Archive for December, 2007

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Martini Pairings

Posted by igadmin on Dec 28th 2007 | Filed in Wine & Cheese Pairings, recipes | Comments (0)

Top Ten Flavor Pairings of 2008

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McCormick® Forecasts Top 10 Flavor Pairings for 2008

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (December 20, 2007) – The fragrant, visually stunning duo of poppy seed and rose captures America’s quest for the ultimate sensory experience. This combination is just one of McCormick’s top 10 flavor pairings featured in the just-released McCormick® Flavor Forecast™ 2008. As the largest spice company in the world, McCormick keeps a finger on the pulse of flavor through an extensive network of researchers, trend experts, chefs, food technologists and sensory analysts.  Together with leading restaurant chefs, cookbook authors and TV food personalities, they have identified the top tastes shaping how Americans will eat in the coming year. “Our team of chefs is constantly exploring new ways to experience flavor – it is the heart of what we do,” said Kevan Vetter, Executive Chef at McCormick.  “When we see a new spirit of adventure with ingredients like lemon grass and lychee or red curry and masa, we know it’s an exciting time for food and flavor.”So what’s influencing the flavors of 2008? 
America’s escalating interest in health and wellness, the boundless passion for discovering authentic ingredients and cooking techniques from around the globe and the increased desire for local and artisan food are all driving forces in evolving our collective palate.  McCormick explored these and other trends to develop the top 10 flavor pairings for 2008.

McCormick’s Top 10 flavor pairings:

    Oregano and Heirloom Beans: The intersection of functional food and fantastic flavor, this coupling is an antioxidant powerhouse.
    Vanilla Bean & Cardamom : A flavor match made in heaven taps into America’s growing passion for indulgent, yet approachable luxury.
    Chile and Cocoa : Old world authenticity in a modern context – the result is complex heat, depth, dimension and richness.
    Lemon Grass and Lychee: Exotic fruits from far away and the ever-growing popularity of Asian cuisines pave the way for this refreshing match.
    Red Curry and Masa : This duo brings together Latin and Asian influences to create a unique flavor experience.
    Allspice and Exotic Meats : This adventurous combination represents America’s pursuit of experimentation.
    Poppy Seed and Rose: An elegant and sensuous pair that captures the pursuit of cuisines from North Africa and the Middle East.
    Rubbed Sage and Rye Whiskey: A powerful, all-American team :sage is a wonderful complement to the dry, gutsy nature of rye whiskey, a historic brew poised for a great renaissance.

Posted by igadmin on Dec 27th 2007 | Filed in recipes, interesting | Comments (0)

Happy New Year!

Celebrate the New Year with a toast and our Champagne Cheese Assortment from igourmet.com.

Posted by igadmin on Dec 26th 2007 | Filed in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

MERRY X-MAS FROM IGOURMET.COM

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Posted by igadmin on Dec 24th 2007 | Filed in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

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Wine is an excellent gift to be offered on any occasion: from an intimate reception to the celebration of important events. There are several different related wine gift ideas that you can offer. Any person receiving a wine bottle will always be charmed by the gift.

Below are a few wine gift ideas:

- Include a pot of Wine Jelly in a wine gift basket

If you plan to offer a Christmas gift to a fine gourmet, wine jellies are a good idea. Wine jellies (made with red, rose or white wine) are used to create succulent sauces or simply putted on bread like jam. Wine jellies also enhance the taste of a fruit pie.

Here is an example of a Christmas gourmet basket:

A bottle of Sauterne or sweet Bergerac, foie gras (fat liver) , wine jellies, flavored oil , balsamic vinegar , a recipe book…

- Personalized wine bottle

Several enterprises offer the opportunity to acquire personalized champagne or wine bottles. You can also personalize the bottle by yourself: name of your friend or parent, birth date, your Christmas wishes…

- Professional corkscrew

This kind of corkscrews do not damage the wine stopper which has sometimes the same or more value than the wine and the bottle. Corks can sometimes be very hard to remove, so a professional corkscrew will leave the stopper intact.

Some corkscrew have an optional engraved monogram and manufacturers create professional corkscrew decorated for Christmas.

- Crystal wine glasses set

Crystal is delicate and is an excellent way to enhance the wine you offer to drink. Crystal glasses also add a touch of luxury to your table.

There are several crystal factories such as Val Saint Lambert (Belgium), Murano (Italy), Baccarat (France)…; which are expensive but there are also less expensive crystal glasses available on the market. They are cheaper because they do not meat the crystal criteria but are as beautiful as the real crystal glasses.

If your Christmas gift budget is very large, offer a set of 30 crystal glasses including: 6 red wine glasses, 6 white wine glasses, 6 water glasses, 6 champagne glasses and 6 port glasses.

If your budget is limited, do not hesitate to offer a set of two wine tasting glasses.

The term “crystal” is protected in Europe and in many other countries since many years. To be called “crystal”, the glass must meet some rigorous criteria in percentages and rates.

When you offer this kind of gift, ensure you that these standards are met, and you will always be sure to offer a gift of great value.

- Wine decanter

What does mean decanting? Wine decanting means transferring the content of a wine bottle into another recipient before serving in order to reveal the wine’s aromas. A decanter also emphasizes the wine’s colours. This is an excellent Christmas gift for a wine lover.

- Wine tasting set

If you plan to offer a wine tasting set for Christmas, include wine bags to cover the wine bottles, a wine tasting guide, scorecards to evaluate the wines, glasses designed to taste each category of wine.

- Wine club membership

Wine Clubs are a great way to discover and taste many different wines. There are different kind of wine clubs: red wine clubs, white wine clubs, etc. Wine clubs take you on a tour of the world’s best vineyards and give you the opportunity to buy great wines and realize big savings. Put the certificate in an envelope decorated with Christmas motifs and hang it on your Christmas tree. This kind of gift can also be mailed with your Christmas greetings.

- “Pocket vineyard”

Another great Christmas gift idea for a wine lover, is the pocket vineyard; which contains an informative gold mine about wine: grape harvest tables, glossary, diagrams, suggestions to match wine and food… It is also an excellent tool for someone who is building a wine-cellar and will learn a lot about the subject.

By making a research on the Internet, you will find thousands of gift ideas related to wine that can be offered for Christmas. If your Christmas gifts budget is restricted, you can also offer a simple wine bottle in a nice gift pack.

Prosperity66 is an European History, Holidays and Tarot cards passionate. She writes articles and creates websites dedicated to these subjects. For more Christmas Gift Ideas feel free to visit Christmas Time Guide. For more Wine Accessories and Infos, feel free to visit All About Wine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominique_Halet

Posted by igadmin on Dec 3rd 2007 | Filed in interesting, fun products | Comments (0)

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