Tag Archives: cooking
The King Of Spice
I’m a pepper fanatic. By my estimate, it’s the King of all spices. It has been said, that in the history of the spice trade, no other spice had such an impact on early exploration, commerce, different cultures and their cuisines. … Continue reading
Dreams of Chocolate
Chocolate is produced from the cacao bean, a large pod found on the cacao tree. Cacao trees originated in South America, but are now grown and harvested in Africa, the Far East and the West Indies. Both the pulp and … Continue reading
Beautiful Butter
It is often stated that the three secrets of French cuisine are: butter, butter and butter. As a chef who trained in the classical French style of cookery, I can confirm this statement as ‘mostly true’. Before I go any … Continue reading
Pick Of The Bunch
I once heard a comedian joke that grapes always give you a second chance. If you bite into a bad apple, you are stuck with a bad apple. However, if you come across a bad grape, no problem, just move … Continue reading
Mussel Bound
One of my favourite shellfish is the mussel. Mussels are classified as a bi-valve mollusc. This means they have two shells that are joined together with a strong muscle – much like clams and pipis (or a flip phone). They … Continue reading
Look Sharp
Besides your hands, knives are the most commonly used tools in the kitchen. As a chef, I’ve had many an altercation with knives, they have been both my greatest ally and most dangerous foe. Simply put, knives and hands don’t … Continue reading
Carrot Top
Carrots have the unenviable status of being so common; they are often taken for granted. Which is a pity, as they have wide culinary versatility, great nutritional value, are inexpensive and indispensable in the kitchen. Did you know there is over … Continue reading
Creamy Avocado
The avocado is listed by ‘Guinness Book of Records’ as the most nutritious fruit on earth. Avocado is rich in folate, mineral potassium, Vitamins A, B6, C and dietary fibre. They do not contain cholesterol, as commonly mistaken, although they do contain … Continue reading
Some Like It Hot
Maybe you like chilli peppers or maybe you don’t? After all the heat from a chilli can vary from a slight tingle to a thermonuclear detonation. There are hundreds of varieties of chilli pepper. They vary in size, shape, colour and … Continue reading
Gotta Luv Garlic
An Italian chef once told me that if you eat lots of garlic, you will be more passionate about life. I have a slightly different theory; people either passionately love garlic or absolutely loathe it. My father can’t stand it. He … Continue reading
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