Monday, 1 April 2013

Unearthing the Secrets of Spanish Food Recipes



Spanish Food Recipes have created a stir amongst food-lovers world wide owing to their rich aroma and diverse flavors. Spanish food culture has greatly been influenced by the different cultural settlements that have invaded and inhabited Spain throughout history. The Greek and Roman civilizations familiarized Spain with the use of olives and olive oil. The Celts who mainly inhabited the interior regions of Spain permeated the tradition of meat and fish dishes, while the Moors- Arabs who transcended into Spain from Morocco infused the use of condiments such as saffron, cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, honey, almonds and fresh fruits for culinary innovation.


Spanish recipes are also largely influenced by Spain’s geographical location. Being situated in a peninsula, it is predominantly surrounded by the sea and hence the abundant use of fish and sea food are prominent in their cuisine. Additionally, owing to the presence of fertile coastal flatlands, rice is a staple ingredient of many Spanish recipes. One such eminent rice dish is the ‘Paella’- signatory of the Spanish heritage. Paella Recipes can be varied according to the preferences of people. Though it is traditionally prepared with shell fish such as crabs, clams or shrimps, other Paella variations involve the use of pork, rabbit, chicken or vegetables. Owing to mountainous terrains and fertile lush pastures, Spanish Food recipes are marked by the use of freshly grown produce and poultry. Another culinary invention Spain boasts of are the cured hams- known as ‘Jamón serrano’. These hams are not smoked the usual way, but are cured on the heights of Spain’s mountains.  Other key ingredients used in Spanish culinary include garlic, sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes etc. 


Tortillas- the famous potato omelets of Spain, as well as Tapas- finger food served with drinks- are two items unique to Spanish menus which are synonymous with Spanish cuisine globally. The Spanish food culture is also famous for using wines and Sherries in their cooking as well as accompaniments to their meals.

Saturday, 23 March 2013

Food and Wedding Catering in Sydney



The importance of your wedding caterer is never to be understated. His work and the quality and type of food served is what shall remain in the minds of the guests once they have left  the wedding, and that is what shall influence how they reminisce about that day – with luscious delight or in poor memory. This may sound brutal, but that is how it is.
Wedding catering Sydney is a booming business and with the quality of the service provided, it isn’t really a wonder. If it would come with a tag line, ‘finger licking good’ would suit this best rather than the brand actually using it! Catering in Sydney itself is a business which is on the rise with professional setups, elaborate brochures and catalogues and sample menu and food being provided to the clients. 


Select the best caterer who suits your wedding style, someone who knows what he is doing, can cover the essentials of the occasion and provide the requisite quality of service. Ordering the most expensive chef or caterer isn’t the solution. A thorough research of all your options of catering is the best way to proceed. Someone who has experience with catering, who can get creative and engaging ideas would be ideal for the job. A search of Food catering Sydney will easily provide one with a number of good options offering impressive service.

The type of food should match the theme of your wedding and the reception. The cuisine too shall differ accordingly. Knowing the number of guests is a must as that helps plan the size and scope of the party.

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Spanish Tapas and their recipes



For those who have visited Spain anytime through the course of their lifetime, the ‘Spanish Tapas’ would be a well known and even well liked dish on their food itinerary. One of the best and most well known of exports from Spain, this is a delicacy which has now spread all over the world and is loved in every nook and cranny of the wide globe.

They are generally eaten as snacks or as finger foods but the different tapa recipes in existence mean that you can have them either as an appetizer, a small snack, or an entire meal in itself. Instead of having your everyday sandwich or a burger, the Tapas take your taste buds on a mellifluous ride, giving them an experience which food lovers would find irresistible.

You can pop into any Spanish bar at any time of the day and have a tapa with your drink of choice. This makes for a great conversation starter as well, as the Spanish pride themselves on their Tapas. Their well known philosophy about the tapas states, “Eat when you’re hungry and drink when you’re thirsty”. Excellent choice of words indeed.

Numerous Spanish tapas recipes have come up over the years, ever changing and transforming with the invasion and merger of different cultures with the age old Spanish civilization. The climate and the lay of the land have also had a say in the origin and the morphing of the tapas, namely affecting the ingredients which go into them.

Thursday, 7 March 2013

Corporate Catering, Restaurants and more


Corporate Catering Sydney

Catering for corporate events requires you to take stock of the Caterer in advance and see how good his services are, and whether he will be able to make the occasion as success. Most of the times, the host is judged on the basis of the event that he pulls off. It is always better to choose a caterer who has new and innovative ideas in his ideas, and who has a sample menu to provide in advance to help you decide on your requirements.

The food served, the cuisine, everything depends on the significance of the occasion, whether it is formal, informal, a casual corporate gathering or a high level meeting. Depending on all this, you can also decide whether you want a small breakfast part, a lunch, and an all out dinner complete with a buffet. The situation is no different for corporate catering Sydney wherein a number of Spanish restaurants provide a good number of dishes and packages as well and are in vogue.

Researching online, reading and perusing the catalogues and brochures of the caterers and getting a sample is good practice to find out the efficiency of the caterer.

The Crows nest restaurant is a renowned food haunt all over, and special events can be held on their premises too. With a rich and luxurious atmosphere and décor of the finest standards with the option of live entertainment, this is one of the most popular restaurants there and it is wise to reserve seats beforehand. Special services are provided on special occasions and it wouldn’t be amiss to try this place out for one of your special events.
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Saturday, 2 March 2013

The Nuances of Party Catering



If you’re ever assigned the task of setting up a party or an event, then the handling of the food and drinks section automatically becomes your most important task. And, if you aren’t someone who has ever taken cooking classes, fear not, numerous catering services shall help you make your task easier. Depending on the type of event in question, you can seek boardroom catering, party catering, or a simple, no frills attached catering service.
Party catering Sydney has been booming and in recent years has grown into a huge and professional service with a high quality and luxurious range to meet all your desires. It’s always important to keep an eye on your budget and your spending as most of it will be spent on the food and drinks. Most of the people who attend the event shall have an eye out on the type of food being served and the drinks available. The food is one yardstick by which the success of the party is measured. The memories of the attendees are almost always linked to the type and kind of cuisine and delicacies available. Satiating people’s hunger is a very important task and you do not want to fail in it.
Try setting up a theme for the party which everyone will enjoy, and make sure that the caterer knows about the theme so that he can provide the type of food which goes hand in hand with the mood of the event. If you carry out the task efficiently, then even your own reputation will be enhanced.

Monday, 11 February 2013

Spanish Tapas Recipes



Paella recipes and Spanish tapas dishes recipes from Extra Virgin Fine Foods. If you have any question on how to make it, send us an email. We are glad to help you.

Friday, 8 February 2013

What to look for in a wedding caterer!

Wedding requires extensive preparations right from getting the decorators, the lighting crew, a DJ and most importantly, a good wedding catering professional! Since people usually look forward to the food at a wedding, you should make sure that the expectation of your guests is duly met with! Here’s how you can select the perfect wedding caterers for the marriage:

· Use personal references: We often hear our friends raving about how amazing the food was at Jordan’s reception or we have a colleague who can’t stop boasting about how much people loved the food at his brother’s wedding! Take down the contact details of the caterer from such people. Personal references work the best.

· Visit them personally: You should pay a visit to all the caterers personally and get a first-hand experience. Ask them for their specialization because while some caterers are known locally for their amazing wedding food, there are some do just do corporate catering.

· Take along a couple of friends and family members: When you visit caterers, take a few people who have a good taste for food. They can taste the samples at the caterer’s office and rate it. If you’ve a friend who conducts cooking classes, take them along since they’ve the best sense of food.

· Price quotation: When you’ve confused between a couple of catering services, pricing can be the decider! Ask the caterers for their quotation. Someone who fits well in your budget can be hired for catering at the wedding.