Margarita
Margarita Pronounce it: mah-gah-ree-tah This is the more civilised way to drink tequila than gulp it from a salt-rimmed glass, then suck on a lemon wedge while your eyes water and your brain complains. Availability A…
Glossary
Corked
Corked Pronounce it: core-k’d Wine can be faulty for a number of reasons, for example if air has seeped into the bottle the wine can become ‘oxidised’ and taste of sherry. In the case of…
Lentils
Lentils Pronounce it: len-til The lentil plant (Lens Culinaris) originates from Asia and North Africa and is one of our oldest sources of food. A cousin to the pea and a rich provider of protein…
Amaranth
Amaranth Pronounce it: am-uh-ranth Amaranth is a protein-rich, gluten-free pseudo-grain (like quinoa) and a distant relation to Swiss chard and spinach. An amaranth plant produces multiple seed heads, each of which can yield up to 5,000 seeds. It is…
Blanch
Blanch Pronounce it: bla-anch The process of plunging ingredients – usually vegetables and fruit – into boiling water briefly, then draining and refreshing them in cold water in order to stop the cooking process. Blanching…
Barbera
Barbera Pronounce it: bar-bare-ah Pizza house star This is probably the first red wine anyone drinks in an Italian restaurant or pizza place. That’s because it can be cheap and very cheerful. The red, juicy…
Pomegranate
Pomegranate Pronounce it: pom-ee-gran-at Now mainly grown in America, Spain, the Middle East and India, pomegranates originated in the area from Northern India to Iran. They have a round shape, like an apple, with a…
Prosecco
Prosecco Pronounce it: proh-sekk-oh Bubbling Prosecco is now one of the UK’s most popular alcoholic drinks. Not all varieties deliver profound lasting flavours and the bubbles may dissapear quickly, but this sparkling white wine’s production cost…
Kumquat
Kumquat Pronounce it: kum-kwot It looks like a small, oval orange, but the kumquat, which originates in Asia, is a member of another species, fortunella. The flesh of a kumquat is quite dry and has…
Chilli
Chilli Pronounce it: chill-ee Part of the capsicum family, chillies come in scores of varieties and colours (from green through to yellow, orange and red) and are one of the most popular spices in the…