Chefs are tweeting from their kitchens in growing numbers. Whether you love TV show cooks or admire classical chefs, here's a selection of culinary pros you can follow. Which food personalities do you follow on Twitter? (We hope you already follow Epicurious for food news and events.) Grant Achatz Lidia Bastianich Mario Batali Rick Bayless Michelle Bernstein John Besh Anthony Bourdain Michael Chiarello Tom Colicchio Cat Cora Traci Des Jardins Giada De Laurentiis Rocco DiSpirito Todd English Bobby Flay Tyler Florence Madhur Jaffrey Thomas Keller Emeril Lagasse Chef Morimoto Jamie Oliver Jacques Pépin Gordon Ramsay Rachael Ray Eric Ripert Marcus Samuelsson Jacques Torres Alice Waters

Super Bowl 46 is a week from Sunday, and to get you in the spirit, we've crafted our annual team menus in honor of the AFC and NFC champs. For the New York Giants, we've designed a mega-meal in honor of Big Blue. Along with New York soft pretzels and city-centric beers, there's appetizer-ready Italian Sausage Rolls, Onion Soup with Gigantic Gruyère Crostini, and a Roast New York Strip Loin that's been loved by our users for years. Finish the game-day spread with a New York classic--Cheesecake. To toast Tom Brady and his New England Patriots, we've put together a Souper Sandwich Sunday, with favorites from the Boston area. New England Clam Chowder leads the charge with Boston Marathon Chili close behind. New England Crab Rolls and Roast Beef Sandwiches with Sweet-and-Sour Red Onions and Blue Cheese put the sandwiches in this Sunday spread. Boston Baked Beans and Boston Cream Pie round out the menu. Pick a soup and sandwich for a smaller gathering, or make the whole spread for your big bash. Wash it all down with a Cape Codder, and root for those Pats! If you're looking for more inspiration, visit our Super Bowl Guide, with everything from meatball recipes to the ultimate chicken wing, as well as tips on pairing beers to game-day grub. (Photo: Sara Bonisteel)

I've never been to China, but I always love checking out Chinatowns whenever possible. Even though I haven't traveled all the way to Asia, these visits feel like a foreign adventure, as many of the products are unfamiliar to me. After checking out Gourmet Lives's Eating Up Asia issue, I realized that there are few more items to add to the list of foods I've yet to try. Chinese okra, for example. What's this? I love the more commonly found okra, but I'm certainly compelled to cook with this variety. And smooth skin mangoes? How have I not eaten every variety of mango out there? So my search begins! I hope that by the end of 2012 I will have eaten all the seven items listed. Have you ever seen or eaten the fruits and veggies mentioned in this piece? (Photo: Josey Miller/Gourmet Live)

Get ready for a serious sugar rush. Valentine's Day, the holiday of chocolate and sugary treats, is fast approaching. To help you pick the best ways to spend your cupid calories, we've rounded up our top picks for boxes, bars, truffles, and hearts. And because a little smoke with your sweet is always welcome, we've also included two porcine-infused nibbles. TCHO San Francisco's TCHO is one of our favorite recent additions to the growing community of American bean-to-bar chocolate companies. And their appropriately named "SeriousMilk" chocolate bars are perfect for sophisticated chocolate lovers who also happen to (gasp!) like milk chocolate. Available in classic (39 percent) or cacao (53 percent), these bars are rich and creamy, and lack the cloying sweetness of many milk chocolates ($11 for two 2-ounce bars). Olive & Sinclair For Valentine's Day, Nashville's Olive & Sinclair is offering their gritty and spicy Mexican style cinn-chili chocolate in 4-ounce hearts ($11). But we also have our eyes on their smoked nib brittle ($18.50 for 5 ounces), which boasts cacao nibs smoked in the wood smokehouse at Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams. In case the number of times "smoke" is used in the last sentence didn't quite grab you, let's just say you'll want to give this brittle to the person who prefers bacon to bonbons. Payard Many a chocolatier makes Champagne truffles for Valentine's Day, but our tasters overwhelmingly favored the Champagne Pop Rock truffles from legendary pastry chef Francois Payard ($55 for 24 pieces). More than just a gimmick, the Pop Rocks accentuate the effervescence of the bubbly, and their sweetness mellows the bitterness of the classic truffle shell. The Redhead The Redhead, in New York's East Village, is known for Southern favorites like grits and fried chicken. They're also famous for their bacon peanut brittle, an addictive and crunchy mix of nuts, maple syrup, uncured bacon, and spices. In short: We love it! ($22 per pound) Norman Love Confections Single-origin chocolates have had a lot of buzz in recent years, but they make an excellent gift for choco-files who take their chocolate seriously, and don't like all the fuss of fillings and flavors. If this sounds like you or your lover, the Black collection from Fort Meyers, Florida-based Norman Love Confections, should be on your list. The 5-piece assortment features chocolate from Venezuela, Madagascar, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Our tasters fell for the light softness of the ganache and one compared the Bolivian option to the very best brownie batter. And despite their name, these truffles feature Love's celebrated colorful exteriors ($25 for 10-pieces with two from each origin). Vosges Haut Chocolat Vosges never ceases to impress and this Valentine's Day is no different. Their solid chocolate Milagros are inspired by Mexican folk charms (Milagro means miracle or surprise in Spanish), and showcase Vosges' knack for combining chocolate with unexpected flavors. We sampled the smoked tomato, which pairs earthy, vegetal notes with warm smokiness and a hint of sweetness and crunch from toffee....

I come from a very hospitable lot of people, who take great pride in their sense of Southern hospitality, but I've never seen the art of hospitality taken to such extremes as they do in France. Many of us today tend to think of the unexpected guest as a hassle, and for the most part, it's because we just aren't prepared for it. My early years in Germany and France taught me much about how to entertain at a moment's notice. I must stress that the art of entertaining the unexpected guest is not in the lavish spread of gourmet foods, but rather found in the heart of the host and the elegance of cooking something with simplicity from that place. The key to conquering the unexpected-guest phobia is to always keep a few things on hand, so that you may best entertain friends with both food and drink. I call it cooking on the fly, using what I have to create both flavorful and memorable meals. It does require a bit of forethought. You should always keep an extra bottle of Champagne in reserve in the refrigerator and red wine in the pantry, along with some high quality pasta. No matter which roast or braise you have left over from various meals throughout the week, it's as easy as can be to create a simple ragout to serve with the pasta. Who among us doesn't love a great pasta dish with a meaty ragout, drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese over the top? It's so simple, yet so perfect. OK, if you're pretty sure you can boil water and season to taste, the main course will be a cinch to tackle. The next thing to keep in mind is the an ultra-simple appetizer; get started on it quickly so that you can focus the bulk of your time on the main course. For this, I look to olives for your guests to nibble on while you open a jar of piquillos. Those peppers are just begging to be heated in some great extra-virgin olive oil with crushed red-pepper flakes and thinly sliced garlic. Serve this with a sliced and toasted baguette. I dare you to find a more perfect bite. (Unless, of course, you happen to have a little salami and/or prosciutto around to serve along side.) In no time, you've got two fantastic quick courses, and all you have left to come up with is dessert. Make a fruit crumble and serve it a la mode with some of that amazing ice cream you have in the freezer. Then serve a glass or two of port, Madeira, or better yet, an exceptional eau de vie from the Loire along with those chocolates that you've been saving for just such an occasion. You'll find you've got yourself some satisfied unexpected guests without stressing on what, and how, to cook on the spur of the moment.

It's been long enough after the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11 that I can start thinking about it without all the needless and gaudy pageantry that accompanied it, as long as I avoid a certain schmaltzy and crassly exploitative 9/11 flick. (Full disclosure: Part of the reason I have strong feelings about the way the networks choose to mark the Sept. 11 anniversaries is probably related to my personal experiences on that day. Like other journalists, I was covering the story that day, and I was very close to the towers when they came down.) Now that I can think back about it without media programming in the form of TV tributes, tear-stained anthems and de rigueur speeches from wooden politicians what comes back most isn't the day itself, but the way New Yorkers comforted each other in the aftermath: with food and drink. Down at Ground Zero, places like Bubby's plied hardworking rescue workers with food and water. A little further out, past the police barricades that kept most of the public out, people flocked to bars and bought endless rounds of drinks for New York's Bravest. Like mourners at an Irish wake, we sought out these occasions as a heartbreaking yet heartwarming way to pay tribute to what we'd all lost as a family, and those meals and those drinks provided us with the cover we needed to fool ourselves into thinking we weren't at a funeral. It was the worst thing to ever happen to the city, but it brought New Yorkers together in way nothing else ever could. I've never been part of something quite like it since. And I don't think it would have happened without hot food and cold beers to share with friends and strangers alike. Though I don't spend nearly as much time covering what used to be my main beats, law, politics and crime, the memories of those days after Sept. 11 tell me that writing about food can be just as important. Anyway, that's probably the memory that stands out most when I think of ways food and drink have provided me comfort. How about you? (By the way, those links won't work after Monday.)

Economy in trouble? People tightening their belts? Nah, perfect time to unveil the world's most expensive hot dog. Canada's Globe and Mail reported yesterday that DougieDog Hot Dogs in Vancouver is introducing the Dragon Dog, "made with a bratwurst infused with century-old Louis the 13th Cognac, which costs more than $2,000 a bottle." Don't worry. The hot dog only costs $100. As well as the Cognac, the hot dog also contains "Kobe beef seared in olive and truffle oil, fresh lobster, and a secret picante sauce," says the newspaper. Hold the ketchup. Love hot dogs but balk at paying a hundred bucks to enjoy one? We've plenty of delicious hot dog recipes that won't break the bank. Pictured: Cheddar Dogs with Cider-Braised Leeks and Apples (Photo by Kenji Toma)

Hope I'm not repeating myself, and hope this actually looks like lunch. But I can't advocate what I call kittybagging enough. The other midday I met a friend at the wondrous Momofuku Ssam, where we split the outstanding fried duck dumplings and then the world-class rotisserie duck. I tried to pace myself because I had a birthday dinner to go to in just a few hours, so there was a fair amount of wondrousness left on the table, and I insisted Wally take it home. The server was happy to pack it up; I know Wally and family were happy to unpack it later. Once upon a time I might have been shy about asking to take the last bite of foie gras or last forkful of halibut. But it's amazing how those little bits can take on a second life the next day. The birthday dinner was at Aldea, where my consort ordered the suckling pig, which was pretty much the whole little beast compacted into essentially a terrine that was then cut into slabs. Even he could only eat about two-thirds of it, so we brazenly asked for the small chunk that was left. And yesterday it was just enough to use instead of sausage in orecchiette with broccoli rabe and garlic for lunch. What would have gone into the trash in the restaurant became the foundation of a whole new meal (complete with a few bites for The Cat, the omnivore with no dilemmas). In New York, everyone kvetches that Mayor Bloomberg has turned the city into a nanny state. But I actually like one of the 600 advisory signs you now see posted in restaurants: Save half for later. Even an eighth will do.

I share the Downton Abbey obsession that is overtaking Esther Sung and millions more, partly because it's an updated version of an old favorite, Upstairs Downstairs, and partly because it strikes a chord with me: My paternal grandmother was a nanny in a grand old English home when she was young, and my maternal grandfather grew up in a worn but still gracious estate, so I have both the upstairs and the downstairs coursing through my blood. I've planned a Downton Abbey-inspired dinner for this Sunday and invited over a few friends. The menu reflects a more downstairs aesthetic than upstairs, as the servants' fare was less fussy than the gentry's typical items like roast guinea hen with leeks in aspic: Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Rosemary and Stilton Nan's Shepherd's Pie Spinach Gunge Black and Tans Chocolate Biscuit Cake photo courtesy of PBS.org

There is a vibrancy and excitement to Marrakech that's irresistible. It's a city of contrasts. On one hand, there are the cool refreshing blues and greens of the Jardin Marjorelle (most recently the home of Yves Saint Laurent) and the jazzy tiled floors at the glorious Saadian Tombs set among gardens and greenery. On the other hand, there is the hustle of the souk and the the spectacle that is Djemaa el-Fna, a square that fills nightly with snake charmers, fortune tellers, and street food vendors selling everything from bowls of spicy snails to glasses of orange juice squeezed to order. A huge range of options also exist for dining and accommodations in Marrakech. I stayed at the newly opened and very posh Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. It's set away from the crowds and is a true oasis in the desert. I loved the big rooms and landscaped grounds, but I longed to be closer to the action. If you're looking for a good place to park the kids, have a fine Italian meal or get a massage, you can't go wrong here. On my next trip to Marrakech, I've already booked a room at Le Nid des Cigognes, one of the boutique hotel properties in the Sanssouci Collection of Marrakech riads. While the souk and some major attractions are just outside the walls, inside you can relax in the beauty of traditional Moroccan decor and hospitality. You can also enjoy excellent Moroccan food which I was fortunate enough to experience in November. All the food I had in Marrakech was terrific. The simplest dish that I have duplicated since returning home was something served at breakfast at the Four Seasons, called Shakshuka. Popular in Israel, it surely originated in the Maghreb. My recipe next... Shakshuka 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1/2 onion, minced 1 jalapeno or 1 teaspoon hot pepper paste 2 garlic cloves, finely minced 1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 4 eggs Heat a 12-inch skillet and add the oil. Saute the onions for a few minutes, until translucent and then add the jalapeno or hot pepper paste and garlic. Stir for one minute, then add the tomatoes and spices and cook, mashing the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. When the sauce has thickened, make four small indentations for the eggs and add the eggs to the sauce. Simmer for a few minutes and cover or broil to cook the tops of eggs to your liking. Serve with bread or toast. My thanks to the Moroccan Tourism Board for hosting me.

Early this morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Oscar nominations for 2012 and in what's become an annual Epicurious tradition we created menus inspired by each of the Best Picture nominees. For The Help, we gathered recipes for classic Southern dishes featured in the movie, and Minnie's specialty, chocolate pie. Hugo, a 3-D film that takes place in a Paris train station, gets kid-friendly French fare, while the baseball-focused Moneyball is celebrated with stadium-worthy hot dogs and caramel corn. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close was a tricky one, but with Oskar's multi-borough trek through New York City in mind, our menu brings together the city's diverse cuisines for an "I Love New York" buffet. Below is our complete collection of Best Picture menus. Let us know what you think and what you'll be making on Oscar night. The Artist The Descendants Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close The Help Hugo Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse