Our Favorite Food Stories From The Week

Our favorite reads this week taught us about all kinds of food traditions, from Boston's Chinese food and Sweden's sourdough starter culture to Hainanese chicken and the evolving tradition of soul food in the U.S. Each story left us hungry for more, and we hope they do the same for you.

RELATED   Daniel Boulud's Picks for the Best French Spots in NYC "

The Charlotte Observer explains why sugar in corn bread is a divisive issue with deep roots. While "today's corn bread lines have gotten fuzzy...the two styles are distinctive enough to make anyone who pays attention wonder how the racial difference started."

Daniel Boulud teaches a GQ writer who "only eats food that has its own commercial" how to eat like a grown-up in "The Culinary Education of Mr. Mozzarella Sticks." If only we could all be so lucky.

In the second article we've seen lately on Boston's unique Chinese food tradition, NPR uncovers the mysterious origin of Peking ravioli, better known as dumplings, for those of you who don't call yourself "massholes."

The website also tells the story of another food tradition that may make outsiders look twice: In Stockholm, it turns out you can "hire a sitter for your sourdough starter."

Saveur explains why the "best chicken in the world comes from Hainan" through a beautifully written culinary journey that won't just convince you of this bold statement but will leave you hungry and ready to travel.

J. Kenji Lopez-Alt answers all the questions you've ever wanted to ask him on Quora, including personal ones, like what his go-to meals are when he doesn't feel like cooking, and more existential ones, like why "the cheaper the restaurant, the longer the menu."

Finally, First We Feast investigates "the state of soul food in America" these days in a great read that taps a wide host of experts who each have a unique and important perspective.