Tag Archives: cooking

Pairing Perfect Wines With Vegetarian Dishes

Melding the varied flavors of vegetable-focused cuisine with the nuanced profiles of fine—and even budget—wines can transform a simple meal into an extraordinary dining experience. From the earthy undertones of roasted vegetables to the vibrant zest of fresh herbs, each vegetable dish holds a unique flavor profile that, when paired with the right wine, can be elevated via enhancing flavors and overall meal complexity. Below are expert tips for harmonizing garden-fresh and vineyard-driven delights.

When Garden Meets Grapes: Elevating Vegetable Dishes with Perfect Wine Pairings

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Have you ever wondered why a glass of wine tastes so much better when paired with the right dish?

While it’s true for any cuisine, wine pairing for vegetable dishes in particular can be a game-changer—and not just benefitting those living a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, but rather everyone who enjoys gastro gifts from the garden.

The art of wine pairing, once thought to be reserved for meat and seafood dishes, has evolved to embrace vegetarian cuisine. Understanding how to pair wine with vegetarian dishes is an art that can elevate your dining experience to new heights. Here, we delve into the nuances of wine pairing with vegetarian food, considering ingredients, cooking methods, and seasoning. Whether you are hosting a dinner party or enjoying a quiet meal at home, these tips and examples will help you choose the perfect wine to complement your vegetarian dishes.

Understanding the Ingredients

Vegetarian dishes often feature a variety of vegetables, grains, legumes, and plant-based proteins. Each ingredient brings its own flavor profile, from the earthy tones of mushrooms to the sweetness of roasted bell peppers. When pairing wine, consider the dominant flavors of the dish. For instance:

  • Mushrooms: Earthy and umami-rich mushrooms pair well with Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. For example, mushroom  risotto’s creamy texture and deep umami flavors of a well-made mushroom risotto are beautifully complemented by a Pinot Noir, whose earthy undertones enhance the dish’s richness.
  • Tomatoes:  The acidity and sweetness of tomatoes complement well with Sauvignon Blanc or Chianti. The savory and slightly tangy tomato sauce used in eggplant parmesan pairs excellently with Chianti. Its bright acidity and red fruit flavors balance the dish’s robust flavors.
  • Greens: Leafy greens like spinach and kale, with their slight bitterness, match nicely with crisp whites like Pinot Grigio or Grüner Veltliner.  Take Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette as an example,  the fresh, slightly bitter kale, combined with sweet apple and tangy lemon vinaigrette, pairs beautifully with Grüner Veltliner. The wine’s crispness and slight peppery notes enhance the salad’s flavors.
  • Root Vegetables:  Sweet and earthy root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, pair wonderfully with wines like Merlot or Zinfandel. The sweet, earthy flavor of roasted beets pairs harmoniously with the smooth, fruity notes of Merlot.

Cooking Methods

The way a dish is prepared can significantly influence its wine pairing. Here are some common vegetarian cooking methods and corresponding wine suggestions:

  • Grilling: Grilled vegetables often have a smoky, charred flavor. Pair them with robust wines like Syrah or Malbec. The smoky, charred flavors of the grilled vegetables find a perfect match in Malbec, whose robust fruit flavors and tannins stand up to the boldness of the dish.
  • Roasting:  Roasting enhances the sweetness of vegetables. Consider wines with a hint of sweetness or spiciness, such as Riesling or Grenache, like Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. The sweet, creamy flavors of roasted butternut squash soup are complemented by the slight sweetness and acidity of Riesling, balancing the richness.
  • Stir-frying:  Stir-fried dishes, especially those with Asian influences, pair well with aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer or light reds like Gamay. The aromatic and slightly spicy flavors in stir-fried tofu or vegetables are enhanced by Gewürztraminer. This wine’s floral and lychee notes, along with its slight sweetness, balance the dish’s flavors.
  • Raw: Fresh, raw dishes such as salads or crudités benefit from crisp, light wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé.   The fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella in a Caprese salad pair nicely with a crisp Rosé, whose acidity and light fruit flavors enhance the dish’s freshness.

Seasoning and Sauces

Seasonings and sauces can dramatically alter the flavor profile of a dish, impacting the wine pairing. Here are some examples:

  • Herbs:  Fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, and mint call for wines that enhance their freshness. Think of Sauvignon Blanc or Vermentino for your favorite Pesto Pasta. The fresh basil in a vibrant pesto sauce pairs beautifully with Vermentino, whose citrusy and herbaceous notes complement the herb’s freshness.
  • Spices:  Spicy dishes, whether it’s a dash of chili or a complex curry, pair well with slightly sweet wines like Riesling or off-dry Chenin Blanc. The heat and aromatic spices in a chickpea curry are balanced by an off-dry Chenin Blanc, whose slight sweetness tempers the spice.
  • Creamy Sauces:  Creamy or cheesy sauces, often found in vegetarian pastas or casseroles, pair excellently with full-bodied whites like Chardonnay or Viognier. The rich, creamy sauce in fettuccine Alfredo finds a perfect match in Chardonnay, whose full body and buttery notes complement the dish’s richness.
  • Tangy Sauces:  Tangy sauces, such as vinaigrettes or lemon-based dressings, match nicely with high-acidity wines like Albariño or unoaked Chardonnay. The tangy lemon and fresh herbs in a quinoa salad pair well with the high acidity of Albariño, enhancing the dish’s bright flavors.

Pairing wine with vegetarian dishes is a rewarding endeavor that opens up a world of flavors. By considering the ingredients, cooking methods, and seasonings, you can create harmonious pairings that elevate your meals. Whether you’re enjoying a simple weeknight dinner or hosting a lavish gathering, these wine and vegetarian food pairings will impress and satisfy you.  For the Silo, Sylvia Ba.


Wine consultant Sylvia Ba is a vinicultural expert with the “VinoVoss” AI Sommelier wine search engine and recommendation system developed by BetterAI.

What Is Argentina Week In Miami?

For starters, The Argentina Country Brand highlights distinctive values and attributes to promote exports, attract foreign direct investment, and boost inbound tourism.

Let’s begin with cooking.

Cooking is more than a daily practice: it is a gateway to understanding a country’s history, culture, and diversity. This is what Argentina is presenting right now at Argentina Week in Miami ending this Friday June 28 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida. The event will offer the opportunity to experience Argentine culinary culture and its most representative products, creating a unique experience that connects Miami’s culinary enthusiasts with potential consumers.

Considered one of the best cuisines in the world, with Italian and Spanish influences due to immigration, Argentina will showcase its most iconic dishes ahead of the Copa América through more than 80 establishments participating with exclusive promotions and prices. By visiting the Argentina Weekportal, www.argentinaweek.ar , participants can find each day’s value proposition from each establishment, making Argentina Week a unique experience.

The event launch began in the afternoon on Monday, June 24, at La Cabrera Grill in Sunny Isles. The following day, in keeping with the Euro 2024 Soccer excitement the Chile vs. Argentina match was broadcast live at La Birra Bar, and today, Wednesday, June 26, will feature a pizza night at the traditional Banchero pizzeria in Miami Beach.

On Thursday, June 27, Casa Vigil will host the week’s events, and on Friday, June 28, the new La Cabrera location in Coconut Grove will be the meeting point.

With unparalleled cultural heritage, great biodiversity, and a perfect blend of flavors and history, Argentine cuisine offers many recipes, traditional dishes, typical flavors, and high-quality local products.

In this regard, Argentina seeks to diversify its export offerings by strengthening the positioning of sustainable and competitive value-added products. Exclusive promotions and prices for participants to immerse themselves in Argentine cuisine will be available as Argentina seeks to diversify its export offerings and consolidate national products and ingredients. For the Silo, Kat Fleischman.

Home – Semana Argentin

7 Marvelous Mother’s Day Gifts Under $100

According to the National Retail Federation, Mother’s Day shoppers are expected to spend an average of over $200 cad for the holiday. That’s a lot of retail-driven adoration. From food to flowers to frocks, well-intentioned gifters are indelibly on the hunt for that perfect present that’ll light up Mom’s face and warm her heart—not just on Mother’s Day but, optimally, all year through.

Towards this end, here’s an apt assortment of gift ideas priced under $100 that she can enjoy on the daily.

photo: RuMe

The Kennedy Tote from RuMe (www.MyRume.com) – $17.95


The Kennedy Tote from RuMe (pronounced “Room-ey”) is a stylish tote that’s great for the woman on-the-go. Available in 27 unique patterns and colors, these trendy bags are designed with extra-long vegan leather handles to ensure it’s comfortable to carry over your shoulder, and boast a durable polyester body sure to stand the test of time. The Kennedy Tote is the perfect size for Mom to fit everything from laptops and tablets, to library books, clothes and even those random toys and snacks that always seem to make their way into her bag. It’s bigger than the average purse, but not so big that it’s overwhelming.

The Kennedy Tote is handmade in the USA and all are made to order. With this, Mom can leave that boring canvas tote at home and rock some style-sense!

photo: Topcor LLC

Clipa Bag Hanger (www.Clipa.us) – $18.99


While Mom is out and about, give you an easy and attractive way to secure her Kennedy Tote or any other stylish handbag off the dirty floor—especially in restaurants, bathrooms, movie theaters and other public places. Clipa, which means “instant” in Romanian, is a decidedly fashionable, USA-made handbag hanger that goes on—not in—the bag for quick and easy use at any time. This strong, circular purse hanger is designed for heavy bags—it can actually hold up to 33 pounds! It’ll keep her handbag off the ground or floor, safe from germs and filth.

It works in seconds.

Simply open and place on the bag strap to have whenever needed. To use, just open one end and hang. When finished, just pull the strap and Clipa automatically closes and slides back onto the bag. The new Clipa2 is a lighter and sleeker model that works in more places including thicker countertops and tables. It’s ideal for bathroom stall doors and walls, shopping carts even rails. Also durable, it’s been tested to last for 10 years of daily use. Also fashion-adaptable, Clipa comes in a variety of colors, designs, and metals including matte and polished, hematite, gold, and silver. I’ve used a variety of handbag hangers and Clipa is by far the most versatile and durable.

photo: Heat Holders

Heat Holders Ladies Lounge Socks with Heart Grip (www.HeatHolders.com) – $19.99


This spring and summer, Mom will surely love staying warm and cozy with fashionable Heat Holders’ Lounge Socks—especially when ensconced in a chilly, air-conditioned environment. This short ankle length slipper-style sock with turn over cuffs is ideal for lounging around the home. Perfect to express your love for mom, they include cute heart shaped non-slip grippers on the bottom to provide better traction on hard indoor surfaces like wood or tile.

Thick and chunky with long pile cushioning, these thermal socks help keep feet fully comfortable and supported. The inside of each sock has been intensively brushed, which makes it not only feel sensationally soft but also traps warm air close to the skin keeping feet warmer for longer. Wrapped in a pretty ribbon that says “Just for you”, these socks (available in stripe or solid patterns) make a thoughtful gift she’ll use time and time again.

photo: BELLA Housewares

BELLA Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker (www.BellaHousewares.com) – $29.99


Perfect for those culinary Moms who love to impress and indulge, the new BELLA Ceramic Copper Titanium rotating Belgian waffle maker will surely be well-received. With it, Mom and the whole family can enjoy 1″ thick crisp and fluffy restaurant quality Belgian waffles at home in mere minutes. The true non-stick coating allows the use of any batter desired—so she can get super creative! This enduring appliance has a unique ceramic non-stick coating that is 8 times more durable and cooks up to 30% faster than standard non-stick coatings. This ultra-durable coating is actually reinforced with titanium for outstanding resilience and resistance to metal utensils, resisting scratches and scuffs.

It even has a healthy “eco-coating” that doesn’t contain lead or cadmium and is also PTFE and PFOA free.

Mom will also appreciate the space saving design with a folding handle that allows for convenient storage, along with the drip tray making cleaning a breeze.

photo: Crux Kitchen

 

CRUX Toaster Oven with Convection (www.CruxKitchen.com) – $89.99


Moms are constantly looking for ways to make cooking simpler. The CRUX Toaster Oven with Convection function is one easy way to improve and expedite her cooking efforts and is a practical gift she’s certain to appreciate. This device delivers faster, more even heating and also maintains enhanced temperature accuracy. In all, the highly uniform heating profile without hot-spots yields fantastic toasting results. And, the large 17-liter capacity holds up to six slices of bread or a 12” pizza.

Other notable features of the CRUX Toaster oven include 700-watt heating elements that preheat quickly and cook efficiently; bake, broil, bagel, toast and warm functions; 60-minute timer with stay-on and auto shut-off; and a grill rack with three positions to accommodate various size casseroles and baking pans. The unit also comes complete with a bake pan and external removable crumb tray. Whether she’s looking for convenience for breakfast, lunch or dinner—for herself or the whole family—or wanting to bake a quick late-night snack, she’ll love the ease and power of this appliance.

photo: Luxco

Pompelmoncello Rosemary Mojito with Everclear (www.MakeItYourOwn.com)


What more quintessential way to celebrate Mom than with a homemade brunch on Mother’s Day? And while you’re at it, go ahead and whip her up a tasty mixed elixir. One recipe idea is the Pompelmoncello Rosemary Mojito made with Everclear. This delicious cocktail mixes together grapefruit, rum and rosemary, creating a sweet and refreshing cocktail that’ll help her relax and enjoy her special day.

The Everclear spirit component is distilled from 100% selected grains, providing a neutral flavor profile along with a high proof—so do be mindful of the amount used. Because it’s flavor neutral, it has a unique ability to extract even the subtlest of flavors, providing home mixologists with a clean slate, a blank canvas and endless potential. For those who insist a mojito requires mint, this cocktail politely disagrees.

The flavors of grapefruit, rum and rosemary combine perfectly to help you forget everything you thought you knew about the Havana classic—and delight Mom in kind.

photo: Nonni’s Foods

 

Nonni’s Dark Chocolate Almond THINaddictives (www.Nonnis.com) – Starting at $4.49


Another delightful indulgence for Mom—particularly those who are health conscious and ever on-the-go—is the better-for-you Dark Chocolate Almond THINaddictives from Nonni’s artisan bakery. They’re thin, crunchy, and super addictive…but in the best way. THINaddictives are handmade quality from a cherished family recipe passed down from generation to generation with no two cookies alike. Averaging only 70 to 80 calories per pack, each almond thin is lightly drizzled with decadent dark chocolate and made with real ingredients such as California almonds, bananas and sweet cherries for a guilt-free anytime snack.

These crunchy delights come in three delectable flavors: Dark Chocolate Banana Almond, Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond and Double Dark Chocolate Almond. THINaddictives pair perfectly with hot or cold beverages like iced coffee or tea or are certainly delectable by themselves. With each pack individually wrapped, they’re awesome to take on-the-go. Find these tasty treats at retailers nationwide. For the Silo, Merilee Kern.

As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority—a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her online, on Twitter on Facebook and on Instagram.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or sponsored at no cost to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***

Source:

https://nrf.com/media/press-releases/mothers-day-spending-reach-record-high-236-billion

Managing A Team: Rules To Strengthen Cohesion! 

Building a team is never easy, but it is one of the most important tasks within any company.  

No matter how small or big a specific company is, some people do their best to deliver high-quality services and products, while working together.  

Using a “Rage Cage” this Montreal company sets team members up with a variety of hand held weapons and lets them loose to destroy all kinds of items such as mirrors and glassware. See link below for details.

For great results, people need the right atmosphere, the right knowledge, and a great working atmosphere that enables them to learn and make mistakes (and learn from them), while at the same time they are experiencing different team challenges and great moments.  

Plunged into darkness in this Montreal Restaurant, team members must work together. For details see the link below.

For a team to be successful and deliver, there must be a certain level of team cohesiveness, that enables people to be productive, effective, and communicate properly.  

Not sure how some teams achieve this? Check the tips listed below to learn and implement.  

Success Comes With Great Team Building 

Teams that have fun, are teams that deliver. This is why team-building activities are so important.  

Yes, some teams only need a weekly coffee to help them bond, while others need more frequent and more intense activities.  

Learning to relax and breathe effectively. That’s the services offered by this Montreal team building company. See the link below for more info.

On the other hand, if you want to help your employees to bond further, while also they are exploring something new at a more durable pace than you should think about team building activities Montreal – team bonding experts know that the average person will spend 90,000 hours working throughout their life, which is why knowing co-workers is important, and no better way to get to know someone than through fun activity, such as cooking class, exploring the outdoors or doing some charity work.  

For example, some teams are really into an active lifestyle and they need activities that will push them to work together and go for that medal (this is why competent sports are great team-building activities).  

This Montreal company teaches teams how to sculpt ice. For details see the link above.

Establish The Rules 

Every organization needs rules. Thanks to rules things happen. This is why teams should have their own rules, no matter how small or big they might be.  

For a team to be great, they need essential rules that will help them stay on track.  

If everyone knows the rules and follows them success is inevitable. For rules to be mindful, there must be goals.  

Next to this have clear expectations and make sure that everyone understands their role within the team.  

Establish Honest Communication 

Communication is the key when it comes to working with people. Open and honest communication is something teat people appreciate and expect. This is why a clear line of communication is so important as much as having the right tools to keep everything communication-related in one place.  

Be transparent as much as possible, without putting extra pressure on team members.  

Ensuring communication creates a feeling of group cohesion. Why? This way everyone has a strong sense of belonging and inclusion.  

Last But Not Least… 

Do not forget to reward people. People love to see that their efforts are being appreciated and seen. This is why implementing any kind of reward and recognition system is important.  

Have monthly work reviews, and reward the most productive team members as an example for doing great work. For the Silo, Bill Gordon. Featured image- Allez Up! Indoor climbing for team building.

Toronto Martinis Are All About The Garnish

TORONTO, Ont. — In a quiet, backlit corner, cozied up to a bar or amid the flashing lights on the dance floor, the distinctive silhouette is striking.

Ahhhh martinis.

1969's 007- George Lazenby
1969’s 007- George Lazenby

Slender where it needs to be, but flared in the right spots, the martini has an iconic image that exemplifies class and sophistication, which is perhaps why it is the drink of choice for the fictional British spy James Bond. And as the tuxedo is central to the image of 007, how you dress your martini is key to its image — a skewer of olives resting along the angle of the chilled cocktail glass, submerged in the clear mixture of vermouth and gin (or vodka, as your personal taste may dictate).

“The martini is drink for the refined, elegant individual, not unlike the fictional British spy James Bond,” says Desiree Sardo, head of communications and public relations at Sardo Foods. “Vodka or gin.

Shaken or stirred. The beauty of the drink is its versatility, and that applies to the olives as well. The question that must be asked is, what’s in your martini?”

With the future of the next Bond movie still up in the air (will we see a new actor taking on the 007 role?) , Desiree suggests shaking up a few martinis and settling in for a contemplative James Bond marathon.

[Here’s Radiohead’s superior and unused theme song for the opening of Spectre]

For a classic martini like Bond would enjoy, pour ½ oz. vermouth and 3 oz. of gin over ice in a mixing glass. Stir well, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with several green olives (martini enthusiasts insist on a minimum of three olives) and enjoy.

Up the Martini ante with Sardo Gourmet stuffed Olives.
Up the Martini ante with Sardo Gourmet stuffed Olives.

Most people like a traditional pimento stuffed olive in their martini, but experimenting with garlic and red pepper stuffed olives, or jalapeno and red pepper, will add a little zest to your drink.

To complete the martini experience — and give you a healthy snack while watching a Bond film — pair it with an incredibly easy-to-make but classy antipasto skewer.

Start with a cured, salted meat — prosciutto is a good choice — as the base, then add on an artichoke heart, cherry tomato, a leaf of basil or mint and a bocconcini. The presentation is beautiful and the skewer makes it easy to eat while still holding your martini glass.

“Everybody has their favourite Bond actor and their favourite Bond film, but to get a true taste of the character I recommend a marathon that includes a good variety of Bond movies with a different Bond in each,” says Desiree. “Your James Bond martini and a viewing of Spectre with Daniel Craig would go well with GoldFinger starring Sean Connery, For Your Eyes Only with Roger Moore and Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan. A martini or two with your marathon is a great way to spend a James Bond day.”

For more information, email contentproducer@thesilo.ca or visit sardofoods.ca.  Join the conversation on Instagram @sardofoods and Like on Facebook.

Toronto Martini CN Tower BackgroundAbout Sardo Foods:

Family owned and operated in Canada, Sardo Foods is world renowned for bringing all the unique flavours of the Mediterranean to your family’s table. Specializing in olives, antipasti, pesto, spreads, bruschetta and more, Sardo Foods aims to make gourmet cooking and entertaining easy.

Based in Bolton, Ont., Sardo Foods employs 150 people and boasts more than 200 product lines.

A Cooking Journal With A Unique Interface- Not Connected to Smartphone

Here’s a cooking journal with a unique platform that helps you create signature recipes and becomes your personal cookbook. It’s a perfect booklet for all people who enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. The project first launched a couple of years ago on Kickstarter under the name Project Cookbook.

Project Cookbook 1If you want to get more creative with your cooking, but still make sure your ideas don’t melt away as fast as the food from your plates, Cookbook is the perfect fit for your kitchen.  Old SkoolThis cooking journal with a unique interface helps you develop signature recipes and create a culinary heritage. And what’s the best part? It’s not connected to your smartphone. It is a physical booklet that will become your trusted cooking companion and is destined to become your personal cookbook.

If other similar booklets are meant to simply copy and gather recipes of others, Cookbook’s idea and purpose is much different: after you equip the Cookbook with recipes of your choice, they simply serve as a starting point of your future cooking experiments. It features a development platform for every recipe where you can keep track of all the changes to the original recipe – whether it’s tinkering with your cooking process or changing the ingredients.

Project Cookbook Inside

After each try you can use the scoreboard to evaluate your dish, write down important notes for next time and keep a tab on who loves it the most.

The aim is to remind people that cooking is more than just following recipes. As the team puts it: ‘’We are hoping Cookbook will motivate people to develop their own recipes and create a culinary heritage, which they will be able to share with their friends, family and future generations.

Something like the notebooks our grandmothers used to have, but with a modern twist.

Cookbook also holds an encyclopedia which helps you with everyday pickles like finding the appropriate wine pairing or quickly converting cups into grams. A minimalist design of the book gives you a sense of coziness and at the same time allows you to personalize the final outlook of your Cookbook. For the Silo, Hana Gaber.

A Newbie Guide To Proper Ordering And Eating Steak

The best steakhouse and seafood restaurant in town is not like other dining establishments. There are some simple guidelines to keep in mind when you’re dining in one:

  • The first rule is that if you’re going for a steak,it’s best to go to one of the best steakhouses in town. Cheaper places offer tasteless food, and you may just end up with MSG-laden steak that’s bad for your health and your taste buds.
  • If you only eat steak on special occasions, you may as well splurge on the best meat you can afford. These cuts include the rib eye, which is tender because of the high fat content. The filet is also flavorful and tender. You should also try the tender short loin, also known as the New York cut.

The special “Cowboy Rib Steak” from Baton Rouge Steakhouse Canada.

  • Of course, the taste of the steak also depends on where the meat comes from. American steak is tastier than European steak, while Japanese steak is extremely fatty. You may want to refrain from ordering a rib eye if you are ordering a Japanese steak.
  • It’s best if you order your steak rare to medium rare. This isn’t about snobbishness. It’s about the fact that when you cook steak to a degree more than medium the steak can become tough and very chewy. It’s not as enjoyable to eat.

  • When you cut meat and you’re right-handed, you hold the fork with your left hand while the knife is on the right hand. Hold the knife and the fork with the index fingers down the back of the utensils. You shouldn’t hold them like they’re pencils or by clenching your fists around them. You can then use the fork to hold the meat while you make your cut with the knife.

  • After cutting the meat, you have 2 options. One is the American style of transferring the fork to your right hand. You first have to put the knife on the plate without it touching the tablecloth. Then you use the fork in your right hand to spear the meat and place it in your mouth.
  • You can also use the Continental style of just using the fork in your left hand to spear the meat and take a bite. It’s quick and efficient.
  • You should cut each piece of meat one at a time. You shouldn’t cut more than once before you take a bite, as it’ll leave a mess on your plate. It may also tempt you to take more than 1 piece of meat into your mouth and that can be awkward when you’re having a conversation around the table.
  • For the best wine drink some good red wine. California wines are very good with steak.

  • Side dishes depend on your particular tastes. Sautéed spinach is excellent, while for some the best side dish is French fries. You may also want to try creamed spinach with fried egg at the top.
  • You should try to eat your steak with no sauces so that you can really savor the true taste of your steak. You can then add a bit of sea salt to flavor. For sauces, you candip your French fries into your favorite sauce to accompany the taste of the steak.

Of course, the true rule of eating steak is to enjoy yourself while you mind your manners. Etiquette isn’t really about blind obedience to the rules. It’s all about making sure that your dining companions (and everyone around you) enjoy the steak as much as you do!

Featured image- Angus Beef New York Strip Steak

Millennial Kosher Cookbook Reinvents Meals Perfect For The High Holidays

The Jewish High Holidays are all about family and friends gathering together to share a delicious meal.  And while many people love to celebrate with favorite kosher foods there is no reason why traditional kosher and Jewish recipes can’t be different and unique.  What’s old can become new and fun again with fresh ingredients and unique twists.

Today’s kosher cooking is spicier and bolder than the food most of us grew up eating, with an emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients, less processed foods and healthier non-dairy alternatives.  From world-renowned kosher food blog, Busy in Brooklyn, Chanie Apfelbaum, has created a delicious collection of modern, cultural, trendy, and bold dishes that reflect her passion for reinventing traditional foods with a modern vibe with her debut cookbook, Millennial Kosher: Recipes Reinvented for the Modern Palate (Artscroll/Shaar; April 2018). 

“As a mother of five it’s so important to me to carry on family traditions, especially through food,” Chanie explains.  “Everything old can become new again, which is what I have strived for in my book, recreating cultural cuisine with new ingredients. It’s those tastes of home, the delicious aromas from my kitchen, and the memories made around the holiday table that my children will carry with them for generations.”

Millennial Kosher provides home cooks with over 150 innovative recipes for everyday and holiday meals and beautiful color photos for every dish.   For the Jewish High Holidays, home cooks can celebrate with recipes that are influenced by international cultural cuisine and not limited to, but inspired by, kosher guidelines. Yesterday’s margarine is today’s coconut oil, bone broth is the new chicken soup, and the onion soup mix of our youth is replaced with umami-rich porcini mushroom powder. Some of the delicious and unique recipes in the book include:

– Spiralized Beet Salad with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing
– Lokshin & Cabbage with Apples and Honey
– Kofta Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon
– Sticky Silan Short Ribs
– Gefilte Fish “Pizza”
– Mushroom Barley Risotto
– Mason Jar Honey Cakes
– Frangipane Fig Galette

“Kosher food is not what it used to be. Millennial kosher ingredients are healthier and more vibrant than ever before,” Chanie says.  “We live in a foodie culture—and the kosher world has followed suit. Kosher consumers are becoming more demanding, and restaurants, supermarkets and cookbooks have no choice but to up their game.”  

Chanie says that this development in kosher food culture has come about mainly from new exotic flavor combinations, bold spices, fresh seasonal flavors and progressive adaptations like kosher bacon and charcuterie.  These culinary ideas are what Chanie superbly showcases in Millennial Kosher.

She believes there is still a place for the kosher comfort foods of our youth but for now it’s time for Millennial Kosher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in a kosher home in Brooklyn, Chanie Apfelbaum grew up eating traditional Jewish foods such as gefilte fish, stuffed cabbage, and matzah ball soup. Today, living just a few blocks from her childhood home, she revisits family favorites and reinvents traditional holiday dishes. Chanie’s creative twists on old-time cuisine prove that kosher fare is anything but old-fashioned. With five little ones in tow, she celebrates her heritage one dish at a time, creating balanced recipes with a modern flair and Middle Eastern vibe.

Chanie works as a recipe developer and food photographer. She is a contributing writer to Mishpacha Magazine’s Family Table and kosher.com, as well as a guest writer for numerous publications and websites. She has been featured in many national publications and media, including The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, News12 Brooklyn, The Meredith Vieira Show, Thrillist, and more.

Chanie also shares her love of food, family, and tradition through fun and educational cooking demonstrations to audiences worldwide.  For the Silo, Trina Kaye.

For the High Holidays, Chanie recommends this delicious recipe to celebrate the sweetness of life:

Honey Roasted Za’atar Chicken with Dried Fruit
When I finally decided to take the cookbook plunge, my biggest challenge was figuring out which “best of the blog” recipes to feature — there are just so many! I’m proud to say that this recipe hooked hundreds of people onto the Middle Eastern spice blend, za’atar. I use it on pita chips, roasted chickpeas, hummus, shakshuka, and garlic confit.
MEAT ▪ Yield 4-5 Servings ▪  Freezer Friendly

10 oz. dried apricots (scant 2 cups)
10 oz. pitted dried prunes (scant 2 cups)
3 Tbsp za’atar
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 chicken legs, skin-on
1⁄2 cup dry red wine
kosher salt, to taste
1⁄3 cup honey

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread apricots and prunes into a 9×13-inch pan.
2. In a bowl, combine za’atar and olive oil to create a paste. Rub the za’atar paste over chicken; place chicken on dried fruit. Pour wine around the chicken; sprinkle with salt.
3. Cover tightly with foil; bake for 1 hour.
4. Uncover the pan. Drizzle the chicken with honey. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 30-45 minutes, basting every 10 minutes with the pan juices.

Recipe/photo from Millennial Kosher by Chanie Apfelbaum. Artscroll/Shaar; April 2018         

ISBN #: 9781422620557

Featured image from Millennial Kosher- Raman Shakshuka 

Wellness Blogger Offers These Healthy Summer Snack Recipes

“Every story and every memory from my childhood is attached to food,” Dawn Lerman writes. Our relationship with food starts at a very young age: what and how we eat is often determined by our environment and our upbringing. Our eating habits and snack tastes are cultivated by our family members’ relationships to food, for better or worse. Dawn knows this first hand. The author of the New York Times Well Blog series, “My Fat Dad,” shares her food journey and that of her father, a brilliant copywriter from the “Mad Men” era of advertising at Leo Burnett and McCann Erickson, in her book, MY FAT DAD: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family, with Recipes (Berkeley; September 29, 2015; Trade paperback/$USD16.00).

Summer Snack Book Dawn And FatherDawn’s father was known for his witty ad campaigns; he was responsible for such iconic slogans as “Coke Is It,” “This Bud’s for You,” and “Leggo My Eggo.” Unfortunately, he was not able to use the same problem-solving skills when it came to his weight. Dawn’s father was obese as she was growing up —450 pounds at his heaviest. His weight would go up and down like an elevator, depending on what fad diet he was on–or what ad campaign he was assigned to. He insisted Dawn, her mother and sister adapt to his saccharine-laced, freeze-dried food plans to help keep him on track. Dawn’s mother never cooked and she witnessed her mother eat only one real meal a day—a can of tuna over the kitchen sink—while she dashed from audition to audition pursuing an acting career.

“As far back as I can remember, there was an invisible wall that separated me from my dad, a distance that I could never completely penetrate,” Dawn remembers. “His closest relationship was with the bathroom scale – his first stop every morning and his last stop every evening. The scale controlled his moods, our days, what we were going to eat and basically ruled our family life.”

Snacks were a particular downfall of her father, especially when he was working on fast food marketing campaigns. “My dad felt that in order to create a good slogan, you needed to believe in the products you were selling,” Dawn explains. “He was always the best customer for the food and drinks he advertised, testing them excessively—especially when Wells Rich & Green promoted him to head creative director for Pringles potato chips”

Listening to him crunch away canister after canister on the crispy snacks in the privacy of his room– trying to come up with the perfect slogan, Dawn knew she had to get inventive to help her dad get healthy while still staying inspired. At 9 years old Dawn had become the official chef for her family, turning her maternal grandmother Beauty’s Jewish weekly recipe cards into diet friendly meals and treats that would keep her dad motivated. It was her grandmother who instilled in Dawn a passion for cooking for oneself and others as she learned that the best food is prepared with the freshest ingredient.

One recipe Dawn developed during that time was her special homemade hot air popped corn coated in ranch seasoning. Upon trying it her father declared “Dawn now that you popped, you can’t stop!” That statement of delight was the kernel of an idea that took her dad around the world– filming highly attractive people on beaches and other fun places, joyfully indulging in Pringles potato crisps that exploded out of the can as the top popped off while the voice over announced…” Once You Pop, You Can’t Stop!”

My Fat Dad Summer Snack Book CoverDawnLermanThis spring and summer try these healthy and delicious snacks from My Fat Dad with no stopping required. The potato chip recipe, derived from that long-ago hot air popped corn recipe, can be enjoyed throughout out the day as they are satiating and nutritious. Pair it with Dawn’s Hummus recipe, which is loaded with protein. The combo of complex carbs, protein and healthy fats –will fill you up without weighing you down. A win-win for both mood, energy, and weight control!

Recipes below from MY FAT DAD: A Memoir of Food, Love, Family, and Recipes By Dawn Lerman

Berkley Books/2015

MY FAT DAD: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family, with Recipes By Dawn Lerman  Berkeley / 2015 Trade Paperback/$16.00

Dawns Potato Chip Recipe

Herb Infused Ranch Style Sweet Potato Chips with Coconut Oil

Yields: 4-6 servings

These sweet potato chips are crunchy, slightly salty, and have that wonderful ranch taste. They are a healthy take on traditional store bought chips. They are fried in coconut oil– which not only helps the chips to brown beautifully, but aids in speeding up your metabolism. They are a constant staple in my formerly fat dad– 450 pounds, now 210 pound –snacking regime.

4 large sweet potatoes, can also use white potato’s or beets

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon of dried parsley

1 teaspoon of garlic salt

I teaspoon of onion powder

1 teaspoon of minced onion

Sea salt for seasoning

Fresh thyme for garnish

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees, scrub potatoes to remove dirt. Then slice into thin, even pieces. You can cut them by hand or use a slicing attachment on a food processor. Rinse your potato slices in cold water. Now soak the slices in cold water for 30 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and lay them on a paper towel or paper keeping them slightly moist. Dip in bowl with herb mixture –dried parsley, garlic salt, and onion powder. Make sure chips are coated.

In a skillet melt the coconut oil over medium heat. When the oil sizzles place them in the oil for about 1 min till they get slightly brown. Do not over crowd the pan. Best to do in small batches. Use a slotted spoon or spatula to remove your chips from the coconut oil. Drain the chips on a layer of paper towels, and repeat till all chips have been fried and blotted.

Then place all the cooked chips on a baking sheet and bake for 1 minute. Remove and serve warm. Sprinkle with sea salt and garnish with fresh thyme.

*NOTE: if you do not want to fry the chips you can take coated chips, lay them out on a baking sheet sprayed with coconut oil and bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Sweet Potato Hummus

Yields: 6 servings

If you are looking for a light, healthy snack this sweet potato hummus is bursting with flavor, spice and color. Because of its high protein content, it will help control your appetite and mood. My dad named it the caviar of hummus—exclaiming, that it was almost illegal for something so nutritious to be this delicious. Pair this with my Potato Chip recipe for the perfect blending of protein and carbs.

1 large sweet potato (about 9 ounces)

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

5 tablespoons olive oil (plus additional, as needed, for thinning)

2 tablespoons tahini

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, peeled

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch of nutmeg

Position the baking rack in the middle and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Wrap the sweet potato in foil and bake in a shallow baking pan until it can be easily pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow the potato to cool completely.

Peel the skin off the sweet potato and transfer to a food processor fitted with a blade. Add the chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt, and nutmeg, and process until smooth. If the hummus is too thick, add a little extra olive oil or water and process until the desired consistency is reached.

MY FAT DAD is as much a coming of age memoir as it is a recipe collection from Dawn’s upbringing and culinary adventures in Manhattan. Her recipes include some of her grandmother’s favorite traditional Jewish dishes, to healthier interpretations and creations. Her father’s life-long struggle with food, along with her grandmother’s love of cooking fresh foods, led Dawn to become a well-respected nutritionist, NY Times blogger and chronicle her story in her best-selling book. Today her dad is a healthy 210 pounds and vegan.

“Dawn Lerman grew up Jewish in the 70’s. I grew up Italian. Might sound different, but for the most part, it’s the same. Especially when it comes to food. The philosophy was simple, food = love. My Fat Dad hilariously and poignantly captures that essence. Whether you’re Italian, Jewish, or anything else you can relate to how family, food, and the love of both affect how we grow up, and live our life. Mangia!”

—Ray Romano, Emmy award-winning actor

“The Manhattan nutritionist was raised by a diet junkie who tried every regimen under the sun and food — or the lack of it — ruled her life. My Fat Dad is about her eccentric upbringing and her constant state of hunger as Albert imposed his wacky ways on the whole family.” The New York Post

“My Fat Dad is an exploration of the many ways food shapes our connection to family. It also includes many delightful recipes.” Michel Martin, NPR, All Things Considered

“It is clear Lerman ‘s life is centered around the table and she gives readers a seat at hers” Baltimore Jewish Times

” ‘My Fat Dad’ is a memoir of food, love and starvation” New York Daily News

ABOUT DAWN LERMAN, MA, CHHC, LCAT

Dawn Lerman Nutritionist Blogger AuthorDawn Lerman is a Manhattan based nutritionist, bestselling author of My Fat Dad: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family with Recipes, and a contributor to the New York Times Well Blog. She has been featured on NBC, NPR, Huff Post TV as well as several other news outlets. Her company Magnificent Mommies provides nutrition education to student, teachers and corporation. Dawn counsels clients on weight loss, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diet-related conditions. She is a sought-after speaker and cooking teacher and lives in New York with her two children.

For more information about Dawn, go to www.DawnLerman.net .

 

Cookbook Provides Uncomplicated Yet Sophisticated Cooking for Everyday

Award-winning cookbook author, Lee Clayton Roper, shows home cooks how to explore their culinary creativity with her award-winning, delicious cookbook, Fresh Tastes.  This beautiful book delivers over 170 flavorful recipes, essential cooking tips and delightful stories to spark inspiration in your kitchen.

Lee takes the “complicated” out of timeless classics, simplifying the process while ramping up flavors, using fresh ingredients when and where possible.  She shares personal reflections on lessons she has learned in the kitchen from those who have inspired her, along with 65 beautiful food photos, along with process shots of key preparation steps.
Fresh Tastes CookbookFresh Tastes epitomizes Lee’s culinary tastes, balancing an innovative approach with uncomplicated preparation techniques. Sophisticated in flavor and beautiful to present, the recipes in Fresh Tastes are prepared with the best quality, readily available ingredients designed to maximize flavor. Some of Lee’s delicious recipes include:
Prosciutto, Fig and Goat Cheese Tarts
Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Soup
Tomato and Peach Salad with Lime-Balsamic Dressing
Layered Salmon Salad with Avocado-Lime Yogurt Dressing
Grilled Rosemary-Dijon Chicken Breasts
Spicy Pork Chops with Argentine Chimichurri Sauce
Halibut with Celery Root Puree and Tomato Garnish
Chipotle Lime Shrimp Tacos with Tomato Mango Salsa
Roasted Root Vegetable Pot Pie
Peruvian Artichoke Tart
Pear Kuchen
Fresh Fruit with Brandy Custard Sauce
Drawing from her decades of experience, Lee provides readers with helpful advice on what is best for the dish, the flavor and the cook, considering such essential variables as seasonality and availability. Recipes in Fresh Tastes were evaluated by a team of volunteer testers across the country. Only the best, most flavorful, eye catching dishes made the cut. Fresh, flavorful and inspired, this collection of hand selected recipes in Fresh Tastes transcends the kitchen, reminding us all that every meal can and should be a simple yet sophisticated celebration of life.
“My approach with this cookbook starts with the confidence that, with the right preparation and a pinch of creativity, every dish can be extraordinary,” Lee explains.  “I have intentionally kept recipes and ingredients easy to get, often providing alternative substitutions.”
Lee Clayton Roper is an award-winning cookbook author, cooking instructor, public speaker and TV personality.  Her first book, A Well-Seasoned Kitchen received numerous rave reviews and is often featured in local and national press.  In 2010, A Well-Seasoned Kitchen achieved national acclaim, winning the prestigious “Living Now” gold medal.  With Fresh Tastes Lee expands her recipe collection, serving up fresh, delicious and sophisticated dishes guaranteed to inspire creativity in kitchen everywhere.  Lee tours the country sharing recipes and cooking tips and techniques in sold-out classes, leading cooking demonstrations, and is a frequent guest on radio and television and in print. 
“Roper’s follow up to A Well-Seasoned Kitchen expands on the approachable favorites that made her first cookbook such a hit, this time with a ‘fresh’ take on classics that lend themselves to parties and get-togethers.  This is a solid effort with practical dishes readers will likely find themselves returning to.”
Publisher’s Weekly and Entertaining Inspiration
FRESH TASTES
From A Well-Seasoned Kitchen
By Lee Clayton Roper
Southwestern Publishing Group
Hardcover/$34.95 usd
ISBN-13: 978-0984116362
Try these fresh and delicious recipes ( reprinted with permission from Fresh Tastes by Lee Clayton Roper):
APPLE, WALNUT AND STILTON CHEESE SALAD
SERVES: 6
The British have known for years that apples and Stilton cheese are a wonderful combination. In this delicious salad, they’re mixed together with spinach, walnuts and a walnut-flavored vinaigrette.I like to serve this salad with any grilled meat or alone as a meal.
1/4 cup raspberry balsamic vinegar*
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup walnut oil*
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 ounces mixed baby greens (spinach, arugula, lettuce)
2 large Gala or other red apples, unpeeled, cored and chopped
1 cup (6 ounces) chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
1 1/2 to 2 cups (6 to 8 ounces) Stilton cheese, crumbled**
*If you can’t find raspberry balsamic vinegar, use regular raspberry vinegar and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey. If you can’t find walnut oil, substitute olive oil and add a few more walnuts.
**There are 2 types of Stilton cheese: blue and white. Either will work in this recipe. If you can’t find Stilton, you can substitute Gorgonzola or other forms of blue cheese.
In a medium glass jar with fitted lid (an empty Dijon mustard jar works well), whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice and oil until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.
In a large bowl, toss together mixed greens, chopped apple, walnuts and cheese. Just before serving, toss with just enough dressing to coat the lettuce (you may have some dressing left over). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
VARIATION IN PRESENTATION: If you want to have a more formal, individually plated salad, then instead of chopping the apples, core and slice them. Toss the greens with part of the dressing and divide among six individual salad plates. Arrange the apple slices in a circular pattern over the spinach. Sprinkle the walnuts and cheese crumbles over the top. Drizzle with remaining dressing.
SEA BASS WITH A PISTACHIO CRUST
SERVES: 6
This dish comes together quickly and is delicious paired with green beans and roasted potatoes. It’s a bit on the rich side, so I suggest using fillets no more than 5 ounces each. If using one large fillet, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
While the general rule of thumb for cooking fish is 10 minutes per inch of thickness, I’ve included the option to cook these filets for 12 minutes per inch. I find that with the crust on top, it can take a bit longer. It’s really to your taste — just remember, it will continue cooking after you take it out of the oven and let it rest.
6 (4- to 5-ounce) skinless Chilean sea bass fillets
1 cup salted, dry roasted pistachio nuts, very finely chopped (can chop in a food processor)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Place sea bass fillets in prepared pan. In a small bowl, combine the nuts, sugar, lemon juice, dill and pepper. Spoon the mixture evenly over each fillet, pressing down to adhere.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes per 1-inch of thickness of the fillet, or until fish reaches 140 to 145 degrees when measured with an instant-read thermometer. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
MAKE AHEAD: Fish with topping can be prepared but not baked up to 4 hours in advance, covered and refrigerated.
For the Silo, Trina Kaye. 

Fathers Day Gifts To Undoubtedly Impress

Like millions of others, each June you may find yourself struggling to find that perfect Fathers Day gift for the important “dads” in your life, whether that be your own father, husband, boyfriend, brother or other deserving and meaningful man. While most gracious gift recipients will dutifully smile and nod no matter how underwhelming the product pick, the reality is that it’s the gesture of giving, itself—the recognition of a job being well done—that’s what’s important. That said, there are certainly a myriad of gift ideas that’ll evoke genuine joy. Here are a few that I like this season.

Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Kit Subscription Service – $40-50/mo. usd

Help Dad become a masterful home mixologist with a Father’s Day gift from Shaker & Spoon! The company offers a monthly subscription service that delivers the craft cocktail experience right to your home: think Blue Apron for cocktails! Each month Dad will receive a box via Priority Mail containing three brand new, original recipes created by world-class bartenders, and enough ingredients like syrups, bitters, mixers and even garnishes for 12 cocktails (4 from each recipe). All he’ll have to do is supply his favorite spirit to mix in. As well, an email is sent before each box arrives with suggestions for a libation that’ll work well with the recipes as well as bar tools he should have on hand. When each box arrives via priority mail, Dad will have everything he needs to take his cocktail game to the next level. He’ll surely be the life of the party.

photo: Luxco

Rebel Yell Bourbon – Starting at $26.99 usd

Speaking of tasty libations, Dads with a passion for well-made spirits and cocktails will certainly appreciate a bottle of Rebel Yell Bourbon. It’ll add a smooth kick of flavor and a warm, cozy finish to your favorite mixed drinks. One recipe great for Father’s Day is “Mike’s Rebel Yell Boozy Bourbon and Bacon Shake.” Chef Mike Johnson, owner of the award-winning Sugarfire Smokehouse in St. Louis, curated this special boozy shake that’s sure to leave Dad’s mouth watering for more. All you need to do to create this delicious shake is blend Rebel Yell Bourbon, ice cream, caramel drizzle and crumbled bacon. Garnish with whipped cream, more caramel drizzle, and a slice of peppered bacon. Then, watch the smiles ensue.

photo: Uno Alla Volta

Artisan Drinkware from Uno Alla Volta – Starting at $45.00 usd

Bring a unique and decidedly gorgeous touch to your kitchen with artisan drinkware from Uno Alla Volta (which means “one at a time”). Entertain your guests in superb style with the handcrafted drinkware items they offer, like hand-painted wine glasses and hand-thrown mugs fashioned by the hearts and hands of skilled artisans. Because each item is individually created by hand, no two will ever be exactly alike. The line of Sealife Wine Glasses of Verona is a show-stopper. Available in various designs like a seahorse, red fish, mermaid, dolphin and turtle, this glassware is handmade in a third-generation workshop in Verona, Italy where ordinary glass is transformed into stunning works of art. Each large format wine glass measures 8.5 inches high and holds 20 ounces, and is certain to add whimsical beach-chic style and an artful element to your wine bar. For hot beverages, the company’s hand-thrown stoneware Nautical Mermaid Mug is another gorgeous ocean-oriented option, and the masculine Mustache Mug is certainly a great fit for Father’s Day. Artisan JoAnn hand-throws each stoneware mug on a wheel, adds hand-cut details and a handle, and then fires, glazes and fires each one again—all from within her Pocono Mountains studio.

photo: Urban Mattress

Urban Mattress – The Perfect Loft Pillow  – $70 usd
There might be no more valuable Father’s Day gift than a good night’s sleep, which you can help facilitate for Dad with The Perfect Loft Pillow from Urban Mattress. This impeccable pillow isn’t too hard or too soft thanks to a combination of Tencel —a natural fiber made from the pulp of the eucalyptus tree—and recycled polyester. Together these create an airy and light-feeling pillow, and then the addition of shredded natural latex adds just the right amount of support. The result is a pillow with the perfect amount of loft. What’s more, it’s customizable as the zippered Tencel cover lets users adjust the amount of filling to their individual preferences.

photo: Ozone

Ozone Socks  – Starting at $9.50 usd
Ozone designer socks most certainly aren’t your typical Father’s Day sock gifts, as this brand effectively merges fashion and fun. The sock styles from this company are suited for every occasion, and the line includes fashion socks, club socks, novelty socks and even silly socks. This company is passionate about its products, never sacrificing on quality. Their eclectic styles have been seen in some of the industry’s leading fashion magazines over the past decade, helping set benchmarks for what’s cool and hip in footwear. With fresh and innovative concepts, the list of Ozone offerings is impressive and includes shoe socks, safe sox, hemp socks, radionic socks, tattoo socks, motorcycle socks, the replacement sock, and more.

photo: Cherry Americas

Cherry MX Silent Keyboard  – $149.99 usd
When you’re wracking your brain for a Father’s Day gift for the guy who seemingly has it all, here’s a thoughtful and practical tech gift idea he’s sure to appreciate. Cherry, the specialist for computer input devices, recently unveiled their MX Board Silent Keyboard—a model based on their notoriously reliable G80-3000 mechanical keyboard design. Cherry combines this tried-and-true bestselling product with its new MX Silent switches to create a device that keeps keyboard noise—whether at home or in a hectic office space—to an absolute minimum. This new high-end keyboard is ideally suited for even volume-sensitive environments such as large open floor plan rooms or community offices, enabling silent keystrokes with Cherry’s patented noise reduction technology, but without sacrificing writing performance…or durability. In fact, Cherry guarantees a service life for this keyboard of over 50 million keystrokes. Functionality features include “N-Key Rollover,” allowing up to 14 keys to be pressed simultaneously without “ghost” keypress effect. Also, the MX Silent-switches have a uniquely shaped rubber pad compared to conventional switches. The MX Board Silent is offered in two versions MX Red or MX Black. Both exhibit linear switching characteristics but differ in the required release force: 45 centi-newtons for the MX Red Silent and for those who prefer a slightly higher resistance, 60 centi-newtons for the MX Black Silent.

‘The Millionaire Blueprint—Unrevealed Secrets of a Millionaire Mind’ CD Series  – $99 usd

For those ‘Boss Dads’ and other personal finance-minded fathers out there who are working tirelessly toward financial freedom, perhaps a new and fresh mindset will help them achieve those goals. Consider this CD series from self-made millionaire Wesley Virgin, which offers techniques intended to transform your mindset and install new beliefs so your goals and desires can be achieved faster. This includes what established millionaires and billionaires do on a monthly basis to “keep the money train moving in their favor,” resetting your relationship with money to that of a wealthy person (despite what’s currently in your bank account), eliminating “wealth destroyers,” the value of having a “millionaire mentor” in your life (and how to attract one), how to utilize body language to your favor, gaining the confidence and assurance needed to realize high-caliber success in a relatively short timeframe and how to push past your comfort zone to see and capitalize on new opportunities, among other tips and techniques. Since much in this video series promotes the power of positive thinking and taking control of one’s own destiny, in tandem with techniques taken from real millionaires and billionaires, with this gift idea Dad could very well listen, learn and laugh all the way to the bank.
For those food and entertaining-oriented dads who spend the majority of time at home in the kitchen undertaking epicurean exploits, here’s an apt assortment of tools to help ease and expedite those culinary endeavors.

photo: SharkNinja Operating LLC

Ninja Coffee Bar System  – $199.00 usd
The Ninja Coffee Bar System will bring out the Barista in anyone. Far more than a coffee maker, this able appliance facilitates a coffee house experience in the comfort of your own kitchen. It comes complete with integrated frother, six brew sizes and five brew types, including the Ninja exclusive Café Forte that amplifies and enhances the natural subtle flavors of your favorite coffee. You can make a full carafe for visitors or different individual specialty drinks for yourself every day. The Ninja Coffee Bar System provides endless options for delicious, custom-crafted coffee beverages all without leaving home.

photo: Alumbre Coffee

Alumbre Coffee  – $12.50 – $22.00 usd
Another great coffee find for connoisseurs—the bean itself—is from Alumbre Coffee—an exquisitely hand-crafted coffee line hailing from the legendary coffee fields of Costa Rica, Colombia, Sumatra and Ethiopia. Alumbre, named for the river that flows west facing the hills of the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica, is long revered as home to some of the finest coffee farms in the world. With hand-picked coffee beans from heritage growing regions, Alumbre roastmasters expertly coax the most alluring flavor notes to create five ultra-premium coffees. By wholly controlling the process from seed to cup to proffer a luxurious and authentically rich coffee experience, Alumbre Coffee stands apart from other brands. This new exclusive coffee can only be found on the Alumbre website.

photo: SharkNinja Operating LLC

Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl DUO – $129.00 usd
Here’s a fab find for fitness-minded fathers. With one base and two interchangeable vessels, the 1200-watt Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl DUO device easily switches from a powerful nutrient and vitamin extractor to a versatile nutrient fusion processor. The nutrient extraction feature unlocks existing hidden vitamins, minerals and other healthy components by blending whole fruits and vegetables, including portions that are normally discarded, and breaking them down to create an array of delicious, nutrient-rich juices and smoothies. The nutrient fusion function creates a blend from foods that contain nutrients like fruits, vegetables and other victuals, transforming diverse, fresh ingredients into flavorful meals, snacks and desserts.

photo: BELLA Housewares

BELLA 2.5L Air Fryer  – $99.99 usd
Here’s a way Dad can enjoy “healthier” fried foods in the man cave, the tailgate or pretty much anywhere else, prepared with little to no oil and in a fraction of the time. Whatever you can deep fry, you can air fry with the BELLA 2.5 Air Fryer and save the fat and calories! It’s not just healthier, but also safer, like having a portable convection-type oven at your fingertips. This high-performance system heats food by circulating hot air around it, while the stainless-steel heating element allows for faster heat up (and recovery) resulting in quick and even cooking every time. It’s an efficient and easy-to-use deep fryer alternative, allowing you to indulge in all your favorite fried foods without cheating on your diet.

photo: BELLA Housewares

BELLA 6QT Pressure Cooker – $79.99 usd
Dad always pressed for time? Have a family dinner ready fast with this 6-quart electric pressure cooker also from BELLA. Life’s full of daily pressures and stress, so let this appliance take on the task of helping you prepare a quick and delicious meal for the family or for a get-together with friends. This versatile model comes with 10 pre-programmed functions including sauté, slow cook, stew and steam. It cooks up to 70% faster than conventional cooking and its removable non-stick cooking pot and accessories are dishwasher safe, so clean up is a breeze. Whether you’re whipping up a gourmet meal or looking for good old-fashioned comfort food, the BELLA 6QT Pressure Cooker can make dinnertime a no-brainer.

photo: SharkNinja Operating LLC

Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System – $99.00 usd
Yes cleaning tools are a cool gift idea! Especially since cleaning kitchen and dining room floors in particular can be a huge hassle. These areas receive high traffic and often become messy even after a single cooking session. As so many people today have busy schedules, finding time to thoroughly clean the space can be futile and frustrating. Fortunately, the power of smarter cleaning can be at dad’s fingertips with the Shark Genius Hard Floor Cleaning System. An evolution in hard floor care, this system offers a flexible, tailored, all-in-one solution that delivers easy and convenient cleaning. Direct steam channeling distributes steam over the surface of the pocket, creating an ultra-wide cleaning zone for loosening dirt and grime. Steam blaster technology also targets annoyances like stains, stuck-on food, pet messes, grease and even scuff marks on command. And, since nobody likes changing a dirty, soaked pad during or after mopping, this touch-free technology ensures you’ll never have to. This is a great way to harness the power of steam to clean and sanitize your sealed hard floors with no harsh chemicals, and no residue to boot. It even removes up to 99.9% of common household bacteria.

For the Silo, Merilee Kern.

As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority–a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She identifies and reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her online , on Twitter , on Facebook and on Instagram.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or sponsored at no cost to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***

Cooking With Toronto’s Steam Whistle Beer Is Versatile

Steam Whistle Beer RecipesSteam Whistle Brewing recently surveyed their fans, friends and followers on the brewery’s Facebook and  Twitter pages to find out if they had any interesting alternative uses for beer.

While many indicated that they prefer their beer for drinking, an overwhelming majority of the alternative uses for Steam Whistle involved using it when cooking, in one way or another.

“Beer is great for cooking because it is so versatile,” said Sybil Taylor, Communications Director for Steam Whistle Brewing. “Though wine is more commonly used in cooking, beer offers a balanced flavour, not too sweet or not too bitter, and adds a rich, earthy undertone to foods without overwhelming the dish.”

"Cheers" Sybil (Browne) Taylor Marketing Communications at Steam Whistle Brewing
“Cheers” Sybil (Browne) Taylor Marketing Communications at Steam Whistle Brewing

 

The following are just a few of the alternative cooking uses that came out of the survey:

Marinate Meat

Beer is slightly acidic, which makes it an excellent meat tenderizer. Beer also won’t alter the meat’s flavour as much as wine or vinegar-based marinades will. Slice halfway into the meat in rows of ridges to tenderize tougher cuts and to expose more of the tissue to the marinade. Pop into a covered dish, tupperware container or freezer bag with the marinade and refrigerate preferably overnight or at minimum a few hours before cooking.

Do not drink the marinate!

http://www.steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipe_detail.php?id=36

Braise Chops

Cook chops in a pan until browned on one each side. Add the beer to the pan and swirl it gently to combine all of the ingredients. Continue cooking the chops to your desired temperature, about 4 minutes for medium. Once the chops are finished, remove them to a plate and continue reducing the liquid in the pan until it reaches a glossy, gravy-like consistency and pour it over the chops.

http://www.steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipe_detail.php?id=136

Make Pizza Dough

Everyone loves beer with pizza, but what about beer in your pizza! Using your favourite beer in a pizza dough recipe will create a great tasting beer pizza crust. Then serve Steam Whistle Pilsner with your pizza – beer cuts through spicy heat and the carbonation cleanses the oil from the cheese and meat toppings and leaves you ready to taste more.

http://www.steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipe_detail.php?id=142

 

 

Steam Clams or Mussels

In a large steamer pot, mix a bottle of beer with a few cloves of garlic and some other tasty ingredients, then add a pound of clams or mussels. Steam until the shells begin to open. Easy as that! The beer imports a nice flavour.  http://www.steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipe_detail.php?id=116

 

Bake Beer Bread

Beer bread can be a simple  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_bread  quick bread or a   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread  yeast-bread flavored with beer. Both  beer and bread have a common creation process: Yeast is used to turn sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol. In the case of bread a great percentage of the alcohol evaporates during the baking process. Click here for a link to of our http://www.steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipe_detail.php?id=133  Steam Whistle Beer Bread recipes.

Want more? Try one of Steam Whistle’s 150+ recipes for http://steamwhistle.ca/fun/recipes.php Cooking with Beer at your next dinner party.  For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Gimme Steam Whistle

 

About Steam Whistle Brewing:

Steam Whistle Brewing, an independent brewery in Toronto, Ontario has a singular focus of making one beer of exceptional quality that Canadians can be proud of. They make their refreshing Pilsner with traditional brewing methods and only four, all natural ingredients (spring water, prairie malted barley, hops and yeast – all GMO free). Opened in 2000, the brewery was named Steam Whistle, drawing from the inspirational sounds of steam rushing from factory whistles, signaling the end of a fulfilling workday and a time for personal reward.  The brewery is housed in an old CP Rail Roundhouse, once home to the steam locomotives that helped pioneer this nation.

 

Auto Clean Your Grill With Advanced Bluetooth BBQ Robot Available Now

Keep grime at bay with the perfect, must-have holiday gift for every busy person who loves gadgets and useful technology. Grillbot is the world’s first automatic grill cleaning robot.

Grillbot makes life much easier for BBQ chefs. It saves them time and lots of dirty work cleaning grills and letting them get back to spending more quality time entertaining family and friends. The award-winning Grillbot takes the time and effort out of cleaning even the dirtiest grills.

Designed for use on any style grill, simply place the Grillbot on the grill’s surface, press a button, and the robot does all the cleaning. The device is driven by a powerful CPU that controls movement, speed and direction of brushes. It comes with an LCD alarm and timer that can be set for a light scrub, deep clean or something in between, and notifies when cleaning is done. 

 The innovative Grillbot comes in four colors and includes the following features:

  • Three high-power electric motors
  • Smart Brain that controls movement, speed and direction of the brushes
  • Brushes pop right off to put in dishwashers for easy cleaning
  • Rechargeable lithium ion battery

The Grillbot comes as a standalone grill cleaner, or an optional bundle with a carrying 3 brass brushes installed and a carrying case. Grillbot has already sold over 100,000 units globally, including in new markets such as Russia, Australia, Canada and Brazil. The Grillbot is $99.95USD and comes with a one-year warranty. 

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 2017, Grillbot  demonstrated its advanced technology with the Bluetooth-enabled Grillbot Pro. It comes with the same, great features as the original plus the addition of Bluetooth technology, giving BBQ chefs even more freedom and leisure time to watch games, relax with family or cater to guests. 

Grillbot is now available at over 500 Home Depot stores nationwide. It’s also available at a wide variety of other retailers such as ACE Hardware, True Value, Sur La Table, Lowe’s, and at websites Amazon.comBedbathandbeyond.comWalmart.com and more or contact marketingdirector@thesilo.ca.  For the Silo, Jennifer A. Marca.

About Grillbot
As with most inventions, Grillbot began with an idea. One day, founder Ethan Woods was getting ready to use his grill and did not have a brush available to clean it. While trying to clean a stubborn grill with a wire brush, he wondered if a robot could be created to do the job. He took a power drill, attached a brush and cleaned the grill. He put together a design team and that makeshift drill became the sophisticated computer-driven Grillbot! Since then, Grillbot has sold over 100,000 units and has received many awards and accolades for its innovative design. Grillbot continues to expand its line and is developing two new home robotic solutions designed to simplifying your life one robot at a time in 2017. 

 

Montreal’s top chefs prepared gourmet menu supporting Quebec Cancer groups

Olivier Perret (Executive Chef), Fisun Ercan (Barbounya & Su), Alexandre Gosselin (Chez Victoire), Christophe Morel (Chocolatier), Antonio Park (Park), Matthieu Saunier (Osco) and Olivier Potier (Pastry Chef). Click here
Olivier Perret (Executive Chef), Fisun Ercan (Barbounya & Su), Alexandre Gosselin (Chez Victoire), Christophe Morel (Chocolatier), Antonio Park (Park), Matthieu Saunier (Osco) and Olivier Potier (Pastry Chef).
Click here

 

Brief – An exceptional event at Sofitel Montreal’s Renoir restaurant which organized a special evening combining gastronomy, entertainment and generosity to benefit the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and The Cedars Cancer Institute, on January 22nd  2014.

Our Executive Chef, Olivier Perret, who was touched by cancer, gathered his Montreal Chef friends who each prepared a dish as part of the 6-course gourmet menu served that night: Fisun Ercan (Barbounya & Su), Alexandre Gosselin (Chez Victoire), Christophe Morel (Chocolatier), Antonio Park (Park), Matthieu Saunier (Osco) and Olivier Potier (Pastry Chef).  See Supplemental below for menu listing CP 

The success of that evening was due, for the most part, to the participation of our guests of honour, Ms. Mitsou Gélinas, spokesperson for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, Mr. Andrew Carter, spokesperson for The Cedars Cancer Institute, Ms. Heidi Hollinger, Canadian photographer and Ms. Gabrielle Destroismaisons, Quebec singer.

Many sponsors also took part in the event, including Moët & Chandon, Ogilvy, Maison Birks, Porter Airlines and Pro-Staging, as well as generous donators who contributed prizes for the raffle and auction: Atout France, Club Med, and Air Canada Rouge.

Montreal Golden Mile Sofitel Luxury Hotels

We would also like to thank the Azrieli Foundation for their generous donation, as well as our Sofitel Ambassadors whose fantastic work and involvement to this cause were instrumental in the success of this evening.

All the profits from this event as well as the money raised by the silent auction, more than 27,000$, will be donated to the two foundations.

Foundation Cancer du sein du Quebec

A registered charity, the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation has a mission to fund research and innovation, support women affected by the disease and their families, and promote their interests, as well as making breast health a priority through education and awareness initiatives. In the past five years, the Foundation has granted more than $17 million for the fight against breast cancer.

Situated in Montreal, Quebec, The Cedars Cancer Institute is a hospital-based charity whose mission is to provide comprehensive cancer-care and funding to patients and health care professionals at the McGill University Health Centre specifically adult sites the Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal General Hospital and, through its Sarah Cook Fund to Pediatric Oncology at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. For the Silo, Stéphanie Segoura

 

From left to right: Mitsou Gélinas (spokesperson for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation), Andrew Carter, (spokesperson for the Cedars Cancer Institute), Francine Cléroux (Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation), Sharon Azrieli Perez (Soprano), Stephanie Segoura (Sofitel Montreal General Manager) and Jeff Shamie (President of The Cedars Cancer Institute).
From left to right: Mitsou Gélinas (spokesperson for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation), Andrew Carter,
(spokesperson for the Cedars Cancer Institute), Francine Cléroux (Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Breast Cancer
Foundation), Sharon Azrieli Perez (Soprano), Stephanie Segoura (Sofitel Montreal General Manager) and Jeff Shamie
(President of The Cedars Cancer Institute).

From left to right: Olivier Potier (Pastry Chef), Christophe Morel (Chocolatier), Fisun Ercan (Barbounya & Su), Olivier Perret (Renoir), Alexandre Gosselin (Chez Victoire), Matthieu Saunier (Osco), Heidi Hollinger (Canadian photographer), Gabrielle Destroismaisons (Quebec singer) and the Chefs joined by Armelle Tardy-Joubert (President Atout France in Canada)
From left to right: Olivier Potier (Pastry Chef), Christophe Morel (Chocolatier), Fisun Ercan (Barbounya & Su),
Olivier Perret (Renoir), Alexandre Gosselin (Chez Victoire), Matthieu Saunier (Osco), Heidi Hollinger (Canadian
photographer), Gabrielle Destroismaisons (Quebec singer) and the Chefs joined by Armelle Tardy-Joubert
(President Atout France in Canada)

 

Supplemental- Menu as served-

Renoir

Renoir

Renoir

 

Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “art de vivre”.

Sofitel Legend and & Sofitel So are two labels that come to enrich Sofitel Luxury hotels. Sofitel Legend hotels are iconic and mythical; they are often centuries-old listed heritage buildings: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan.

Sofitel So hotels are new « boutique hotels » characterized by a stylish focus on contemporary design by famous architects and/or embellished by international celebrities from the world of fashion, design or art: Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre, Sofitel So Bangkok and Sofitel So Singapore (2013). Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com