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Archive for the ‘Amuse Bouche’ Category

Italian Antipasti: The Love’s Frittata

In Amuse Bouche, Food Styling, Italy, Photography, Азбука Вкуса, Еда и Напитки on 2009/07/15 at 15:05

Easy Bites! Nest of Grilled Peppers and Mini-Mozzarella

In Amuse Bouche, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/06/03 at 10:25

‘One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.’ ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Nido di Peperoni Grigliati e Bocconcini di Mozzarella / Nest of Grilled Bell Peppers and Cherry-Size Mozzarella

Difficulty: EASY / MEDIUM;
Preparation’s Time
-To Grill Peppers: 30 minutes;
-Nests: 20 minutes;
Servings: 6;


Ingredients:
• Bell Peppers, (Capsicum): 1 Red, (medium size) – 1 Yellow, (medium size);
• Bocconcini di Mozzarella (*): 1 (250g / 0.55lb) package, (standard size in Italy);
[(*)(Mini or Cherry-Size Mozzarella];
• Fresh Thyme; 1 small bunch;
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil;
• Salt & Pepper;

Utensils, Etc:
• Salt and Pepper Mills;
• Baking-Proof Paper, (if you decide to use the oven);
• Medium size Bowls;
• 6 Espresso Saucers;
• 1 Fork;
• Paper Towels

Directions:
~ RINSE and GRILL the Whole Peppers. [If Outdoor I use a Charcoal-Barbecue-Grill. If Indoor I prefer to Broil it in a Moderately-Hot Oven, (Pre-Heat at 200°C / 400°F / Gas-6)].
~ TURN them now and again until the skin is blackened all over.
~ Then PLACE them in a Bowl and COVER with cling film, or seal in an airtight plastic bag to ‘Sweat’.

~ OEN the package of Bocconcini (*), DISCARD the liquid and RINSE.
~ PLACE the content in a Bowl; SEASON with 1 Tablespoon of Extra-Virgin Olive oil and some Fresh Thyme.
~ Set Aside.

~ After about 15 minutes, the peppers’ skin can be PEELED OFF easily with your fingers.
~ REMOVE the core, pith and seeds.
~ SLICE-UP the peppers length-wise in Medium-Thin Strips.
~ SEASON with Extra-Virgin Olive oil, Salt and Pepper to taste.
~ Set Aside.

NOTES:
In the Picture I’ve used Glass Espresso Saucers.
For an easier handling I would use “Chinese-Style Soup Spoons” and/or any other type of “Party Spoon”, (they’re made to stand and you can really “go for the Bite”).

~ In order to set a nice looking Nest:
1. Use Oil with Moderation, you can always add it!
2. Espresso’s Saucers are excellent to build the Nest; the small hollow part in the middle helps holding the Peppers.
3. Roll the Peppers-Strips with a Fork, as if you where eating Spaghetti.
4. With the help of some Paper-Towels, Place the Nest in the Saucer, (the paper will absorb the oil in excess, besides keeping the saucer clean).
5. Place 1 Bocconcino (*) on each Nest and Decorate with some Fresh Thyme.
6. Keep the Nests Refrigerated.
7. Take the Nests out of refrigerator 10 minutes Before Serving.

VEGAN: Replace the Bocconcini (*) with Firm Tofu.
ASIAN MOOD: Use Soy Sauce to Season.

BUON APPETITO!

Useful Sources:
~ Food Info: Pepper / Capsicum and Mozzarella; Wikipedia.
~ Food Glossary: Pepper; BBC.co.uk


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Vegan, Barbeque and More

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/06/02 at 11:01

‘The greatest wealth is health.’ ~Virgil

How to make fine dining 100% vegan on StarBulletin.com

At San Francisco’s Millennium restaurant, chef Eric Tucker thinks outside of traditional tempeh and tofu ingredients. He has some suggestions for keeping vegan dishes fresh: Get a simple vegetarian cookbook, subscribe to Vegetarian Times and visit your local farmers market.
Why not eat vegan? Let us count the ways: It’s boring, it’s hard, it won’t be filling, it’ll be the end of fine dining forever … and who can eat tofu every day?
Stop the whining and think beyond tempeh and tofu to delve into tasty vegan cuisine, courtesy of a San Francisco chef. …
Full Story:
Vegan venture; By Betty Shimabukuro

The Accidental Vegetarian on SFGate.com

Mention to a few friends that you are going vegan. You’ll find out who your friends are pretty quickly, as I did for the month that I adhered to the strict rules of a vegan diet. I decided to cut out all animal products and go vegan for a month because I felt I couldn’t cover the topic without having the experience. A month seemed like an appropriate amount of time, but I discovered it wasn’t, especially if I would continue feeling as good as I did. …
Full Story: Going vegan for a month; by Amanda Berne

Barbeque on DallasNews.com

Benefit from the expertise of Steven Raichlen of ‘The Barbecue! Bible’.
Each summer brings a wave of outdoor-cooking books to store shelves. Few become smash hits that warrant new editions. So it’s no small feat that 10 years after its publication, an updated anniversary edition of Steven Raichlen’s The Barbecue! Bible has been released. …
Full Story: 5 new foods to try on the grill; By TINA DANZE

More Interesting Links!
~ Eat Out on the TimesOnline.co.uk – As Michelin celebrates its 100th edition, its boss Jean-Luc Naret explains why it’s still the sexiest guide in town. Meet Jean-Luc Naret, the man in charge of Michelin guides

~ The Kitchen Refuge – Comfort food – and now, comfort television; By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ, The Wall Street Journal


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Vegan, Barbeque and More

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/06/02 at 11:01

‘The greatest wealth is health.’ ~Virgil

How to make fine dining 100% vegan on StarBulletin.com

At San Francisco’s Millennium restaurant, chef Eric Tucker thinks outside of traditional tempeh and tofu ingredients. He has some suggestions for keeping vegan dishes fresh: Get a simple vegetarian cookbook, subscribe to Vegetarian Times and visit your local farmers market.
Why not eat vegan? Let us count the ways: It’s boring, it’s hard, it won’t be filling, it’ll be the end of fine dining forever … and who can eat tofu every day?
Stop the whining and think beyond tempeh and tofu to delve into tasty vegan cuisine, courtesy of a San Francisco chef. …
Full Story:
Vegan venture; By Betty Shimabukuro

The Accidental Vegetarian on SFGate.com

Mention to a few friends that you are going vegan. You’ll find out who your friends are pretty quickly, as I did for the month that I adhered to the strict rules of a vegan diet. I decided to cut out all animal products and go vegan for a month because I felt I couldn’t cover the topic without having the experience. A month seemed like an appropriate amount of time, but I discovered it wasn’t, especially if I would continue feeling as good as I did. …
Full Story: Going vegan for a month; by Amanda Berne

Barbeque on DallasNews.com

Benefit from the expertise of Steven Raichlen of ‘The Barbecue! Bible’.
Each summer brings a wave of outdoor-cooking books to store shelves. Few become smash hits that warrant new editions. So it’s no small feat that 10 years after its publication, an updated anniversary edition of Steven Raichlen’s The Barbecue! Bible has been released. …
Full Story: 5 new foods to try on the grill; By TINA DANZE

More Interesting Links!
~ Eat Out on the TimesOnline.co.uk – As Michelin celebrates its 100th edition, its boss Jean-Luc Naret explains why it’s still the sexiest guide in town. Meet Jean-Luc Naret, the man in charge of Michelin guides

~ The Kitchen Refuge – Comfort food – and now, comfort television; By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ, The Wall Street Journal


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Premium Chocolates, Fruits and More Sweet Notes

In Amuse Bouche, Chocolate, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/29 at 12:05

‘Forget love – I’d rather fall in chocolate!‘ ~Attributed to Sandra J. Dykes

Gourmet Chocolate on AskMen.com
The world of chocolate has its highs and lows and our palate has evolved beyond swapping quality for quantity. While Ferrero Rocher and Godiva are fine, gourmet chocolate is more abundant – and more available – in today’s market than ever before. Chocolate is the voice of passion and love, whether it is the love of chocolate itself or as an expression of love for another human being. After all why shouldn’t we spend it on the good stuff? …
Full Story:
Fine Living: Premium Chocolates; By James Raiswell

Apple Cake in Rome, I, from The Boston Globe
Think of Italian desserts, think of fresh fruit: pears, figs, and grapes in the autumn; peaches, berries, and melons in the summer; and nuts – walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds – year round. A popular dessert in Rome is torta di mele, or apple cake. Though it is considered a humble dessert, it is delicious and easy to prepare.
Until I began spending several months at a time in Rome four years ago, I never associated Italy and apples. Apples are quintessentially American! But as I learned shopping in markets here, apples are plentiful all year. Still, …
Full Story: Si, si, an apple dessert; By Judith Barrett
Photo: Torta di Mele from A Tavola con Semplicita’

More Interesting Links!
~ Tiny watermelons are no bigger than kumquatsTiny watermelons called Pepquinos were found in the wild and are now cultivated in greenhouses. The skin is soft, so the entire melon can be eaten whole. DailyMail.co.uk
~ Delicious Alphonsos inspire mango maniaThe Indian Alphonso mango is picked ripe for maximum sweetness and juiciness. They can be hard to find, so if you can’t find them, other mangoes will work well in the recipes provided, including ones for rice pudding and salsa. Telegraph.co.uk


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Easy Bites! – Asparagus and Bacon

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Italy, Photography on 2009/05/28 at 11:24

‘A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew.’ ~ Herb Caen

Involtini con Punte d’Asparagi e Pancetta / Asparagus and Bacon Involtini

Difficulty: Easy;
Preparation’s Time: 30 minutes;
Servings: 4;

RECIPE

Ingredients:
• 48 Green Asparagus Spears; (Asparagus Officinalis);
• 8 Thin-Slices of Bacon, (the variety you prefer);
• Salt and Pepper to taste;
• Olive Oil;

Utensils, Etc:
• Cast-Iron or Non-Stick Skillet;
• Cooking-String;
• Baking-Proof Paper, (if you decide to use the oven);
• Medium size Brush;

Directions:
~ RINSE the Asparagus, PEAL then TRIM the Ends, (the chewy part).
~ Depending on the Asparagus length, you should CUT each Spear in three. Set the Tips aside, (the tip is the most delicate part and should be handled with care).
~ Take 3 pieces and WRAP them with 1 Slice of Bacon, (if the slice is too long, Use Half).
~ TIGHT each Involtino with Cooking-String and BRUSH it with a bit of Olive Oil. Set aside.
~ HEAT a Cast-Iron Skillet to COLOR the Involtini on all sides and Serve(*).

NOTES:
~ (*) I like it Warm with the Asparagus still Raw but, after coloring, you could place the butch in an Moderate Hot oven, (190°C ~ 370°F ~ Gas-5), for about 10-minutes, and serve.
~ 2 Involtini per person should be a good start.
~ In the picture I’ve used the Tips of green Asparagus from Altedo (Bologna), they are slimmer than the regular type. The Tips look good but you can use all the tender parts.
~ Tender left-over are great for a delicious Frittata/Omelette, Risotto, etc.

BUON APPETITO!


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Undiscovered Cheeses Etc

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/27 at 08:58

‘Experience is the teacher of all things.’ ~ Julius Caesar

Undiscovered Cheeses on AskMen.com
There are few foods in the world as varied and as versatile as cheese. Across the globe, different cultures enjoy their cheeses hard or soft, moldy or creamy, made from the milk of goats, cows or sheep, as a part of a meal or on its own, and with or without fine wine. Cheese, said one writer, “is milk’s leap toward immortality,” and since nearly every nation in the world makes its own unique cheeses, …
FullStory:
6 Undiscovered Cheeses; By James Raiswell

Pear and Cheese on USPears.com
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French and Belgians started the wave of pear cultivation that led to most of the pear varieties now thriving in the Pacific Northwest. Europeans inevitably partnered pears with wines and cheeses to create elegant appetizers, desserts and cheese courses.
Specially selected combinations developed and tested by gourmet chefs are outlined below. We are sure that these combinations will enhance your soirée, lunch, or picnic. …
Full Story: FRESH PEARS, CHEESE and WINE: A Tasty TRADITION

More Interesting Links!
~ List of Cheeses from Wikipedia
~ Arugula Salad with Pear, Blue Cheese and Apricot Vinaigrette; Recipe by Rachael Ray on FoodNetwork.com


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Food, Drink and Sweet Notes

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Healthy Kitchen, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/26 at 11:35

‘The greatest wealth is health.’ ~Virgil

GOURMET PLEASURES WITH SOME SWEET NOTE

Gourmet Pleasures on Independent.ie
They may extol the virtues of fine ingredients, but even for committed foodies, sometimes only a treat will do, says Declan Cashin.
When it comes to food and snacks, we all have our guilty little pleasures. Sure, we know we’re all supposed to feast on fine, fresh ingredients as part of a daily balanced diet, and graze on nuts and fruits rather than cakes and biscuits during work and in our downtime. However, in tough times like these, we need our little treats and pleasures to help buck us up, and that goes for the gourmand experts too. …
Full Story:
The guilty gourmets;

Pavlova, culinary thievery? on the Independent.co.uk
New Zealand’s new Prime Minister, John Key, faces a host of diplomatic challenges as he adjusts to the job. But of them all, the one exercising him most at the moment is the weighty matter of the provenance of a meringue dessert topped by cream and tropical fruit. Mr Key is irritated by Australia’s long-standing claim to have invented the pavlova, which he dismissed yesterday as “ridiculous”. He urged his neighbour and ally to acknowledge the dessert’s New Zealand’s origins …
Full Story: Pavlova wars: New Zealand reclaims its national dessert; By Kathy Marks

More Interesting Links!
~ Health Journal – Why That Big Meal You Just Ate Made You Hungry; By MELINDA BECK, WSJ.com
~ The Gastronomer – Eggplant, Without All the Oil. Slick.; By Andreas Viestad, WashingtonPost.com


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Tasting Menus Around the World and More

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Molecular Cuisine, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/26 at 08:07

‘When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute – and it’s longer than any hour. That’s relativity.’ ~Albert Einstein

DINING, EATING OUT, & MORE

Tasting Menus on AskMen.com
Eating well doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but oh what fun you’ll have if you spend one. For that next special occasion, holiday splurge or maybe even when you’re just plain hungry, a mouthwatering tour of the food at a world-class restaurant could be just what you need. A fine restaurant’s tasting menu consists of a multi-course meal designed by the chef. Often ranging from hors d’oeuvres to desserts, …
Full Story:
Fine Living: Top 10 Tasting Menus; By Phil Pivnick

ASIA NEWS on WSJ.com
In Kyoto, kaiseki restaurants serve Japan’s version of haute cuisine.
The meal at famed Kikunoi restaurant was cutting-edge: 12 courses made up of 60 different items, each fanatically sourced using the freshest and highest-quality ingredients available. And in the trendiest fashion, the entire meal, which stretched to almost three hours, weighed in at less than 1,000 calories. Welcome to kaiseki (kye-SEK-ee), the original fixed-price tasting menu, whose roots in Kyoto go back almost 500 years to the Japanese tea ceremony’s origins and …
Full Story: The Art You Can Eat; by STAN SESSER

Tasting Stadium’s Food on WSJ.com
Lobster rolls at Citi Field take on cheese steaks at Yankee Stadium.
On chilly Wednesday night at spanking-new Citi Field, José Reyes scored from first base for the home team in a comical Padres screwup, and the Mets beat the San Diego Padres 7-2. But some of the best action was in the stands, in the open-air food court called Taste of the City. Both local teams lost the openers at their new stadiums – the Mets to the Padres on Monday 6-5, and the Yankees to Cleveland on Thursday 10-2 – but they scored points with their efforts to give New York baseball fans a lot more than franks and beer to feed themselves and their loyalty. …
Full Story: Taste-Testing New York Baseball; by RAYMOND SOKOLOV

More Interesting Links!
~ Request to TV chefs: Wash Your Hands!; NYDailyNews.com
~ A Future With Fewer Reservations; WSJ.com
~ Eat shoots and leaves; Guardian.co.uk

Photo:
~ Tasting Menu at Fat Duck; from Forbes.com


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Food Adventures: Exotic Cuisines

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/25 at 09:00

‘In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.’ ~Cicero

FINE LIVING AND MORE ADVENTURES

Adventurous Eater from AskMen.com
There are some foods in the world that are simply too spectacular not to be tasted at least once over the course of a lifetime. And while the most interesting culinary delicacies usually hail from remote locations in the farthest reaches of the globe, have no fear: We’ve sourced out a handful of the best delicacies and suggested exactly where you can enjoy these palatable treasures.
So, for the adventurous eater, here are our picks for the foods to try before you die.
Fried spider, Cambodia …
Full Story:
Fine Living: Foods To Try Before You Die; By James Raiswell

Extravagant Dishes on AskMen.com
In the fine-dining world it is rare to find a menu that includes simple meat and potato dishes. Likewise, the cocktail and dessert menus have become increasingly concentrated with items that favor the exotic. The trends are geared toward extravagance. The list that follows highlights some of the more extravagant items found in fine-dining establishments around the globe.
10- Sea urchin cappuccino
Full Story: Top 10: Extravagant Dishes; By Michael Miller

More Interesting Links!
~ Luxury LifeStyle Updates; [Enjoy it, with some Sense of Humor!]; OCK Style
~ Name Your Drink: Mixology News; OCK Style
~ Liquid Gold: from Most Expensive Whiskies to Mixology 101; Mishka Bites!

Photos:
~ Fried Spider Cambodia from TrekEarth.com;
~ Sea Urchin Roe from Flickr.com


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Healthy Eathing: Barbecue

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/24 at 05:50

Healthy Eating on More.com

Traditional barbecue fare — with its sizzling lipids and charred carcinogens can raise healthy eating questions. Here some suggestions with few surprising options.

Mexican Burger
Why it’s good for you:
* Grass-Fed Beef: A pound of it is pricey but here’s what you get for your money: higher levels of heart-healthy omega-3 acids and lower levels of total fat than in non-grass-fed beef, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. …
… Bonus: We added soy protein, which absorbs the meaty flavor and cuts the fat. …
Full Story: Your Anti-Cancer Barbecue Menu; by Tula Karras; Recipes by Wendy Hess, RD

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Homemade Yogurt, an Ingredient Not Just for Breakfast

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/22 at 13:24

The Curious Cook and Recipes for Health from The New York Times

Homemade yogurt
Homemade yogurt has no sweeteners or stabilizers and has a fresh, tart flavor. A step-by-step primer to making yogurt is included.
RIGHT now my kitchen is teeming with bacteria, and I’m doing everything I can to make them feel at home. They’re lactic acid bacteria, the ones that ferment milk into yogurt and buttermilk, cream into crème fraîche. I’ve been making all of these, as well as milk thickened with reputedly beneficial “probiotic” lactic acid bacteria. And getting to know viili, a Finnish fermented milk that reminds me of the Japanese soy product natto. It’s slithery. …
Full Story:
They Do the Work, You Reap the Yogurt; By HAROLD MCGEE

Recipes for Health
Tender and juicy kebabs with grilled chicken or swordfish in a yogurt marinade.
I can’t think of a better destination for chicken tenders than these grilled kebabs, which are tender and juicy (as long as you don’t overcook them). But you can use swordfish for kebabs, too: the yogurt marinade works equally well with both. Serve the kebabs with basmati rice. …
Full Story: Chicken or Swordfish Kebabs; By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN

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Entertaining: The Many Uses of Vodka and More

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Food for Thought, Holidays~Celebrations, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/20 at 11:48

Home & Food on DivineCaroline.com

Supplies
Aside from being a fantastic drink, vodka has many uses which you may not have known about. Since vodka is one of the world’s most popular drinks, many of us have a bottle handy in the home. And since its typically filtered and pure, it makes a handy liquid to have around.
Here are a few uses:
To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves adhesive …
Full Story:
The Many Uses of Vodka; By Dahlia Rideout

Special Occasions
You don’t need to bust your food budget because you are throwing a party. There are great alternatives to those fancy dishes that are usually served. Here are some inexpensive yet delicious substitutions to popular entertaining dishes that cost more:
* Instead of guacamole serve black bean dip topped with avocado. …
Full Story: Save Money on Entertaining Food; By Common Sense with Money

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Quick-Cooking Quinoa Captures Culinary Kudos

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/18 at 13:19

Cooking on Gourmet.com
Quinoa is actually an herb, not a grain, but it takes the place of couscous in recipes such as a Moroccan chicken stew. For best results, boil the quinoa in salted water, then steam it to fluff it up. Serve this ancient staple wherever you’d use couscous, and …
… you’ll get a meal with more protein and fiber than semolina could provide. Couscous, along with mahimahi and sweet Walla Walla onions, are verbal booby traps in our household: The mere mention of any of them immediately elicits the wisecrack, “I heard you the first time.” …
Full Story: Quinoa: The Better Couscous; by Kemp M. Minifie

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Two Cultures Mix in This Hot Pot

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/11 at 23:42

Food> ONE COOK’S BEST DISH on The Boston Globe
Cliche though it may be, East definitely meets West in the kitchen of Zhuqing Li and Ed Steinfeld’s Victorian home. Li, 45, comes from Fuzhou, the capital of China’s Fujian province; Steinfeld, 42, grew up in New Jersey. And though Li says she didn’t learn to cook …
… until she came to this country as a graduate student, today the family – Li, Steinfeld, and their sons, Daniel, 10, and William, 7, – enjoys Chinese meals nearly every night, prepared by Li. Steinfeld jokes that he’s living a dream shared by many American Jews: Eating Chinese food on a daily basis. The couple’s different culinary heritages converge in a dish that appears frequently on their table: matzo ball hot pot. It’s based on the traditional Asian hot pot …
Full Story: Two cultures mix in this hot pot; By Jane Dornbusch,

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Avocado’s Reputation Gets Another Chance

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Organic, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/07 at 10:35

Recipes for Health on The New York Times
Avocados occasionally get a bad rap for containing fat, but experts say that healthy fats, along with oleic acid, vitamins and dietary fiber, can be beneficial. Eat avocados, once called “poor man’s butter,” in a variety of foods, including Mexican soups. …
… When I lived in France, in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, I hardly ever ate avocados. Those sold in the markets were smooth, thin-skinned varieties grown mostly in Israel. They were watery, not as creamy or nutty-tasting as Haas avocados, the dark, pebbly-skinned variety that we get in California. Plus, it was a time of fat phobia. Any fat was a bad fat, and avocados are rich in fat. But the fats in avocados, like those in olives and nuts, are for the most part healthy monounsaturated fats …
Full Story: Avocados: ‘Poor Man’s Butter’ No More; By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN

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Gourmet Gold: Black Truffle in Western Australia

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/06 at 11:17

Explore Australia on The Sidney Morning Herald
Winsor Dobbin joins the search for gourmet gold – the black truffle – in Western Australia. The truffle dogs are excited. They bark and frolic as they prepare to hunt for truffles, …
… which are also known as “the diamond of the kitchen”. Truffles are among the world’s most sought-after delicacies and now black truffles are being harvested in several parts of Australia.
The Wine & Truffle Company, in Manjimup, …
Full Story: One sniff and you’re hooked;

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Read Before Snapping Your Next Asparagus Spear!

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/05/06 at 09:02

The Curious Cook on The New York Times
Snapping asparagus spears is a popular method for removing the fibrous ends. But cutting the spears 6 to 7 inches from the tip yields more reliably tender results. …
… IT’S spring at last: prime time for a vegetable that does not go gently into our food chain, that keeps binding up its harvest wounds even as it’s shipped and stored, growing and bending upward to find the sun. A vegetable whose texture horticultural engineers test by tapping it with a tiny hammer and listening to it vibrate. Asparagus is the hardest-living stalk in the produce business, …
Full Story: Asparagus’ Breaking Point; By HAROLD McGEE

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Hot Peppers Bring Tingle to Recipes [Recipes Included]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/03/15 at 05:51

Food & Dining> The Gastronomer from The WashingthonPost.com
The capsaicin in hot peppers induces physical pain in the form of a burning sensation on the tongue and enhances the perception of flavors. Maybe that’s why this food has conquered the world like few others. …
… Even people who are otherwise gastronomically conservative will eat chili-pepper-spiked food as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps it is. Chilis, native to the Americas, have conquered the world in a way few other foods have. Five centuries after Columbus sampled a fiery-hot pepper on his first visit in 1492, …
Full Story: The Pleasure Is in the Pain; By Andreas Viestad

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Unlock the Flavor with a Little Acidity

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/03/14 at 05:58

THE CALIFORNIA COOK on LATimes.com
Tart ingredients such as vinegars, lemons and red wines can wake up flavors when used in moderation. Recipes for butternut squash soup and a stew of white beans and shrimp show how a little acidity can make a big difference. …
… When most cooks read “season to taste,” they automatically reach for the salt shaker. That’s not a bad start: A judicious sprinkling with salt will awaken many a dull dish. But if you stop there, many times you’ll be missing a key ingredient. Because just as a little salt unlocks flavor, so can a few drops of acidity. …
Full Story: A splash of seasoning can be better than a shake; By RUSS PARSONS

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Thinking Outside the Chocolate Box

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/03/11 at 06:47

CHEFS AT HOME on The WSJ.com
Chocolatier Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections is raising the standard for American confectionaries. He prepares chocolate-and-brioche-stuffed veal chop, and winter fruit fricassee with Mayan chocolate …
… THE CHEF: Artisanal chocolatier Andrew Shotts, owner of Garrison Confections in Providence, R.I. Mr. Shotts, formerly a pastry chef at Lutèce, La Côte Basque and the Russian Tea Room in New York City, was tapped in 2007 by the Food Network as its favorite U.S. chocolatier. …
Full Story: A Chocolate-Infused Dinner; By CLARE LESCHIN-HOAR

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Giant Clams, Giant Statement in Philippines

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Travel Et Places on 2009/03/07 at 09:54

Ecotourism from BootsnAll.com
Jennifer Pemberton snorkels with man-eating giant clams in the dangerous waters of a controversial conservation in the Philippines. …
… Ecotourism is an exotic word in the Philippines, a slow conversion for someone to give up a livelihood of spearing fish and instead, take tourists to look at the very same fish, to let them slip away into the coral. It is even more difficult to convince people to stop eating giant clams, to use their giant shells as baptismal fonts. …
Full Story: Full Story: Giant Clams, Giant Statement – Camiguin Island, Philippines, Asia
Photo of the Giant Clam [Tridacna gigas] from Wikipedia

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Giant Clams, Giant Statement in Philippines

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Travel Et Places on 2009/03/07 at 09:54

Ecotourism from BootsnAll.com
Jennifer Pemberton snorkels with man-eating giant clams in the dangerous waters of a controversial conservation in the Philippines. …
… Ecotourism is an exotic word in the Philippines, a slow conversion for someone to give up a livelihood of spearing fish and instead, take tourists to look at the very same fish, to let them slip away into the coral. It is even more difficult to convince people to stop eating giant clams, to use their giant shells as baptismal fonts. …
Full Story: Full Story: Giant Clams, Giant Statement – Camiguin Island, Philippines, Asia
Photo of the Giant Clam [Tridacna gigas] from Wikipedia

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Plunging Lobster Prices Inspire Indulgent Recipes

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/02/19 at 10:47

A Good Appetite on The New York Times
Lobster prices are about a third lower than they were last year at this time, making them a relatively affordable indulgence. An opulent dish such as lobster with herbed egg noodles, sherry and salmon caviar is one way to enjoy the bounty. …
… I’M a sucker for a sale, the kind of shopper who tallies the amount “saved” rather than spent. My arithmetic goes like this: It makes more sense to buy the $125 cashmere sweater marked down to $95 than to pay full price for the $80 one. Following this logic, when I heard on the radio that lobster prices were the cheapest they had been in 25 years, …

Full Story: Luxury on Sale: The Lobster Glut; By MELISSA CLARK

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Balancing the Power of Anchovies

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, UK, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/02/15 at 16:08

Food & Drink> Recipes on Times Online
Anchovies are more of a seasoning than a sustenance, the salty base that adds depth to sauces and stuffing. It pairs well with garlic, stands up to Parmesan cheese and makes an excellent addition to pasta sauces. …
… Anchovies are strange creatures, more seasoning than ingredient. They bring an immediate depth of flavour to dishes and sauces (and are primary ingredients of Worcestershire sauce). Their saltiness brings out strong flavours, marrying better with meat and potatoes than fish, with which they can be just a bit too much. …

Full Story: Short-cuts: how to cook with anchovies; by Joanna Weinberg

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A Perfect Valentine’s Day Dinner

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, UK, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/02/12 at 10:08

Food Events on BBC.co.uk
The authentic no-nonsense approach of Jill Dupleix to a sensational and stylish supper will calm our pre-date nerves and shall let us the time to concoct the way for love. Some dishes can be made in advance, leaving us time to clean the house, choose the music, …
… buy some flowers, set the table, put the champagne on ice… And get in the mood for love. Who needs the “5 Stars Hotels? Surely would be a very nice experience but let’s face it – the closest the majority of us will get to that experience is by watching Pretty Woman. …

Full Story: Valentine’s ‘date bait’; by Jill Dupleix

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Cozying Up to a Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/02/11 at 12:28

Food on the Chicago Tribune
If there is an upside to the downturn in the economy, it might lie in the fact that we’re being forced to go back to basics. We’re eating out less, spending more time at home …
… entertaining ourselves, and figuring out what’s really important when it comes to material things. Valentine’s Day might be a challenge if you’re used to splurging on your special one (or the one you’re hoping will be your special one!). A dozen roses in a vase delivered to the office could set you back about $100. …

Full Story: Cozying up to a Valentine’s Day dinner at home; By Sandra Pinckney

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An Unusual Marinated Rib-Eye

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/02/09 at 07:18

THE MINIMALIST on The New York Times
THIS is a column about luck, not skill – or at least not mine. Having become enamored of Peasant, on Elizabeth Street, I discovered that the chef, Frank DeCarlo, also ran the newer Bacaro. (Bacaro is the name given to a Venetian bar …
… serving what are called cicchetti but are better known elsewhere as tapas – or small plates, or snacks.) The first time I ate at Bacaro I was struck – even dumbstruck – by one particular dish. It’s a marinated rib-eye, and part of the luck came in ordering it in the first place, since I’m not big on marinating meat that tastes fine just by itself. This, however, …

Full Story: A Venetian Bath Of Wine and Spice; By MARK BITTMAN

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Good Prosciutto Requires Pig, Patience

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Nutrition, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/31 at 13:16

Field Report; from The New York Times Magazine
It takes eight to 24 months to transform a pig’s hind leg into complex, rich and faintly salty prosciutto. Everything matters, from the breed and weight of the pig to the type of salt used and even the weather.
If salami is the blog of cured meats, then prosciutto is the great novel. …
… A salami requires anywhere from 20 to 120 days to cure, making it popular with chefs who want to put their house-made stamp on a rustic appetizer. But the best prosciutto requires 8 to 24 months to transform the salt-covered hind leg of a pig into a $35-per-pound luxury, a rosy meat that, when thinly sliced, is a complex, faintly salty delicacy that dissolves into richness on the tongue. …

Full Story: Aging Gracefully; By CHRISTINE MUHLKE

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Aphrodisiac Food, Is There Any Truth to These Claims?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/26 at 11:37

Holidays > Valentine’s Day
A guide to 12 lust-inducing ingredients, plus a recipe for each. From Pliny the Elder to Casanova, food has long been haloed and hailed as the ultimate portal to venery, a lovely word that has undeservedly fallen into disuse. Oysters, rose petals, chocolate, chile peppers, …
… licorice, star anise—there is no shortage of ingredients reputed over the centuries to stir ardor. So is there any truth to these claims? Nope. Not if you listen to the FDA, anyway, which in 1989 turned a cold shower on the whole idea of aphrodisiacs, thus dismissing 5,000 years of such truffling as pure folklore. But who needs science? Folklore is way more fun. …

Full Story: Valentine’s Day Aphrodisiacs; By Martin Booe, on Epicurious.com

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Baby-Back Ribs Will Feed a Crowd

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/11 at 18:22

Food
Ribs taste best when cooked at low heat for a long time, and they generally require little hands-on attention. These recipes call for little more than cutting the ribs into servings, dousing them with sauce and popping them in the oven.
Looking for an easy way to feed a crowd? …
… Think the Super Bowl or just a fun get-together in January. Break out the baby backs. Though they are best cooked slowly, baby back ribs require little hands-on time. And the combination of slow cooking and a vibrant sauce packs intense flavor that – pardon the cliche – can have diners licking their fingers. …

Full Story: Crowd pleaser: Oven-friendly baby backs; by J.M. Hirsch -

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Refreshing Fennel and Celery Salad

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/11 at 10:30

The Minimalist
Though fennel and celery have similar textures, their tastes are quite different. Mark Bittman shows how to pair them in a refreshing salad with olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and Parmesan.
THERE was a time when fennel was exotic, like so many ingredients we now take for granted. …
… I remember my first taste of it, in the late ’50s, at a restaurant on Macdougal Street. To me, the flavor of the celery look-alike was so closely akin to the candy Good & Plenty that it quickly became a special treat. Now, fennel is among my favorite cold-weather staples. …

Full Story: Fennel and Celery Make a Striking Pair; By MARK BITTMAN, on the

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Quest for Perfect Panna Cotta Ends in Italy

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/11 at 09:49

Lifestyle > Food
Giuseppe Barbero, who runs Osteria del Boccondivino in the heart of Italy’s “Slow Food” country, perfected his panna cotta recipe 23 years ago and has been gaining a following for it ever since. “It has to taste fresh, to still have a milky flavor,” he said. “Then you have to feel the creaminess and softness when you eat it.” …
… Cooked cream may not at first sound that mouth-watering, but when called by its Italian name, panna cotta, it immediately starts to tickle the taste buds. The cold dessert, which is made with little more than cream and sugar, originated in the sprawling hills of the Langhe region of Piedmont in northern Italy, …

Full Story: Panna Cotta: The Cream of the Crop; by Andrew Roberts, on WWD.com

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Analysts See Surge in Comfort Food for 2009

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2009/01/01 at 10:27

Food Trends
In the coming year, people are expected to return to inexpensive comfort foods such as beans, pasta and chicken, and to eat at home more often. Industry experts say fanciful culinary experiments are falling out of favor, and consumers are expected to seek better values when they do eat out. …
… As the world’s economy heads for its deepest slide in decades, cheap, comfort food is back in vogue while fanciful, culinary experiments are falling out of favor, according to culinary experts. …

Full Story: Comfort food seen in vogue as credit crunch bites; By Richard Leong, on Reuters.com

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Festive Appetizers Deliver Dig Flavor

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Holidays~Celebrations, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/31 at 18:10

Holidays Culinary News!
Appetizers such as mushroom crostini, smoked salmon pizza with dill cream, and roasted shrimp with cocktail sauce are small enough to eat in a bite or two, yet they deliver big flavor. Some rules for appetizers: Make them hand-friendly, make sure the food is identifiable, and balance vegetables, protein and starch. New Year’s Eve – the biggest party night of the year …
… – is right around the corner, and party hosts need to plan their menus. But because of the rotten economy, many folks may be seeking a way to cut back costs without skimping on flavor and flair. The Free Press Test Kitchen has a solution: an appetizers party!

Full Story: New Year’s appetizer recipes focus on delicious, cost-effective morsels; BY SUSAN SELASKY, on Freep.com

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Festive Appetizers Deliver Dig Flavor

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Holidays~Celebrations, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/31 at 18:10

Holidays Culinary News!
Appetizers such as mushroom crostini, smoked salmon pizza with dill cream, and roasted shrimp with cocktail sauce are small enough to eat in a bite or two, yet they deliver big flavor. Some rules for appetizers: Make them hand-friendly, make sure the food is identifiable, and balance vegetables, protein and starch. New Year’s Eve – the biggest party night of the year …
… – is right around the corner, and party hosts need to plan their menus. But because of the rotten economy, many folks may be seeking a way to cut back costs without skimping on flavor and flair. The Free Press Test Kitchen has a solution: an appetizers party!

Full Story: New Year’s appetizer recipes focus on delicious, cost-effective morsels; BY SUSAN SELASKY, on Freep.com

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Pickle Trays Usher in the Feast

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/30 at 10:14

Culinary News
Pickle trays have a rich history and are a way to announce to taste buds that the meal has begun. They offer a mix of taste and textures, from rich black olives to sweet gherkins. They are the calling card for the meal to come, and a welcome for your guests. …
… Before the mashed potatoes are passed, before the green beans almondine and stuffing and long before the bird itself, the pickle tray makes the rounds, announcing to taste buds that it’s time to eat – nay, it’s time to feast! Offering a veritable cornucopia of tastes and textures, …

Full Story: A tradition to relish: Pickle trays add colorful snap to holiday table; By Margi Shrum, on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Pickle Trays Usher in the Feast

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/30 at 10:14

Culinary News
Pickle trays have a rich history and are a way to announce to taste buds that the meal has begun. They offer a mix of taste and textures, from rich black olives to sweet gherkins. They are the calling card for the meal to come, and a welcome for your guests. …
… Before the mashed potatoes are passed, before the green beans almondine and stuffing and long before the bird itself, the pickle tray makes the rounds, announcing to taste buds that it’s time to eat – nay, it’s time to feast! Offering a veritable cornucopia of tastes and textures, …

Full Story: A tradition to relish: Pickle trays add colorful snap to holiday table; By Margi Shrum, on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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When the Woolly Mammoth Ran Out, Early Man Turned to Roasted Vegetables

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/29 at 17:32

Food
Ovens made of super-heated rocks allowed primitive humans to cooks lily bulbs, wild onions and other plants for days to make them edible.
Long before early humans in North America grew corn and beans, they were harvesting and cooking the bulbs of lilies, wild onions and other plants, roasting them for days over hot rocks, according to a Texas archaeologist. …
… The evidence for this practice has long been known of in fire-cracked rock piles found throughout the continent, but archaeologists have tended to ignore it “because a new pyramid or a Clovis arrow point is much sexier,” said archaeologist Alston V. Thoms of Texas A&M University.

Full Story: When the woolly mammoth ran out, early man turned to roasted vegetables; By Thomas H. Maugh II, on the LATimes.com

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The Mediterranean Way

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/28 at 20:20

Eat, Drink and Be Healthy
Can your holiday feast be festive, flavorful, and healthful, too? Yes, if it follows the time-honored tenets of the Mediterranean diet, which calls for lots of nutritious foods to be enjoyed slowly and in the company of friends and family. …
… Imagine a holiday feast rich in taste, texture, scent and color. A meal designed to be eaten slowly and deliberately, leaving plenty of time between forkfuls for talking with friends and family – and for savoring sips of good red wine. …

Full Story: Oldways Offers New Ways to Think About Holiday Feasting; By Jennifer Huget, on the WshingthonPost.com

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A Short Course on Caviar

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/28 at 10:08

Specials
Caviar is the roe, or eggs, of the sturgeon. Of the 20 extant species of this prehistoric fish, just three, all found in the Caspian Sea, provide the world with the vast majority of its caviar. The finest quality eggs come from fish caught in the coldest waters, …
… from late fall to early spring. Overfishing has threatened the continued health of the species, however, and the rarer types may be subject to limited—or no—exports.
SEVRUGA is the smallest and …

Full Story: A Short Course on Caviar; on Saveur.com

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Goji Berry Might Help Fight Skin Cancer

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Organic, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/26 at 20:52

Body+Soul
Goji berries, already celebrated for their antioxidant properties, might prevent skin damage that leads to cancer, researchers say. Mice that drank diluted goji berry juice experienced less sun damage from ultraviolet rays and a slower advance of skin cancer. …
… Another experiment showed skin cancer advanced slower in mice that had drunk goji juice. A tiny red berry celebrated for its antioxidant qualities may also help protect against skin damage that leads to cancer, researchers believe.

Full Story: Goji berry stops skin cancer – Sydney University study; By Tamara McLean, The Daily Telegraph; on News.com.au

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Spanish Flavors Enjoying New Attention

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/19 at 16:34

Food
Chef Jose Andres sings the praises of Spanish cuisine on his PBS show, “Made in Spain.” The owner of Minibar, in Washington, D.C., shares the PBS schedule with Mario Batali’s program, “Spain … On the Road Again.”
Ask chef Jose Andres to describe the flavor of Spain, …
… and he erupts in an impromptu ode to his homeland: “Spanish food will taste like the beautiful smell of the seaside when the water is heating the rocks and you have this perfume of sea salt. Spain will taste like that,” says the restaurateur and host of PBS’s “Made in Spain.”

Full Story: Spain rising; By Kristen Browning-Blas, The Denver Post

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Little Bites Are Big Treats

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/15 at 10:32

Amuse Bouche
In restaurants and homes, small plates are taking the place of large entrees. Dishes such as arugula salad pizzette, artichoke-goat-cheese crab dip and hummus with seared ground lamb set the stage for hours of nibbling and conversation.
In Italy, guests are served antipasti. In Spain, tapas. And in Greece, mezes. In the United States, cooks refer to them as “little bites” or …
… “small plates,” appetizer-size nibbles that are ideal for holiday soirees.
Small plates can be festive appetizers or, when grouped together, savory bursts of complementary flavors to make a whole meal. In restaurants and homes, small plates are taking the place of large entrees. Made for sharing, …

Full Story: Mezes: little bites for big nights; By DAI HUYNH, on Chron.com

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Italian-Style Appetizers

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/15 at 09:54

Holiday Chef
Nothing makes me happier than the energy of a celebration with family and guests milling around with a plate of great food. The Italian meal, unlike many American meals, is served in courses. The appetizer course is followed by the primo (soup or pasta), the secondo (main course), and then dessert. …
… Italian style appetizers are actually meant to stimulate the taste buds and start the gastric juices flowing with an assortment of flavors, textures, colors, and aromas prior to the arrival of the rest of the meal. …

Full Story: Simplifying the Holiday Party: Italian-Style Appetizers; by Lidia Bastianich, on AlDenteBlog.com

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The Return of Comfort-Food Desserts

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/14 at 15:46

Culinary News
Pastry chefs in California’s Bay Area are abandoning complex confections and odd combinations in favor of homey desserts such as apple crisps and brownies. Observers say desserts are comforting luxuries during troubled times. …
… Don’t do anything rash. With the stock market in the tank, real estate values sinking, the unemployment rate soaring and a new president soon to be at the helm, this isn’t a good time to take risks – especially on dessert. …

Full Story: Sweet dessert relief for diners; by Stacy Finz, on SFGate.com

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Jacques Pépin Short Ribs Impromptu

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/14 at 14:20

Food & Dining
On most days, says Jacques Pépin, “I go to the market, I see what looks good, I buy things, I come home and I cook. That’s it.” He demonstrated this technique recently, creating a dish of short ribs with mushrooms.
Jacques Pépin sits in the back of a Toyota Prius outside the Giant in Brentwood, …
… holding a bag of groceries he has just shopped for, and confesses to having absolutely no idea what he’ll do with its contents.
But here’s the difference between you, me and Pépin: He doesn’t need to know. Not yet, anyway. …

Full Story: For Pépin, Impromptu Comes Easy; By Joe Yonan, on WashingtonPost.com

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50 ways to make your holiday gifts homemade

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/14 at 00:55

FOOD
Hand-made breadsticks. Bake muffins and breadsticks, make jam or infuse vodka with the flavors of the season, and wrap it all with a festive bow.
Considering everybody on your holiday gift list – friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, your kids’ teachers – you might be needing a stimulus package before you even get to the big-ticket items this year. …
… So why not take a page from your grandmother’s playbook and make the smaller gifts yourself?
Not only are homemade gifts less expensive, they also capture the spirit of holiday giving in a way that purchased gifts simply can’t. And

Full Story: 50 ways to make your holiday gifts homemade; By Amy Scattergood, Los Angeles Times

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America’s One-Of-A-Kind Foods

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Food Guide, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/13 at 10:34

Wine and Food
Specialty gourmet products offer customers something unique but also the experience of helping create it.
The shelves of Tad Van Leer’s small chocolate factory, J. Emanuel Chocolatier, in Chester, N.J., are stocked with standard fare like wine truffles and foil-wrapped miniature chocolate soccer balls. But …
… what helps keep customers coming back are Van Leer’s more customized confections that show a personal touch.
On a recent afternoon, one of his employees was affixing chocolates shaped like the number “3″ to lollipop sticks and pumping liquid chocolate into a rectangular mold that read “Burgdorff.” His customers–in this case, …

Full Story: America’s One-Of-A-Kind Foods; by Rebecca Ruiz, on Forbes.com

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Christmas with a Sichuan twist

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/10 at 10:29

Food & Drink
My style of cooking, like that of most people who cook regularly, is a shifting thing. It has its roots in family tradition but it’s also influenced by where I’ve been and who I’ve met, books I’ve read and things I’ve tasted. Certain recipes are indelibly linked to particular people and places. …
… I still make parmigiana di melanzane (aubergine parmesan) from a recipe I learnt as a teenager from a Sicilian family friend; and whenever I stir-fry gai lan (Chinese broccoli) with ginger and Shaoxing wine, I think of my late friend and mentor Yan-kit So. Trips abroad leave their kitchen legacies …

Full Story: Christmas with a Sichuan twist; By Fuchsia Dunlop, on FT.com

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Bulgogi an everyday staple in Korea

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/09 at 10:49

Seoul’s tabletop barbecue
The marinated and barbecued Korean meat dish called bulgogi has become an everyday treat, even at four-star restaurants, and is served with a side of pickled vegetables.
Bulgogi literally means fire meat – bul is fire and gogi is meat in Korean. …
… This savory dish, typically thinly sliced beef marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, onion, sugar (or honey), sesame oil and black pepper, is grilled in front of you at the table, with sliced leeks and mushrooms. It’s served with side dishes of cooked or pickled vegetables that range from crunchy and cool to sharp, tangy and spicy. …

Full Story: The Dish: Bulgogi; By SUNGHA PARK, on WSJ.com

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Squash Dumplings Celebrate the Season

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/08 at 20:37

The Kitchen Technician
This recipe for acorn-squash gnocchi with crawfish, chanterelles and sage takes advantage of what is in season. Bourbon adds a hint of sweetness and deepens the background flavors and complexity of the dish. …
… As the seasons change, peoples’ tastes change. It just wouldn’t feel right to sit down in the middle of October to a large platter of steamy corn-on-the-cob.
My personal credo always has been to gorge on whatever fruit or vegetable is freshest and in season, so when the season is over, I’m actually ready for a change.

Full Story: Squash dumplings fit the season and senses; by Sandy D’Amato, on JSOnline.com

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Fish Wrapped in Prosciutto Makes an Elegant Treat

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/08 at 10:40

The Minimalist
Create a simple and elegant entree with thin-sliced prosciutto smeared with a blend of basil, parsley, olive oil and pine nuts and wrapped around roasted fish. Because prosciutto is wafer-thin, sticks to itself and needs no cooking, the dish requires almost no effort. …
… A KEY to creating elegant food quickly is to try combining ingredients in new or at least uncommon ways. This occurred to me recently while I was playing with those funny old appetizers in which you wrap things in bacon: chicken livers, figs, scallops.
I love that kind of stuff, but I began thinking that it could be simpler. …

Full Story: Wrapped in Prosciutto and Looking Elegant; By MARK BITTMAN, on the NYTimes.com

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Duck Pate is a Hearty Winter Treat

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France, Holidays~Celebrations, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/06 at 02:40

Season/Occasion
A homemade pate served with crusty bread, cornichons and mustard is a wonderful prelude to a big holiday meal or a delicious wintertime supper on its own. While assembling a pate doesn’t take long, cooking it is a slow and gentle process. …
… Conventional wisdom has long dictated that making pâté, like making sausage, is a task best left to the seasoned charcutier or chef. And while artisanal butchers are embracing all kinds of handmade pâtés and savory terrines and mousses nowadays, these elegant dishes have yet to cross over into everyday kitchens on a large scale. Now the feasting season is upon us, and …

Full Story: Winter Treasure; by Hunter Lewis, on Saveur.com

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Chicken Soup for the Busy Soul

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food for Thought on 2008/12/05 at 11:25

Feed Me
A recipe for chicken soup takes about two hours, much less time than the two days it once took. It starts with a purchased rotisserie chicken and includes vegetables, herbs and rice.
“SMELLS great!” is music to the ears of anyone who labors in the kitchen. But the equally powerful, unsung music is the way those efforts sound. …
… Now that the chill has arrived — in both weather and stock market — I notice that when I’m cooking, my audience draws near, taking up residence in the next room before dinner is ready. They have cocktails, play music, talk. But they’re listening for the kitchen. Hearing someone cook for you is the culinary equivalent of a bedtime story, …

Full Story: A Chicken Soup Remedy for Those With Little Patience; By ALEX WITCHEL, on The NYTimes.com

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Ferran Adrià: The World’s Most Creative Chef

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Molecular Cuisine, Photography, Spain, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/12/03 at 23:22

Food & Drink
Ferran Adrià refers to himself as a “chef” and a “creative” interchangeably. In this interview, he reveals on foam, flow charts and a shortage of new ideas, that he doesn’t like the term “molecular gastronomy,” and he talks about other terms such as “deconstructionism” and “minimalism.” …
… Ferran Adrià, of El Bulli restaurant, two hours north of Barcelona, is widely regarded as the world’s most creative chef. El Bulli, open for six months out of the year, receives two million requests for the 8,000 reservations it takes each year. Each night, it serves a single, 28-to-35-course menu (it cost about $260 last season)with food inventions that have included foams, frozen airs, powders and hot gelatins. …

Full Story: Portrait of the Artist as a Chef; By KATY MCLAUGHLIN, on WSJ.com

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Minimalist Pairs Chestnuts with Shrimp

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/28 at 21:38

Chestnuts, in season now, are rich and delicious. Showcase their hearty flavor in stir-fried shrimp and chestnuts, a dish that also has cabbage and spices.
The Minimalist
ONE October 30 years ago I was walking down a street in Lugano, Switzerland, and found that I was crushing chestnuts on the pavement with every step. …
… Up until that point I had known chestnuts only as a snack, roasted and sold on the street in New York. But from that point on, I feasted on them every chance I got.
Like figs, lemons and apples, chestnuts are free for the picking in many areas where they grow. Those areas used to include much of the United States, until, about a century ago, …

Full Story: Chestnuts in Season, Paired With Shrimp; By MARK BITTMAN, on NYTimes.com

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Explorer – Nibbling Through Spain’s Cheese Country

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/23 at 11:03

Europe > Spain
THE only words of caution were, “Just be careful you don’t wake up the bats.” I was in a pitch-black cave following a 44-year-old woman wearing tight jeans and a small light strapped to her forehead. While my eyes refused to adjust to the blackness, I could hear thousands — O.K., dozens — of little bat bodies shifting in slumber inches above my head. …
… At last, we arrived.
“These are my babies,” said my guide, sweeping her arm toward a few hundred small wheels of hard, blue cheese resting on a stack of shelves. “You would like to try?”

Full Story: Explorer – Nibbling Through Spain’s Cheese Country; By DANIELLE PERGAMENT, on NYTimes.com


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N.Y. restaurant celebrates anniversary with vintage meals

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/21 at 21:36

Food on Page Six Magazine
Chef-owner Charlie Palmer is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Aureole by serving favorite meals from the past. Tasting dinners will include his 1988 scallop sandwich and Wagyu beef carpaccio from 2004. …
… Remember the nouvelle cuisine of the ’80s? Or the ’90s’ fusion trend? They’re both back at Aureole this month. The Upper East Side restaurant, famous for chef and owner Charlie Palmer’s inventive new American style—and a wine list of more than 700 vintages—is celebrating its 20-year anniversary …

Full Story: Retro Repast – Aureole celebrates 20 years in the restaurant business with a culinary step back in time. By Laurie Craft, on NYPost.com

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TRAVEL: ;

A Potato Breakfast, Done Six Ways

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/16 at 21:30

FRUITS & VEGETABLES
The potato has been a breakfast staple for centuries, and not just in the U.S. In addition to America’s hash browns, home fries, potatoes O’Brien and cottage fries, urulikazhangu masala is a South Indian dish made of spiced potatoes and often folded inside a crepe-like dosa. In England, the specialty is bubble and squeak, a cake made of mashed potatoes and cabbage. …
… though potatoes are now eaten around the world, most potato dishes designed expressly as morning fare belong to the illustrious transatlantic fried-breakfast tradition. It’s no wonder potatoes have become such a fixture: inexpensive, versatile, and substantial, they are the ballast of the breakfast plate and an amenable medium for different flavors. Here are six of our favorite preparations.

Full Story: Breakfast Potatoes; by Hunter Lewis, on Saveur.com

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Indian Pudding Gets a Modern Makeover

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/16 at 21:08

A stint in the microwave provides a modern shortcut for Indian pudding, an old-fashioned treat that typically takes hours to cook. The iconic Thanksgiving dish is made with cornmeal, milk and molasses. …
… PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Indian pudding has so many strikes against it. It takes a long time to cook. Its mushy brown appearance isn’t pretty. It has a politically incorrect name.
And while its main ingredients are cornmeal and milk, it also requires molasses, which people tend to love or hate.

Full Story: Old dessert gets timely twist; by BETH J. HARPAZ, on TheNewsTribune.com

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Simples Steps to the Perfect Gravy

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/14 at 21:44

PREP SCHOOL: EASY TECHNIQUES TO USE TONIGHT
Gravy, used to moisten, flavor and garnish, is one of America’s “mother sauces.” Change up your flavoring component with wines or spirits, mustards or mushrooms. Brown bits from the cooked meat help make the best gravies.
French chefs talk about the five “mother sauces” from which all other sauces emerge. In America, we tend to keep it simple: …
… We’ve got barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, and gravy. Today, we’re going with gravy. Why you need to learn this
Apart from ascetic mendicants hellbent on using their own suffering as a form of ritual purification, no one should lead a gravy-free life. Seriously, do you really want to eat dry mashed potatoes? …

Full Story: Simples steps to the perfect gravy; by James P. DeWan, on the Chicago Tribune

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Bringing the Breadbasket Back to Thanksgiving

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/08 at 17:39

A Good Appetite
Although one could argue that more carbohydrates are the last things a Thanksgiving meal needs, they’re also in keeping with the holiday’s spirit of excess. …
… A DECADE ago, the breadbasket was pushed off my family’s Thanksgiving table. It was banished. Barred. Forbidden from showing its yeasty face.
“No one will miss it,” my mother said optimistically.
My father had developed diabetes, and the refined white flour that had made up the backbone of his homemade crusty French baguettes and anadama bread wreaked havoc with his glucose levels.

Full Story: Bringing the Breadbasket Back to Thanksgiving; By MELISSA CLARK, on The New York Times

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«Quel sottile piacere di stupire»

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Italy, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/08 at 11:41
Aggiungi immagine
intervista

Carlo Cracco:
«Quel sottile piacere di stupire»

Per lo chef veneto il lusso del palato vale più di ogni altro
Psicologia e creatività i segreti della cucina d’autore. Di Marta Casadei…


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Remembering How to Make Pasta e Fagioli

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/06 at 22:39

Bitten
Mark Bitten creates a recipe for pasta e fagioli as he is cooking. After preparing the dish, he consults an Italian cooking encyclopedia to find several regional recipes that varied but ended in just about the same place…
…Pasta and beans — pasta e fagioli, the “pasta fazool” of the iconic pre-Sopranos paean to all things Italo-American, “That’s Amore,” where it is elegantly rhymed with “drool” — is just the ticket when you’re feeling unwell but not so unwell that the only possible dinner is boiled rice.

Full Story: Gaining Strength from Pasta e Fagioli; by Mark Bittman, on The New York Times

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Foodbuzz

Cooking a Perfect, Healthier Burger

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/04 at 22:47

In the Spotlight: Low Carb Diets
Cooking a burger is filled with techniques – should you press down on the meat on the grill? How much filler should you use? And then there’s draining all that unhealthy grease – learn which steps are critical, which hurt flavors and which can make your burger more healthy…
…Burgers – most of us love them. But sometimes they are dry, sometimes they don’t have much flavor, and sometimes they turn into “hockey pucks” on the grill. Here are some tips to bring your burgers from “good” to “great”.
Select the Best Meat
I surveyed a lot of authorities on cooking burgers, and there is agreement on this point…

Full Story: Tips for Cooking the Best Hamburgers; By Laura Dolson, on About.com

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Autumn Inspires Minestrone Flavor

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Non-Regional Cuisines, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/04 at 01:20

Vegetarian Today
This chef adds a few nontraditional ingredients to a South Florida fall minestrone: Yukon gold potatoes and calabasa squash. He’s not afraid to add other items that are in his pantry, including leftover cooked orzo and a few different root vegetables…
…This time of year, my head spins. The first day of autumn has passed, and every magazine is featuring fall ingredients and winter clothes.
But we are still experiencing a steamy inferno. This tilts my food senses.
I am enticed by big, hearty bowls of soup, steaming stews and bubbling casseroles…

Story and Recipe: Delicious Autumn Flavor In A Minestrone; By STEVE PETUSEVSKY, on South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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Creme Fraiche Adds Sophisticated Touch

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/04 at 00:58

Cooking 101
Creme fraiche is easy to make and can add a tart, sophisticated taste to a variety of dishes. It is more versatile than whipped cream or sour cream and provides a nice visual touch.
Creme fraiche is not nearly as fancy as its French name would suggest…
…It is easy to find, easier to make and imparts a tart but sophisticated taste to everything from raspberries to smoked salmon. “It is like an even more wonderful cream,” said chef Frances Chumley of Whole Foods in Annapolis, who demonstrates how simple it is for home cooks to make their own.
“The flavor is kind of tangy and a little bit nutty,” she said. “And my favorite way to use it is on a nice cobbler, right out of the oven.”

Full Story: A cream with culture; By Susan Reimer, on BaltimorSun.com

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Stuffed Peppers Offer Endless Options

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/11/01 at 00:16

A Good Appetite
Melissa Clark praises the pepper’s ability to be stuffed. In one recipe, she packs seeded, raw poblano halves with ground beef that is spiced and includes almonds. She adds her tomatillo salsa verde…
…LACKING the cult status of ripe summer tomatoes or the esoteric cachet of watermelon radishes and purslane, peppers may be one of the season’s least celebrated vegetables.
Though their charms are many, my favorite is their stuffable shape.

Full Story: Fit to Be Stuffed; By MELISSA CLARK, on The New York Times

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Mindful Eating – Dinner as Meditation

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/31 at 02:37

Mindful eating turns your meals into a special type of meditation. If you practice mindful eating you’ll notice that you are aware of being full sooner, your food preferences change (for the better), and many other benefits. Give it a try at your next meal…
…Mindful eating is a practice that has existed for centuries, but few practice it in our culture. In fact, we are rarely mindful at all when we eat. For example, you may have seen someone walk into the kitchen, fill a plate with a few things (or grab a bag of snacks) and begin eating before sitting down at the table…

Full Article: Mindful, Sensual Eating: How to Develop Food and Eating Awareness; By Matthew Tiemeyer, on About.com

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Can You Make Anything With Couscous Besides Couscous?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/22 at 11:13

The Minimalist
“COUSCOUS” is one of the most misunderstood words in cooking. The problem is that it’s an ingredient and a dish using that ingredient. (It’s as if “flour” were used for a dish called “flour.”)
So. Couscous the dish is most commonly a highly seasoned stew with lamb and vegetables, maybe with chickpeas (or with chickpeas and no lamb; or with fish; and so on),…
…with the couscous — not the dish, the ingredient — steamed above the stew, or cooked separately from it and served with it.
And couscous the product is not, as many think, a grain. It’s a small semolina pasta, traditionally hand-rolled but now usually made by machine. But it’s often cooked and served like a grain.
Can you make anything with couscous besides couscous? Yes. Here it is…

Full Story: Couscous Shows Its Sweet Side; By MARK BITTMAN, on the New York Times

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Melamine Contaminated Edible Sex Accessories

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Photography, Special Reports, UK, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/21 at 22:12

World Briefing | Europe
Britain’s food regulator said Monday that several edible sex accessories imported from China and sold in Britain were contaminated with small amounts of melamine…
…The products included…

Full Story: Britain: Now, Not Even Adults Are Safe; By SARAH LYALL, on The New York Times

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Melamine Contaminated Edible Sex Accessories

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Photography, Special Reports, UK, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/21 at 22:12

World Briefing | Europe
Britain’s food regulator said Monday that several edible sex accessories imported from China and sold in Britain were contaminated with small amounts of melamine…
…The products included…

Full Story: Britain: Now, Not Even Adults Are Safe; By SARAH LYALL, on The New York Times

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Chef Caters to This Season’s Challenge: The Budget

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Biz Tips, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/21 at 12:25

Entertainment
Hosting parties and events, this chef has found that people want to taste the unusual, so he serves 12 types of hors d’oeuvres. The bite-sized samples allow for more creativity and exploration of global cuisines while keeping costs down…
…The local social season is heating up, which means catering kitchens are, too. Area caterers used some of their summer downtime to test new recipes, research global food trends, experiment with exotic ingredients and do some culinary travel, which always yields new taste sensations for the folks back home.

Full Story: New dishes for a new season; By MARSHA FOTTLER, on Herald Tribune

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Chef Caters to This Season’s Challenge: The Budget

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Biz Tips, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/21 at 12:25

Entertainment
Hosting parties and events, this chef has found that people want to taste the unusual, so he serves 12 types of hors d’oeuvres. The bite-sized samples allow for more creativity and exploration of global cuisines while keeping costs down…
…The local social season is heating up, which means catering kitchens are, too. Area caterers used some of their summer downtime to test new recipes, research global food trends, experiment with exotic ingredients and do some culinary travel, which always yields new taste sensations for the folks back home.

Full Story: New dishes for a new season; By MARSHA FOTTLER, on Herald Tribune

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100 Foods Every Omnivore Should Try

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/19 at 11:35

A British food writer came up with a list of 100 foods that he thinks omnivores should try in their lives. One of the hottest peppers in the world – raw Scotch bonnet pepper – and a loaf from a calf’s or pig’s cooked head coated in aspic jelly, called head cheese, make appearances on the list…
…You’ve probably eaten s’mores, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and a hot dog from a cart. But what about crocodile, sea urchin or — dare we say — roadkill?
All of these foods made it onto the omnivore’s 100, a list of foods that Andrew Wheeler, a British food writer, believes an omnivore should try in his or her life…

Full Story: Omnivore’s 100 challenges our feelings about food; By China Millman, on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Tumeric Yields Sunny Color, Exotic Taste

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Ayurveda, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, India, Nutrition, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/16 at 10:20

Discovered in China by Marco Polo in 1280 and introduced to the West, turmeric is the spice that makes mustard yellow and often is used in curries. While it colors food much the same as saffron does, tumeric is less expensive and has a bitter, warm, exotic taste…
…I acquired a taste for turmeric early in life. At the time I didn’t have a clue I was eating turmeric. When my age was still in single digits my mother would make a special treat for me – a slice of homemade white bread slathered with yellow mustard and topped with a generous sprinkling of sugar…

Full Story: Tasting Turmeric print this article - Good and good for you, this spice is used more often than you might think; by KARL WELLS, on The Telegram

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Spanish Chef Experiments with Jellyfish

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/15 at 22:01

Spanish chef is experimenting with several jellyfish dishes she plans to serve at her restaurant outside Barcelona next year if food regulators approve. She prepares the jellyfish by putting them live into coarse salt for 12 hours before cleaning, draining and serving in a vinaigrette or with vegetables and noodles…
…MADRID – A jellyfish soup? Or a mini-bundle of blanched vegetables with julienne strips of jellyfish? A prestigious Catalan chef plans to take advantage of the gloopy stinging creatures that plague Mediterranean beaches every summer and float them on to the region’s menus as a gastronomic delicacy…

Read: Jellyfish risotto anyone? Chef puts stinging plague on menu; by Elizabeth Nash, The New Zealand Herald

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Argentinean Cold Cut Gains Respect

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/14 at 19:12

The Minimalist
Matambre, an Argentinean cold cut stuffed with veggies, herbs, egg and seasonings, requires butterflying, and rolling and tying. It’s worth the work because it cooks beautifully, Mark Bittman writes. …
… MATAMBRE is a contraction of the Spanish words for “kill” and “hunger” — it’s the hunger killer. It’s beef stuffed with vegetables, herbs, hard-cooked egg and seasonings, so you can understand how it got its name. It is often served as a kind of cold cut in Argentina, where it was created, but it can also be served hot.
This is not a typical Minimalist dish, because there’s some real work involved, and even a little bit of technique.

Read: Killing Hunger the Spanish Way; By MARK BITTMAN, on the New York Times

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Smoky Pimentón Works with Almost Everything

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/12 at 10:15

The Minimalist
Bright red pimentón is a Spanish version of paprika that is smoked before it is ground, making it a miraculous addition to bean dishes and hummus, The New York Times’ Mark Bittman writes. The spice, which can be hot or mild, is the dominant flavor in chorizo sausage. Mixed with olive oil and a little garlic, it also transforms grilled or broiled meats, such as roast chicken, Bittman notes. …
… I MAY be at the point where I use more pimentón in my cooking than anyone in Spain.
The other day, cooking with a friend, I suggested we use some to spice up a little appetizer we were working on. “You’ve already put it in the chicken and the beans,” …

Read: A Bit of Spice, a Hint of Smoke; By MARK BITTMAN; on The New York Times

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Crack Wise – Think eggs are unhealthy?

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/10 at 21:46

Pity the poor egg: It gets cracked, scrambled, and whipped—not to mention unfairly maligned as the villain of the breakfast world. That’s because there’s a misguided belief that the cholesterol in eggs (found in the yolk) raises the cholesterol levels in your body and puts your ticker at risk. …
… But good news, frittata fans: Research supporting the health bennies of eggs is piling up. And several studies—including a recent one in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found no link in healthy people between eggs and either heart attack or stroke—have debunked the bad-egg myth. …

Read: Crack Wise – Think eggs are unhealthy? The yolk’s on you.; By the Editors of Women’s Health; on MSN.com

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New Yorkers Await Mozzarella Bar Opening

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/10 at 19:32

Obika, which opened its first mozzarella bar four years ago in Rome, will debut in Manhattan. The unusual focus on a simple cheese has turned into a global trend as Obika branches have opened …
… OBIKÀ is how Neapolitans say “here it is.”
“It’s about time,” New Yorkers might respond. After more than a year of construction and red tape, the latest installment of Obikà, will open in the sculpture garden of 590 Madison Avenue, …

Read: Mozzarella, an Unlikely Star, Opens in Midtown; By JILL SANTOPIETRO; New York Times

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Sesso e cibo. Mousse di cioccolato e peperoncino

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/10 at 11:49

Le proprietà afrodisiache del peperoncino in particolare, ma in generale delle spezie – e del cioccolato – sono ben conosciute e legate essenzialmente al processo di “vasodilatazione” con conseguente effetto “stimolante”. …
… Inoltre, ad una concentrazione neppur troppo elevata, è in grado di poter inibire colonie di salmonelle e colibacilli diffusi nelle zone calde e responsabili di malattie intestinali.

Leggi il seguito, con la ricetta: Sesso e cibo | digg story; su Peccati di Gola.eu

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Veggies Aren’t The Only Food Suitable for Pickling

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Nutrition, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/09 at 10:32

Chef Peter McCarthy, owner of Evoo restaurant in Massachusetts, likes to go beyond the unexpected when it comes to pickling. From his farmers market finds, he pickles rhubarb, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apples and other fruits. …
… For home cooks, quick or refrigerator pickles are an easy way to give his creations a try, (two recipes included). Late summer and early autumn is pickling time. Cucumbers, green tomatoes, and jalapenos are favorites among enterprising canners, …

Read: Pickled fruit adds flavorful touch to dishes; on the Boston Globe

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Tofu: Not Just for Veggies Anymore

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Nutrition, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/06 at 21:27

Do you tofu?
If there isn’t a block or shred of soybean curd in your refrigerator right now, chances are it crosses your plate only in restaurants, or not at all. Vegetarians, vegans and dietitians know that tofu is high in protein, iron and calcium, has little saturated fat and may help lower cholesterol. …
… More Americans should be enjoying the product, according to one writer, and cookbooks designed to help include Deborah Madison’s “This Can’t Be Tofu!” Plain tofu is mild, easy to cook with and relatively inexpensive, …

Read: Not Just for Vegetarians, Tofu Has Subtle Charms; By Bonnie S. Benwick; on the Washington Post

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Mad About Matsutake Mushroom

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Japan, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/10/06 at 21:01

The French and Italians can have their stinkin’ truffles. I’d much rather eat matsutake. Fond of pine and fir, this magical mushroom calls the forest floor of the Pacific Northwest home — and calls my name loud and clear this time of year. That’s because October is when Japanese chefs …
… all over town are steeping fresh matsutake in a delicately seasoned broth, serving them with gingko nuts in a small teapotlike vessel. They call it matsutake dobin mushi. I call it an edible autumnal aromatherapy session.

Read: All You Can Eat, by Nancy Leson; on The Seattle Times

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Kosher Dishes Get Hip

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/28 at 16:55

Kosher cooking has taken a new approach with ingredients such as panko bread crumbs, pomegranate molasses and mango chutney. Even sushi has been tweaked for the kosher-observant.
This isn’t your bubbe’s matzo ball soup. …
… Because when your grandmother learned the ins and outs of kosher cooking, spiking it with wasabi, drizzling it with toasted sesame oil or eating it alongside sushi was about as likely as serving it with a side of bacon.
Today, a new generation of cooks is redefining what it means to be kosher.
Read the full article: New Generation of Cooks Offers Hip Ake on Kosher. The Canadian Press

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Not all Mexican Food Packs the Calories

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Mexico, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/27 at 23:42

This chef has a healthy take on Mexican food. She serves guacamole with cucumbers, not chips, and focuses on “100% real flavors.”…
… Laura Diaz Brown, a k a Chef LaLa, is determined to dispel the myth that Mexican food is fattening, calorie-laden and unhealthy. “Not all Mexican food is deep-fried or cooked in lard,” she says.
By modifying ingredients (such as serving guacamole with cucumber slices, not chips), it’s feasible to make Mexican food healthier without losing the essence of traditional flavors, Brown says.
Check: Taste Mexico’s Most Healthful Traditions; By Natalie Haughton | Los Angeles Daily News

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Sustainable California Squid Hits the Menu

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/27 at 22:55

The West Coast squid market is opening up to all cooks, even abroad, as the seafood is abundant, cheap, low-fat and caught by sustainable means. …
… Add California squid to the short list of seafood that we can eat without guilt. It’s plentiful, inexpensive, low in fat, relatively local and fished in a sustainable manner. Besides that, it tastes good. Bay Area diners who would never dream of preparing squid themselves know how delectable it can be in the hands of a good Italian or Cantonese chef. But with the economy on the skids and …
Buying, cleaning and cooking tips are included here: Secrets of squid; by Janet Fletcher, San Francisco Chronicle.

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Jewish New Year, Light and Easy

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/24 at 21:20

Jewish New Year, Light and Easy

Although the celebration of Rosh Hashanah is built on tradition, a Jewish cook might feel the need to vary the holiday’s menu, especially in a year when the topic of change is already on the table. A few flavor twists, a lighter feel and a more user-friendly approach all could embody the symbolic turning of the page that the Jewish New Year represents. MORE

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A Little Jiggle From Down South

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Molecular Cuisine, Photography, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/17 at 20:00

A Little Jiggle From Down South
Jelled Foods Are Old And New Again

Molecular gastronomists, the new breed of chefs who think they suddenly discovered that cooking is chemistry, are obsessed with jellies (along with foams and anything that can be flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen). While these guys pat themselves on the back for discovering how to turn liquids into solids via seaweed extracts such as agar-agar and carrageenan, they might want to take a look at “Cotton Country Cooking,” a 1972 book from Decatur, Ala., or any other Southern Junior League cookbook. MORE

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Americans always make room for dessert

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/15 at 19:36

Americans always make room for dessert

Analysts say the dessert segment has not been affected by the economic downtown. “The popularity of baking and pastry has never been greater,” says Mark Erickson, dean of culinary and baking and pastry arts at The Culinary Institute of America. “It used to be a subset of culinary training, but now it’s a (career) track within the profession itself.” MORE

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Wisconsin puts its faith in blue cheese

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/15 at 19:21

Wisconsin puts its faith in blue cheese
By Karen Herzog

MONTFORT, Wis. — Wisconsin is staking claim to one of the world’s oldest, most distinctive styles of cheese, and this town — barely big enough to be on the map — is home to a world champion.
Wisconsin dominates domestic production of blue-veined cheeses, which get their character and flavor from mold cultures intentionally coaxed during aging. MORE

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They Look Good Enough to Eat

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/14 at 20:11

A Cook’s Garden
They Look Good Enough to Eat

Zucchini and other squash plants bear male and female flowers. A male is held upright on a long, slender stem; a female has a tiny squash at the base. I usually choose the males for cooking, leaving the others to produce fruits, but this time I picked both because the planting would soon be ripped out to make way for a crop of overwintering onions. MORE

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A mayo clinic: basic homemade mayonnaise

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/13 at 21:21

THE SAUCIER
A mayo clinic: basic homemade mayonnaise
Mel Melcon

SMOOTH COMBINATIONS: A range of flavors can jazz up classic homemade mayonnaise. Add fresh tarragon and stone-ground mustard, top; sprinkle in a pinch of saffron, middle; or spice things up with a purée of roasted piquillo peppers.
With an immersion blender, making basic mayonnaise is easy. Then once you master the original, get creative and spike it with mustard, tarragon, saffron or piquillo pepper. MORE

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Hallucinogenic chocolates doom Berlin sweet shop

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Special Reports, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/12 at 19:48

Hallucinogenic chocolates doom Berlin sweet shop

BERLIN (Reuters) – Police closed down a Berlin sweet shop after discovering the owner was selling chocolates and lollipops laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms and marijuana. MORE

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Banderillas: One-bite snacks from Spain

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Spain, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/10 at 23:24

Banderillas: One-bite snacks from Spain

In Spain, where bullfighting traditions run deep, there’s even an appetizer that evokes the sport. Banderillas are small skewers of savory bites named for the sharp, pointed sticks used to provoke a bull into charging.
These uncomplicated appetizers provoke tapas bar patrons to linger and order more drinks. MORE

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Grab a fig while they’re at their best

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/10 at 22:33


Grab a fig while they’re at their best

Whether you go to farmers markets for the small, brownish-green Celeste variety or shop at a supermarket for black Mission, brown Turkey and Calimyrna, figs are at the height of their season. MORE

Photo: Lucia Zeccara

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Easy homemade wonton soup recipe

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/09/05 at 23:17


The term “wonton” is mostly commonly translated as meaning “irregularly shaped pasta.” But, the second translation I found is apparently from a popular Cantonese homonym that literally means “swallowing clouds.”

read more | digg story

Cuscus piccante con pollo e verdure

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/27 at 14:07

Cuscus piccante con pollo e verdure, di Peccati di Gola
Ingredienti per 4 persone: 200 g. di cuscus precotto, 2 zucchine, 300 g. di petti di pollo, 2 peperoncini piccanti, 2 pomodori maturi, 1 melanzana, 40 ml di olio extravergine di oliva, 1 cucchiaio di maizena, sale fino, 1 cucchio di sale grosso, 1 scalogno, 1 dado da brodo.

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Keep the oven off and enjoy: Granita, Berries Jubilee and Rose Wine Jelly

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/25 at 13:07


Cool summer dessert recipes from Paris-based chef and blogger David Lebovitz… Wherever you are, even if the oven stays off, it’s still nice to finish backyard barbecues and outdoor dinners with something sweet — a rich espresso granita maybe, or a sophisticated rosé jelly with nectarines and blueberries, or luscious berries jubilee with peach sorbet.

read more | digg story

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Keep the oven off and enjoy: Granita, Berries Jubilee and Rose Wine Jelly

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/25 at 13:07


Cool summer dessert recipes from Paris-based chef and blogger David Lebovitz… Wherever you are, even if the oven stays off, it’s still nice to finish backyard barbecues and outdoor dinners with something sweet — a rich espresso granita maybe, or a sophisticated rosé jelly with nectarines and blueberries, or luscious berries jubilee with peach sorbet.

read more | digg story

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Fuzzy Logic. The Ideal Apricot Experience

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/24 at 17:39

The ideal apricot experience requires concentration. Few things capture summer’s carefree spirit like a perfect piece of fruit. Eating berries off the vine, still warm from the sun, is a pastoral trope. In the hot weather, nothing tastes as good as a sweet, fragrant peach, a juicy bite of watermelon or, as William Carlos Williams once noted, an ice-cold plum.
And then there are apricots.

read more | digg story

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Fuzzy Logic. The Ideal Apricot Experience

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/24 at 17:39

The ideal apricot experience requires concentration. Few things capture summer’s carefree spirit like a perfect piece of fruit. Eating berries off the vine, still warm from the sun, is a pastoral trope. In the hot weather, nothing tastes as good as a sweet, fragrant peach, a juicy bite of watermelon or, as William Carlos Williams once noted, an ice-cold plum.
And then there are apricots.

read more | digg story

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Building a better burger

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/21 at 22:36

Hamburgers are made of beef, but from this day forward, remember that great burgers come from many sources: lamb, pork, turkey, even salmon or crab. Think of the meat as a neutral ingredient you can flavor a billion different ways. Then, using your experience and knowledge, start putting together combinations, and taste as you go. Season judicious

read more | digg story

Nine Salts That Will Spice up Your Life

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/20 at 16:51


One of the latest food trends, according to the American Food Institute’s “what’s hot, what’s not” survey, is something even more basic. Ranking in as the tenth hottest item on their list is our old friend, sodium chloride—a.k.a, salt.

read more | digg story

Canapè ai granchi, stuzzichini per un aperitivo peccaminoso

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/20 at 13:28

Ingredienti per 4 persone: 4 fette di pancarré, 200 g. di polpa di granchio lessata, 1 limone, 1 bicchiere di latte, 60 g. di burro, 2 cucchiai di farina, 1/2 bustina di zafferano, 1 cucchiaio di pangrattato, sale, pepe e noce moscata.

read more | digg story

Frittura di ostriche, squisite novità

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/19 at 13:20

Frittura di ostriche, squisite novità da Peccati di Gola

Ingredienti per 4 persone: 24 ostriche, 2 limoni, 1 ciuffo di prezzemolo, 1 tuorlo, 1 cucchiaio di farina, olio extravergine di oliva, sale, pepe.

read more | digg story

So Which End of An Egg do you Open?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/12 at 01:28

A top chef says it is “pretty basic”, but for many young Kiwis the simple art of boiling an egg is beyond them.One in 12 Kiwis aged under 30 were not confident, or had never even attempted, boiling an egg.

read more | digg story

$910 For A Single Bunch Of Premium Grapes

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Japan, Special Reports, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/12 at 01:16


A new variety of premium grapes debuted in Japan on Monday, with a single bunch fetching as much as $910. A Japanese hotel manager paid that amount, or about $26 per grape, for a 1 1/2 pound (700-gram) bunch of the Ruby Roman grapes to serve guests at an upscale hotel, officials said.

read more | digg story

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Gordon Ramsay’s exotic salads

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/04 at 12:00


The chef discovers new flavours on holidays that combine into cool and interesting combinations. Three recipes to try…. A holiday abroad is a great time to pick up ideas for new recipes. Nine times out of ten you’ll find me by the sea, wolfing down as much fresh seafood as possible with plenty of salad and vegetable dishes on the side.

read more | digg story

The Perfect Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/04 at 10:41

The Perfect Chicken Fried Steak Recipe

A family chicken fried steak recipe that has been passed down, passed around, tweaked, perfected, and enjoyed for three generations.
It’s simple, but effective, with a great down-home feel that will taste like Texas every time! Something to try-out!!! Click here for the Recipe

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The Skinny on Scallops

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/02 at 13:01

Scallops are low in calories, fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol, so it’s a nutritional crime when they are breaded and deep-fried or drowned in a fat-laden casserole.Health experts recommend eating at least two seafood meals a week as part of a healthful diet. Pleasantly sweet and mild scallops can be a good choice because their flavor has broad appeal even among those who aren’t the big fans of seafood.

read more | digg story

Grilled cheese vies to be the greatest thing on sliced bread

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/02 at 12:33


Perhaps nothing says comfort quite like a grilled cheese sandwich. The classic treat of childhood evokes memories of after-school snacks and Saturday lunch treats.
These days, the humble sandwich has been making its way onto menus of well-heeled restaurants, and it isn’t the simple sandwich your mother used to make.

read more | digg story

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Frittata With Red Peppers and Peas – Recipe for Health

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/08/01 at 21:01

The week of the egg continues, with a recipe for a frittata that looks beautiful on a buffet and is a great destination for frozen peas.
This series offers recipes with an eye towards empowering you to cook healthy meals every day. Produce, seasonal and locally grown when possible, and a well-stocked pantry.

read more | digg story

Eel Drink Goes On Sale For Japan’s Hot Summer

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Japan, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/31 at 13:01

Eel Drink Goes On Sale For Japan’s Hot Summer

(AP) It’s the hottest season of the year in Japan, and that means it’s eel season. So, bottom’s up!
A canned drink called “Unagi Nobori,” or “Surging Eel,” … “It’s mainly for men who are exhausted by the summer’s heat,” Hayashi said of the beverage, believed to be the first mass-produced eel drink in Japan. More

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Weird and Bizarre Drinks from Japan [Update]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Food Guide, Japan, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/31 at 10:59

What is it with Japan and weird drinks? Part of the answer lies in the love Japanese have for soft drinks – surveys show that about 40% of the nation’s citizens drink at least one soft drink every day. That’s about 50 million people! In addition, trends come and go very quickly in Japan. What’s cool today is as flat as warm Pepsi Ice Cucumber tomorrow. … so soft drink companies are constantly coming out with something new and (hopefully) attention-grabbing ’cause one success more than makes up for dozens of failures.

read more | digg story

Ricotta Crostini with Soppressata

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/30 at 17:32


Ricotta Crostini with Soppressata

Creamy, luscious cows’ or sheep’s milk ricotta pairs beautifully with grilled, toasted, or fried slices of crusty bread for a simple and rustic crostini. More

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A Taste of Scotland

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/26 at 19:27

The Highlands offer gorgeous landscapes and stunning views. But three bed-and-breakfast inns are making the region a culinary destination as well. WHAT scared me wasn’t that the young Scotsman was talking about sheep innards.It was the readiness with which he spoke of them. It was the context. He knew that I had arrived in Scotland, for my first visit, just an hour earlier. He and I were all of 90 seconds into our conversation.

read more | digg story

101 20-Minute Dishes for Inspired Picnics

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Holidays~Celebrations, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/25 at 00:12


The Minimalist
101 20-Minute Dishes for Inspired Picnics

THERE is something both innocent and exciting about a picnic, even if you are only packing a few things at the last minute and heading down the street to the park. It may be nothing fancier than bologna or tuna salad on white bread, but you’re still likely to have a good time, which is probably why many of us remain devoted to the same picnic foods we’ve eaten all our lives. More

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Recipes for Health – Fresh Tomato Sauce alla Marinara

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/24 at 22:54

Recipes for Health
Fresh Tomato Sauce

The latest in a series of daily recipes for the health-conscious. Today, a recipe for a quick, simple marinara sauce that will only be good if your tomatoes are ripe. More

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These deviled eggs take comfort food to new heights

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/24 at 22:50


Great deviled eggs require a secret weapon. Something to ensure that every indentation in the tray is emptied in rapid-fire succession, that those creamy little halves are popped into the mouth like so much hot buttered popcorn.

read more | digg story

Summer Berry Muffins Recipe – Diabetic Recipes

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/22 at 23:00


Diabetic Recipes | Living Healthy
Fresh summer berries not only add delicious flavor and color to these tempting muffins, they also make them more nutritious. The muffins are at their best when served warm, fresh from the oven, but will be enjoyed just as much once cooled – an ideal addition to a family breakfast, or for breakfast on the go.

read more | digg story

Asian Dressing Differently

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/22 at 22:32


She won’t reveal the precise recipe, for which she credits family friend Sandy Martz, Wolfe will say that she begins with a mix of honey, water and cider vinegar which is boiled down, or reduced by about a third before the remaining ingredients are added; these include canola oil, sesame oil and tamari, which is Japanese soy sauce.

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Rise of the ‘Gastrosexual’ as Men Take Up Cooking

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/21 at 21:51


They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but it seems the dining tables have turned as increasing numbers of men are taking up cooking in a bid to seduce women.

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Gluten-Free Brownies

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Special Reports, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/20 at 18:05


If you like a fudgy brownie, unadorned with any fillers, this recipe is for you. These brownies are adapted from one of the best brownie recipes in the world. These have a crackly top, with a discernible texture as your teeth bite down. And beneath them? Pure, smooth chocolate, as rich as flourless chocolate torte.

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Hamburgers Conquer Paris

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/18 at 01:49


Beginning a few years ago but picking up momentum in the past nine months, hamburgers and cheeseburgers have invaded the city. Anywhere tourists are likely to go this summer — in St.-Germain cafes, in fashion-world hangouts, even in restaurants run by three-star chefs — they are likely to find a juicy beef patty, almost invariably on a sesame seed bun.

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The Origins of Your Favorite Condiments

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/17 at 10:32


Next time someone asks you to pass the ketchup, mustard, mayo or Worcestershire sauce, you can wow them with your knowledge of the condiments. The word “ketchup” comes from the Chinese “ke-tsiap,” and if you’re wondering why ketchup isn’t used in Chinese food, well, there’s your story. Ke-tsiap wasn’t at all like ketchup.

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How to make a bagel-friendly egg

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/16 at 22:02


Here’s how to make a breakfast bagel sandwich without egg showing through the bagel hole? The only tools you need are cooking spray, a shot glass and a frying pan small enough that one beaten egg covers the bottom.

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A Fruit with 6X Vitamin C of Oranges & 2X Calcium of Milk

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Nutrition, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/16 at 21:55


It is one of the strangest fruits under the sun and has been revered in Africa for thousands of years. The fruit, which from the outside looks like a coconut, contains six times more vitamin C than oranges and twice as much calcium as milk.

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Groom’s Cake: Dreaming of Beer & BBQ

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/16 at 15:53


Let’s be honest. Weddings are usually events that are mostly run by and for women. It’s the bride’s day, and her careful planning runs the show, from choosing her lace-embossed ivory dress to selecting the peach peony bouquet. However, one matrimonial item is reserved for her male counterpart to envision and bring to fruition – groom’s cake.

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22 Ways to Upstage Your Usual Barbecue

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/16 at 15:36


It’s summertime and when it comes to food, that can only mean one thing, it’s time to get grilling. If you’re wondering what to actually throw on the barbie this year, now’s the time to spice up the usual menu with some flavorful chicken, juicy steak, fresh corn on the cob, and creative side dishes. From entertaining inspiration to cool cocktails, consider these your first steps toward grilling up a summer storm.

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Greek Food and Wine, The Quick and the Med:

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/15 at 18:48


The Greeks’ nearly mythological passion for food and drink also means serving Hellenic specialties makes for one heck of a summer party. “Really, in Greece, entertaining is spontaneous — you say, ‘Come over tonight,’ and put out appetizers or …

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Dinner: Takoyaki

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Japan, Nutrition, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/13 at 16:32


Takoyaki are fairly hard to make well, and Tokyoites tend to do a poor job, even takiyaki vendors. The snack is commonly sold from street vendors and small shops as a street food throughout Japan, but it’s mostly people from Osaka who make takoyaki at home and eat it not as a snack, but as a meal.

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Ten Delicacies To Try in Beijing

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, China, Culinary News, Food Guide, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/13 at 11:52

Olympics
Ten Delicacies To Try in Beijing

Beijing’s ancient alleyways, known as hutongs, have long been a hotbed of culinary gossip. Neighbors greet each other with “Ni chi le ma?” (have you eaten?), a reminder of the central role of food in daily conversation–and of the tough times when a good meal was hard to come by. More

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Nastri di zucchine. Fritto con leggerezza

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/12 at 16:56

Nastri di zucchine. Fritto con leggerezza, di Peccati di Gola

Ieri sera invece ho cucinato i “nastri di zucchine fritte” uno dei suoi piatti preferiti. Guarda caso. Mia moglie è disperata. Più per me, che per la mancanza Lorenzo. Comuque sia, riporto la ricetta dei Nastri di zucchine, fritte in una leggera pastella a base di farina e latte, con l’aggiunta di qualche fogliolina di menta che dona al piatto un p

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Best Japanese Foods You Can’t Get at Home

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Japan, Nutrition, Special Reports, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/11 at 18:18

Even everyday Japanese dishes are exciting–and worth seeking out during a visit to the country. Foreigners who visit Japan think they have a solid grasp of Japanese food before they even set foot in the country: [In the pictures: Tako Yaki, is a golf-ball-sized fritter of octopus (tako) mixed with a potato batter, eggs, onions, pickled ginger and cabbage, with some sweet mayo squirted haphazardly on top.]

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Perfection? Hint: It’s Warm and Has a Secret

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Sweet News, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/09 at 11:09


Quest for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

The recipe for the consummate chocolate chip cookie builds on decades of acquired knowledge, experience and secrets. TOO bad sainthood is not generally conferred on bakers, for there is one who is a possible candidate for canonization.

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Chocolate Will Be as Expensive as Caviar

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Organic, Special Reports, Sweet News, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/08 at 13:22

Chocolate’s bitter sweet relationship with the rainforest

(CNN) — “I think that in 20 years chocolate will be like caviar,” says John Mason, executive director and founder of the Ghana-based Nature Conservation Research Council (NCRC). Chocolate will become so rare and so expensive that the average Joe just won’t be able to afford it.

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Cherries Jubilee by Auguste Escoffier

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/08 at 12:12

Cherries jubilee to make at home
By Wolfgang Puck

When you have fresh fruit this delicious, you really don’t need to enhance it with too much cooking. Usually, just rinsing it with cool water and putting it in a bowl does nicely. Sometimes, though, it’s fun to do a little bit more to highlight the dazzling color, flavor, and texture, like putting it into a fruit salad, cobbler, or pie. More

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A fabulous outdoor picnic that’s fast, cool and easy

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/07 at 20:20


The Fourth of July may have passed, but we’ve still got plenty of picnic season left this summer. To get some insights on outdoor cooking that won’t leave you wanting to nap indoors, we asked Suki Hertz, editorial director of FoodNetwork.com, for some of her favorites.

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Middle East enjoys varieties of hummus

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines, Travel Et Places, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/07 at 11:14


Middle East enjoys varieties of hummus
Chickpeas are spicy, chunky, mild and garlicky
Bonnie Stern

Hummus is the Arab word for chickpeas. They are called garbanzo beans in Spain and ceci beans in Italy and just about all Mediterranean countries have their versions of hummus: chunky or smooth, spicy or mild, garlicky or lemony, to name just a few. But chickpeas can be used in casseroles, soups, salad, couscous, stews, rice dishes and much more. More

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Potato salad is a culinary chameleon

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/07 at 10:53


Potato salad is a culinary chameleon
Heather McPherson

Potato salad describes one dish that can be interpreted in so many ways. Food historians credit potato-savvy European settlers with bringing the recipe concept to the United States. As these newcomers fused traditional foods with local ingredients, the variations on the theme proliferated. More

Photo by: lovelypetal

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Sweet Heat: For Jamaicans, It’s About Jerk

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Caribbean, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Non-Regional Cuisines, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/07 at 10:41


Sweet Heat: For Jamaicans, It’s About Jerk
By JULIA MOSKIN

Jerk is one of the great barbecue traditions of the world, up there with Texas brisket and Chinese char siu. Its components are a thick brown paste flecked with chilies, meat (usually pork or chicken, occasionally goat or fish) and smoke, from a tightly covered charcoal grill, that slowly soaks into the food. More

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Minestrone toscano, un piatto freddo e nutriente

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/06 at 20:25


Minestrone toscano, un piatto freddo e nutriente, Peccati di Gola

Ingredienti per 4 persone: 150 g. di maccheroncini, 250 g. di fagioli, 1 ciuffo di prezzemolo, 1 spicchio d’aglio, 1 costa di sedano, 3 foglie di basilico, 1 rametto di rosmarino, 2 carote, 1 cipolla, 50 g. di pancetta, 50 ml. di olio extravergine di oliva, 3 pomodori pelati, 150 g. di verza, 2 foglie di timo, 1 foglia di salvia, sale e pepe.

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A classic summer supper: Salad Nicoise

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France on 2008/07/04 at 22:25


Looking for a make-ahead salad main course? Here’s an elegant take on the classic Nicoise salad. Purists might be surprised at this, but prominent French chefs (including Eric Ripert and Francois Payard) feel that a true Nicoise salad should…

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Pack it up! It’s time for a Fourth of July picnic

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Special Reports, Travel Et Places on 2008/07/03 at 22:09


Fried chicken? Check. Coleslaw? Check. Biscuits, ham and brownies? Triple check. Make some fireworks in your basket. A few smart cooking techniques and updated ingredients can bring the joys of a homemade picnic back to the holiday — and out to the beach, park or mountainside.

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The Perfect Burger

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography on 2008/07/03 at 21:39


The Perfect Burger

Starting with: where to buy the meat, what grind, size of patty, how to cook it, what to serve with it, what pickle, what bun, what ketchup, what mayonnaise, what mustard, what cheese, how thick to slice the avocado, what bacon, what smoke on the bacon, what occasion. More

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Best Foods for Men

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Special Reports, Travel Et Places on 2008/07/03 at 15:29


It’s great to be a hungry man in America
If these dishes haven’t yet crossed your lips as you’ve crossed the country, you’ve got some miles to cover and some joys to behold
By Matt Goulding

From the lobster pounds of Maine to the burrito barrios of San Francisco, our country serves up regional chow that rivals the food of any nation on this planet. More

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The secret to preparing good flounder

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/07/02 at 17:39


Flounder pan fried in oil or clarified butter and served with a sauce of butter, shallots, parsley, white wine and lemon, …

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Moscardini in Umido, …

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/07/01 at 13:37

Moscardini in umido, cucina light proposta da Peccati di Gola

Ingredienti per 4 persone: 1 kg di moscardini piccoli, 300 g di pomodori San Marzano maturi, 1 bicchiere di vino bianco secco, 1 rametto di prezzemolo, 1 spicchio d’aglio, 2 cucchiai di olio extravergine di oliva, sale e pepe.
Segui la ricetta su: Peccati di Gola

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Jamon Iberico Bellota – High on the Hog

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain on 2008/07/01 at 10:20


High on the Hog

Anyone with the time and the euros has been able to fly to Spain and taste jamon iberico de bellota, the aged, acorn-fed ham of black-footed pigs. But here in food-fearing America, official approval for this glistening, fat-streaked delicacy dragged on. More

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L’Ulivo e il Tartufo dei Colli Berici

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/06/30 at 20:07


In pochi conoscono l’olio e il tartufo dei colli Berici, considerati meno nobili rispetto agli stessi prodotti di altre zone d’Italia. Ma vi posso garantire, che anche da queste parti si inizia a fare sul serio. continua

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Are Tomatoes a Fruit or a Vegetable?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Food for Thought, Special Reports on 2008/06/30 at 18:08

Are Tomatoes a Fruit or a Vegetable?
(And How to Use the Tomato Strategy to Win Against All Odds)
By: Ankesh Kothari

Tomatoes have become this popular not because they’re liked by all. But because they’re not unliked by anyone! Tomatoes are the best # 2 out there. They are the ultimate sidekick. Tomatoes popularity lies in going with everything. More

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Insalata di carote e cannella, extralight con gusto

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/06/27 at 17:59

Ingredienti per 4 persone: 200 grammi di carote, 2 cetrioli, 3 arance tardive, 20 grammi di capperi, 1 costa di sedano, olio extravergine di oliva, cannella, sale e pepe.

Segui la Ricetta su PeccatiDiGola.eu

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Reminders of Paris in London’s Truly English Food

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, European Cuisine, Food Guide, UK on 2008/06/26 at 18:46

Choice Tables | London
Reminders of Paris in London’s Truly English Food
By HENRY SHUKMAN

WHAT are great restaurants for? At worst, they’re a seated passeggiata, where the in-crowd asserts its in-ness, the would-bes try to, and the innocent come to gawp and glut. At best, they nourish the soul. Ideally, they start doing it once you walk through the door and continue long after you’ve left. More

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Fire up the grill and don’t hold the pickles!

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/23 at 22:52


Aristotle praised their health aspects; Cleopatra believed them a source of her beauty; Emperor Tiberius ate them every day and Charlemagne, Napoleon and Julius Caesar thought them healthful and invigorating. For more than 4,000 years, cucumbers (Cucummis sativus) have been preserved in brine (salt solution) and eaten as pickles, first in India …

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Kugels with a Conscience

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines on 2008/06/23 at 22:29

Kugels with a conscience
By FAYE LEVY

Pairing pasta with vegetables has long been popular in the Jewish kitchen. Noodles with cabbage is a Hungarian specialty. In the homes of Italian Jews, artichokes sauteed in olive oil embellish thin tagliolini, wrote Edda Servi Machlin in Classic Italian Jewish Cooking. With a little creativity, it’s easy to turn such dishes into kugels. More

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Kugels with a Conscience

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Jewish Et Kosher Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines on 2008/06/23 at 22:29

Kugels with a conscience
By FAYE LEVY

Pairing pasta with vegetables has long been popular in the Jewish kitchen. Noodles with cabbage is a Hungarian specialty. In the homes of Italian Jews, artichokes sauteed in olive oil embellish thin tagliolini, wrote Edda Servi Machlin in Classic Italian Jewish Cooking. With a little creativity, it’s easy to turn such dishes into kugels. More

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A Stinky, Pricey Delicacy

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/23 at 22:26


The thing about the durian more striking than the smell is the price: $200 for a prized specimen, and that is in a city where almost every tropical fruit is a bargain. Speaking of food inflation, that’s an increase of 50% in just two years.

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Swearing chef prompts tighter #*@%& rules

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food for Thought, Special Reports on 2008/06/23 at 15:43


Swearing chef prompts tighter #*@%& rules
By James Grubel

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Foul-mouthed British chef Gordon Ramsay prompted Australia’s parliament Thursday to push for tighter rules to protect viewers from swearing on television. More

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Rustic tarts: The ultimate carefree dessert

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/06/20 at 22:36

Rustic tarts: The ultimate carefree dessert
By Margaret M. Johnson

By definition, a tart is a single-layer pastry dish — most often sweet — that’s just like a pie but with an open top that lets the filling shine. A crostata, a native of Italy, also is a tart, but one that can be prepared by folding the edges of the dough over the top of a fruit filling. More

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The Scoop on Frozen Desserts

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Sweet News on 2008/06/20 at 21:08


Nothing beats a sweet and cool treat on a hot summer day. But if you’re watching your weight, these indulgences can pack on unwanted calories and pounds. So what’s the best option when it comes to icy treats?

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The Food of Love

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition on 2008/06/19 at 14:31

The Food of Love
By James Moore

GUESTS at Coleen McLoughlin and Wayne Rooney’s Italian wedding bash tucked into piles of pizza.
Perhaps they didn’t realise this was a health choice, but experts at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Milan found it can protect against cancer. Full Story
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"Kung pao chicken" made official for Olympics

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations on 2008/06/19 at 10:12

“Kung pao chicken” made official for Olympics

It’s official. Hungry foreign hordes craving a fix of diced chicken fried with chili and peanuts during the Beijing Olympics will be able to shout “kung pao chicken!” and have some hope of getting just that. Full Story
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Small burger, big flavor

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/18 at 20:47

Small burger, big flavor
Many eateries are switching from super-size to bite-size by offering miniburgers that will bring out the kid in you
By Kathy Stephenson

That kind of childhood nostalgia, coupled with a growing passion for small nibbles, has created a new appetite for bite-size burgers in Utah and across the country Full Story
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Shrimp and Turkey on the Barbie

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations on 2008/06/17 at 13:11

Shrimp and turkey on the barbie
By Sandra Pinckney

One Fourth of July, decision was taken to grill two turkeys, with burgers and hot dogs as a backup, just in case the turkey would not turn-up edible. The turkeys were dressed with just salt and pepper, onion and garlic salt and cooked slowly on two Weber grills. Full Story
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Sushi creations borrow colors & textures directly from June gardens

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Japan, Photography on 2008/06/16 at 19:52


Sushi creations borrow colors & textures directly from June gardens
BY RACHEL WHARTON

In New York, there’s a universal warm-weather supper, and that’s sushi. Light yet still satisifying – and picnic ready, to boot – nothing beats a spicy tuna roll on a sunny evening. Full Story
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Chicken Tikka Masala May Be in Peril!

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Ayurveda, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, India, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/06/16 at 18:46

Will Britain’s chef shortage stick a fork in popular dish?
By Laurie Goering

LONDON – Chicken tikka masala, Britain’s adopted favorite dish, may be in peril. As U.K. Immigration laws tighten and the children of Indian immigrants aim for careers outside the kitchen, the country faces an increasingly intense shortage of chefs capable of cooking up the incendiary curries Full Story


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FoodieJP
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Dip into bold, nutty romesco sauce

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Spain on 2008/06/16 at 16:49


THE SAUCIER
Dip into bold, nutty romesco sauce
COMPLEX: Roasted red pepper romesco brings out the delicate flavors of grilled shrimp and sweet spring onions.
The Catalonian classic can be served atop grilled lamb, fish and vegetables or paired with bread and spring onions.
By Amy Scattergood,
Full Story
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Soft-Shell Crabs Take a Turn With Pasta

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/15 at 09:55


The Minimalist
Soft-Shell Crabs Take a Turn With Pasta
By MARK BITTMAN

There are three fantastic aspects to soft-shell crabs: they’re crunchy, they’re moist, and their flavor is wonderful. No matter how you cook them, all you really want to do is avoid robbing them of these properties. Full Story
Photo © nytimes.com
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Save money by freezing summer’s best fruits and vegetables

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Nutrition, Sweet News, Vegetarian on 2008/06/15 at 09:44

Save money by freezing summer’s best fruits and vegetables
State fair winners offer tips on this easy alternative to canning
By KIM PIERCE

With the cost of food and gasoline squeezing most budgets, preserving peak-of-season fruits and vegetables is looking smart. And freezing is easier than canning. Full Story
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Restaurants a Tout Faire [FR]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France on 2008/06/14 at 23:25

Restaurants a Tout Faire

Aujourd’hui, de plus en plus de restaurants cumulent les fonctions : outre les cuisines on y trouve aussi épicerie, librairie, galerie d’art, voire salon de massage. Tournée de ces établissements où on ne vient plus seulement manger.
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That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Organic on 2008/06/14 at 22:54

That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise
By ALEX WILLIAMS

An environmentally conscientious consumer is left to wonder: are low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs better than standard incandescents, even if they contain traces of mercury? Which salad is more earth-friendly, the one made with organic mixed greens trucked from thousands of miles away, or the one with lettuce raised on nearby industrial farms? Should they support nuclear power as a clean alternative to coal? Full Story
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Ricotta’s a Big Cheese

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/06/13 at 21:53

Suddenly, Ricotta’s a Big Cheese
By JULIA MOSKIN

Ricotta has made a jump from the wings onto center stage. Dolloped onto grilled bread and pizzas, whisked into sautéed spring greens to round their sharp flavors, or crumbled on top of pasta as a creamy-sharp garnish, ricotta has lately been inescapable in the city’s more adventurous Italian kitchens. Full Story
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Banking on Gardening

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Organic, Photography, Special Reports on 2008/06/11 at 23:56

Banking on Gardening
By MARIAN BURROS

CASSANDRA FEELEY prefers organic ingredients, especially for her baby, but she finds it hard to manage on her husband’s salary as an Army sergeant. So this year she did something she has wanted to do for a long time: she planted vegetables in her yard to save money.
“One organic cucumber is $3 and I can produce it for pennies,” she said. Full Story
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A Missing Staple Puts Many a Maine Chowder Recipe in Jeopardy

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/11 at 22:40

Chebeague Island Journal
A Missing Staple Puts Many a Maine Chowder Recipe in Jeopardy
By KATIE ZEZIMA

CHEBEAGUE ISLAND, Me. — Few pantry items can inflame an entire island, let alone a region. But not many snack foods have a history and following like that of the Crown Pilot cracker.
A white rectangular biscuit that lies somewhere between an unsalted saltine and hardtack, the Crown Pilot has long been a staple in New England homes. Full Story
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Jumbo Shrimps on Skillet

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography on 2008/06/08 at 12:51


Jumbo Shrimps on Skillet
Photo and Styling: OCK

Marinade the shrimps and keep it overnight in the refrigerator.
Stir-fry them on a very hot skillet, [no more than 2 minutes per side], than place them on a serving plate.
Prepare the sauce by pouring what’s left of the cold marinade juice in the same skillet. Be careful, there is going to be a lot of steam but the end result is worth the effort.
Pour the sauce over the shrimps and serve.

Absolutely Delicious!

For marinade I’ve used:
- Fresh garlic;
- Coriander;
- Minth;
- Lime & Mandarin juice;
- Lime & Mandarin zest;
- Fish sauce;
- Sesame oil;

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Semolina from Macedonia to France

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, European Cuisine, Food Guide on 2008/06/08 at 09:22

Food: The Way We Eat
The Drench Connection

An ancient crossroads between Europe and the East, Macedonia developed a vibrant cuisine. The Egnatian Way, stretching from the Adriatic to Constantinople, helped pave the way for a gastronomic exchange that still influences Mediterranean food today. Over the years, Macedonia’s port-side capital, Thessaloniki, became a safe haven for everyone from Christian pilgrims to Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition to refugees from Asia Minor. More …
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Picnic Season with Mayonnaise

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News on 2008/06/08 at 09:13

The mayonnaise season is upon us
As we head into picnic season, mayonnaise plays a star role.
By Joyce Gemperlein
For The Inquirer

My life is ruled by this question: What can I put mayonnaise on today?
Of course mayo isn’t in the forefront of my thoughts every single minute, but it is my subconscious reason for approaching the refrigerator when most people open its door for, say, deli turkey, eggs, bacon, cheese for a quesadilla, salami, arugula, leftover More …
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Cuisine moléculaire le grand splash [FR]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food for Thought, France, Molecular Cuisine, Spain, Special Reports on 2008/06/07 at 19:03

Le Figaro
Cuisine moléculaire le grand splash

Une polémique vient d’éclater en Espagne, déclenchant une guerre des chefs. D’un côté les alchimistes, de l’autre les néocandides. Ça tire de partout. Relevé des cartons.
par François Simon et Alexandra Michot

Ça couvait depuis déjà pas mal de temps, mais cette fois-ci, la querelle a bel et bien éclaté au-dessus de la tête de Ferran Adria et de la cuisine moléculaire.
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Groom’s Cake: Dreaming of Beer & BBQ

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Sweet News on 2008/06/07 at 14:21

Groom’s Cake: Dreaming of Beer & BBQ
By: Neha Grey

Southern tradition dictates that the men in the wedding party decorate the cake at the chosen wedding venue. The groom’s cake may reflect hobbies, interests, or obsessions of the groom; its theme is generally light-hearted More …
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Vibrant Venezuelan Food Scene

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Food for Thought, Special Reports, Venezuela on 2008/06/05 at 11:56

EATING OUT
In Pursuit of the Arepa
Exploring the Vibrant Venezuelan Food Scene of South Florida
By RAYMOND SOKOLOV

We came to South Florida on the trail of international intrigue. Last August, a dual U.S.-Venezuelan citizen was stopped at the Buenos Aires airport carrying a suitcase filled with $800,000 in cash. Permitted to return home to Florida, he donned a wire for the FBI and went out to eat at several local restaurants, where he was joined by South American businessmen. More …
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Ciabatta with Grilled Vegs

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Italy, Non-Regional Cuisines, Photography, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/06/05 at 11:01



Ciabatta con Verdure Grigliate

~ Fresh baked bread;
~ Seasonal grilled vegs;
~ Cherry tomatoes from Pachino, Sicily;
~ Arugola salad;
~ Organic olive oil, [my family production];
~ Balsamic vinegar from Modena, Emilia-Romagna;
~ Salt & pepper;
~ Peperoncino.

Made and Styled by OCK
© Photo by Lucia Zeccara

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If you knew sushi …

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Japan on 2008/06/02 at 23:00

If you knew sushi …
By ROBERT LOERZEL

Let’s face it. Not all of us can wield a knife with the precision of a true sushi chef.
And all of that folding and rolling that goes into making a perfect sushi? Well, you might as well ask us to make origami.
But not all sushi making is beyond the reach of us mortals. In fact, creating one of the most popular forms of sushi, the sliced rolls known as maki-zushi, is almost a snap. More …
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Zabar – A Lifetime Amid the Lox and Rugelach

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/06/02 at 12:48

A Lifetime Amid the Lox and Rugelach
By TINA KELLEY

Nowadays, most tales of longstanding and beloved family businesses in New York seem to end with a sniff and a final mop of the floor. But as Zabar’s, the venerable West Side purveyor of New York noshes, approaches its 75th anniversary next year, it is flourishing and still very much in the family. Overseeing aisles of smoked fish, a United Nations worth of cheeses, and the iconic coffee and rugelach is the firm’s president, Saul Zabar, who will celebrate the 75th anniversary of his 5th birthday next week. More …
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New York – Smokin’ good times

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Holidays~Celebrations, Special Reports on 2008/05/31 at 22:21

Smokin’ good times at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
BY ROSEMARY BLACK

The city’s biggest barbecue starts smokin’ June 7, with 14 of the nation’s top pit masters turning out ribs, brisket and all the trimmings for a two-day feeding frenzy that will serve an estimated 125,000 people. The sixth annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party at Madison Square Park is one of the city’s best-smelling summer events, and it gets bigger and better each year. More …
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Can a Strawberry Be Savory?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Sweet News on 2008/05/29 at 23:46

Can a Strawberry Be Savory?
Washington Post

A big shout-out to the strawberry, who’s back in town and making Washington area farm markets a little more gorgeous.
A member of the rose family, the strawberry is unlike her other berry brethren, as she’s the only one that keeps her seeds in full view, on the skin. Of all the berry options to come our way this summer, More …
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Restaurant Side Dishes Take Centerstage

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/05/28 at 11:03

Restaurant Side Dishes Take Centerstage
By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley | Food Editor
Sun Sentinel

These days, you can get a juicy strip steak or porterhouse at just about any steakhouse. And most seafood restaurants carry the usual mahi-mahi, tuna and salmon. What sets these restaurants apart is their sides.
Often ordered a la carte and served family style, these side dishes are where chefs shine. More …
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A new crowd cultivates a taste for caviar

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/05/27 at 11:54

A new crowd cultivates a taste for caviar
By Tina Dirmann,
Special for USA TODAY

At some of the USA’s hottest and hippest restaurants, young chefs are rediscovering a food once revered by their grandparents but largely ignored by today’s jet-set diners: It’s those salty little fish eggs, better known as caviar. More …
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Cupcakes, Sex and the City style

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/05/26 at 22:14

Recipes:
Cupcakes, Sex and the City style
Telegraph.co.uk

So easy to bake and yet so fashionable. Xanthe Clay has the last word on cupcakes
It’s classic television. Carrie Bradshaw sits in Magnolia Bakery, New York, bites into the thickly iced cupcake, spraying crumbs and licking buttercream from her lips. More …
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Seafood, Sustainably Speaking

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/05/22 at 11:01

A Lesson in Seafood, Sustainably Speaking
By David Hagedorn
The Washington Post

As Shannon and Jamie Konn dined on fish cakes and salmon rillettes at the bar of the Westend Bistro in January, they unwittingly inspired today’s column. Standing near the petite blonde and her tall, dark-haired husband, I noticed how carefully they savored each bite. But I could catch only snippets of commentary.
So I moved in closer and struck up a conversation. As I’d suspected, the Konns, both lawyers in their mid-20s, proved to be ardent gastronomes; they eat in restaurants two or three evenings a week and cook at their Dupont Circle home on the other nights. More …
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The $175 Burger

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Photography on 2008/05/21 at 11:30

The $175 burger is a haute handful for rarefied tastes
By RACHEL WHARTON
Daily News

Forget talk of a recession – a new $175 burger has set the city’s gold standard for conspicuous consumption.
Literally.
The Richard Nouveau – from the Wall Street Burger Shoppe, natch – comes topped with a blizzard of real gold flakes, plus 25 grams of black truffles, plus 25 grams of black truffles, a seared slab of foie gras and an aged Gruyere typically reserved for a high-class cheese tray. More …
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Asparagus – Power Food

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition on 2008/05/19 at 21:20

Power Foods:
Asparagus
MarthaStewart.com

For such a small vegetable, asparagus demands a whole lot of patience. After all, the plant needs to grow for at least three years before you can harvest it. But the wait is always worth it, because in early spring, a time of year when very few green things emerge from the ground, the roots send up shoots that can reach up to 7 inches in as little as a day. More …
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Reindeer Town in Siberia

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Russia on 2008/05/17 at 13:55

The Gastronomer
Where Home Cooking Gets the Cold Shoulder
By Andreas Viestad
Washingthon Post

SCHUCH’YE, Western Siberia — Of all the cowboy towns in this part of Siberia, this must be one of the roughest. When we ride our tractor into town, the first thing I see is a man with a gun next to a dead wolf. On a nearby field a group of men are showing off their lasso-throwing skills.
But of course it isn’t a cowboy town. It is a reindeer town. More …
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Tomatillo – A Tomato’s Cousin With a Sweet Side

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Mexico on 2008/05/17 at 11:41

COOKING
Tomatillo: A Green Sourpuss With a Sweet Side
By Noelle Carter and Donna Deane
Los Angeles Times

TANGY: The tomatillo, a cousin of the tomato, is available year-round, but the main season is May through October.
Roasted, sautéed, grilled or stewed, tomatillos liven many Latin-inspired recipes with their vibrant color, often silky texture and mildly tart flavor.
It’s vibrant green and looks like a small, under-ripe tomato hidden under a delicate, paper-like husk. Peel back that wrapping to reveal firm, slightly sticky flesh with a scent faintly reminiscent of freshly picked herbs. Take one bite and the sweet-tart flavor rings with plum, apple and citrus notes. More …
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World’s Best Street Food

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/05/16 at 22:25

World’s Best Street Food
by JJ Goode
Concierge.com

Street cooks are magicians: With little more than a cart and a griddle, mortar, or deep-fryer, they conjure up not just a delicious snack or meal but the very essence of a place. Bite into a banh mi—the classic Vietnamese sandwich of grilled pork and pickled vegetables encased in a French baguette — and More …
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Old-Fashioned Cheesecake

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News on 2008/05/15 at 19:38

COOKING
Old-Fashioned Cheesecake Without All The Trappings
By Amy Scattergood

Whether you fill it with ricotta, farmer or goat cheese, cheese curd, mascarpone or cream cheese, the smooth taste is iconic.

THE HAPPY childhood goes like this: My mother unwraps the silver boxes of cream cheese as if they are presents. She beats the soft cheese — the crack of eggs, a dust-storm of sugar — into pale snowbanks in the bowl while she lets me crush the graham crackers with a hammer. I sneak a few butter-laced crumbs and, later, watch the cooling cheesecake with that wistful ache children can have about certain foods. Such moments, repeated through the years, transform simple favorites into profound emblems. More …
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Sparks of Flavor Stand in for Heat

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/05/15 at 11:13

The Minimalist
Sparks of Flavor Stand in for Heat
By MARK BITTMAN
The New York Times

BACK in the early ’80s, when I had just begun to write about cooking, I used to hang around in the kitchen of a man named Peter Chang. Mr. Chang ran a one-man-show of a Chinese restaurant in New Haven, and was kind and patient enough to teach me some of what he knew.
Mr. Chang’s efficiency was questionable: he’d start grinding the meat and shredding the cabbage when someone ordered dumplings, and often began a batch of stock only when the first patron asked for hot-and-sour soup. More …
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Fashion Statement by Eating Fresh Peas

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/05/13 at 12:37

Backyard harvest
Plucked from the vine
Right from the pod is tastiest way to enjoy the first peas of spring
Imagine Making a Fashion Statement by Eating Fresh Peas.
By Brad Schleicher
Baltimore Sun

Although the idea may seem silly today, indulging in little green legumes was all the rage in 17th-century Europe. It was so popular that it sparked commentary from the court of King Louis XIV.
In 1696, according to The Penguin Companion to Food by Alan Davidson, Madame de Maintenon, the king’s second wife, wrote: “There are some ladies who, having supped, and supped well, take peas at home before going to bed at the risk of an attack of indigestion. It’s a fashion, a craze.” More …
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Fashion Statement by Eating Fresh Peas

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/05/13 at 12:37

Backyard harvest
Plucked from the vine
Right from the pod is tastiest way to enjoy the first peas of spring
Imagine Making a Fashion Statement by Eating Fresh Peas.
By Brad Schleicher
Baltimore Sun

Although the idea may seem silly today, indulging in little green legumes was all the rage in 17th-century Europe. It was so popular that it sparked commentary from the court of King Louis XIV.
In 1696, according to The Penguin Companion to Food by Alan Davidson, Madame de Maintenon, the king’s second wife, wrote: “There are some ladies who, having supped, and supped well, take peas at home before going to bed at the risk of an attack of indigestion. It’s a fashion, a craze.” More …
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French Chef Crazy for Chocolate

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, France, Sweet News on 2008/05/13 at 11:52

French Chef Crazy for Chocolate
Shelley Boettcher
Calgary Herald

If you love chocolate, you’ll have a hard time choosing what dessert to make first from the new cookbook, Chocolate Epiphany: Exceptional Cookies, Cakes and Confections for Everyone by Francois Payard with Anne E. McBride (Potter, 2008, $40).
One option? A plateful of rich chocolate financiers. According to Payard, More …
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Recipe for Semolina Pasta

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/05/13 at 11:45

Recipe for Semolina Pasta
By J.M. HIRSCH
AP Food Editor

This simple, egg-free pasta is a delicious, fun and child-friendly way to try your hand at homemade pasta. While it can be shaped however you like, this style traditionally is formed into small, thin discs.
This recipe calls for forming the dough into long snakes, which then are cut into small chunks that can be pressed with your thumb to create the discs, More …
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Fruit Soups With a Kick

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Sweet News on 2008/05/10 at 11:35

Recipes:
Fruit Soups With a Kick
BY ROSEMARY BLACK
New York Daily News

The hottest cold fruit soups this spring feature a little extra kick, an unexpected flavor to enhance and enrich the other ingredients and to surprise the taster.
It could be a pinch of pepper, or some shallots, or even a splash of red wine that cuts the sweetness and adds some depth to everything from berries to melon. If you try making these soups at home – and you definitely should – keep a light hand and remember, a little goes a long way when it comes to adding savory seasonings. More …
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So What Makes Sugar Cookies Delectable?

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/05/09 at 13:41

Cuisine Quest:
So what makes sugar cookies delectable? It’s the cake flower
Send us your best
By Kathy Stephenson
The Salt Lake Tribune

Most cooks reach for the all-purpose flour when making a batch of cookies. Using cake flour never comes to mind.
But this fine-textured, high-starch flour – which makes cakes and pastries so tender – is the key to making the soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, similar to those sold at Paradise Bakery & Cafe.
MaryEllen Johnson, a sugar cookie connoisseur, requested a recipe for the Paradise cookies, which are rolled in sugar and not frosted.
About seven years ago, More …
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Hotel Chefs Embrace Local, Organic Food Trend

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Organic on 2008/05/09 at 13:36

Hotel Chefs Embrace Local, Organic Food Trend
By Kelly Carter
USA TODAY

An increasing number of hotels are touting restaurants that offer organic and locally grown foods, much in the same way they would promote pillow-top mattresses and in-room wireless Internet.
Blue on Blue, a poolside restaurant at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, celebrates Earth Day next week with a $55 prix fixe menu showcasing organic and sustainable food from local farms, paired with flights of biodynamic and organic wines for another $25. Early risers can enjoy the Beverly Hills Breakfast, consisting of fresh fruit, bee pollen, wildfire honey, an organic muffin and banana soy smoothie.
How California. But hotels eager to please health-conscious and environmentally aware diners stretch beyond the Golden State. More …
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I Have Stalked Rhubarb

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/05/08 at 23:23

In Season
I Have Stalked Rhubarb, and I’m Ready to Roll
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick
The Washington Post

When dogwoods are in bloom and azaleas are flowering in force, the great wait for local produce has begun. That may explain why the appearance of even the homely, lovable rhubarb seems to be such an event for its diverse groups of admirers: pie bakers, jam makers and trendy young chefs. More …
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Ribs the Modern Mexican Way

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Mexico on 2008/05/08 at 12:28

TALK OF THE TABLE
Ribs the Modern Mexican Way
Despite flaws typical of chefs’ cookbooks, Mod Mex yields some delicious recipes
By MARY VUONG
Houston Chronicle

On the surface, Mod Mex (Andrews McMeel, $25) is a cookbook with lots of potential.
Written by Scott Linquist, executive chef of Dos Caminos in New York, and Joanna Pruess, the book makes clear there’s more to Mexican cuisine than fajitas and enchiladas. With Post-it flags in hand, I marked at least a dozen appealing recipes to try, such as Wild Mushroom and Huitlacoche Sopes and Lobster Tacos.
Then I reread them, and the list dwindled.
Chef-written cookbooks can be fussy and time-consuming, More …
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True Texas Food

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/05/08 at 11:01

True Texas Food: Enjoy the classics, cowboy cuisine, Tex-Mex and Lose Star chic
By KATHIE SMITH
ToledoBlade.com

DALLAS — In this city deep in the heart of the Lone Star state, there’s enough authentic Texas fare to suit anyone’s taste. It can be as simple as classics like a waffle cooked in the shape of the state of Texas or a slice of pecan pie.
There’s also plenty of cowboy cooking, Tex-Mex cuisine, and Texas chic.
Historic Texas foods are as diverse as the immigrants who brought them — the Germans, Czechs, and Poles with their sausage making and meat smoking, the Irish Stew that was a one-pot meal that cowboys adopted, and More …
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Pasta Mañana

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/05/07 at 11:50

Menu Development | By Marc Halperin
Pasta Mañana
QSR.com

Suggestions for noodling around with a versatile carrier at dinner.
For some of us of a certain age, a personal history of pasta really begins with a can bearing the likeness of a certain grinning, mustachioed fellow in a white toque.
Chef Boyardee often introduced Americans who grew up hundreds of miles from the nearest community of Italian immigrants to the magic of pasta in tomato-based sauces. When I was a kid growing up in the central-California city of Fresno, those vacuum-sealed steel cylinders packed with beef ravioli were about the most ethnically distinctive offering on the shelves at my family’s local supermarket. More …
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Fines Herbes: Spring’s Zesty Fab Four

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, France, Healthy Kitchen, Photography on 2008/05/06 at 21:38

COOKING
Fines herbes: Spring’s zesty fab four
By Regina Schrambling
Los Angeles Times

CONSIDERING France is the country that gave the world the expression ménage à trois, it’s probably not surprising that cooks there have defined ways to use herbs in multiples too. Three of these brilliant combinations will make cooking more enticing any day of the year, but one of them could not be better suited to this season: fines herbes.
Herbes de Provence, typically thyme, rosemary, lavender and bay leaves, are the essence of summertime cooking, More …
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Deep Down, My Favorite Shrimp

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/05/05 at 19:51

Deep Down, My Favorite Shrimp
By John Martin Taylor
The Washington Post

It was with suspicious surprise that I learned nine years ago of a “new” species of shrimp being hawked by my friend Eddie Corley, who sells shrimp from his roadside trailer in Red Top, S.C., on the banks of Rantowles Creek, about 15 miles outside Charleston.
When the local shrimp aren’t coming in, Corley drives south as far as he must to bring shrimp fresh off the boats back to his customers. He was jubilant about his find: “royal reds,” More …
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Safe Fugu?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Asian Cuisine, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Japan, Nutrition, Photography, Special Reports on 2008/05/04 at 19:05

If the Fish Liver Can’t Kill, Is It Really a Delicacy?
By NORIMITSU ONISHI
The New York Times

SHIMONOSEKI, Japan — Poison has been as integral to fugu, the funny-looking, potentially deadly puffer fish prized by Japanese gourmands, as the savor of its pricey meat. So consider fugu, but poison-free.

Thanks to advances in fugu research and farming, Japanese fish farmers are now mass-producing fugu as harmless as goldfish. Most important, they have taken the poison out of fugu’s liver, considered both its most delicious and potentially most lethal part, More …
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Pizza with Grill Marks

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/30 at 15:48

COOKING OUT
Hey, your pizza has grill marks!
For that distinctive flavor of a wood-fired oven, take your pie to the backyard
By MARY VUONG
Houston Chronicle

For a home cook, grilled pizzas are the closest you can get to the charred crispiness of pies from a wood-fired oven.

They’re also quick and easy to fix for a weeknight meal or casual dinner party. The dough can be bought ready-made or made ahead of time, and the toppings readied as the grill heats up. More>>
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Pizza with Grill Marks

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/30 at 15:48

COOKING OUT
Hey, your pizza has grill marks!
For that distinctive flavor of a wood-fired oven, take your pie to the backyard
By MARY VUONG
Houston Chronicle

For a home cook, grilled pizzas are the closest you can get to the charred crispiness of pies from a wood-fired oven.

They’re also quick and easy to fix for a weeknight meal or casual dinner party. The dough can be bought ready-made or made ahead of time, and the toppings readied as the grill heats up. More>>
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Risotto, Perfect Partner for New Spring Flavors

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/04/28 at 15:53

FOOD/DINING
Risotto is a perfect partner for new spring flavors
BY RACHEL WHARTON
New York Daily News

Risotto with Green Peas and Pancetta

Italian risottos are a stellar Sunday supper while the sun is gaining strength: Dotted with asparagus, mushrooms, favas or green onions, these rice dishes are rich and comfy yet bright and light at the same time. This tried-and-true pairing of fresh peas and pork is a favorite of New York City chef Laurent Tourondel, More>>
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Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative in the Kitchen

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine on 2008/04/28 at 15:43

Don’t be afraid to get creative in the kitchen
A Williamsbug chef plays with combinations and always dines well.
By KATHY VAN MULLEKOM
Daily Press

Give Chef Nikki Collins a sharp knife and her three favorite herbs — basil, coriander and rosemary — and she can create a culinary smorgasbord for any occasion.

“I focus on quality, fresh ingredients and dishes that are a little bit different than most people would find around here,” says Collins, who oversees the dining operations for The Williamsburg Winery and its new Wedmore Place, a European country estate-style hotel.

Her main focus is the hotel’s Café Provencal and its French Provencal-inspired dishes with modern twists. More>>
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Magical Meringue

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/04/24 at 22:35

Food
Magical meringue
By Denise Martin and Donna Deane
Los Angeles Times

Soft and billowy or sweet and crisp, meringue is a chameleon in the kitchen: Use it as a dessert topping, a magic mix-in that gives rise to dense cakes, even as cookie-like crumbles that lend crunch to all sorts of pastry-chef creations.

It’s made of modest ingredients — stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar at its most basic — and with seemingly endless variations it changes shape, volume and texture, bending to the will of its maker. Soft meringue can be molded and baked into wafers and hollow shells. Replace the sugar with hot syrup and the result will be clouds of thick, glossy, almost marshmallow-like confection. (Add chunks of cold butter to that and you’ve got lush Italian butter cream). More>>
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Fruit Soups With a Kick

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/04/23 at 23:35

Recipes:
Fruit soups with a kick
BY ROSEMARY BLACK
New York Daily News

Strawberry Soup with Black Pepper Ice Cream

The hottest cold fruit soups this spring feature a little extra kick, an unexpected flavor to enhance and enrich the other ingredients and to surprise the taster.

It could be a pinch of pepper, or some shallots, or even a splash of red wine that cuts the sweetness and adds some depth to everything from berries to melon. If you try making these soups at home – and you definitely should – keep a light hand and remember, a little goes a long way when it comes to adding savory seasonings. more>>
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You Call That Pudding, Grandma?

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Sweet News on 2008/04/23 at 23:21

A Good Appetite
You Call That Pudding, Grandma?
By MELISSA CLARK
The New York Times

I HAD no intention of making chocolate ice cream. I wanted only the perfect chocolate pudding.

For years, when striving to make the ultimate, silky, profoundly fudgy chocolate pudding, I invariably looked to Grandma. Oh, not to either of my Grandmas, who relied on boxed mixes with pallid results. But to an iconic silver-haired Grandma whom I envisioned stirring a pot of farm fresh milk, eggs, cornstarch and melted chocolate to a creamy, intense perfection.

For over a decade, I happily stirred my way through pudding recipes from the most tried-and-true grandmotherly sources I could find: more>>
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Swedish Meatballs

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide on 2008/04/23 at 13:41

On Food: A smorgasbord of their best
By REBEKAH DENN
P-I RESTAURANT CRITIC

“Do you have Seattle’s best Swedish meatball recipe?”

Even in today’s, homogenized, modernized Seattle, those appear to be fighting words.

Eric DuBois, owner of As You Like It catering at the Swedish Cultural Center, asked the question anyway, and 89 people entered his Swedish meatball competition.

I was the only person even remotely surprised by the large number of entries. (Anyone else in the “surprised” category thought there would be even more.) more>>
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Camembert Wars Get Dirty in Fight for France’s Soul

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food for Thought, France, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition on 2008/04/23 at 13:15

Camembert wars get dirty in fight for France’s soul
Said to smell like God’s feet, France’s favourite soft cheese is at the heart of a battle pitting small farmers against the corporations
Angelique Chrisafis in Camembert
Guardian.co.uk

In his tiny workshop with a view of his cows, Francois Durand stood lovingly ladling raw milk curd into cheese moulds. After several weeks of salting, ripening and maturing, these would turn into the pungent, oozing Camembert that is France’s favourite soft cheese – as much part of the national stereotype as the Basque beret, the baguette and a glass of red wine.

“When you use raw, unpasteurised milk, the taste is nice and fruity,” Durand mused as he inspected the smelly contents of his ripening rooms. “You can taste what the cows have been eating at different times of year.” more>>
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Gordon Ramsay – Perverse Desserts

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News, UK on 2008/04/22 at 23:37

Perverse desserts: Pannacotta with tomato confit
From pannacotta with tomato to Gorgonzola ice-cream. Gordon Ramsay pushes the boundaries … Sweet Makeover! more>>
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El Bulli is Still World’s Best Restaurant

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Food Styling, Molecular Cuisine, Photography, Special Reports on 2008/04/22 at 23:21

El Bulli is still world’s best restaurant
Valerie Elliott
Times Online

The king of avante-garde chefs is crowned once again the best in the world.

Ferran Adria, and his El Bulli restaurant, at Roses, on the Costa Brava, has taken the top award in the 2008 San Pellegrino world restaurants awards organised by Restaurant magazine.

His laboratory cooking is now firmly established at the pinnacle of haute cuisine.

Parmesan cheese shaped like spaghetti and carrots served like foam are among the wizard-like dishes which Adria has concocted in his workshop and which have revolutionised Spain’s reputation for cuisine. more>>
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Onions That Don’t Bite Back

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Food Guide on 2008/04/18 at 21:31

The Gastronomer
Onions That Don’t Bite Back
By Andreas Viestad
The Washington Post

It could happen to the best of us at the best of times. Instead it happened to me, on an ordinary Tuesday when I was in a hurry to feed my family. For the second time in just minutes, my eyes filled with tears. The chopped onions I had thrown into the pan at the last moment to accompany a main course that needed some support were just the opposite of what I wanted them to be. They were bitter and charred on the outside, still raw and sharp within.
It was a disaster of microscopic proportions, I admit. In my fridge I keep an arsenal of French pâtés and preserves that I turn to when all else fails. And even if I hadn’t had backup, the worst that could have happened was that my wife and son would have had to suffer through a meal that just wasn’t much fun. Still, I was upset. continue>>
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Cooking Up a Stew of Molecules

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Molecular Cuisine, Non-Regional Cuisines, Special Reports on 2008/04/17 at 19:42

Cooking up a stew of molecules
By Michal Palti
Haaretz.com

When Daniel Pekkar talks about the “unpleasant parts of the tomato,” or “very green watermelon rind,” one might think for a moment that this is a discussion with a greengrocer on a routine walk through the wholesale market on his way to his store. Nothing in this chef’s look or style divulges that he is actually 2007’s Spanish champion of molecular cooking, or the fact that chef Ferran Adria of the El Bulli restaurant, which wins the top spot in world restaurant rankings every year, invited Pekkar, 29, to join his venture.

A meeting with Pekkar during his recent visit to Israel reveals a young man who bites into a thick feta cheese and lettuce sandwich with an appetite reserved for Israelis who live abroad; who does not understand how, all of a sudden, people stopped smoking in cafes; who speaks in a steady stream; and who seems unaffected by the fastidious sophistication of molecular biology laboratories. continue>>
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Picky Eaters? Food on Sticks is the Answer!

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/16 at 22:43

Stick it to picky eaters: Serve them food on sticks!
By Marialisa Calta
Times Argus Online

Have you got picky eaters in your family? Whiners (and by “whiners,” I don’t necessarily mean just children) who have banned most vegetables, fish, certain meats and other delectable items from their diet, who don’t like spices and herbs and who are generally wimps when it comes to trying anything new? Here are dishes to win them over: food on sticks.

Food served on skewers — be it chunks of meat, vegetables or fruit — are for some primal reason just more appealing than the same food served on a plate. continue>>
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Celebrate New Season

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Nutrition, Vegetarian on 2008/04/14 at 20:50

Spring Entertaining: Keeping It Simple
by Georgeanne Brennan
San Francisco Chronicle

Giving a dinner party to celebrate the new season is one of my favorite things to do. In spring, letting the young, tender produce take center stage makes for easy entertaining menus.

Spring is the season of early growth, when soil moisture combined with the increasing day length and rising temperatures encourages perennials such as rhubarb, artichokes and asparagus to send forth tender stalks and buds. Favas and peas are flowering and setting their first tender pods. The young carrots are sweet, the radishes crunchy and crisp. Green garlic is available for only a few weeks, before the bulbs fill more>>
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The Sweet Side of Rhubarb

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/04/14 at 20:39

CALIFORNIA COOK
The sweet side of rhubarb
By Russ Parsons
Los Angeles Times

TRANSFORMED: Cook rhubarb with sugar and its sourness balances the sweetness in a compelling way, and its tough texture melts.
Rhubarb starts tart, but in a crisp, a pie, a sorbet, a compote, with strawberries or even oranges, it ends with a bang. Or go savory as a side with duck.

… And rhubarb is definitely anything but bland. It is tart in the extreme, to the point of astringency. Chew on a chunk of raw rhubarb stalk and you might come away gasping (I actually like to do this occasionally — almost like a good wake-up jolt to the palate — but I admit that’s odd even among rhubarb lovers).

However, cook rhubarb with sugar and that sourness balances the sweetness in a compelling way. At the same time, the plant’s tough, fibrous texture melts into silkiness. more>>
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Salad Time!

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Non-Regional Cuisines, Vegetarian on 2008/04/13 at 20:38

Salad from the ground up
By Valerie Usowski
The Citizen, Auburn, (NY)

Warm weather is approaching and what better time to get reacquainted with our gardens and produce sections. After a winter of carb laden comfort foods, we can transition into lighter, healthier fare.
Salads have become more popular and have moved from the side dish category to the main entree. Salads can be separated into two groups; mixed or composed.

A mixed salad is just as you would expect, mixed greens and vegetables tossed with a dressing like a Caesar. A composed salad is a tad bit more complex. The composed salad usually has a selection of cooked meats, boiled eggs, cooked potatoes or cheeses and is arranged in a very appetizing manner; think a Cobb salad.

To make a great salad, either mixed or composed, we need to understand the building blocks that really make it great. The main component of any salad are the greens. Base lettuces such as the mild crispy iceberg, slightly bitter elongated romaine or the soft buttery butterhead (Boston and Bibb) lend to the direction of flavor/texture of the intended result. Greens should be crisp and tightly layered with a good green color. more>>
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Wrapping Food

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Healthy Kitchen, Photography on 2008/04/10 at 14:33

The Minimalist
Quickly and Easily, a Touch of Elegance
by Mark Bittman
NewYorkTimes.com

MOSTLY I play down elegance — it’s too complicated and fussy for most home cooks to bother with — but occasionally I’m surprised at how easily it can be achieved. That was the case a couple of weeks ago when I decided to try to mimic a restaurant-style dish that resembles stuffed cabbage but contains far fewer ingredients and can be put together in less than half an hour.

That dish is fish wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves (or more>>
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Sun Shines On Simple Brunches

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/08 at 08:51

The Sun Shines On Simple Brunches
Chef Sunny Anderson Preps A Menu On A Shoestring
The Early Show

(CBS) Chef Sunny Anderson likes variety in her life. She served in the Air Force, became a hip-hop deejay, built a successful catering business and, starting Sunday, hosts “Cooking for Real,” a series on the Food Network.

Anderson specializes in uncomplicated dishes with affordable, easy-to-find ingredients.

In accepting The Early Show’s “Chef on a Shoestring” challenge, she made a brunch for four, on a budget that won’t break the bank – $40. more>>
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Redding Chef Adds Zest to Cooking

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Sweet News on 2008/04/06 at 14:02

Redding chef adds zest to cooking and Orange Cream Cheese Pie
by Brandy Black, Special to the Record Searchlight
Redding.com

“A recipe for a great cook starts with a dash of enthusiasm, then add a pinch of inspiration and mix together with creativity and motivation.” [Betty Crocker]

Norma Whitt, 28, of Redding demonstrates these traits daily in the kitchen. Whitt is a pastry chef and sous-chef at Market St. Steak House in downtown Redding. There, she has the freedom to create a wide range of dishes, including her favorite, Orange Cream Cheese Pie. This light and refreshing dessert is a nice ending to a meal.

Whitt grew up in Redlands, where cooking and entertaining were part of family life. more>>
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The Story of a Flower Eater

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Healthy Kitchen, Photography on 2008/04/06 at 09:45

Bloomin’ good, the story of a flower eater
By CHRISTINE HAWES CORRESPONDENT
HeraldTribune.com

Joan Kershaw’s memories include running wild in the woods, plucking honeysuckle flowers and sucking out the luscious nectar.
But unlike most of us who might share a similar memory, Kershaw ate all kinds of other flowers, and she kept on eating flowers long after childhood. She collected books on edible flowers, more>>
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Fries That Surprise

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought on 2008/04/04 at 21:50

Fries that surprise
Local chefs are slicing up a whole new fry – from spud sticks drizzled in truffle oil to tempura-battered sweet potatoes. Pull up a chair and browse our menu of the crispy, crunchy best.
By JUNE NAYLOR
Star-Telegram.com

French fries are a glorious gastronomic experience, whether you’re talking about the most simple burger-stand sort, with salt and ketchup, or gussied up in fancy restaurants, with elegant oils and herbs.

And lately, local restaurants are tricking out fries all sorts of ways, offering the little slivers of golden goodness smothered in melted cheese, tossed in gourmet seasonings and offered alongside decadent dipping sauces. more >>
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Sensory World of the Futurist Banquet

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Photography, Special Reports on 2008/04/03 at 21:41

* Food & Wine
Elasticake, anyone? A very strange meal
British Library recreates weird and wonderful Futurist Banquet
MSNBC/Associated Press

LONDON – More than 100 well-heeled diners are sitting in the august British Library, eating a fennel slice, an olive and a kumquat while stroking pieces of velvet, silk and sandpaper. The scent of cloves wafts around the room as an airplane engine roars. And this is just the appetizer.

The main course of this unusual banquet is “Alaskan salmon in the rays of the sun with Mars sauce.” Dessert is Elasticake — a fluffy pastry ball oozing blood-red zabaglione and crowned with quivering licorice antennae.

Welcome to the weird, sensory world of the Futurist Banquet — [More...]
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Las Vegas Hot Spots for Diners on a Budget

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Special Reports on 2008/04/03 at 17:47

Las Vegas hot spots for diners on a budget
by S. Irene Virbila
Los Angeles Times

JAVA SCENE: Espressamente Illy, the top Italian coffee company, serves quality espresso in a smart urban setting.
For small spenders who want to eat well, the choices include cocktails at Mix Lounge, gumbo at Fish Camp and small plates at Guy Savoy’s Bubble Lounge.

LAS VEGAS — No doubt about it. The top of the Vegas food chain is the domain of high rollers. But here’s a secret: You don’t have to spend big to eat big in this town. You can sample Guy Savoy’s legendary artichoke truffle soup for just a few dollars, or take in the million-dollar view at Mix for the price of a cocktail. Stray off the Strip and head to the places the famous chefs hit when they’re off duty — including one of the country’s best Thai restaurants. [More...]
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Chicago, An Oyster’s Kind of Town

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/03 at 12:56

An oyster’s kind of town
Chicago’s central location gives bivalve lovers the best of both coasts
By Bill Daley | Tribune critic
Chicago Tribune

Oysters and Chicago are two words that don’t sit comfortably together. After all, the oyster is all about the ocean, conjuring up visions of rocky coastlines, dark seas and a picturesque lighthouse or two. And Chicago? Lighthouses, yes, but on a lake. And the nearest ocean is nearly a thousand miles away.

Still, the oyster should be linked to Chicago, just as the hot dog, Italian beef and deep-dish pizza are, because oysters have played a vibrant role in Windy City life since almost the very beginning. …

… “You’ve got East Coast snobs and West Coast snobs, but we in Chicago get everything,” Fucik said. “We’re the melting pot of the nation.” [More...]
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How Naked Is Your Gnudi?

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Italy, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/04/02 at 23:03

Taste
How Naked Is Your Gnudi?
By Catherine M. Allchin
The Seattle Times

Got gnudi? Yes, it sounds like something you might have done on a remote beach. But while the word does mean “naked” in Italian, the reference is to something not nearly so racy — ravioli filling without the pasta.

Often called ricotta gnocchi (because the main ingredient is ricotta cheese) or malfatti (“badly made” in Italian, because of their sloppy shape), these little melt-in-your-mouth dumplings have created something of a culinary craze across the country.

And ricotta gnocchi or gnudi, naked or not, these little cloudlike pillows deserve all the buzz they’ve been getting. [More...]
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GNUDI is a dialectal expression of the Italian word NUDI/Naked. They are a sort of Tortelli made with the filling only, no fresh dough.
The Synonyms of the above recipe are: Ravioli nudi, Strangolapreti, Strozzapreti, Gnocchi del Casentino (pronounced/’ɲɔkki/).

Gnudi-Ravioli Nudi [IT]

Mac ‘n’ cheese, Improving on a classic

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/02 at 20:47

Improving on a classic
By Lori Weisberg
The Paramus Post

Who among us hasn’t reveled in the guilty pleasure of digging into a generous helping of macaroni and cheese? We’re talking about the real, homemade kind where the pasta is bathed in a rich, custardy sauce loaded with robust cheddar and crowned with a crusty golden topping.

No cheese powder here.

Mac ‘n’ cheese is a perennial comfort-food favorite, yet over the years, cookbook authors, chefs and cooking competitions have tried their best to improve on the classic recipe.

Bechamel sauce or no white sauce? Upscale add-ins such as truffle oil and lobster, perhaps, or a more down-home version with a bit of kielbasa sausage? Tired of cheddar? There’s always gorgonzola, fontina, Taleggio and brie to choose from. [More...]
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Lamb, Eggplant and Feta Cheese Panini

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/01 at 21:40

Lamb, Eggplant and Feta Cheese Panini
The Washington Post

Dinner in 35 Minutes

* Course: Main Course
* Features: Fast

Summary:

Leftover lamb — the rarer the better — is put to good use in these sandwiches with Mediterranean appeal.

A smooth spread made of baba ghanoush ingredients makes just the right condiment. For a quick version, we used Cortas brand grilled eggplant pulp, which comes in a 30-ounce can. [More...]
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Empanada Recipe Follows a Family Tradition

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide on 2008/04/01 at 15:17

ARGENTINA
Empanada recipe follows a family tradition
By CATHY THOMAS
The Orange County Register

Carlota Haider loves to make Argentinean-style empanadas, those plump turnovers with golden brown crusts and irresistible fillings.

“Not only does each province (in Argentina) have its own kind, but literally, every household has its own special version,” she writes, adding that the version she likes best was traditional in her mother’s former household in Córdoba, Argentina. Haider, who lives in Brea, was born in Argentina and [More...]
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Red Snapper Veracruz Style & Wine [MEXICO]

In Americas Cuisines, Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Mexico on 2008/03/31 at 11:47

MEXICO
Snappy wines to serve with saucy red snapper

Our expert panel finds wines that can handle Red Snapper Veracruzana’s layers of flavors
By TINA DANZE / Special Contributor to
The Dallas Morning News

This month, spring fever left the wine panel dreaming of the Mexican coast – not for a beach trip, but for red snapper prepared Veracruz style and served with a glass of wine.
The dish is a Mexican classic, but the sauce bears a decidedly Mediterranean profile thanks to Spain’s strong culinary influence in Veracruz. The tomato-based sauce holds a mélange of flavors: green olives, capers, raisins, garlic, bay leaves and oregano. This union of briny, sweet, herbaceous and spicy flavors makes the snapper more complex than the average fish dish – and a difficult match for some generally reliable seafood wines. [More...]
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CONSIDERING ALL THE INGREDIENTS AND THE FIERY SPICINESS OF THE JALAPENOS, THE TASTERS HAVE VERY INTERESTING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD BE USED TO PAIR ALSO SEVERAL RECIPES FROM MEDITERRANEAN CUISINES.

Painted Chocolates

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food Styling, Photography, Sweet News on 2008/03/31 at 11:35

Painted chocolates
from Bryan, Texas
Cox News Service
The Dallas Morning News

BRYAN, Texas – Mitch Siegert pours a bit of warm chocolate paint – cocoa butter mixed with coloring – into a small cup, dons latex gloves and picks up a clean candy mold. He dabs his index finger in the paint and makes a small swirl on the bottom of each cavity that eventually will hold a chocolate bonbon.

Setting that aside for a few minutes to dry, Mr. Siegert makes a small paper cone, fills it with a different shade of chocolate paint, snips the bottom open and rapidly leaves streaks of color in another mold. [More...]
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WHAT MOTIVATION CAN DO!

Organic Feast for Spring

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Organic on 2008/03/30 at 14:38

An organic feast for spring’s sustainable table
BY RACHEL WHARTON
NewYorkDailyNews.com

Spring’s arrival is big news to cooks like Jesse Ziff Cool. A well-known caterer in California and the author of “Simply Organic” (Chronicle Books), she has been shopping with the seasons since well before most of us first heard the term organic.

She has also made dinners for food writer Michael Pollan, has her own chicken coop, knows her local farmers by name and wrote one of the country’s first organic cookbooks near-ly a decade ago.

Now updated, those first easy recipes and thoughts on buying and cooking sustainably raised foods, [More...]
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Organic Feast for Spring

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Environment Et Eco-Friendly, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Organic on 2008/03/30 at 14:38

An organic feast for spring’s sustainable table
BY RACHEL WHARTON
NewYorkDailyNews.com

Spring’s arrival is big news to cooks like Jesse Ziff Cool. A well-known caterer in California and the author of “Simply Organic” (Chronicle Books), she has been shopping with the seasons since well before most of us first heard the term organic.

She has also made dinners for food writer Michael Pollan, has her own chicken coop, knows her local farmers by name and wrote one of the country’s first organic cookbooks near-ly a decade ago.

Now updated, those first easy recipes and thoughts on buying and cooking sustainably raised foods, [More...]
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Bacon, food people hate to love

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition on 2008/03/27 at 11:53

BRING HOME BETTER BACON
Americans consumed more than $2 billion worth of bacon last year, but the tastiest stuff is made by a small group of artisanal producers
by Nick Passmore
Businessweek.com

Bacon is the food people hate to love.

It must also be the most politically incorrect food in the culinary world. The Talmud prohibits its consumption, as does the Koran. It’s loaded with nitrates, salts, and the worst kinds of animal fat. But still we keep on eating it—$2 billion worth annually in the U.S. according to the National Pork Board, the Other White Meat people. Why? Because it tastes so very good.

The lure is that exquisite combination of intense, concentrated, sweet pork fat, along with salt and smoke. There’s something very basic and primal about bacon’s flavor. It seems to hark back to a simpler, more agrarian past when most of the population was in close contact with the land.
Pigging Out in Kentucky [More...]
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Pecorino Senese al Pepe

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Guide, Healthy Kitchen, Italy, Nutrition, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/03/25 at 03:02

Cheese Course: A pepper coat enhances Tuscany’s pecorino senese
by Janet Fletcher
San Francisco Chronicle

Documenting Italy’s many pecorinos could keep a scholar busy for years, but I can hardly imagine more enjoyable research. The task would require traipsing around Tuscany – no hardship there – because that region produces innumerable sheep’s milk cheeses, known generically in Italian as pecorini. Among the noteworthy Tuscan specialties is pecorino senese (seh-NEH-zeh), made in the vicinity of Siena for centuries.

Recently, local Whole Foods stores have been carrying a delightful pecorino senese from the Pinzani dairy in Castel San Gimignano. Established in 1969, the dairy makes only raw-milk cheese because [More...]
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MERINGUE, Kitchen Chameleon

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Guide, Food for Thought, Sweet News on 2008/03/24 at 20:02

BAKING
Versatile meringue transforms desserts

The magic of beaten egg whites and sugar — use it as a dessert topping, a mix-in that lifts a dense cake or as a crumble that adds crunch.
By Denise Martin and Donna Deane
Los Angeles Times

Soft and billowy or sweet and crisp, meringue is a chameleon in the kitchen: Use it as a dessert topping, a magic mix-in that gives rise to dense cakes, even as cookie-like crumbles that lend crunch to all sorts of pastry-chef creations.

It’s made of modest ingredients — stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar at its most basic — and with seemingly endless variations it changes shape, volume and texture, bending to the will of its maker. Soft meringue can be molded and baked into wafers and hollow shells. Replace the sugar with hot syrup and the result will be clouds of thick, glossy, almost marshmallow-like confection. (Add chunks of cold butter to that and you’ve got lush Italian buttercream). [More...]

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OCK NOTES!
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Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Store

Spring Produce for Easter

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food for Thought, Holidays~Celebrations on 2008/03/19 at 20:52

Think spring produce to accompany Easter dinner
By Teresa J. Farney | Freedom News Services
Ahwatukee Foothills News (Phoenix); [3/17]

The tulips and daffodils are emerging from their winter sleep. Spring has sprung, and with it comes the annual appearance of bright green stalks of fresh asparagus and huge globes of fresh artichokes at the grocery store.

These seductive harbingers of warmer weather are crying out to be brought home, and what better time than Easter Sunday to do just that? Asparagus and artichokes make perfect side dishes at an Easter meal. To get new ideas for using these springtime staples, we went to three award-winning chefs from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Alan Sirull, executive chef at the Antlers Grille in the Antlers Hilton, created a dish that puts a new twist on asparagus.

“My favorite asparagus dish is chilled asparagus with pistachios, [... More]
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OCK NOTES!
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PURE FOOD POETRY!

Browse through an extensive list of FOOD MEDITATIONS FREE Food & Beverage magazines, publications and newsletters. Find the titles that best match your skills and interests.

Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Store

Live Lobster Clambake – Let’s Celebrate

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Holidays~Celebrations on 2008/03/06 at 14:44

Live Lobster Clambake – Let’s Celebrate
By Shannon Linnen
uberarticles.com

Are you and your friends looking for a fun and different way to celebrate a special occasion? A new england clambake could be just the ticket. This traditional Northeastern celebration is gaining popularity outside the New England region for being a healthy, unique, and festive gathering idea.

The coast of New England is the origin place of the first clambake. It started as preparation of the abundant seafood that was caught by the fishermen from the Atlantic ocean. This kind of cooking was done by Native Americans originally and soon it became a tradition. These days it has become very popular in the area and spread all over the coast as well as inland.
Read full article

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OCK NOTES!
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Budget Presents:

The Plate Set could be a very cute present for a clambake party!

7-day Free trial of Napster!

Live Lobster Clambake – Let’s Celebrate

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Holidays~Celebrations on 2008/03/06 at 14:44

Live Lobster Clambake – Let’s Celebrate
By Shannon Linnen
uberarticles.com

Are you and your friends looking for a fun and different way to celebrate a special occasion? A new england clambake could be just the ticket. This traditional Northeastern celebration is gaining popularity outside the New England region for being a healthy, unique, and festive gathering idea.

The coast of New England is the origin place of the first clambake. It started as preparation of the abundant seafood that was caught by the fishermen from the Atlantic ocean. This kind of cooking was done by Native Americans originally and soon it became a tradition. These days it has become very popular in the area and spread all over the coast as well as inland.
Read full article

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OCK NOTES!
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Budget Presents:

The Plate Set could be a very cute present for a clambake party!

7-day Free trial of Napster!

CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉS – Serves 6 (or 2 chocolate lovers!)

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Chocolate, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food for Thought, Sweet News on 2008/03/04 at 01:51

A CLASSIC CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉS
Serves 6 (or 2 chocolate lovers!)
By Wolfgang Puck
Sundaypaper.com; [3/02]

As airy and tantalizing as someone whispering sweet nothings in your ear, a soufflé is one of the world’s most romantic desserts. After all, its very name comes from the French for “breath,” which perfectly describes its puffy consistency and the sighs of pleasure people make when eating them.

I wonder, then, why so few food lovers dare to make soufflés at home. I know they hesitate because there is a mystique about soufflés, that they’re very difficult or time-consuming, don’t rise reliably, or can fall flat if someone makes a noise or lets the oven door bang shut. But soufflés are actually rather easy to make.
Yes, they do depend on beaten egg whites to rise. But beating egg whites isn’t all that hard to do, especially if you remember a few key points.

First, it helps to have your eggs at room temperature before you start, … Read full article there is a delicious recipe!

Amuse-Bouche = Stuzzichini

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Photography on 2008/02/18 at 22:23

GraveLax with Horseradish Mayo and Red Onion


Savory seasonings stimulate the appetite.
Latin Proverb

Crustaceans

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Photography on 2008/02/12 at 18:22

Every time I am shopping for seafood and I have a tight budget my thoughts going to how much I’ll have to discard in order to prepare my recipes.
Shrimps are painful for the wallet, if I am cooking them for me I’ll eat everything that can be chewed, but if I have to prepare for different parties, between the head and the shell it goes to bin about 60% of the total weight.

Here a very simple but tasty suggestion from the New York Times.
Shrimp shells have long posed a debate for chefs — discard them and lose the flavor, or leave them on and give diners a messy and sometimes finger-burning job? This article offers shrimp stock, which can be made from just shrimp shells and water, as an easy solution…
The New York Times (8/15). Read more by clicking on the post title.

Albert Einstein on curiosity

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Photography on 2008/01/31 at 02:36

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.
–Albert Einstein

More about this quotation:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/37587.html

A San Velentino si puo’ dire Ti Amo … [2]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Holidays~Celebrations, Italy, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/01/29 at 23:40

Frittatine di San Valentino
Say I love you with an Amuse-Bouche [2]
For always is believed that some food are able to boost the “Loving Virtues”, the so-called Aphrodisiacs. Strawberries and Asparagus are in the list together … with Spices like Pepper and Chilli Pepper, …
In the picture:
St. Valentine Frittatine, small heart shape omelettes with Asparagus, Strawberries and Peperoncino (Chilli Pepper). Buon Appetito!

A San Velentino si puo’ dire Ti Amo
con uno Stuzzichino!
Da sempre si ritiene che alcuni cibi siano in grado di aumentare le virtù amorose, i cosidetti cibi Afrodisiaci. Le Fragole e gli Asparagi sono nella lista insieme … alle Spezie come il Pepe ed il Peperoncino, …
Nella foto:
Le Frittatine di San Valentino, piccole omelettes a forma di cuore con Asparagi, Fragole e Peperoncino q.b. Buon Appetito!

… on Antioxidants

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Photography on 2008/01/24 at 18:05

Blueberries, (Mirtilli)

Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment, a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. Lycopene is the most common carotenoid in the human body and is one of the most potent carotenoid antioxidants. Its name is derived from the tomato’s species classification, Solanum lycopersicum (formerly Lycopersicon esculentum).

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene]

… on Tomatoes [2]

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Italy, Non-Regional Cuisines, Photography, Vegetarian, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/01/24 at 17:47

Tomatoes are a very interesting ingredient to follow, one because as Italian I love tomatoes in almost all sauces, [!], also because is a veg very rich in lycopene a very useful antioxidant for a healthy life.

“Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour Cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good.”
Alice May Brock


Appetizers, etc…

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Italy, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/01/24 at 03:04

Stuzzichini et Affini
Charming Italian terms to serve Amuse-Bouche and co.
Something to look forward if well-done!
Here an image of a Canape’ stuffed with Goat Cheese, Asparagus and Red onion. Very tasty, easy to handle and excellent for a stand-up party.

The term is very well explained by:
A.Word.A.Day–amuse-bouche
This week’s theme: French terms for food.
amuse-bouche (uh-MYUZ-boosh) noun
Similar to but not to be confused with hors d’oeuvre. This is a tidbit, often tiny, served as a free extra to keep you happy while you are waiting for your first course to come. It gives you an idea of the chef’s approach to cooking and the restaurant’s attention to your appetite.
[From French, literally, "mouth amuser", from amuser (to amuse) + bouche (mouth). Its more informal twin, amuse-gueule, is the same thing, but may be considered vulgar in some circles. Gueule is the French term for an animal's mouth, bouche for a human's.]
-Guest wordsmith Rudy Chelminski (rudychelminskiATaol.com)
wordsmith.org

Appetizers, etc…

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Cooking Tips, Culinary News, Food Styling, Healthy Kitchen, Nutrition, Photography on 2008/01/24 at 01:28

Continuing with the Appetizers here something very easy, light and nutricious.
Raw Courgettes stuffed with Vegs Basmati Rice Salad

Hors d’œuvre
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cite This Source

  • Hors d’œuvre, (French , but in American English normally ; French plural: hors d’œuvre, without an extra s; English plural often hors d’œuvres), also known as appetizer(s) are the food served before or outside of (hors de) the main courses of a meal (œuvre, literally “work”).
  • Antipasto is the Italian equivalent of hors d’œuvre, meaning “before the meal” (anti = before, pasto = meal). In Italian cuisine, this typically consists of savory cold foods such as cheeses and raw or marinated vegetables, as well as cold cuts and cured meats such as prosciutto.
  • Meze is the equivalent of hors d’œuvre found in Mediterranean (Turkish, Greek, Macedonian, etc.) and Middle-Eastern cuisines.
  • In the Montenegrin cuisine and language, the term Meza is in fact the synonym for the Italian-style Antipasto, and not the aforementioned Meze.
  • Picaditas is the Spanish equivalent of hors d’œuvres in Argentina, pasabocas in Colombia, pasapalos in Venezuela, boquitas in Honduras, botanas in Mexico, bocaditos in Peru, and entremeses, or tapas in Spain.
  • Zakuski is an offering of hors d’oeuvre served in Russian cuisines. Usually presented buffet style, it often consists of cured meats and fishes, various pickled foods such as carrots, cucumbers, and garlic, prepared salads, caviar, and breads. Zakuski is often offered with vodka or other spirits.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia © 2001-2006 Wikipedia contributors (Disclaimer)

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Friday January 04, 2008 at 10:20:51 PST (GMT -0800)

Mini Peppers stuffed with Goat Cheese Salad

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Food for Thought, Italy, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/01/23 at 01:34


Food Meditation 08/01/22

… ma se uno nasce quadrato puo’ morire tondo?
forse sarebbe meglio dire: ma si puo’ nascere quadrati?
oppure era al contrario???

Dried Tomatoes with Fresh Thyme

In Amuse Bouche, Archives, Culinary News, European Cuisine, Food Styling, Italy, Photography, Кулинарные Тенденциии и Гид on 2008/01/21 at 15:59

Food Meditation 08/01/21

ON DRY TOMATOES.
Many are the ways to keep tomatoes.
The commercial, ready to use, are in cans, tetra pak and/or jars.
Then we have fine, traditional homemade methods and when you have fresh organic tomatoes you want to know how to preserve them, to keep their flavour and eventually an appetizing appearance through the winter time.
I funded that drying them is an excellent way.
Drying is traditionally made under the hot sun of south Italian provinces, but where’s no sun I am slow-drying the tomatoes’ halves in a warm oven, with a bit of sea salt, crushed black pepper and oregano. Delicious!