• Created on 2/16/10 by Nicko

The lowly olive is one of the world's greatest and most historically coveted foods. Throughout history, the olive tree has been the subject of mythology, a sign of longevity, and a source for excellent wood. From the olive flows olive oil, a precious commodity that was used historically for food, fuel, the anointing of kings, industrial lubricant, medicinal balm, soap manufacture, and polishing finely cut diamonds.   The fruit of the olive tree, the olive itself, has been eaten for centuries (ever since people learned how to tame the raw, inedible olive and make... read more

• Created on 2/22/11 by CTLurker

What is Following? Following is like subscribing to another member; you'll receive notifications of their activity in public areas.   How do I follow another member? To follow a member, visit their profile page and click the "Follow Member" link under their avatar. You will be able to "unfollow" someone in the same place.   What will I be notified about? When following another member, you'll be notified about many of the same things that appear in their activity feed: replying to threads, writing reviews, and other actions they take around the... read more

• Created on 2/16/10 by Nicko

Holy, Wholly Bagels, v2.0 by: Chef Jim Berman It is really difficult to write about food, a dining experience or other kitchen foray, let alone revisit that writing. Putting into words the experience is a labor of love; articulate a feeling about something so endearingly personal is much akin to going to the gynecologist with your daughter; everything is out there, in the open, waiting to be examined and, with bated breath, holding out for some intensely personal reaction, in a voyeuristic sense. My relationship with the kitchen is deeply intimate. I get... read more

• Created on 2/16/10 by Nicko

There are a number of ingredients that I often wonder how anyone ever thought could be edible, or even tasty. Olives are one of these as when the olive comes off the tree, it is unbelievably bitter. Artichokes are another. Who would have looked at this oversized thistle and thought "Maybe this thorny flower bud, if handled and cooked correctly, could be a succulent treat?" or "Maybe if I cook it and scrape the leaves between my teeth, I could be treated to a sweet vegetal pulp?" The artichoke still is a mystery to most. If you grab a thorny variety incorrectly, you... read more

• Created on 12/28/10 by Nicko

  You will likely face weeping and gnashing of teeth by serious bread makers at the mention of the word bread machine. And most will say it takes the fun out of making bread all together. True, it probably does but it does allow the masses who are looking for a convenient way to produce a simple loaf of bread without all the chemicals and the big time commitment.     The idea of a kitchen appliance that just produces a loaf of bread started in the late 80’s and caught on very quickly with just about everyone that wanted easy bread at home. Now almost... read more

• Created on 12/19/10 by ChrisLehrer

There is already an excellent wiki entry on how to cut up a whole chicken. This describes the most popular American system. However, for some purposes the French system is preferable. The present article describes the latter system in brief, explaining only the differences from the American system.   1. Remove the wishbone.   2. Remove the outermost two sections of the wings by cutting through the joint between the upper wing and the middle.   2a. (Optional) Break the cut wing sections: Hold the larger, two-boned middle section in the strong hand, thumb... read more

• Created on 2/16/10 by Cristina7

When I was training in some of the great restaurants in France, I was amazed that all the scallops we purchased were in the shell, much like you would buy an oyster or mussel. They were beautiful specimens--tight and extremely sweet. It was all a romantic picture until I had to open and clean several cases of them as fast as I possibly could (the only working speed in these kitchens). Don't be misled--it's a tough job that ultimately yields a proportionally small amount of scallops. But what a prized delicacy it is. What we actually eat is only a small part of the... read more

• Created on 2/16/10 by Cristina7

Stock. It is essential to serious cooking. Walk into any restaurant that aspires to prepare fine cuisine and you will undoubtedly see a large pot of stock gently bubbling somewhere in the kitchen. In French cuisine, stock is so important that it is called "fond," which translates into "foundation." Chefs frequently compare cooking (and culinary training) to building a house. As any architect knows, a strong foundation, while never really seen, is of greatest importance. If the foundation is weak, what is built on it will be unstable--especially if it is destined to be... read more

• Created on 12/11/10 by ChefTalk.com

    Breville Je98xl Juice Fountain Plus Juicer   Reviewed By Peter Martin Donated by www.everythingkitchens.com     I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Juice Fountain Plus juicer from Breville.  I had been contemplating adding a juicer to my kitchen for awhile now as part of my plan to start leading a healthier lifestyle.  While the healthier lifestyle hasn’t really come to fruition-and who can blame me, with the holidays coming up-I have had a lot of fun experimenting with my new juicer.     For the benefit of those new to this... read more

• Created on 12/13/10 by ChefTalk.com

  Krups KM 8150 12-cup Programmable Coffeemaker   Donated by EverythingKitchens.com   Reviewed by: Brook Elliott   About 45 years ago came a revolution in American coffee making habits. Melitta made a big splash with its drip coffee making system.   It was a simple concept. Hot water would slowly ooze through a cone of ground coffee, steeping instead of boiling. This produced a clear, clean brew, with no muddiness or bitter oils.   Until then, most Americans made coffee in a stovetop percolator. A small minority, who’d been exposed to European... read more