Cork and Knife : Build Complex Flavors with Bourbon, Wine, Beer and More

Make Food Great with Just One Ingredient

Alcohol isn’t just an accompaniment to a great meal, but the secret ingredient to make dishes pop with flavor, added depth and complexity. Emily and Matt Clifton, founders of the blog Nerds with Knives, show you how to use vodka to make extra crispy batter in Ultra-Crispy Fish with Vodka and Beer Batter, heighten the aroma of the spicy, garlicky sauce in the Tequila and Lime Shrimp Scampi and bring perfect balance to dishes like Vermouth-Braised Leeks or Classic Chicken Piccata just by adding white wine.

Through their knowledge of boozy cooking science, you’ll make classic dishes that pack a delicious punch. So put on your apron, pop a cork, raise your glass and get ready to cook.

“Matt and Emily’s work isn’t just great ideas and pretty photos, they back up those great ideas with recipes that work. That they happen to explore the science of booze and its interaction with food is just the icing on the cake.”
— J. Kenji López-Alt, Chef at Wursthall, Chief Culinary Advisor of Serious Eats

“I want to cook and eat every recipe that Emily and Matt dream up and photograph. This duo knows all the tricks for imbuing food with the maximum amount of flavor.”
— Jennifer Clair, author of Six Basic Cooking Techniques