Wine Basics: Red Grape Varieties

Wine starts with the grape variety which shapes the taste or character. In order to appreciate wine, it is crucial to understand the characteristics of different grapes and how they are expressed in wines. While there are lots of grapes in the world, there are select few that are most recognisable for making fine wine.

To make red wine, the skins are almost as important as the juicy grape pulp. Skins and stems add colour and tannins to the wine. Here are some of the popular red grape varieties:close up of red grapes More…

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Wine Basics: Top wine-producing countries of the world

The complex influences that result in a wine’s unique traits are influenced by the soil and climate of the vineyard site (terroir); the way the grapes are cultivated (viticulture); the vineyard conditions throughout the growing season and at harvest; and most importantly the production choices a winemaker makes (vinification).

Terroir or the regional characteristics of wine growing is crucial factor in vinification.  In the end, a unique terroir is responsible for the properties of a particular wine.

single wine barrel More…

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Ginger-Lemon Mayonnaise

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Many foodies love homemade mayonnaise, but I have never been tempted to make it from scratch. Since it is made using raw egg yolks, I don’t want to risk the salmonella contamination. Shop-bought mayo is perfectly fine and there are many ways you can transform it into something special by adding a few ingredients. More…

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Spicy Meatballs with Ginger-Lemon Mayonnaise

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Classic meatballs are substantial offerings served as a main course with pasta, potatoes or grains. Mini versions, however, are ideal finger food at cocktails or any occasion where a host does not wish to serve a full meal. Here in Tanzania you find an array of snacks ideal for finger food, including samosas, potato cutlets, bajia (a chick pea-flour snack) and kachori (a potato-based snack) More…

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Bechamel Sauce (Variation: With Cheese)

In the early 1900s, chef Auguste Escoffier refined the list of French cuisine’s grand sauces in his classic Le Guide Culinaire and its abridged English translation A Guide to Modern Cookery. He defined the five fundamental “mother sauces” still used today by chefs worldwide: Bechamel; Espagnole; Veloute; Hollandaise; and Tomate. More…

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