Food

Sticking to a strict vegan diet can be a challenge to some, especially if you’re just starting out. Many vegan practitioners tend to look for substitute meat and dairy products that can fill in the dietary gap that they left behind. However, not all faux meat and dairy products do a good job of standing in as a viable alternative.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert cook to find the right kind of vegan dishes to satisfy you. There are many creative options out there that can do the job. Here are just a few vegan options that you might want to consider:

Vegan Pasta

Normally, pasta has loads eggs, cheese, and meat that make it difficult to convert into a proper vegan meal. This is especially true for pasta dishes like carbonara. However, it’s possible to find some creative substitutes that can still give you the same taste profile as legitimate pasta.

King oyster mushrooms are meaty enough to substitute pork while not strong enough to make the entire dish taste like mushrooms. Similarly, there are many tofu-based sauces that can be used along with miso and nutritional yeast to give it a richer quality. Finally, to get the signature taste of Pecorino Romano, you can use sauerkraut brine.

Vegan Parmesan Substitute

Finally, for those looking for the unique taste profile of parmesan cheese, there’s actually a way to reconstruct it in a safe, vegan fashion. This requires several herbs that can give you the same rich, tangy kick that parmesan is known for. The mixture includes miso, rosemary, olives, and lemon zest that need to be dehydrated to concentrate their flavor. The result is a savory and aromatic condiment that goes perfectly with any pasta dish or anything that requires you to use parmesan cheese.

Vegan Burgers

If you’re want a veggie burger that doesn’t have a bland taste to it, you should try making your own patties with a little bit of everything in it. Throwing in mushrooms and eggplant along with garlic, leeks, and celery should give your patties an extra kick in terms of flavor. Likewise, if you want to give your patties a good amount of texture, you should consider adding chickpeas, panko, and barley into the mix. And to top things off, don’t forget to add bread crumbs just before cooking the patties to avoid giving it a mushy texture.

Vegan “Bacon”

Mushrooms do a good job as a meat substitute and the king mushroom oyster is perfect when you want to recreate the consistency of bacon. What’s great with vegan bacon is that it can easily be used for any dish that requires bacon bits or bacon slices.

What’s important here is to have a smoker (even a homemade one) that you can use to give your bacon the smoky, signature flavor that you’re looking for. After dehydrating the thinly sliced mushrooms and smoking them until they achieve the desired crispy texture, you can have yourself some smoked mushroom “bacon” that looks and tastes just like the real thing.

Vegan Mayonnaise

One of the many things many vegan miss is mayonnaise. Fortunately, creating a substitute version isn’t that hard at all. The main trick here is the use of aquafaba. This liquid has proteins and starches that can stand in for egg in most cases. Once it’s mixed with chickpeas to help emulsify it, the resulting solution has the same consistency as mayonnaise. Just imagine how much better your sandwiches will taste with some vegan mayonnaise to give it some additional flavor and texture.

Finding the right kinds of vegan dishes isn’t that difficult as long as you’re willing to expand your mind and try to be a little creative. Hopefully, these recipes can help open up your options to accommodate your vegan needs.

What better way to spend a holiday than by enjoying delectable cuisine at some of the most picturesque destinations in the world? That’s exactly what cruise holidays offer, although they might not be the first things that spring to mind when planning for your next break abroad. Both on and off ship however, cruise holidays have a growing reputation for welcoming foodies around the globe to a world of gourmet paradise.

Dining on board

Depending on the size of your ship, you’ll find a wealth of culinary options on board that cater to practically every taste. Buffet restaurants are common features on the vast majority of vessels these days, while gourmet and speciality restaurants, pizza joints, ice cream parlours and American diners are also available across a number of cruise lines.

Ports and excursions

Of course, only once you drop anchor at your destination of choice will you be able to discover the local flavours in all their glory. Cruises typically travel to a range of locations in one journey, so you’re likely to have the chance to experiences a wide range of cuisines during your trip. Here are just a few of the most popular cruise itineraries for food lovers to get you started.

The Mediterranean

Mediterranean cruises offer a wonderful variety of cuisines, from traditional Greek and Turkish dishes in the east to the flavours of Spain and Italy in the west. Some itineraries take in specific pockets of the Med, while others explore this corner of the world in its entirety. Culinary highlights include Croatia’s world-famous goulash and pizza served just as it should be in Rome.

Alaska

Alaska might not be the first destination that springs to mind when you think of iconic cuisine, but cruises here will introduce you to some delicacies that even the most seasoned foodie might not have sampled before. Alaska’s speciality is, of course, fish – with smoked salmon, fresh king crab and black cod taking their place on most of the menus. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there’s always the option to sample the infamous reindeer dog while you’re at it too.

Australia

It’s not so much the food that takes centre stage during cruises to Australia – it’s the wine instead. Australian wine is among the finest in the world, while many voyages here make a point of featuring excursions to local vineyards. You’ll find that many cruise lines offer a great selection of wines back on board too, making cruise holidays the ultimate wine lovers retreat.

South America

Brazil, Chile and Argentina are just a few South American countries that welcome cruise ships to their ports each and every year. Soups and ganache packed with rich flavour are the norm here, while potatoes provide the base for many local dishes. If you happen to drop anchor in Brazil, be sure to sample the country’s national dish – Feijoada – a popular black bean and meat stew.

You’ll find that many cruise lines take your destination into consideration when planning their menus, so make sure you read up on what’s available before you sail. Whether dining on or off the ship, cruises have the potential to open the door to a new and exciting world of cuisine.

Rome is an ancient city with thousands of years of history behind it and is home to some of the most famous sights in the world such as the Colosseum.  But for food fans, any trip to Rome is a balance of seeing the sights and sampling the food as the cuisine of the city is nearly as famous as its monuments.

Tasting the best of Rome

Usually, if you want to taste the best of classic or modern Roman cuisine, you would head to a restaurant but there is now another option available courtesy of a company called Withlocals.  The idea is that you use a free app to reach Rome guides and arrange a variety of experiences.  This allows people to taste Roman food just as the Romans eat it with a variety of different tours, workshops, classes and even the chance to share the family’s evening meal.

One example is the chance to dine with Emma and sample dishes that are a combination of her own creations and those passed down from her mother and grandmother.  The experience is a three-course meal with wine and is the chance to both sample the finest Roman food and also to learn a few tips to take home with you.

Another tour involves both a meal in the Old Tavern where the menu is a blend of Roman and Sicilian cuisines and all homemade with a tour around the immediate area including the Ancient Appian Way.  During the warmer months, you can eat on the patio and enjoy views of the city.

Classic Roman dishes

Suppli is an example of a Roman appetizer that is often served before pizza and is made from rice seasoned with meat sauce and mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs then fried in hot oil.  The name of the dish comes from a French term and means ‘surprise’ and is served in restaurants but also from takeaways and is a popular snack while touring the sights.

Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a Roman classic that has made its way around the world and has taken on many forms.  One of the best things to do in Rome with locals is to sample traditional dishes in the restaurants around the city and it is almost guaranteed to be on every menu.

Carciofi (Italian for artichoke) is a favorite summer dish and there are two main ways it is prepared.  The ‘alla Romana’ style stuffs it with breadcrumbs, mint, garlic and parsley before braising in olive oil and water.  The other ‘alla giudia’ opens the petals of the artichoke and then deep fries it.

Roman pizza is a bit different from the kind you will find in other parts of Italy and is very thin with no lip to the crust.  Wood fired ovens are the best way to make these dishes so look for restaurants that serve theirs this way.

For a sweet treat, try Maritozzo, a sweet bread roll filled with whipped cream.  The bread is a special mixture that uses raisins, pine nuts and candied fruits making it similar to panettone but with a different consistency.

Food experiences

If you prefer fine dining, then there are also plenty of experiences to enjoy that involve the very best restaurants in Rome.  One example of the VIP Michelin Star Food Tour – this allows you to sample food at four different Michelin star restaurants around the city.  The tour includes transport from one location to another and includes a local guide to help you make the most of the experience.

Rome is famous for its wine as well as its food and it accompanies almost every meal.  A chance to go on a wine tasting experience with a local professional winemaker is a perfect chance to try the best of Roman wines and learn about the processes involved.  Not only does this create the chance to try the wines like a local but also learn about the part that wine plays in both Roman cuisine and culture.

Food tours

As well as the restaurants and home dining experiences, you can also combine sight sighting with food in a street food tour.  This allows you to see the best sights of the city while also sampling from a number of top quality street food vendors, offering everything from savory dishes to sweet treats.  These unique spots are the places that locals will visit to grab a snack between activities and let you take in the atmosphere of the city.

Unmissable experiences

There are plenty of tours around Rome that allow you to see the best of the sights of the city.  These are a few examples of tours that are perfect for after these tours, allowing food fans to experience the best of Roman cuisine as well as a taste of how Romans themselves serve their classic dishes.

Food brings people together, and what better way to socialise than with a summer barbecue. Every once in a while though, it’s good to do something unique with the food you produce. So, here’s a few ideas for this year’s summer barbecue, where you can use food and drink to make your party stand out.

Create a theme

Themes are not only the perfect way to express your creativity, but they also add that instant wow-factor for guests. It could be a beach or seaside theme, a tropical theme or a classic summer garden party, but they offer tonnes of ways for you to theme your food, right down to the seating. For example, if you’re trying to create a traditional summer picnic, lay out lots of gingham cloths with placemats for seating, string up bunting and have Pimms on the lawn. Then, make miniature versions of classics like Victoria sponge, sausage rolls and jam tarts, which can easily be prepped and baked in advance.

Hire out something unique

Another way of grabbing your guests’ attention is by creating a feature in your garden. For example, why not hire out a chocolate or cocktail fountain pourer to take centre stage, surrounded by plenty of fresh fruit? Or for something truly spectacular, swap out the family barbecue set for a whole hog roast machine – simple to use, easily affordable and the perfect way of feeding your many guests in one, this is the perfect solution for summer party hosts who are worried about catering to a large number of people. You can check out hogroast-machine.co.uk if you’d like to find out more about them.

Think outside the box

If you don’t want a theme but you’re tired of the same old food, it’s time to let your imagine run wild. Think of some classic barbecue recipes and then try to re-invent them – for example, have you ever tried a popcorn-dog or a taco bite served on a stick? Have you ever made a Nutella smores tray bake where people can dig in with their biscuits and not wait for them to roast? Think about your favourite flavour combinations, and try to think how you could simplify them into something that’s unique but still easy to prepare. Another great example is pizza-style samosas, or mac and cheese muffins – you can check out more ideas here.

Give ‘In-a-Jar’ gifts

This is one of the best foodie gifts that any party host could give. There are hundreds of ‘In-a-Jar’ ideas out there, from the ingredients for a batch of cookies to arts and craft kits. So, for your barbecue, why not let them leave with a cocktail-in-a-jar gift, such as a rum punch of a fruit-filled sangria? Or instead, they could take home a batch of your own freshly-made strawberry jam, pesto, or any other preserve you’ve whipped up this season.

Do you have any other unique ideas for making sure your party stands out? Leave them below…

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Hyaluronic Acid

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