Saturday, October 31, 2009

Most Expensive Food and Drinks in The World!

This was an email forward from Sweta of Bonne Nutrition I thought it was so cool it needed to be a blog post!

Enjoy.....

SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE STUFF (FOOD & BEVERAGE) IN THE WORLD !!

1. Saffron, a spice grown worldwide, is derived from the saffron crocus flower. A pound of dry saffron (0.45 kg) requires 50,000–75,000 flowers to make, meaning an entire football field of these flowers. Requiring so much resources and labor, prices for the spice go around US$500/pound to US$5,000/pound (US$1100–US$11, 000 per kilogram).
Crocus sativus

2. The most expensive nut in the world is the Macadamia nut. The macadamia tree produces nuts only after it's 7-10 years old, requiring fertile soil and heavy rainfall. These nuts have a very hard seed, but once it's open it reveals a creamy white kernel containing up to 80% oil and 4% sugar. The cost of a kilogram of these nuts exceeds 30$.
Macadamia nuts

3. The most expensive caviar in the world is not the black one, but the almas caviar! The word 'almas' is Iranian for diamond. Beluga caviar comes from a fish over 100 years old, that is virtually unchanged for 120 million years. The luxurious caviar comes from the oldest survivor of the Dinosaur era. Beluga caviar ranges in price from more than $5,000 per kilogram in the United States
Almas

4. The most expensive mushroom in the world is the white truffle. The mushroom has its origins in the Langhe area of the Piedmont region in northern Italy, it can reach 12 cm diameter and 500g. These truffles are sold at a amazing price of €2,000 and €4,000 per kilogram ($1350 - $2700 per pound). The record price for this truffle was paid last year, in December, when Stanley Ho, the owner of the Macau casino paid $330,000 for 1.5kg of truffles.
Trufeli

5. The most expensive potato in the world is a French one, "La Bonnotte". Annually, only 100 tons of this top quality potato are cultivated and collected only on the island Noirmoutier. The potato fields require to be fertilized only with seaweed in a climate shaped by the nearby sea. The cost of one single kilogram can reach €500 since this type of potato is almost extinct.
La Bonnotte

6. The most expensive beef in the world is the type of beef coming from the Wagyu cows. These Japanese cows are fed the best grass and provided the best treatment. That is why the meat is especially tender and particularly expensive. 200 grams of a fillet cost in Europe more than 100 dollars.
Meat

7. The most expensive sandwich in the world is the club sandwich from Essen aka von Essen Platinum Club Sandwich. This triple-decker delicacy contains the finest chicken, ham, hard-boiled quails' eggs and white truffles and it's currently sold at Cliveden, Berkshire. The chicken (poulet de Bresse) is referred to as the 'fourth gastronomic wonder of the world served with a topping of white truffles, sold at over a thousands pounds a month. At 1,182 calories, with 1.8oz of fat, it's not the healthiest dish but certainly one of the most expensive. Costing 100 pounds (almost 200 dollars), this is a must-try for the food fanatics.
von Essen Platinum Club Sandwich

8.The most expensive pizza in the world, valued at 8300 Eur can be tasted in Italy. With generous toppings of caviar and lobster, the pizza has a diameter of 20cm and Louis XIII Remy Martin cognac poured all over it.
Pizza Luis XIII

9. The most expensive omelet in the world can be tasted at the Le Parker Meridien restaurant in New York. The $1,000 omelet consists of 10 ounces of sevruga caviar, a whole lobster, and six eggs. To make it in the privacy of your own home, the cost will be only $700.
Most Expensive Omelet
10. Off to something sweet now with one of the most expensive deserts in the world, served at Serendipity 3, a popular restaurant in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The $1000 sundae was introduced in 2004 and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive dessert. It's made up of 5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, Madagascar vanilla, 23K edible gold leaf and one of the most expensive chocolates in the world, Amedei Porceleana.
Image removed by sender. Most Expensive Ice Cream

11. The tastiest and most expensive chocolate in the world is Chocopologie by Knipschildt. At $2,600 per pound, this handmade chocolate truffle is available only if ordered. t contains a black truffle and 70% Valrhona cacao..
Chocopologie by Knipschildt

12. The world's finest and most expensive coffee is Kopi Luwak. The coffee comes from the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the total annual production is only around 500 pounds of beans. That is why the price of a pound is outrages - $300 or more.
Most Expensive coffee Kopi Luwak

13. The current record for the most expensive tea is held by a rare Chinese green tea called Tieguanyin, which costs 1,700 Yuan ($3,000) per kilo (per 2 lb 3 oz) approximately 8.50 Yuan ($15) for a single cup.

14. The world's most expensive tea bag for the PG company, to celebrate their 75th anniversary. Manually decorated with 280 diamonds, the bag made to remind people just how much they love the great British cup of tea is worth £7,500.

15. The most expensive champagne in the world is Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Blanc de Blanc, made of specially selected grapes, sold in manually painted bottles and with a price tag of around $1,500.
Most Expensive Champagne Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Blanc de Blanc

16.. The most expensive whisky in the world is considered to be the Macallan Fine Rare Vintage. With only 85 bottles being released world-wide, tasting this 30 year old is a rare treat. Price for a single bottle? $38,000!
Most Expensive Whiskey The Macallan Fine&Rare Vintage

17. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum is merely the top-selling high strength rum in the world, bottled in 1940. Only four bottles are left from this precious liquor, each being estimated at $53,000.
Most Expensive Rom Wray&Nephew

18. The most expensive cocktail in the world, "Diamonds-Are- Forever", has no special ingredients like we had so far. The only excuse for wearing the €11,000 price tag is that the olive is replaced by a 1.6 carat diamond. To be found in the hotel Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo.
Image removed by sender. Most Expensive Cocktail Diamonds-Are-Forever

19. The most expensive beer in the world costs around £500 (around $1,000) a bottle and is called Vielle Bon Secours. It can only be found in a bar called the Bierdrome in London.
Most Expensive Beer Vieille Bon Secours

20. The most expensive drinks list will eventually come to vodka. Diva Vodka, produced by the Blackwood Distillery in Scotland is the world's most expensive vodka. Depending on your choice of "crystal decoration" the price of a single varies from £35 to a staggering £540,000!

Most Expensive Vodka Diva



Friday, October 30, 2009

Dewey's Bakery Cafe Winston Salem

So I checked out this new cafe in town today, it used to be an old starbucks, but Dewey's a famous Winston Salem bakery since 1930 specializing in Moravian sugar cake, Grandma and Grandpa's coffee cake and lovefeast buns took it over. It Opened a month ago, its a wonderful pairing with the fresh baked goodies and coffee and fitted perfectly into the old store.
In my opinion the difference between this and a local starbucks is the fresh cookies, cakes breads baked fresh daily in town. Its very hard to find fresh baked cakes these days and you can really taste the difference, they also supply to Brew Nerds coffee. Also you can buy the famous Moravian cookies online. They are special at this time of year and wow there have so many flavors, like key lime pie, ginger, moravian spice, pumpkin spice, apple cider and many more. I brought a couple to take to my Grandma's in the UK.

Look at the displays reminds me of Europe.

Halloween decorated cookies, I had a bake tray cake with a pumpkin on it and a slice of butterscotch brownie, sorry no pictures as my baby was jumping on me as I was taking the picture!
Lovely aprons for us foodies, I always wear an apron as Indian cooking gets in your clothes!

Overall I like the place, but I think the staff are still trying to find their feet working in a coffee shop setting, they need to provide plates for folks sitting in and relax a little,

But the quality of the baking makes this place well worth the visit,

Harper Mill Common
At the intersection of Peacehaven and Country Club Road
Winston Salem





Thursday, October 29, 2009

Guest Post: We're Goan Make Pizza!





Oh I am so excited to give you a guest post from Chef E I adore her blog Food Wine Fun, she is a personal chef and can really cook she also adds wonderful snipets of food history to the posts. Enjoy:

A few weeks ago Rebecca @ Chow & Chatter asked me to guest host for her site, and what better way than include some Indian Cuisine from the region of Goa (in the western part of India). Of course if you are familiar with my cooking methods, and love of all cuisines; it will be a little of this and food history. I have always loved learning about why, when, and where food came into existence.


A visit last week to Steph @ Live.Love.Eat. Over there she has a mouth watering breakfast and vegetarian pizza using pre-made Naan. She has cleverly named her post 'I Love You Naan'. Naan, for those of you not familiar, is bread grilled in the clay oven. This bread is not difficult to make at home, if you cook it on the back of a cast iron skillet, or pizza stone.

Reading her post made me realize with so much traveling I have not sat down and eaten any good curries. who also is not in the mood for Pizza? So last week I picked up vegetables for a curry, and of course a few packages of Naan...


Research begins: 'Goan' is not a southern phrase for 'goin' to do something(I am from Texas). However; it did spring up from me saying something in reference to working upstairs to my husband, but he heard 'Goan'. Go figure, he thought I was telling him I was making Indian cuisine for dinner. Inspired I pulled out my 'Food From Around The World' text, and did some research on Goa and Goanese cooking.



Goan Cuisine was influenced by Portuguese traders. The foods are referred to in two different categories- Christian, or Catholic Food; the other, Hindu Food. Both diet staples consist of seafood, sweet rice- Kheer, spicy curry, and fish cakes, Vindaloo, samosa, fish cutlets, Halva (sweet- pistachio-tahini paste), coconut oil, and includes use of coconut milk and Kokum, a spice that is substituted for tamarind and in sweet recipes. Meat can be found, but due to religious aspects of parts of the region you may only find fish and vegetarian dishes.



As like in many areas of India, each sect has its own beliefs and practices. They also have many cooking techniques and ingredients that do cross over. What may seem like similarities in the countries cuisine in American restaurants; their country has many different preparations, influences, and seasonings. We know from history the 'Trade' and 'Spice' routes brought in many new ingredients and influences from all around the world, shaping cuisines. So many people you talk to here in the states would tell you so many different ways to prepare their foods, and reasons why.


Religious beliefs can also influence the food: Within the Goa community there are Hindus, and an offshoot of that sect are the Konkani Brahmins. This community eat mostly fish with the exception of chicken; they do however eat strict vegetarian diets during certain parts of the week, and on holidays. Strict Hindu's eat a diet of vegetables, lentils, pumpkins, gourds,bamboo shoots, roots etc. Their food is less oily from coconut oil.



Indian food can seem complicated, and even to me it is mind boggling, but after reading information, and remembering no matter what you prepare; they open up seeds and spices with heat for a more aromatic food flavor. Along with spices to make my vindaloo, I usedlobster tails (which right now are very inexpensive)stored in my freezer, the naan, and other ingredients I had on hand. I am on a seafood and 'wanting to cook more Portuguese' kick; it seems fitting that I share this post with Rebecca. As fate would have it, Goan cuisine fit the bill.


The meal comes together: Taking inspiration from Live.Love.Eat's pizza post, and Chow & Chatters hubby's Indian heritage (she also trying to learn more on cooking Indian cuisine), I made a 'Fiery Goanese Pizza'.


I also made sweet vegetable rice for our next meal. Traditionally called arroz doce- a Portuguese derivative of kheer (sweetened rice). Using the lobster tails for stock, and leftover homemade Vindaloo sauce for the vegetable curry was indeed another good fix for my Indian cuisine appetite! For dessert, I picked up a package of Halva. I had not had it before and was curious. The region of Goa also makes several versions of this dish, I chose Pistachio (a favorite nut of my client). The sweetness helped cut the heat of the vindaloo sauce.



Goanese Fiery Lobster Pizza


vindaloo pizza sauce-

  • Vinegar (traditionally it is used, but I used the juice from diced tomatoes)
  • 1/2 Gewurztraminer Wine
  • 1 cup Del Monte Jalapeno Diced Tomatoes, and its juice to replace vinegar
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped Red Onion
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon Tamarind paste
  • 1 tablespoon hot prepared mustard
  • salt/pepper to taste (careful tomatoes, and prepared mustard are salted)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unbleached flour
Prepare all ingredients for your mise, because you must move quickly.
  1. In pan on medium high add coriander and mustard seeds.
  2. When they begin to pop add olive oil, red onions, seasonings, and flour; quickly stir in prepared mustard and wine, blending well; add diced tomatoes and juice; let simmer until thickens. Set aside to meld flavors.
  3. let a few tablespoons of butter soften, and coat the lobster pieces before placing on top of sauce; then sprinkle some light mixed shredded cheese on top and bake.



*Vindaloo- Actually Portuguese in origin, though it comes from the Indian subcontinent. The name is ultimately Portuguese, from the phrase vinho de alho or "wine of garlic." Portuguese sailors brought their garlic-flavored vinegar stew to Goa, which from 1510 to 1961 was a Portuguese colony on the southwestern coast of India. The Goan spiced up the recipe and the name, making it vindaloo in their Konkani language.



-W. H. Dawe explains in The Wife's Help to Indian Cookery, published in London, 1888: "Vindaloo or Bindaloo--A Portuguese Karhi.... The best Vindaloo is prepared in mustard-oil....







Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Spicy Tuna and Potatoes and Bonfire Night!



I made mung dal today and a very quick and easy dish with tuna and potatoes. I have been working hard to write all the blog posts for the seafood blog, as we are going to the UK next monday!!
We are going to visit family and take Jasmine to her first bonfire night/Guy Fawkes Night, it happens every November 5th in the UK there is a big bonfire and fireworks, its great. It is to celebrate the failed attempt of Guy Fawkes and others at blowing up the houses of parliment.

We used to always say remember remember the 5th of Nov here is an old rhyme
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of* no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. (Holla*)
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Will share pictures on the blog. We are then going to France for a week, can't wait, I will try and blog along the way sharing family fun and recipes and good eats.

Ingredients:

  • one can of tuna
  • 3 small chopped and boiled potatoes
  • a little chopped fresh cilantro
  • salt to taste
  • fish fry masala
  • 1/2 red onion
  • ginger/garlic paste
  • a pinch of turmeric
  • cumin powder
  • 1/4 of a green pepper
  • a few curry leaves
Method:

  1. Heat the oil and saute the onion, curry leaves, ginger/garlic paste and green peppers for 3 minutes
  2. then add a pinch of turmeric, cumin, salt, and fish fry masala and the cooked potatoes and stir fry for a few minutes
  3. add the tuna and stir fry another couple of minutes and its done.
Good news a recent lab study has shown that curcumin found in turmeric was able to kill cancer cells! Heres the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8328377.stm

Has anyone else been to Bonfire night?

Love Your Body




I Just wanted to share this piece I wrote for a new site allisluv.com is all about woman, life and dating should be great.


Love Your Body

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Love your body, it was this wonderful and perfectly created masterpiece, with a heart that can circulate your blood around your body more than 1000 times a day, with bones that are 4 times more stronger than concrete and that can replace one billion cells each hour.


Not only that but think back over your life so fall with all the ups and downs, good times and bad, it was this body that made your heart skip a beat when your first fell in love, and walked you down to the podium to receive your degree.


It was this body that helped you take your first steps and lifted you back up again when you fell. It was this body that helped you coordinate your arms and legs in rhythm to learn how to swim. This body that with your eyes and fingers learnt how to read and write opening up the world of education and opportunities.


All too often we get caught up in the hussle and bussle of life, with work and meeting deadlines, taking care of our partners and kids, and making time for everyone but not ourselves. Take a moment to think of how precious our bodies are and no matter what your size be thankful for yours, love it and care for it. Make a point to schedule time to be more active, take a walk and enjoy life’s small pleasures, smelling the flowers, and hearing the breeze. Make time to cook more and enjoy meals with friends and family and think of the choices you make to nourish your precious body to keep it healthy and strong for years to come.



For tips and advice on staying healthy and content follow along at allisluv.com


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Thai Peanut Marinated Salmon over Fried Rice and Awards


I made this yesterday it was really quick and easy to make and tasted oh so good:

Ingredients:
  • 2 Wild Alaskan Salmon Steaks
  • 1 cup of cooked rice
  • some frozen peas and carrots, added to the rice while cooking
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  • 6 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 orange pepper
  • 1 cup San J Thai Peanut Sauce
Method:
  1. Marinate the Salmon steaks for a couple of hours
  2. heat a little olive oil in a pan add the salmon in the sauce and poach for 10 minutes
  3. meanwhile heat the oil, add the onion and garlic and saute for 3 minutes then add the pepper and scramble the egg into the mixture
  4. slowly add the cooked rice stirring well as not to stick with soy sauce and its done!
We all enjoyed this meal and it only took 20 minutes to make!

and Laura from Little Chef and I gave me an award


so sweet of her, she has a lovely blog and always great food for her little chef LOL, also Tasty Trix gave me a tasty award
[tasty-award.jpg]

designed by herself. This blog rocks amazing food and great humor, its going to be big! and she is working on a guest post he he.


I want to pass this along to Deeba of Passionate about baking because wow she can bake tasty treats! and Sam from My Carolina Kitchen she cooks easy to follow gourmet looking meals that are healthy love it.

I want to give them both a friendship award...


Love

Monday, October 26, 2009

Guest Post: Pumpkin Cupcakes



When Gina of Taste emailed me recently offering to do a sweet recipe for Chow and Chatter I couldn't resist as I am not much of a baker ☺ she has made wonderful pumpkin cupcakes for us, I just wish I could eat one!!
She has a lovely blog with good food and great information, be sure to visit

I have been reading Rebecca's blog for a few months now and have been loving it. It is so positive and informative. I have noticed that she thinks she isn't great when it comes to the sweet stuff, so I offered to write a guest post about something sweet.

Since it is fall, I went with a popular ingredient - pumpkin. These cupcakes are (slightly) healthier than many other recipes I have seen, but they are still moist and delicious with a great pumpkin flavor. The mascarpone cheese in the frosting is milder than average cream cheese and it adds a special twist to a typical frosting.


Enjoy!


Pumpkin Cupcakes with Mascarpone Cheese Frosting (makes about 24 cupcakes)
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 3/4 cup low fat buttermilk
  • 1 can of pumpkin (15 oz. can) OR 2 cups of fresh pumpkin puree
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F
  2. Put all dry ingredients (from all purpose flour through allspice) in a bowl and mix together with a whisk.
  3. Beat together sugar, oil, egg whites, and eggs until well blended.
  4. Add in the buttermilk and pumpkin and mix until blended.
  5. Mix the dry ingredients to the liquid mixture, until just blended.
  6. Coat muffin pans with non stick spray, or line with paper muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25, or until a tooth pick comes out clean.
Mascarpone Cheese Frosting
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese (allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • a small amount of water (if necessary)
  1. Using an electric mixer, mix together the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. If the frosting seems too thick, add a tiny amount of water to thin it out.
  2. Wait until cupcakes have completely cooled to frost.
  3. Store in an airtight container n the refrigerator for up to 5 days.


Great Foodie Quotes


Just for fun here are some fun food quotes, please feel free to share your favorites........

  • Fish, to taste right, must swim three times - in water, in butter, and in wine. ~Polish Proverb
  • After dinner sit a while, and after supper walk a mile. ~English Saying
  • When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs oh this one is so true, thats why I am not a good baker!
  • Welcome to the Church of the Holy Cabbage. Lettuce pray. ~Author Unknown
  • No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. ~Channing Pollock
  • Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people. ~Elizabeth Berry

Source:

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Coconut Lamb Curry and an Award


I made this yesterday easy to make and so good, hubby was not so keen on the coconut milk but I love the stuff!

Ingredients:

  • chopped lamb with bones
  • 1/2 can coconut milk
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 2 Cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tablespoon mutton masala powder
  • one spoon garam masala
  • 1/2 spoon coriander powder
  • 2 cloves
  • 3 green chili's
  • ginger/garlic paste
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 small tomatoes
  • 5 curry leaves
  • canola oil
Method:

  1. heat the oil and add the lamb with some masala powder and cook a little for 5 minutes and keep to one side
  2. then heat oil and ad the cinnamon and cloves, curry leaves, chili and onion and saute for 5 minutes
  3. add the tomato, ginger/garlic paste and garlic, coriander powder and masala power, turn to a low heat and let it reduce down to a paste
  4. then add the coconut milk, salt to taste and the lamb and let it slowly simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Great to eat with rice or chapatti.

Oh and the lovely Palidor passed this award on to me, she has a wonderful blog Crazy Asian Gal, I love the Beef Curry she just posted thanks so much I wish to give her the friends award




What are our favorite ways to cook lamb?


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