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July 30, 2020

These World Renowned Chefs Reveal Their Secrets For Creating The Perfect Menu

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Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or struggling to put together the right menu for your business deciding on what food you are going to serve can be a monumental task. There are lots of factors to consider such as food allergies and any other food preferences your guests may have. It is vital you offer options for people who may be vegetarian or vegan so they feel included in your menu, if you are planning on hosting some kind of food event I would recommend you plan your menu well in advance and inform your guests of the options you have available, this allows plenty of time for your guests to decide what they want to eat and puts you in a position where you know exactly what you need to make.

 

However, a pre-planned menu is not always suitable as diners visiting a restaurant may not want to decide on what they are going to eat until they visit. This is where an innovative and well thought out menu is required to ensure every dietary requirement is met, here is some advice from a select few of the world’s most renowned chefs as well as some helpful tips on how catering companies in Brisbane select their menu.

 

Think about what you would enjoy eating

As a chef it is important that you have a level of interest and passion behind the food that you serve, this not only ensures a delicious meal is created but also reflects your flair and style of cooking to your dinner guests. The best chefs around the world are all known for a signature style of cooking and their food is instantly recognizable, it is important you find your own style in terms of flavor combinations, cooking methods and presentation as this will be the type of food you not only enjoy cooking the most but also what tastes the best.

 

Cater to every dietary requirement

It goes without saying how crucial it is you have food options for every single dietary issue there is, all it takes is for one person to come into your restaurant with a dietary requirement you haven’t properly prepared for and your professional reputation can seriously be hindered. It would be advisable to take the time and do thorough research into any food deficiency there is and come up with ways in which your menu could be adapted to suit your guest’s needs. Like any business you are going to have a huge variety of customers each in need of a different service, in this case, you need to ensure your menu has a solid meal option they can enjoy.

 

Consider the event and venue

Deciding on the perfect menu can totally depend on the event and venue your food is being served at, if the event is more social with guests standing and interacting with each other then it would be much more suitable to serve easy to eat buffet style food. If your guests want a luxury style service then a seated meal with different courses would be required, a good idea would be to meet with your customers prior to the event and discuss the kind of atmosphere their event will have. Meeting with your customers not only displays a high level of customer service but also ensures you know exactly what they want to eat and allows you to deliver the perfect menu as they have had involvement. Communication is also a key factor when it comes to finding out any potential dietary requirements and allows you to deal with them to the very best standard.

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June 23, 2020

This Australian Food Festival is Changing the Cooking World

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The Ballina food and wine festival is a unique and interesting food event displaying everything that makes great cuisine, its large following has only grown over every year the event is held. Its popularity has grown so much the festival now features two separate events in two amazing locations, held in the summer months you can expect to enjoy great food and wine under the beaming sun with like-minded food enthusiasts. The range of local produce that is available to sample and purchase is unlike any other event in the region, as well as a large array of produce native to Australia, Ballina also hosts food retailers from all over the world so there will definitely be something new for you to try.

 

Location

Set in the modern, picturesque location of the Ballina Jockey club this food festival has a much more unique atmosphere than any other event out there. There is a sense of elegance around the festival with the club hosting a whole range of other prestigious events throughout the year. With long stretches of colorful and well-maintained gardens, this event is the perfect place to find a delicious new dish to sample, pair it with a glass of accompanying wine, and just relax. Where other events can overwhelm its visitors with a busy and sometimes hectic atmosphere, Ballina takes a more relaxed approach to how it is hosted.

 

Charity Support

As well as providing amazing food and wine, the Ballina festival works with a different charity organization every year, the fact that this event works so hard to provide its loyal visitors with a great festival whilst helping to raise money for charity really is commendable. As previously mentioned the Ballina also hosts a second event, the after-hours gala is hosted in order to show off a classier dining experience with live music and entertainment. As if the main festival wasn’t enough the dinner attracts an elegant clientele, with extra charity shows and a raffle with some pretty juicy prizes on offer, a large portion of the profits that are made also go towards charity.

 

Produce

The main focus of any food festival would have to be the food they offer, at Ballina there is no shortage of world cuisines for you to try. Below are just some of the types of food that are offered at this amazing event.

 

  • Mexican street food
  • Indian cuisine
  • Local Australian produce
  • Flavored Cheeses
  • Customizable Chinese noodle boxes
  • Shawarma
  • Artisan baked goods
  • Deli counter
  • Organic fruit and veg

 

That is just the tip of the iceberg and the best thing is they all offer a diverse range of foods at very reasonable prices, Ballina is very supportive of its local Australian businesses and has been inviting smaller retailers and Australian Catering Services to come and display what great dishes they have come up with.

 

If you are someone who enjoys good food and good wine then the Ballina festival is the one for you, not only will you find a range of delicious foods but you will be morally satisfied through the fact that the event is supporting local businesses whilst helping those in need through its charity work. The food festival is really paving the way to helping smaller food retailers in getting a solid footing on the market.

 

The food industry can be very competitive and getting a strong reputation can take a lot of time, by providing opportunities to smaller businesses Ballina is contributing to the success of small businesses around the globe and paving the way for the mainstream names in the future of the food industry. The cooking world is constantly changing, from trends in what food is popular and the innovative methods in how different meals are created, Ballina food and wine showcase it all and more!

 

If you find yourself lucky enough to attend this prestigious event then really relish in the opportunity to try some new cuisines, you may not find some of the produce anywhere else so take advantage of the opportunity to try something new, support small businesses and contribute to a very noble cause.

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April 29, 2020

The Absolute Beginners Guide to Fishing

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Fishing is quickly rising to be a popular sport among people once again due to its relaxing yet competitive nature. But it’s not as easy as just casting a line into a body of water and hoping for the best, fishing requires the right equipment and knowledge, as well as a lot of patience. Here are some handy tips on how to successfully fish for absolute beginners.

License

If you’re really serious about starting your fishing hobby then it is important that you get a license. Not many people know that in many towns it’s actually illegal to fish without a license, this law is put in place in order to conserve local wildlife. It also means that people can’t just begin fishing whenever and wherever they please. You can get a licence online for a very reasonable price.

Equipment

Arguably the most important tool of a successful fishing trip is using the correct equipment. If you are just starting out and a little hesitant on whether or not you should sink a lot of money into something you may not enjoy, there are many options out there. For example, if you decide to take a class or instructional course, they will provide you with all of the right equipment- meaning that you don’t have to spend your own money. If you decide that you enjoy fishing but are a little hesitant of spending so much money on gear, there is always the option to buy it second hand. You can easily find second-hand gear on local selling sites, but it’s important to request to see the gear before purchasing it as you want to make sure that it is good quality and not damaged at all. Your goal should be to find a rod with a spinning wheel as your main tool, this will probably be your most expensive initial item but it’s important that you invest in a quality rod as a good rod will last you a long time. If you get a combination rod, it’ll be easier to set up and use as you only really have to focus on the reel. Basic things like fishing rope and hooks are easy to acquire for a small price, you can get them online or at any local fishing store. If you want to make the fishing experience slightly easier for yourself it would be recommended to get some bobbers as these will help tell you whether or not a fish has hooked on to your line.

Comfort

When it comes to fishing you’re going to be sitting out for many hours on potentially freezing days and so making sure you’re comfortable is something you should prioritise. Invest in some thick jackets, socks and boots as that will make sitting out for hours far more bearable. It wouldn’t hurt investing in a fishing chair either as you don’t want to be sat upon the cold floor for hours. Don’t skimp out when it comes to this as this is something you’ll use for a long time and will make fishing more enjoyable. There’s also no harm in getting a small pop up fishing tent to protect yourself from any cold breeze or rain. Once again, this is quite an inexpensive purchase and will not break your bank, but will make fishing feel more comfortable. Make sure you have the basics too, like a hat and scarf. Many people forget about the importance of basic warmth, especially when you’re so close to sea breezes, this will make it easier to stay out for longer.

Picking the right spots

Unfortunately, you can’t just start fishing in whatever body of water you fancy. There are a number of things to consider before you set up your fishing station. For example, check if the water is privately owned. Most privately owned lakes do not permit you to fish in them for the safety of its ecosystem. This can be easily checked online. Also check if whatever body of water you choose actually had fish in it as surprisingly, a lot of manmade water sources don’t have any fish in them at all so you would be completely wasting your time. Look at local fishing forums to really find out the most popular fishing areas near you. This is also a good opportunity to find some fishing groups to share your picks and find out where the most densely populated areas to fish in are. If you are allowed to fish in some areas, check any rules that they may have as surprisingly most fishing areas don’t let you take the fish home with you after catching them whereas some may.

Get to know your fish

Not every fish is the same so you should really get to know what fish are in your area and what are the best ways to catch these fish. If you are looking for advice on how to catch these fish then you should visit the pursuingoutdoors site as they give you lots of useful information on how to attract individual fish. You should look at investing in a variety of bait to attract a number of fish, bait can easily be acquired at local fishing shops as well as local pet shops as key baits like mealworms are actually very popular reptile foods. All this information can also be found in fishing books.

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