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Exploring the Cultural Significance of Food and Drink with Simon Whalley

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The food that we eat is inextricably linked with the culture that surrounds us, and much can be discovered about a person by taking a closer look at the foods they choose to eat and cook!

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Many cultures evolved specifically around food, with early civilizations being organised in ways that best suited the gathering, production and distribution of food. The types and styles of cooking, food preservation and ingredients have a lot to do with the climate, geography and resources of each particular area, so various cultures may have vastly different foods and cooking methods.

What and how we eat is often governed by rituals that have become ingrained in societies through the generations. Some of these rituals are religious, with dietary laws prescribed by religious texts and adhered to by orthodox populations. These may be ongoing dietary rules such as the Jewish people only eating kosher meat that has been prepared in a certain way, or rituals that tie in with specific religious festivals, such as Muslims fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Other rituals are more secular, such as eating turkey at Thanksgiving in the US or the Japanese tea ceremony, which although rooted in Buddhism has become a symbol of manners and grace in society.

Regional food habits can be noted within cultural recipes, but as the world becomes more global, there is increasing crossover between cuisines. Recipes get adapted as new ingredients become available and new dishes spring from old, resulting in fusions of different cultures coming together in one meal. Food etiquette often varies from region to region also. Some cultures eat using knives and forks or chopsticks, while others find it polite to eat using only the hands. Within each of these disciplines there are yet more rules which vary from region to region, such as which hand it is acceptable to hold the knife or chopsticks in, or which fork to use for which course of a meal.

Regional variations can also be found within the same country, sometimes to quite an extensive degree. In India, some areas of the country eat a strictly vegetarian diet, while other regions feature many dishes that are meat-based. Styles of cooking and choice of ingredients vary from city to city, village to village in Italy; the focus across most of the country is on the use of fresh, local ingredients, so availability of items such as seafood or different vegetables affects the style of cookery.

Our love of food and cookery in the modern world can be seen by the proliferation of food tourism. Many people taking a vacation or trip will today choose to centre that trip around eating and exploring new cuisines. By learning local preparation techniques and what local chefs look for in terms of ingredients, people can absorb themselves fully in the food of another culture and take some of that knowledge home with them.

About Simon Whalley

Simon Whalley is a music composer and lecturer who is well respected, having worked internationally in some prestigious venues and institutions. His passion for travel and the arts has led him to visit many places and experience many cultures, taking in cultural landmarks and preservation centres such as galleries and museums, as well as experimenting with new flavours.

Why Do Restaurants Need to Provide Nutrition Labels?

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Have you noticed that more and more restaurants are providing nutrition labels? Here’s why it’s a good thing!

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Customers need an on-the-go option when it comes to food shopping. However, their expectations are fast-evolving, with more opportunities being available to them. You can’t keep pre-packaged food item before them and hope it to fly off the shelf. The ready-to-eat choices had the moment in the food industry, allowing retailers to beat their competitors. However, restaurants have to be more careful with nutrition and packaging to compete with specialty food stores.

The reasons restaurants need to provide nutrition label

As a restaurant owner, you have to take into account the fact that you cannot ignore nutrition for convenience anymore as shoppers spend more time on what food they choose and what ingredients it contains. For them, you have to provide the right nutrition label so that they can quickly figure out the nutrition facts and ingredients. It has become more critical than ever because, along with convenience, these people want to get all the information related to what they are going to eat. They need clarity about expiry and manufacturing dates too. If you give them all these and other essential inputs, you have their loyalty. Since it can seem like a massive task, you can use automated labelling and menu management software to print the right labels.

The typical process of nutrition facts label printing

Some online tools make this reasonably easy to generate labels for you. You have to mention how much of a particular ingredient you used in a product, and the software will calculate the nutritional information. You can download the details in a PDF or image format and send with the food menu. The companies which offer these tools believe that it becomes quite fast if you save all the items one by one and then mix them to cook up a dish.

Besides, some software also gives you the flexibility to demonstrate a complete meal as a whole or a dish individually. It is up to you to decide what works better for you. There are different dimensions that you can choose for the labels based on the size of your packaging. Just make sure you pick the nutrition labels that are relevant for your country, such as Canada, USA, etc. Nowadays, the progressive nutrition labelling software also enables you to highlight whether it is Keto, Vegan, or Organic. With this, you can also detail ingredients.

In essence, it can be a three-step process where you have to mention ingredients and their quantity in a recipe, turn those recipes into dishes, and download and print the label. The printable labels can be available for display on websites as well as packaging.

You can learn more about printing Nutritional Fact Labels to get comfortable with this and help your restaurant business grow by manifold. Many companies offer you these tools, but you have to discover the one that is easy to use and manage. For an easy decision, you can focus on the feature richness apart from the ease of use factor. It can make your whole experience more productive and profitable.

Tips on Becoming a Professional Baker

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If you have decided that your passion for baking cakes and other tasty treats has surpassed the limitations of your domestic kitchen, you may have considered becoming a professional baker!

You might be interested in opening a café and selling your homemade cakes there. Alternatively, you might want to specialize in things like brownies or wedding cakes. Whatever type of thing you want to do, you’ll need to have a good business plan and a lot of determination. Here are some useful tips on how you can become a professional baker.

Space

The space you will need will all depend on how big you want your business to be. You can use your domestic kitchen if you’re going to take orders for smaller batches, which is how you might want to start your baking profession to ease into it. However, as you become busier you will require more space to complete orders. Look for a professional bakery space or café to hire to make sure you have the room bake large quantities.

Equipment

You will need to invest in the right equipment to carry out larger orders. Again, if you’re starting small at home you might find your current mixer, processor, baking trays, etc. are efficient, but eventually you will need to expand your collection of utensils. Having the right equipment for the job makes your life a lot easier, and ensures that orders are completed on time and to a high standard.

Thankfully, many restaurant supply stores online offer a wide range of kitchen utensils and tools necessary for your baking area. For instance, you can check out these websites to find the right equipment to help you start your baking career.

Ingredients

Think about the ingredients you use for your baking. As a business you will need to consider your budget when ordering from your food supplier, but ask yourself if what you’re using is the best you can buy. If you can afford to invest in better quality ingredients then do so, as this will improve the taste of your cakes, brownies, cookies and so forth. The better your food tastes, the more successful you will become.

Conventions

If you’re new to professional baking, consider attending some conventions or other events that focus on the industry. Food festivals in general are good places to discover new ingredients or inspiration for new recipes. These events also provide the opportunity to hear about new equipment that could make your work easier for you, like specialist ovens or electric mixers. You can find more information on events on sites like ticketsales.com or industry magazines and websites.

Packaging and Delivery

Getting good quality packaging will not only help keep your baked goods safe during transportation but are an opportunity to showcase your brand. You can get bespoke labels made to stick on each package before you send it out, and consider inserting a business card in there, too. Additionally, make sure your delivery system is efficient, whether or not you deliver your orders to customers yourself or you choose to hire a courier for this service.

There’s a lot more to think about if you want to become a professional baker, but here are a few tips that might help you get started!

Creative Valentine’s Gifts to Make Your Soulmate Feel Special

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Looking for the perfect Valentines day gift? Here are some easy and creative ideas to make your loved one!

Valentine’s day is another beautiful occasion to show undying emotions of love in the relationship. It is a great day to express love and romance with the beloved partner. Valentine’s day also gives an opportunity to the married couples to relive their unforgettable memories with their partners. If you wish to make your husband feel special on this lover’s day, then surprise him with these Valentine’s gifts and romantic gestures.

DELIGHT WITH TEMPTING CAKE:

People in their memorable parties always appreciate the presence of a cake. If you wish to make your Valentine’s party more special, then you can also order an attractive Valentine cake online to enjoy some delightful moments of the day. Make sure to prepare the cake with flavors of his choices. You can also choose a beautiful design of the cake to create some unforgettable memories of this Valentine’s day. He will surely enjoy each bite of the cake and feel loved receiving such beautiful moments of togetherness. 

Personalized Grooming Kit:

 A gift for your husband should be helpful to give him some memorable moments of the day. You can choose a customized grooming kit to show your care for him. Put all of his favorite products like shower gel, face cream, deodorant or perfume, and shaving items, etc. in the pack. It may be one of the fantastic Valentine’s day gifts for him to show how much you are dedicated from the heart. You can even personalize the grooming bag with his memorable photo. It will be perfect to carry during his official tours.

A Photo Coffee mug with Red Roses: 

If you want to start this Valentine’s day with a romantic gesture, then you should dedicate bloomings flowers for your husband. I love the idea from Cheryl from blog lamour et fleurs about ordering a designer bunch of red roses online to convey your heartfelt emotions on this lovely day. Try to choose a colorful packing to make it more presentable for him. You can also complement red roses adding a photo coffee mug in the box. Take a cute picture of you with him to print on the cup. It will surely bring a beaming smile on his face on Valentine’s morning.

Handmade Love Cards:

If you want to share your inner emotions with your soulmate, then you can go with the handmade greetings. You can show little creativity to make a presentable card for him. Add romantic poetry, and some love quotes to make him feel special. You can also use memorable photos to decorate a beautiful love card for your loving husband. Try to write rhymes with his and your name to give some romantic moments of the day. It will be the best present to convey your hidden feelings on Valentine’s day. He will surely get to know how much you love him from the heart. 

Smart gadgets for Him:

We live in a world, where our essential daily tasks look difficult in the absence of electronic devices. You can choose a unique gadget to surprise your husband on this Valentine’s day. It can be a smartphone, I-pad, laptop, and digital camera, etc. to give him some fantastic moments. You can even choose a device that he may be planning to buy for a long time. He will be happy to get such a useful gadget from your side. You can also give a personalized cover to hold that particular device.

BEEF JERKY:

The man of your life with love this gift! The Manly Man Company has so many unique beef jerky gifts that make the perfect Valentines day gifts. From beef jerky shaped flowers, meat cards, bacon roses, and even bacon scented wrapping paper, you are bound to find something! Checkout their website for more!

So, you can quickly opt all of these creative gifting ideas to make your soulmate feel fantastic on this Valentine’s day.

Make the Perfect Bread – Here’s How the Falling Number Test Works

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Do you have trouble making the perfect bread at home? If you are using the incorrect flour, you will never get that delicious soft bread you’ve always dreamt of. Here are some ways to use science and the falling number test to figure out which flour to use to make the perfect bread!

Make this rosemary bread! Recipe was featured here.

The Falling Number (FN) test measures enzyme activity in flour. This is related to the alpha-amylase (AA) cereal enzyme, which is found in wheat after harvesting. FN measures the amount and activity of alpha-amylase in flour samples. Why is it important to measure this, and how does the Falling Number test work?

The Effects of AA in Grain

A certain amount of alpha-amylase is important in ensuring proper baking happens, because AA breaks down starches, which provides sugars that fuel fermentation processes. With the right amount of AA activity, you can achieve a high volume of bread that has the right firm and soft texture combination. If the level of alpha-amylase is high, there will be a greater formation of dextrins during the breadmaking process. The resulting dough will be sticky and harder to manage, producing a lower volume.

On the other hand, if AA activity is too low, then the result is likely to be a dry breadcrumb, also with a lower volume.

What is the FN Test?

Developed in Sweden, the Falling Number test transforms a flour sample into a gravy-like substance, by combining it with hot water. It then uses a falling paddle to test how thick this substance stays over a given time period, measured in seconds. The FN time is the time it takes to mix the substance and for the paddle to fall through the gelatinised starch in the mixture. Where there is high enzyme activity, this breaks the starch down rapidly, with the paddle device falling through the mixture in a relatively short time.

Essentially, it is a risk management tool. If FN is below 300 seconds, it significantly increases the chances of the AA enzymes being active. Grain with high AA activity, where low falling numbers are shown, may not produce good quality products.

Knowing Your Falling Numbers

You can also use the Falling Number test to bake products with specific or desired FN values. For example, flours used in bread baking will have different FN values to flours used for other products, such as crackers or biscuits. FN values over 250 seconds are most suitable for bread baking processes, whereas falling numbers over 350 seconds may mean that the flour will require supplementing with malted grain or a form of amylolytic enzyme.

What Influences Falling Numbers?

There can be several reasons for lower falling numbers, and correspondingly high amounts of AA activity in flour. Fluctuations in precipitation and temperature can affect wheat harvests. Unpredictable weather patterns can result in pre-harvest sprouting, initiating germination that turns wheat from green to gold. Large temperature increases or decreases can lead to late maturity alpha-amylase during grain maturation. 

The Benefits of the FN Test

FN can test for:

  • Activity of enzymes in wheat flour
  • Damage to wheat kernels from sprouting
  • Water-binding capacity and water absorption
  • Dough-handling issues
  • Different flour specifications.

Calibre Control provides expert Falling Number testing equipment, including the Perten Falling Number 1000 and the Falling Number 1310. For more information, please get in touch on +44 (0) 1925 860 401, or email info@calibrecontrol.com

Tips to Earn Money by Starting Your Own Home Bakery Business to Repay Your Existing Debts

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Starting your own home bakery business is a great way to earn some extra cash on the side. Here’s how!

Photo via: Wesrch.com

We have witnessed how just a few years back the cupcake business had gained phenomenal popularity and was a darling story of the media. We know that popular television series like 2 Broke Girls trying to start a cupcake venture to earn their living, and many such television shows often featured cupcakes and one could see the emergence of the era of the entrepreneurial bakers.

We could see how new startups, home-based businesses, and even existing businesses turned to cupcake production. However, thanks to market saturation and overexposure, the cupcake craze did subside gradually; there is still scope for home bakers to start their own bakery business as a side business to boost their overall income. You simply cannot ignore the fact that bakeries surely are a staple in practically all neighborhoods in the United States. They are the most favorite destination for holiday pies, birthday cakes, and other mouth-watering delights for satisfying people’s sugar craving.

However, starting a bakery could be an expensive proposition since you need to secure a lease and maintain a stock of premium-quality ingredients. Moreover, you need to employ the services of a helper or two and buy or lease commercial baking equipment. With that in mind, it might be wise to consider using a free budget template to give you a better idea on what you can expect to spend each month. According to Entrepreneur, bakery startup expenses could generally be ranging from at least, $10,000 to $50,000. There are over 6,000 retail bakeries across the United States of America with approximately $3.8 billion in terms of total annual revenue.  

You too could start your home bakery; however, first of all, you need to ensure that it is legal to run a home bakery in your state. Find out if it is okay to go about selling home-baked products. The regulations surrounding the bakery industry are known as cottage food laws. These regulations could vary from one state to another. You must follow all the necessary rules and regulations. You may need to take out a work permit or license. If you plan your bakery business well, you could earn enough additional income to pay off your existing debt. A bakery business seems to do pretty well since custom orders are very much in vogue around the holiday season when most of the people seem to be extremely busy with celebrations and other activities and are not getting enough time to bake. Cookies and cheesecakes are very much in demand during the holiday season.

As per https://www.forbes.com, moms aspiring to be an entrepreneur could consider opening a small business and go about selling cupcakes at the nearest markets, or even out of food trucks, or even take loans to start their store. Many moms start their bakery business to earn enough additional income to stay on top of their debts. For professional debt relief assistance, you could browse through reputed sites such as NationaldebtRelief.com.

Let us explore some expert tips to make your bakery a huge success.

Share Pictures on Social Media

Many successful bakers started posting pictures of their enticing products on Facebook and Instagram and their baking business went off to a flying start. Most of them are having a flourishing side business. Visually-oriented social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram provide a brilliant platform for showcasing your mouth-watering creations. You must invest some time and some money in high-quality photography. High-resolution pictures of all your yummy treats make your unique creations get a polished and a pro look.

Come Up with a Signature Item

Experts believe that a signature product particularly-if the item is mainly holiday-themed would help in establishing you in your customers’ minds. You would soon find a niche for yourself in the bakery industry. If you create something special on the occasion of Thanksgiving, your customers would remember to come back to you to buy your signature dessert for Thanksgiving. Your customers would know precisely who to get in touch with when they are looking for that signature dish.

Distribute Your Business Cards

You must print some business cards even before rolling out your home bakery. While getting your business cards printed, you must make sure that your business card contains all the necessary information. It must have multiple contact information such as email ID, telephone number, and even your address. You must remember to highlight your product specifics that would surely make it stand out from the rest, for instance, themed cakes, gluten-free cupcakes, etc. You must go about distributing your business cards in person. Moreover, remember to leave a few extra business cards while delivering your creations to different customers so that they know where to locate you the next time they are in a mood for those delectable treats.

Focus on Networking with Other Bakers

Try to locate other bakers doing business in your area. Treat them as your friends and not just competition. A local group on Facebook or an Instagram group could help in providing you with the right information and the right contacts so that you could get the best possible deals on your supplies. Moreover, when somebody is extremely busy and cannot take an order, he or she could offer referrals to each other.

Offer Free Samples

Everybody enjoys having a free cake. So you must make it a point to flaunt your baking skills simply by sharing some free samples of your yummy treats with your potential customers. Experts recommend dropping off some free samples at all those places where you have some contacts like your doctor’s or dentist’s office, your church, knitting group, or book club, etc. You must go to such places where you have some contacts or connections. There is no point in dropping free samples at random places.

Conclusion

You must develop a lot of determination and tenacity. You must not get daunted by failures. When you start a bakery business, you may have to go through a few burnt cakes or cookies but that should not discourage you. You must treat such episodes as learning experiences. You must have the right mindset and must display calm and patience against all odds. You must realize that the success of your business depends on superlative creations and word-of-mouth. You must focus on producing yummy treats, providing superlative customer service, and go about everybody you know that you have started a baking business.

Best Lender Tips for Bakery Business Women Entrepreneurs

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According to an article published on https://www.huffpost.com, an increasing number of women are operating their small businesses like bakery and cake shops.

Photo via: Secretldn.com

The major challenge is financing because traditional banks usually do not lend small-value loans. They are interested in lending bigger amounts. Then, there is nothing to worry because many lending institutions work with women entrepreneurs and help in funding their businesses.

Women usually intimated by the problems related to financing worry about procuring the money for their bakery, starting the cake shop, and then expanding it. According to online lenders, reaching out to family members or friends for funding does not help much and savings are not enough to start a new bakery store in a posh, strategic location. However, there are many lenders online offering small business loans to women entrepreneurs.

Lending companies and financial institutions see modern women as capable entrepreneurs and eager to lend additional business funds for running a bakery shop.

Based on the findings of the US Department of Labor as well as the National Association of Women Business Owners, you will find over 9.4 million businesses owned by women as of 2015, and these women help in generating 7.9 million jobs creating whopping sales of $1.5 trillion. With this data in mind, here some of the best tips from lenders for bakery-shop women entrepreneurs:

The bakery should have a separate entity

The cake or bakery store must have a separate entity from the entrepreneur’s personal financial portfolio. The lenders recommend that women business owners should have a formal store name, commercial bank account from the first day, and a tax identification number. These things matter for starting a bakery business. The loan approval process becomes simple and hassle-free. Once all documentation and protocols are followed in the right way, it becomes easier for online lenders to approve a business loan and that too quickly.

Motivation and support from lenders

Today, modern lenders do not work like traditional banks. On the contrary, they encourage bakery business owners to opt for educational opportunities as well as resources to learn more about small business loans for bakery or cake shops.

Lenders provide all financial counseling and support to women entrepreneurs, who need to start a small bakery store. It will help business owners understand how the lending process works and what they need to get an instant loan approval without unnecessary delay. Lenders also offer tips and ideas for women entrepreneurs looking for bakery shop loans.

More lending options

The lenders recommend that bakery store owners get their business approved as a women-owned enterprise. They should consult with the Small Business Administration for assistance to become certified as women entrepreneurs. This way, lenders online can offer additional loan options to operate women-owned bakery shop. After all, who does not want good funding options for small businesses like a bakery?

Financial reports matters

The lenders today recommend that bakery shop owners must run all financial reports regularly highlighting their incomes and expenses, profit and loss, write-offs, outstanding receivables, paid taxes, and taxable earnings. That is because lenders will ask for these details when entrepreneurs apply for a bakery business loan.

The lenders are eager to help and finance women entrepreneurs who want to start their business. They should cooperate with the lending companies to make the loan approval process sail smooth. Women business owners should visit platforms like Libertylending.com to understand how they can take out a small loan for their bakery shop.

Lenders will ask for credit score

The lenders encourage women entrepreneurs, who check their business reports regularly with regard to the credit rating and payment history. The online lending companies recommend that you check your credit score from the three credit reporting bodies because the rating may vary sometimes.

When women entrepreneurs know where their credit score stands and it is a good score, they will get the best interest rates for the loan applied for their bakery business. With a favorable rate of interest, it would be easier for small business owners to fund their startup once the loan is approved. The lenders will ask for the payment history and credit score when considering small business loans for a bakery.

Lenders recommend exploring small business loan programs

Lenders suggest that women small-business entrepreneurs should take some time out of their busy schedule and look for reputed lenders online and loan programs. The women entrepreneurs must look at genuine customer reviews and then choose a lender to fund their bakery shop.

There are multiple options than one could think of as well as working capital loan options for bakery businesses. These little things matter a lot when funding a small business. Today, lenders also offer factoring programs to fund small businesses like bakery or cake shops. The options are multiple and one needs to pick the best one that suits their business requirements.

Online lenders allow flexible repayment terms

The best thing about online lenders today is that they offer flexible repayment terms for women planning to start their bakery business. It will help them pay off the borrowed amount on time without fail, thus improving their credit rating.

According to reputed lenders online, once business owners pay on time and have a healthy credit score, they can opt for high-value loans to expand their bakery shop in the future. Women entrepreneurs will also get different loan options in the days to come.

Loan experts help to choose the best loan program

The financial experts associated with these lending companies have the knowledge and experience to understand the available lending options for women entrepreneurs. The lenders will help bakery shop owners to choose the right loan program that best fits your funding needs.

Conclusion

The good news is that today many bakery shop owners, who are women, can obtain a small loan in different ways. Even if they have a poor credit score, the lenders have financial experts to offer advice as to how should they work on the score to become eligible for a small business bakery loan. Moreover, lenders and Fintechs trust women and their abilities as business owners.