Tag: Surroundings

Dine in Style Every Day With a Few Simple Steps

In Italy, stylish dining has long been embraced as a relaxing way to unwind after a busy day. So before you order takeout and eat in front of the television, take a cue from the Italians and make each meal a treat.

Whether dining alone, with family or with your closest friends, turn an otherwise hurried meal into a chic expression of style with these tips from Ecco Domani Italian wines.

* Determine the dcor. Whether you are dining at the kitchen table or in a more formal setting, it’s easy to add some pizzazz to your surroundings. Candles cast a warm glow once the sun goes down. Strands of small lights also enhance the mood; string them around the room or even bunch them in a Mason jar for a funky tabletop display.

* Master the art of mood music. Mellow jazz will help take the edge off a long day, and classical music can help lift your mood. Consider tailoring the music around the type of cuisine you are serving. For an Italian meal, for instance, play an assortment of Italian opera.

If you’re dining with family or friends, get them involved by inviting them to bring their favorite CDs. Set your disc player to shuffle so that everyone’s music selection gets played during the meal.

* Create a stylish menu. To help you unwind, it’s best to keep your meal simple. Luckily, delicious meals are a snap to make with fresh, easy-to-prepare foods. And you can add flair to any basic dish with just a few additions.

For an Italian meal, a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad is always a crowd-pleaser. Drizzle chicken and fish with olive oil and lemon for a fresh, light flavor. And dust colorful veggies with Italian seasonings to bring out their natural flavors.

Whatever your menu, be sure to select a delicious wine to accompany the meal. Ecco Domani 2003 Pinot Grigio is a perfect wine for everyday dining because of its crisp, fresh flavor, which pairs perfectly with today’s light cuisine.

It is easy to infuse any setting with glamour by adding a few small touches. In the end, nothing says style like taking the time to make each meal special. – NU

The Basic Steps to Consider

There are so many people who take interest in becoming chefs themselves. They know that the career is indeed rewarding. A chef is someone who is inventive and skilled when it comes to cooking a delicious meal and coming up with an artistic presentation of the cuisine. But then becoming a chef is not completed overnight. The education itself lasts for about four years and it takes quite a while to establish a credible reputation.

If you are serious and you want a career in line with becoming a chef, there are some important requirements that you need to fulfill. Here are a few pointers for you to consider:

In your high school years, find a work in a restaurant as a startup for your experience. It would not matter if you do not land in a cooking position. Anyway, you will get exposed to it. You will get to know how it feels as you work for a long duration of time.

Secondly, you could ask the guidance counselor in your school if there are existing training programs designed for chefs within your community.

Look into the available culinary schools, training programs, certification, apprenticeships, and related jobs that would open up the formal training and hands-on experience for you.

Decipher the type of cooking which you aim for and the kind of kitchen surroundings that you prefer to work in.

You must understand that landing in apprenticeship jobs will first require you to start at the basicsmost probably with the kitchen jobs. As you further your education you also gain a lot more experience and your job post likewise escalates.

Gain the certification from the American Culinary Federation.

Take up the related business courses if you intend to manage your own business.

Keep yourself updated with the latest cooking style and kitchen equipment.

Focus on a particular specialization.

Be very sure that this is what you want for a career.

As you have decided that you truly want to be a chef, you must get the proper education from a reputable cooking school. The training that you would get is very important. There are several different programs that you may enroll at and receive training and earn the experience from varying mentors. There are those vocational programs, four-year or two-year college programs. You may likewise opt to avail of the training courses offered by some large hotel and other related establishments.

The curriculum of the schools differs but most importantly, you earn your knowledge through the practical application. Through the trainings, the students are taught to properly broil, bake, and prepare the food. The rest of the kitchen jobs are well emphasized and taught. More so, as you take up the related courses that are required to become a chef, you will get educated with the proper management and care for the kitchen utensils and equipment.

Your job description as a chef would include creating, planning, and pricing the menus; prepare and then cook the dish as per the specifications of the customer; arrange and then garnish the dish prior to its serving; supervise the performance of your staff, deal with the suppliers, and a lot others. With these things to bear in mind, you will need to employ a good dose of courage, perseverance and discipline. It matters a lot that you are decided and focused so that you will come up with fulfilling the requirements to become a chef.

Become a Pastry Chef: Know these Things First

Who does not love pastries? Pastries are all-time favorite desserts. They are the best to be given as gifts. Most people struggle to create pastries but only a few succeed. But how about with the pastry chefs? What are their secrets in creating the best pastries in town? Have it ever occurred to you that you want to become a pastry chef? Read on and be made aware of the aspects that envelop the world of a pastry chef.

Who is a pastry chef?

A patissier or a pastry chef is someone who is based in professional kitchen surroundings. He is naturally skilled with the preparation and creation of desserts, pastries, and some other baked products. The pastry chef works in bakeries, bistros, hotels, and restaurants.

The pastry chef is one of the members of the brigade de cuisine in most professional kitchens and is likewise tagged as the station chef in the pastry department. There are assistants working with the pastry chef.

What are the duties and obligations of the pastry chef?

There are a lot of responsibilities that need to be catered to by the pastry chef. Among of which are ordering, menu planning, and costing. The everyday operations of the establishment obligate the pastry chef to research on new recipes, cooking concepts, and the testing of the newfound recipes. It is the duty of the pastry chef to attend to the advance preparation of several desserts before the dinner begins. The plating of the desert is typically assigned to the Garde manger during the specific time of ordering.

The pastry chef is the one who is in charged with the dessert menu. The dessert menu covers not only the traditional ones but also the dessert beverages, gourmet cheese platters, dessert wines, and many others.

What are the various positions of pastry chefs?

There are many designated positions for the pastry chefs especially within the large food establishments, restaurants, and hotels. The highest so far is the Chef de Cuisine who takes charge of conceptualizing the menu dishes and selects the direction of the foods. The executive chef is a subordinate to the chef de cuisine. He makes the recipes, controls the costs, and does the administrative works. The head chef is involved in smaller food operations. The sous chef ensures that the prepared food passes the standards that have been set up. It is the chef de partie who manages a particular section in the kitchen; the commis chef does the large volume of cooking whereas the apprentice chefs are those that are being trained.

What are the usual activities that the pastry chef executes?

Among the many obligations of the pastry chefs are:

To connive with the other chefs in the establishment regarding the pairing of desserts and menu planning;

To test and evaluate at the same time the dessert recipes and new pastry lineup;

To order the supplies from different vendors or go directly to the growers of the fresh berries and fruits;

Prepare the budget allotment for the department;

Supervise the transition of the chefs and those apprentices; and

Provide the supplementary trainings or educational programs regarding dessert and pastry making.

If you desire to become a pastry chef, you need to be abreast with all these aspects. You could either take up the related courses on Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management or the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management. As you enter the world of the pastry chef, you’ll soon realize how vital you could be in the world of cuisine specialty.