The advent of the microwave oven has revolutionised cooking; jacket potatoes can be cooked in 5 minutes rather than an hour and whole meals can be reheated at the push of a button. It is the perfect fast food technology for our fast paced lifestyle. But how did this amazing convention come about? […]
Deep-frying involves the immersion of food in hot oil or fat to cook it to a crisp golden colour. Meat, fish and poultry are usually coated with crumbs or batter. The popularity of deep-fried food makes it a part of every catering operation. Since the development of good frying compounds and improved […]
A cocktail shaker is used to mix drinks, usually alcoholic beverages. Since the early 1800s, the cocktail shaker has been used in the sense that we know it today. Legend has it that it began with a local innkeeper somewhere who, when placing two containers together, noticed that the lip of one container […]
Located directly east of San Francisco at the edge of the Sacramento River Delta, the Lodi wine region is one of the oldest in California. Lodi vines didn’t wait for humans to transport and cultivate them. They were indigenous to the area, dangling from trees along the riverbanks. An ideal climate for premium wine grapes, […]
Located in Emilia Romagna next to the medieval village of Bertinoro, Fattoria Paradiso was known as Castello Ugarte Lovatelli in the 15th century, but some scholars think it dates back to the Roman era. In addition to the main villa and winery, the estate includes 65 hectares of vineyards, guest accommodations, the Locanda Gradisca restaurant, […]
One of Italy’s finest wineries, Donnafugata is located on the island of Sicilia in Marsala with vineyards in the hills near Contessa Entellina and also on the island of Pantelleria off the coast of Tunisia. Owners Giacomo Rallo and his wife Gabriella Anca Rallo are both from ancient wine-making families and, together with daughter Jose` […]
I’m a massive fan of car boot sales, fetes and festivals. I like being outdoors and like being entertained in the fresh air especially under a bright blue sky. One of my favourite past times at these events, and just about anywhere I go is dining al fresco. There is something exhilarating […]
Bartenders have relied on barware to help create alcoholic drinks for spirit lovers in the United States for hundreds of years. The occupation of bartender really began in this country in 1832 when Congress passed the Pioneer Inn and Travel Law, which made it legal for innkeepers to make fine spirits available to people […]
It has been said that a bartenders best friends are the bar accessories that he uses (second only to his loyal customers, of course). Simply put, a bartender could not do much of his job without them. What makes bar accessories so valuable is the way they make the harried bartenders job a […]
Drinking wine has often been considered a hobby out of reach of most regular people. It was assumed that one must have a certain level of education or air of sophistication to enjoy a great wine. Thanks to movies and other media representation, wine is enjoying an unprecedented comeback among the rest of […]
