Category Archives: Yahoo

Five inexplicable food trends

by Qin Xie | Leave a comment

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 1st August 2013:

In the world of food, there are some pretty bizarre crazes.

We’re certainly not the most adventurous lot here in the UK but even we’ve had our share of sniffable asparagus, breast milk ice cream and, most recently, edible insects trying to make it on to our dinner tables.

Some of these food trends are avant garde, others are ahead of their time but often they are just plain silly.

When it comes to food trends though, it’s some of the most mainstream ideas that I find truly unfathomable. Will someone please explain to me why these trends are so big?

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7 not-to-miss bars in Edinburgh

by Qin Xie | Leave a comment

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 26th July 2013:

Edinburgh castle by Qin Xie

The city of Edinburgh is certainly hotting up, not least because of the recent good weather we’ve been having but also because of the slew of festivals and events taking place in the city over the summer.

From the just closed Edinburgh Film Festival to the world renowned Fringe Festival coming up, there’s plenty to keep the culture vulture going.

All these events are however, pretty hard work. So if you find yourself in this good city this summer, here are a few watering holes worth checking out.

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5 unusual food findings in The Hague

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 18th July 2013:

herring and genever by Qin Xie

The Hague, or Den Haag in Dutch, is one of those places that makes the international headlines for one reason – the latest judgements from the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.

As the city also hosts the Dutch government, it might seem that it’s known for little other than politics.

But, look a little closer and you will find a surprisingly quirky city with some unexpected food and drink options. So if you happen to find yourself in this unique city, here are some things that are not to be missed.

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The world’s best chocolate – a tale of organic cocoa production

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 11th July 2013:

Qin Xie in the Dominican Republic

The air was humid and sticky, the mosquitoes were out in force and hungry but the patters of rain softened the blow. A little.

I was in the rainforests of the Dominican Republic to learn about organic cocoa production. The plantation I was in produces beans for Valrhona, the company that supplies some of the finest chocolates to the world’s best restaurants, patisseries and chocolatiers.

Having been involved with chocolate as a consumer, a chef and a judge at the international chocolate awards, I thought I knew a fair bit about chocolate and its production.

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An introduction to gin

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

Sipsmiths

With World Gin Day almost upon us (15 th June), it’s high time we delved a little into the spirit.

Originally a Dutch drink by the name of genever, gin became absorbed into the English culture during the Eighty Years’ War when the English fought alongside the Dutch for independence from Spain. Its growth was encouraged when William the Orange, a Dutch ruler, came to occupy the British throne and home distillation became common place.

Unfortunately the abundance, and relative cheapness, of gin resulted in widespread alcoholism. That was to be the inspiration behind Hogarth’s famous illustrations of Beer Street and Gin Lane. Since then, it gained a bit of a reputation as “mother’s ruin” and fell out of fashion.

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