Foods & Culinary

Three Facts About The Cajun Cuisine

If you’re considering going to a Cajun seafood restaurant, you might wonder what makes it unique. Cajun cuisine is characterized by a spicy, unique taste and preparation. Here, you’ll discover more about the cuisine’s preparation and menu.

Characterized by Its Unmistakable Spice

Cajun cuisine is well known for its unmistakable spice, and chefs take pride in its savory, rich flavor. The cajun seafood restaurants in Plano, TX, use a variety of spices, including celery, onions, and green bell peppers. They also use herbs such as thyme, paprika, and parsley. Some Cajun recipes even include ground sassafras leaves.

Cajun dishes typically consist of rice, shrimp, and seafood. They can also contain green peppers, celery, and tomatoes. Another common ingredient is rice and gravy, made from drippings from the meat or seafood in the pot. This brown gravy is then served over steamed or boiled rice.

Pork is another staple of Cajun cuisine, including boudin and andouille. Both types of meat are smoked and seasoned and are commonly accompanied by rice. Pork sausages are another staple, but they are not smoked. In addition to rice, Cajun sausage is often made with pig liver.

Uncommon Flavors

Cajun seafood restaurants are known for their tasty dishes. Fresh seafood is served all day, and the cuisine features Cajun spices and rich flavors. Try crawfish, shrimp, or fried catfish. It is a great choice to try something new and interesting.

Cajun seafood cuisine has deep roots in the culture of Acadians who migrated from France during the early 1600s. Cajun seafood restaurants have unique dishes influenced by French and African influences. Among the most famous Cajun dishes is gumbo, which comes from West Africa. Gumbo is a stew that contains okra, a common ingredient in Cajun dishes. Other seafood used in Cajun dishes is chicken, turkey, and shrimp.

Preparation

Cajun seafood restaurants offer a delicious variety of seafood. The spice level can vary widely, so the best option for those who don’t like a lot of heat is the milder options. However, if you have an open mind, you can try dishes with more of a spicy kick. Avoid the heavy batters and fried dishes, and go for the dishes that highlight the seafood’s natural flavors, such as those with aromatic spices.

Cajun seafood restaurants use multiple pots to prepare the dish. One pot is reserved for the main dish, while the other two are for steamed rice, vegetables, and special sausages. The main dish, maybe crawfish, shrimp, or oysters. The third pot contains whatever vegetables are in season.

When it comes to the preparation of Cajun seafood, you should know that it can contain ingredients that trigger allergies. In addition, the spices used in Cajun cooking can cause various reactions, so be sure to let the waitstaff know if you have any allergies. Luckily, most waitstaff is knowledgeable about food allergies.… Read More..

Foods & Culinary

3 Delicious World Cuisines To Cook Up for Your Next Date Night

These Vancouver restaurants are making meal kits that let you do the cooking - Vancouver Is Awesome

Got a big date night coming up? Rather than heading out to the restaurants and spending a bucket of money, you and your significant other could stay home and experiment with cooking up unique dishes yourselves. If you’re not sure what to put on the menu, give these three delicious world cuisines a try.

1. German Food

If you’re in the mood for a truly filling and hearty meal, why not put some German specialties on your plate? This yummy cuisine offers a range of wholesome options you’re sure to savor. Grill up some sausages or try some schnitzel paired with sauerkraut, potatoes or applesauce! For true meat lovers, be sure to put Schweinbraten on the menu.

2. Italian Food

For a truly classic date night meal, nothing beats Italian food. If you’re a big fan of pastas and other carb-centric dishes, this option is sure to capture your heart. Before you start cooking up your own shrimp scampi and lasagna Bolognese, though, make sure you spend a little time learning how to properly cook pasta. Once you’ve mastered the skill, you and your significant other can look forward to countless delicious date nights to come!

3. Vietnamese Food

Finally, if you’re in the mood for fragrant dishes bursting with unique flavor, give Vietnamese food a try. This cuisine has something for just about everyone, from soup-like dishes to pasta-centric dishes to meaty dishes and much more. For a sampling of the true classics, be sure to add at least the following essential foods to your menu.

  • Pho
  • Spring rolls
  • Banh mi

When you have date night coming up but you don’t want to head out to the same old restaurant, try cooking up dishes at home instead. From German specialties to Italian delicacies to Vietnamese delights, these three world cuisines could make for a fun and delicious date night at home.… Read More..

Foods & Culinary

4 WAYS TO FINANCE YOUR CULINARY EDUCATION

Culinary School: The Pros and Cons of Culinary Education - Eater

If you have noticed that you have a knack for cooking and you like it so much that you feel you can pursue a career in cooking, then a culinary school is for you.

You can check Collected.Reviews for the best culinary schools around you.  Instead of asking for a loan, there are different ways you can get funding if you cannot afford a culinary school.

Basically, here are 4 ways to finance your culinary education.

1.     Scholarship and Grants:

Scholarships are a preferable method of getting finance for culinary education. Individuals or organizations that have an interest in helping people who want to attend a culinary school but cannot finance themselves, will offer scholarships to those who they deem fit by putting out a list of qualifications and asking interested parties to send in their application. Applications are collated and vetted and scholarship is awarded to the individual or individuals that will be chosen. Scholarships are not required to be paid back and because of this, winning a scholarship can be very competitive.

Grants are similar to scholarships with only one distinguishing factor between the both of them – scholarships are awarded based on a person’s past performance (in school, in an exam, in community exam, etc) while grants are awarded based on your need or your income. This means that while grant amount varies among people who win a grant while scholarship winners all get the same amount. Scholarships are everywhere, you can check for scholarships on the internet or in the dailies. You can get a scholarship from the government, from big culinary or culinary-related organizations, religious organizations, NGOs, concerned individuals, etc. You can also get grants by filling forms.

2.      Federal Loans:

Federal loans are loans financial aid given by the government to citizens who are in need. They are preferred mostly because of the flexibility of the loan (the repayment structure is favorable to lenders) and the interest rate which is usually very low. Federal government loans have a lot of benefits; if you are applying for a federal government loan to finance your education, you will not be required to pay the money until you graduate from school so you do not have to worry about working to repay any debt while you are in school. They also have very low-interest rates because the government takes care of most of the interest. There are a lot of federal government loans like Stafford loans, Perkins loans, PLUS loans, etc.

3.     Private Loans:

Private loans are better off than federal loans because they give higher amounts. However, unlike federal loans, you begin to make repayment on loans immediately after you collect the loan which means you have to work while you are in school to be able to pay the loan if you do not have anyone who can take the responsibility of repaying the loan.

4.     Work-Study Program:

This is a program that allows you to work while you … Read More..

Foods & Culinary

Food Service Business Alternatives

If you work in the restaurant industry, you may someday decide that you want to run your own business. Raising the starting capital for a restaurant can be a daunting process, though. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to a full-fledged restaurant to choose from. 

Bakery

The benefit of running a bakery is that you can prepare your full menu ahead of time and focus on serving customers when the shop is open. This allows you to divide out your own workday so that you don’t have to hire as many people to help, especially when you are just getting started. You also don’t necessarily need a seating area. All you need is a well-appointed kitchen, supplies and attractive bakery display cases, and you’re well on your way to launching your business.

Coffee Shop

If you love the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and the murmur of customers meeting with friends over cozy beverages, a coffee shop may be more your style. You can offer light fare or baked goods, but it’s certainly not a requirement. Without the stress of a full kitchen, you can focus on crafting drinks and connecting with your regulars as your favorite playlist streams in the background. 

Food Truck

Many people love the fast pace of a kitchen but are less interested in a full-service, sit-down restaurant. A food truck turns your whole establishment into a kitchen. You take orders and payment at the window and cook them while the customer waits. The whole service takes place in a single transaction. If you just want to focus on the food, a mobile kitchen gives you the freedom to do so.

You don’t have to open a restaurant to own your own business in the food service industry. An alternative with a narrower focus is a great idea for budding entrepreneurs.… Read More..

Foods & Culinary

See the Best of Kingsport, TN

Kingsport is a vibrant community situated in a beautiful area of Tennessee, and there’s no shortage of attractions. Whether you’re passing through or visiting for an extended time, be sure to check out the best that the town has to offer. Where should you begin?

The Great Outdoors

Tennessee is a beautiful state situated in the green, rolling hills of Appalachia. There are plenty of state parks in the area where you can take in the scenery, like Warriors’ Path State Park, Bays Mountain Park and the Kingsport Greenbelt. Hike, bike, fish and take boat rides through everything Kingsport has to offer while spotting wildlife like beavers and eagles. Bays Mountain Park also includes a planetarium and observatory if the night sky is more your speed.

Dining

You’ll need plenty of energy to keep up with all of the activities you’ll be doing in Kingsport. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing places to eat in town. For breakfast, you can find fresh bagels baked with dough brought in from New York at the Bagel Exchange, where breakfast is served all day. If you’re looking for a fabulous dinner Kingsport, the Mustard Seed Cafe is known as a friendly meeting spot and won’t let you down with their fresh ingredients. If you’re looking for libations, the local Gypsy Circus Cider Company and Hook and Ladder Distillery can keep you sated.

Entertainment

There’s something to do for every season and inclination in Kingsport, TN. Children will adore the Kingsport Carousel and Park, which is mostly volunteer-run through the community. You can catch a musical at the Lamplight Theatre, or catch a stock car race at the Kingsport Speedway. In the summertime, the Kingsport Aquatic center is there to cool you down. There’s even a Mountain Music Museum if you are looking to learn something.

Consider extending your trip so you don’t miss out on anything to do in this lovely locale. Learn the true meaning of Tennessee through the town of Kingsport and the wonderful people there.… Read More..