Cuisine Focus – Historical Cuisine – Where It All Began

Our very different cuisines did not just spring out from nowhere. It has a beginning and a history. So when we eat a particular cuisine, it will seem like we are being transported back in time where that particular dish started and getting a taste of what history tasted like those hundreds and thousands of years ago. Here is a look at historical or medieval cuisine where all our lovely dishes began.

What Shaped Historical Cuisine?

As stated above, what we call cuisine did not just happen. It developed slowly over time, and it has been shaped not only by the land and its produce but also by the people, their culture, and their needs. Aside from this, historical cuisine also encompasses the eating habits of the people as well as their cooking techniques and methods.

Other factors that shaped historical cuisine include the events that were happening during the period, the social classes of the people, their social norms, and their religions and beliefs. There is also the belief that upper class deserves refined and very expensive cuisine, while the working class deserves less refined and less expensive cuisine, simply because there is the idea that one’s food should resemble one’s labor. So if you do manual labor to make a living, then your food should be coarser and cheaper than what the rich people usually have.

The Early Cuisine

If there was one thing that was very important to the diet of the people who lived during the Middle Ages is that it was the cereals. It has always been a part of the people’s diet, with the rich having wheat and the poor having barley as well as rye and oat. Rice was a later introduction to Europe though.

When it comes to meat, again, the upper society were the only ones who can afford meat particularly since it was a bit expensive during the Medieval Ages. In fact, game was normally only seen on the nobilities’ tables. Other types of meat that were also prevalent during that period were the usual pork as well as chicken, and they also have the domestic fowl. However, beef, on the other hand, was not the common for the simple reason that the butchers will have to invest more not only in land but also in feeds if they want to raise livestock like cows.

As for fish, those who live near water have fresh fish daily, the staples of which include cod as well as herring. However, those who live inland have to rely on the different techniques to preserve fish. Some of these techniques are smoking as well as drying, and you also have pickling as well as salting. In fact, these techniques are not only used for fish alone as they also use it on meat to preserve it.

The poor have the local herbs and spices, of course, and these are those that can be found in the forest as well as those that can be grown in their gardens. On the other hand, the rich people get to enjoy exotic spices, especially if those purchased from traders who bring imported goods from neighboring lands.

During the late Medieval Period, upper class society’s cuisine became more refined with the use of seasonings. The most common of which are vinegar as well as verjuice. They also made use of wine in their cooking to enhance the flavor of the dish. It was also during this period that the combination of spices and seasonings were used to create exotic flavors such as sweet and sour.

This is also the period wherein they began using sauce thickeners in their soups as well as sauces and stews, the most common of which is almonds and almond milk.

The historical or medieval cuisine made use of ingredients that were available to them. There were exotic spices, other exotic meats, and food imports brought by traders, but it is usually the upper class who can afford such luxurious items. However, the traditional historical or medieval cuisine was soon influenced by the many wars, crusades, and invasions that were so prevalent during that period.

Ingredients Utilized in Historical or Medieval Cuisine

* The following list is, by no means, exhaustive. It is only intended as a reference source.

Cereals: Rye, barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, wheat, rice

Vegetables: Cabbage, beets, onions, garlic, carrots.

Fruits: Lemons, citrons, bitter oranges, pomegranates, quinces, grapes, apples, pears, plums, strawberries, figs, dates.

Dairy Products: Milk, cheese.

Meats: Wild game, mutton, lamb, veal, pork, hedgehog, porcupine.

Birds and Fowls: Swans, peafowl, quail, partridge, storks, cranes, larks, linnets, chicken, duck, geese.

Fish and Seafood: Herring, cod, mollusks, oysters, mussels, scallops, crayfish, pike, carp, bream, perch, lamprey, trout.

Bake Mete Ryalle or Pork Pie

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. pork
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. mace
• 2 tsp. cubebs
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 4 tbsp. butter

Procedure:

Boil or slow-cook the pork until tender. Allow to cool and then chop into small pieces. Add spices and sugar, put into pie crust, dot with butter, cover with a top crust, and bake at 350°F until golden brown – about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Bukkenade or Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lbs. beef, cut into cubes
• 1 tbsp. parsley
• 1 tsp. sage
• 1 tsp. hyssop
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. mace
• 4 egg yolks
• 3/8 cups verjuice (if verjuice is unavailable, use 1/4 cup wine and 1/8 cup lemon juice)
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. salt
• pinch saffron

Procedure:

Put the beef into a large pot along with water to cover – about 8 cups. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Skim off and discard any scum that forms on the surface. Add parsley, sage, hyssop, cloves, and mace. Stir well and simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the beef is tender. Temper the egg yolks in a separate bowl by slowly whisking in a cup or two of the broth from the pot. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot along with the egg mixture and stir. Remove from heat when as soon as it comes back to a boil.

Image Credit: foodinsichuan.com

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About the Author: Matthew Goudge

Chef Matthew, the owner of ProChef360Blog.com, is an expert in culinary arts. He is after all an outstanding chef, having had worked in some of the finest resorts, hotels and restaurants in the world. His interest, however, in social media was awakened when he started his own websites. Over the years, he took it upon himself to learn everything he can about social media.

He endeavored to discover the secrets behind generating huge traffic and leads for his websites. He studied the secrets behind generating sales by piggy-backing on high-traffic social media sites. Over time, he has developed 77 techniques on how to generate huge amount of traffic through the use of social media.

Articles Source: Cuisine Focus – Historical Cuisine – Where It All Began

Tips in Using Ladders and Steps

A ladder is only a ladder, you might think.  You only have to put one foot on the rail, hoist yourself up, put the other foot on the upper rail, and do the same until you reach the top.  Very easy, right?

However, you should know that improper use of the ladders as well as the steps in the restaurant and the kitchen can lead to accidents that you could have avoided had you been careful enough.  Improper use of ladders and steps can also endanger other people who are passing by you.  For this reason, it is important that you know how to use these access equipments properly.

Risks Involved in Using Access Equipments

There are a number of risks associated with using access equipments.  For one, you can easily fall off the ladder.  A body part like your arm or foot or a piece of your clothing could also easily get caught on the ladder, causing you to lose your balance and fall over.  You could also injure passersby by your carelessness; say for example dropping a bucket onto someone’s feet.

If you erected the ladder the wrong way or placed it on an uneven surface, you could also fall, injuring yourself and other people.  Lastly, using damaged ladders and steps could easily cause an accident.

Because restaurants would want to be seen as an accident-free establishment, safety guidelines on using access equipments should be taught to all, especially the Stewarding Department.

Avoiding Accidents

Accidents like this could easily be avoided if you take precautionary measures in using access equipments:

1. Always make sure that the ladder or the step is in good working condition.  If it seems faulty, report it as soon as possible to the proper personnel to have it checked and repaired.
2. If you are going to carry a heavy ladder, have someone help you.  That way, you avoid injuring your back and, at the same time, avoid accidentally hitting people with the ladder.
3. When erecting the ladder, always make sure that the floor is even and that you have erected the equipment properly.  If possible, have someone hold the ladder and secure it in place when you are going up the access equipment.
4. When climbing the ladder, always make sure that your feet are properly and firmly planted on the steps before hoisting yourself up.  Make use of the rail to lift yourself and to avoid losing your balance.
5. Never carry too many things at once when you are climbing up a ladder.  This way, the unnecessary risk of falling objects is avoided, and injuring yourself is also prevented.

These are just some of the tips in using ladders and steps.  The most important thing is that you should always have your safety as well as the safety of other people on your mind when you are using access equipments.  Accidents from carelessness are avoidable if you have the presence of mind to check the access equipment before using it.

Article Source:   http://www.stewardingdepartment.com/318/tips-in-using-ladders-and-steps/

How to Keep Your Restaurants and Cafes Clean

Nobody will want to eat in a messy or untidy restaurant and this why you need to keep all areas of your restaurant clean and tidy. Ensuring that you have a clean restaurant does not only make it pleasant for customers who eat there but it also acts as a pest control mechanism. Most people who frequent your restaurant will not only come there because of the food, but will consider it as a place for having quality time with their loved ones, friends and family. Therefore, the way the restaurant is presented is just as important as the food being provided. If you develop good cleaning habits, chances of your employees and customers developing illness will significantly reduce.
Even though achieving a clean restaurant and café involves plenty of work, you can achieve it by familiarizing your staff on the benefits of having a clean restaurant and the procedures to follow for achieving a clean eating place.
Pests can invade your restaurant any time and thus you need to have and maintain a good pest control system for your restaurant. One place to begin is by ensuring all the food prepared is properly stored and kept in a clean environment. This includes both cooked and uncooked food in addition to leftovers. Make sure that all the waste foods are properly disposed off to prevent the spread of pests. Moreover, you need to ensure that the trash cans have a functional lid and foods that are stored are placed in a sealed container.
One of the most effective pest control mechanism that restaurant and café owners can use is making sure the restaurant is rodent proof. This mechanism prevents unwanted pests from entering your restaurant and spreading diseases. Take a thorough look at both the interior and exterior walls of the restaurant and ensure they do not have any cracks or openings. If there are any, cover or stuff them with strong materials such as cement.
It is important for restaurant and café owners to sensitive their staffs on the benefits of pest control and thus they need to keep all surfaces clean and tidy. The entire restaurant needs to be kept clean after every shift. Doing this prevents dirt or wastes from accumulating. Each workstation also needs to be disinfected to prevent the spread of pests. There are a wide variety of pest control items that are available in local stores and will help in the cleaning process.
If you are experiencing difficulties in getting rid of pests on your own, then you have the option of hiring a professional pest control company. These companies have years of experience dealing with pest control and will do an effective job in making your restaurant and café clean and tidy.

Brandon Anido has been providing helpful information regarding Bed Bugs Connecticut for many years. His knowledge is the direct result of working many years in the pest control industry. If you are having trouble with bed bugs and would like some help he recommends giving Pest Control Connecticut a call.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Anido

Culinary Arts Career – What are Your Options?

The field of culinary arts is without a doubt a fast-growing industry.  It has always been popular; but with today’s “celebrity” culture, people are more aware of the existence of chefs.  As a result, more and more people are pursuing a career in this industry.  They are seeing this field as a feasible one.  More and more colleges and universities are offering degrees and training programs to people who are interested in pursuing a culinary arts career.

Choosing Your Path

A career in the culinary field comes in many forms.  There are many areas to choose from.  One can always choose from among its many fields depending on his or her interest.   Perhaps, you are interested with cooking haute cuisine.  Perhaps, you like baking and you dream of becoming a pastry chef.  The possibilities are positively endless.  Every field offers its own challenges.  You need to take your time to consider what culinary arts career path you would like to pursue.  Make sure that you end up with a choice that would suit and fulfill you for a long time to come.

Choosing from Among the Different Areas

There are actually four areas that you can choose from.  First, you can choose to work at any restaurant and take on a restaurant-related position.  Usually, this type of culinary arts career involves food service.  You will often find people working in this particular field.  Restaurant positions vary depending on the needs of a particular restaurant.  A big establishment would require several employees while a smaller establishment would need a smaller number of employees.  There are operations with multiple outlets.  You will likely find corporate jobs in these businesses.  Accordingly, your interest may vary.  You could end up working as a chef.  Perhaps, you would qualify as a manager.

You can also pursue a culinary arts career in hotels and restaurants.  This industry is growing fast, and careers in this industry are also growing in number and variety.  This is the reason why more and more people are joining this industry.  The numbers of jobs are growing in this field.

If you don’t want to work in a restaurant, hotel or resort, you can always choose to work as a personal chef.  There are a lot of people who are working for a number of clients only, cooking for them and preparing their meals daily.  There are many people who are securing the service of a personal chef.  You can always choose to work privately.  This can be a feasible culinary arts career for you as well.

Image Source: pitiri.com; wired.com

How to Look for the Best Mexican Restaurants

Just like everything else in the culinary world, Mexican restaurants have new offerings.  They are branching out.  They are offering new flavors, creations and tastes.  It goes with the territory of being in a steep competition.  There restaurants need to offer something new in order to make their mark.  Unlike before where they offer dozens of bean dishes, these restaurants have something more to offer these days.  Aside from the standard tamales, burritos and enchiladas, you will also find other innovative and even unusual dishes.

The Modern Mexican Restaurants

You will find chicken that are baked in banana leaves.  You will be served hearty beef stews in some restaurants.  Indeed, these things just show that people are more open to new tastes.  And with the presence of numerous Mexican restaurants, there is a need for these restaurant owners and chefs to offer something different in order to attract more customers.  You don’t have to go to Mexico in order to experience the best dishes that the country has to offer.  But how do you look for the best Mexican restaurant in your area?

Finding Your Restaurant

The first thing that you need to do is to look for a listing of Mexican restaurants in your area.  You can check out the yellow pages or your telephone directory.  If you are on a trip, you can check out the place’s tourism office.  You can buy a restaurant guide.  You can go online and search for restaurants near you.  There are so many ways to go about it.

Once you have a list, you can then call them to make some inquiry regarding their prices and food offerings.  You can then decide where to go once you have compared the various restaurants.  Aside from calling, you can also read reviews about these restaurants.  The easiest way to get hold of reviews is to go online.  Chances are you will find good reviews that will help you decide where to go.  Often, reviews are written by locals, restaurant critics and travelers.  You can rest assure that you will be reading authentic and honest reviews.  If you are not comfortable with just reading reviews, you can ask for recommendations from friends or relatives.  This is really the best way to go about choosing your restaurant.

Nowadays, Mexican restaurants have a lot to offer, but you still have to choose the best restaurant in your area in order to have the full Mexican dining experience.

Image Source: Flickr.com

Understanding the Importance of Your Restaurant Menu

If you run a restaurant, you need to make sure that you have the best menu that you can afford.  Of course, “best” does not mean expensive.  It means effective.  Indeed, your menu is one of your marketing and sales tools.  You have to make sure that when your customer sees it, it will influence them to buy.  It should be design to entice customers.  This is to ensure maximum profits for you and your restaurant.  If you really want to sell everything in your menu, you have to make sure that your menu presents every product favorably and enticingly. 

Your Restaurant’s Menu and Your Profits

The first thing that you have to understand is this – every item on your restaurant menu is distinct in its saleability, so do not expect Product A to sell like Product B.  If Product A is selling like pancakes, wouldn’t it be wise to emphasize the product?  If Product A is selling for $20 dollars and Product B is selling for $10, wouldn’t you earn more if more people buy Product A?  As you can see, placing emphasis on a product that you would like to sell can make a lot of difference on your profit.

Of course, you can draw your customers’ attention to Product A if you would use your menu well.  This is why your menu plays a very crucial role in selling your items.  It also pays if your staff understands this as well.  This way they can encourage customers to avail of Product A if a customer seeks for their opinion. 

Creating a Wonderful Restaurant Menu

They say, do not judge a book by its cover.  Perhaps, that is true – for books.  This is not the case, however, when it comes to menu.  People will judge your products by your menu and its cover.  You have to make sure that your graphics and images can entice your customers to buy.  Your menu should get your customers to think, “Oh, this looks delicious!”

If you have to spend a significant amount of money on your menu, then do so.  Your menu is an investment.  It speaks to your customers and tells them whether or not a particular dish is worth ordering or not.  You have to plan your menu carefully.  You have to devote time on choosing the right colors, images, materials and designs.  Do not take your menu for granted and never commit the mistake of presenting a haphazardly-created restaurant menu.

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Chef David Chang – The Rebel Who Offers Affordable Gourmet Food

Chefs have their favorite ingredients.  It is also inevitable that they would develop a penchant for cooking specific dishes.  There are chefs who develop a liking for organic ingredients and dishes.  There are those who develop preference for meat dishes.  Now, Momofuku Ssam Bar’s chef, David Chang, certainly likes his meats.  He is what you would call a meathead chef.  If you love veggies, you probably wouldn’t like his cooking much.  You will likely spend considerable minutes frowning over his menu before you would promptly leave.  However, to people who love meat dishes, this chef is a culinary god.

Don’t get him wrong though, he does use other ingredients and he also prepares fish and vegetable dishes.  It’s just that he loves preparing and cooking meat dishes.  He is a genius at it.  He should be.  His restaurant Momofuku Ssam Bar wouldn’t have won the 31^st spot in El Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants if he is a mediocre chef.  You can probably liken Chef Chang to Fergus Henderson.  Like the world-famous chef, Chang is also adept at creating thick and savory dishes.  His culinary creations can be addicting.  He loves experimenting with fusion cuisine, and he is quite good at mixing ingredients and culinary techniques.

Chef David Chang knows how to respect cultures and take the best from them.  He is an expert on this.  After all, he is a Korean who grew up in Washington D.C.  It is fairly common for him to draw inspiration from his Korean background.  He combines Korean traditional cooking with modern cooking.

Before the creation of Momofuku Ssam Bar, Chef Chang indulged in modest cooking.  This changed after he opened his restaurant.  The operation took on a larger scale.  Demands were bigger and the stakes were even bigger.  Now, he has a world-class operation.  Accordingly, he has to push his limits.  He has to test deeper waters, and he needs to be more ambitious than ever.  All his past efforts have certainly paid off.  Landing the 31^st spot wasn’t easy, but he managed to do so anyway.  It’s just fitting for a culinary rebel.

Chef David Chang has definitely something to offer to his customers.  Not a huge fan of haute cuisine and expensive menu, he carved out a middle ground where he offers gourmet but affordable food.  His restaurant is definitely something else.  It is not McDonalds, but the food is certainly affordable.  This is certainly surprising.  We can only conclude that Momofuku Ssam Bar’s chef has more surprises up his sleeves.

Image Source:  koreanbeacon.com ; bonappetempt.com