Question: Alton Brown used grains of paradise in lentil soup. What are grains of paradise? - Bethany Irwin, Traverse City, Mich.

Answer: Grains of paradise are the seeds of a plant in the ginger family; they are peppery, spicy and pungent, somewhere between black pepper and coriander in flavor. They're native to Africa, so you'll see them most often used in the cuisines of north and west Africa; they were also widely trans- ported through the spice routes of the 14th and 15th centuries, leading to a brief rise in popularity throughout northern Europe. When not used in food, they're used to flavor beverages like beer and gin.

Q.: What is a manzanilla olive? - Jan Slifka, Youngstown, Ohio

A.: Manzanilla olives come from Spain; they are medium-size green olives with soft flesh and mild flavor. They're the olives you most often see stuffed with pimientos, nuts, cheese or anchovies; their small pit-to-meat ratio means they're perfect for stuffing.