Viognier
Viognier Pronounce it: vee-oh-nyay A scented favourite Viognier is one of the great success stories of recent times. Never one of the easiest grapes to grow, production had shrunk back to a tiny amount in…
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Almond
Almond Pronounce it: arr-mund or al-mund Sweet almonds have a subtle fragrance that lends itself well to baking and also works well with fish and chicken. Classic almond dishes include trout and almonds, Bakewell tart,…
Julienne
Julienne Pronounce it: joo-lee-en To cut vegetables into matchsticks-shaped pieces for use mainly as a garnish. To julienne, vegetables should be peeled and cut across into pieces about 5cm long. If necessary, curved sides should…
Cavolo nero
Cavolo nero Pronounce it: ca-voll-oh nee-ro A loose-leafed cabbage from Tuscany, Italy. The leaves are a very dark green, almost black, hence its name, which translates as ‘black cabbage’. It has a pleasantly tangy, bitter…
Soya beans
Soya beans Pronounce it: soi-yah beenz Soya beans and soy beans are exactly the same and the names are used interchangeably according to fashion, preference or habit. The many subsequent products, such as soya/soy sauce,…
Smoked salt
Smoked salt Smoked salt is created when rock salt or sea salt are smoked over a wood fire. The salt is either hot or cold smoked but both methods impart a rich smoky flavour and…
Sorbet
Sorbet Pronounce it: saw-bay Sorbet is a non-dairy, frozen dessert based on puréed fruit or on fruit juice mixed with water and sugar. It should be very finely grained and have no large crystals of…
Star anise
Star anise Pronounce it: star an-eese Star anise is one of the central spices in Chinese cooking. It has a strong anise flavour, with a liquorice-like aroma. The dominant flavour in Chinese five-spice powder, star…
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi Pronounce it: cole-rah-bee Looking something like a Sputnik in vegetable form, with a squat bulb and antennae-like shoots, kohlrabi is part of the cabbage family. The name translates as ‘turnip cabbage’ and the mild,…
Vodka
Vodka Pronounce it: vod-ka Originally associated with Russia, Slavonic, Baltic and Scandinavian countries, vodka has become one of the world’s favourite spirits, largely based on its supposed lack of flavour and it being undetectable on…