Archive for December, 2006

African Food Is Full Of Flavor

Sunday, December 24th, 2006

African food is conquering America! More and more of my friends and colleagues are starting to get interested in African cuisine. You see African restaurants popping up in the streets. What’s going on and what is so specific about African food? As Kwanzaa approaches, African cuisine deserves some kudos on the cuisine scene. African food is a rich melange of dishes, with regional takes on seasonings and preparation methods.

Traditional foods combined in exotic ways reflect both native and foreign influences, accumulated and integrated over hundreds of years. If you haven’t explored the world of African cuisine, you’re in for a treat. A taste of this regionally diverse and rich cuisine may be just around the corner, in a family restaurant near you. If you’re not so lucky, there are a number of fabulous cookbooks available.
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Belgian Chocolate

Friday, December 22nd, 2006

Belgian chocolate is world famous and there is a reason for! In most countries the pure cacao butter is replaced by cheaper alternatives, but in Belgium even the law forbids the chocolate producers to use cheaper ingredients. The quality of Belgian chocolate is just outstanding. Every tourist who visits Belgium is buying and enjoying the famous Belgian chocolate and pralines…

Chocolate lovers everywhere appreciate quality. Good ingredients make good chocolate and Belgian chocolate has a reputation for being the best. This may have been the boast of the Swiss at one time, before the Belgians raced ahead. There is a long tradition of chocolate making in Belgium, which only needed a good marketing campaign to bring it to the attention of the rest of us. There are even chocolate museums there!

In 1912, the filled chocolate recipe known as the praline was invented in Belgium. The residents there have always been fond of exchanging chocolates as presents and they are very proud of the worldwide popularity of their export. The key to the high standard of Belgian chocolate lies in the selection of the best cocoa seeds and other ingredients.
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