San Francisco Restaurant Blog

When people think about olive oil they usually associate it Spain or Italy – this mainly due to advertisements portraying elements from either countries. People like to use olive oil for various different reasons, most commonly though for cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, soaps and as fuel for oil lamps.

In North Cyprus olive trees can be seen everywhere, usually with a sunny hillside backdrop, and new trees are often planted as the trees do need dedication to look after and a few have wilted off. Growers are optimistic that they can make the north Cyprus region a serious Mediterranean producer. Olives are some of the common vegetation you will see around the villas in Cyprus, which adds flavour to them.

There are two types of olives: green and black olives, the colour depends on how ripe the fruit is. During the summer months is usually when they appear, the fruit comes out green and as it ripens it turns black. Olive oil is part of the diet of millions of people around the world especially in the Mediterranean region. It is estimated that 4 – 5 kilos of olives are needed to produce a litre of oil.

Not many people know how olive oil is made here is the process: The olives are harvested, usually in the Mediterranean (but there are various other countries that grow theirs), by hitting olive branches with long sticks, which is better for the olives as it forces the ripe fruit to tumble naturally and caught in nets rather than being taken and damaged.

After the harvesting, olives are taken to the mill where they will go through processing as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 hours. During this process leaves and twigs are removed, the fruit is washed, then the olives (pits included) are grounded into paste by using huge millstones or by mechanical means.

Now there are two methods of pressing traditional and centrifuge. Traditional methods are when the paste is spread onto circular mats, then entered into a press which squeezes out the juice and leaves pomace. The juice is a mixture of oil and fruit water, which is left to stand for a hour in which time the oil and water naturally separates. The oil gets siphoned to another vat where remaining particles drift to the bottom, that enables pure olive oil to be decanted into bottles without the need of filtering of any sort. Centrifuge method is a modern way of pressing, first a horizontal centrifugal machine to separates the juice from the pomace, then it is put on a vertical machine which separates the oil from the juice water.

There various oil types which the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) defines the standards for olive oil as follows: Extra Virgin, Virgin, Olive, Olive pomace and Lapante or Strong oil.

October is the time of the olive harvest in North Cyprus, this is usually when early green olive fruits are gathered. In Cyprus olives have been cultivated for four thousand years, he olives are slow grown but long living evergreen takes about ten years to grow to maturity and after that it yields olives for roughly hundreds of years. In order for maximum production the tree will need precise pruning every decade. Not only does this reinvigorate the tree and crop but increase the full capacity with three years.

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Turn on the stove top, get a pot and fill it half full with water. Stand and watch it come to a boil. All kidding aside, cooking is not difficult. When I was teaching my daughter how to cook, I always told her if you can read, you can cook. No truer words have been spoken when it comes to cooking. So many young ladies getting married do not know how to cook and to me that is very sad. The old adage ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’ is very true. I have talked to many young people, boys and girls and they have told me they are afraid to learn to cook, I look at them and ask why. Most answer because they are afraid of getting burned or being laughed at when they cook. This is sad and not a good reason not to learn to cook.

Please if you do not know how to cook, learn. It is a wonderful stress reliever and it is a lot of fun, plus the praises you will get makes it all worth while. My number one tip is to get familiar with your kitchen, learn about it, all of it, from the stove top to the dishwasher. Learn the herbs and where you can use them in cooking, along with the different sizes and shapes of the pots and pans. Number two is to learn the lingo of cooking, such as what saute means or searing steaks. Once you have mastered what dredge in flour means, you are on your way to becoming a good cook.

When starting a new recipe, I always follow the directions to a tee. Then I will add or subtract what I think will make the recipe better. Though I have been cooking since I could see over the stove top, do not do this until you are more seasoned. Start small, don’t try to make a souffle, it will fail and could do harm to your ego. Learn how to boil that water, and then maybe eggs. That is easy to learn. There are so many different cook books out there for the beginner cook. Buy them and study them, as they are full of all kinds of information. Get one that tells you the different cuts of meat, poultry, fish, cheeses and herbs. Once you have mastered basic cooking you are ready to enjoy cooking the more complex recipes.

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Thanks to the geographical location from the United States while using Latin American countries, the its meals has turn out to be very well-known while using Americans. From tacos to roasted pork to fried plantains, name them and you are going to get it in quite a few from the American shops. This foodstuff is ideal known for it really is techniques of preparation that is labor intensive and also for it really is bold flavors.

Should you still have not been fortunate sufficient to try out the Latin American food, I am certain that after reading the article the initial factor that you are going to do is go to your nearest restaurant and order for the greatest dish offered. But ahead of putting your teeth in to the delicious food, learning concerning the Latin American foods history, will make the meal additional enjoyable.

Historical past on the Latin American Meal

Just like the cuisine, even the historical past in the meal is complex too as unique. It is a mixture of different cultures and different traditions. Just before the Europeans discovered South America, the latter knew all about cultivating an array of plants. They had had sufficient knowledge in regards to the irrigation system, the terrace farming on the mountain slopes. They knew about tips on how to grow corns and lima beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, avocados, peanuts and chocolates and also how you can raise llamas and guinea pigs. Each region from the Latin America, had it really is personal special cuisine.

Then came the Europeans, the Asians (Chinese as well as the Japanese), along with the Africans (slaves), and they incorporated a number of their personal ideas and traditions in to the Latin culture, and vice-versa. There was a mixture in the Latin American foods lifestyle as well as the meal lifestyle with the other civilizations. The Europeans introduced the pigs, chickens, citrus trees, wheat, almonds, cows and goats and took back to their country a number of the foods habits from the Latin Americans. The Asians, mainly the Chinese as well as the Japanese immigrants, came to this land while using issue that Asians are well-known for; spices. The Africans came to Latin America as slaves. Throughout their meal time, they were given those pieces of meat which no a single ate. The slaves modified these inedible meal items with whatever they got and transformed it into something new and better, which was taken to the Latin American traditions.

The vast diversity inside the South American meal lifestyle was not only due to the fact on the colonizers or even the immigrants or even the slaves, but also due to the fact from the several traditions followed within the continent. The foods lifestyle in Brazil was various from that of Cuba, or that of Argentina or even the Mexican meal along with the rest in the nations within the continent. Cultural exchange between these nations is also responsible for the vast diversity within the Latin American foods traditions.

Now that we know in regards to the history, let us take a look at a number of the popular Latin American foods solutions.

Some Prevalent Meals Merchandise in the Latin Americans

A few of the popular meal solutions which you may be able to appreciate when you’re in 1 in the nations on the Latin America, are

* Corn
* Maize
* Peppers
* Tropical fruits like coconut, mango, lucuma, etc.
* Queso fresco/ Queso blanco that is a fresh cheese, applied for Latin American cooking
* Yucca or cassava, the starchy, edible roots with the yucca plant

Therefore, these are a number of the prevalent Latin American meals merchandise which forms an critical part of their staple diet.

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Camellia sinensis, otherwise known as the tea plant, offers a variety of health benefits beyond serving as a soothing and refreshing hot or cold beverage. Around the world, people enjoy rtd green tea for ceremony, taste, and health. All of those tea varieties, whether they are black, green, or oolong, evolve from this plant.

Weight loss is one of the positive effects drinking camellia sinensis can provide. In addition to the diuretic effect helping to flush toxins from the body, tea has provided an appetite suppressant effect for some. The caffeine in tea has a thermal boost effect on most metabolisms. In other words, your metabolism gets revved up so you can burn more calories and fat. Some people do not care much for drinking a lot of water but can get some necessary fluid through rtd green tea consumption. It is important to stay hydrated in general but especially if you are exercising strenuously or in hot conditions. It is also important not to load up your ice tea with a lot of sugar or other additives. Too many unnecessary calories added to your tea will increase, not decrease your waistline.

Antioxidants in tea are a significant health benefit. If there is one supreme benefit that camellia sinensis provides, this is it. Antioxidants seek out harmful toxins in the body and eliminate them. The amount of polyphenols, thearubigins, epicatechins, and catechins antioxidants is as good or better in some cases when compared to the amounts in other fruits and vegetables. So instead of your mom telling you to eat your broccoli, she may say you can drink your rtd green tea instead. Or perhaps she will say you should have both since cultures that drink tea in significant amounts like Japan, also consume a lot of vegetables.

Another popular function of the Camellia Sinensis variety is its ability to soothe insomniacs and calm those with anxiety. Take chamomile tea, for instance, or other herbal, non-caffeinated rtd green teas. They provide a mindset and physically calming effect. Both ritually and compositionally, a pleasant, steaming cup of chamomile tea at bedtime is signal to the body that it is time to relax and go to sleep. Chamomile’s soothing effects are not limited to insomniacs and the anxiety prone. Chamomile has an anti-inflammatory agent so it also helps relieve muscle aches and pains both externally and internally. The tea works because it releases an amino acid that serves as a mild nerve relaxant. This is why chamomile also provides menstrual cramp relief.

Many people are not aware there is a healthier Japanese herbal tea than Green teas, called Tenchicha. The tea contains 12 herbs with no caffeine. Mr. Kumagai is the president of Eco Vita, which provides information on health benefits of herbal products including tenchicha. For more detail, please visit Tenchicha.com.

I am a native here. ‘Malacca’ has many good foods. Tourists, especially, benefit greatly from this fact. But first thing, you have to find out the facts, before finding those foods.

Food here in Malaysia can be considered cheap. Hawker stalls that are set up provide tasty and very much affordable lunch and dinner servings. For example, the chicken rice and ‘nasi lemak’ and great ‘Chinese’ foods. Starting at ‘RM2.50′ or ‘RM3.00′, one can experience delight. At night, there is no ‘curfew’. Why is that, you ask? Despite this, ‘Malacca’ remains a peaceful place. The great thing is, you can grab the ‘roti canai’ and its mouth-watering varieties at ‘mamak’ stalls. ‘Mamak’ stalls are great places for hanging out or for supper. Enjoy the cool night breeze, as ‘Malacca’ is a coastal state. This is because the city is only 1km away from the sea.

Be sure to also check out the ‘satay celup’ in ‘Malacca’. There are only a few stalls that cater to this particular food. But, there is one that has people queueing up to get a seating. You can see them lining up beside the road, next to the drains! Yes, those delicacies do taste that great, coupled with their special gravy, they make your mouth do killing. Ask anyone about ‘satay celup’ and you will know.

On the other hand, the ‘Portuguese Settlement’ also serves a variety of sea foods. The locals there are mostly fishermen. Although pricey, according to my father, they do satisfy your tongue and stomach very well. I can say it is because of the freshness quality of those fish. Besides the settlement, you can always find nice sea foods at big ‘Chinese’ restaurants in the town area. Even shark fins are served. Provided that you do not mind the current issue of sharks hunting.

The main point is, you do not have to spend much more on fast food outlets and stores alike. Although there exist standard franchises like ‘McDonads’, ‘KFC’, ‘Burger King’, do not resign so fast. Know the names of those food names I had told you about. Trust me, for a money savvy kind of person like me, they really taste great for your money worth.

All the main places discussed above are known to be very famous in ‘Malacca’. If you need directions, just ask, practically anyone. And your stomach will thank you afterwards. I am just sharing with you the good things in life, specifically in a place called ‘Malacca’.

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Appropriately stored food is important and though, it is an easy task if the amount of food is less, but how exactly do you store food in larger quantities? Understanding proper storage techniques will not only aid in retaining freshness, but can also eliminate wastefulness, reduce the risk of contamination and unnecessary spending.

Before you can think about how to properly store your food, it is vital to ascertain that is in good condition. This is especially true, if you intend on storing foods for a long period of time. Packaging can be a great help in maintaining quality and freshness. Purchase canned or vacuum sealed goods when you can. For meats such as beef, chicken, seafood, turkey, poultry and game, use or freeze it before the specified date on the packaging.

If space is a problem, don’t purchase more than you can store. Make a list before heading to the store to avoid impulse buys or redundant food. Label and seal your loose food items – such as rice, cereals and pastas – in bags and air-tight containers. Store your canned goods in boxes or bins and keep them in an area that is cool and free of moisture. You can be ready to cook up some healthy, tasty meals just by following these basic steps.

Correct food storage is important to avoid spoiling. It will not only save you money, but it can keep food from becoming contaminated and thus making you or your loved ones seriously ill. Different foods have different storage requirements, always check the packaging for dates and storage instructions and be aware of the variety of food storage options available at your local market.

Perhaps the most common choice for food storage is plastic storage bags. Often freezer-proof, they can be simple sandwich bags without a seal or they could have a zipper- or press-seal to keep the air out. There are also specially designed bags for fruit and vegetable storage which allow some air into the bag. Fruits and vegetables can last for up to six weeks in such bags.

Another popular option is plastic storage containers. There are some that are designed to withstand extremes of heat and cold, and you should choose carefully according to your needs. There are various shapes and sizes, some with compartments which can be particularly helpful when preparing foods in advance for later consumption. They are made for both domestic and commercial use and typically made to be microwave and dishwasher safe. Some containers are made to be disposable after a few uses, this is important to note because some plastics can release chemicals into foods after a while. Again, read your labels carefully.

The arch enemy of healthy, fresh food is air. Air can quickly deteriorate your food, but there are options to combat this particular villain. Vacuum sealers remove air and leave an airtight seal. Your choices for food storage are numerous, however if you make informed choices about storing your goods, you’ll waste less food, spend less money and be a lot happier in the end.

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With a special occasion looming, you crave elegance and luxury-everything five stars; but you have absolutely, positively, unequivocally and undeniably no desire for the five-star price tag. Yes, you almost can taste mouth-watering steak and succulent lobster titillating your taste buds and pleasing your palette; and your nose seems to detect the alluring bouquet of your favorite wine. “Yummm,” you think to yourself. However, before your appetite runs away with you and you start dialing for reservations, stop and do the math. How much do you really pay for luxury food, and how much do you pay for ordinary service and decent surroundings?

In the restaurant business, owners set their menu prices at approximately 3.5 times the cost of food. If porterhouse steak costs £10 per pound and the restaurant serves an 8 oz porterhouse, then the rule dictates you will pay approximately £18 for the piece of cow the restaurant owner bought for £5. How much is candle light worth to you? Don’t you have a linen table cloth stashed in a drawer somewhere? Can’t you remember to serve from the left and remove from the right, allowing the wine to breathe as you set-down the salads?

Prepared with your love and care, lavished with your delicate touch, and seasoned precisely to your specifications, luxury foods become affordable treats when you prepare them at home.

A stay-at-home luxury menu…

A delectable sushi appetizer for two-Order from your favorite online purveyor of specialty foods and pay approximately £15 for the best of the best. Savor smugly as you enjoy saving at least £20.

A crispy spinach-vinaigrette salad- You probably have most of the important ingredients already in your refrigerator: got a couple of eggs to hardboil and grate? Got a couple slices of bacon to cook and dice? The spinach and dressing will cost you less than £5, and the satisfaction of saving £15 immeasurably will add to the salad’s deliciousness.

USDA prime New York Steak- You will pay at least £25 for a 10 oz. New York at your local steakhouse. At current prices, you may pay more than £30; if you pay less, you have purchased “select” or “commercial” grade beef. And you run the risk of having the broilerman prepare it poorly. Steak tastes most flavorful and remains most moist and tender when you broil it medium rare-turn the steaks as they first begin to “sweat blood.” Your prime New York cuts will taste especially wonderful, because you have paid only £12 per pound of beef.

Jumbo Shrimp Scampi- Combine low heat, garlic-lemon butter, a touch of virgin olive oil, and capers to mix-up magically perfect shrimp scampi. Easy to cook and even easier to eat, the shrimp provide the perfect complement to your New York steak. Fine markets sell their best jumbo shrimp according to the count-per pound, so that the lower the count, the bigger the shrimp. Most restaurants use 5-count shrimp, for which you may expect to pay about £12 per pound. Yes, your shrimp are the most expensive and extravagant item on your menu. They also are the tastiest.

Asparagus with hollandaise sauce- Hollandaise sauce requires simply butter, eggs, lemon juice, and a good handheld mixer. Follow Betty Crocker’s instructions and delectate the perfect complement between tasty garden vegetable and tangy gourmet sauce.

Cheesecake- You must splurge on your dessert: Order your favorite cheesecake flavor from “The Cheesecake Factory.” Few cheesecakes can rival “The Factory’s.”

Select California wines-Enjoy all your favorite varietals for between £4 and £6 per bottle. Serve a crisp and flavorful white wine with your appetizer and salad. Complement your entree with a hearty merlot.

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Today we see the words “all natural” and “organic” thrown around quite liberally. Most countries have their own rules and regulations as to what constitutes a natural or organic product, but in general there are commonalities that most countries find acceptable.

Sadly, most people aren’t aware or even armed with the proper knowledge to determine if something truly is all natural or not. In fact, for years many soft drink companies were using high fructose corn syrup to sweeten their beverages instead of sugar. Today you will see a few companies boasting that they use “real sugar”, because it is a natural product. This is just one example of how companies love to trick consumers.

So what is the difference between an organic product and a natural one? Here are a few examples:

For organic food, the pesticides used should not be toxic, the farmers don’t harm the soil or wildlife when growing the product, and the seeds aren’t modified in any way. While there are other criteria such as soil testing and soil erosion, the examples above are the most generally accepted in many countries.

If you have ever shopped at a well known organic food store such as “Whole Foods” or similar counterparts, you will discover that many of the foods have been certified organic. Depending on what state you live in, the criteria can be very stringent or more relaxed. However, I wouldn’t recommend buying a product that claims to be organic unless it is certified.

Natural products don’t follow such stringent guidelines as organic foods, but in general are healthier alternatives to regular processed foods. Most natural foods do not contain artificial preservatives or additives and don’t receive any antibiotics or growth hormones.

Health food stores that sell all natural foods like GNC will generally test their products to make sure they follow very strict processing guidelines. However, be wary of foods on your local grocery shelves that claim to be all natural. There are numerous ways for these companies to get around the guidelines for slapping an “all natural” label on their foods.

In general, it is best to buy only organic food, but because of the expense, it is not always practical. In the end the only real way to protect yourself is through self-education and being diligent about reading product labels.

William Jason publishes an eco friendly bamboo blog that encourages buying organic baby clothes and other forms of bamboo clothing.

We all know that bread is pretty versatile. We can use it to make toast. It’s great for sandwiches. We even turn it into croutons. Bread has even more versatility than that, though, especially when it comes to freshening other foods.

We’ve all had a cake on a special occasion. What happens when the whole cake isn’t finished, though? Well, usually, we put it away only to find, when we get it out again, that the exposed cake sides are dried out and stale.

There’s a simple way to fix that. Just poke toothpicks through a slice of bread and poke it into the exposed side (or sides) of the cake so that the bread acts as a cover over the exposed area. The next time you take the cake out, take the bread off and your cake will be moist and fresh.

You can also freshen up marshmallows with bread. If your marshmallows are dry and stale, put them in a bag that can be sealed air tight. Put a slice of bread in with them and seal it up. Come back in a day or two and they’ll be good as new again. You can also use that trick to loosen up brown sugar that has gotten clumpy and dry.

Finally, we all love chocolate chip cookies. Most of us agree that they’re best fresh out of the oven because they’re moist and chewy that way. After a day or so, they tend to dry out. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Putting a slice of bread in the container with them can keep them fresher for several days, so that the whole family can continue to enjoy them.

Ann Satchel has been writing about food for the past three years. She also likes to write about floral topics, such as why to use exotic flower delivery and the benefits of weekly flower delivery services.

Ann Satchel

Health buffs have rediscovered an age-old secret that originated from the Caucasus region: kefir. Kefir, which is best enjoyed as milk kefir, is usually cultured with goat, sheep, or cow’s milk. People from the olden days used to treat their kefir grains as their most prized possessions. They usually keep their grains in canvas sacks to let it ferment and reproduce.

Through the years, many have believed that kefir prevents many diseases including cancers, skin problems, to even digestive disorders. As modern man continues to discover the growing health benefits of kefir, they are also discovering ways to enjoy their kefir. Some have discovered water kefir, which is kefir cultured with juice or sugar water and even kefir cheese which takes quite a while to make. However, milk kefir is still the best way to enjoy kefir as it is also the most traditional recipe.

So if you want to try out milk kefir, you can start making it at home. You can buy kefir grains or milk kefir starters from your nearest health store. If you just want to try out drinking kefir, you may buy the kefir starter. The kefir starter lasts for around seven to eight cycles. You just have to add milk (preferably raw or pasteurized) and you can start enjoying your kefir drink.

However, if you want to enjoy your milk kefir for as long as you like, you should probably buy a batch of kefir grains. Most people go for kefir grains because it is the real thing unlike the starter which is believed to be less healthy because of it has already been processed. Also, getting the kefir grains would be more economical because you only need a single batch for all your kefir needs.

Here’s how to make milk kefir: First, find a jar where you can leave your kefir grains or starter to ferment. Next, add the fresh milk. There is no need to boil the milk. Most people prefer raw milk but you may also try pasteurized milk. In the olden times, people even use buffalo and camel milk so you may try all kinds. After this, cover the jar. Preferably, you may cover the jar with a clean cloth. Just don’t seal the lid because the milk kefir needs air for it to ferment. The microorganisms in the jar need some oxygen to reproduce.

The jar should be kept in room temperature and away from direct sunlight. The ideal waiting time for your kefir would be for 1-3 days. However, if you want mild-tasting kefir, it only takes about a half day. After a whole day, the product would taste a little sharp but after two days, it would already taste zesty.

If you’re going with the starter, you can wait for about 18-24 hours tops. Be careful not to overculture your milk kefir because it becomes curdy and sourer as time goes. The fermentation process goes on so you better be careful not too leave your kefir for too long because it will not taste as good. However, during summertime, kefir ferments faster so you have to observe it cautiously.

When you like to consume your kefir, you can now separate the milk kefir from the actual kefir grains. Pour out the mixture using a strainer. This way, you can still preserve your grains for the next batch. After this process, you may now enjoy your milk kefir drink. For a refreshing drink, you may refrigerate it. And for a hearty snack, you may add fruits or nuts.

With the grains left from the last cycle, you may immediately start another kefir cycle. You may also mix the kefir grains while the cycle is ongoing but sometimes, it disrupts the whole probiotic process so I suggest you to avoid disrupting the reproduction of good bacteria by just leaving your kefir grains to ferment in the jar. Kefir is a living food so instead of losing grains, you are actually growing more for yourself. This is the upside to making kefir with grains-you only need a single batch and it continues to multiply. However, if you’re using a starter, your milk kefir runs out after around eight cycles.

Kefir products are actually more nutritious than yogurt and could be also made into a smoothie which kids will surely love. Also, kefir is good for pregnant and nursing women because of its nutritious components that would be enhanced by the calcium content from milk. This kefir health drink variation would be beneficial to everyone even for the elderly people with growing health problems. Also, if you want to restrain yourself from drinking artificial beverages, you may do so by making milk kefir the substitute. Especially for people who can’t live without caffeine or soda, kefir is the healthy substitute. Kefir is a natural energy-booster and it stimulates your brain. It also doesn’t have any side effects so you are safe from crashing sugar levels and irritability. Including milk kefir in your daily diet boosts your immune system and restores the natural cycle of your body’s whole system.