Category Archives: Online

Cooking with a MasterChef judge

by Qin Xie | Leave a comment

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 27th November 2013:

Monica Galetti Experience, Cactus Kitchen

The latest series of MasterChef the Professionals has gotten us glued to our TV sets.

Who will triumph with their creativity? What will the chefs cook next? How will they measure up in the next challenge? These are all questions in the back of our minds as we tune in week after week in anticipation of the finale.

But what’s it like to actually cook with a MasterChef judge? I went to Cactus Kitchens to find out.

Based in Clapham, Cactus Kitchen is home to the Saturday Kitchen studios. Once in a while it’s also open to the public as the Cactus Kitchen Cookery School, set up in partnership with Michel Roux Jr. As well as the Michel Roux Jr and Monica Galetti experiences, there are also classes with other celebrity chefs.

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Why I choose a slow-reared turkey

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 23rd November 2013:

Kelly Bronze, Essex

With a few weeks to go until Christmas, now is definitely the time to think about turkeys.

With so many different options on the market, which one do you choose?

Different kinds of turkey available

It might not seem like it but there are a lot of different types of turkeys on offer, ranging anywhere between just under £3/kg to more than £12/kg in price.

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Five books to take you from wine bluff to wine buff

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 15th November 2013:

Languedoc wines at Apero, Ampersand Hotel

Wine can often seem like a daunting and complicated subject. When it comes to wine, not only do you have to use your brain but you also have to use your senses to experience it. That’s all before you get to the multitude of questions that seems unfathomable to the average Joe.

Who decides a year is good for vintages? What does it actually mean when a wine is corked? When is the best time to drink your wine? Where can you really get value for money wines? Why does a Chardonnay from France and one from Australia taste so different? How do you tell if a wine is dry or sweet by looking at the label?

Of course the best way to learn about wines is by tasting them with a guide but if you want to quickly brush up on facts to impress your friends, here are five wine books you will need:

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Why Helsinki’s restaurant scene is at its hottest right now

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 12th November 2013:

At the beginning of October this year, Helsinki’s Chez Dominique closed indefinitely. For Helsinki, and Finland, it was a big shake up.

The two Michelin-starred Chez Dominique was Finland’s highest awarded restaurant, having been featured on the World’s 50 Best restaurant list alongside numerous other accolades.

But after 15 years at the helm of what’s arguably Finland’s best restaurant, chef/patron Hans Välimäki has decided he would take a hiatus to concentrate on his other restaurants.

So it was lights out for Chez Dominique; Finland’s culinary scene seemingly dimmed a little too.

Thankfully, the curtains weren’t drawn for long.

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Five historic wineries in Languedoc-Roussillon

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 6th November 2013:

Chateau Pennautier, Pennautier

The Languedoc-Roussillon might be full of avant-garde winemakers but it’s also filled with historic sites with vineyards that can be traced as far back as the 12th Century to the Cistercian movement. These days they are often family owned estates where wine is just a small part of the property.

But if you like history and culture with your glass of wine, here are five stops you must not miss:

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