Gourmet Buying Guide to Food, Tools, and Cookware
Sometimes finding specialty foods or tools in your local area can be a daunting task. Lucky for us, the internet, along with mail-order, have made gourmet shopping as easy as boiling water. Let me show you some of my favorite places to buy gourmet goodies.
Ten Best Cookbooks to Give or Get
You don't have to love cooking to love cookbooks. Many modern cookbooks have beautiful photography and/or fascinating stories or essays making the recipes almost superfluous. 2008 was an exceptional year for cookbook lovers with incredible releases from an array of culinary greats: Achatz, Blumenthal, Adrià, Ramsay, Ripert, and Thomas Keller. Here is a list of my favorites.
You don't have to love cooking to love cookbooks. Many modern cookbooks have beautiful photography and/or fascinating stories or essays making the recipes almost superfluous. 2008 was an exceptional year for cookbook lovers with incredible releases from an array of culinary greats: Achatz, Blumenthal, Adrià, Ramsay, Ripert, and Thomas Keller. Here is a list of my favorites.
Best Places to Buy Gourmet Food Online
Looking for the best places to buy gourmet foods? Let me show you my favorite online stores for getting the best specialty foods at the best prices.
Looking for the best places to buy gourmet foods? Let me show you my favorite online stores for getting the best specialty foods at the best prices.
Best Places to Buy Kitchenware Online
Fancy cookware or kitchen tools aren't necessary to cook great food. They can, however, make your life a whole lot easier. Here are five of favorite online stores for kitchenware, in no particular order. So whether you're looking for a chef's knive or a cherry pitter or that whatchamacallit that does that thing, look here first. These shops often have sales, so check around for the best price.
Fancy cookware or kitchen tools aren't necessary to cook great food. They can, however, make your life a whole lot easier. Here are five of favorite online stores for kitchenware, in no particular order. So whether you're looking for a chef's knive or a cherry pitter or that whatchamacallit that does that thing, look here first. These shops often have sales, so check around for the best price.
Where to Buy the Best Premium Meats - Beef, Pork, and Lamb
Butcher shops are almost nonexistent anymore and we are stuck with limited choices at our local supermarket. The only time we see the butcher is when he comes out of the back to restock the cooler. If you know of a good butcher in your city, make him your friend. If you can't find a real butcher locally, check these online shops for incredible meats and respectable service.
Butcher shops are almost nonexistent anymore and we are stuck with limited choices at our local supermarket. The only time we see the butcher is when he comes out of the back to restock the cooler. If you know of a good butcher in your city, make him your friend. If you can't find a real butcher locally, check these online shops for incredible meats and respectable service.
Where to Buy the Best Seafood
Finding great seafood can be more difficult than the actual cooking itself. If you live far from the ocean or in a small town, your choices can be very limited. Luckily, with modern shipping and online shopping, high quality seafood is available to everyone. But if you're looking for some great seafood, here are the companies I recommend.
Finding great seafood can be more difficult than the actual cooking itself. If you live far from the ocean or in a small town, your choices can be very limited. Luckily, with modern shipping and online shopping, high quality seafood is available to everyone. But if you're looking for some great seafood, here are the companies I recommend.
Mail Order Gourmet Appetizers - Have Your Party Delivered
When planning a party, especially a large one, using prepared foods can be a huge time saver. Cooking for 5 or 6 people is one thing, but what about cooking for 12 or 20 or 50! Here are some companies that will deliver high quality appetizers right to your door. Just heat and serve.
When planning a party, especially a large one, using prepared foods can be a huge time saver. Cooking for 5 or 6 people is one thing, but what about cooking for 12 or 20 or 50! Here are some companies that will deliver high quality appetizers right to your door. Just heat and serve.
What to Bring to the Party - Suggestions for a Gourmet Lover
If you have been invited to dinner or a party, but have not been asked to bring anything, you may still want to consider bringing a gift. The gift of drink or food is almost always appreciated. Even if your gift does not match well with the theme or flavors of the gathering, your small donation is highly unlikely to have any negative impact on either of these factors. Like the saying goes, the gift is in the giving.
If you have been invited to dinner or a party, but have not been asked to bring anything, you may still want to consider bringing a gift. The gift of drink or food is almost always appreciated. Even if your gift does not match well with the theme or flavors of the gathering, your small donation is highly unlikely to have any negative impact on either of these factors. Like the saying goes, the gift is in the giving.
Edible Mushroom Varieties
There are many edible varieties of mushrooms, many of which are available at specialty shops, natural grocers, and from farmers markets. Many varieties are wild and are collected by mushroom hunters. These photos are intended to show you the different edible mushrooms out there and not to be used for identifying in the wild. Leave that to the professionals, please.
There are many edible varieties of mushrooms, many of which are available at specialty shops, natural grocers, and from farmers markets. Many varieties are wild and are collected by mushroom hunters. These photos are intended to show you the different edible mushrooms out there and not to be used for identifying in the wild. Leave that to the professionals, please.
Where to Buy Fresh Wild Mushrooms
The best place to buy fresh wild mushrooms is locally such as the farmers market or a specialty grocer. When that's not possible, though, here are some online mushroom sellers that provide quality products. Some mushrooms are highly toxic, so whether it's your local vendor at a farmers market or a box store, always be sure of the seller's credentials when buying wild mushrooms. If you're unsure…
The best place to buy fresh wild mushrooms is locally such as the farmers market or a specialty grocer. When that's not possible, though, here are some online mushroom sellers that provide quality products. Some mushrooms are highly toxic, so whether it's your local vendor at a farmers market or a box store, always be sure of the seller's credentials when buying wild mushrooms. If you're unsure…
Places to Buy Gourmet Salts
All salts are not created equal! As most cooks know, using sea salt rather than iodized or kosher salt adds more flavor to a dish. Sea salts, however, come in a variety of flavors and colors. Experiment with different salts in your recipes and see what happens. For best results, many of these salts should be sprinkled lastly on a dish like a garnish. Sea salt is a product of the minerals found in the seawater where it is harvested.
All salts are not created equal! As most cooks know, using sea salt rather than iodized or kosher salt adds more flavor to a dish. Sea salts, however, come in a variety of flavors and colors. Experiment with different salts in your recipes and see what happens. For best results, many of these salts should be sprinkled lastly on a dish like a garnish. Sea salt is a product of the minerals found in the seawater where it is harvested.
Drinking Chocolates
"Drinking Chocolates" are made from real chocolate as opposed to "Hot Cocoa" which is made from cocoa powder (the powdery remains of chocolate liquor after cocoa butter is removed). Drinking chocolates are not instant like hot cocoa. You must add hot milk, cream, or water . Because of the higher cocoa butter content, drinking chocolates will also be richer and often thicker than hot cocoa. Here are my favorites.
"Drinking Chocolates" are made from real chocolate as opposed to "Hot Cocoa" which is made from cocoa powder (the powdery remains of chocolate liquor after cocoa butter is removed). Drinking chocolates are not instant like hot cocoa. You must add hot milk, cream, or water . Because of the higher cocoa butter content, drinking chocolates will also be richer and often thicker than hot cocoa. Here are my favorites.
Gourmet Chutney Brands
Chutney is a traditional Indian condiment that is made from fruit, sugar, and spices. It's a wonderfully versatile ingredient to have in the kitchen. Chutneys are good for more than just Indian dishes. Try chutneys as an accompaniment to cheese, as a sauce for meats (especially pork, lamb, and chicken), stirred into rice, as a sandwich spread, or even over ice cream.
Chutney is a traditional Indian condiment that is made from fruit, sugar, and spices. It's a wonderfully versatile ingredient to have in the kitchen. Chutneys are good for more than just Indian dishes. Try chutneys as an accompaniment to cheese, as a sauce for meats (especially pork, lamb, and chicken), stirred into rice, as a sandwich spread, or even over ice cream.
How to Shop for Gourmet Food
Shopping for gourmet foods can be very intimidating. Many products have labels in a foreign language and price variations that make no sense to the casual observer. How, then, is a consumer to make any rational buying decision without spending hours of preliminary research? Don't despair. Here are a few easy tips to reduce your stress and better prepare you as a gourmet shopper.
Shopping for gourmet foods can be very intimidating. Many products have labels in a foreign language and price variations that make no sense to the casual observer. How, then, is a consumer to make any rational buying decision without spending hours of preliminary research? Don't despair. Here are a few easy tips to reduce your stress and better prepare you as a gourmet shopper.
Best Places to Buy Gourmet Cheeses Online
Gourmet cheeses are a world apart from the factory produced cheeses found in the chain supermarkets. Gourmet cheeses can be hard to find locally if you don't have a specialty market or cheese shop. Here are some online sources where you're sure to find some fantastic tasting cheeses.
Gourmet cheeses are a world apart from the factory produced cheeses found in the chain supermarkets. Gourmet cheeses can be hard to find locally if you don't have a specialty market or cheese shop. Here are some online sources where you're sure to find some fantastic tasting cheeses.
The Best Cheesemakers of Vermont and their Hand-Crafted Artisan Cheeses
Only recently, in the past 20 years or so, has the craft of American cheesemaking been able to compete with the Europeans. A revolution has occurred with major hotspots for cheese developing in California, Vermont, and elsewhere. The small state of Vermont hosts dozens of artisan cheesemakers. With so many great cheesemakers creating a huge variety of cheeses, it's impossible to say who's the best. This list only reflects some of my favorites.
Only recently, in the past 20 years or so, has the craft of American cheesemaking been able to compete with the Europeans. A revolution has occurred with major hotspots for cheese developing in California, Vermont, and elsewhere. The small state of Vermont hosts dozens of artisan cheesemakers. With so many great cheesemakers creating a huge variety of cheeses, it's impossible to say who's the best. This list only reflects some of my favorites.
Where To Buy Wild Game
A few decades ago wild game was a huge part of the average American's diet. As people moved away from the country and into the cities, however, we lost this connection to the land. Consumers relied more and more on factory farms and our meat choices were reduced to beef, pork, chicken, and lamb. Today several companies specialize in game meats and have made these once rare products readily available to consumers.
A few decades ago wild game was a huge part of the average American's diet. As people moved away from the country and into the cities, however, we lost this connection to the land. Consumers relied more and more on factory farms and our meat choices were reduced to beef, pork, chicken, and lamb. Today several companies specialize in game meats and have made these once rare products readily available to consumers.
Gourmet Tableware
Company's coming! Having appropriate tableware: plates, bowls, glasses, flatware, and whatever else adds to the general well-being of the party. Although we could all survive with paper plates and cups, having beautiful dinnerware makes life all the more enjoyable. Here are some places to start looking.
Company's coming! Having appropriate tableware: plates, bowls, glasses, flatware, and whatever else adds to the general well-being of the party. Although we could all survive with paper plates and cups, having beautiful dinnerware makes life all the more enjoyable. Here are some places to start looking.
Top 10 Chocolate Bunnies for Easter
What is Easter without a chocolate bunny rabbit? Among a basket of jellybeans, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow chickens, only the chocolate rabbit stands alone. Towering over the other treats, the bunny surveys all he sees and decides he is the most worthy of being eaten. Rightly so, but all bunnies are not created equal. For a truly gourmet chocolate experience, you must go to the artisan chocolate maker. Here is a list of my favorite chocolate rabbits from world class chocolatiers.
What is Easter without a chocolate bunny rabbit? Among a basket of jellybeans, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow chickens, only the chocolate rabbit stands alone. Towering over the other treats, the bunny surveys all he sees and decides he is the most worthy of being eaten. Rightly so, but all bunnies are not created equal. For a truly gourmet chocolate experience, you must go to the artisan chocolate maker. Here is a list of my favorite chocolate rabbits from world class chocolatiers.
Top Picks - Chef's Knives
Every cook needs a good knife. It's the one thing you can't do without in the kitchen. If you can only have one good knife, a chef's knife is what you want. A chef's knife has a blade between 8- and 10-inches long and is the most suitable for the greatest variety of tasks. A high quality chef's knife will cost you around a hundred dollars, but if properly taken care of it will last a lifetime.
Every cook needs a good knife. It's the one thing you can't do without in the kitchen. If you can only have one good knife, a chef's knife is what you want. A chef's knife has a blade between 8- and 10-inches long and is the most suitable for the greatest variety of tasks. A high quality chef's knife will cost you around a hundred dollars, but if properly taken care of it will last a lifetime.
The Very Best Premium Vanilla Extract Brands and Where to Buy Them
Vanilla is an essential cooking ingredient for which there is no true substitute. The flavor of real vanilla is made up of over 250 organic components, which gives it great depth and complexity, compared to only one flavor component in artificial vanilla. There are three main types of vanilla: Madagascar Bourbon (named after the Bourbon islands not the liquor), Tahitian (fruity),and Mexican (spicy). Here is a list of premium vanilla extracts that I consider to be the very best.
Vanilla is an essential cooking ingredient for which there is no true substitute. The flavor of real vanilla is made up of over 250 organic components, which gives it great depth and complexity, compared to only one flavor component in artificial vanilla. There are three main types of vanilla: Madagascar Bourbon (named after the Bourbon islands not the liquor), Tahitian (fruity),and Mexican (spicy). Here is a list of premium vanilla extracts that I consider to be the very best.
Thanksgiving Survival Guide from Gourmet Food
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year; friends, family, food, cooking, eating, stress, stress, stress. If you are the host of this year's Thanksgiving gathering, you may be experiencing a little anxiety. How am I going to cook all this food? What if nobody likes my food? I need help! Although I can’t help you keep Aunt Martha out of the kitchen or keep your cousin Steve from hitting on your friends, I can give you a few culinary tips to make your Thanksgiving a little less stressful.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year; friends, family, food, cooking, eating, stress, stress, stress. If you are the host of this year's Thanksgiving gathering, you may be experiencing a little anxiety. How am I going to cook all this food? What if nobody likes my food? I need help! Although I can’t help you keep Aunt Martha out of the kitchen or keep your cousin Steve from hitting on your friends, I can give you a few culinary tips to make your Thanksgiving a little less stressful.
Hug Your Local Butcher
The village butcher is a relic of the past, a memory for most Americans. In a country of fast food, online shopping, giant chain-supermarkets and mega-department stores, no one is willing to be inconvenienced by making a separate trip just to buy meat. The number of butcher shops in America is near extinction levels. Butcher shops thrive in other parts of the world, so why not here?
The village butcher is a relic of the past, a memory for most Americans. In a country of fast food, online shopping, giant chain-supermarkets and mega-department stores, no one is willing to be inconvenienced by making a separate trip just to buy meat. The number of butcher shops in America is near extinction levels. Butcher shops thrive in other parts of the world, so why not here?