The Chef's Cookbook » Beverages

Coffee History: Some Interesting Facts

guest blogger — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:22:51 +0000

Coffee is something we take pretty much for granted these days, but it wasn’t always this way. Believe it or not there was a time when no-one knew anything about coffee. Legend has it that the beans were discovered by an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi around 800 AD. He saw his goats eating the beans, tried them himself and got the world’s first coffee buzz.

Coffee in Arabia

That legend may or may not be true, but wherever it was discovered, coffee next popped up in Arabia from 1000AD onwards. Muslims took coffee with them wherever they went (and they went to lots of places in Africa, the Mediterranean and India. But the coffee legend states that they kept the secret of growing coffee very much to themselves, only ever allowing infertile beans to leave the country. Some Sufi monks also knew about coffee but that was as far as it went. The story goes that around the 1600s an Indian pilgrim called Baba Budan managed to smuggle out some fertile beans leading to the flourishing of coffee drinking in other parts of the world. It was time for Europe to get a piece of the coffee action.

A Merchant of Venice

The next chapter of the coffee story saw a Venetian merchant introducing coffee, paving the way for the Dutch to figure out how coffee was produced. It took the Dutch 80 years from the establishment of a coffee plant in 1616 to setting up a coffee estate in what is now Indonesia in 1696. Once the Dutch had coffee, it spread around Europe and from there to other parts of the world. One French naval officer smuggled it out to Martinique where it grew well and was used to supply Latin America.

Brazil Gets Coffee

Believe it or not, one of the world’s great coffee producers, Brazil, didn’t have coffee back until the 18th century and there were some shady dealings to get it. Lt. Col. Francisco de Melo Palheta was given the task of getting some beans so that the country could grab their share of the market. According to the story, he sweet talked the wife of the governor of French Guiana to get the seedlings that would pave the way for a massive coffee empire.

Once Brazil got involved, it was only a matter of time before coffee became something that everyone could drink. Wonder what that goatherd would have made of it?

About the Author

Freelance blogger Sharon Hurley is fascinated by the history of coffee. She writes for the UK’s no. 1 bottled water cooler supplier Eden Springs who also have office coffee machine hire.

Mint Julep

TheSaltyChef — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:14 +0000

Saturday is Derby Day, no doubt there will be delightful morsels to tempt the pallet. As Derby Day approaches, across the land, hosts and hostesses will root around for a julep recipe, scare up some fresh mint, pulverize sacks of ice and proceed to make a drink that goes back to 1787. Even as we speak, the bartenders out at Churchill Downs are crushing ice, searching out the freshest mint and stocking up on Early Times bourbon in anticipation of the 100,000 juleps that are required to quench the thirst of those attending. They will all be served in commemorative glasses.

Although juleps contain only three ingredients — sugar, bourbon and mint — it is not an easy drink to make. A foundation of carefully crushed ice is first required, and one should not simply add the sugar, but muddle it with a bit of bourbon and a few fresh mint leaves. The authentic mint julep should be served in either a pewter or silver mug with two straws and garnished with a generous bush of mint, sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.

Ingredients

12 fresh red-stemmed mint leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

2 ounces bourbon

Plenty of freshly cracked ice

1 bunch mint

Fresh bottled water

Carbonated water

Lemon zest

Powdered sugar

Preparation:

■ In a tall pewter, silver or crystal tumbler, gently bruise the 12 mint leaves and muddle with sugar and a dash of bourbon.

■ Fill the glass halfway with cracked ice and agitate with a spoon.

■ Pack the rest of the tumbler with ice and fill with the rest of the bourbon and equal parts fresh water and carbonated water.

■ Garnish with mint sprig.

■ Twist a lemon zest over the leaves and dust with powdered sugar.

Serve with two short straws.

Makes 6 servings.

Spring Cocktails

TheSaltyChef — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:24:44 +0000

The Salty Dog

You will need:
3 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1 1/2 cups Hendrick’s gin
1 1/2teaspoon salt mixed with 1 tsp sugar, for rimming

How to: Pour all ingredients over ice cubes in a highball glass rimmed with salt/sugar mixture. Stir well & serve. Serves 6.

Lemon Drop
You will need:
2 cups of cold vodka
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 lemon, thinly sliced
Ice

How to: Combine vodka, lemon juice, and sugar and pour into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into martini glasses and garnish with lemon slices.

White House Brews Beer

TheSaltyChef — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:18:19 +0000

White House Honey Ale it is being called. The President and First Lady asked their chefs to start brewing this ale, which home brewing is a popular hobby and has been.

The couple presented the first batch of the homebrew – the White House Honey Ale to guests at their SuperBowl party in February. Close to 100 bottles were produced and there were no leftovers after the party.

While Obama won’t be rolling up his sleeves himself, the fact the White House is getting involved in the homebrewing movement is being praised by people. The honey ale won’t be the only beer produced by the White House. East Wing spokesman Semonti Stephens told the Obamafoodorama blog this week it is “very safe to assume” the White House will brew more beer in the future.

Obama is known for his love of beer. He and Prime Minister Stephen Harper each wagered a case of beer on the outcome of the 2010 Olympic men’s hockey final. After Canada has won the gold, Obama gave Harper a case of Molson Canadian. If the U.S. had won, Harper would have owed Obama a case of Yuengling beer.

Great Gift Idea! Cappuccino Mix Recipe

TheSaltyChef — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:03:22 +0000

Ingredients

1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup instant chocolate drink mix
2/3 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Combine all ingredients; mix well. Store in an airtight container. To serve, add 3 tablespoons mix to 3/4 cup boiling water; stir. Yield: 16 servings (3 cups mix).

Favorite Thanksgiving Cocktails

TheSaltyChef — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:51:37 +0000

Here are my favorite cocktails for the season!

Pumpkin Pie

* 1 part kahlua
* 1 part spiced pumpkin pie filling
* 2 parts coconut rum
* 4 parts cold milk
* 6 ice cubes
* Garnish with cinnamon

Put everything but the cinnamon in a blender. Mix on high. Serve in graham cracker crust highball glasses and sprinkle the top with cinnamon.

Smashing Pumpkin Spice

* 1 part Goldschlager
* 1 part Irish CrÃ¨me
* 1 part Kahlua
* Cinnamon candies
* Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice

Drop 3-4 cinnamon candies in the bottom of a martini glass. Mix the Goldschlager, Irish CrÃ¨me, and Kahlua in a martini shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on top.

Gingersnap

* Â½ part ginger brandy
* 1 part spiced rum
* 4 parts eggnog
* Crumbled gingersnaps

Put your gingersnaps in a blender and grind until you have cookie crumbs. Use the cookies to rim highball glasses. Mix the eggnog, rum, and brandy in your glasses. Serve with an intact gingersnap for dunking.

Turkey Shooter

* 3 parts Wild Turkey
* 1 part crÃ¨me de methe

Chill both ingredients. Pour the Wild Turkey into a brandy snifter then carefully float the crÃ¨me de methe on top. The whiskey will warm you up while the mint flavor keeps you cool.

NESCAFE Dolce Gusto Machine

TheSaltyChef — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:01:10 +0000

This post brought to you by Nestle Dolce Gusto. All opinions are 100% mine.

With all the machines out there how do you know which one is the best for you? Just in the last year my husband has become a huge coffee fan, so for fathers day I got him a very fancy machine, and he loves it. I also had been looking at the NESCAFE Dolce Gusto too. This machine has several features which are very handy including: 15 bar pressure pump which makes it taste more like coffee from a coffee shop, It has innovative technology that is unique only to Nescafe, Style and function are not lost on this great product! You can make so many of your favorite coffee treats with this machine. 8 different varieties can be customized to individual taste including: Caffè Lungo, Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Mocha, Caffè Americano, Iced Cappuccino…and even a rich Hot Chocolate (Chococino) for the kids. 50 people were given the chance to try out the Dolce machine, you can read their reviews on divine.ca.

You can even customize the heat, froth and strength with no hassle at all. It also comes in red, black and white and sits right on the counter! Expect to pay around $180 for this machine, but if you are into good coffee, this might be a great investment! If you would like to know more visit the link above to see it for yourself! 50 people were given the chance to try the Dolce Gusto out, you can read their reviews on the Website for more info!

Caffeine addict quiz

Pumpkin Soup and Pumpkin Seed Tea

TheSaltyChef — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:00:48 +0000

Pumpkin Soup

Scrub outside of pumpkin well with soap and water and rinse very well. This is in case there have been sprays used.

With a very heavy knife on a heavy surface cut the pumpkin into chunks two to three inch squares (this after you have removed the seeds) Be careful, and this is a job for an adult.

Place these chucks in a large pot of water and cook until they can be tested with a fork as to being done.

Remove and allow the pumpkin to cool. After it is cool slip the skin off.

Peel potatoes as for potato soup and cook with a very large diced up onion. When potatoes and onion are done, add pumpkin. Season with butter, and salt. Serve in a large soup tureen, a special table cloth, large soup bowls, and a big deal as to, “pumpkin soup,” so the kids will remember.

And I still have the video of a very small girl carrying a very big pumpkin from the field rich with nourishing food.

Oh yes the seeds:

Pumpkin Seed Tea

Boil the seeds. Allow them to cool. Place along with the liquid in a blender. After you whirl them pour through a very fine sieve and maybe even a cloth to strain.

Sweeten with honey and add some spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

Serve the pumpkin seed tea with the pumpkin soup.

Wine; The Basics!

TheSaltyChef — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:30:28 +0000

What wine do I choose? What are the characteristics? What food should I pair it with? All these questions will be answered in this article, have no fear!

White Wine

Chardonnay:Â The flavor is dry, oaky and full-bodied

This wine is good with Seafood, Poultry, Shell Fish and is great with Caesar Salad.
My suggestions:Â Woodbridge, Clos Du Bois, and Yellow Tail.

Sauvignon Blanc:Â The flavor of this wine is dry, citrusy and grassy.

This wine is good with Seasoned Poultry, Fish, and Summer Salads
My suggestions:Â Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc, and Barefoot.

Pinot Grigio:Â The flavor is light, crisp, fruity and dry.Â In recent years this wine has become very popular.

Good with Mild Fish, Pasta and Mild Cheeses
My suggestions: Santa Margharita, Blackstone, Turning Leaf, and Bella Sera

Riesling: Light, sweet or semi sweet. Good for a first time wine drinker.

Drink with Poultry, shellfish and fish
My suggestions:Â Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Robert Mondavi.

Gewurtztaminer:Â Medium-bodied, Semi-sweet and Spicy

Drink with Smoked Meats, Fish, Fowl, Asian Dishes
My suggestions:Â Forest Estate, Domaine Trimbach, Covey Run

White Zinfandel:Â Light, Fruity (great start for a first time wine drinker)

Drink with light Fare, Picnics
My suggestions:Â Woodbridge, and Sutterhome.

White Merlot:Â Fruity and light.

Drink with burgers, cookouts
My suggestions:Â Beringer, Sutterhome

Moscato: Sweet and light.

* Drink with light cuisine and can be used as dessert wine.
* My suggestions: Beringer, and Bonnie Doon

Red Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon:Â Very Dry, Full Bodied
Drink with steak, Pasta Meals,and Cheeses
My Suggestions:Â Robert Mondavi, and Stags Leap.

Merlot:Â Dry, Medium-full bodied
Drink with Beef, pasta meals, and Pizza.
My Suggestions: Barefoot, and Yellowtail

Zinfadel: Dry, Medium-full bodied
Drink with BBQ Meats, Tomato Based Dishes, Spicy/Ethnic Cuisine
My Suggestions: Ravenswood, Rancho Zambaco

Pinot Noir:Â Dry, Medium Body
Drink with Pork, Chicken, Lamb and Salmon
My Suggestions:Â Sebastiani, Mark West, Estancia

Shiraz:Â Dry, Sometimes a sweet finish, Medium Body
Drink with Beef, Lamb and Fish
My Suggestions: Rosemont, and Yellowtail

Beaujolais:Â Light, Fruity, Dry
Drink with Pasta, Beef and Fish
My Suggestions:Â Georges Duboeuf

Dinosaur Punch

TheSaltyChef — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:23:54 +0000

This refreshing drink got its name from being Barney-colored.

Ingredients

* 4 cups grape juice
* One 6 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate

* 2 cups ginger ale, chilled

Instructions

In a punch bowl, stir together the grape juice and lemonade concentrate. Add the ginger ale and serve immediately. Garnish with ice cubes made of lemonade. Makes about 6-3/4 cups.