Food Meditations...

In Season: Broccoli, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Empire Apples and Foraging

2021-04-15T12:08:00.127+02:00

Home entertaining

Chef’s Table "... anyone needs an indispensable dish for entertaining ... some can’t-miss dishes that can be cook at home, allowing time for relaxing with friends and family...

Spaghetti with Broccoletti #ItalianFlavors by ockstyle

It's Broccoli & Broccoletti Time (update)

Here's a comprehensive guide on how to grow broccoli, the adaptable and resilient vegetable that doesn’t require lots of space to thrive". Check this out, maybe it's about time we eat your own veggies! via Happy DIY Home

From the easy and fast Italian recipes, here’s my family favorite fast lunch: “Spaghetti e friarielli” or “Broccoletti” (spaghetti with stir fried broccoli rabe), a bitterly delicious cornerstone of Neapolitan cooking. via Appetibilis

Here some Food for thought:. What if we'd be practicing mindfulness while cooking? It’s that time of the day that offers a wonderful opportunity of being present and ponder… (or not). via Appetibilis

Broccoli is a green vegetable from the cabbage family. It is generally sold in heads, which have multiple florets... Here are some great Broccoli recipes via bbc.co.uk

Boost anti-cancer properties of broccoli by spicing it up via naturalnews.com

Scientists unveil 'super broccoli' with more heart-health boosting glucoraphanin via nydailynews.com

Forages for edible

Want to go foraging? Here’s Hank Shaw’s checklist ...

Join the Food Styling and Photography Club on Facebook to improve your skills in food photography and food styling, learn something about cooking and enjoy the visual.

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas."
~George Bernard Shaw (quotegarden.com) Delightfully yours,
Food Meditations

In season A relative whippersnapper in the apple world, the homegrown Empire ... Read more: Empire Apples; nymag.com

Tuscany iconic dish There are a number of great "city signature" dishes that are universal and equally delicious in destinations other than their origin ... Read more: Dishing on an Italian Classic; wsj.com

Healthy corner & Gluten-Free notes ~ Gluten - the good and the bad; jpost.com

Check Also: ~ ::Inspired @ockstyle:: On photography, styling and everything chocolate, ... ~ ::The ::GlutenFree Etc @FoodMeditations:: Healthy eating in the global food community ...

Image by ockstyle via Flickr

The Art of Photographing Food for Bloggers

2021-02-12T12:37:00.001+01:00

Food, the fact that it’s often at hand, have made it a much-captured subject in the world of photography. It's the focus of everyday cooking, of still life images, or conceptual fine-art photography and, most times then not, is the product of the collaboration of food photographers and stylists (food and props). So, how do you photograph food?

Taking great photographs of food is a hard-earned skill—after all, that's why some people are lucky enough to get paid for it. But what separates magazine-worthy photos from their less impressive counterparts isn't a fancy camera or expensive equipment...

We’re all at different stages of our food photography journey and we’ve all had amazing advice from people who’ve walked the walk before us.

Great food photography takes careful planning and more than just a point-and-shoot camera. Consider these insights and tips from professional photographers when beginning your journey into the realm of culinary photography.

How can you improve the quality of your own work? Here you find an introduction to photography written for beginners, with several tips and suggestions to take your skills as far as possible.

But do not get discouraged, the images you see in magazines and books will almost certainly have had some input from a stylist, one who is experienced with working with different foods and props in order to make everything look tantalizingly presentable.

How to choose which oil is right for you!

2019-01-26T13:31:00.000+01:00

Which oil is right for you? That depends largely on the type of cooking you’re doing. An oil’s smoke point, which is the point when oil starts burning and smoking, is one of the most important things to consider. The 10 Best and Worst Oils For Your Health

When something is labeled vegetable oil, what exactly does that mean? Which option would be the best for frying and how do you store them all so they don't go rancid. How to Choose the Right Cooking Oil

Cooking tips

You better not be wasting a fortune deep-frying in olive oil. If you’re frying at home, you should be using vegetable oil. Bam. There you go. You’re welcome. This is the best oil for frying

Nutrition

While olive oil is well-known to be heart healthy, there are others that are equally beneficial and may be even more appropriate for certain foods or food preparations. Best Cooking Oils for High Cholesterol

Wellness

Fat can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Good fats (your best friend) are fats that exist as nature intended them and are unrefined. 10 Fats You Should Eat Every Day (Seriously)

Photo credits
Aaron Burden

Cod, Herring, Shark, Sheep... Good Viking Food!

2018-04-16T17:05:00.000+02:00

Travel Bites
Bringing people up-close to the source of their food is admirably rational, but that rotten fish seemed anything but... In Iceland, food is a challenge, not a meal. Good Viking food!

Photo credit: Steve Parfitt

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Quanto ne sai sul sushi? 10 domande per dimostrare di essere veri Shokunin, maestri del sushi... Fai il test!

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Croisement(s) : cuisiner est-il devenu un acte politique? Watch the video

FUN FACT: The traditional way of fermenting shark is to bury it in the ground and then urinating on it before letting it ferment for months. Sounds yummy, right?

7 Dishes You Have to Eat in Iceland - Like in most of Scandinavia, the cuisine is entirely inspired by the ingredients Icelanders have around them, from the free-roaming sheep to the cod, herring, and char that splash around the cold Arctic waters

Weight Management
Why all calories aren't created equal - Firstly, high value low calories can easily be confused with low value empty ones. “You are what you eat and absorb - food is more than just energy - it’s what repairs cells and keeps us nourished,”

Closed-Loop Cocktails, Prairie Cherry & Ikigai

2018-03-24T18:01:00.000+01:00

Cocktails of the future
A new wave of sustainably-minded bartenders are turning food waste that would typically end up in the trash into deliciously drinkable cocktails.
Today, as the bar world looks towards a more inventive, and often sustainable future, drink creation is increasingly hinging on the notion of closed-loop cocktails, highlighting responsibly-made spirits and calling on stealth techniques like in-house fermentation and force-carbonation.

Photo credit: Jez Timms

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E' possibile trasformare le nostre passioni in un lavoro? Ikigai è la risposta alla domanda da 1 milione di dollari...

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Ikigai
It’s more about what puts a smile on your face when you wake up in the morning and keeps you motivated. Finding your Ikigai

Love this... #ikigai
A post shared by r a c h a f a j j a r i 🍃 (@holi_health) on Mar 24, 2018 at 6:57am PDT

The secret cherry taking over Canada
Regional chefs and bakers pop them in everything from cookies to pies to ice cream, while orchards and restaurants combine their juice into things like wine, beer and even whisky...

Holiday Spirit :: Seasonal Sips, Mocktails and Modernist Design

2016-12-27T11:30:00.000+01:00

Mini Bundt Cakes :: Recipe and styling Orsola Ciriello Kogan;
Photo by Lucia Zeccara

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“There is no essential difference between the artist and the artisan.” ~ Walter Gropius

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Tasting Notes

Festive Cocktails :: Have you ever considered pairing your signature cocktail with your crazy festive sweater? Check this Large Batch Holiday Cocktails via Fix.com

Boozy Recipes to Get You in the Holidays Spirit via marieclaire.com

2 tips to pop the cork with style... How to Open Champagne Safely (Pics & Video) via Wine Folly

Mocktails

A tasty list of alcohol-free festive "mocktails", just as flavorful as the boozy version... Easy Non-Alcoholic Holiday Mixed Drink Recipes - 'cause there's nothing junior about the faux cocktails... 9 Mocktails That Are Worthy of New Year's Eve via townandcountrymag.com

Whether you are entertaining a large group, or just a handful of guests, here are The 11 Best New Year's Eve Mocktail Recipes via the11best.com

Party Time

It's never too late to plan the perfect party, and you definitely don't want to run out of champagne... 10 Last-Minute New Year's Eve Party Ideas - Quick New Year's Party Tips from Designers via elledecor.com

Dinner for One is an 18-minute comedy sketch - a baffling New Year’s tradition - starring two British comedians, May Warden and Freddie Frinton, as a 90-year-old socialite and her manservant... How Dinner For One became a NYE tradition via sbs.com.au

Modernist Design

Paul Klee’s innovative and unusual lesson plans, which often provided students with a step-by-step approach to artistic expression... Artistic expression :: Lesson #2 Observe a fish tank via artsy.net

Bauhaus defined modernist design and radically changed our relationship with everyday objects... via openculture.com

Comforting Bites

We are so blessed to "bee in a world" where honey exists... Check this 5 weird but useful uses for raw honey via AOL Food

For the cold-weather season... Hot Chocolate Recipes That'll Warm You Up On Chilly Days via The Huffington Post

About OCK :: updated

2016-10-28T12:14:00.001+02:00

Born in Italy and brought-up between the city and the countryside with fresh and genuine foods, thanks to my family’s love for everything organic, sustainable, local and seasonal.

Photographer, trained chef and pastry chef, food stylist, blogger, experienced in multilingual content creation & management, and social media.

Cooking, Styling, Photographing, Writing... Not necessarily in this order. [Read more :: Continua]

Good Grains, Pizza, Tea Story and the King of Pastry, M. Pierre Herme

2016-07-18T15:08:00.000+02:00

Chef Talk: Meet the first non restaurant-based chef to win... Pierre Herme, the best pastry chef in the world, talks just desserts via City A.M.

Russian props :: Porcelain tea cups...
photo: ©LuciaZeccara | styling: ockstyle

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“I love bright red drinks, don’t you?
They taste twice as good as any other color.”
~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Pizza Rut: What’s going on — and going wrong — with Italian pizza? Are Neopolitan Masters Losing Ground? via newsweek.com

Tasting Notes

This is the extraordinary story of the most ubiquitous and familiar Indian street food of the lot... The dark history behind India and the UK's favourite drink via BBC News

Food and Drink Trends for Every Decade: Most Popular Cocktails, Drinks, and Foods of All Time via elle.com

"When Anne came back from the kitchen Diana was drinking her second glassful of cordial... (Anne of Green Gables, LM Montgomery)" Food in books: raspberry cordial from Anne of Green Gables via theguardian.com

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Travel Bites

When in Maine, you must try lobster... 15 Cool Things You Never Knew About Maine Lobster via travelwithkids.about.com

Healthy News

Some of the most common chronic conditions, such as heart disease and type two diabetes, could be prevented by healthier diets... When will doctors start prescribing ‘food as medicine?’ via WIRED UK

The problem with wheat grain - the type found in most carbohydrates - is that it’s heavily processed, lacks any real nutritional value and is often difficult for the body to digest... Here are some good grains: 5 of the best wheat-free and gluten-free alternatives via getthegloss.com

Healthy News :: Cherry Goodness, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Diets and Poop

2016-07-06T19:00:00.000+02:00

HELLO!
#streetart #travel #italy #rome #iphoneography
by OCKSTYLE

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“Creativity takes courage." ~Henri Matisse

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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It’s no secret that what you eat affects the way you poop and... You’ve probably heard that you should eat more fiber to get things moving... Who Poops Better: Vegans, Vegetarians, Or Omnivores? via Rodale's Organic Life

Collage on concrete #streetart #rome #instarome #iphoneography
A photo posted by Orsola CK (@ockstyle) on Jun 12, 2016 at 7:30am PDT

Gluten Free

If you're switching out your regular all-purpose flour for something more nutritious, though, make sure it's really worth it... Top picks for gluten-free flours + tips and tricks for how to use them via NOLA.com

She wants coeliacs and those choosing to eat gluten free to be able to enjoy totally yum gluten free food with minimum fuss and... Gluten-free blogger Victoria Owens's recipes are all about the pleasure of good food via Irish Examiner

Wheat, rye and barley are all nutrition-rich bites, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that many of us are intolerant to gluten... How to manage gluten intolerance via Radio Times

Dairy Free

Sit down, take several deep breaths, and relax... New to the Dairy-Free Diet? Start Here! via Go Dairy Free

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Light and Delicious Recipes

Cherry Recipes to Savor the Cherry Goodness... 7 Cherry Recipes for all the (Remaining) Days of Summer

if you find yourself deciding that a vegan way of eating is for you, you're going to need recipes... 17 of the Most Delicious Vegan Recipes We Know via The Kitchn

Summer feast - delightful salads, dips and super slaws... BBQ Recipes | Side Dishes via Tesco Real Food

Health and Diet

When food enters your body, it goes through the digestive system. People assume all digestion happens in the stomach. Not true... Living With Crohn's Is A Bitch -- Going Gluten Free Isn't via huffingtonpost.ca

For those who truly cannot have gluten, gluten free foods are the perfect replacement for the breads and pastas they’ve always known and loved, but... Why You Shouldn't Follow a Gluten-Free Diet via cheatsheet.com

Teff, a small seed naturally gluten-free, with an exceptional nutritional profile... TEFF – gluten free, highly nutritious, big super grain of Ethiopia via FNB News

Teff [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Logos, Tools and Body Language :: The Internet Of Things

2016-06-19T18:27:00.004+02:00

Really? ©ockstyle

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ça va sans dire :: it goes without saying
via merriam-webster.com

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Start up kit

Branding is one of the key areas a business should focus on in order to differentiate themselves within a crowded market... 4 Basic Rules for Brand Survival via Truly Deeply

Writing effective online copy is very important in helping you grow your business... Copywriting: How to Get Your Blog Off the Ground via Surefire Social

If you aren't using graphics or videos yet, you're wasting a big opportunity... Why You Need to Go Visual in Social Media in 2016 via Inc.com

Misconceptions around the psychology of color... The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding via helpscout.net

Rule 1: The Writer Still Has to Ask the Right Questions... Three Rules for Writing Questions for a Q&A interview style piece via pentactics.com

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A picture a day...

Italy's most famous photo reporter, Gianni Berengo Gardin, has spent more than half a century documenting a disappearing world and now recognises that even his own profession is fading fast... Gianni Berengo Gardin's breathtaking images document Europe's industrialisation via Daily Mail Online

Food for thought

The value of a box-full of secure, easy-to-install, Internet-capable sensors might have abstract value on the consumer side of things. But... We've Been Approaching The Internet Of Things All Wrong via Co.Design | business + design

Video will not save your media business. Nor will bots, newsletters, a “morning briefing” app, a “lean back” iPad experience, Slack integration, a Snapchat channel, or a great partnership with Twitter... Your Media Business Will Not Be Saved via Medium

A group of students at the School of Visual Communication, Denmark, has created a clever and though-provoking campaign for the Danish Health Authority... Redesigned Logos Of Famous Food Brands Show How Unhealthy Their Products Are via DesignTAXI.com

Social(izing)

Humans have more than 700,000 forms of body language: facial expressions, gestures... Your Body Speaks: The Body Language Etiquette for Global Business via business2community.com

According to the FTC, native advertising is any piece of sponsored digital media that resembles the design, style, or functionality of non-sponsored media and... FTC Native Advertising Guide via tapinfluence.com

Functional Food, Traveling Gluten Free and the Climatarian Diet

2016-06-12T15:28:00.000+02:00

Travel Bites: Somewhere on Via Salaria, Rome | photo: ©ockstyle

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“The secret to being wrong isn't to avoid being wrong! The secret is being willing to be wrong. The secret is realizing that wrong isn't fatal.” ~ Seth Godin, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Whether you’re living with celiac disease or simply avoiding gluten for one reason or another, here are my three main things to consider before embarking on your next adventure… Traveling Gluten-Free in Italy… with a Basic Vocabulary via APPETIBILIS.net

Food Trends

Fueling interest in health and wellness with digital: "To eat healthy, you have to pay a lot of attention," says Dr. Frank Lipman... 2016 Food Trends on Google: The Rise of Functional Foods via Think with Google

Seaweed was invented approximately forever ago when Odin and Quetzalcoatl agreed the world needed oceans in which we could all pee... The 5 Most Moronic Food Trends Of 2016 (So Far) via Cracked.com

From root-to-stem dining, no-tipping restaurants, to hot chicken and the rise of food halls... Where to Find the Hottest Food Trends in 2016 via travelchannel.com

It’s well known that many foods popular in certain countries didn’t actually originate there but were in fact carried over by travelers or traders at some point... How the world's most popular foods have traveled all over the planet via independent.co.uk

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From turmeric everything to seriously upgraded oatmeal, these are the ingredients, products, and... The Coolest Food Trends in 2016 via Bon Appétit

Gluten Free

Carb concerns are hardly the only reason people are choosing to avoid grains... Why Grain-Free Flours Are the Next Hot Baking Trend via One Green Planet

Gluten-free and high-protein: Chickpea flour's time has finally come. It's naturally gluten-free, meaning there's no weird science going into making it suitable for those with wheat allergies in its au naturel state... via sheknows.com

Blueberry Muffins, a cannabis twist on a true, blue classic... Making Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins (with Weed) via Marijuana

Diet news

We might get the link between climate change and burning fossil fuels and even try to limit our use with solar panels and smaller cars, but there's less awareness that our food choices are also influencing climate change... Eating to cool the planet - are you ready for a climatarian diet? via smh.com.au

Ready to Launch :: Food Trucks, Blogging and... Sunday Nights (updated)

2016-05-25T15:54:00.000+02:00

Collage 20160525 by ockstyle

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Seth's Blog: There is more than one solution to your problem (and your problem is real)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Photo by Alysha Rosly on Unsplash

Startup Kit

Before you do anything at all, you will have to make sure that you love what you do, and that you are willing to stick with it to the end. Here's your 13-Step Guide to Starting a Business... via finimpact.com

How you can get started in the mobile food industry, whether you want to own a food truck, cart, trailer, kiosk or other on-the-go food business... The Legal Side of Owning a Food Truck via entrepreneur.com

Why most people will tell you they don't look forward to Sunday evenings? 12 things successful people do on Sunday nights via Business Insider

Different communities may attract different kinds of entrepreneurs... 30 Top Cities for Women Entrepreneurs via smallbiztrends.com

A lack of personal capital shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams... How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money via entrepreneur.com

On Blogging

...And while there are many articles written about why you should blog to grow your business or become an expert or make a whole bunch of money—the best recommendations are still found in the personal realization that blogging changes you, the writer... 15 Reasons I Think You Should Blog via becomingminimalist.com, and How to Start a Successful Blog Today via The Minimalists

Travel Bites

This is why you should never store milk on the top shelf of the fridge via Mirror Online

Why you should never give a Russian yellow flowers or make a toast with water in Germany: The extreme superstitions tourists should know from around the world... The extreme superstitions tourists should know from around the world via Daily Mail Online

There’s something unusual about Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera, Peru’s coffee co-operative... ‘Women’s Coffee’ creates opportunity via SBS Food

In Season :: AperiTapas, Springtime Rituals, Fava Beans and Pecorino Romano

2016-05-01T11:59:00.000+02:00

Springtime Food Styling :: Pasta, Fava Beans and Pecorino Romano via OCKSTYLE.com

Still-Life: Fresh "Fava Beans" in a freezer bag...
Styling: Orsola Ciriello Kogan | photo: ©SerenaEller

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“When the first fine spring days come, and the earth awakes and assumes its garment of verdure, when the perfumed warmth of the air blows on our faces and fills our lungs, and even appears to penetrate to our heart, we feel vague longings for undefined happiness, a wish to run, to walk at random, to inhale the spring.” ~ Guy de Maupassant

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Italicamente

Stuzzichino primaverile di reminiscenza laziale... Il bello della semplicità I crostini con fave e pecorino via Corriere.it

In Season

Known for their vibrant color and buttery, almost earthy notes, favas are one of the most prized beans of spring... Farmers market report: Fava beans are in season. Here are 9 recipes via LA Times

It's springtime, look for fresh shell-on beans at your farmers market... 10 Fava Bean Recipes for Our Favorite Dark Horse Legume via SAVEUR

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There's no denying that these fresh, meaty beans are delicious, and they are in season right now, so grab them up! How To Pick, Clean and Prepare Fava Beans via The Kitchn

Also known as broad beans, they’re green and tender, sweet and meaty... Fava Bean Recipes That Will Make You Forget All About Hannibal Lecter via huffingtonpost.com

Recipes to try:

Fresh fava beans are a treat not to be missed... 5 Fantastic Ways to Cook Fava Beans via The Kitchn

An ancient member of the pea family, with a nutty taste and buttery texture an their own... Fava Bean Recipes via Martha Stewart

~ Marinated Fava Beans via Feasting At Home

~ Appetizer, Al Fresco, Dinner Party... Broad Beans, Garlic & Feta Bruschetta | Vegetable Recipes | Jamie Oliver

~ Golden Beet and Fava Bean Salad via From The Land We Live On

How To Eat and Drink Healthy(ish) :: DIY Soda, Cocktails and Food Perfume

2016-04-20T17:26:00.000+02:00

Roma, Tartarughine all'isola Tiberina... photo: ©ockstyle

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As the saying goes :: More haste less speed -
Come dice il proverbio :: Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Healthy(ish) Eating

What should we eat, and what are we tempted to eat? Apparently it exists a promised land of deliciousness where heart-healthy and pan-fried live in harmony... How To Eat Healthy(ish) via GQ

When people ask how my upbringing influenced my taste in music and work as a performer, I’ve always turned to... Recipe for Disaster: Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies, for My Mom via Village Voice

Tasting Notes

Making soda at home is a fun and creative outlet as well. You can teach your kids about the differences between making your own products and buying products... How to Make Healthy Homemade Soda via Fix.com

Source: Fix.com Blog

Mixology DIY

Forget the catch-all bowl of punch... Herby, floral mixes for spring: 15 sweet, sour and refreshing cocktails to make at home via Stylist Magazine

Food Hacking

Akihiko Iyoda demonstrates how to change the taste of food by spraying it with perfume... Smelling delicious can make you really hungry... Food Perfume via MUNCHIES

Food for thought

Maisel has traveled to the village and says people there don't seem to be trying very hard to stay healthy... In One Italian Village, Nearly 300 Residents Are Over 100 Years Old via NPR

One of the main things we know about taste is that liking is a consequence of familiarity... In Baby's 'First Bite,' A Chance To Shape A Child's Taste via npr.org

How to :: Start a Food Blog and Babysit the Sourdough Starter

2016-04-05T18:13:00.000+02:00

Fresh Bread... |styling: ockstyle | photo: ©Алексей Трясков

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It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens (ecosalon.com | quotes-on-spring)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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In the only city in the world (we think) with such a meticulous dedication to artisanal bread... Love Your Sourdough Starter? In Stockholm, You Can Hire A Sitter For It : The Salt via NPR

How to...

How To Start A Food Blog A comprehensive, step-by-step guide on starting and growing a successful food blog... via startablog123.com

Like any kind of introspection, the task of boiling one’s essence down to a simple statement and/or ideal can be remarkably difficult... 5 Reasons A Brand Story Is Your Most Valuable Marketing Tool via momentology

If you can’t create a compelling experience, it doesn’t really matter what your content strategy is... Content Marketers Need to Act Like Publishers via hbr.org

Social Media

Every social channel has its own distinguishing features... How to Build Your Personal Brand with the Right Social Media Channel via delightfulcommunications.com

Less is more... Why You Should Post More and Interact Less on Social Media via Inc.com

Using a blog to tell a story that you can control can be an effective way to have your news and views shared... How to Write a Blog Post in Just 30 Minutes via entrepreneur.com

Food for thought

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If a company wants customers to buy its products, it must make products customers want to buy... No amount of 'free from' labelling will make processed food good for you | Marion Nestle | Opinion via The Guardian

Either a dish was memorable and therefore I could write about it, or my mind was a complete blank, and I could write about that instead... What makes a meal really memorable? via theguardian.com

It has become an industry truism that consumers say they want healthy choices, but their purchase and exercise habits say otherwise... A new way to navigate healthy: How to capture today's healthy consumer via SmartBlogs

Vegan for Omnivores, Jar Salads... Who gets to be the ambassador of a cuisine?

2016-03-22T16:00:00.000+01:00

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“Maybe you had to leave in order to miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.”
― Jodi Picoult (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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Before you start, remember that in most cases the reason for the meal is to enjoy each others' company and the food itself is secondary... Vegans and omnivores at the dinner table via Cooking for Vegans

Little help in getting your friends and family to choose more vegetarian meals... 50 Vegetarian Recipes That Even Omnivores Will Love via Care2 Healthy Living

Start by picking meals that don't involve meat substitutes... Plant-Based (Vegan) Meals for Meat Eaters via Happy Herbivore

Don't just drink your tea; eat it, too... How to Cook With Leftover Tea Leaves via SAVEUR

Artichokes Are Actually Flowers, And Here's Proof via huffingtonpost.com

Healthy Jam Jar Salads via Jamie Oliver

Dressing goes on the bottom, veggies and other salad goodies get piled on top... How To Pack the Perfect Salad in a Jar — Cooking Lessons via The Kitchn

The mason jar salads were really easy to prepare, made lunches super convenient during the week, and... My Thoughts on Mason Jar Salads via Organize Yourself Skinny

Chef talk

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When Chefs Become Famous Cooking Other Cultures' Food... Is It OK When A White Guy Cooks Other People's Food? The Rick Bayless Question via The Salt : NPR

In vino veritas

SOME WINES ARE straightforward. Some are confusing. And some are a little of both... Can Chianti Shed Its Dusty, Banal Image? via WSJ

Healthy notes

Millennials have embraced running as a lifestyle. Now race organizers must adapt... via The Washington Post

Film Photography, Wine Lists and Flexitarian Notes

2016-02-20T11:46:00.000+01:00

Prepping prawn for deep-frying... | photo: ©ockstyle -

Manual Photography:

Film photography may seem like a relic of the past, but it’s gaining increasing popularity lately... The Manual Photographer’s Cheat Sheet via PictureCorrect

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"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy." ~ Lucille Ball (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

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In Vino Veritas:

A new class of younger, hipper sommeliers is moving in and the once stodgy scheme of classifying wine is getting a facelift... A New Wave of Wine Lists via Eater

Forget the Nutribullet: wine is clearly good for you via telegraph.co.uk

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Meatless Monday and beyond:

The question of giving up meat entirely in order to make a difference doesn't appeal to everyone... No more meat (during the week): why I'm going flexitarian for Lent via Stylist Magazine

Food for thought:

Whether you feel warm and fuzzy or grit your teeth at the thought, the family dinner is an opportunity for familial communication... 'No Place For Discontent': A History Of The Family Dinner In America : The Salt via NPR

Healthy Notes:

The main attraction to sugar, for both humans and animals, is its sweet taste... What happens to your body an hour after eating sugar? via The Independent

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Italicamente:

L'eccesso di zuccheri, la predilezione per il fast food anche a colazione, la mania del gluten free... L'arte racconta le contraddizioni nel mondo del food via L'espresso food&wine

Check our newsletters
~ "The Daily GlutenFree Etc" :: On healthy eating in the global food community...
~ "Andante con Gusto" :: A moderately-slow daily, on life and culinary adventures. Slower than allegretto, faster than adagio...

From Food Meditations archives...
2015 :: Springtime On Plate and Meat Free Week

2014 :: Food Styling: Beautiful Food, Sexy Pies and the 'Demon Chef'

2013 :: Foods in Brazil, India and Chinese Edible Art, Smoking Anyone?

Idiot's Guide to Wine Pairing and Eco Guide to Eating Meat

2016-02-15T16:36:00.000+01:00

Happier days ahead... @simonsayscook on Instagram

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"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy." ~ Lucille Ball (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

In vino veritas...

If you follow the vast world of fermented grapes, you may have noticed an influx of so-called natural wines... What The Heck Is Natural Wine? Here's A Taste : The Salt via NPR

Wine can be intimidating to a lot of people. Throw in the idea of pairing it with cheese and it quickly gets way too fancy... The Idiot's Guide To Pairing Wine With Cheese via huffingtonpost.com

Younger consumers, the millennials and Generation X’ers, are proving to be adventurous in their tastes for alcohol... What the future may hold for winemakers and wine drinkers via The Washington Post

Food (and drinks) for thought

A short film about Shimizu San, a farmer living in a small town outside of Tokyo where he has been making udon noodles for the last 45 years (and growing the wheat for it too!)... For Udon and Country from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.

A life of everything bagel sandwiches and warm sticky buns can take its toll... A Baker’s Antidote for Overindulgence via nytimes.com

Environment

Do food retailers have a responsibility to sell less? Not all animals are equal, ethically... The eco guide to eating meat by Lucy Siegle via The Guardian

Veggies Galore

Wait, you can be healthy without eating a salad? 38 Healthy Things To Eat If You Absolutely Hate Salad via womansday.com

Healthy Notes

Keeping your digestive system happy is a major component for losing weight... 11 “One-Spoonful” Hacks to Lose Weight via Bembu

The secret to a slim figure might be as simple as…eating poop... Would you swallow frozen poop if it made you lose weight? via New York Post

Sweet Moments

"Cicerchiata” cluster-cake by Sara Scutti

Widely popular in Southern Italy, with subtle variations but with different names: in Campania it is called “struffoli”, in Calabria “cicirata” or “turdiddi”, in Umbria and Abruzzo “cicerchiata” and in Palermo “strufoli”... Sara’s Cicerchiata – It’s Carnival Season! via APPETIBILIS.net

From Food Meditations archives...

2015 :: The Art of Steak and How to Get an Education in Meat

2014 :: Part-Time Vegans and Gluten-Free Foods to Avoid

2013 :: Designing Sashimi, Sexy Oysters and First-Time Vegan

Meaty Bites :: Lamb Special and Colories Counting

2016-02-07T17:15:00.000+01:00

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
~ Dr. Seuss (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Fishing is an act that risks censure... The Privilege of Wild Food via The New York Times

Lamb special

Perfect for outdoor cooking... Quick lamb kebabs via Jamie Oliver

Slow-roasted boneless leg of lamb comes out extra tender with a crisp... Slow-Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb With Garlic, Rosemary, and Lemon via Serious Eats

These divine lamb dishes are great comfort foods and perfect for entertaining... Recipes: Gourmet Lamb Recipes via finedininglovers.com

How-to...

Watch this video on The Scene.

Points to remember: It's worth leaving some fat on your lamb to keep the meat moist during cooking... How to butterfly a leg of lamb via BBC Good Food

Have you ever roasted a leg of lamb? It may sound intimidating, but the sweet little secret is that leg of lamb is actually one of the easiest... How To Roast a Leg of Lamb: The Simplest, Easiest Method — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Dieting Notes

One in three are attempting to lose weight in this way at any given moment. Yet there is ample evidence that diets rarely lead to sustained weight loss... Is the Calorie Really a Useful Measure? via The Atlantic

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The existence of a calorie-counter is often defined by an obsessive focus on how to "spend" one's daily allotment... Calorie-Counting Is Terrible on All Fronts via The Cut

Food Trends

Trends can be a mixed bag. Remember that time when everyone thought the cabbage soup diet was a good idea? 10 Delicious Food Trends To Look Out For This Year via huffingtonpost.com

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These are the delicacies that those in the know will be tucking into this year... Food Trends in 2016 with a pinch of food-for-thought via foodmeditation.net

Italian cuisine remains America’s favorite. Beyond that, the new Zagat Survey revealed a few odd surprises... Biggest Food & Restaurant Trends of 2016? Survey Says... via Forbes

Culinary Knowledge, Stress, Travel and... Running

2016-01-29T11:40:00.000+01:00

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"Great minds discuss ideas;
average minds discuss events;
small minds discuss people."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt (brainyquote.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Jacob Harmer takes us on an expedition across treacherous terrain... Run via NOWNESS

Travel Bites

Clearly I need less stress in my life. To make this happen I have decided to use this column to address all the things about restaurants that I truly hate... The 12 things that restaurants must stop doing in 2016 | Life and style via The Guardian

Not every stop was a cakewalk, but we always found some—and usually many—things to love... How a Year of Travel Changed My Life—Permanently via Condé Nast Traveler

It is a dream, and anyone can do it. It takes will, passion and the courage to face fear. Chase your dreams, I tell them. Don’t look back... Living, and Tasting, the Dream via maptia.com

Tasting notes

Taste Test Wine Prank via youtube.com

Bartenders and especially sommeliers are recognizing the need for serious stemware to match the increasingly high quality of beers on the market... How to pick the right beer glass via theweek.com

Winemaking that relies not on the machinations of Old Scratch, but on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the anthroposophical philosopher who created the biodynamic method of holistic agriculture in 1924... It Takes a Lot of Cow Skulls to Make Good Wine via MUNCHIES

Photography

Victor Dragonetti’s street scenes are colorful, and complex,... Magic and Mystery on São Paulo's Streets via The New York Times

Did you know?

There’s a good chance the word “natural” doesn’t mean what you think it does... People Are Totally Clueless About What 'Natural' Food Labels Mean via huffingtonpost.com

If you think your culinary knowledge is up to scratch then take our quiz to find out if you really are an expert in all things food... The 30-question quiz that reveals if you're a REAL foodie via Daily Mail Online

From the archives...

2015 :: Chef Talk: David Chang's Ramlet and... (other fresh culinary stories) via foodmeditation.net

2014 :: DIY Dim Sum, Preparing for Chinese New Year Celebration via foodmeditation.net

2013 :: Egg, Jellyfish and Barrel-Aged Cocktails [ #GF #News ] via foodmeditation.net

Essential Wine Lingo, Sushi Seafood and a Pinch of Art

2016-01-23T14:08:00.000+01:00

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"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking."
~Friedrich Nietzsche (brainyquote.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Here's our reading list on...

Wine lingo

It’s easy to drink good wine, but knowing how to find it is the real secret... What I Wish I Knew When I First Got Into Wine via Wine Folly

Whether you are trying to impress your friends, date, clients, ordering at a fancy restaurant, or... Wine Lingo Cheat Sheet - How to talk wine like a Somm! via amuseewine.com

A great theme for an evening with friends, (just drink with moderation)... How to throw a vodka and zakuski party | Entertaining via Matching Food & Wine

You know what wines you like but how do you describe them? Top Wine Tasting Terms To Know And How to Use Them via Wine Folly

Even the most seasoned seafood eaters can be overwhelmed by the options at a sushi bar... Four Essential Sushi Fish to Know via Eater

A pinch of Arts

Valuing an artwork can be a subjective affair. It demands a detailed understanding of an artist’s career,... The Secrets of Art Pricing New Collectors Need to Know via artsy.net

In video, women found a form free from the male-dominated canon, in much the same way that performance art provided unchartered territory for experimentation... Why Are There So Many Great Women Video Artists? via artsy.net

From the archives...

2015 :: Massimo Bottura on Lou Reed... when Food meets Art, Science and Schmaltz via Food Meditations

2014 :: Food, Styling & Photography : Personal Projects, Tips & Tricks via Food Meditations

2013 :: Food Projects, Swedish Inspiration, Haggis and Burns Night Recipes via Food Meditations

In vino veritas

È già difficile esprimere un profumo, un gusto, una sensazione con le parole della propria lingua, figuriamoci poi a trasportare le descrizioni barocche e immaginifiche, che gli autori non lesinano... Racconto diVino :: ovvero :: Il sapore delle parole via APPETIBILIS.net

Food Trends in 2016 with a pinch of food-for-thought

2016-01-03T14:41:00.000+01:00

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“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

These are the delicacies that those in the know will be tucking into this year... Food trends in 2016: Pig’s head kebab, anyone? Bog gin? 18-day-old chicken? Lifestyle via The Independent

From what I hear, it is inevitable that we will all, soon enough, be subsisting off of bugs... Baking with Insect Flour via Lucky Peach

From artificially intelligent messaging apps to drones that follow you like paparazzi... Predictions 2016: Tech That Will Change Your Life via wsj.com

When it comes to travel, optimism for 2016 is tempered by fear... Introduction: Travel Weekly via travelweekly.com

Where to go in 2016: Top 16 up-and-coming destinations via CNN.com

The trend is catching fire with home cooks as well... Why Burnt Food Is Hot Right Now via wsj.com

Handmade :: Ceramics, Cookies and Cocktail Trends

2015-12-26T17:27:00.000+01:00

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“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Handcrafted small-batch ceramics are everywhere these days... The rejection of factory-produced sameness, and Why Handmade Ceramics Are White Hot via The New York Times

Cocktail Trends
Craft cocktails will sweep the nation... 6 Cocktail Trends We Want in 2016 via Eater

Simple drink with plenty of room for experimentation... How to Perfect Your Martini Recipe via WSJ

Testing Notes

2015 In Review: The Year In Traveling Far To Eat And Drink Very Good Things via Food Republic

It’s possible that the renowned wine had evolved during the intervening decade... Is There a Better Way to Talk About Wine? via The New Yorker

Humor

Watch this on The Scene.

Cookies Stories

It started with a beautiful tin filled with different kinds of homemade cookies... Six-in-One Refrigerator Cookies via A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn

Google and Foursquare Mined Data To Find Out What People Ate and Drank in 2015 via First We Feast

Tasting Notes and New Year Travel Resolutions

2015-12-17T12:54:00.000+01:00

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“For the things we have to learn before we can do them,
we learn by doing them.” ~Aristotle (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Travel Bites

Sweden's top chefs join forces at Stockholm’s new food market. You might not expect to find patissserie fit for royalty at a mall. But... | Travel via The Guardian

Packing Tips and Tricks, whether you're going home for the holidays or taking a much-needed vacation... 13 Packing Hacks That Will Change Your Life via townandcountrymag.com

2016 is the year that we refuse to let our new year's resolutions be boring. Expect the Unexpected... New Years travel resolutions via afar.com

Tasting Notes

It is the first time a French champagne house has invested in British soil... My hunt for the perfect ‘French’ vineyard – in Kent | Life and style via The Guardian

Prosecco is now the UK’s most popular fizz... Italy's Fizz whizzes: prosecco tasting in Veneto | Travel via The Guardian

Taste Test Wine Prank - Would you be fooled? via youtube.com

Italy’s answer to champagne is Franciacorta, the country’s best-kept wine secret... Why You Need To Visit Italy's Secret Sparkling Wine Region via ForbesLife

Slow Food Stories

From Orvieto to Amalfi passing by Trani and Cisternino, you only have to choose! Best small towns to live the slow life in Italy via Swide

"Changing habits is difficult," he concedes. "There is something called food neophobia — we don’t eat what we don’t recognize. That’s why I’m using chefs as allies"... Hervé This and the Future of Food via The New York Times

Her infatuation with the country began with her first trip there in 1995 to visit Castelvetere sul Calore... Why Kathy McCabe Loves Italy via The New York Times

Foodie Talks :: Travel Photography and Food Blogging

2015-12-07T14:00:00.000+01:00

...

“Where words fail, music speaks.”
~Hans Christian Andersen (goodreads.com)

"Delightfully yours, Food Meditations"

...

Telling a story with your photos will not only help to bring all the elements together beautifully, but it also gives you a chance to decide the mood and vibe you want to convey... 6 Key Principles That'll Take Your Food Photography to the Next Level via BlogHer

Creative tips n tricks

If you’re feeling a rumbling in your stomach despite the fact that you just ate lunch, don’t worry, that’s normal. That’s just your hunger for success kicking in! How to Start a Food Blog via On Blast Blog

There’s a new group of Instagrammers who are getting paid for their posts... Food Instagrammers turning photography into careers via Marketplace.org

In an increasingly connected world, we've seen a complete revolution in the way that we communicate with one another... Why travel photography is entering a new era | Photography via Creative Bloq

Mind the captions! Tips & Tricks for Food Photography via Pinch of Yum

Food for thought

We’re practicing safe food. Yes. We have seen what happens when we just go crazy with three different kinds of saffron... Alton Brown Has Had It With Foodies via The New York Times

A new generation of cooking enthusiasts have taken to blogging and some have cashed in as a result... Food blogging: How to cook your way to success via cnbc.com

Slow Food

In 1975, in the northern Italian town of Bra, a charismatic young activist named Carlo Petrini was one of the operators of a small but formative pirate radio station... Welcome to The Golden Age of Food Radio via Eater

Wondering why so many blogs don’t stand out? A Food Blog About “Everything" Can be a Trap via Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

Food Meditations...

In Season: Broccoli, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Empire Apples and Foraging

Home entertaining

It's Broccoli & Broccoletti Time (update)

Forages for edible

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