There is a very large variety of pasta around the world. They differ firstly in their composition, often made from durum wheat semolina in Europe or from soft wheat or rice flour in Asia. Some pasta is made from whole wheat. We then distinguish between fresh pasta and dry pasta. And the forms of pasta: spaghetti, noodles, macaroni, lasagne, penne, tagliatelle, farfalle... Pasta is usually cooked in a large volume of boiling salted water. It can also be cooked in a sauce, as the Italians do.
My father worked in the wholesale supply of fruit and vegetables. He would often come home with a box of the day’s best produce, and so I became interested in what was in season. Both my parents often worked late, so cooking dinner to help take some weight off them inspired me to want to learn more. My first kitchen job at age 14 was at a Greek restaurant in Southampton, and it inspired my love for foods of the eastern Mediterranean. Today, I’m lucky to be able to obtain the best produce from ‘O ...
There’s a reason why heavily-applied perfume ranks highly on most wine lovers’ list of pet peeves. It overpowers your senses, conceals aromas and distorts your perception of a wine. In professional tastings and wine exams the wearing of perfume is banned, if not thoroughly frowned upon. You just don’t do it. What then, if we applied the same logic to music, controlling the sounds we hear, or don’t hear, while tasting wine? There’s no doubt that a chaotic environment can clog your synapses, makin ...
Wine might have a centuries-long history, but its ever-changing trends still keep us on our toes. Decanter in partnership with Wine Access will discuss what’s en vogue and what’s next in the world of wine in a live webinar discussion on Wednesday, 4 May at 7pm ET/4pm PST/12 BST. Hosted by by Vanessa Conlin MW, head of wine at wine club & wine retailer Wine Access, this lineup boasts expertise in every aspect of the industry, from growing to winemaking to sales and fine dining. It includes s ...
