The journal

Notes fromthe Kitchen

Planning advice, seasonal ideas, and a few good cocktails from the Actual Food team.

An old fashioned with a large ice cube and an orange peel in a cut-crystal rocks glass, set on a pink stone table in front of dark green plants

October 6, 2026 · Bar & Bartending

The Black Tea Old Fashioned

Our Earl Grey old fashioned pairs bourbon with a black tea demerara syrup. Get the full recipe, from the syrup to the orange peel, for a cocktail made for fall.
Overhead view of a catering table with a tomato and basil salad, roasted peppers and fennel, a cheese and olive board, crackers with hummus, and a small bouquet of flowers

September 1, 2026 · Wedding Catering

Fall Into Flavor: Planning Your Autumn Event

Plan a fall wedding or event around the season's best ingredients. See which squash, fruit, and herbs shine, and how they fit into every course of the menu.
Two iced zero proof cocktails seen from above, one bright magenta with a lime wheel and one pale green and sparkling with a cucumber slice, on a woven tray

August 4, 2026 · Bar & Bartending

Zero Proof Cocktails Are In

Zero proof cocktails have moved from January alternative to year-round fixture. Here's how to serve thoughtful non-alcoholic drinks that hold their own at any event.
A mac and cheese bar on a linen-covered table, with a chafing dish, a small chalkboard sign, and black bowls of chives, bacon, and jalapeño

July 7, 2026 · Wedding Catering

Why Food Stations Work for Almost Any Event

Food stations with passed appetizers create a relaxed, social meal. Here's why the style works, and how to plan it so guests graze and mingle instead of lining up.
Skewers of golden meatballs with a dollop of cream and a piece of pickled pink onion each, arranged on white parchment

June 2, 2026 · Corporate Events

Corporate Catering, Done Well

Practical advice for catering office meetings, conferences, and client events: how to plan for tight timelines, shifting schedules, and a range of dietary needs.
Round reception tables set with glassware and linens beneath trees wrapped in string lights, with the words 90 Day Catering Checklist across the center

May 5, 2026 · Wedding Catering

The 90-Day Wedding Catering Checklist

A plain-language timeline for the last 90 days before your wedding: what to confirm with your caterer, and when, from menus and rentals to headcount and final payment.

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