What&#8217;s cooking in France &#8211; French onion soup

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What’s cooking in France – French onion soup

Written by Leandro Agostini on May 13, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking in France – French onion soup

French onion soup is a soup usually based on meat stock and onions, and often served gratinéed with croutons or a larger piece of bread covered with cheese floating on top. Ancient in origin, the dish underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s in the United States due to a greater interest in French cuisine. French onion soup may be served as a meal in itself or as a first course

What’s cooking in France

History

Onion soups have been popular at least as far back as Roman times. Throughout history, they were seen as food for poor people, as onions were plentiful and easy to grow. The modern version of this soup originates in Paris, France in the 18th century, made from beef broth, and caramelized onions.

It was introduced to the United States by the New York restaurant of Henri Mouquin in 1861, where his wife Marie Julie Grandjean Mouquin was the chef. It is often finished by being placed under a salamander in a ramekin with croutons and Comté melted on top. The crouton on top is reminiscent of ancient soups.

Recipe

Much of the success of this soup depends on the stock that you are using, and stock varies tremendously in its taste. Depending on your stock, you may need to bump up the flavor with some beef bouillon (we recommend Better Than Bouillon brand).
Taste the soup before putting it in the oven, and if it needs more seasoning, don’t be afraid to add more!

Ingredients
6 large red or yellow onions , peeled and thinly sliced root to stem, about 10 cups of sliced onions total
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups beef stock, chicken stock, or a combination of the two
1/2 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (can also use a few sprigs of fresh thyme) OR 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
8 slices (1 inch thick) French bread or baguette
1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere
Sprinkling of Parmesan

Method

Caramelize the onions:
In a 5 to 6 quart thick-bottomed pot, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the onions and toss to coat with the olive oil.

Cook the onions, stirring often, until they have softened, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Increase the heat to medium high. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the butter and cook, stirring often, until the onions start to brown, about 15 more minutes.

Sprinkle with sugar (to help with the caramelization) and 1 teaspoon of salt. Continue to cook until the onions are well browned, about 10 to 15 more minutes.

Deglaze the pot with vermouth or wine:

Add the wine or vermouth to the pot and scrape up the browned bits on the bottom and sides of the pot, deglazing the pot as you go.

Add the stock, bay leaves, and thyme:

Add the stock, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot and lower the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes.

Season to taste with more salt and add freshly ground black pepper. Discard the bay leaves. Add brandy if using.

Toast the French bread slices:

While the soup is simmering, line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil and preheat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the upper third of the oven.

Brush both sides of the French bread or baguette slices lightly with olive oil (you’ll end up using about a tablespoon and a half of olive oil for this).

Put in the oven and toast until lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven.

Turn the toasts over and sprinkle with the grated Gruyere cheese and Parmesan. Return to oven when it’s close to serving time and bake until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

Serve:

To serve, ladle soup into a bowl and transfer one cheesy toast onto the top of each bowl of soup.

Alternatively, you can use individual oven-proof bowls or one large casserole dish. Ladle the soup into the bowls or casserole dish. Cover with the toast and sprinkle with cheese. Put into the broiler for 10 minutes at 350° F, or until the cheese bubbles and is slightly browned.

If you’ve never tried French onion Soup please make sure to ask for it when you travel to France

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What’s cooking in Thailand – Thai Chicken Coconut Curry

Written by Leandro Agostini on May 9, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Uncategorized.

What’s cooking in Thailand – Thai Chicken Coconut Curry

Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge.

Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and gaeng (curries). Deep-fries, stir-fries, and steamed dishes derive from Chinese cuisine.

Cooking in Thailand – Thai Chicken Coconut Curry

This is an easy Thai chicken curry that’s made in one skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and is naturally gluten-free. With cold weather upon us, nothing is better than diving into a bowl of this hearty yet healthy comfort food that’s layered with flavors. I could just drink the coconut milk-based sauce.

To make the red curry recipe, you’ll need:

Coconut oil
Sweet Vidalia onion

Chicken breasts
Garlic
Ground or fresh ginger
Ground coriander
Canned coconut milk
Shredded carrots

Thai red curry paste
Fresh spinach
Lime juice
Brown sugar
Fresh cilantro

Can Curry Powder Be Used Instead of Curry Paste?

Thai red curry paste adds a richer and smoother flavor profile than curry powder (Indian) does, but if all you have is curry powder, go for it knowing that the flavor of Thai versus Indian curry products is vastly different.

How to Make Thai Red Curry

This is a very easy curry recipe to make! Here’s how the Thai curry recipe comes together:

1- Add the oil and chopped onion to a large skillet and sauté until softened.
2 – Add the diced chicken and cook until done, then add the garlic, ginger, and coriander.

3- Coconut milk, carrots, Thai curry paste, salt, and pepper are stirred in next, and then the mixture should be left to bubble away for about 5 minutes.
4- Stir in the spinach, lime juice, and optional brown sugar last.

serve this coconut milk curry with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro to make the flavors pop.

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If you’ve never tried Chicken Coconut Curry, please make sure to ask for it when you travel to Thailand

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What’s cooking in Italy – Best Tiramisu

Written by Leandro Agostini on May 3, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Uncategorized.

What’s cooking in Italy – Best Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. It is made of ladyfingers (savoiardi) dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavoured with cocoa. The recipe has been adapted into many varieties of cakes and other desserts. Its origins are often disputed among Italian regions Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Best Tiramisu

The recipe for tiramisu is not found in cookbooks before the 1960s. It is also not mentioned in encyclopedias and dictionaries of the 1970s, making its first appearance in print in Italian in 1980, and in English in 1982. It is mentioned in a 1983 cookbook devoted to cooking of the Veneto. This suggests that it is a recent invention.

Obituaries for the restaurateur Ado Campeol (1928–2021) reported that it was invented at his restaurant Le Beccherie in Treviso on 24 December 1969 by his wife Alba di Pillo (1929–2021) and the pastry chef Roberto Linguanotto. The dish was added to its menu in 1972.

It has been claimed that tiramisu has aphrodisiac effects and was concocted by a 19th-century Treviso brothel madam, as the Accademia Del Tiramisù explains, to “solve the problems they may have had with their conjugal duties on their return to their wives”.

There is evidence of a “Tiremesù” semi-frozen dessert served by the Vetturino restaurant in Pieris, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia, since 1938. This may be the name’s origin, while the recipe for Tiramisu may have originated as a variation of another layered dessert, Zuppa Inglese. Others claim it was created towards the end of the 17th century in Siena in honour of Grand Duke Cosimo III.

On July 29, 2017, Tiramisu was entered by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies on the list of traditional Friulian and Giulian agri-food products in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. In 2013, Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto sought European Union Protected Status certification for the dessert, based on the ingredients used in 1970, so substitute ingredients, such as strawberrries, could not be used in a dish called tiramisu.

Original ingredients

Traditional tiramisu contains a short list of ingredients: ladyfingers (savoiardi), egg yolks, sugar, coffee, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder. A common variant involves soaking the savoiardi in alcohol, such as Marsala wine, amaretto or a coffee-based liqueur, but this is not mentioned in the original recipe. “The original shape of Tiramesù at Le Beccherie was circular.”

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CREAM:

4 large egg yolks
½ cup/100 grams granulated sugar, divided
¾ cup heavy cream
1 cup/227 grams mascarpone (8 ounces)

FOR THE ASSEMBLY:

1 ¾ cups good espresso or very strong coffee
2 tablespoons rum or cognac
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
About 24 ladyfingers (from one 7-ounce/200-gram package)
1 to 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, for shaving (optional)

PREPARATION

Using an electric mixer in a medium bowl, whip together egg yolks and 1/4 cup/50 grams sugar until very pale yellow and about tripled in volume. A slight ribbon should fall from the beaters (or whisk attachment) when lifted from the bowl. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, wiping out the medium bowl used to whip the yolks and set aside.
In the medium bowl, whip cream and remaining 1/4 cup/50 grams sugar until it creates soft-medium peaks. Add mascarpone and continue to whip until it creates a soft, spreadable mixture with medium peaks. Gently fold the mascarpone mixture into the sweetened egg yolks until combined.
Combine espresso and rum in a shallow bowl and set aside.
Using a sifter, dust the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish (an 8×8-inch dish, or a 9-inch round cake pan would also work here) with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.
Working one at a time, quickly dip each ladyfinger into the espresso mixture — they are quite porous and will fall apart if left in the liquid too long — and place them rounded side up at the bottom of the baking dish. Repeat, using half the ladyfingers, until you’ve got an even layer, breaking the ladyfingers in half as needed to fill in any obvious gaps (a little space in between is O.K.). Spread half the mascarpone mixture onto the ladyfingers in one even layer. Repeat with remaining espresso-dipped ladyfingers and mascarpone mixture.
Dust top layer with remaining tablespoon of cocoa powder. Top with shaved or finely grated chocolate, if desired.
Cover with plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (if you can wait 24 hours, all the better) before slicing or scooping to serve.

If you’ve never tried Tiguadege Na, please make sure to ask for it when you travel to Italy

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Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

Written by Gill Dewar on April 14, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

You can find all kinds of street food day and night across Morocco – and Marrakech is no exception. Here, we explore the best street food in the city, from sandwiches and pastries to freshly squeezed juice and more exotic dishes.

It’s time to venture off in to the square, stopping at four food stalls, all personally tested and recommended by the team.

Depending on guests’ dietary preferences, they may have the opportunity to sample a traditional Marrakchi dish cooked underground on the coals that heat the hammam.

Or tuck in to a sweet-savoury dish typically consumed during Ramadan.

Try the hundred kinds of olives, taste the Marrakchi olive oil, honey…

And of course for the more daring, sheep’s tongue or cheek. If a must-try list includes snails, take a pit stop at the snail stalls and slurp back the flavourful broth.

Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

Particularly popular in Marrakech, snails can be found everywhere in the square and marketplace Jemaa El-Fnaa. This flavoursome broth is supposed to have restorative and digestive benefits. This is almost reason enough to try it. If that weren’t tempting enough, however, these distinctive chocolate-brown snails are tender with a delicious savoury taste. What’s more, they are served in a broth bursting with flavours and spices.

The oranges found in Morocco are famous worldwide, so it’s no surprise that you can find some of the best orange juice on the streets of Marrakech. They are sourced from the countless orange trees in the limitless alleys and courtyards in the city.

You can get a full glass of this refreshing, tangy juice, perfect for recovering after a long day of exploring in the sun. Also, it’s a must when wandering through Jemaa El-Fnaa.

Originating in Fez, but also plentiful on the streets of Marrakech, b’stilla is a special pie with layers of paper-thin pastry. It is traditionally stuffed with pigeon meat, almonds, eggs and lots of fresh spices. Nowadays, you can also find this pastry stuffed with fillings such as chicken or fish.

Often eaten as a starter, b’stilla offers a combination of sweet and salty and a crisp but doughy texture. For a taste of authentic Morocco, be sure to pick up one or two of these little pastries from a street seller.

This traditional Moroccan soup can be found all year round, but it’s particularly popular during Ramadan and one of the first things eaten to break the fast. This flavoursome, golden-coloured soup is rich with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and sometimes noodles, with meat an occasional addition.

You can find this served in little cups or bowls out on the street, and it’s a popular option sure to please even the fussiest eaters.

Although many people may be a little repulsed by this at first, try to be open-minded and sample a popular delicacy on the streets of Marrakech. Try a mixed plate of offal, tongue, head scrapings and a bit of the rest of the sheep. The whole head costs a little bit more but makes quite a meal. While it’s not a roadside snack you’d find in Western countries, you’ll find more than one stall in Marrakech offering this delicacy.

Unusual yet delicious, sheep’s head is a definite recommendation for the more adventurous foodie.

Chebakia is a Moroccan sesame cookie, moulded into a flower-like shape and fried before it is coated with masses of syrup or honey. Extremely sweet and addictive, these delicious sugary delights are a must-try.

It’s a favourite during Ramadan, and households often produce buckets full of these treats each year. Buying some from the streets is recommended – the factory-made versions simply don’t compare.

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What’s cooking in Italy – Carbonara

Written by Gill Dewar on April 6, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

What’s cooking in Italy – Carbonara

Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish from Rome made with egg, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper. The dish arrived at its modern form, with its current name, in the middle of the 20th century.

The cheese is usually Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or a combination of the two. Spaghetti is the most common pasta, but fettuccine, rigatoni, linguine, or bucatini are also used. Normally guanciale or pancetta are used for the meat component, but lardons of smoked bacon are a common substitute outside Italy

As with many recipes, the origins of the dish and its name are obscure; however, most sources trace its origin to the region of Lazio.

The dish forms part of a family of dishes involving pasta with bacon, cheese and pepper, one of which is pasta alla gricia. Indeed, it is very similar to pasta cacio e uova, a dish dressed with melted lard and a mixture of eggs and cheese, which is documented as long ago as 1839, and, according to some researchers and older Italians, may have been the pre-Second World War name of carbonara.

There are many theories for the origin of the name carbonara, which is likely more recent than the dish itself. Since the name is derived from carbonaro (the Italian word for ‘charcoal burner’), some believe the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers.

Ingredients

100g pancetta

50g pecorino cheese

50g parmesan

3 large eggs

350g spaghetti

2 plump garlic cloves, peeled and left whole

50g unsalted butter

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

STEP 1

Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.

STEP 2

Finely chop the 100g pancetta, having first removed any rind. Finely grate 50g pecorino cheese and 50g parmesan and mix them together.

STEP 3

Beat the 3 large eggs in a medium bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper. Set everything aside.

STEP 4

Add 1 tsp salt to the boiling water, add 350g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until al dente (just cooked).

STEP 5

Squash 2 peeled plump garlic cloves with the blade of a knife, just to bruise it.

STEP 6

While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta with the garlic. Drop 50g unsalted butter into a large frying pan or wok and, as soon as the butter has melted, tip in the pancetta and garlic.

STEP 7

Leave to cook on a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the pancetta is golden and crisp. The garlic has now imparted its flavour, so take it out with a slotted spoon and discard.

STEP 8

Keep the heat under the pancetta on low. When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta. Don’t worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happen) and don’t throw the pasta water away yet.

STEP 9

Mix most of the cheese in with the eggs, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.

STEP 10

Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat. Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn’t scramble, and everything is coated.

STEP 11

Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it). You don’t want it wet, just moist. Season with a little salt, if needed.

STEP 12

Use a long-pronged fork to twist the pasta on to the serving plate or bowl. Serve immediately with a little sprinkling of the remaining cheese and a grating of black pepper. If the dish does get a little dry before serving, splash in some more hot pasta water and the glossy sauciness will be revived.

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Book your travel to Costa Rica

Exciting Rum making in Costa Rica

Written by Gill Dewar on March 28, 2022. Posted in Activity, Whats cooking.

Exciting rum making in Costa Rica

This is the first Costa Rican Rum Experience created by Sabandi, a company that is totally focused on delivering the best rum to locals and foreigners, but specially to sharing with visitors how sugar cane and the rum production are an important part of the local culture.

For many years, Costa Rican economy was completely based on agriculture, and sugar cane was one of the most important crops. The farmers used to cut the sugar cane from their land and transport it by an oxcart, the main form of transportation during those years.

Participants will feel the contact with Costa Rican roots, and they will use all their senses, as they experience the whole process of producing high quality Rum.

The activity allows people to observe the extracting and cooking of the sugar cane juice in an artisanal way,
until they reach the distiller, where liquors with the highest purity are produced. The “Casa de los Barriles”
(barrel house), known as Rickhouse, will await participant’s taste buds, as rum stocked in the Oak barrels there, ages and improves its flavors every single day.

Make your own Rum in Costa Rica

The aged Sabandí Rum, distilled on premises, boasts its characteristics and differences with each sip.

Participants will finish their guided visit with a delicious cocktail made with Sabandi Rum and the stunning views of the lagoon.

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Who would like some South African Milktart

Written by Gill Dewar on March 2, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

Who would like some South African Milktart

Good ol’ melktert; the Afrikaans name for ‘milk tart’; the classic, South African dessert consisting of a sweet pastry crust, filled with a mild, creamy custard of milk, flour, sugar and eggs, baked in a round pie tin and dusted with cinnamon after baking.

Milk tart is omnipresent in South Africa; it appears at every church bazaar, bake sale, home industry, supermarket, or bakery, and has surely featured on every South African food blogger’s blog.

Melktert stems from the Dutch settlers in the Cape in the 1600s.

Traditionally, the crust consisted of short-crust pastry. These days, many use ready-made puff pastry dough instead. Ancestors would turn in their graves hearing that crustless melktart has become a thing.

The large proportion of milk in the filling is evidence that melktert was introduced to us by the Dutch dairy farmers who settled the Cape of Good Hope in the middle of the century.

Cinnamon, introduced to us by Javanese slaves, is often sprinkled over the surface.

Who’d like some South African Milktart?

Ingredients

For the crust

• Follow the directions for my easy no-roll crust

For the filling

• 2 cups milk

• ½ cup heavy / whipping cream

• 5 egg yolks

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2½ tbsp cornstarch / cornflour

• 2 tbsp flour

• 2 tbsp salted butter (alternatively use unsalted butter and 1/2 tsp salt)

• ½ tsp almond extract

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• pinch of nutmeg

• 2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Make the pastry according to recipe instructions then blind bake until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

2. To make the filling, heat the milk, cream, vanilla, almond extract and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat.

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, sugar, flours and salt.

4. Once the milk is hot, whisk two ladles full of the milk into the egg mixture to temper the eggs.

5. Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook until thickened, whisking continuously. Cook the custard for 2-3 minutes until thick and smooth.

6. Pass the custard through a fine-mesh sieve. Beat in the butter.

7. Pour the custard into the prepared crust. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray then press onto the surface of the custard to avoid a skin from forming.

8. Place the milk tart in the fridge and allow to set for at least 4 hours but ideally overnight.

9. Before serving, dust the cinnamon over the milk tart. Slice and serve.

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Whats cooking in Germany – Knödel

Written by Leandro Agostini on January 26, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking in Germany – Knödel

A unique use for old bread, knödel are tender German bread dumplings reminiscent of moist, savory bread pudding. When rolled into balls, they’re an airy accompaniment to braised meat such as rouladen and sauerbraten. Formed as a log and then sliced and pan-fried, they’re a tasty snack on their own.

What Is Knödel?

Knödel is the German word for dumpling, and as such there are dozens of varieties. The most popular, however, are probably semmelknödel, which are made from day-old bread rolls (semmeln) soaked in warm milk and seasoned with onion, parsley, and a pinch of nutmeg.

There are two basic ways to form bread-based knödel.

The simplest method involves rolling the bread dough into balls, which are then dropped directly into boiling water.
Serviettenknödel (“napkin” dumplings) are made by rolling the dough into logs and then steaming them whole, traditionally in a tied-up cloth but now more often in plastic wrap and foil. After steaming, serviettenknödel are cooled and sliced.

4 Varieties of Knödel

Knödel of all kinds are enjoyed throughout Germany, from Bavaria and the Black Forest in the south to Thuringia—where knödel are called klöße—in the north, as well as in Austria and the Czech Republic.

Brezelknödel: Dumplings made with pretzels in place of bread rolls.
Speckknödel: Knödel that has pieces of bacon in the dumpling mixture.
Kartoffelknödel: Potato dumplings made with mashed potatoes and enriched with potato starch instead of bread.
Germknödel: Sweet Austrian knödel made with a yeasted dough and filled with plum jam.

3 Tips for Making Perfect Knödel

 If you don’t have stale bread, thinly slice fresh bread and toast in a moderately heated oven (around 325°F) until slightly dry, about 10-15 minutes.
You can use any type of bread for knödel, simply adjust the amount of milk and eggs depending on how the specific bread absorbs the liquid. White bread, brioche, and other soft, porous breads will quickly soak up moisture, whereas bread cubes made from pretzels, bagels, or kaiser rolls will maintain their shape better and require more liquid to achieve the same level of moistness.
If your dough ends up a too wet, don’t worry—add a little flour or breadcrumbs to soak up the extra moisture.

How to Serve Knödel

In Germany, freshly boiled knödel are served as a side dish to accompany hearty fare like braised meat, gravy, roast pork, and lentils. For added flavor and texture, try pan-frying your boiled serviettenknödel in melted butter. Serve pan-fried knödel as an appetizer with ham, sauerkraut, and mustard. Pan-frying works best for knödel made using the log method, since they have a flat surface area that yields even browning.

 Ingredients 1 pound day-old bread, such as soft pretzel rolls, brioche, kaiser rolls, or bagels, torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups whole milk, warmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ large onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
3 eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup all-purpose flour or breadcrumbs, if needed

 In a large bowl, combine the bread with enough warm milk to saturate. (You may not need all of the milk.) Let soak for 30 minutes.
In a medium skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5-10 minutes. Season with a few pinches of salt, a few turns of freshly ground black pepper, nutmeg, and parsley. Transfer the onion mixture to the bread mixture.
Add half the beaten eggs to the bread mixture and mix with your hands. Continue adding egg and lightly kneading until a wet dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour or breadcrumbs. Set aside to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Use damp hands to form 2-inch balls with the bread mixture. Working in batches, lower the knödel into the boiling water and cook until firm, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with a clean towel to drain.

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Whats cooking in Netherlands – Stroopwafel

Written by Leandro Agostini on January 25, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

What’s cooking in Netherlands -Stroopwafels

A stroopwafel is a circular waffle-type pastry from the Netherlands. The iconic Dutch waffle consists of two pieces of cookies between which a caramel syrup made from molasses is inserted. Over the years, this caramel cookie waffle has become a staple of Dutch street food and has become very popular in the world.

WHAT IS A STROOPWAFEL?

A stroopwafel is a wafer-type cookie from the Netherlands. Etymologically, stroopwafel means “waffle in syrup” in Dutch.

The waffle is baked in a special appliance, called a pizzelle maker or stroopwafel iron, which differs from the traditional Belgian waffle maker. Indeed, this one has shallower plates than a traditional waffle maker and produces much thinner waffles than Belgian waffles.

Thus, the wafers made in this appliance are more crunchy than Belgian waffles. The cookie looks like a sandwich topped with a layer of sticky caramel syrup.

This Dutch waffle is a circular waffle that consists of two layers of cookies 2 to 3 inches (6 to 8 centimeters) in diameter and about 1/6 inch (four millimeters) thick. It is cut in half right out of the pizzelle maker, then garnished with dark brown caramel syrup, obtained from molasses and brown sugar.

The stroopwafel is also very popular in Belgium. It is part of the tradition of Dutch and Belgian street food. They are found in kiosks at fairs.

Also, stroopwafels are particularly widespread in Flanders. They are sold at the October fair in the province of Liège.

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Whats cooking in Italy – Potato Gnocchi

Written by Leandro Agostini on January 20, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

What’s cooking in Italy – Potato Gnocchi: Recipe, Tips and Tricks

Potato gnocchi are apparently easy to make, but they hide a series of small pitfalls that can determine the outcome of a bad dish.

What are the secrets to make potato gnocchi that do not lose shape when cooked, that maintain a smooth texture, soft and palatable, and that have the slight taste of potato and not the annoying flavor of flour?

In this recipe we’ll show you a series of small tricks and tips necessary for those who are recently approaching potato gnocchi recipe and want a safe and satisfactory result on the first try.

Ingredients

500 g (about 1 lb) of Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold Potatoes
150 g (5,3 oz) of “oo” flour
2 tablespoons of 1 beaten egg (about half egg)
fine salt

Directions

Step 1) – Wash the potatoes with their skin under fresh water. Then cook them in a large pot with plenty of water. Occasionally, feel with a fork to check the cooking (from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes). When they are cooked, drain and peel them.

Step 2) – Place the flour on your work surface and make a well in the center then put the potatoes in a potato masher and mash-up, slowly at the beginning, to let out the excess water. Repeat this until all the excess water will be output from the holes. This way the potato masher have to release only the puree.

All this operation is worth to prevent the dough to soften too much: if this is your case, don’t make the error of compacting it by adding more flour. The best flavored potato gnocchi are those with less flour as possible. If the dough is still too soft, add a teaspoon of starch, but NOT flour.

Step 3) – In a plate beat the egg with a fork. Then add a pinch of fine salt and 2 tablespoons of the beaten egg (this way yolk and egg white are portioned in equal amounts).

Step 4) – Mix the ingredients with your hands, quickly and for a short time. A long process would make the dough sticky. Potato gnocchi dough has to be mixed very little and possibly when the potatoes are still warm because the heat favors the assembly.

Step 5) – Quickly make a ball and absolutely do not add flour. If you have followed the instructions on how to boil and then drain the potatoes, you will see that it will not be necessary. You will get a soft ball but compact. Now you can work on a wooden surface, if you like. Cut a piece of dough and place it on the floured surface.

Step 6) – With your hand make a long roll of dough as thick as a finger. Slice the roll every 2 cm (about 1 inch), so as to obtain small cylinders.

Step 7) – Now you have to use agnocchi board previously floured: slide your little gnocchi over the gnocchi board by pressing lightly with your thumb in the middle. Proceed to make potato gnocchi until all the dough is finished. Let rest gnocchi at room temperature for about 20/30 minutes before cooking.

Why potato gnocchi have to rest before cooking?

Resting time is important for many reasons: they completely cool and slightly dry out on the surface. This step is necessary so that gnocchi can retain their shape even after cooking.

In fact, if you put immediately potato gnocchi into the boiling water, they can glue to each other.

On the contrary, if you leave gnocchi rest more then half an hour, they may dry out and become dark and hard. The ideal resting time is around 20 minutes, maximum 30.

How to cook potato gnocchi

Gnocchi cooking should be made in a large pot with plenty of salted water. Gnocchi are dipped into boiling water after being slightly shaken by the flour. Do not stir too much during cooking and especially do not do it quickly. Potato gnocchi are ready when they come fully to the surface.

So drain them few at a time, with a perforated ladle (not with the colander!). Place them into a bowl with the seasoning you prefer (eg: melted butter, sage and lots of parmesan or pesto alla genovese or bolognese sauce or fresh tomato sauce). Stir slightly and serve.

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“Colours by Europe, Tastes of excellence.”

Written by Gill Dewar on January 14, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

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“Colours by Europe. tastes of excellence.”

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Colours by Europe. Tastes of Excellence campaign, which presents and promotes European Union (EU) agricultural food and beverages products, launched its first in a series of retail activations in Thailand on 15th October, 2021.

The EU is well known for their safe and quality food. The upcoming retail events and promotions will highlight tasty, quality, safe, authentic, and sustainable EU food and beverage products ranging from meat and dairy products, fruits and vegetables to pasta, cereals, oils, sweets, wines, beer, spirits, and more at Central Food Hall.

You can buy and enjoy them with peace of mind because stringent production standards and quality controls are guaranteed for the products through the whole production chain, from farm to fork and at the same time to ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Discover the 300 EU food products on promotion starting this October at Central Food Hall! with exclusive promotions on the featured products. Consumer will receive a limited-edition cotton shopping bag with a minimum spending of 500 Baht and above on the featured EU products on promotion. Consumers can also participate to our lucky draw and stand a chance to win EU food prizes.

You can also visit the campaign’s online sales channel to access all the featured delicious and high-quality EU food products in our exclusive promotions during the campaign period at LINK, Grab application, and Personal Shopper service on LINE @TopsThailand. The series of 4 retail activations will be promoted via in-store displays and promotions, social media, PR and KOLs. Explore the tastes of excellence by visiting our physical booth, or spot our food truck, or visit our online sales channel from now till January 2022.

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‘Home’ cooking at Martha Stewart’s first restaurant

Written by Gill Dewar on January 11, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

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‘Home’ cooking a key ingredient at Martha Stewart’s first restaurant

For her first restaurant, set to open at Paris Las Vegas this spring, lifestyle maven Martha Stewart will evoke her own country farmhouse.

The Bedford by Martha Stewart, with 194 seats, will be designed with the aesthetic of the brand she has cultivated for decades in broadcasting, publishing and merchandising.

Seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients will be emphasized on dinner, weekend brunch and holiday menus. Purveyors will include Las Vegas Farmers Market, D’Artagnan Foods, Urbani Truffles, Roe Caviar, Frog Hollow Farm, Jasper Hill Farm and Vermont Creamery.

“Our menu will be delicious, depicting the very same kinds of foods I serve my friends and family,” Stewart said. “The architecture and decoration of the spaces cleverly exemplify the beauty and atmosphere you might find at my beautiful farm in Bedford, N.Y. Dining at the Bedford will be immersive, fun, unexpected and utterly delectable.”

Stewart’s well-known functional and practical lifestyle will be found in the decor with a bring-nature-indoors concept. A neutral palette will act as a backdrop to seasonal colors.

“Martha Stewart is one of the most celebrated voices in hospitality, and we are truly honored that she’s chosen Paris Las Vegas as the home for her very first restaurant,” said Jason Gregorec, senior vice president and general manager of Paris Las Vegas. “When we open the doors, the Bedford by Martha Stewart will be a dining experience you simply can’t get elsewhere.”

Paris Las Vegas is also the home of Chef Joho’s Eiffel Tower Restaurant, French-bistro Mon Ami Gabi and Gordon Ramsay Steak. It includes quick-service options such as Brioche by Guy Savoy and, soon, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay. Lisa Vanderpump’s second Las Vegas venue, Vanderpump a Paris, and a new Nobu restaurant and lounge are also planned.

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for more information about Israel

What’s cooking in Portugal – Pastéis de Nata – Portuguese Custard Tarts

Written by Leandro Agostini on January 5, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking in Israel – Shakshuka

Written by Leandro Agostini on January 3, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

Shakshuka is an easy, healthy breakfast in Israel

(or any time of day) and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. It’s a simple combination of simmering tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices and gently poached eggs. It’s nourishing, filling and one recipe I guarantee you’ll make time and again.

Make our easy shakshuka for a comforting brunch. Vary this dish by flavouring the simple tomato sauce with whatever you have to hand – curry powder, pesto or fresh herbs

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
2 red onions, chopped
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, sliced
small bunch coriander stalks and leaves chopped separately
2 cans cherry tomatoes
1 tsp caster sugar
4 eggs

Method

STEP 1

Heat the oil in a frying pan that has a lid, then soften the onions, chilli, garlic and coriander stalks for 5 mins until soft. Stir in the tomatoes and sugar, then bubble for 8-10 mins until thick. Can be frozen for 1 month.
STEP 2

Using the back of a large spoon, make 4 dips in the sauce, then crack an egg into each one. Put a lid on the pan, then cook over a low heat for 6-8 mins, until the eggs are done to your liking. Scatter with the coriander leaves and serve with crusty bread.

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Best chocolate tasting in Zagreb, Croatia

Written by Gill Dewar on November 30, 2021. Posted in Activity, Whats cooking.

Best Chocolate tasting in Croatia

Kraš Choco Bar

Kraš is Croatian most famous chocolate and sweets factory. Ever since they decided to open choco bars and pour the familiar chocolate tastes into cups or cocktail glasses, they have been visited by people eager to give
themselves a special treat.

If your personal image of heaven includes liquid chocolate in unlimited quantities, you’ll be thrilled to discover such a place actually exists in Zagreb, Croatia

Hot chocolate during the day and chocolate cocktails in the evening, a piece of chocolate cake…Better leave that calorie counter behind.

The location right next to the central city street, just a few steps from the market and the pier, has a special significance for Opatija’s gastronomy – once it was the city’s first pizzeria, and today offers to gourmets and hedonists an excellent offer of desserts. Unique ice cream treats, sweet cocktails, exclusive desserts with coffee and chocolate beverages based on products of the largest Croatian confectionery company Kraš are only part of the offer of the first chocolate bar in Opatija.

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Foodie? Here are 6 street food destinations you should visit

Written by Gill Dewar on October 26, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking, Destination news, Restaurant.

What’s cooking? World recipes

6 street food destinations you should visit – Are you a Foodie? This is the right place!

Forget gourmet restaurants, the best way to sample a destination’s cuisine is through its street food offerings, writes Clinton Moodley.

6 street food destinations you should visit

Mexico

Tamales, a traditional Mesoamerican dish steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf, is undoubtedly one of the popular dishes in Mexico. Travellers can find it at food vendors or restaurants across the country. Other popular options include tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, empanadas, nachos, fajita and tortas.

Thailand

Thailand is famed for its food markets and street vendors. When the destination fully reopens, you will find street vendors prepare meals in front of you, with plenty of options to choose from. Popular food includes pad thai, kaao laad kaeng (curry on rice), mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea.

Morocco is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. The street food scene is flourishing. Harira, known as the national soup of Morocco, is one of the traditional meals you must try. The tomato-based soup is made with chickpeas and lentils.

There’s also the merguez, a grilled red, spicy mutton or beef-based sausage and sardines served with parsley and paprika. Morocco is the largest canned sardine exporter. For those with a sweet tooth, try their chebakia.

The pastry dough, created to look like a rose, is deep fried and poured with a syrup of honey and rosewater, finished with sesame seeds. Be sure to explore the streets of Fez, known as Morocco’s culinary capital.

South Africa

South African cuisine combines African, Asian and European elements. For the best street food experience, explore Durban. Indulge in a bunny chow, hollowed-out bread filled with a curry of your choice: mutton, chicken or beans.

Also, try the amagwinya (vetkoek), a deep fried savoury dough filled with mince or cheese. Many vendors serve this comfort food at street corners, but restaurants serve “gourmet” versions with additional combinations. Other notable mentions include koeksisters, boerewors, biltong and kota.

Bali

Bali is another Asian destination that thrills foodie travellers. Besides its spectacular views and array of temples, Bali is a destination packed with flavour. Popular street food items include sate (satay), a south-east Asian dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat; bakso, an Indonesian meatball with hot broth; and pisang rai, a boiled banana wrapped in rice flour and rolled in coconut.

India

India is known to offer some of the best street foods and the majority of them are vegetarian-friendly. Among their traditional meals is bhelpuri, a mixture of puffed rice, potatoes and roasted peanuts and pani puri, a crisp, hollowed puris with potato, moong and chickpeas.

Also try aloo tikki, a deep fried dish made with mashed potato, lentils and cottage cheese. For those with a sweet tooth, sink your teeth into a jalebi smothered in a sugary syrup. No trip is complete without trying some chai tea prepared by a chaiwala. Visit Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai for the best street food offerings.

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What’s cooking in France

Written by Gill Dewar on October 25, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking.

What’s cooking? World recipes

France:

If the French have elevated cookery to an art form, boeuf bourguignon is perhaps the most prized of their national collection — beef cooked slowly in fruity red wine until so soft, sticky and deliciously savoury that to call it a mere stew feels almost insulting

This classic of provincial French cooking was described by the great post-war British cookery writer and Francophile Elizabeth David as ‘the domain of French housewives and owner-cooks of modest restaurants rather than of professional chefs’. These days, however, the boundaries between home and haute cuisine are less strictly drawn, and you’re as likely to find it deconstructed in one of Burgundy’s many Michelin-starred restaurants as you are at the kitchen table.

Bourguignon, of course, means, ‘of Bourgogne’, or Burgundy, a region in eastern France between Lyon and Paris best known for its wine. Indeed, along with Champagne to the north, and its great rival Bordeaux to the south west, it can fairly claim to be one of the most famous production areas in the world. It’s here the traveller will pass road signs bearing names more often spotted towards the bottom end of the wine list; places like Mersault and Nuits-Saint-Georges — pretty villages lapped by a green sea of meticulously tended vines.

INGREDIENTS

1.6kg/3lb 8oz good-quality braising steak (chuck steak)

4–5 tbsp sunflower oil

200g/7oz smoked bacon lardons or smoked streaky bacon, cut into 2cm/¾in pieces

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

75cl bottle red wine

2 tbsp tomato purée

1 beef stock cube

2 large bay leaves

3 bushy sprigs fresh thyme

25g/1oz butter

450g/1lb pearl onions, or 24 baby onions

300g/10½oz chestnut mushrooms, wiped and halved or quartered if large

2 heaped tbsp cornflour

2 tbsp cold water

flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

1. Cut the braising steak into chunky pieces, each around 4–5cm/1½–2in. Trim off any really hard fat or sinew. Season the beef really well with salt and pepper.

2. Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the beef in three batches over a medium–high heat until nicely browned on all sides, turning every now and then and adding more oil if necessary. As soon as the beef is browned, transfer to a large flameproof casserole. Preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3.

3. Pour a little more oil into the pan in which the beef was browned and fry the bacon for 2–3 minutes, or until the fat crisps and browns. Scatter the bacon over the meat. Add a touch more oil to the frying pan and fry the chopped onion over a low heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring often until softened. Stir the garlic into the pan and cook for 1 minute more.

4. Add the onion and garlic to the pan with the meat and pour over the wine. Stir in the tomato purée and 150ml/5fl oz water. Crumble over the stock cube, add the herbs and bring to a simmer. Stir well, cover with a lid and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1½ –1¾ hours, or until the beef is almost completely tender.

5. While the beef is cooking, peel the button onions. Put the onions in a heatproof bowl and cover with just-boiled water. Leave to stand for five minutes and then drain. When the onions are cool enough to handle, trim off the root close to the end so they don’t fall apart and peel off the skin.

6. A few minutes before the beef is ready, melt half of the butter in a large non-stick frying pan with a touch of oil and fry the onions over a medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown on all sides. Tip into a bowl. Add the remaining butter and mushrooms to the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes over a fairly high heat until golden brown, turning often.

7. Mix the cornflour with the water in a small bowl until smooth.

8. Remove the casserole from the oven and stir in the cornflour mixture, followed by the onions and mushrooms. Return to the oven and cook for 45 minutes more, or until the beef is meltingly tender and the sauce is thick. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon – if it remains fairly thin, simply add a little more cornflour, blended with a little cold water and simmer for a couple of minutes on the hob.

9. To serve, remove the thyme stalks. Sprinkle the casserole with parsley and serve.

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The Michelin Guide Goes Digital

Written by Gill Dewar on October 19, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

The Michelin Guide is going digital. The iconic red book is no more. Instead, the famed restaurant review and guide books have developed a proprietary app for iOS and Android, which offers users an interactive experience. The app promises to help consumers quickly find information on nearby Michelin-rated restaurants, and unique hotels.

Why did Michelin decide to go all digital, and forego the iconic red guides?

The content, not the delivery method, is the core of the Michelin selection. Going digital makes it possible for us to put the entire global Michelin Guide all in one place, and allows us to distribute it free of charge to a larger audience. We recognize that the printed guides are legendary, and that for many people they represent freedom and adventure. What better way to honor that history than with a global guide that fits in your pocket?

Can you tell us a bit about the UX of the new interface? What can people do on the app?

Users can find every Michelin-rated restaurant in the world, with the ability to search by name, location, cuisine, and even chef. They can see which Michelin Guide restaurants are located near them while they’re on the move or when they’re planning a trip to a future destination. Restaurants added to the Michelin Guide are now added in real-time, ensuring you always have access to the most up-to-date selection and reviews (no more waiting for the next book to be released). Most restaurants can be booked through the app via global partners like RESY, Open Table, and TheFork.

Engagement is another key focus of the app. The new Michelin Guide has created a space for its community through user profiles and the ability to endorse (“love”) restaurants and hotels. Users can also create restaurant and hotel wishlists — saving their favorites, sharing them with others, and discovering lists authored by experts and aficionados.

How does the digital-only guide fit into Michelin’s overall digital strategy?

Digital is no longer an alternative distribution channel but a mainstream part of our lives. We want to reach everyone who loves and appreciates food and travel, and the accessibility of a free digital product will help us achieve that goal while following through on Michelin’s commitment to reducing waste and improving sustainable business practices. Giving Michelin Guide users access to real-time information and a platform for engagement makes digital the ideal format for the future.

What other innovations can we expect from Michelin moving forward?

The introduction of community features in the app lays the groundwork for functionality that can leverage the knowledge of like-minded people to improve how we evaluate our selections. We’ll continue to increase the opportunities for engagement, bringing users the ability to love/endorse individual people/profiles, add notes to list items, have verified accounts, and plot points of interest, including their own restaurant and hotel recommendations. We’ll also accomplish full feature parity across all of our platforms, so users will have the ability to discover, plan, share, and book future journeys entirely within the Michelin Guide and Tablet Hotels universe.

What advice do you have for operators who are wary of bringing tech into their venues?

Today’s consumers expect instant gratification, and they expect it to be facilitated by technology and real-time interaction with brands and businesses. Restaurants and hotels are experiential by nature — hospitality is their entire purpose — so they’re ideally suited to thrive in this environment. Technology can allow them to be more efficient, more responsive, and create more rewarding connections with their customers.

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This Five-star Paris Hotel Is a Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Lover’s Dream

Written by Gill Dewar on October 18, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Hotel, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

Le Bristol Paris, part of the Oetker Collection, wants to give its guests a true taste of the finer things in life. And that includes bringing the best cheeses in the world to their brand-new, in-house fromage cellar.

In 2019, the luxury hotel in Paris unveiled the first iteration of its Les Ateliers du Bristol workshops with widely acclaimed chef Éric Fréchon’s artisanal flour mill and bakery. The following year, Le Bristol brought a chocolate factory into the mix with head pastry chef Julien Alvarez, followed quickly by an updated wine cellar. And now, the hotel is ready to unveil its latest on-site craftsman offering: a cheese-aging cellar.

“First came the living bread crafted with freshly milled heritage wheat in the on-site bakery, then the magnificent handmade delights of the chocolate factory and the exclusive wine cellar. Now, Les Ateliers du Bristol is introducing the fourth expertise to its refined offering with the addition of the in-house cheese cellar,” a spokesperson for the hotel shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure.

According to the spokesperson, the new fromagerie is the realization of a shared vision between Le Bristol’s Fréchon and award-winning cheesemaker Marie-Anne Cantin. The atelier features an aging cellar, home to a seasonal selection of cheeses, some of which are prepared at Le Bristol’s kitchens. All the cheese is left to develop and mature in the cool, dark cellar, lined in wood and maintained with the perfect balance of humidity so you can come to experience the ideal bite.

Visitors to the hotel are welcome to visit the cheese cellar for a taste of rare selections of Khorasan bread, also baked on the premises, paired with a rich comte or a smooth chevre, all aged in the on-site cellar.

“Never one to miss out on an opportunity to express his creativity, chef Fréchon will enrich the selection of cheeses from time to time with his own recipes, including a salted butter camembert marinated in calvados and enrobed in breadcrumbs,” the spokesperson added.

Cheeses from the in-house cheese cellar are served at the hotel’s restaurants including Epicure, 114 Faubourg, and Café Antonia. So, if you’re enthralled by the notion of cheese, chocolate, and wine all aged in house — with bread baked on the premises — it’s time to book a stay for an unforgettable Parisian adventure.

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