Food

Cream cheese — soft fresh cheese: production, varieties, and culinary uses Cream cheese Cream cheese is a soft, fresh cheese made from cream or milk-and-cream. Mild and spreadable, it appears in savory and sweet preparations worldwide. This article covers its traits,…

Cream pie (custard-filled dessert) Cream pie A cream pie is a pie with a rich, pudding-like custard or cream filling and usually a whipped cream topping. Varieties include vanilla, chocolate, banana, coconut and citrus.

Crémant d'Alsace: Sparkling Wine from the Alsace Region Crémant d'Alsace Crémant d'Alsace is the protected sparkling wine from Alsace, France, made by the traditional method from regional grape varieties and produced in both white and rosé styles.

Crème brûlée Rich baked custard topped with a brittle caramelized sugar crust. Covers ingredients, preparation, history, regional relatives (burnt cream, crema catalana), and common variations.

Croissant: history, preparation, varieties and uses Croissant The croissant is a flaky, crescent-shaped viennoiserie made from laminated dough. This article explains its characteristics, origins, baking method, common varieties and ways it is…

Crouton: seasoned toasted or fried bread cubes used in salads and soups Crouton Croutons are small pieces of bread that are toasted or fried and seasoned. Used to add texture and flavor to salads, soups, and snacks; available homemade or commercially in many f…

Crumpet: a British griddle bread with a spongy, holey top Crumpet Crumpets are small, round griddle breads, yeasted and full of tiny holes that absorb butter and toppings. Popular in Britain and Commonwealth countries for breakfast and tea.

Crush (soft drink) Crush (drink) Crush is a brand of fruit‑flavored carbonated soft drinks, best known for Orange Crush. Introduced in the early 20th century, it offers multiple fruit flavors and is produced by Ke…

Crust (bread, geological, and other meanings) Crust Crust describes outer layers such as bread edges, the Earth's outer shell, pie pastry, biological soil crusts, or scabs. This article summarizes types, formation, uses, and notable…

Cuba Libre: rum, cola and lime — origins, recipe and variations Cuba libre Cuba Libre is a simple rum-and-cola cocktail flavored with lime. This article covers its ingredients, basic preparation, contested origins, common variations and cultural significa…

Cuisine: styles of cooking, traditions, history and modern development Cuisine Cuisine denotes the characteristic cooking methods, ingredients, recipes and food customs of a people or region, shaped by environment, religion, trade and cultural exchange over t…

Cuisine of the Southern United States Regional food traditions of the American South: common ingredients, signature dishes, historical influences (African, French, Caribbean), typical preparations and modern cultural i…

Cuisine of the United States: History, Regions, and Signature Dishes Cuisine of the United States An overview of United States cuisine covering historical influences, regional styles, characteristic ingredients, notable dishes, and modern trends shaping American food culture.

Culinary mustard: types, flavor chemistry, uses and history Culinary mustard Condiment made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquids and seasonings. Covers varieties, flavor chemistry, culinary uses, history, and notable distinctions.

Culinary name: how ingredients and preparations are named in the kitchen Culinary name Culinary names are the common or trade words cooks use for ingredients, cuts and techniques. They can reflect region, preparation, marketing or tradition and often differ from scie…

Culture of Pakistan: Diversity, Traditions, and Modern Expressions Culture of Pakistan An accessible overview of Pakistan’s cultural diversity, covering regional groups, languages, religion, arts, festivals, clothing, cuisine, history and contemporary cultural life.

Cup (drinking vessel) Cup A cup is a small open container for drinking or holding liquids; it has varied forms, materials, uses and cultural meanings from daily tableware to ritual and sporting trophies.

Cupcake (individual small cake) Cupcake A cupcake is a single-serving cake often baked in a paper or metal cup, typically topped with frosting and decorations; popular in home baking, bakeries, and celebrations worldwide…

Milk Curds: Formation, Types, and Culinary Uses Curd Overview of milk curds: how milk coagulates (acid, rennet, microbes), differences between fresh and aged curds, culinary uses from paneer and cottage cheese to cheese-making and wh…

Curing (food preservation): methods, history, and culinary uses Curing (food preservation) Curing uses salt, nitrates, nitrites, sugar, drying or smoking to preserve and transform meat, fish and vegetables. It extends shelf life and creates characteristic flavors, colors…

Curry: definitions, regional varieties, history and culinary roles Curry A concise guide to curry: its meanings, common ingredients and forms, regional variations across South and Southeast Asia and the diaspora, historical spread, and typical serving p…

Currywurst: Germany’s iconic sausage with curry sauce Currywurst Currywurst is a popular German street food of sliced sausage topped with a spiced tomato‑curry sauce. It has regional varieties, a disputed postwar origin, and a lasting place in G…

Curtido — Salvadoran fermented cabbage relish Curtido Curtido is a crunchy, lightly fermented cabbage relish from El Salvador and Central America, commonly served with pupusas. Variations include vinegar- or mayonnaise-based versions…

Custard: ingredients, types, history and culinary uses Custard Custard is a milk-and-egg preparation used as a dessert, filling or sauce. This article explains its varieties, preparation methods, regional forms and culinary roles.

Cutlery: tools, materials, history, and table practice Cutlery Comprehensive overview of cutlery — types (knives, forks, spoons), common materials, cultural variations, etiquette, care, and notable distinctions for everyday and formal use.

Dairy farming: production, animals, history and practices Dairy farming Overview of dairy farming: what it is, common species, typical management, historical development, major products and distinctions between dairy and meat production.

Dairy product: overview, production, varieties, and health considerations Dairy product Foods derived from animal milk — milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and more — explained: composition, common processes, major types, uses, dietary issues and environmental notes.

Danish: language, people, culture and pastry Danish Danish denotes the North Germanic language, people or attributes of Denmark, and cultural items such as the pastry, design and literature. Overview of language, history, culture an…

Dashi: The Fundamental Japanese Stock Dashi Dashi is the clear, umami-rich stock central to Japanese cuisine, traditionally made from kombu, katsuobushi, niboshi or shiitake and used as the base for soups, simmered dishes an…

Date: meanings in food, calendar days, social meetings, documents, and computing Date Overview of date and its multiple meanings: the fruit, a calendar day, a social meeting, document label, computing data type, and methods for determining age or origin.

Deep Frying: Method, Techniques, History and Uses Deep frying Deep frying is a cooking technique that immerses food in hot oil or fat to cook quickly and produce a crisp exterior; used worldwide in many traditional and fast-food dishes.

Delicatessen (Deli): Shop for Prepared and Specialty Foods Delicatessen A delicatessen (deli) sells prepared, specialty and preserved foods—cheeses, cured meats, smoked fish and ready-to-eat dishes—often serving neighborhood tastes and culinary traditi…

Dessert: Definition, Types, History, and Cultural Roles Dessert Dessert is the final course of a meal, typically sweet. This article explains common types, preparation methods, cultural variations, history, and notable distinctions and examples…

Deviled eggs Deviled egg Classic appetizer of hard‑boiled eggs halved and filled with a seasoned yolk mixture; served cold, widely varied, and popular at gatherings worldwide.

Diet (nutrition): concepts, nutrients, cultural patterns and health implications Diet (nutrition) A clear, neutral overview of diet in nutrition: what a diet is, key nutrients, cultural influences, common diet types, health effects and practical guidelines for healthier eating.

Diet soft drink Overview of diet soft drinks: composition, sweeteners, history, typical uses and health considerations for sugar-free carbonated beverages.

Dietary fiber: types, sources, and health effects Dietary fiber Dietary fiber is the indigestible plant fraction that influences digestion, blood lipids, blood sugar and gut health. This article explains types, sources, benefits and practical d…

Dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a concentrated source of nutrients or other ingredients taken to add to the diet. This article explains forms, common ingredients, uses, regulation, benefit…

Dietitian A dietitian is a regulated expert in food and nutrition who assesses dietary needs, plans therapeutic and preventive eating programs, and works across healthcare, community, resear…

Dijon mustard: origin, ingredients, flavor and culinary uses Dijon mustard A concise overview of Dijon mustard: its ingredients and production, flavor profile, culinary roles, brief history and how it differs from other mustard styles.

Dim sum: Cantonese small plates and the tradition of yum cha Dim sum Dim sum is a Cantonese tradition of small, shareable dishes served with tea. It emphasizes variety, steaming and frying techniques, social dining, and has spread across the Chinese…

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Long-running American food television series hosted by Guy Fieri that visits small, independently owned restaurants and highlights regional comfort foods and signature dishes.

Dinner: meanings, traditions, and modern practices Dinner Overview of the meal called dinner: definitions, regional differences, typical structure, history, and cultural importance with examples and notable distinctions.

Dish (tableware, culinary preparation, and parabolic reflector) Dish A dish is a vessel used to cook, serve or present food, a prepared food item, or a dish-shaped radio reflector. This article explains forms, materials, history, uses and distinctio…

Doburoku — traditional Japanese unfiltered sake Doburoku Doburoku is a rustic, milky form of Japanese sake made from steamed rice, kōji, water and yeast. It is legally restricted in Japan and is distinct from commercially sold nigori sak…

DOCG — Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita DOCG DOCG is Italy's highest national quality label for wine, indicating a strictly defined place of origin plus additional controls and guarantees beyond DOC rules.

Doenjang: Korean Fermented Soybean Paste Doenjang Doenjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste used for seasoning, soups and sauces. It is savory, salty, and distinct from Japanese miso in texture, production and culin…

Doner kebab (döner) Doner kebab A Turkish-origin vertical-rotisserie meat dish, thinly sliced and served in bread or on a plate. A widespread fast-food item with many regional variations, sauces and serving style…