Posted by Alan | Under Celebratory Food, cooking, Food Events, Italian Food, Moroccan Food, Recipes, Themed Events
Friday May 11, 2012
The Global flavour map is an interactive map that is going to allow people from all over the world to pin different flavours onto different areas. It has been launched by the company, Glorious! It lets people not only make flavour and taste recommendations but also recommend different things to eat. It is also completely interactive with Google Street view, where it is available.
It is possible to use this map by logging in through either your Twitter or Facebook account, alternatively you can create your own login information on the site by just using your e-mail address. From this point, users are able to pin foods to different parts of the map and even attach images and create reviews.
It is fully searchable by location, cuisine, price and description, serving as a worldwide guide for people looking for taste inspiration. It is also possible to share submissions using Facebook and Twitter and vote on each flavour tag, with the most popular displayed on a leaderboard.
The Flavour Map, has been launched by GLORIOUS! as part of its A-Z of Global Flavours ethos and commitment to searching out new and interesting flavour combinations from across the world. It will be used by the company to crowdsource and develop new flavours for its soups, sauces and stews.
In addition to the web-based application
www.gloriousfoods.co.uk/flavourmap, iPhone and Android apps will also soon be available, allowing on-the-go users to geo-pin flavours and images to their current location, while a dedicated Facebook app will allow pinning and searching within the social network.
Leaderboards show most recent flavour pins, the most popular flavours and the most prolific contributors – ad hoc user rewards will also be given.
Matthew Stephenson at GLORIOUS! said: “Our vision for the Flavour Map is to allow a global community to contribute to an entirely user-generated resource of flavours, and to share their amazing food taste experiences from around the globe.
“Whether it’s an amazing spice from a food market, an unusual fruit or vegetable from a far-flung location, a dish unique to a particular community, a particular meal in a restaurant through to, say, a friend’s barbeque sauce recipe or their signature home-cooked dish, we want to document it for everyone to share.
“The fundamental aim of the Flavour Map is to inspire as well as re-educate consumers about flavours and savouring their food in what we hope may become a ‘TripAdvisor for taste’.
“As a business, we will use it to inspire our own flavour research and development, maybe even unearth a hidden flavour gem from around the world, and ultimately introduce new soup, sauce and stew product lines.”
Developed with fresh, quality ingredients, the GLORIOUS! range of soups, stews and sauces incorporate bold flavours using authentic recipes and ingredients from around the world.
*Take part in the Flavour Map: www.gloriousfoods.co.uk/flavourmap
Posted by admin | Under Celebratory Food
Tuesday Nov 1, 2011
Each Christmas brings with it its own hot trends in food and drink, whether it’s Heston Blumenthal’s 2010 ‘hidden orange’ Christmas puddings or the Blue Nun wine of the 1970s.
For this Christmas, though, refined, modern and simple styling is the order of the day, according to this year’s Christmas shows. So put away your 10-year-old tinsel and your re-used cake decorations, and take a look at the hottest festive trends in food and drink for Christmas 2011…
Food
1. A twist on the traditional
Blumenthal has again caused a stir this year with his modern take on the mince pie by adding lemon curd, rose water and a pine-flavoured sugar topping.
2. Classy party foods
Gone are the days when buffet food meant some warmed-up sausage rolls and prawns in filo pastry. Instead, if you buy your Christmas hamper at FormanandField.com or another high-quality food supplier, this Christmas you’ll find hearty treats such as mini game pies, potted lobster and stuffed quails.
3. Sustainability
The centrepiece of the Christmas banquet (unless you’re vegetarian, of course) is your chosen meat. But this year, knowing where it has come from is just as important as the taste. Here’s a pick of the best places to source your meats:
- Turkey – The Kelly Bronze turkey sourced from the family farm in Essex is a tasty organic treat.
- Goose – Goose was traditionally served in England before the turkey became popular. West Country farms are well known for their great geese.
- Ham – If you prefer a richer meat, go all out and have Pugh’s Piglets suckling pig.
4. Waste not, want not
We’re all tightening our purse strings this year, but the decadent Christmas atmosphere can make you feel like letting go. This doesn’t have to mean wasting food, however, and great recipes – from bubble and squeak through to Christmas-pud ice-cream – mean that leftovers can be tasty too.
5. Foodie gifts
This year foodie gifts will be welcomed to help recipients through the leaner January months. Cured meat or cheese hampers make great gifts for Christmas Day, and they can even be tailored to the recipient. Start planning your hamper menu now.
Drink
1. Sloe gin
A great way to add a crafty touch to your table. Start brewing your sloes now so the gin is ready in time for Christmas.
2. Mulled cider
Mulled cider is a great twist on traditional mulled wine, and the warming spices definitely fit the season without seeming old fashioned.
3. Champagne
Great champagne never goes out of style. If you’re looking to treat yourself, choose Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, which appears on the menu of multi-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester this Christmas.
4. Non-alcoholic cocktails
While too many of us spend Christmas over-indulging, non-alcoholic cocktails can be just as tasty as their stronger relatives. Try organic russet and elderflower juice, with a touch of soda water, for a fizzy and tasty non-alcoholic cocktail.
5. Vintage cocktails
The softer taste that comes from cocktails aged in oak barrels is gaining popularity in bars around the country, and the trend is sure to come to a head during the Christmas season. Favourites include the ‘Scottish Manhattan’, which is aged for six weeks in Glenmorangie whisky barrels and served at the Bramble Bar and Lounge in Edinburgh.
Posted by admin | Under Celebratory Food
Thursday Jan 20, 2011
A lovely Valentine’s Day idea is to order a hamper filled with delicious gourmet food to be enjoyed with your special someone. You can take the hamper on a picnic or enjoy it in the comfort and privacy of your home. Of course, the most important ingredients for your feasting experience are each other. Eating together is one of the many ways two people connect, but there are a few important things to keep in mind when ordering a hamper for your romantic day.
Think about what time of day you plan to indulge in the hamper. If you’re thinking of a hamper for an afternoon tea, then cheese and smoked meat are optional. You will, however, definitely need little sandwiches and some excellent biscuits or scones with jams or jellies to accompany them. Some cupcakes would probably go down well too. Also, a little champagne is never a bad idea.
Breakfast-in-bed hampers and those for the morning hours should contain excellent coffee. Because this is for Valentine’s Day and not a meeting at the office, plan to spend a relaxing morning enjoying good food with the one you love – this is a cause for some champagne or sparkling wine.
If you’re planning to enjoy your hamper for your midday or evening meal, then champagne and smoked salmon are essential items to include. And to really do it up, you can go beyond smoked salmon and also enjoy smoked tuna, potted lobster and smoked wild salmon pâté. Caviar is often considered a food only for the rich, but a small jar is usually quite affordable. And remember – this is a special occasion.
Hampers make wonderful Valentines Day gift ideas, but don’t forget to get another little something special for your Valentine as well – a hamper will most likely be a gift for the two of you to share.
