Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Healthy Turkish Food

When one thinks of Turkish food, some might recall last week's drinking session finishing off with a late night greasy Kebab. That late night stop is nothing like the culinary delights that one will experience when visiting Turkey. In fact the Ottoman Empire passed laws mandating that food should be served fresh and this has been followed through to now.
The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. Ingredients that are used in Turkey are fresh daily with a range of seasonal offerings as the climate is accommodating to a variety of supplies. Turkish staples include vegetables, fish and lamb with generous amounts of olive oil. The diverse climate allows Turkey to grow and produce fresh tomatoes, olives, melons, peppers, wheat, tea, etc. The surrounding seas are abundant in fish - as any boat excursion will testify. The grouper fish makes an excellent dish with a mild but distinct flavour - cross between a halibut and sea bass.

Top Tips For Healthy Festival Food On A Budget

As the summer's festivals begins to wind down, many of us will already be considering how we can make next year's experience even more enjoyable. Often it's the basic provision of hygiene facilities and the cost of tickets that are the main gripe with festival goers, however an increasing number of revellers are starting to turn their attention to the food as well. Currently it can be difficult to purchase natural and affordable cuisine on the go with burgers and chips being the traditional staple of festival goers. Opt to plan and pack ahead and you can enjoy a healthy alternative whilst watching your favourite bands.

Soul Food Recipes - Healthy Soul Food Growing in Demand

Healthy soul food may seem like a oxymoron at fist glance, but this is one of the fastest growing cuisines in America. The history of soul food stretches all the way back to the Pre-civil war period. It's one of the most popular cuisines originated in America. Originated in the south by slaves who were forced to eat what the masters or slave owners didn't want to eat. By using creative cooking methods and seasonings many of the recipes have turned into culinary delights, especially in the south.
But one drawback to the rich, robust southern dishes have been the health issues. The traditional versuib involved using large amounts of salt, fat and calorie loading ingredients. While these made the taste irresistible, the health concerns continued to mount. And with today's health conscious consumers, these problems could no longer be ignored. Now the healthy version is a fast growing solution to this growing consumer demand.

Online Cookbook - How to Make Healthy Japanese Food

For those of us who cannot afford to study in the best culinary schools in town but have the deepest desire to really know about Japanese cooking, an online cookbook is our savior. While Japanese cooking is very detailed and requires careful preparation, this should not intimidate us. We should always think that a good and healthy food is the one prepared with love. Hence, if you are after palatable, filling yet healthy meals, Japanese food is the way to go.

Monday, January 10, 2011

A Culinary Tour of Asia

The very heart of your Asian vacation isn't the exotic locale, the invigorating massages, the majestic ancient temples, or even the warm, friendly people. It's the food. When you're at home, food is a centerpiece of activity and fun-the backyard cookout, the Friday evenings with friends, or the romantic dinner. When you're on vacation, it will be even more memorable if you keep food enjoyment high on your list of priorities.
Food is more than mere sustenance. It is a social experience, and a sensory treat that will be remembered long after you return home. Asia is well-known for its exotic cuisine, and no Asian vacation would be complete without thoroughly enjoying the food. In every major Asian city, you'll find your usual array of the familiar favorites from back home: KFC, McDonalds, Sizzler, and so on-but why not enhance your foray into the unknown with something new on the menu?

Top 10 Restaurants in Asia

During your visit to Asia, you get a chance to enjoy not only the spectacular sights but also the great cuisines of the various Asian cities. Singapore tops the best Asian restaurants list because of the innovation they offer in the form of providing the diners a chance to see the kitchen action, and thus communicate directly with the chef. Iggy's in Singapore is the restaurant that is renowned to be the best in Asia. Other great restaurants in Singapore are Les Amis, Gunther's, and Garibaldi.
The L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Hong Kong is a great restaurant. The restaurant is very casual in its ambience, and allows the diners to see the preparation of their dishes. Moreover, the people are also allowed to compose meals in accordance with their appetite. Another very good restaurant in Hong Kong is Bo Innovation. Old Chinese methods of cooking are used in the restaurant. This restaurant offers great ambience with its chopstick shaped lamps and a cosy kind of lighting.

Papaya, the Wonderful Fruit of Southeast Asia

Everyone is familiar with the name. But for most of us the mention of the fruit does not give a distinct impression in terms of taste, though it certainly conjures up an impression of the tropics. For those familiar with the fruit, they are more apt to see it as a good old standby, pleasant enough to be eaten on its own, but nothing to sing about either.
Papayas are basically of two types, though all papaya is originally from Southern Mexico. The kind most often consumed in North America and Hawaii are yellow when ripe, can be held in the hand, and have yellow flesh. In Southern and Southeast Asia, big heavy dark-skinned papayas are the norm. The flesh of these is blood red. The latter is a quintessential part of the Thai beach fruit plate. The two taste quite similar, a bit musky with honey overtones. The Asian cultivar tends to be stronger in flavor however. Both varieties are reminiscent of melons, but unfortunately lack the melons complexity and delicious nectar.