The Art Of Desert Safari Cuisine

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Finding yourself in the middle of the African Desert may present a few challenges to the skillful talents of a culinary artist. Ingredients are a lot harder to come by when you are stuck in the middle of the Desert. It’s just so much easier (and certainly more convenient) for a for a traditional restaurant chef who can very easily just pop out to nearest grocer to stock up on those must have necessities and luxury items.

However challenging, Culinary Artist Theresa Fehrsen has bravely stepped up to this challenge and is set to become the next Culinary Safari Chef Extraordinaire in her role as the new head chef at one of the most luxurious resorts in the Kalahari Desert.

Theresa Fehrsen has a lifelong fascination and passion for artistically tantalizing the palates by creatively presenting an array of culinary delights through inventive cooking. Being raised on a farm since she was a little girl, she always had access to an abundance of fresh produce and natural ingredients. Theresa’s fascination with natures own instilled in her from a very young age, a passion and skill in being able to effortlessly delivery incredible cuisine. The natural flair that she inherited from her mother for experimenting with food lead Theresa to Warwick’s Chef School in Hermanus in the Cape Province where she studied to become a master of the culinary arts.

When luxury ingredients are not always as easy to come by, it becomes essential to tap into the deepest level of intelligent creativity imaginable in order to plan well for the most extraordinary results. With the reserve being located more than 100 kilometers away from the next closest town; this Safari Chef Extraordinaire has to rely heavily on the locals in the surrounding areas. All the vegetables and herbs are organically grown in the safari camps and are protected with shade cloth to keep out the bugs, antelope and the warthog.

In keeping with an eco-friendly culture, the reserve’s waste disposal policy encourages sustainable travel to minimize the impact on the environment. Organic waste is therefore collected and used for the food gardens in a programme designed to maximize production of vegetables for households in remote areas. As further commitment to wildlife conservation, the reserve runs a programme to establish earth worm boxes which process organic waste into compost. The worms are able to process paper effectively as well as food waste. It is no wonder that with such dedication to eco-friendly tourism, that the reserve was honored as this year’s Wildlife Conservation Winner in Cond Nast Travelers thirteenth annual ecotourism World Saver’ Awards.

Even with so many challenges, the Kalahari Desert now has much to aspire to with chef and bartender safaris, a tandoori oven and a pizza oven shaped like a termites nest. This describes only a few of the astonishing plans of this creative genius as this Chef plans place Safari Cuisine at the very top of South Africa’s culinary arts map.

Not only has this culinary artist mastered the skill of inspired cooking, she also has a keen passion and interest in liquid refreshments. To further please and excite the tongue, she combines her cuisine with only the top selection of fine South African wines. The promise of a superb wine will compliment the delightful cuisine while enhancing the flavors and heightening the appreciation for both the wine and the cuisine.

To add an extra blend of class and sophistication to any safari cuisine, diners enjoy a selection of both alcoholic and non alcoholic cocktails. Even the children can select from a menu of fresh smoothies and non alcoholic beverages to accompany the healthier, but delicious alternatives to hamburgers.

Theresa is looking forward to completing advanced patisserie and nutrition courses, specializing in producing delicious menus for guests with food intolerances and allergies to ensure that her delightful cuisine is all encompassing and pleasing to all her diners.

Your Own Indoor Herb Kitchen Garden

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It’s so easy to set up an indoor herb kitchen garden because so many culinary herbs are well suited to growing both indoors and in recycled containers. Your ability to grow veggies in your organic kitchen garden starts with only a few simple recycled materials and the simple will to feed your family only the finest organic foods grown fresh in your designed kitchen garden.

Here are six easy to grow herbs without even trying; chives, thyme, mints, French tarragon, sweet marjoram and sage. As well, also think seriously about growing your own parsley, rosemary, nasturtiums and basil. So which ones do you plant and how do you grow them? It really depends firstly on which ones you would like to grow, how much you use of one or the other and then your budget, and of course the amount of well lit space you have.

The high tech “A-Garden” type with its own lights and gadgetry is great and really works well (you know the one it’s advertised on TV everywhere), but it’s not cheap and not very big. Whereas, at the other end of the budget is a set of recycled pots and containers with seedlings and your sunny windowsill, planter box or sunroom.

Something in-between these two extremes are the compartmentalised pots like the “strawberry pot”, which is also great. Also in the middle are the grow veggies kit forms where you just add water and place in a sunny position and look after for a period of a few weeks. These are also absolutely great for those limited to space for your kitchen garden.

I personally do not recommend planting different herbs in the one single pot as the competition for growing space problems far outweighs the advantages of individual containers. If you do use the compartmentalised pots then try to mix the same general types of herbs together for the re-growth habits, height and moisture requirements.

The important thing is light, whether natural or artificial. Adequate light is essential to growing good herbs and veggies. If you don’t have enough natural light then you’ll need to supplement it with artificial light.

Why not consider making your own tiered shelving with its own lighting? I’ve seen it done and its particularly good in climates where it’s dark for much of the year but indoors is continually nice and warm; or even consider using a skylight or solar tube, another inexpensive method of free natural lighting.

If you have a well-lit patio or sunroom where you grow dwarf fruit trees in containers (citrus, stone-fruits or pomegranates etc) then you can plant perennial herbs in the same pots with them such as rosemary, mints etc.

How To Make Authentic Mexican Food At Home

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We all love tacos, enchiladas, burritos and mexican rice dishes. The only problem is the cost of these Mexican favorites at a fine restaurant. What makes the food at a Mexican restaurant so appealing? Surely not the cost of the dish at your local Mexican restaurant!

You can prepare the same dishes as you get at a good Mexican restaurant yourself and even make them better than the chef. It all comes down to having the right ingredients and cooking the meat stock the right way. This simple cooking method can be used for almost all Mexican dishes that call for meat in them.

At the heart of the Mexican recipe is the preparation of the meat stock. Whenever you see the word ‘carne’ on a Mexican food menu, this refers to the type of meat used in the dish. This is usually chicken or beef. When you prepare your meat for the Mexican dish that you want to serve, you have to begin with an authentic Mexican ‘carne’ recipe. This includes different peppers, onions, other ingredients and requires the right simmering time to build the right flavor into the meat.

Although every recipe is different, many Mexican foods use common ingredients that you will need to prepare the carne meat. The use of chili peppers, tomatoes and onions, along with garlic are usually a part of most Mexican food recipes. Some other common ingredients include black pepper, oregano, paprika, parsley, cumin, lime juice, salt, sugar and cilantro. You will also need to keep some light olive oil on hand to prep the skillet.

First, coat the skillet with some light olive oil. Then start by browning the beef or chicken. After the meat is browned, drain off the oil residue into a disposable container. Then add approximately one half of a cup of water to the skillet. Adjust the heat of the stove to low. It is best to have a skillet with a lid, or some way to cover the meat stock while it is simmering.

The secret to great home prepared Mexican food is in the added ingredients you use while simmering your carne meat. For beef dishes, it is recommended that you simmer the browned meat for 35-45 minutes on a low temperature to extract the flavor of the spices. You want to take your time and prepare a lot of stock at one cooking session. The meat stock can be used again after it is frozen.

With chicken carne stock, you can reduce the simmering time to 25-30 minutes. The chicken will absorb the flavor of your spices faster and be ready to add to your recipe sooner. These rules of thumb can be adjusted as needed depending on your taste.

As a basic recipe for preparing Mexican carne stock, use the following ingredients in this order:

* Add 1 tsp. salt

* A few squirts of lime juice

* A dash or two of cumin and oregano

* Black pepper the stock to suit your taste

* Add hot sauce to taste and blend the stock and spices well

* Finally add a few diced green and red peppers.

Then spread chopped and diced onions evenly around the meat. The onions help to release the flavor of the other spices and transfer it into the meat. This is a secret to building a flavorful Mexican meat stock. Your beef or chicken will taste authentic and full flavored.

These are the basics of starting your Mexican cooking. Now all you do is use the meat stock you have prepared in your favorite Mexican recipes. This will start you on your way to cooking the best types of Mexican cuisine. You can save money by cooking at home and enjoy the great Mexican food you love more often.

A Vacation in Asheville, NC is recommended by Top Media

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If you listen to top media sources like Good Morning America, Fodors, and TripAdvisor.com, you will imagine a vacation in Asheville as a portal to paradise. Lush, tree-lined mountain roads and roaring rivers call to the outdoors persons who thrives on hiking, kayaking, mountain biking or fly-fishing. Thousand s of visitors each year are attracted to sophisticated culinary options in and around Asheville as well as many choices in art and cultural venues. Families vacation in Asheville just to visit to Biltmore Estate or the Grove Park Inn, the Thomas Wolfe House, Chimney Rock and other sites.

Why are major media sources gushing about Asheville? The truth is, these news sources are culling the opinions of the masses. In August 2011, Good Morning America (GMA) queried viewers and wanted to know, Whats the Most Beautiful Place in America? The morning show received thousands of photos and responses. Asheville was selected #1 as the most gorgeous spot in the U.S. The City was nominated by Alan Ostmann from Candler, who lives on the edge of the Pisgah Forest. The ABC News GMA website describes Asheville as “a small city tucked in the Appalachian Mountains rich with art, architecture and outstanding scenery.” Ostmann says he hikes and bikes the area all the time and “am always amazed at the beauty nature can reveal to us.”

I have lived in a woodland garden in South Asheville for over 16 years. This four-season garden on the edge of the wilderness is filled with natural surprises, color and animal life year round. Though I have grown used to the experience of being here, I see visitors who rarely get to experience nature in this intimate way and — they love every minute of it.

TripAdvisor.com recently released their top 15 list for destinations that have seen the most increase in reviews on the website. Asheville is #13 on the popularity list. The TripAdvisor review cites Asheville as “a resort for the wealthy” with a great deal of appeal for the “outdoor enthusiast.” Asheville remains a popular choice among the well-heeled and middle-income families in search of a fun, affordable vacation. Couples in search of a romantic setting, the young or hardy in search of a wilderness adventure, nature enthusiasts, musicians, artists and foodies will find something in Asheville to excite and inspire them, too.

The aforementioned media sources represent popular opinion about Asheville as a destination. Also, being reviewed and recommended by Fodors – a well-established and respected travel publication that has produced guides on major cities for years is a stellar accomplishment. Fodors editors consider Asheville the hippest city in the South. Fodors describes Asheville as a diverse mix of retirees, aging hippies, and halfbacks from the Northern U.S. who retired to Florida and moved halfway back. The review says that the art and culture scene in Asheville “rivals that of Santa Fe,” and is complemented by unique boutiques, restaurants, gift stores, galleries and antique shops in and near the downtown district.

These glowing recommendations from top media sources and websites do not come unearned. At the heart of it all, Asheville truly is a mountain community founded on the ideals and practices of agrarian people. Appalachian Culture remains strong and respected here. George Vanderbilt set down roots in Asheville in the late 19th Century when he built his estate here. The Biltmore Estate drew other wealthy industrialists, architects, artisans, restaurateurs and tourists to the area. Today, the population of 70,000+ is a cosmopolitan, creative and quirky mix of people.

Craft Your Cooking Skills At A Culinary Institute

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A dash of hard work and a pinch of talent are what make the perfect recipe for a successful culinary institute student. Individuals who go to a school to study culinary arts are looking for a career in a fast-paced environment. There are culinary arts schools all over the world that offer programs to prepare students for a profession that revolves around the kitchen. While studying the art of cooking, students will learn different techniques and skills that will be useful in their career. There are a variety of different programs available to students, as well as different specialties within culinary arts to choose from. Each specialty has unique techniques and skills necessary for the job.

In a typical restaurant kitchen there is an order of authority according to the specific type of chef and their specialty. The highest-ranking chef is an executive chef. This chef is responsible for planning and preparing the food that is to be served in the restaurant. A few of the job duties include devising a menu, ensuring the food quality is up to standard and deciding how much food is needed. In training to become an executive chef, students will learn about food preparation and managing a staff.

In addition, restaurants also have sous-chefs who are often times directly supervised by an executive chef. Sous-chefs assist executive chefs in many of the daily restaurant duties, such as planning the menu and requesting kitchen and food supplies. They are also responsible for teaching new techniques to the kitchen staff, as well as supervising other kitchen workers such as specialty chefs and cooks. While studying at a culinary institute, future sous-chefs learn different techniques for cooking, as well as teaching skills.

There are also specialty chefs that work in a kitchen. These chefs can specialize in anything from appetizers and pastries to poultry and fish. These chefs prepare complete meals, as well as decorative food trays, and they also prepare the food for presentation to customers by providing garnishes. Specialty chefs also help to supervise cooks and other kitchen staff. While studying at a culinary arts school, specialty chefs learn about all different aspects of cooking and often times decide their specific specialty while in school.

Lastly, there are also cooks who are part of the professional kitchen staff. Typically cooks do the grunt-work in regards to the cooking in a kitchen. They prepare and cook complete meals and supervise others who are on staff and help in the kitchen. Often times, executive chefs and sous-chefs will begin their career as a cook. It is one of the first stepping-stones to a successful career once a student graduates from a culinary institute.

While students are preparing for the real world and aspiring to become professional chefs, they will learn about all different aspects of cooking. First, students will learn the proper technique to cooking certain foods. They will also learn what ingredients compliment one another. One part of cooking that is often times overlooked but a very important part of the cooking process is food safety. Students will learn how to prepare food safely, as well as the proper cooking temperatures for different types of foods. Another important aspect to cooking is the nutritional benefits and health aspect of recipes and various foods. Students need to know what is in the food they are preparing and how it can affect people with certain health risks.

As a student at a culinary institute, individuals will learn all about these important aspects of cooking, as well as fine tune the cooking skills they already possess.