Archive for February, 2010

Cooking With French Cheeses

by Andrew on February 26, 2010 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with 2 Comments

When we think about cooking with cheese we tend to think of using parmesan in our pasta, stirring in soft cheese into sauces or some mature cheddar topped on toast, but there is a wealth of ways to incorporate delicious cheese in our diets and similarly, there is a vast number of different cheeses for us to try.

In fact in France alone, there are around 1,000 different kinds of cheeses made, that range from age old favourites such as Brie and Camembert to lesser known delights such as Beaufort, Epoisses or Reblochon. With such a wide variety, there’s never been a better opportunity to broaden our taste buds and add a certain “je ne sais quoi” to our repertoire?

In this video Garth Delikan, lifestyle coach and Vive le Cheese Ambassador for the French Dairy Interprofession (CNIEL) , and chef Sophie Wright tell us how to add French Flair to mealtimes and discover the very best of French cheeses.

To open and view the video in your browser : http://www.linkto.tv/iframe/show/uuid/AVLmdIJC8GU

For more information and recipe ideas visit www.vivelecheese.co.uk

Wagamama Unveils Uk’s First Food-Ordering App For Iphone

by Andrew on February 23, 2010 in Eating Out, On The Web with 1 Comment

Iphone users with a taste for the pan-asian flavours of wagamama can now order their favourite food on the move, from today, thanks to the launch of the restaurant chain’s new iphone application. The company is the first restaurant chain in the uk to launch its own iphone app, which is free to download from the itunes app store.

Wagamama is known for embracing new technology, and the innovative app mirrors the super-fast ordering system wagamama customers are used to when dining in their restaurants. Hungry iphone users can use the app to locate their nearest branch of wagamama and browse the menu to place their order. Their selection is then transmitted straight through to the kitchen, in a similar way to the wireless hand-held devices used by wagamama restaurant staff. The app also lets users choose a convenient pick-up time if they do not want to dine immediately, and payment can be made securely with a debit or credit card.

Wagamama’s ever-evolving menu is reflected by the app, which automatically refreshes with new dishes and specials as soon as they are added. Eo download the wagamama app, iphone users can visit the itunes app store and search for ‘wagamama’.

Eo coincide with the launch of the new app, wagamama’s online take-out site, wagamamatakeout.com, has been relaunched with a host of new features. The site boasts a new super-quick ordering function designed for people ordering on the move, including an intuitive search technique to create a quicker and more streamlined experience for those in the mood for waga’s!

Also marking the launch of the iphone app is the chance for customers to win the exclusive prize of a Wagamama chef preparing a three-course pan-Asian meal for them in their own home. Further details will be announced shortly, with ten lucky winners set to enjoy the money-can’t-buy experience.

Wagamama’s CEO steve hill commented “we’re proud to be the first uk restaurant chain to introduce its own iphone app, and it’s great to be bringing the speed and quality of wagamama’s service to the latest in consumer technology. Alongside our new take-out website, it’s now easier than ever for customers to get their wagamama fix!”

An Evening Of Food And Wine Matching At The White Swan

by Andrew on February 22, 2010 in Tasting Events/Shows with 1 Comment

Tom and Ed Martin are launching a series of monthly wine dinners at their highly acclaimed modern British pub and dining room, The White Swan, on Fetter Lane, EC4. Taking place on the last Friday of every month at 7.30pm, with the next events on the 26th February and the 26th March, wine enthusiasts can look forward to a fun and interactive evening learning about wine, matching different vintages to dishes that showcase the finest, seasonal, British ingredients.

Hosted by the restaurant’s sommelier, Paulo Brammer in the elegant upstairs dining room, guests will indulge in five delicious courses, individually paired with some of world’s top wines to complement the flavours. An ideal evening for aficionados who want to increase their understanding of wine, Brammer will share his knowledge on how to ‘swirl and nose’ like an expert whilst reveal ingfascinating facts on how food affects the flavour of wine as guests dine.

Dishes on the carefully crafted menu include poached plaice with Jerusalem artichokes and black truffle matched with a floral and feminine Marsanne from the Rhône valley; sweet and caramelised braised Jacobs Ladder (rib of beef) with bone marrow and kale, paired with a ripe intense Carmenère from Chile; as well as chocolate ganache with star anise ice cream and candied peanuts – a stunning combination with the nutty, lush Pedro Ximenex Sherry.

With tasting notes provided for each course, these events are perfect for brushing up on dinner party hosting skills, learning how to choose wine in a restaurant, or simply to leave you with the ability to work out the right pairings for the future. Great for foodies and wine lovers alike!

At just £42.00 a ticket and only 40 tickets available, booking is essential.

The White Swan, 108 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1ES
T: 020 7242 9696

Queen Of The Cupcakes Lily Vanilli Shows You How To Get Your Boys Into The Kitchen

by Andrew on February 17, 2010 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with No comments

Think of all the famous chefs you know. Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Marcus Wareing, Heston Blumenthal, Marco Pierre White. Notice a trend? They’re all men. And traditionally, all the best bakers are male too. Recent research has shown that 46% of dads would rather BBQ than bake, but there is no reason why they would not excel in the kitchen.

The majority of baking at home is done by women, and there are also thousands of toys targeting young girls to help teach them to bake, even if it’s mud pies or a batch of imaginary muffins, however this is not the case for boys.

Now a new campaign is launching to show how easy it is for men and boys alike to express their creativity in the kitchen while retaining their masculinity. ‘Baking for Boys’ is an initiative coinciding with Fairtrade Fortnight – the Big Swap (Monday 22 February to Sunday 7 March), who are encouraging people to swap their usual products for Fairtrade ones. This could be switching to Fairtrade bananas or Tate & Lyle Fairtrade sugar which doesn’t cost you a penny more.

The research also shows that 47% of dads find baking with their child stressful. Well help is at hand. In the following video, cupcake queen Lily Vanilli and her godson Alfie prepare some simple and fantastic edible delicacies as she passes on her craft to an eager helper who shows men can bake.

To view the video directly in your browser click this link.

After the fold the recipes for Lily Vanilli’s Fairtrade Bacon and Banana Cake and Fairtrade Devil’s Food Ale Cakes…

Continue reading →

Coolcucumber 11

by Andrew on February 16, 2010 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with No comments

The eleventh Coolcucumber TV programme is now online for your viewing pleasure at www.coolcucumber.tv. In the first edition of this gleaming new decade:

We return to the new Chinese Cricket Club for a chat with Tony Chan and a look at the front of house.

Followed by a short leap across the river to the Cantina at Vinopolis, which we visited on the day that Vinopolis celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Donning his Seven League Boots, Roy takes a giant stride north to Edinburgh to see what makes Tom Kitchin so successful in his eponymous restaurant, The Kitchin.

In the second part of our interview with Michel Roux, we hear about the opening of the Waterside, and the things he likes to do outside the kitchen.

If you plan on visiting Madrid, here are two more contrasting cafes to spend some time in: the Cafe Comercial, and the Cafe Ruiz.

And finally, Cyrus Todiwala cooks Indian – and tells stories of his life in India and Britain.

Enjoy the programme. The next one is due in March. Don’t forget the ten previous programmes remain on the web site, and they can all be downloaded for viewing at your leisure. The download video is now also iPod and iPhone friendly.

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