Archive for October, 2008

Clearing up the food confusion

Oats WebchatDo you feel constantly bombarded with conflicting stories about what is or isn’t good for you? Well you are not alone. Two thirds of us are apparently confused about which food and drinks are considered to be ‘healthy’.

Red wine, tea, eggs, dairy products: are they good for you or bad? One week they are said to be good for us, the next they aren’t? Well 84% of us recall reading conflicting stories making claims for and against certain food and drinks.

We all want to know what the key is to a longer, healthier life and reducing the risks of major illnesses such as heart disease, while still enjoying what we eat and drink.

Dr Carrie Ruxton is the author of a comprehensive medical review published in this month’s British Food Journal that for the first time proves one food in particular can reduce cholesterol, one of the main causes of heart disease.

And now, Dr Ruxton is hosting an exclusive webchat in which she’ll be offering information and advice on how this inexpensive and accessible foodstuff can help you help your heart. And this ingredient is? Oats!

She will also be answering all your questions about diet and heart health, so hit the link below for the complete picture and to enter a question in advance.

Dr Carrie Ruxton will be live online at http://www.webchats.tv/chat/clearing_up_the_food_confusion on Friday 31st October at 3.00 pm to 3.20 pm to discuss the effectiveness of oats on preventing heart disease.


To The Caribbean With Gary Rhodes

Gary Rhodes UKTV FoodUKTV Food are planning a new series called ‘Rhodes across the Caribbean’.

This is a 10-part television cookery series, which will explore the authentic regional cuisines of the Caribbean islands. It is a culinary tour, and food will be the way in which we will learn about the Caribbean, getting to know the people, the landscape and the culture, as well as discovering a range of delicious Caribbean dishes.

We are looking for two people to travel with Gary Rhodes and learn about this exciting cuisine!

Full details are on the UKTV Food web site at http://uktv.co.uk/food/item/aid/608401.

“Tell us about your reason for wanting to travel to the Caribbean islands – a reconnection with Caribbean heritage? Or maybe you’re marrying into a Caribbean family so want to learn about cookery from the islands?
Pitch for your place on the trip by sending us a short home video detailing…

Why you should be one of Gary Rhodes’ ‘sous-chefs’

Your relationship with the Caribbean

Why you’re passionate about Caribbean food

How you rate your own cooking skills

What you’d aim to gain from the trip to the Caribbean

You’ll need to be available for filming from late Dec to late Jan 2009 TBC but 5 weeks in total.”

UPDATE: The closing date for entries has been changed to the 3rd December 2008.

The Branded Cookbook

The Branded CookbookLook into anyone’s kitchen cupboard and you are more than likely to find some, if not all of the following brands: Nutella, Tabasco Pepper Sauce, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Coca-Cola and Colman’s Mustard.

These household name brands have stood the test of time for one reason: they are excellent products. Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton’s new collection The Branded Cookbook is packed with exciting and wonderfully original recipes using these brands and a healthy dash of imagination.

Each chapter of the book contains a dazzling array of recipes and ideas as well as the fascinating stories behind these iconic brands – did you know, for example, that cornflakes were invented as part of a diet for Seventh-Day Adventists in order to ‘dampen the animal passions’? The Branded Cookbook is the perfect gift for fans of the unsung heroes of the food cupboard – why not try Fennel and Orange Spiced Chicken with Kikkoman Soy Sauce?

The Branded Cookbook: 85 Recipes for the World’s Favourite Food Brands is available from Amazon.co.uk for £10.19.

Foodari Direct

Foodari DirectOne of the better food/recipe social network sites Foodari (where you can find me hanging out in occassionally) has launched a food retail sister site, Foodari Direct.

Foodari Direct gives you convenience and variety by offering an assortment of local produce (including meat, fish, fruit, veg, condiments, preserves as well as many dairy and bakery items) all delivered to your doorstep at reasonable prices.

We have tirelessly met with suppliers and producers to bring you the very best produce the South East of England has to offer. We apply a simple process to our food sourcing:

Local = Fresh = Quality = Value

Your delivery will arrive in recyclable chilled boxes for any produce that requires refrigeration. You don’t even need to be in as our boxes remain cool for up to 48 hours!

There is also a 10% saving for all Foodari members, simply enter the promotional code “Foodari” at the checkout.

UKTV Food – Market Kitchen: presenter search

Market Kitchen Talent SearchDo you have a passion for food and think you could give Rick Stein or Delia a run for their money? If you’re real a foodie and think you could sparkle on screen then Market Kitchen wants to hear from you.

Market Kitchen is searching for a fun loving foodie from any background to try their hand as a television cook. Aaron Craze, a Market Kitchen regular launches the national search on 6th October. As a successful graduate of Jamie Oliver’s ‘Fifteen’, Aaron is ideally suited to front this latest search.

Be prepared; get your oven gloves ready and your aprons steady as the search will begin with a series of challenges. Market Kitchen judges will trawl through video clips, sent in by contenders and will select the three finalists. Meet the expert panel who will decide on the winners, Aaron Craze, Rachel Allen (Market Kitchen) and talent show extraordinaire Jonathan Phang (Britain’s Next Top Model). The three lucky candidates will be mentored by Matt Tebbutt (Market Kitchen) and will be put through their culinary paces at a presenter boot-camp.

“Our wannabe presenters will be tested and trialed to their limit, presenting to camera, chopping, cooking on a budget and blind tasting. Eventually our final three will be whittled down to two; but only one can be crowned the overall winner and the fresh face of Market Kitchen.”

The chosen one will get the chance to showcase their talent by presenting a Market Kitchen Christmas feature from Borough Market. As well as this amazing opportunity they will also get to enjoy a coveted cookery course for two people at Rick Stein’s Seafood School in Cornwall plus a two night stay in Padstow.

How to enter: Send in a short 30 second to 1 minute clip of yourself to the dedicated YouTube site, showing your love of food on anything as varied as your recollection of a favourite dish, a memorable meal, seasonal produce or anything that that showcases your passion for great food.

Closing date for online applications is 30th October, closing date for postal applications is 3rd November. Visit uktvfood.co.uk for more details on how to enter and all the terms and conditions.