Gourmet Articles

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Laura Marchiori @ Saturday, 22nd November 2008 @ 4:16 AM

Gourmet gift baskets are not all created equal. You can design a beautiful, unique gift basket, filled with the best quality ingredients, with style and creativity. I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't love getting a gift basket as a gift, appreciating its attractiveness and relishing the discovery of all the delicious items inside. They are, in fact, the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for someone who seems to have everything. Designing and building a gourmet gift basket is... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Scott Davis @ Wednesday, 19th November 2008 @ 2:38 PM

Vanilla extract is one of the most commonly used flavorings in kitchens across America. The flavorful extract gets its distinctive aroma from vanillin, a compound naturally produced in vanilla beans. Pure vanilla extract is created when the cured beans are chopped and aged in a mixture of ethyl alcohol and water. After several months, this mixture is filtered, and vanilla extract is the result. In the United States, the FDA has specific requirements for the amounts of vanilla beans a... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Gregg Hall @ Monday, 17th November 2008 @ 9:39 PM

A connoisseur of wine does not hesitate to spend thousands of dollars for a vintage bottle. A connoisseur of fashion does not hesitate to spend tens of thousands of dollar for a watch. So why would a chocolate lover not indulge in the most beautiful and exquisite taste of chocolate that money can buy? Welcome to the world of gourmet chocolate; the world of the rich and the famous and the true lovers of chocolate. Isn't chocolate supposed to represent passion? Does it not rekindle love and e... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Scott Davis @ Thursday, 13th November 2008 @ 6:02 AM

Vanilla beans, which are actually a seed pod of the Vanilla Planiflora orchid plant, are one of the most expensive and prized seasonings in the world. The delicate, creamy aroma and flavor of vanilla has been used in sweets, drinks, and savory dishes for hundreds of years. Native to Mexico, this aromatic flavoring is now grown mostly in places like Madagascar and other Pacific islands- and is known as Bourbon vanilla. However, a small portion of the world's supply of vanilla is still ava... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Kristi Ambrose @ Wednesday, 29th October 2008 @ 4:58 AM

Compound butter is butter combined with herbs and spices. Compound butters such as this one can be served with chicken, fish, beef, pork or even vegetables. For an Asian flare, grated ginger root or diced lemon grass may be added to this butter. Ive personally made this with steak before and just put a little dollop on top before serving and its absolutely delicious! If properly prepared and wrapped for storage, these butters can all stay in the fridge for up to a week and a half. Remember not... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Christine Harrell @ Tuesday, 28th October 2008 @ 1:49 PM

Most people will agree that the pies, goodies, and even the fruit spreads their grandmothers used to make are far better than any of those you will find in the big chain grocery stores. The single biggest reason for this is the quality difference between hybrids and heirloom fruit. You only have to take a bite of each type to tell the difference instantly. Tastings, gourmet food gift baskets, or producing your own are three ways you can enjoy these delicious foods in your area. Gourmet Fo... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By seomul Evans @ Tuesday, 21st October 2008 @ 8:12 PM

If you really want to have a dinner party that will be the talk of the town, use go ahead and throw a Moroccan dinner party with Moroccan recipes. Moroccan recipes sound exotic and they are; but as recipes go, they are easy to make if you have the right ingredients and a Moroccan Tagine. Tagines are a type of clay pot with a lid that is used to cook Moroccan food. Yes, Moroccan recipes seem to be exotic and very elaborate, but they are wonderfully easy to make and healthy as well. You ... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Art Gib @ Tuesday, 14th October 2008 @ 1:25 AM

Any layman may ask themselves what grilling planks have to do with fish but, to the seasoned chef, they are all simply a part of his basic cooking equipment. For a chef, grilling planks are often the key to preparing the best grilled fish and meat dishes available and the result is often a restaurant or kitchen full of eager customers who are willing to wait and pay for such a mouth-watering meal. The use of these planks is a very old tradition that is said to have originated in the Pacif... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Laura Marchiori @ Monday, 13th October 2008 @ 7:56 AM

The culinary traditions of the Bay area have been influenced by history dating back hundreds of years. It was 1607 when Captain John Smith first saw the Chesapeake Bay at what was to become Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement. From the writings in his journal it is clear that these early settlers quickly recognized that they had landed in a paradise of riches. Smith quipped in his journal that the fish were so plentiful that they would simply catch them "with our fr... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Christine Harrell @ Tuesday, 30th September 2008 @ 10:27 AM

Corporate gift baskets help to improve profits for your company in several different ways. They improve employee morale and loyalty, solidify customer relationships, and enhance relationships with suppliers. This increases productivity, sales, loyalty, and lowers the number of mistakes to increase the company's profits. With these kinds of benefits, fruit baskets and other business gifts are well worth the cost. The biggest part of these gifts is choosing something everyone can enjoy. Here ... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Ki Gray @ Thursday, 25th September 2008 @ 1:04 AM

One of the most attractive parts about life in Austin is our ability to be outdoors almost the entire year round. Austin's restaurants reflect this outdoorsy aesthetic, with many of them providing attractive and fun al fresco dining. Here are some of the best patios to be found around Austin. Old Alligator Grill - This casual South Austin staple has a large, wooden patio. Specializing in oysters, shrimp, and other Cajun delicacies, the OAG even has live music periodically. The patio,... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Melody Thacker @ Monday, 1st September 2008 @ 8:09 PM

Cooking with your child or children is a fun, no cost activity that will also teach your son or daughter very valuable life skills. Most, if not all kids love helping in the kitchen so you'll want to encourage and take advantage of it. You'll also be able to teach them about healthy eating habits. Depending on the age of your child start with something simple, if they a very young let them make cinnamon toast. They can butter the toast and sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar. Anothe... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Daniel Wallace @ Monday, 25th August 2008 @ 4:55 PM

Thai cuisines are regarded as one of the best as well as delicious in the world. Since situated between the political and cultural destinations of China and India, Thailand's dishes have strong influence of cuisines of both these countries. A strong influence of Malaysian flavors is also prevalent in Thai cuisines. In short, a Thai cuisine is an incredible blend of the Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian cuisines. Further, as many of the monarchs and royals were educated in European natio... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Zach Thompson @ Sunday, 17th August 2008 @ 8:46 PM

What is all the hype about goji juice, goji berries, and glyconutrients about? Goji juice is a healthy supplement to our diets that can help with your overall well-being and keep you feeling well. The glyco nutrients in Goji juice are not found in abundance in our regular diets, only two of these are in most diets, but they can be easily supplemented with as little as an ounce of this healthy juice everyday. Goji juice is rich in beta carotene and vitamin C, important carotenoids that h... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Mary Anne Durkee @ Sunday, 15th June 2008 @ 11:12 AM

Breakfast is by far the most important meal of my day. It is a very important meal at my place as I personally feel that it is one that sets the mood and decides my energy levels for the day. For many of my dieting friends, the first thing on the list to skip is "breakfast". However, I believe if you skip this first meal of the day then you are going to have to skip a lot of things for the day. You are definitely not going to have the energy to sustain a tight schedule. Skipping b... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Mary Anne Durkee @ Tuesday, 10th June 2008 @ 12:23 PM

Indian cuisine, like the country India, is a rich blend of tastes and flavors. It is world re-owned for the combination of herbs and spices that provide it the distinct characteristic and the rich taste. The Indian cuisine due to its tastes has now crossed over the physical boundaries and several Indian dishes like the chicken tikka masala are now an accepted part of world cuisine. However, there is much more to the Indian cuisine than the popularly accepted dishes. It is truly a cuisine ... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Mary Anne Durkee @ Sunday, 1st June 2008 @ 8:18 PM

Chinese cuisine is a rich combination of color, flavors and taste. The popularity of the Chinese cuisine has given it the much deserved global recognition and it has come to be accepted as part of the global cuisine. Chinese cuisine involves the delicate art of cooking using varied techniques and styles to create true works of art. The variety in Chinese cuisine arises from the culinary contribution of the different regions in the country. The style of cooking and presentation varies a ... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Mary Anne Durkee @ Saturday, 24th May 2008 @ 2:35 PM

Street food is the very best way to glimpse the heart of a culture. You can sit and observe moms, dads, kids, and grandparents all in a "play" of life right in front of you. The smells wafting by of spicy salads, grilling satays, flavourful bowls of steaming noodles, chicken on a barbeque, and skewers of fresh topical fruits and a plethora of sates. It is an assault on the senses! The colours you see, the aromas you smell have you drooling shamelessly, the deafening roar of m... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By Attila Jancsina @ Tuesday, 20th May 2008 @ 12:16 AM

In Washington, D.C., finding the most romantic restaurants is not a problem. Beautiful and elegant setting, sweet, heart-melting music and cuisines that will fire up any heart with burning passion can be found in every corner of the Capitol Hill. Whether looking for love or celebrating a milestone in a relationship, there is a place in Washington that will surely cater to anyone's romantic desires. Accordingly, the following are the most popular romantic spots that can be found in Wa... more...

Food and Drink » Gourmet | By James Redder @ Wednesday, 14th May 2008 @ 12:32 PM

Chocolates have been popular for centuries, and people still love them. Almost everyone loves these delicious candies. Even dieters will sneak a piece or two when they think no one's looking. One popular type of chocolate confection is Belgian chocolate-dipped marshmallows. Chocolate has a long history. It originated as a sacred drink in Meso-America, only affordable by the very rich. Cocoa beans were an important part of the Aztec monetary system. That means that people who ... more...