Cooking & Food

Cooking Tips & Techniques. Chef Inspiration.

Softening Brown Sugar - Food Gypsy

How to soften brown sugar

Tip #37 from my grandmother's kitchen - how to soften brown sugar when it's become a hard, unusable mass. The brown sugar is neglected for a little while, we lift the lid and it's hard as a rock. All it needs is a bit of moisture to bring back that soft, scoop-able freshness.
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Chef Stefan Matz & The Renaissance of Irish Cuisine

Ashford Castle, located on Ireland's west coast has a history that stretches back as far as 1228, once owned by the Guinness family, it's now one of Ireland's leading Five Star Hotels and gourmet destinations. At the helm of the Castle's kitchens is Head Chef Stefan Matz: widely considered one of Ireland's top chefs, Chef Matz shares with us his thoughts on Irish Cuisine in the 21st century, and his passion for the produce of the Emerald Isle.
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Black Périgord Truffle - Food Gypsy

Truffles, Everyday Decadence

Time for a new edition of Food Gypsy CSI (Corinna's Secret Ingredient) and a look at an expensive little addiction: Truffles. Truffles aren't a big secret, they've been enjoyed by lovers of fungus for thousands of years, prized for their earthy flavour and musky scent. Sharing a few secrets from our kitchen that keep us in truffles --- without breaking the bank.
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The Red Apron's Jennifer Heagle - Food Gypsy

The Red Apron, Good Food is Good Business

The recently expanded Red Apron, is among my favourite food outlets in Ottawa's downtown core. Selling their own brand of sophisticated comfort food for pick-up or delivery, Jennifer Heagle and business partner Jo-Ann Laverty have created a business model that is at once simple and sophisticated. Good food, reasonably priced and ready to serve.
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The Whalesbone, St. Simone Oysters - Food Gypsy

The Whalesbone Oyster House – “Surprise!”

Known in Ottawa as THE maritime-hillbilly, loud and rowdy, tiny postage-stamp-sized place with the morals of a sailor and the ethics of a librarian; The Whalesbone Oyster House is a downtown haven for seafood lovers, with a heart. All Canadian, sustainably sourced, Ocean Wise, and the venue of choice for a little surprise...
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Molecular Valentines, full plate - Food Gypsy

A Molecular Valentine

This Valentine's Day instead of posting yet another red velvet cupcake, we decided to let Food Gypsy Technical Adviser Chef B loose in the kitchen with some food science. Using three relativity easy molecular techniques: Gelification, Spherification and Emulsification, he's taken a few simple ingredients to a rather extraordinary result. Our Molecular Valentine.
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Chef Crawford`s hands, Ruby Watchco (coopspeakeats.blogspot.com)

These Hands with Chef Lynn Crawford

In our recent conversation I asked Chef Lynn Crawford about the two tattoos in the center of her palms. "Why does everyone want to know about my tattoos!?" she says with an undertone of exasperation, but she is kind and indulges me. Forgive the question Chef but we, your people, want to know more about you - and your hands.
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