinto) aren’t exported, the only way to get them is to bring them home from a trip or have someone lug a few packs along when they visit you. At my wedding, two friends brought me an entire suitcase full. Sadly, it never made it through customs.
For years, I’ve tried to unlock what makes Lizano beans so good. Mostly, I figured it was lard. And I’m sure that’s pretty much correct. But by contacting the company for an article, I learned that this salsa is also a core ingredient. Since that discovery, I’ve used the stuff pretty much every day.
How I Use It:
I pour a little bit into the bases for many of my foods — it’s sort of like a liquid soffrito. It’s in every single bean-based recipe I make, bar none. I also put it into my ground beef during the cooking process if I’m making tacos or sloppy joe’s. Used as a traditional condiment, without being cooked down, it’s pretty potent. I’ll often add some a little to a simple rice and bean dish to amp up the umami or treat it like a salad dressing for greens. It’s also fantastic as an additive to your guac or any store-bought salsa.
It’s a little vinegar, a little oniony, a little sour, a touch sweet, and it has a hint of spice. But above all, it’s a true umami bomb (basically it’s vegetarian broth, reduced down to a syrup) that I refuse to live without.
Where I Buy It:
There are Costa Rican shopping sites that carry it (and the beans!), but the shipping costs are exorbitant. I most often rely on Amazon, which sells the full-sized three-pack for $22.
In the final moments of The Flash, Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen is confident that he’s fixed the multiverse after making a rash decision to alter time by stopping his mom’s murder. Everything seems to be back in place, which Barry assumes is the case as his Justice League mentor Bruce Wayne (a.ka. Batman) pulls up to see him.
There’s just one small problem, the figure emerging from the car is not the Ben Affleck Batman that Barry knows. It’s George Clooney, prompting a confused Barry to exclaim “Who the f*ck are you?” as this movie fades to black. The cameo sparked a flurry of speculation that Clooney’s Batman was coming back even though The Flash belongs to the old DC Extended Universe that will be wiped away by James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy.
The Clooney cameo was nothing more than a fun, wildly unexpected gag considering he’s spent the past 20 years since Batman & Robin bombed at the box office swearing up and down that he’d never return as the Caped Crusader. And that’s still the case.
While talking to Entertainment Tonight (via EW), Clooney confirmed that The Flash cameo was a one-time thing. “I don’t think there are enough drugs in the world for me to go back again,” he said.
Clooney also made sure to make a joke about his Bat-nipples. The guy can’t talk about his time as Batman without bringing up the nips.
“I thought there was such a clamor for me to come back as Batman, as you know. There was a clamor,” Clooney joked. “I actually said, ‘Where are my rubber nipples?’ And they were like, ‘Can we do it without the rubber nipples?’ I was like, ‘Well, it’s not really my Batman, is it?’”
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