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Indian cuisine, like the country India, is a rich blend of tastes and flavors. It is world re-owned for the combination of herbs and spices that provide it the distinct characteristic and the rich taste. The Indian cuisine due to its tastes has now crossed over the physical boundaries and several Indian dishes like the chicken tikka masala are now an accepted part of world cuisine. However, there is much more to the Indian cuisine than the popularly accepted dishes.

It is truly a cuisine that denotes unity in diversity. With diverse cooking techniques, spices, ingredients and flavors from different parts of the country the Indian cuisine is all about a blend of ingredients that is a lip smacking delight.

The diversities in Indian recipes are mainly a reflection of the different regions, cultures, traditions and religious beliefs. The Indian cuisine has also gained from different cultures like the rule of the Mughals and the coming of the Portuguese all contributed to the richness of the Indian cuisine. The pilafs, kebabs, biriyanis are all a contribution of the Mughal culture. It is a concoction of rich gravies, curries, vegetables and dishes that are cooked with fish, chicken, goat and lamb.

The religious beliefs of the Hindus make beef a taboo and pork is a strict no for Muslims. Jains on the other hand, keep away from all roots in their diet. Food forms a connecting link between the various communities, religions and also the different parts of the country. The Indian cuisine differs from one region to the other. Although the basic ingredients remain more or less the same, the method of preparation differs greatly.

On the basis of regions, the Indian recipes can be divided into North Indian, East, West and South Indian. In the average Indian home, meal time is very important. This is when the entire family sits down and shares the happenings of the day. The young and the old share their experiences and enjoy the flavors of a tastefully made meal.

Breakfast in Indian homes depends a great deal on the particular region to which the family belongs and also their individual tastes and preferences. In a North Indian home, for instance, breakfast would generally consist of parathas (Indian bread) stuffed or otherwise, puris or baturas (Indian bread deep fried in oil).

Rotis or other types of Indian bread are very popular in the northern part of India. Rotis are either prepared using a tava, tandoor or are deep fried in oil. Flour of different kinds is used to prepare the different Indian breads thus, contributing to the taste as well as the nutritional content. South Indian breakfasts generally consist of idli or dosa with sambhar and chutney, upma, vada or even rice. In today’s fast paced world where both the husband and wife have a tight schedule the menu for the day is also dictated to a great extent by convenience.

The everyday meal - lunch or dinner- consists of rice and/or rotis (the Indian bread), lentils or dal as it is known, Subzi or vegetables, a non-vegetarian dish, yogurt, pickles and pappads. Dessert is also an important part of every meal. East India is known for its delicious array of sweets like the rasogollas, sandesh and chum chum to name a few. Fish and other seafood are very popular in the East Indian states.

South Indian cuisine includes extensive use of coconut whether in cooking vegetables or non-vegetarian. Coconut oil is mainly used for cooking purposes. In the West, Gujarati cuisine is primarily vegetarian and all the dishes have a subtle sweet taste. Goan cuisine with its Portuguese influence also has influences in the coastal Maharashtrian cooking. Rajashtan cusine too has a distinct flavor and taste that adds to the variety and flavor of the Indian cusine.

Dessert Recipes in the Indian cuisine are a world in itself and vary a great deal based on the geographical location. From the gulab jamuns, shahi tukra, payasam, shrikhand to the yummy rasgullas, the Indian cuisine has a rich spread of mouth watering desserts.

Mary-Anne is a featured member and regular contributor at iFood.tv, a global food network featuring recipes from all over the world. For more Indian Recipes, Thai Recipes, and Chinese Recipes check out ifood.tv.

Chinese cuisine is a rich combination of color, flavors and taste. The popularity of the Chinese cuisine has given it the much deserved global recognition and it has come to be accepted as part of the global cuisine.

Chinese cuisine involves the delicate art of cooking using varied techniques and styles to create true works of art. The variety in Chinese cuisine arises from the culinary contribution of the different regions in the country. The style of cooking and presentation varies a great deal from one region to the other. The reference to “eight cuisines” in Chinese cuisine is all about the cooking from the rich cultures of the eight regions namely Cantonese, Hunan, Sichuan, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong. Of this the popular cuisines include Sichuan, Cantonese, Shandong and Huaiyang or Jiangsu cuisine referred to as the “Four Great traditions”.

Each region contributes an immense variety to the Chinese cuisine and has a distinct characteristic of its own that makes it stand out from the others. Food is an important part of the Chinese culture. People here love cooking and take great pains to create lovely dishes that are a wonderful way of pampering the taste buds The art of food presentation is also of great significance. Chinese cuisine is a fusion of colors and flavors and is thus, not only a treat to the eyes but is also a delight to the tastebuds.

Mealtimes are the time for bonding. It is when a family gets together to relish the flavors of a wonderful home cooked meal. Foods of different types hold different meanings in the Chinese culture and traditions. There are specific foods that are eaten on particular occasions and signify a deep meaning in itself. Like for instance, the birthday celebration of a young child would have noodles as part of the menu for the day. The eating of the long noodles signifies long life for the child.

When one talks of Chinese cuisine, the “chopsticks” cannot be left out. It is an integral part of the Chinese dining experience. Chopsticks are sticks (instead of forks and spoons) used in Chinese cuisine for eating and serving food. The dexterity with which the food is eaten with the help of the chopsticks is indeed an art in itself.

Soup is an important part of the Chinese cuisine. The Chinese do not believe in mixing cold and hot foods and so no cold beverages are served with food. Tea is a popular beverage in the Chinese culture and is believed to foster the digestion process.
Chinese cuisine includes an array of dishes (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian) that are cooked in small bite-sized pieces. This makes it both easy to serve and also relish. Fish and chicken are an integral part of Chinese cuisine. Fish is served whole and this practice of serving it whole symbolizes completeness. Pork, beef and lamb are also a widely used meat in Chinese cuisine, their importance in everyday cooking however, varies from one region to the other.

Rice is an important part of Chinese cuisine and each person at the table is served an individual bowl of rice with the accompaniments served in big bowls for the entire group of people. Every person at the table picks food from the big bowls as required using his or her pair of chopsticks. This is a tradition that is very different from the West where each person takes an individual serving of the dish on his plate before he begins eating.

The Chinese cuisine is a true reflection of the culture and traditions of a great nation. The cooking styles and food is a representation of beliefs, health concerns and traditions that have come down a few thousand years. Chinese cuisine is indeed one that combines a potpourri of flavors all in one.

Mary-Anne is a featured member and regular contributor at iFood.tv, a global food network featuring recipes from all over the world. For more Indian Recipes, Thai Recipes, and Chinese Recipes check out ifood.tv.

Street food is the very best way to glimpse the heart of a culture. You can sit and observe moms, dads, kids, and grandparents all in a “play” of life right in front of you. The smells wafting by of spicy salads, grilling satays, flavourful bowls of steaming noodles, chicken on a barbeque, and skewers of fresh topical fruits and a plethora of sates.

It is an assault on the senses! The colours you see, the aromas you smell have you drooling shamelessly, the deafening roar of motor bikes whizzing by intermingled in choruses of barking dogs and laughing children bring a smile to your face, all amidst the sticky humid blinding sun which begins to mesmerize you to the sheer delight of watching life unfurl.

What is amazing about this scene, and makes you so very special, is that each street vendor prepares your meal fresh just for YOU while you get the added benefit of watching them cook-hey free entertainment. If you watch carefully you can learn to make some of these soon to become favourites-you know those tastes that make memories that come flooding back as you sit on a cold Winters’ day at your desk back in Buffalo, New York. Savour every smell, every sound, every taste for you will be missing this all too soon.

Part of the magic of Southeast Asia’s street foods is that they are loaded with flavors-perfect balances of hot-sour-sweet-salty-amazing on the plate-it literally wakes your very being out of the ho-hum of eating. This isn’t Mc D’s for sure. You quickly develop the talent to tweak the flavors just to your tastes. You proudly add a dash of fish sauce, a squeeze of lime and smugly add some more chilies while catching a glance sideways to see if anyone notices that this farang is brave! Or do they sit quietly waiting to be entertained when you dive into the fiery bowl you have just doctored to your taste?

Mai Pen Rai you proudly say to yourself-the new learned phrase for no problem. You have a Singha beer in hand to meet the chance you have indeed over dealt your liberal offering of dried chillie powder. You take your first bite and break into a sweat, but settle back to the rush and euphoria of your bowl of fiery goodness thinking this sure beats a smear of that yellow guck called mustard at “Doggie Palace”. Already planning how you will recreate this amazing bowl of noodles back in your own kitchen you begin to ponder where to find those “mie”-rice noodles, and the lovely salad herbs served on the side.

A loud motor bike comes all too close to your leg hanging out from under the too-low for firangs table. You react by jerking your leg back and hit your knee on the table top-ouch! Suddenly reality sets in again, but you are taking many mental notes of what you are eating and seeing along the streets of SE Asia.

This is how it often begins-the journey into cooking street foods. On a vacation or even from watching a Discovery Channel Show where you view a wonderful simple dish you simply must have!

Mary-Anne is a featured member and regular contributor at iFood.tv, a global food network featuring recipes from all over the world. For more Indian Recipes, Thai Recipes, and Greek Recipes check out ifood.tv.

In Washington, D.C., finding the most romantic restaurants is not a problem. Beautiful and elegant setting, sweet, heart-melting music and cuisines that will fire up any heart with burning passion can be found in every corner of the Capitol Hill. Whether looking for love or celebrating a milestone in a relationship, there is a place in Washington that will surely cater to anyone’s romantic desires.

Accordingly, the following are the most popular romantic spots that can be found in Washington, D.C.

The Inn at Little Washington

Located at the heart of Shenandoah Valley, the Inn at Little Washington takes romance in full bloom. It offers a grand dinning experience with an excellent seven courses, exquisite Victorian-style interior and splendid wine list. It offers a wide selection of dishes from lobsters and filet mignon, to superb variety of ice cream with sauces that will make every sugar tooth’s heart melt. It is ranked one of the best romantic restaurants both locally and nationally by renowned food critics. Although the prices are quite high, every penny is worth when dining for special occasions.

Iron Gate Inn Restaurant

This lover’s haven offers contemporary American palate with a Mediterranean accent. It offers a variety of lamb dishes and the boned roast chicken with garlicky mashed potato and raisin chutney is a must-try. Hearts will also melt for its famous rich chocolate truffle pie and lemon mousse. The place is European-inspired. The patio is covered with grapevine and the rooms are cozy enough for two or for a large group.

Marrakesh

Situated in downtown Washington, Marrakesh offers an exotic yet romantic dinning experience. The place is Moroccan-inspired with lush carpets, colorful surroundings and effervescent music. The menu includes seven courses with specialties like roast half chicken with lemon sauce, bastila, which is a meat-filled pastry, lamb with honey and almonds and couscous with steamed vegetables. The belly dancers also give a spark for a more vibrant yet romantic experience.

Two Quail Restaurant

This is a classic American restaurant occupying three Victorian houses in Massachusetts Avenue. It offers a cluttered but cozy ambiance with excellent dishes that change on a daily and seasonal basis. A must-try is its pan-roasted muscovy duck with apple-apricot compote and its Caesar salad.

1789 Restaurant

This former Federal house is now a Georgetown restaurant, which has five dinning rooms with an upscale and historical interior. The John Caroll room is a favorite during winter days due to roaring fireplace that warms any heart. It also offers terrific cuisines such as the Nantucket bay scallops, Goan-Style salmon and Champagne oyster stew. The lemon-mascarpone cheesecake with meyer lemon sorbet and peppermint sundae are heavenly.

Marcel’s

Looking for some French romantic dinner experience? Marcel’s is the best to be. It offers French cuisines with Flemish accents, which changes seasonally. Among the best in the menu are Roasted diver scallops, pepper-crusted entrecote with a Stilton flan and chocolate biscuit with praline ice cream.

Tabard Inn

This restaurant features cozy fireplace, in which one can snuggle up with a loved one during winter, great food and romantic garden. The atmosphere is relaxed and upscale. The garden is full of flowers, trees and vines that transport one into another world. The menu includes comfort foods such as spinach and garlic confit and grilled veal chopped with mash potatoes.

Chez Francois L’Auberge

For a heavenly and romantic French dinning experience, this restaurant is on top of the list. It has an inviting provincial interior romantically-lit by small white lights. The dishes are seasonal but traditionally Alsatian cooked with the freshest ingredients. This is coupled with excellent service, which makes this little romantic place one of the best in the state.

Le Paradou

Last but not the least is this elegant and sophisticated restaurant. It is one of Capitol Hill’s finest and ideal for every romantic occasion one can think of. It sumptuous cuisines include a selection of roasted racks of lamb and a variety of Parisian desserts. Romantically-lit and luxurious in any possible way, this place is perfect for a memorable evening with a loved one.

Washington, D.C. offers a variety of intense romantic gastronomic experiences. The success of these of restaurants is highly dependent on great food, excellent service and exceptional ambiance. The Capitol Hill is indeed, a place conducive to establish one’s own romantic getaway. These opens doors for opportunities for those who want start their own romantic restaurant business. For more information and extensive listing of available properties in Washington, D.C., viable for a restaurant business, visit WAOnSale.

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Washington Real Estate FSBO. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

Vegetarian sushi? Many people are perplexed by this idea. After all, most Westerners think that sushi means “raw fish” (confusing it with sashimi), so it’s little surprise that vegetarian sushi seems like an anomaly.

But vegetarian sushi is not only possible, it’s downright delicious! With a little creativity (and a little help from The Veggie Guy), you can create all sorts of variations of vegetarian sushi that will satisfy your palette and impress your friends.

In this post, though, we’ll start with the basics. The idea of rolling your own sushi might seem daunting (ok, downright terrifying), but with the right tools, a little patience, and a generous supply of sake, it’s really not that difficult.

This post will cover nori rolled sushi, which most Westerners are familiar with. Down the road, I’ll get into some of the other types of sushis. When I think you’re ready, that is.

(Okay, when I can do it myself without creating a huge mess. How’s that for transparency?)

Now, fair warning: Although making sushi is not terribly labor intensive, it takes a long time. There’s a lot of “do this, then set it aside for an hour and go take a jog” steps. So it danged sure doesn’t make the coveted “under 30 minutes” category. No way.

But it’s worth it.

So lets start with the supplies you’ll need, and how to make a basic sushi roll.

What you’ll need:

A bamboo rolling mat, or makisu

A bowl of water with a bit of rice vinegar

Roasted nori seaweed (comes in square or rectangular sheets)

2 cups sushi rice or other short grain white rice

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 1/2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp sea salt

Preparing the sushi rice:

Rinse the rice in a medium bowl. Drain and set aside for 1 hour. This is very important, because the rice will be downright unruly later if you omit this step. (I’m serious. I tried to skip this step once and ended up inventing a few new expletives before all was said and done. Just don’t do it.)

Cook rice in a rice cooker according to package directions. I pour 2 1/2 cups of water into the rice bowl, and 2 cups of water into the steamer.

Stir vinegar, salt, and sugar together in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave until the mixture begins to boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

When rice have finished cooking, let sit for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large glass or wooden bowl. Mix gently with a wooden spoon to separate the grains.

Pour vinegar mixture over the rice and stir until all grains are coated. Use a newspaper or fan to cool the rice as you mix it. Let set for at least 1 hour at room temperature (don’t refrigerate. Your rice will harden and your sushi will be awful.)

What to do:

Lay the makisu flat on the counter.

Place a nori sheet shiny side down on the makisu.

Wet hands in water/vinegar. Spread a thin, even layer of rice over the nori sheet, leaving 1/4 inch along the edges uncovered.

Arrange vegetables we’ll talk about this later) in the center of the rice layer.

Use the mat as a guide to roll the nori, rice, and vegetables into a tight roll. (Tip from the Veggie Guy - make sure the edge of the mat doesn’t get rolled up in the sushi roll. It doesn’t work out so well.)

I wet the nori on the far side of the roll so it will stick. Other people think this is weird. But it keeps my sushi from falling apart. That’s just how I roll. (Get it? Roll… sushi… bwaha..ha ha.. *sigh* Eh.)

Press lightly onthe roll to compress the ingredients. Remove roll from bamboo mat.

Cut crosswise into 8 pieces.

Lee Rowley has been making creative vegetarian and vegan dishes for over a decade. For lots more vegetarian recipes, tips, and ideas, visit The Veggie Guy.

How many fruit baskets have you sent or received during the past holidays or on past birthdays? I find that specialty foods easily surpass the traditional gifts and are some of the best gifts given or received for three reasons: they’re unique, there’s a wide range of choices, and they’re tasty! During the next holiday season or for any gift-giving occasion, it will serve you well to remember that everyone appreciates receiving a specialty food gift.

Nobody wants to be known as having sent a gift that is a repeat gift, or that when you see it arrive, and see who it’s from, you know exactly what is inside. I know that when I see a specific fruit basket arrive each year on our doorstep, I know precisely who it’s from, and I know exactly what I’m going to do with most of the contents, and that is turn it into a quick fruit salad and be done with it. That same distinct lack of variety can rub off onto you as the gift giver.

The distinctiveness of a specialty food gift is in the variety. A specialty food gift once upon a time meant something from the international food section of your local grocery store. Today, it can mean anything from a set of exotic teas and candles to different fruit jams, to the most exceptional noshes you could possibly imagine, each for the discerning or curious palette.

The word choice refers to a variety of things, and specialty food lets you avail yourself of not only several different choices of one type of item, such as nuts, but allows you to pick and choose, say nuts and fruit, or nuts and candy, or even exotic items like chocolate caramel treats imported from Europe. And there is variety even in the most simple of items like jams, featuring not only your normal pear jam, but also a red pepper jam that will serve as a key component to a great appetizer.

The sure way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, and this is never so true as with specialty foods. Often a memorable component of any cocktail hour, many of these items are not of the sweet and salty dessert classification, but rather of the antipasti tradition. A sure way to make an indelible impression is to be sure you are remembered as someone enjoys the delectable hors d’oeuvre you helped to provide.

One of the best specialty foods gifts I ever received was chocolate covered fruit, but fruit that you wouldn’t expect to be chocolate covered. These were bing cherries and blueberries, dried, and coated in chocolate, creating such a unique flavor combination, but yet so satisfying that your five fruits a day allowance didn’t seem so hard to meet after you sampled some of these treats.

When you give a gift, you want it to be memorable, enjoyable, and something that the person would not have thought of getting for themselves. As in the Japanese tradition, a gift itself should be equaled only by the way the gift is put together, or presented. A specialty food serves that purpose well, and ensures that not only the gift itself, but the way it arrives, and the presentation of the gift itself is an experience that the receiver will find indelible.

This article published by editorial staff of the National Tollfree Directory. More Specialty Foods, Gift Basket Idea, Gifts for Kids information available at Nuts to You & Other Things Too www.giftsfromnutstoyou.com/. Feedback on this article welcome editorial@strbusinessmedia.com.