The Harmony Between Food and Wine

Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food.

The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can benefit from the right pairing. The right wine can accentuate unexpected gastronomical aspects of food and vice versa, wine can shine in a new light when accompanied by the right dish. In order to savor the splendor of such combinations, one does not need to frequent expensive restaurants and buy overpriced wines. Rather, when combining food and wine it is one’s intuition and curiosity that are of paramount importance.

Most rules for agreeable food – wine combinations date back to the 19th century and are made by French cooks who travel around Europe showing other nations the French savoir-vivre. It is since then that we know that champagne goes well with oysters, white wine – with seafood, and red wine – with game and red meats. Those rules, however, have been broken many times throughout the years because the nature of certain dishes and the rich wine variety available allow for a much freer interpretation. For example, some red meats could be made more enjoyable by stronger white wines. Continue reading “The Harmony Between Food and Wine”

Why My Nescafe Is Better Than Your Nescafe

Did you know that there are over 200 types of Nescafé? That is why your favorite Nescafé at home may taste absolutely different in some foreign country, even if the name and the packaging look exactly the same, language differences aside. Despite being a global household name, Nestlé, the company that owns the brand name Nescafé, distinctively caters to the local palate. The key to success for a global brand lies not in offering the same product everywhere but in offering a different product with the same name everywhere.

I remember the Vanilla Coke I tried in the US for the first time in 2001. It was terribly sweet and artificial. Yuk! Some time later I found it in the shops here in Norway too, but to my surprise the sweet taste was much more refined and balanced. I experienced the same with Pepsi Lemon. Strangely artificial in the US, but much more balanced here. Why can’t it taste the same everywhere? Wouldn’t it be better for people to love the brand and get used to the taste, so people know that they can find the same taste wherever they go? Continue reading “Why My Nescafe Is Better Than Your Nescafe”

The Best Romantic Restaurants In Seminyak

If you’re thinking about the perfect romantic getaway, think about Bali. They say that Bali is the break-up island, but that’s not the case at all. Myths about love hitches in Bali have been debunked, and you can splendidly enjoy your romantic vacation in Bali. Isn’t it a wonderful place to ignite the fires of your love and togetherness?

Bali is a city with a laid back atmosphere. You can revel in its dreamy landscapes. In South Bali, you can go a bit farther to the beach town of Seminyak. It is the next town located at the north of Legian. You’ll be engrossed in the luxurious ambiance of Seminyak. As another top scenic and tourist spot in Bali, Seminyak is more uptown and fashionable. You’ll find high-end spas and boutiques in Seminyak, considering that it is Bali’s shopping capital. At daytime, you can relax at the beach. It’s quieter at that time. But what makes Seminyak more attractive to locals and tourists alike are the high-end restaurants. Bring your dearest to wine and dine in Seminyak. It’s the perfect place to nurture your affections and passions for each other. Continue reading “The Best Romantic Restaurants In Seminyak”

Soto Ayam (Saoto Soup)

Soto ayam is a chicken spicy-aromatic soup. This is the perfect soup for food lover’s looking for the true taste of Java and Suriname.

This is more of a complete meal than just a soup as it is served with lots of extras

Soto soup is usually served with white cooked rice.

Ingredients:

Look for fresh and frozen herbs like laos (galangal),daun salam in Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

2 to3 quarts water (1 quart=1/4 gallon)

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Tales From the Big Durian

The Durian is a contentious fruit; loved by many whilst others are disgusted by its strong smell, and strange appearance. Jakarta, one of South-east Asia’s largest and least known Cities, is aptly nicknamed the “Big Durian.” Tales from the Big Durian, is a collection of true stories and experiences, that cross lines of “normality,” and takes readers in the surreal life of a mega-city torn between western modernization, and traditional beliefs.

The book starts with a short story about the differences in cultural beliefs, were locals prefer skin whitening creams to exposing themselves in the hot, tropical Indonesian sun. It leads onto a collection of bizarre, and funny tales were expatriates and locals mix, leading to a chaotic mix of misunderstandings, that end up as confusing as they first started. Continue reading “Tales From the Big Durian”

Grilled Salmon With Sambal Matah

Sambal is Indonesian condiment dish, it is basically a blended chillies combine with tomatoes, shallots, shrimp paste and seasoning (salt and sugar). but for Sambal Matah, the way of serving is a little bit different. in sambal matah, all the ingredients are sliced, so you can taste more freshness all of the spices.

Ingredients for Grilled Salmon:

6 pcs Salmon Fillets (about 500 gr)

4 tablespoons Tomato Ketchup

3 tablespoons Sweet Soy Sauce

Lemon Juice (from 1 Lemon)

1/4 teaspoon Salt
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What Are the Coffee Regions of the South Pacific?

The coffee regions of the South Pacific include Indonesia and the Pacific Islands; Sumatra; Sulawesi or Celebes; Java, and New Guinea. Each of these regions has unique coffee attributes for flavor, aroma, after-taste and fragrance.

Indonesia and the Pacific Islands: Indonesia is the world’s third largest producer of coffee. Only 15% of the crop is Arabica beans; however, they are some of the best in the world. Indonesian beans are prized for their richness, full body, earthiness and gentle acidity. A limited number of quality beans are available for the gourmet, specialty coffee industry.

Sumatra: Sumatra is the largest of all the Indonesian islands. There are over 13,700 islands comprising the Republic of Indonesia, some with famous and well known coffees. Sumatran coffees are considered some of the heaviest, smoothest and most complex coffees in the world. Sumatran coffees have spicy, herbal notes and earthy aromas sought after by coffee lovers. The finest of the traditional Arabica coffees from Sumatra are marketed as Sumatra Mandheling and Lintong. Mandheling and Lintong are in the Aceh province on the volcanic mountains near Lake Tawar. The average growing altitudes are between 2,500 and 5,000 feet which is ideal for coffee cultivation. This region has shaded coffee farms and the processing method is “semi-washed.” This method depulps the coffee cherry from the coffee seed before they are dry. This cleans the coffee seed from the fruit pulp that naturally surrounds it. Mandheling is known for its herbal aroma, full body, low acidity, rich and smooth flavor. Continue reading “What Are the Coffee Regions of the South Pacific?”

Bandeng Presto (High Pressure Cooked Smoked Milkfish)

Pressure cooking was first introduced by French Physicist, Denis Papin. He invented Steam Digester to reduce the time needed to cook foods. Basically what the steamer do is tighten the air pressure inside it to increase the boiling point of water, therefore the food would be cooked faster.

Bandeng Presto uses high pressure cooking technique that probably was introduced during Dutch colonization in Semarang, Central Java. Bandeng or Milk Fish contains many bones that makes it harder to eat when cooked with regular pressure. Bandeng Presto is Smoked Milk Fish which cooked with High Pressure Cooker.

Bandeng is a large toothless silver fish that lives in warm parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans and related to the herring and the salmon, is commonly used in Indonesian cuisine. Presto came from Italian language “quickly”, but in this case, it refer to the pressure cooker brand “presto” – the first pressure cooker penetrated the market in Indonesia.

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Traditional Dutch Food – The Rijsttafel

When you visit a country for the first time, you always want to try the signature dishes. When in Spain, you want to sample the paella, in Japan sushi, in India you want to taste different curries. But what kind of food is traditionally Dutch?

The answer is a lot, and not many. The Dutch have an interesting culture, and much of what you find there isn’t actually Dutch. Much like Americans, over time they’ve absorbed many cultures into their own. So while you can find some traditional Dutch foods (like the wonderful Dutch pancake, a huge crepe-like pancake with your choice of either savory or sweet fillings), most of the restaurants you’ll find in Amsterdam serve international foods. Continue reading “Traditional Dutch Food – The Rijsttafel”

Indonesian Beef Rendang With Potato and Egg

Beef Rendang is very popular dish throughout Asia, originally it came from Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It has rich flavour of coconut milk and other Indonesian traditional spices. The original recipe, it has a very spicy taste, but in this recipe, I reduce some of the chillies. If you think the amount of chillies in this recipe is still plenty, you can reduce it as well to the level of spicy that you can handle. To add a variation in this recipe, I have added potatoes and eggs.

Ingredients:

1 kg Tenderloin Beef Meat, cut into 5 x 5 x 5 cm Continue reading “Indonesian Beef Rendang With Potato and Egg”