Mychoyce.com San Francisco Restaurant Blog

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How To Prepare For A Buffet?

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

Buffet is commonly used to entertain guests and VIPs during business seminars, birthday parties, or corporate events. In order to give your guests an enjoyable buffet, let me share with you some tips to prepare for a buffet.

Preparing a buffet is not as hard as you think it might be. You should always engage a professional buffet caterer to do most of work for you. But before you hire a professional buffet caterer, there are some things that you need to prepare before hand:

1. Do a head-count. Before you cater a buffet, you need to know the number of people who is attending your event. Yes, it is impossible to get an accurate number of attendees. Therefore, you should always note that there will be about 5 to 10 percent of people who will not turn up even though they have already registered for your event. With this, you will not order too much food for the event.

2. Pick the menu. In a buffet, there are different kinds of food for you to choose from. Be it Western or Asian food, the buffet caterer that you intend to hire should be able to fulfil your request. Talk to your caterer and make sure that you pick a menu which will be appealing to your guests.

3. Choose the type of buffet. You can choose to have a BBQ buffet if you are not organizing a corporate event. BBQ buffet allows more interaction and create a more relaxing atmosphere.

4. Plan out the place for the buffet. Your caterer will need a huge space to setup the buffet on the day of the event. So make sure that you provide a big space for your caterer to work in. The area where you serve the food should also be spacious enough for your guests to move easily. If it is too small, the food area will be too crowded and it may give an unpleasant experience for your guests.

5. Update your caterer with all the necessary details. In order for your caterer to know your expectation, you need to let him or her know all the necessary details before the event. Make sure that your caterer knows what time to set things up and what time to clean up the setup area. With this, he or she will be able to give you a smooth and well-prepared buffet catering service.

Buffet should not be messy if you have a well-organized plan to carry things out. Along with the quality of the food, your buffet should give your guests a memorable experience during your event.

To look for buffet caterer in Singapore, visit the website below now:

Click Here –> Buffet Caterer at http://www.Eatzi.com.sg

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4 Important Things To Note When Choosing A Catering Service

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

In any corporate event or party, food is an integral part of it and you must choose the right catering service to help assist you in planning out a good meal for your guests. To choose a right catering service, you need to do a lot of research and references, and often request a sampling in order to make your final decision. So what are some of the important things to note when you are looking for a catering service?

1. Set your catering budget. Before you can set your catering budget, you need to know an accurate estimate number of people attending your party or event. Take into consideration that some of your guests will not turn up on the day itself even though they have already registered for your event. So, make sure you do not over-order the amount of food that is needed. Then, discuss your budget with your caterer and see what options are available. Do you prefer a buffet style or a sit down dinner for your guests? Do you have a theme or style for your event that will be reflected in the cuisine? Remember that it is the type of food that usually determines the price of the catering service. So, find out from your caterer and outline what the payment terms will be.

2. Find out where does the caterer shop for his or her food? It is important for you to know whether the caterer uses fresh or frozen food for recipes as this will affect the quality of the food somehow or another. Will any of the dishes be pre-made and then frozen until the event? Does anything come from a can? You will not want to serve this kind of food to your important guests.

3. Find out whether the caterer supplies decorations, linens, tables and chairs. These are important logistics and you will want your caterer to help you handle these stuffs. You must be very clear in what your event needs and what the caterer will be supplying. Check out their brochures to see examples of past event and table decoration before you make any decision.

4. Find out whether the catering company provide wait-staff? If they are providing wait-staffs, find out what is their required dress code? What is the ratio of servers to guests? The general rule of thumb is 1 server for every 10 guests. So make sure that your caterer provides enough wait-staff for your event.

Last but not least, what happens to the leftovers? Do request from your caterer a food basket. Usually, they will provide 1 for you at no additional charge. Remember, do communicate clearly with your caterer exactly what you want, so as to minimize any misunderstandings and sub-standard catering service.

Eatzi provides catering services for residents in Singapore. Visit the website below to view your food menu now:

Click Here –> Catering Services at http://www.Eatzi.com.sg

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Popcorn History - Fun Facts About Popcorn

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

Could there be anything better than snuggling up to watch a movie with some hot buttered popcorn? Popcorn facts state that over 16 billion people, world wide love eating popcorn. Safe to say, everybody loves popcorn!

Even people who are health conscious can enjoy popcorn as a snack. Plain popcorn is also perfect for those watching their weight, as it is both low fat, a healthy carbohydrate, and also a great source of natural fiber. Filling up on this natural whole grain is a guiltless pleasure!

Because of its versatility popcorn can be enjoyed both sweet or savory. Plain popcorn can be topped with any number of different ingredients. Along with the traditional butter, try adding Parmesan cheese, melted cheeses or spices, for example curry, chili powder or garlic salt. Or for those with a sweet tooth, cinnamon sugar, chocolate covered peanuts, or the all to familiar caramel. The only limit is ones imagination.

It is easy to see why popcorn has become a snacking staple for Americans. Its popularity has lasted from colonial times, when it was eaten as a cereal (the original puffed grain) to the late 1800’s when the first popcorn machine was invented.

On into the 1900’s where popcorn saw the country through the Great Depression when sugar was rationed, making candy scarce. Popcorn became a delicious and affordable substitute.

When the television came into homes in the 1950’s, there was to be a slight slump in popcorn consumption due to the decline of movie theater goers. This slow down was to be short lived though, when people started to enjoy popcorn again in the comfort of their homes while watching their favorite TV shows.

After the introduction of the first microwave for home use in 1967, popcorn sales have continued to increase steadily. Since the 1990’s sales have reached over 240 million. It is said that the average American consumes over 50 quarts of popcorn a year.

Would you like to discover more fun facts about popcorn ? For all you thought you would never need to know about popcorn and the best in all things popcorn please visit: http://funfactsaboutpopcorn.blogspot.com

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Battling the Rising Cost of Dining Out

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

It might be a higher price or the portion seems to be smaller than the last time you went out. But like everything else, the price of dining out is rising.

In the early days restaurants would update the prices on a day-to-day basis based on the cost of the supplies. In more recent times prices have stabilized and this isn’t necessary, however with the state of the current economy things may be heading back in that direction.

The problem seems to start at the gas pump. It costs more to fill the gas tank of the truck delivering the goods so the restaurants are paying more to get their supplies in the form of “fuel charge” or something similar. In turn, the restaurants are being forced to pass the extra cost to the consumers by either upping the cost per meal, or lowering the size of the dish to compensate.

Either way, your best bet is to start cooking more meals at home and eating fewer meals at the restaurants.

Now that spring is here you can get fresh produce at your local farmer’s market every weekend in most areas. Typically you’ll find fair prices and excellent quality. If you don’t like what you see at one booth, you can go check out the others to find what you’re looking for. Most of the time the merchants are willing to haggle on the prices a bit, adding a little fun to the shopping.

If you’re interested in cooking at home check out this blog for some seasonal recipes.

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Chinese Fresh Vegetable Manchow Soup

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

Vegetable Manchow Soup is made from vegetables and Chinese Chilly Chutney. Our Soup Recipes section contains an assortment of tasty and easy to make soup recipes. Soups form an integral part of any diet and act as an appetizer. They are very nutritious and stimulate the hunger. Soups serve as warmers during winters and are liked by dieters and foodies alike.

Chicken Manchow Soup is a dark brown Chinese soup which is very popular in New York city. The Manchow one is my favorite but, they also serve good clear soups as well. This restaurant serves Chinese food as its name goes and do it quit well. One has good choice of Chinese delicacies and these guys do it very well. The noodles and rice preparations are well done and very light. Vegetable Manchow Soup is made from vegetables and Chinese Chilly Chutney. Add to soup, stirring continuously till it reboils. Add soy sauce, chilli, salt, pepper, corriander, pudina. Stir and simmer till soup thickens. Serve hot with chillies in vinegar and garlic sauce.

The noodles and rice preparations are well done and very light. It is available in large restaurants and kitchen carts alike. Although the soup is named for Manchuria, the soup does not resemble any that is normally found in Chinese or Manchurian cuisine. A fabulous Chinese soup that is quite easy to dish out - Remember to get fresh Spring Onions for this - makes all the difference.

Manchow soup is a Chinese-style soup popular in Indian Chinese cuisine due to its ease of preparation and hot spicy taste. The ambiance is good and soothing for a nice lunch or dinner, but the live music introduced to it is a real let-down. Our restaurant place is nice and clean, with middle aged southie waiters running around briskly during peak hours. The hotel waiters are smiling and ever cheerful to help you out with your order. Please purchase online www.indomunch.com in New York city.

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website http://www.indomunch.com

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Russian Food Day

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

The following is a contemporary yet already traditional course of Russian food for the whole day. Whether you want to take a day off just to experience this course or invite your friends over for just a part of it - I’m sure it will be fun.

To start our RUSSIAN FOOD DAY you have a choice of a light breakfast or a heavy breakfast. Light breakfast consists of two boiled eggs with two slices of Russian white bread with butter. Heavy breakfast is three scrambled eggs with chicken and pork cutlet and same two slices of bread and butter. After you’re done with this part you get a saucer full of farmer cheese (also known as Tvorog) and a big cup of hot sweet tea.

Get some rest, go work in a field. Come dinner time, depending on weather you could have two choices of either a hot weather dinner or a cold weather dinner. Let’s start with cold weather dinner.

First course is, of course, borsh with garlic bread cakes. Don’t mind the after-smell, it’s just tasty. Second course is a famous chicken Kiev cutlet with fried or mashed potatoes. Alternatively, you can have pelmeni with sour cream, butter or vinegar (some people do find it tasty). Side dishes must include sour cabbage, pickles or pickled tomatoes. Add vodka to the taste. Then you can either have hot tea again, kvas or compot (recommended) - a drink that’s heavy on a fruit juice and sugar.

For hot weather dinner you may want to start with okroshka - a cold vegetable soup based on mix of sour cream and water (some people use kvas instead, but this practice is questionable). There is also a so called cold borsh, but okroshka is just much better tasting. Second course should consist of either golubci (mix of meat and rice rolled into cabbage leaves and stewed) or stuffed peppers or stewed meatballs with fried or mashed potatoes. Side dishes may include same sour cabbage, vinegret, fresh or pickled vegetables or salad. And finally, for the third course, you can have same compot, fruit juice or mors, jelly drink (kisel) or hot tea.

If you think that’s enough for today - you are wrong. You’re only half way through.

The poldnik is something similar to British five-o-clock, but is held at around 4 - 4:30 PM. Usually it consists of a cup of cocoa drink, hot milk or hot tea and a large cookie, piece of cake or something else baked.

Fourth meal for the day (aren’t you tired of eating yet?) is a late supper. Sure you have already noted that previous three meals are somewhat formalized. The late supper is the one with the most variety. You can repeat the breakfast or you can have something else - the choice is yours. Historically, late supper was needed to clear out whatever was left after breakfast or dinner, so that no leftovers would take up place in a refrigerator. Therefore this meal is open to improvisations.

Fifth and last meal was late night tea time. This is where the samovar comes into play. Sweet hot tea was usually served with bakery of all kinds, sweets, honey or various fruit jams or preserves.

If you could survive this five-meal Russian Food marathon, you surely can work a 12 - 14 hour workday, have only one-day weekend, down a bottle of vodka with two unknown fellows and get home still standing straight.

Author’s Web Site and more articles: http://www.idowriting.com/
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Small business, marketing and web design blog: http://www.istudioweb.com/

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Colon Cleansing Advice - Foods That Cleanse Your Colon

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

What goes in must come out. Well, unfortunately that’s not always the case when it comes to our digestive systems. There are certain foods we should avoid in order to stay regular, and further, to keep a clean colon. If colon cleansing is in order, there are also diets to try which contain a special group of foods.

Food is a good technique to use in colon cleansing because unlike laxatives or other drugs, it does not contain any harsh chemicals or side effects that could bring more problems to the body. The lack of food also can help cleanse the colon, consuming only the juice of vegetables and natural fruits. The juice diets, however, aren’t very popular because most people don’t want to go very long without eating food.

Good foods to eat when on this type of diet include those high in fiber, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, and whole grains. There are ways to sneak more fiber in here and there, such as adding flaxseed to your cereal at breakfast. Green and leafy foods also are good. These include vegetables like spinach, broccoli and a mix of salad greens.

Fruits are at the top of the list when getting the fiber. For example, blackberries can pack in as much as eight grams per cup. We are supposed to get around 25 grams of fiber per day, so it won’t be hard to reach that amount by eating generous portions of this fruit. Prunes are also very beneficial when it comes to cleansing the colon.

Discover more great colon cleansing foods and read reviews on the Dr. Natura Colonix colon cleansing program at http://www.ColonCleansingForum.com today. Membership is free!

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

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Purified Water Is The Best Bottled Water

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

As more impurities are discovered in public water supplies across the country, some people are seeking alternatives to using their taps to quench thirst, cook, brush teeth and more. When bottled water is the choice, purified products are often considered the best.

Why Tap Water Is Suspect

A recent Associated Press investigation has brought to light some very major concerns about the safety of public drinking water. The investigation revealed that pharmaceuticals have been discovered within the drinking water supplies in cities all across America. Some 41 million Americas are believed to be impacted by medication tainted water.

Although it was reported that the concentrations of medications, including antibiotics, anticonvulsants and more, are below medical dosing and public utilities try to assure that their water is safe, scientists are unclear about the potential long-term effects of exposure, the AP reported. The investigation involved a five-month study that turned up contamination in 24 metro areas across the country. Areas impacted included Detroit, Louisville, Northern New Jersey and Southern California.

The pharmaceutical contaminants themselves are believed to leach into the public water system via the normal human elimination process. When toilet water is flushed, it goes into a sewer system and eventually to a wastewater treatment plant. While this treatment process is extensive, impurities remain. This water is, in turn, released back into natural bodies of water for further filtration. It eventually ends up back in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers from which drinking water is obtained.

To understand the impact pharmaceuticals are having on the drinking water supply, it helps to look at a few figures released as a result of the AP study. Highlights of the report include:

  • More than 56 different medications and/or byproducts were found in Philadelphia’s treated drinking water. A total of 63 different pharmaceuticals were discovered in the city’s various watersheds.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey tested the Passaic Valley Water Commission’s drinking water plant in Northern New Jersey. Two medications were found in the supply.
  • A number of different governmental agencies chose not to test their drinking water supply despite discovery of contaminants in the watersheds. Fairfax, Va., New York City, Santa Clara, Calif., and Omaha, Neb., were among those that chose not to test.

Beyond the startling AP report, other contaminants are often found in tap water. They range from e. coli and Coliform to heavy metals. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Commission does require testing for more than 90 different contaminants, they do sometimes slip through into the public supply. Plus most municipal water suppliers try to kill bacteria by adding excessive amounts of chlorine.Why Bottled Water Is A Smart Choice

The International Bottled Water Association points out several facts about bottled water that makes this choice stand out heads and shoulders above tap in the eyes of many. While many say bottled water is tap water that has been put straight into new packaging, this is not the case.

A closer look at the facts surrounding bottled water make it very clear that this is a superior choice. According to Dr. Stephen Edberg of the Yale University School of Medicine, bottled water should inspire confidence in consumers. Speaking following the AP’s report, Edberg said, “The technical and safety measures used to produce and process bottled water are extremely effective in protecting the product from these and other substances that were reported in the article, should they be present in source water to begin with. This report raises no concern for the safety of bottled water.”

Facts about bottled water that make it a winner over tap include:

  • Federal regulation - Despite popular belief to the contrary, bottled water is regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is subject to the FDA’s safety, inspection, labeling and quality requirements.
  • Bottled water undergoes further treatment - Yes, it’s true that bottled water often does come from public drinking supplies. This water, however, undergoes further treatments, such as distillation, reverse osmosis, filtration and more.
  • Labeling requirements - The FDA demands that companies that choose not to further treat tap water clearly state this fact on their bottled water labels.

Reasons To Select Purified WaterThere are a number of methods that bottled water companies employ to further treat water that they receive, bottle and sell. The distillation process involved in creating distilled oxygenated water is considered a superior choice for a number of reasons. This process is different than other common treatments like reverse osmosis. While steam distillation is considered more cost-effective, it is also more effective overall in removing unwanted impurities from drinking water.

In the steam distilling process for oxygenated water, impurities are removed from the water. The process is effective in removing major contaminants and also pharmaceuticals. Once water is distilled for purification, oxygen molecules are infused into the end product to create water that is pure, safe and highly clean tasting.

As the safety of the public drinking water supply remains in question, many people are seeking alternatives. Purified, bottled water is the top choice for purity, taste and the assurances of regulation.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to the elementh2o.website

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Some Tangy Facts About Oranges

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

One of the most popular of all citrus fruits, oranges attract maximum fan following on account of their juicy, tangy and pulpy taste. This citrus fruit is not only a great source of Vitamin C but is also a healthy reenergizing drink. Research suggests that more than 70% of the US population consume orange juice. No fitness enthusiast begins his day without a glass of orange juice! Inspite of its universal popularity, few people are aware of some of the most interesting facts associated with this fruit. Given below are some juicy orange facts.

a) Oranges were first imported from China to the United States. It is the fourth most popular fruit in the US besides being the largest citrus crop in the world.

b) Brazil is the largest producer of oranges in the world!

c) The origin of citrus fruit can be traced to Asia some 20 million years ago. Citrus was first mentioned in literature in 2400 B.C. However, it’s been just 125 years since the United States started cultivating orange trees.

d) Oranges are available in multiple varieties including Valencia orange, navel orange, Hamlin, Moro and so on. Navel oranges are more popular as they can be easily peeled off.

e) The name ‘navel orange’ has been derived from the appearance of the fruit, which resembles a bellybutton or navel.

f) In 1873, three navel orange trees were brought from Brazil and planted in Riverside, California. Today, one of the three original trees is still alive and producing fruit!

g) Many people confuse the quality of oranges on account of a greenish tinge on its skin. A little green on orange surface is chiefly the result of ‘Re-greening’ (a process where ripe oranges turn from orange to green left on the trees for long). However, this does not affect either the taste or nutrition of the fruit.

h) Oranges have more fiber content than most fruits and vegetables!

i) Celebrities like the music king Russell Simmons, actor William Shatner and model Angela Lindvall worked behind the counters of a local orange juice store before initiating their famous careers.These orange fun facts will really make you feel amazed the next time you see a glass of orange juice lying on your table. Any why not, hardly anyone pays attention to the simple things around us!

Suzanne Macguire is an expert author. Her latest articles cover lots of information on fresh fruit juice

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Bored With Your Detox Diet? Have A Smoothie!

May 18th, 2008 · Comments Off

Some people struggle with their detox diet because there is not a wide enough selection of food textures available to them. It’s OK eating fresh fruit and vegetables, but what do you do if you just need a bit of a change? A simple answer is to try a fruit smoothie.

A smoothie is a delicious, thick drink that is made from pure fruit. They are available pre-prepared in shops, but you can easily make your own at home. You just need to have a blender and a supply of your favorite fruits. Smoothies are generally made by blending fruit with a small amount of liquid ingredients. These liquids can either be yogurt or fruit juice.

The difference between a smoothie and a fruit juice is that the whole fruit is blended into a smoothie. With a juice the fibrous pulp is removed from the fruit leaving the nutritious liquid behind.

Here are a couple of smoothie recipes to get you started. Once you have tried these you’ll see that they are really easy to make and you will be comfortable making your own.

Exotic Smoothie

2 slices of pineapple

1 mango (peeled)

1 passion fruit

3 fresh oranges

Cut and slice the pineapple. Remove the core and cut the flesh from the outer peel. Remove the inner flesh of the passion fruit. Peel the mango and remove the stone. Remove the flesh and seeds from the passion fruit. The seeds are OK to eat. Put the ingredients into the blender together with the juice from the oranges. Varying the amount of orange juice will allow you to get the consistency you prefer.

Banana and Strawberry Smoothie

1 banana (sliced)

4-6 strawberries

2 apples

Clean the strawberries and place in the blender with the sliced banana and juice from the 2 apples. Blend until the required consistency is made.

Discover how you can turn your home into a detox health spa complete with detox hydrotherapy bath at http://www.bodydetoxplan.com

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