Archive for Eating
November 29, 2008 at 4:55 am · Filed under Eating
A dessert pertains to those sweet stuff or food that is usually served after a meal course. This is eaten to refresh your palette from the different flavors that you have tasted during your meal. Desserts are most likely dished up in a small amount, because the flavor is too sweet that it is not so good for the one’s health.
Chocolates are considered as one of the most popular desserts that can be found on a dining table, because almost all food can be paired in with chocolate and you can have an after meal treat already. Fruit salads, cookies, sweet pastries, and other fruits are also classified as those common desserts on a dining table. Restaurants, especially those that are the expensive ones can make different kinds of classic and elegant looking dessert that can attract many people. They make their sweet stuff uniquely, and mostly use very rare ingredients, so that people can be mystified with what they eat and ought to have some more. Some fancy restaurants just make plain desserts just for the purpose of cutting of the after taste of the meal that they had. Desserts also are very attractive to kids, because of their sweet taste that the kids can have it alone. One of the most famous desserts that also kids love is ice cream. Ice cream is made from chilled soft cream and comes with different kinds of flavors that catch the attention of people especially the younger ones; of course, you can never omit chocolate on ice cream as well. There are also desserts that do not taste good especially when it is a recipe from other countries that you are not familiar with.
In wrapping up, dessert is a kind of food that can make everyone smile with the sweetness of its taste and the attractive appearance that can tempt the eyes and palette of many.
May 20, 2008 at 12:47 pm · Filed under Eating
It is quite easy to set up and start up your own bar. There are a few basic elements that a good bartender must keep in mind to run a bar with as little effort as possible. All bars must contain the most basic and important spirits and liquors as well as equipment. Also, there are essential techniques a bartender must learn about mixing cocktails and long drinks.
First and foremost is the physical set up of the bar. Location is the key. It will be to your advantage if your bar is in an easily accessible place in the room and make sure that you have enough space behind the bar. This is a good tip because you can store extra liquor and glasses. In the space, install a small sink with running water, which is important to keep hygienic, a small refrigerator and a chair or two for you to rest in your free time. The bartender must know his way in, out and around his bar to avoid confusion and to save time and energy especially when he is catering to a party of a thousand people. The rush hour, which is from one to two in the early morning, the mixing stations can serve up to 180 drinks per hour. In these situations, four to six mixing stations are set up all around the place. Inventories must be made before the bar opens.
The next step is to know your menu and learn how to mix the drinks by heart. But with the wide variety of drinks, a “Mixing List” can be posted discretely under the bar. Since you may not have a lot of time in mixing, you will not have time to read the labels of each bottle of liquor. To help in this dilemma, you can set up your spirits and liquors in a certain order. You may have whiskey to Swedish punch arranged from left to right according to the decrease in alcohol content of the different liquors. You may end with grenadine and sugar. In the refrigerator, there should be a supply of fresh fruit juices, sodas, cream, milk, lemons and other ingredients that are perishable.
Each mixing station should contain the base spirits which are Vodka, Tequila, Gin and Rum. Also, the stations should have available sets of fruit juices and extracts such as Orange juice, Pineapple juice, Lemon and Lime. These are present in a lot of cocktail drinks. Below the bar of each station, there should be available cooled soft drinks like Schweppes, Russian Water, tonic water and the usual Coca Cola, Sprite and others.
Some drinks require the use of special gadgets. All stations must have them handy at all times. A Shaker, a measuring cup, a rinsing bowl and straws should be present and ready to use. Each station must have sets of glasses in three sizes, 32cl, 25cl and 8cl. They should also have the ever-needed cloth that is placed over the mixing area to wipe off spills and deal with other incidences.
Lastly, hygiene and sanitation is very important for all bartenders. Your nails must be trimmed short and make sure to wash your hands and gadgets in between drinks as much as possible. Wash glasses when they become empty so that you will always have spare glasses. Always serve napkins to the customers so they too will keep clean.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Bartending
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May 1, 2008 at 7:51 pm · Filed under Eating
ARA - Despite the lackluster economy, most Americans are still in the mood for celebration and fun festivities in the coming months and that means time-pressed and budget conscious hosts and hostesses will need to look for new ways to throw memorable parties that won’t burn a hole in their pocketbooks.
By combining personal creativity and ingenuity — the foundation of lifestylist Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade philosophy — with inexpensive, ready-made items available at discount retailers like Wal-Mart, party planners can throw fabulous gatherings easily and affordably.
“We love to throw wonderful parties that will really impress our guests, but many of us don’t have a lot of extra time, money, and energy,” says Lee, an entertaining expert and author. “By putting a personal stamp on pre-made products, we can avoid stress while still throwing a terrific and affordable bash.”
Lee shops Wal-Mart and offers the following tips for hosting a truly memorable party:
It’s in the Decorations:
* Construct a unique atmosphere by creating homemade lanterns by buying votive candles and placing them in old mason jars, tin cans, or clear drinking glasses. Place these on table tops, around the party perimeter, or lining the walk to the front door.
* Add to the “look” by filling old glass bottles or vases of various shapes and sizes with wild flowers as centerpieces on tables and hang wind chimes from tree branches throughout the yard.
* Drape lengths of decorative firefly light strands along stair banisters, porch railings, and any secured overhanging for festive surroundings.
Create an Inviting Atmosphere:
* Engage guests of all ages by organizing a Hula Hoop spin-off or a round of “shuttle smash,” a colorful and exciting badminton game played without a net.
* To keep mosquitoes at bay and infuse a fresh fragrance into the air, position decorative citronella candles around the perimeter of your gathering and on tabletops.
* Give the evening extra flair by distributing jars of bubbles to your guests as party favors and encourage guests to blow bubbles during a welcoming toast.
Traditional Favorites Make a Menu:
* Keep food simple. Store-bought, pre-marinated pork, pre-seasoned burgers and deli style hot dogs or brats make a great entrée and grilled peppers or corn on the cob are a simple side dish.
* For dessert, create an ice cream bar stocked with a various assortment of ice cream, toppings, and colored dishes for true flair.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Courtesy of ARA Content
April 27, 2008 at 12:00 am · Filed under Eating, Lifestyle, Tips + Tricks
One of the least expensive and yet enjoyable gifts left for guests at a wedding are edible wedding favors. It doesn’t matter what type you eventually decide on a sweet option or a savory one, they will still be enjoyed. Chocolate candy might not be the most elaborate gift even if it does come in a special wrapper but that does not make it any less welcome to hungry guests. I haven’t come across many people that won’t eat chocolate in any of its varieties especially if it has a special flavored center. The wrapper can be generic if cost is an issue and then information about the wedding can be inserted so it can always be kept by the guests.
There is nothing wrong with adding a photo of the couple as well to finish off the gift to ensure it is something the guests will probably keep too remind them of the day. Why not have a tin filled with different types of candy as your edible wedding favor to your guests. Guests are more likely to hold onto the tin as a keepsake if there is a reminder of where they were given it so placing the wedding details on the tin makes sense. Tins are always useful so once the candy has been eaten, it can be used to store many small items that might be lost otherwise. Even people that don’t often eat candy will tuck in when it is an edible wedding favor because they get drawn into the occasion.
People that cannot make up their minds how to present the candy should consider placing it decorative bowl n the center of the table. You can also supply a small themed container on the table for every wedding guest. This way each guest can put whatever candies they like in the container and take it home when they leave the reception. One edible wedding favor some couples overlook is cookies which can also be presented in a variety of ways. Undecorated cookies are best because they are supposed to go inside a decorated box which can have the wedding day details printed on it.
