Tag Archives: Seafood

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Seattle for Foodies

View of Seattle, USA

Seattle’s culinary scene is really thriving, making this a great city for avid foodies to visit. From food tours to food trucks, here are some of the highlights that Seattle has to offer for foodies.

Food Tours
A guided food tour is a great way to get an initial idea of Seattle’s culinary flavor, and will take you to some of the best foodie hot spots around town. Savor Seattle is a great company to look into, as they host a range of tasty food tours. Whether you want to be taken around Pike Place Market, which is the oldest continuously operating market in the country, or indulge in a chocolate tour that features this sweet treat in all of its many forms, taking a food tour is the perfect introduction to Seattle’s food scene.

Food Trucks
Food trucks have been rising in popularity all over the country, and Seattle is no exception. Food trucks are a great opportunity for up-and-coming chefs to build a customer base and showcase their skills, so several of the food trucks that you will find in Seattle really have a high standard when it comes to the food that they create. Where Ya At Matt is a truck that has been around since 2010, and is known for their Cajun and Creole dishes, while Marination Mobile is a Hawaiian-Korean infusion truck, and launched a successful group of restaurants too. For some of the best Mexican food in Seattle, head to El Camion, while those who would like a taste of authentic Taiwanese steamed buns should visit It’s Bao Time.

Pike Place Market in Seattle, USA

Checubus / Shutterstock.com

Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is iconic, as it is one of the last few remaining authentic farmers markets in the country. There is so much food to be tried here, and it is always worth getting small portions at each place so that you have room for the next. Handmade Cheese is the spot to go if you are seeking out the best mac and cheese in the city, while City Fish Co is so experienced in fresh seafood. Piroshky Piroshky is another gem in the market and is a small Russian bakery that specializes in freshly baked piroshkis, which are small savory pies, although be prepared to wait around 20 minutes to be served here, as they are incredibly popular. Seatown Seabar is another great spot to try out some local seafood, and they also serve up The Seattle Co. cider, which is a semi-sweet hard apple cider that is well worth trying. Finally, head to Lowell’s, as this is where you will find one of the best views of the Puget Sound in the city, along with more tasty seafood eats.

Whether you are a fan of seafood, fusion food, or indulgent desserts, Seattle is a city that is bound to please. A food tour is always a great way to get started, as this will provide you with a foodie-oriented overview of the city, after which you can then decide which places you want to explore in more depth.

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Best East Hampton Restaurants

East Hampton Restaurant
East Hampton has seen so many different restaurants come and go, but there are some that have managed to withstand the test of time. In addition to this, the culinary scene in the region has begun to really take off in recent years, and newcomers to the restaurant industry here are backed by talented and innovative chefs, ready to make their mark in New York.

Nick & Toni’s
Reminiscent of a Tuscan farmhouse, Nick & Toni’s is somewhat of an institution in the Hamptons, and is where you are most likely to spot your favorite celebrity. Three different dining rooms surround the restaurant’s centrepiece of a large wood burning oven, and the menu, which features Italian and Mediterranean influences, changes seasonally, making use of ingredients from the restaurant’s very own organic garden, as well as local farmers and fisherman.

The Lobster Roll
The lobster roll is a speciality dish in the region, and this casual restaurant sporting the same name, situated just off Montauk Highway, serves up some of the tastiest lobster rolls you will have ever tried. The Lobster Roll uses a recipe that dates back to over 50 years ago, and portions here are always extremely generous. In addition to the lobster rolls, their clam chowder, steamed lobsters and baked stuffed flounder are all worth sampling.

The 1770 House
The 1770 House, which is located in a historic inn that dates all the way back to 1663, is home to two contrasting dining rooms, each headed up by chef Michael Rozzi and his contemporary American style of cooking. The main dining room, as well as the patio, features a sophisticated fine dining menu, serving up dishes such as white bean ravioli with bacon, and sticky braised ribs that melt away in your mouth, while the Tavern downstairs is much more casual, focussing on traditional pub fare.

restaurant table

The Living Room at The Maidstone
Considered to be one of the finest hotels in East Hampton, it is no surprise that The Maidstone also boasts a high quality restaurant. Committed to adhering to the Slow Food movement, this Scandinavian-inspired restaurant creates Swedish-style dishes but with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Some of the standout dishes that you will find here include the Long Island Duck Breast served with rye berries, baby beets and nasturtium flowers, and the Kottbullar, otherwise known as the Swedish meatball, accompanied with a lingonberry jam and pickled cucumbers. The restaurant also places a strong emphasis on fresh pasta, adding their own unique twist to their handmade creations, from the hot smoked paprika in the egg-based Parpadelle dough to the Parisian Gnocchi that is made with Pate Choux dough rather than potatoes.

While the restaurant scene may have taken a while to really pick up in East Hampton, there are now plenty of options to choose from when it comes to dining out. From the fresh seafood at the casual Lobster Roll to the Scandinavian fare at The Living Room at The Maidstone, each of these establishments promises an unforgettable meal.

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Caviar 101

Red caviar

While there may be no other ingredient quite as luxurious as caviar, there is no denying that this delicacy can often be quite confusing, especially with so many different varieties out there. While three species of sturgeon used to supply most of the world’s caviar, overfishing has meant that roe from other varieties of fish have now become popular. For those of you who are not yet quite caviar connoisseurs, this guide will teach you everything that you need to know about this luxurious delicacy.

How to Purchase Caviar
Many people believe that the more expensive a variety of caviar is, the better it will taste, but this is not at all the case. Instead, the price is based on the rarity of the fish that it comes from, and roe from a rarer fish does not necessarily taste better. Top grades of caviar are also usually more mature, and the flavors can often be too much for a beginner to handle. When shopping for caviar, make sure that you taste it before purchasing, and if a particular shop does not allow you to do so, it is worth finding somewhere else to buy caviar from.

Deciding How Much to Purchase
A common mistake made by caviar first-timers is to buy a small, ten-gram tin, but this only allows for a couple of bites and does not allow your palette enough time to adapt to these new flavors. Instead, buy a minimum of thirty grams, as you need to heap around half a teaspoon of the roe onto your tongue at a time in order to fully experience its taste and texture.

How to Store Caviar
Caviar is an extremely perishable ingredient, and for that reason, it needs to be stored in a particular way. While an unopened tin will happily sit in your refrigerator for a few weeks, a tin that has been opened needs to be eaten within three days, after which its flavor will seriously deteriorate. Placing some plastic wrap over the surface of the roe will help to keep oxygen out, before putting the tin in the coldest part of your refrigerator, surrounding it with ice packs if necessary.

Black caviar

Serving Caviar
When serving caviar that has been in the refrigerator, remove the tin and let it stand for ten minutes at room temperature before serving. Only open the tin at the very last minute, as this ensures maximum freshness. When choosing which accompaniments to serve the caviar with, remember to only choose items that are quite bland in flavor, as you do not want anything competing with, and distracting from, the delicacy of the caviar. Blinis, mini slices of toast, unsalted crackers and sour cream always work well, along with some chilled Russian vodka.

Once you begin to open yourself up to all that caviar offers, there is a whole world out there in terms of texture, flavor and variety that will truly captivate you. From the rarest caviar, known as golden or royal caviar, that comes from the albino osetra sturgeon, to salmon and whitefish caviars that are not really considered true varieties of the ingredient but are still delicious in their own right, there is so much to discover and introduce to your palette, that you will wonder why you never gave caviar a try earlier.

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The Best of Australian Cuisine

Australian cuisine is just as diverse as the country itself. However, with such a unique culinary history, there are certain dishes that you simply must try when in Australia. For those of you planning a trip down under this year, OROGOLD has put together a quick guide showing you the best of Australian cuisine.

Pavlova

Pavlova
The pavlova is a classic Australian dessert that was created in honor of a Russian ballerina who was touring Australia in the 1930s. The dessert features a crisp meringue shell topped with fresh fruit, and when you cut into it, it breaks away to reveal gooey layers of marshmallow beneath. There are so many different versions of the pavlova out there now, and if you’re someone that has a sweet tooth, this is an Australian dish that OROGOLD highly recommends you try.

Kangaroo meat.

Kangaroo Meat
Although some Australians may be reluctant to eat kangaroo meat, many up-and-coming chefs are bringing this traditional ingredient back into the spotlight. Kangaroo meat is a healthy and lean red meat, and is served in a huge variety of ways, from grilled spice-rubbed steaks to juicy burgers with all the trimmings to tasty sizzling breakfast sausages.

OROGOLD-Best-of-Australian-Cuisine-Barramundi

Barramundi
Barramundi is an Australian variety of fish that was named by the Aboriginals. It is served all over the country in different ways, but OROGOLD’s favorite recipe is when the fish has been pan-fried and served up with a delicious herb oil.

Meat Pie

Meat Pie
The meat pie is another classic Australian staple, and you will find it on just about every pub menu in Australia. With flaky pastry and deliciously tender meat, this is a casual dish that you have to try. Of course, you will also find many different gourmet versions, but OROGOLD’s favorite way to eat it is with a simple helping of peas and mashed potatoes.

Fish n Chips

Fish ‘n’ Chips
Australia has some of the best seafood in the world, making fish ‘n’ chips a popular meal wherever you go in the country. No matter where you order this dish from, your fish will usually be extremely fresh and perfectly fried, served up with lemon and salt and wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper.

Lamingtons

Lamingtons
Lamingtons are considered to be one of Australia’s national dishes, and is a square-shaped cake that has been covered in chocolate and coconut. OROGOLD considers the lamington to be the perfect afternoon snack to enjoy alongside tea or coffee, especially if you manage to find one of the delectable varieties that contain a layer of cream and jam in the middle.

From the humble meat pie served up at a traditional pub to a gourmet dish of grilled kangaroo with organic vegetables, Australia’s cuisine is hugely diverse, but this is the beauty of it. OROGOLD always recommends trying traditional local foods when visiting a new country, and with such a variety of Australian dishes available, there is no doubt that you will find something that you will instantly fall in love with.