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Up and down through Italy searching the Carnivals tastes!

The Italian culinary tradition is notoriously full of excellence confirmed by the enormous mass of registered products and imitations that in every corner of the world people tried to do. In addition to the products themselves there are also numerous recipes that can be found in the Italian tradition, a different proposal for every occasion, many kind of cakes that in every region are related to a particular years period. Just thinking to the “panettone” and “pandoro”, typical cakes of the Christmas period, specialties exported all over the world. But not only in especial occasion there are cakes but also all over the year, just think to nougat that is appreciated every time. Those cakes are also exported from Italy, by particukar firms, like precious thing, which they are.

Very popular, tasty and delicious desserts are also going to celebrate the carnival, those various names that change from northern to southern Italy, but in essence are very similar. The most famous are undoubtedly those that are produced in the province of Venice, due to their resonance in the world due to the influx of tourists who flock to see the beautiful Carnival of Venice. Historically, the period of Carnival is the one that precedes Lent, a time for penance and fasting, so the tradition provides great entertainment, such as masks and big binge, which then created the wide variety of desserts. But Carnival the sweets are very fat, usually fried and tasty.

There are two typical desserts of this period par excellence: the “frittelle” and the “galani” (in other parts of Italy called “chiacchere”). The “frittelle”, or “fritole” in local dialect, have been considered for centuries the national sweet of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, and still retains its dominance in the entire area around Venice and in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The “frittelle” is essentially a mixture consisting of eggs, flour, sugar, raisins and pine nuts fried in oil, pork fat or butter in frying suitably designed. Once the production was so sweet “frittelle” states that a special craft guild, that of “fritoeri”, was created in Venice.

The “galani” or “chiacchere”, “crostoli”, “lattughe”, whatever you want, from cakes are more ancient origins that trace their origin in Roman times that was prepared during the spring festival of fried dough similar to lasagna but in the fat. The mixture of current “galani” fact is very simple: flour, water, sugar, eggs and butter. The mixture is “pulled” until you reach a certain thickness that distinguishes “crostoli” of the mainland that are bigger and the “galani” lagoon who are more subtle and far more brittle. Both versions are tasty, but especially enjoy special moments of celebration and sharing!

Walking through Italy and then there are many proposals for this period is passed because we “cicerchiata” the Marche to “panzerotti alla marmellata” typical of the Val D’Aosta until you reach the “farra” from Puglia and “stracci” from Tuscany. In short, many proposals all to try and why not to experiment at home by digging a diet and enjoy the tradition and taste of italian products!

Chef’s Culinary Garden at Beechwood Inn

The Chef’s Culinary Garden at Beechwood Inn, Clayton, GA

The Northeast Georgia Mountains are home to some of Georgia’s leading fresh food producers. Vegetables, fruit, flowers, cheese, wine, nuts, grain, poultry, eggs, fish, pork and cattle are all seasonally available throughout the area. An abundance of fresh water, combined with soil rich in nutrients and a temperate climate offer a recipe for great fresh seasonal foods. Rabun County is particularly known for its cabbage crop. Maybe it’s the soil, but the cabbage grown here just tastes better. As spring moves towards summer we can hardly wait for our first ears of Osage Silver Queen Corn.

With all this local abundance we fret each spring as to what things we should plant in our culinary garden next to the Inn. We’ve been to restaurants where just moments before you are seated for dinner you observe the chef clad in her white coat tip toe into the gardens to snip fresh herbs and edible flowers. You just know you are in for a treat. We want to offer the type of experience where the diner sees and tastes things on their plate they know came out of the garden minutes before. The chef’s culinary garden should provide wonderful products but also needs to be close to the kitchen’s back door so it is as handy as walking into the pantry. And we want the garden to enhance and add to the variety, color and unique flavors for our guests’ dining experience.

Through the years we have honed our culinary garden to our style of cooking. Here is what we have planned for this year. We will plant a hedge of Genovese basil, as well as about 8 other varieties and colors. Other necessities include bay, dill, English thyme, tarragon, mints, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage, parsley, savory and fennel; a rainbow of toy box tomatoes, lemon verbena, bee balm, heirloom tomatoes, edible flowers to bloom in succession. We also have an established asparagus patch, raspberries, blueberries, two varieties of crabapples, wild cherries (for drying), peaches, plums and a forest of Chanterelles. We can also count on Leckie Stack supplying us with some seasonal fruits from the Stack farm including Asian pears, persimmons and grapes. And Jenny Sanders will share with us wild ingredients in season such as ramps, elderflowers and berries, fiddleheads and a variety of mushrooms.

We would plant an acre of basil if we could. To many gardeners, basil is the king of herbs. Basil can play many roles while basking in the sun. Basil is essential in our kitchen, but it is also highly ornamental in our gardens and on our tables. We add branches to bouquets of flowers. Hot summer days become bearable if I can pluck fresh basil and use it in pestos, herbal vinegars, vegetable dishes and, most heavenly of all, nestle the leaves between slices of fresh bread along with a large slice of a ripe heirloom tomato and some creamy homemade mayo. Members of the mint family, basils are native to India, Africa and Asia but have a long, rich history of legend and use worldwide. Basil is best used fresh. Small leafed varieties can be grown in a pot on a sunny windowsill during the winter. To preserve summer’s flavor for winter make plenty of pesto and freeze it. We make sure that each year our garden has several Thai Basil plants. It is characterized by a strong licorice fragrance and flavor. Thai basil has many applications in the Beechwood kitchen due to its flavor appeal. It is the highlight of many Asian cuisines, including Thai, Vietnamese and Indian fare. The inn’s specialty is Thai Basil Rolls with Satay Peanut Sauce.

Another staple that we plant each spring is lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla). It is native to South America and grows well in North Georgia, but it does not survive our winters outdoors. The Spanish brought it to Europe where it was used in perfume. It has been a favorite for garden rooms in North America since its introduction in the 1800’s. It has a clean, sharp lemon scent that makes it the Queen of lemon-scented herbs. In Gone with the Wind, lemon verbena is mentioned as Scarlet O’Hara’s mother’s favorite plant. One whiff of the smell, and I predict you will not want to live without this luscious smelling herb.

The inn’s specialty is lemon verbena ice cream but we use the leaves in a number of recipes. It makes an excellent tea, especially when blended with mint. It can also be used to brighten the taste of fish, poultry, veggie marinades, stuffing, salad dressing, sorbets, pana cotta, jellies, and vinegar. As the leaves are tough, remove them before serving. Finely crumbled dried leaves can be added to the batters of carrot, banana, or zucchini bread. Try adding some to cooked rice just before serving.

A rainbow of toy box tomatoes is essential to our culinary garden each year. They are cherry and grape tomatoes in a variety of wonderful colors and flavors, some heirloom some hybrid. The most important thing to the chef is the palette of colors and unique flavors they offer. Some are sugary and sweet some are puckeringly tart. But oh are they beautiful in tarts, salads, bruschettas and as garnish. Last year we planted about a dozen varieties and I had to resist eating them while I picked them fresh off the vine. We plant them in giant containers and they surround the Beechwood gardens. We will often see guests plucking a sample as they walk by.

Our heirloom tomatoes are good in almost anything but one of our favorite recipes is Black Krim Tomato Marmalade. Our wild cherries and crabapples are very tart, so they are best used in coulis, jams and remoulades. The blueberries and raspberries will find their way fresh to our breakfast table and also baked into muffins, breads and sinfully wonderful desserts.

The gardens also yield a succession of seasonal edible flowers. Today, many restaurant chefs and innovative home cooks garnish their plates with flower blossoms for a touch of elegance. They can be sprinkled on salads or added to your recipe. The secret to success when using edible flowers is to keep the dish simple. Most edible flowers have a very delicate taste, so when using them as a flavor component do not add them to something that already has strong flavors. Today this nearly lost art is enjoying a revival.

Not all flowers are edible, and the edible varieties should be grown without the use of pesticides or other chemicals. Edible flowers should be carefully identified and in some cases there are only parts of the flower that are edible (in some flowers the anthers should be removed). The Beechwood Chefs will often use a flower as the central part of an appetizer or entre. For instance, we use colorful organic daylilies and fill them with a light stuffing of local goat cheese and fresh herbs.

Writing about our culinary garden and thinking of these recipes makes us long for tomato season once again. Planting our culinary garden each spring renews our spirit and brings us joy. We appreciate the efforts brought to bear by local farmers and ranchers, but most of all we thank God for the variety and abundance of fresh products we bring to our table.

by Chef David Darugh http://www.beechwoodinn.ws

Beechwood Inn is Georgia’s Premier Wine Country Inn

Culinary Arts Education Getting A Degree In Less Than Two Years

Culinary Arts can be a very exciting career, but before deciding on furthering your education you may want to step back and consider exactly what it is that you want to do in the food industry. Many job opportunities don’t necessary require an education pass high school or an equivalent diploma. Short order cooks, fry cooks and even food preps often simply require on the job training. It is usually chefs, nutritionists, food managers, and those who truly envision food preparation as a form of art who will need to further their education into culinary arts.

A degree in culinary arts can usually be obtained in two years or less. The first part is obtaining your culinary chef certification and from there you can get your AOS degree. (Associate of Occupational Studies) Those who get the culinary chef certification but not their AOS degree are more often than not limiting themselves to being a sous-chef at best. It is with the AOS degree that you open the doors to so many carrier paths. On-line degrees are not recommended for culinary arts as working with foods is more of a hands on task. It’s important to be able to see, smell and taste as you are learning. A good palate is very often a chef’s best friend.

The nice thing about obtaining a degree in culinary arts is that you aren’t limiting yourself to only being a chef. If you’ve gotten your degree and started working in a five star restaurant, what happens if you find cooking simply isn’t for you? There are a variety of other career paths that you can choose from! You can work in restaurant management, as a nutritionist, you can teach others the art of cooking, you could become a food critic for newspapers and magazines, and you could even become a food stylist and photograph all that yummy goodness you see in magazines!

There may be some of you who know you aren’t interested in becoming a chef or want any type of career where food is involved. Maybe you want to learn to cook different meals for your family or learn how to incorporate more nutritious food into your daily menu. We don’t all need to want to become a chef in order to want to cook our family good nutritious meals they will enjoy. There are also a wide variety of ways for you to learn as well. You can find a local cooking class, recipe swaps, even cooking school getaways for you and your spouse.

We are living in a time where chefs are no longer tucked back away in a kitchen never to be seen. Chefs are, in fact, more recognized today than ever. Just recently one of the contestants from Hell’s Kitchen moved into a neighboring town where I live. Overnight he has made what once was a place where only the young went to enjoy their spirits a restaurant that has people waiting in lines to grab a table. If cooking is your passion, furthering your education is the key to success. Aim high and enjoy every bite.

A South Indian Variant Of Banana Bread

Banana is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. It is grown in nearly 107 countries, the major banana growing regions being India, China, Brazil, Ecuador, Philippines, and Indonesia. The post popular variety is the dessert bananas, which are yellow when fully ripe. The fruit is soft and sweet and is mostly eaten as dessert.

Nutritionists consider banana a remarkable fruit for its digestive and therapeutic value. The fruit is mainly composed of carbohydrates with some amount of fat, protein, and minerals. Bananas contain three natural sugars C fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Combined with natural fiber, banana provides instant energy. It has proved to be a great healer for a multitude of illnesses such as depression, PMS, anemia, blood pressure, heartburn and many more.

Culinary Usage

The popularity of bananas has led to a wide variety of culinary usage. The fruit is savored as banana bread, banana cream pie, banana chips, banana ketchup, banana pudding, banana split, to name a few.

Banana bread

Mashed yellow bananas are used to make this very popular dish. Easy availibity of bananas and the simplicity of the recipe has made banana bread an immensely popular food item. Banana bread, also called banana nut bread is actually a quick bread similar to corn bread, biscuits, muffins, pancakes, soda bread, and scones. Quick breads are leavened with either baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. Unlike yeast breads, which take hours, to prepare, quick breads can be made in a jiffy. However, there are banana bread recipes that are yeast type. Egg is usually a common ingredient though vegetarians use soy yogurt or tofu. Chopped nuts such as walnuts and pecans are ingredients to make banana nut breads.

Today we are giving you a recipe of a very popular type of banana bread made in south India. Named Buns, this food item is prepared using mashed over ripe bananas. Buns will not come under the category of a quick menu; nevertheless, they are worth a try.

South Indian banana bread (buns)
Ingredients
“1 cup refined wheat flour
” tsp baking soda
“S cup sugar
“1 tsp pepper corns
“Three medium sized overripe bananas
Instructions
“Mash the bananas
“In a medium sized bowl, mix all ingredients.
“Add water bit by bit to make smooth dough.
“Allow the dough to ferment overnight or for a period of 7-8 hours. The mixture will rise to double the size.
“Divide the dough into ping-pong sized balls.
“Roll out the balls into circular shape.
“Deep fry in oil until golden brown.
“Take out each bun and place it on tissue paper to remove excess oil.

South Indian banana bread is savored hot on its own or with any chutney of your choice. Many prefer to eat this bread lukewarm. Buns are popular in south India as a breakfast item or as a snack.

Careers And Training In The Culinary Arts

People who love to cook and experiment with cuisine from all over the world may find a career in the culinary arts to be the most rewarding. There is always a demand for cooks and chefs, and there are job opportunities anywhere a person may travel. There is also a good chance for opening ones own catering business or even a restaurant or bakery.

Any time a person turns on the television there is a large array of cooking shows of all kinds playing. There are even networks dedicated to food preparation. People love to watch expert chefs prepare meals and learn how to make the cuisine at home. Many chefs have reality shows, as well.

Currently, bakeries that make custom cakes and confections are featured in many of these popular shows. These culinary artists make such intricate edible designs that the creations often do not even look like food. Some have made cakes in the shape of people, favorite objects, or vehicles and even in the size of small cars. Some even have special effects like moving parts, lights, and smoke.

Wedding cakes are very popular on these shows as well. It is not surprising since a wedding is one of the most important events in a person’s life. Some of these cakes cost more than the bride’s dress and even look more beautiful.

Even those who do not want to be Hollywood chefs or have their own reality show can make a successful career in the culinary arts. Good chefs are always in demand, especially with restaurants that serve specific ethnic cuisine like Italian or Thai food. Pastry chefs can find positions at bakeries anywhere, and those who do not like to work for others can always open a catering business.

No matter what path one takes in this field, it is best to obtain some professional training first. Even people who grew up as kitchen helpers at their grandmother’s knee would benefit from a certificate or degree in culinary arts. Most community colleges have programs for this field, and there are options to branch into specific fields such as the pastry arts. One can also obtain higher degrees in the field.

Many larger colleges offer externships for the students to work in fine local establishments for pay. It is possible to train abroad in some cases, as well. This would be the best opportunity for those who desire to learn to cook gourmet cuisine from all over the globe. This experience can lead a person onto the path of becoming a world renowned chef. These are the people who eventually have their own establishments and television shows.

With the right training and experience, one can have a great career in the culinary arts. This is a far cry from simply making burgers in a casual eatery. There are many opportunities out there for those who wish to explore them. Everyone has to eat, and most people love to have a gourmet meal prepared for them by a person who has the skill and expertise to make it a truly special experience.