Wine enthusiasts and sommeliers are setting up their own natural wine-focused businesses in cities around the Midwest, filling a gap in the market for their favorite vintages. New York City transplants Mark Henry and Gretchen Skedsvold opened Henry & Son after finding a dearth of low-intervention wines in Minneapolis, while Frederique Boudouani launched distributor Abu Nawas Beverage as a means to get natural wines on the menu at the Algerian restaurant he co-owns in Elkader, Iowa.

While the pandemic sidelined a new law enabling Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to purchase wine club subscriptions by proxy for individuals, setting aside funding for the program is among a spate of alcohol-related measures the state's legislature will address this year. Allowing more bar licenses and budgeting for a possible four new state-run liquor stores are also on the agenda.

This quick and simple meal comes together in one pan in less than 30 minutes. The salmon filets start skin-side down in the pan to crisp the skin and then finish cooking on top of the chickpea and spinach mixture. The Kitchn

A buttermilk and hot sauce marinade makes this chicken flavorful, and preparing it in an air fryer gives it a crisp crust without excess oil. Using skin-on chicken pieces helps the breading adhere. My Forking Life

A group of sommeliers from across the US reflected that the tumult of 2020 may actually galvanize lasting changes for the better in the wine industry, such as boosting its commitment to diversity and making wine accessible to a broader array of consumers through virtual tastings and e-commerce. "The silver lining is that keeping food, wine and service simple yet high-quality seems to be achievable," added Shelley Lindgren, who co-owns A16 in San Francisco and A16 Rockridge in Oakland, Calif.

The simplicity of a whiskey highball requires quality ingredients and a skilled hand that approaches the cocktail as part science and part art, writes Tim McKirdy. "Each one part of the process might not make a noticeable difference if you're doing it on its own, but if you care about every single step, all those little changes add up," said Deke Dunne, manager and head bartender at Allegory at Eaton DC.

Menestra is a Spanish dish with peasant food roots that combines a variety of boiled vegetables in a gravy-like sauce flavored with wine. "Menestra is pure grandmother cooking -- the same as ever, the kind of food you never tire of," said Cristina Gutierrez, a chef and owner at Terete in Spain's La Rioja province, which has been serving the dish for a century.

Rendered animal fat can be used in a wide range of cooking applications, from frying and roasting to baking. "Choosing the right fat is key, as different fats have different flavors and different smoking points too," said Aaron Rocchino of the Local Butcher Shop in Berkeley, Calif., who recommends pork leaf lard for baking because of its mild flavor.

The CDC has classified school staff as essential workers, and federal vaccine distribution guidance places them in the 1b category -- among the first to receive the vaccine. Yet, the timeline to vaccinate school staff varies nationwide because states establish their own priority guidelines.

White Castle will turn the parking lots at more than 300 locations into retro drive-ins with carhop service for one night to keep its 30-year Valentine's Day tradition going during the pandemic. As in previous years, reservations for the night are required.