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Cupcake Design Continues to Evolve...

Sure, cupcakes seem to be everywhere and our latest design inspirations were created by Kylie Lambert who owns Le Cupcake all the way down under in Australia.  See more of her cupcake creations at her Flickr page.  [via Oh Joy!]

September 27, 2006 in Baking | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nesting Lotus Flower Bowls

The simple beauty of this set of 8 nesting lotus flower bowls is sure to find a place in your home and entertaining table.

Lotus Nesting Bowls  |  $89 at Koo de Kir 

September 26, 2006 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)

No More Undercooked Middles with Baker's Edge

Baker's Edge is a non-stick baking pan that eliminates the undercooked "middle" of your traditional baking pans.  If you love eating the brownie corners because of the chewy edges, then you'll love that inventor Matt Griffin developed Baker's Edge to maximize the edges for the same reason.  Clotilde at Chocolate & Zucchini gives her hands-on review of this unique baking pan while baking a French pound cake.

Baker's Edge Baking Pan  |  $33 at The Gilded Fork 

September 25, 2006 in Baking | Permalink | Comments (3)

Baking with Whole Grains - the King Arthur Way

The just released King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking cookbook is a whole new way to approach whole grain cooking! This cookbook contains practical tips and recipes to help the reader gain expertise to working with whole grains.  Also, the hardships of baking with whole grains and making desserts are also addressed.  Coupled with their test kitchen approach, you can see why King Arthur believes that whole grains are delicious and make for exciting recipes.  From the introduction: "Whole grains have gotten a bad rap.  When they are pure and fresh and used creatively in your favorite recipes-- or in, the case of this book, in OUR favorite recipes--they taste great."

King Arthur Whole Grain Baking Cookbook  |   $21 at eCookbooks.com

Related:
This Season's Hottest Cookbook

September 20, 2006 in Cookbooks | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join the Hollywood Set with Swank Martini Glasses

The Martini boom continues unabated, and a collection of martini glasses from the Swank Martini Company will surely give your home bar the added touch of class to go along with the Grey Goose, Ciroc or Herradura in the cabinet.

The sample pack of 12 entirely different glasses has been carefully selected, after the owners of the company scoured bars around the world to come up with really unique designs, shapes and sizes.

They look at new designs all the time from people who actually create these mini works of art. There are other packages available, and the glasses are also for sale individually.

Some of the individual names of the glasses include Swinger, Metro, Omega, Satin Breeze, Swerve, Parisian, Vibe, Chillin, A Twist, The Diva, Cosmo and Flirtini.

Hardly surprising, the Hollywood set has caught on to these glasses. The obvious high profile celebrities or usual suspects are all allegedly owners of these slick looking glasses, an obvious fit for these modern day icons of the silver screen

September 18, 2006 in Parties & Entertaining, Spirits | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get More Accurate Butter Measurements for Baking

Now there's an alternate to using the measurement lines on your butter's wax paper wrapping.  Use RSVP's Bakers Butter Slicer to get the most accurate butter measurements for your baking recipes.  Designed to measure short or long sticks of butter, and made of dishwasher safe stainless steel.

Endurance Baker's Butter Slicer  |  $9.50 at Chef Tools 

September 15, 2006 in Kitchen Gadgets | Permalink | Comments (1)

The beauty of port2press custom stationery

Receiving a handwritten invitation or thank you on beautiful stationery adds to a hostess' sense of style.  port2press makes limited edition letterpress cards that instantly elevates the importance of your event or level of gratitude.

September 15, 2006 in Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)

Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 3

Part 3 - The Family Reserves (Reserva de la Familia) 

Generations of families and various government administrations have gone by, but Jose Cuervo and other tequila distiller families have remained the only constant through all these changes.  Since 1795, the Jose Cuervo family has descended into their cellar with close friends and family to taste it finest tequila from their private reserves.

To commemorate its bicentennial, the family decided to share this rare tequila with the rest of the world with the introduction of the Reserva de la Familia.  The Maestro Tequilero blends these anejo tequilas with other private reserves that have been aged up to 30 years resulting in a rich potpourri of flavors with a smooth edge. A member of the Jose Cuervo family personally tastes samples from each ultra-premium tequila barrel before it is bottled. Other producer’s of super premium tequila’s include: Sauza, Herradura, and Orendiain.

There are now over 300 different bottles of tequila made with most coming from three dozen or so distilleries.  Compared to other spirits such as vodka, scotch or gin, tequila is the only spirit significant growth.  The ultra super and ultra premium tequilas are growing 15% per year.  Sixty Seven countries import tequila through some of the largest distributors including Diageo, Allied-Domecq, Seagram’s and Osborne.

The Origin of Margarita and Other Tequila Drinks

The popularity of tequila grew in the mid 1900’s when the margarita (a mix of triple sec, lime juice and tequila) was developed in a local Tijuana bar by bartender Danny Herrera.  He named the drink after one of his regular customers Marjorie King whose first name translated in Spanish is Margarita.  The Tequila Sunrise consists of ice, 1 ½ ounces of silver tequila and orange juice (a ½ ounce of red grenadine syrup is poured over the top creating the “sunrise” effect).  Famous American singer Bing Crosby and actor Phil Harris become so enamored with tequila, they began importing certain brands of tequila to America. The “Paloma” (Spanish for “Dove”) was developed at a little cantina called La Capilla in the town of Tequila.  This drink consists of tequila and the soda beverage “Squirt”.

Purists drink tequila in a shot or sniffer glass accompanied by sangrita (a spicy blend of orange and tomato juices and jalapenos).  With the international resurgence of the martini, the “Tequilatini” is being served at the famous martini bar at the Four Seasons New York.  It is comprised of Jose Cuervo Especial, Grand Marnier, Cointreau and a slice of orange in a martini class.  “The Jake” martini (served in a number of places including the Swiss Hotel in Sonoma and Rusty Staubs in New York) has been the winner of the best martini award in a local poll in Seattle.  It requires rinsing the glass with cabernet sauvignon, pouring chilled tequila and garnishing with a curlicue of lime. Finally there is the ultimate margarita: the “Billionaire Margarita”.  This drink consists of one part of Jose Cuervo’s super premium tequila (Reserva de la Familia), 1 part Grand Marnier Cuvee de Centenaire, 2 parts freshly squeezed limejuice and simple syrup or sugar to taste.  

Certain things in life should never change such as the act of courtship, the love of family and helping one another.  And of course, making tequila by hand... 

September 12, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Professional Knives from MKS Available for Home Cooks

Previously only offered to cooking professionals, British-made MKS Knives are now available to the public.  Made from British SF77 stainless steel and hand-finished, they come with injection molded bicycle grips over a bacteria resistant tubular stainless handle.  Prices range from $44 to $225 for the 10" chef's knife.

link: MKS Knives 

September 10, 2006 in Kitchen Essentials | Permalink | Comments (4)

IKEA appreciates the little things...

After a dishwasher run, you've probably experienced the pooling of water on the tops of your inverted coffee mugs.  Well, a fifty cent IKEA Trofe coffee mug takes care of that problem with a small notch on the bottom ring to drain away the water.  Why hasn't anyone else thought of this?  [via Gizmodo] 

September 9, 2006 in Kitchen Essentials | Permalink | Comments (2)

Elixir G - New Ginger Mix Adds Spice to Your Cocktails

In the never ending search for the perfect cocktail or martini, one can easily forget about one of the most potent spices of all, ginger. There are many kinds of exciting ginger beers out there, including such stunners as the cult Blenheim Ginger Ale from South Carolina.

Now a new ginger mix, Elixir G, has just hit the market, and was a “Best in Show” winner in the “new products category” at the just convened Los Angeles Food and Wine Show over some pretty stiff opposition. Elixir G is a dynamic mixer that is extremely versatile with every form of spirit imaginable, giving the cocktail that superb ginger taste, and with tequila in particular.

The drink is not available at retail stores at this time, but you can contact the company directly, although they are very selective who they sell to, and are very keen to offer serving suggestions.  

Most of the top bars in Los Angeles and Hollywood such as Yamashiro’s, MaKai, Ocean Avenue Seafood stock the mixer along with Akwa in Santa Monica. Look for it in October at P.F.Chang’s all across the country, with more outlets to be added as the holiday season hots up.

See some cocktail mixes after the jump. 

Here are a few HOT Elixir G cocktail suggestions:

1oz      Vodka
1/2oz   Chambord
1/2oz   Elixir G
Fill with lemonade and top with a dash of lemon-lime soda. Very refreshing in the hot weather. Unnamed as of yet.

Mistletoe Martini

Fill a martini shaker with ice. Mix in.
1 ½ oz Vodka
½ oz Orange Juice
½ oz Cranberry Juice
1/2oz Elixir G
 Add 3-4 cloves, shake and strain into a Martini glass and garnish w/orange peel.

Christmas Carol

Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add:
1 1/2oz Brandy
1oz Sour Mix
Large splash Elixir G.
4oz Lemon Lime Soda
Garnish w/three Cranberries.

Gingerita

2oz Tequila
2oz Elixir G
2oz Sour Mix
Blend with ½ cup ice

Contact ELIXIR G at 714-926-7978.

No web site at press time.

September 7, 2006 in New Food Trends, Spirits | Permalink | Comments (0)

No Tip Wine Serving Tray

Glide easily through your mingling guests without fear of knocking over your tray of wine glasses with this Wine Tray from MuNiMulA.  Available in 9 different extruded aluminum colors.

UU22 Wine Tray  |   $98 at 2Modern.com

September 7, 2006 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Quick Folding Stool for Your Parties

Made from lightweight 3F board, the Falter Folding Stool also folds up to less than an inch thick, making it a perfect portable, stowable, durable and unique folding stool for your cocktail and casual dinner parties.

Falter Folding Stool  |  $198 at DWR.com 

September 6, 2006 in Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)

Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 2

Part 2 - The Journey Continues 

My journey continued onto the town of Tequila. Rising 1300 meters above sea level, the blue agave plants grow bountifully amongst the evergreens and juniper trees.   To be called tequila, the product must be made from the blue agave located in this specific region of Mexico. Many of the local folks are experts on the tradition and history of their town and famous beverage spirit.  They talk about tequila with fondness relating it to a flat stone called obsidian which is common below the Tequilan volcano.

Obsidian is a black volcanic rock which when polished and trimmed is used for cutting.  The indigenous people of the area say that tequila means “stone that cuts”.  Similar to the way obsidian cuts through any material, the drink itself cuts through one’s throat as it is sipped. 

In 1795, the Spanish King granted a distiller’s license to a local padrone by the name of Jose Cuervo. Oldest of the still existing distilleries, Jose Cuervo is the largest in the world comprising almost half of all tequila sold worldwide.  As the oldest distilled spirits made in the Americas, tequila and mescal are the fastest growing spirit category.

How does the rich sap of the pinas become the smooth amber colored spirit everyone so desired?  From the fields the pinas are cut into four pieces and baked in horneros for 48 hours. It takes fifteen pounds of agave to make 1 bottle of tequila. The blue agave is then ground up with the fibers being washed three times. The pure agave liquid is then begins the fermentation process and the transformation into tequila.  Nothing is wasted during the preparing the agave juice for distillation. The penkas (grinded blue agave) is used for making paper, feed for cattle and other products.  It is also used for compost to fertilize the soil continuing the “circle of life” for the agave plant.

Types of Tequila 

There is officially two categories of tequila, 100% agave and mixed (mixto). Mixto is made by combining the agave with sugar and water while the former is pure blue agave with some water.   There are four types within these categories: blanco (white), joven or abocado (young or mild), reposado (rested) and anejo (aged). Each type has a different color based on the aging process and additives such as caramel and coconut. 

The flavor additives are used to not to take away from the agave flavor, but smooth out the often rough-edge of this drink. Blanco (aka, silver) is an unaged clear in color agave liquid which is often used as a mixer in making fruit flavored drinks.  The joven tequila is unaged silver but is colored and flavored with caramel and other additives.  It is also known as the “Gold” tequila and is usually a mixto.  The reposado tequila is aged in wooden tanks or casks for period between two months and one year. Reposado tequilas are the best selling type of tequilas in Mexico. Anejos are aged in sealed barrels (oak or bourbon) for a minimum of 12 months and up to 4 years for the 100% agaves. 

The Mexican Federal Government regulates the tequila industry through its strict quality assurance process.  The government evaluates each barrel testing the consistency and quality of the product.  With the high quality control, the government-issues a “NOM” number (identifies which distillery made the tequila) on the front of every bottle of tequila.

Related:
Part 1: A Journey into the Past

September 5, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Spirits | Permalink | Comments (0)

When two bottles are just not enough...

BuiltNY introduces a new three bottle wine tote to go with their growing neoprene bag line.

Three-bottle Tote  |  $29.99 at BuiltNY.com 

September 2, 2006 in A Food & Wine Gift Guide, All Things Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daniel Bouley Throws His Own Five-Day Wedding Party

After working on over 400 weddings, chef and restauranteur, Daniel Bouley put all his experience to good use when he hosted his own five-day wedding celebration last week for 80 guests in France's Loire Valley. 

Taking over two chateaus for a week - Château de l'Aubrière and Château de la Bourdaisière - Bouley, 53, and his bride, Nicole Bartelme, 38, played host at Bourdaisière to a moveable feast of unique organic haute-cuisine meals washed down with fine wines that included some from their birth years.

Some highlights included:

• Flying in over 20 of his staff from NYC, including Roger Martinez from Barcelona
• Importing fresh ingredients like heart of palm from Hawaii, Bellota ham from Spain, fresh tuna from Barcelona, and fresh wasabi and green gingko from Japan
• Improvising a dish from the chateau's garden using 55 pounds of heirloom tomatoes
• Hosting one night's meal in a dried-out moat of one of the chateau's (pictured above)

See more wedding images here.

[via The Food Section]

September 1, 2006 in Chef News, Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)