Howdy Fellow Chef’s and Culinary Minded Folks,

How have you been? How has your start to 2012 been? Keeping well I trust Please do drop me a line or two and let me know what is going on in your part of the culinary world. Alternatively, feel free to leave a comment right at very bottom of this blog post.

Pro Chef 360

I wanted to fill you in on what I have been up to in recent times. You are probably wondering why the Pro Chef 360 Blog has not been that active recently.

The Stewarding Department and Chef Blog Digest

In a nutshell, I got side tracked and have been spending time with 2 of my other sites.

Namely; the Stewarding Department and the Chef Blog Digest AKA “CBD”.

If you are not signed up for the weekly eZine for the “CBD” you will find an archive of recent eZines right here.

As far as the stewarding side of life goes you will find all there is to know about stewarding on that very site. You can also sign up to the site to ensure that you are kept up to date with all things stewarding. You can do that by filling in the contact details on the top right hand side of the sites home page.

CBD is currently being featured as the “Site of Week” on the Cook Eat Share site. We are so proud of our recognition by our peers.

You can expect to be bombarded with a steady flow of industry related data from this point forward. I will keep you posted. See you on the flip side.

Happy cooking!!!

Matthew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helpful Links:

Chef Blog Digest FB Fan Page

Stewarding Department FB Fan Page

Pro Chef 360 FB Fan Page

Topic : The Chef, The CBD eZine and the Stewarding Department

Popularity: 1% [?]

Currently 0 comment - But what do you think?

PS: Many sexy and smart people have realized that clicking the Facebook like button and/ or the twitter retweet button on this page gets them free promotion

The word “cuisine” is a commonly used word.  If you love food and cooking, you probably know what the word means and you can probably describe the different cuisines around the globe.  We have been featuring the different world cuisines.  Our last two recent posts on this topic covered the different regional cuisines of India.

But what is cuisine?  Wikipedia.com defines this as “a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture.  It is often named after the region or place where its underlying culture is present.”  Since it is specific to a certain region, the ingredients used are those available locally and the religion can be a huge influence in the cuisines as well.

Although every country offers culinary treats unique only to its own, we can say that there are certain similarities to the influences, texture, ingredients and tastes of these different cuisines of the world depending on their geographic location.

For instance, there are many countries in Africa and each of these countries has their own respective culinary specialties.  In general, however, African cuisine highly reflects that of local traditions, but it cannot be denied that their cuisine is already influenced by European and Asian cooking.  Africa, however, is a huge continent.

Not surprisingly, the cuisine of every country offers its own unique ingredients as well as its own unique method of cooking.  There are many kinds of African cuisines among which include South African cuisine, East African cuisine, Egyptian cuisine and Moroccan cuisine.

Asia is another huge continent and Asian cuisines have a lot to offer.  Every country has something unique to offer.  The style, taste, technique, ingredients and food preparation vary from one country to another.  These things root down to the culture and people themselves/

Basically, however, the cuisines can be roughly classified into four – East Asian cuisine, Southeast Asian cuisine, Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.  East Asian cuisine, for instance, include cuisines of China, Korea and Japan.  Although the cuisines of these countries are unique on their own, it cannot be denied that there are certain similarities in ingredients, cooking preparation and cooking style.  The same thing can be said for Central, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

In truth, the same thing can be said of European cuisine which includes cuisines of European countries and Russia.  Of course, these cuisines are also referred to sometimes as Western cuisine, loose term which basically includes not only European cuisine but also North American and South American cuisines.  The term “Western cuisine” is a use as opposed to the term “Asian cuisine”.

European cuisines are varied as well, but there are some similarities in their ingredients, food preparation or cooking style.  European cuisines include Northern European cuisine, Western European, Eastern European and Southern European cuisine.  On the other hand, we also have the Mediterranean cuisine which includes Greek, Turkish, Italian, Sicilian, Portuguese and Spanish cuisines.

Spanish cuisine is actually one of the most influential cuisines in the world.  It can be found in various countries regardless of geography, culture and climate.  This particular cuisine has influenced a lot of culture and many of Spanish recipes have been embraced by many countries as part of their own respective cuisines.  Basically, one Spanish recipe can have numerous versions.  Not surprisingly, there are variations of Spanish recipes and there are literally thousands of Spanish recipes these days.

Australian cuisine includes the cuisine of Palau, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Mariana and mainland Australia.  Similar to Asian and European cuisine, Australian cuisines are similar in food preparation, ingredients and cooking technique.  However, each of these cuisines has something unique to offer, a taste unique to the locality.

The same thing can be said of the cuisines of the New World or the American cuisine.  This is highly influenced by the cuisines of the countries from where the immigrants who now reside in America came from.  European cuisine is a huge influence and has been adopted largely or to a lesser degree.  Spaghetti and meatballs, for instance, is a staple dinner of any average American family.  Accordingly, ingredients and cooking techniques have also been adopted by American chefs and cooks.  Ironically, some of the world’s best chefs preparing French, Italian or Spanish food are actually Americans.

Cuisines of America include that of Canada, United States, South America and Latin America.  The United States cuisine dates back to the colonial period.  Native Americans had already their own style and method of cooking, but the country’s cuisine changed with the introduction of European cooking styles and techniques.  Latin America cuisine embraces influences from all across the globe.  History and colonization play a huge role in the changes and development of Latin American cuisine.  This cuisine includes that of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Hondura and Panama.

Caribbean cuisine offers a fusion of various cuisines which include British, Spanish, African, Indian, America, French and Dutch.  This is the result of the colonization of the Caribbean islands by people from all over the globe.  Caribbean cuisine is the result of this fusion and it offers styles that are now unique only to the region.  A favorite ingredient of Caribbean cuisine is seafood which is not surprising considering its geographic location.  This cuisine includes that of Dominican Republic, Curacao, Antigua, Haiti and Puerto Rico.

These are just a few of what we have covered.  We have also written articles Jewish cuisine, fusion cuisine, vegetarian cuisine amongst others.  But if we are asked what the best cuisine in the world is?  We wouldn’t say European, Australian or Asian.  No, we cannot say that because we believe that the best food in the world is food shared with family and friends.  It truly doesn’t matter what cuisine it is.

Image Credit: bkktonight.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

Currently 0 comment - But what do you think?

PS: Many sexy and smart people have realized that clicking the Facebook like button and/ or the twitter retweet button on this page gets them free promotion

Discussed in this article is the remaining Indian regional cuisine, and this includes these regions in India:  Hyderabadi, Sindhi, Marwari, Chettinadu, Dogri, Kashmiri, and Marathi.

Again, these regions may have similar ingredients as well as similar cooking styles, but there are differences between each Indian regional cuisine that makes it unique from the other.

Hyderabadi Cuisine

The Hyderabadi Cuisine is a cuisine that originated from Hyderabad, which is a city that can be found in Andhra Pradesh.  This cuisine is highly influenced by the cuisines that originated from the northern regions of India, so it is not surprising to see influences of the Awadh as well as Mughlai cuisine.  It has also been influenced by Tandoori.  Its use of herbs and spices was also highly influenced by the cuisines of Telugu and Marathwada.  If there is one thing that can be said about the Hyderabadi Cuisine is that it makes careful use of the ingredients that are going into the dish, giving the dishes very distinctive flavors and aromas.  What separates it though from the cuisines coming from the North is its prevalent use of tamarind as well as coconut.

Classical Dishes from Hyderabadi:

Hyderabadi Biryani

Mutton Biryani

Hyderabadi Haleem

Bagara Khana

Hyderabadi Kheema

Ingredients Utilized in Hyderabadi Cuisine:

Cereals: Rice

Legumes and Pulses: Lentil.

Nuts and Seeds: Almond, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Coriander, turmeric, saffron, cinnamon, chili powder, ginger

Seasonings- Oils: Coconut oil

Dairy: Butter, cream, milk, paneer or cheese, yoghurt

Vegetables: Onion, eggplant, tomato, carrot, beans, peas, spinach

Fruits: Tamarind, date fruit, banana

Meat: Chicken, lamb, mutton, goat,

Fish: Whitefish, pomfret, various river fish

Seafood: Prawn

Sindhi Cuisine

The Sindhi Cuisine comes from Sindh, Pakistan.  Because of migration and people from Sindh moving to the country after the Partition of India, the Sindhi Cuisine became popular that, pretty soon, the locals adopted the cuisine.  The staples of this cuisine are made up of rice and flat bread made from wheat, and it is also highly influenced by religion so there is no pork meat in the dishes.

Classical Dishes from Sindhi:

Sindhi Mutton Biryani

Sindhi Channa

Sindhi Kadhi

Sindhi Pakora

Toor Ki Dal

Ingredients Utilized in Mughlai Cuisine:

Cereals: Rice, wheat

Legumes and Pulses: Lentils

Nuts and Seeds: Coriander seed, poppy seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, peanuts, cashew nuts, almond, pistachio

Leaves: Coriander leaves, mint leaves, bay leaves

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Dry mango poweder, cardamom pods, black pepper, garlic, ginger, cumin, turmeric powder, asafetida, saffron, chilies, coriander

Dairy: Butter, milk, yoghurt

Vegetables: Eggplant, cabbage, carrot, spinach, potato

Fruits: Date fruit, mango

Meat: Chicken, lamb

Fish: Pomfret, hamour fish

Marwari Cuisine

The Marwari Cuisine is mostly vegetarian dishes, and it is not much different fro the cuisine of the Rajputs.  What makes it different though is that it is far more richer, what with its cooking preparation and methods.  Aside from this, the Marwari Cuisine is also known for its sweets.  They can afford to be lavish to their desserts because they were merchants and traders, so they have access to faraway markets not only those found in the country but across Southeast Asia as well.

Classical Dishes from Marwari:

Gatta Curry

Dhaniyamangodi

Dalbati

Forbati

Papad Ki Sabzi

Ingredients Utilized in Marwari Cuisine:

Cereals: Wheat, rice, gram flour

Legumes and Pulse: Lentils

Nuts and Seeds: Cumin seeds, peanuts, almond, cashew nuts

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Coriander, chili powder, turmeric powder, asafetida, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, mint

Dairy: Yoghurt, cream, butter

Vegetables: Onions, beans

Fruits: Lemon

Meat: Game meat

Chettinadu Cuisine

The Chettinadu Cuisine is a cuisine that came from the Chettinad region in South India.  This cuisine is popular because of its use of a number of spices to add flavor and aroma to its non-vegetarian dishes.  The aroma and flavors are strong, especially since they make use of spicy masala in their dishes.  As such, the Chettinadu Cuisine is recognized for being one of the richest, spiciest, most flavorful, and most aromatic cuisines in the whole of India.

Classical Dishes from Chettinadu:

Spicy Achari Chicken

Keerai Koottu

Paruppu Masiyal

Summa Kulambu

Chettinad Chicken Sambar

Ingredients Utilized in Chettinadu Cuisine:

Cereals: Rice

Nuts and Seeds: Fennel seed, cumin seeds, cashew, mustard seeds

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Star aniseed, chili powder, cinnamon, fenugreek, cumin, bay leaf, peppercorn, turmeric, curry, coriander, cinnamon, asafetida, mint

Dairy: Yoghurt, butter, milk, cheese, cream

Vegetables: Onion, tomato, potato, carrot, green peas, pumpkin, cabbage, kidney beans,

Fruits: Tamarind, lemon, lime mango, pomegranate

Meat: Chicken, lamb

Fish: Various

Seafood: Prawns, lobster, crab

Dogri Cuisine

The Dogri Cuisine’s staple food foods include wheat as well as rice.  It also includes pulses, maize, and bajra as part of their staple foods.  You will also find fruit preparations here like the maani, which is a tangy tamarind preparation, although mango is also sometimes used in lieu of tamarind.  The distinctive Dogri Cuisine speaks highly of its people, especially their achievements, so you can expect delicious dishes.

Classical Dishes from Dogri:

Garghal ka Achar

Bharwa Krela

Amla Ka Achar

Zimmikand Ka Achar

Tende Di Subzi

Ingredients Utilized in Dogri Cuisine:

Cereals: Rice

Nuts and Seeds: Coriander seed, fennel seed, nigella seed, fenugreek seed

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Turmeric powder, red chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cumin powder, garlic, coriander, cumin

Seasonings- Oils: Mustard oil

Vegetables: Gourd, onion, tomato, pumpkin, spinach

Fruits: Tamarind, mango, pomegranate

Meat: Mutton

Kashmiri Cuisine

The Kashmiri Cuisine has been influenced by the Kashmiri Pandits’ foods and way of cooking.  These people are the Hindus who live in Kashmir, which is a mountainous region situated in South Asia.  The Kashmiri Cuisine has also been influenced by the people who invaded and conquered the region, and these are the invaders from Central Aisa as well as the invaders from Afghanistan and Persia.  This cuisine is most distinctive for its use of mutton in its dishes.  In fact, the Kashmiri Cuisine makes use of more than 30 varieties of mutton.  It is also notable for its elaborate food preparations.

Classical Dishes from Kashmiri:

Syun Qaliya

Yakhein

Tsoek Tsarvan

Rogan Josh

Kabargah

Ingredients Utilized in Kashmiri Cuisine:

Cereals: Rice

Nuts and Seeds: Walnut, cumin seed

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Turmeric, powdered chili pepper, cardamom, bay leaves, garlic, asafetida, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, coriander, fennel

Dairy: Yoghurt, cheese

Vegetables: Potato, spinach, aubergines, turnips, kidney beans, bottle gourd, onion, pumpkin, zucchini, ridge gourd, spinach, cabbage, lotus stem

Fruits: Plum, lime, tamarind

Meat: Lamb, mutton

Fish: Whitefish, pomfret, mackarel

Marathi Cuisine

The Marathi Cuisine came from the Marathi people, and these are those who live in Maharashtra region.  Their dishes can range anywhere from mild-tasting dishes to very spicy dishes.  Like some of the other Indian regional cuisines, rice as well as vegetables and fruits form a huge portion of the Marathi Cuisine.  In fact, you will see a lot of vegetarian dishes in the Marathi Cuisine, although you will also see some dishes consisting of fish, especially in the coastal areas.

Classical Dishes from Marathi:

Surali Wadi

Matar Usal Pav

Sabudana Khichadi

Pav Bhaji

Kothimbir Vadi

Ingredients Utilized in Marathi Cuisine:

Cereals: Wheat, rice

Legumes and Pulse: Lentils

Nuts and Seeds: Mustard seeds, charoli nuts, cashew

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Garlic, ginger, red and green chili powder, curry, coriander, cardamom, saffron

Dairy: Butter, yoghurt, paneer or chees

Vegetables: Onion, potato, cauliflower, green peas, cabbage, potato, spinach

Fruits: Tomato, tamarind, banana, plantain, jackfruit, mango, lemon

Meat: Chicken, mutton

Fish: Various

Seafood: Various

Image Credit: tasteofindiany.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Currently 0 comment - But what do you think?

PS: Many sexy and smart people have realized that clicking the Facebook like button and/ or the twitter retweet button on this page gets them free promotion

As promised, here are some short informative descriptions of the different Indian regional cuisines.  Included in this article are the following regions:  Awadhi, Mughlai, Bengali, Rajasthani, Konkani, Udupi, Malabari, and Punjabi.

These regions may be using almost the same ingredients than those found in neighboring regions, but you can still appreciate their differences.

Awadhi Cuisine

The cooking methods as well as techniques utilized in the Awadhi Cuisine is similar to those used in Central Asia as well as Northern India.  It is also highly influenced by the Middle East.  Although vegetarian dishes are very common in the Indian cuisine, the Awadhi Cuisine is made up of both – vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes.

Classical Dishes from Awadhi:

Aloo Paneer Pops

Badam Halwa

Chicken Korma

Gulab Jamun

Kurmura Ladoo

Ingredients Utilized in Awadhi Cuisine

Cereals: Rice, wheat

Nuts and Seeds: Ground nuts

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Cardamom, saffron

Dairy: Paneer (cheese), yoghurt

Vegetables: Peas, turnips, onion

Fruits: Mango

Meat: Mutton, lamb, partridge, quail, chicken

Fish: Carp

Seafood: Shrimp

Mughlai Cuisine

The Mughlai Cuisine is highly influenced by the cooking methods and techniques of South Asia, particularly the Mughal Empire.  Another outside influence that lent flavors and cooking styles to the Mughlai Cuisine is the cuisines of Central Asia, particularly Persian as well as Turkic cuisine.  The flavors range from mild to very spicy dishes with a very distinctive aroma and flavors.

Classical Dishes from Mughlai

Mughlai Chhicken

Biryani Badshahi

Murg Kababs Mughlai

Keema Matar

Shahi Chicken Korma

Ingredients Utilized in Mughlai Cuisine

Cereals: Rice

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Coriander, chili powder, turmeric

Seasonings- Oils:  Coconut oil

Dairy: Paneer or cheese, yoghurt

Vegetables: Potato, carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower, garlic

Fruits: Tomato, banana

Meat: Chicken, lamb

Fish: Pomfret

Seafood: Crab

Bengali Cuisine

The Bengali Cuisine is a type of cuisine that has originated from the Bengal region, which can be found in the eastern portion of South Asia.  The main ingredients used in this region are fish as well as rice and lentils.  This cuisine is known for its subtle taste, but their dishes can also be fiery.  The Bengal Cuisine is also known for its desserts.

Classical Dishes from Bengali

Macher Jhol

Chingri Machh Malai Curry

Tel Koi

Charchari

Bhapa Ilish

Ingredients Utilized in Bengali Cuisine

Cereals: Rice

Legumes and Pulse: Lentil

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Coriander, fenugreek, anis, black cumin

Seasonings- Oils: Mustard oil, groundnut oil

Dairy: Milk, yoghurt

Vegetables: Red onion, eggplants, beans, okra

Fruits: Lemons, limes, plantain, jackfruit, pumpkin

Meat: Chicken, mutton, goat

Fish: Carp, climbing perch, catfish, hilsa fish

Seafood: Prawns, shrimp, scampi

Rajasthani Cuisine

The Rajasthani Cuisine is highly influenced by the war-like way of living of the people who live in this arid region, the Rajput as well as the Brahmin people.  This cuisine is also shaped by what is available in the arid land, so it is not surprising to see dishes that could last for more than a few days, preferably those that do not need heating.  If there is one thing that could be said about the Rajasthani Cuisine is that this consists of tough food for tough people.

Classical Dishes from Rajasthani

Sukhdi

Moranga Ki Sabji

Saanth Ro Achaar

Laal Maans

Rabori Ki Sabji

Ingredients Utilized in Rajasthani Cuisine

Cereals: Rice, wheat

Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, pistachios, nutmeg

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Cardamom, saffron, coriander, Turmeric

Seasonings- Oils: Mustard oil

Dairy: Milk, yoghurt

Vegetables: Potatoes, onion, pumpkin

Fruits: Mango

Meat: Lamb, chicken

Fish: Various

Konkani Cuisine

If there is one thing that could be said about the Konkani Cuisine is that it is one of the most delicious cuisines in the whole of India.  The cuisine makes use of ingredients that are not typically seen in the other Indian regional cuisines.  It is also not surprising to see seafood in Konkani dishes, including a variety of fishes.  They are also known for their salads as well as desserts.

Classical Dishes from Konkani

Batata Phovu

Tendli Bhajji

Garadudde Paayas

Mooga Daalitoi

Enagaayi

Ingredients Utilized in Konkani Cuisine

Cereals: Rice

Nuts and Seeds: Fennel seed

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Coriander, peppercorn, cumin, cardamom, ginger, garlic, turmeric

Seasonings- Oils: Peanut oil

Vegetables: Potatoes, beans, carrots, peas, onions, cabbage, eggplant

Fruits: Coconut, tamarind, mango

Meat: Chicken, beef, pork, mutton

Fish: Various

Seafood: Prawns

Udupi Cuisine

The Udupi Cuisine came from South India.  This Indian regional cuisine consists mainly of grains as well as beans, and the cuisine is also made up of fruits and vegetables.  The Udupi Cuisine firmly sticks to the vedic tradition, so it is not surprising to see that the dishes are mostly vegetarian dishes.  There are no meats in the Udupi Cuisine nor are there fish and seafood.  This cuisine also does not make use of onion or garlic.

Classical Dishes from Udupi

Kosambari

Mangalore Bajji

Uddinahittu

KadubuPelakai Appa

Sajjige and Bajil

Ingredients Utilized in Udupi Cuisine

Cereals: Rice

Legumes: Lentils

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Chili, curry

Seasonings- Oils: Coconut oil

Vegetables: Pumpkin, peas, beans

Fruits: Jackfruit, banana, bottle gourd, coconut, mango

Meat: None

Fish: None

Seafood: None

Malabari Cuisine

One thing that makes the Malabari Cuisine stand out is its pancakes.  It is also known for its steamed rice cakes that have been made from pounded rice.  In general, the taste and flavor of Malabari Cuisine are typically mild. The ingredients are also gently cooked to slowly release the flavors.  The Malabari Cuisine was also influenced by the traders that passed through the region as well as the rulers that ruled the region.

Classical Dishes from Malabari

Appam

Kothu Porotta

Malabari Fish Curry

Prawn Biryani

Uttapam

Ingredients Utilized in Malabari Cuisine

Cereals: Rice

Nuts and Seeds: Peppercorn, mustard seeds, cashew nuts, fennel seeds

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Turmeric, ginger, cardamom, curry, coriander, chili powder

Seasonings- Oils: Coconut oil

Vegetables: Potatoes, spinach, onion, carrot

Fruits: Coconut, pineapple, tomato

Meat: Chicken, lamb, mutton

Fish: Cod, whitefish,

Seafood: Prawns

Punjabi Cuisine

The Punjabi Cuisine originated from the Punjab region of India, which is situated in the northwestern portion of the country and eastern portion of Pakistan.  The dishes of the Punjabi Cuisine are typically non-vegetarian dishes or completely vegetarian dishes.  The dishes make use of a liberal amount of desi ghee or clarified butter as well as liberal amounts of cream and butter, and the dishes also make use of a lot of spices.  The Punjabi Cuisine is one of the most popular Indian regional cuisines in the world.

Classical Dishes from Punjabi

Aloo Chaat

Aloo Gobhi

Chicken Tikka Masala

Bhatura

Kulcha Khasta Roti

Ingredients Utilized in Punjabi Cuisine

Cereals: Rice, wheat

Legumes: Lentil

Nuts and Seeds: Fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, almonds

Herbs and Spice (Dried and Fresh): Cumin, chili powder, mint, turmeric, safron

Seasonings- Oils: Mustard oil

Dairy: Milk, yoghurt, cream

Vegetables: Onion, spinach, potato, peas

Fruits: Pineapple, apple, pear, tomato, lemon, mango

Meat: Chicken, Lamb, beef

Fish: Various freshwater fish

Seafood: Shrimp

Next week we will continue our culinary journey through the wonderful cuisines that India has to offer.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Currently 3 comments - But what do you think?