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Definition: Roulade

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:14 -0800

Roulade
A European dish of meat rolled around a filling, such as cheese, vegetables, or other meats. The meat is often browned and simmered in liquid, then sliced into rounds and served. A roulade can also refer to any rolled dish, from a jelly roll cake to sushi.

You may recall this preparation from a recent episode of Hell's Kitchen.

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Definition: John Dory

partysugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:45:14 -0700

John Dory
You may notice this name from episodes of Hell's Kitchen.

An odd-looking fish found in European seas, the John Dory has a huge, spiny head and long, flat body. The fish's flesh is mildly delicate, and it can be grilled, sauteed, or poached. It's rarely imported into the US, which explains why Ramsay would like to have it on his American restaurants' menus.

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Europe to Ban Certain American Wines

partysugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:20 -0700

Last week, in a frustrating turn of events, the European Union passed a law that bans the sale of any American wine with one of the following words on the labels:

Chateau, classic, clos, cream, crusted/crusting, fine, late bottled vintage, noble, ruby, superior, sur lie, tawny, vintage, vintage character

The legislation comes as a follow-up to a 2006 agreement that limited the American use of terms like "Champagne" or "Chablis." Because it preserved certain wine growing regions, this pact was widely accepted. However, the new stricter ban is not related to protecting a specific region. The law will affect American growers of port and sherry, and many large American wineries, like Washington's popular Chateau Ste. Michelle and Napa's famed Chateau Montelena, will no longer be able to sell wine in Europe.

Like many wine enthusiasts, I think this is an absurd regulation and hope that the Europeans will reconsider the terminology ban. How do you feel about it? Are you surprised to hear that Europe is prohibiting the sale of American wine?

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Monday's Leftovers: Thai Beef With Coconut Rice

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:15:44 -0800

Last night I made an Eastern European-inspired ground sirloin stew with egg noodles, and tonight I'm going to use the leftover beef to make something on the opposite end of the spectrum! I'm craving takeout, but - inspired by my recent successes - I'm going to continue my pattern of preparing Asian foods at home.

Spice up the sirloin with the help of minced garlic, lime, and Asian fish sauce, and wake up your senses with freshly-torn basil and julienned chiles. Complement the fiery protein with a soothing side of milky coconut rice. The result, which is healthier and cheaper than takeout, after the break.

Food Section Sampler - Oct. 28, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:29 -0700

Necco wafers have gotten an all-natural makeover.- Boston Globe
Learning to cook with quince. - Los Angeles Times
A superb sandwich requires a little more imagination. - San Francisco Chronicle
Several simple measures to make homemade stock much easier. - Washington Post
Hefty European whites that stand up well to hearty Fall meals. - Wall Street Journal
Chef Michael Symon's releasing his first cookbook. - Cleveland Plain Dealer
Even the sagely Thomas Keller has learned many lessons this year. - New York Times

The War of the Rosés Continues

YumSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:19 -0700

The battle between Europe's rosé wine producers and the European Union remains far from over. To oppose the EU's vote next month to allow rosé wine to be made by mixing red and white wines, rosé producers from France led the fight for a veto, in conjunction with other producers from neighboring countries.

France, which reported a 10 percent drop in wine sales this year, has joined forces with winemakers from Italy and Spain to oppose the legislation, to be voted on June 19. The trio represents the world's top three winemaking countries. "If the proposal goes forward, it will be the death of the sector," said Xavier de Volontat, president of France's General Association of Wine Production.

Rosé makers have the backing of French, Italian, and Greek governments, but to stand any chance of successfully blocking the vote, would also require the support of German and Spanish governments. Otherwise, the EU has proposed a compromise wherein old-method rosés would be labeled "traditional rosé." Since I'm against this legislation, it's my hope that other European countries come around. Where do you stand on this issue?

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A Sweet (and Sour) Taste of Tayberries

YumSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:30:36 -0700

I grew up in a fruit-forward household, so I'm intrigued whenever I come across a variety I don't recognize. So when I found an article about mythical-sounding fruits called tayberries, I knew I needed to try them for myself. A cross between the Aurora blackberry and a European raspberry variety, this relatively young berry breed was developed at the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute, and named after the country's River Tay. It's been said to resemble the tart loganberry - a fruit I've never had the pleasure of trying - but with a sweeter finish. Follow me on my search to locate tayberries and see my comparison photos after the jump.

Europe Drops Plans to Permit Blended Rosé Wine

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:48 -0700

After months of debate over legislation that would allow European Rosé wine to be made from the mixing of red and white wines, the European Union commission has dropped its plans to vote this month on the proposed change.

Rosé is traditionally produced by leaving the skins of red wine grapes in along with the grape juice for several hours to create a rose color. The proposal, however, would have allowed European winemakers to blend red and white wine and label it Rosé - a technique used by certain producers outside of Europe. In May, the measure's opponents, which included France, Italy, Greece, and numerous European wine producers, led the fight for a veto on the legislation.

In response to the heated objections, the commission rescinded its plans to vote on allowing blended Rosés. "It's become clear over recent weeks that a majority in our wine sector believe that ending the ban on blending could undermine the image of traditional Rosé," said European agricultural commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that the commission chose to preserve the time-honored tradition of rosé winemaking over commercial growth. Would you have cared if European Rosés were a mix of red and white wines?

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What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:30:59 -0700

Seriously, make this cherry pie: it's the best you'll ever have.
Party plans a "birthday paw-ty" for FabSugar's cutie-pie French bulldog.
Starbucks is changing the names of several of its stores.
Check out Summer's collection of cool, creamy ice cream cakes.
We conducted a side-by-side test of two European raisin-and-nut chocolate bars.
Find out why Texans love the soft filled pastries known as kolaches.
An inside look at the food at a rustic wedding hosted on the banks of Northern California's Russian River.

Kolaches Are a Taste of Central Europe in Texas

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:00:59 -0700

If you're not from Texas - or a few other choice towns across America - you may have never had the pleasure of eating a kolache. A Central European pastry iconic across the Lone Star State, the kolache is prized for its soft, pillowy dough and its versatility: kolache fillings range from the sweet (apricot, prunes, and poppy seeds) to the savory (sausages). And some fillings, like cheese, even possess qualities of both.

Texans owe the enjoyment of this fluffy yeast roll to the number of Czechs who immigrated to the state in the 1800s, and while there's nothing more authentic than enjoying a kolache in one of the state's few remaining Czech towns, city dwellers can savor kolaches on the go at any of the state's ubiquitous Kolache Factory stores. The Kolache Factory, a breakfast chain somewhat akin to a Texas kolache version of, say, Dunkin' Donuts, is also known for its unconventional kolache fillings, such as chocolate cream cheese, sausage and gravy, ranchero, and even Philly cheesesteak.

Set your sights on these regional specialties when you read more