Figuring out which Paris restaurant to eat at is a daunting task, basically because there are hundreds of excellent restaurants in Paris. But, with a lot of research, probing friends incessantly and first hand experience, there are two restaurants that stood out more than all the rest. Also, these two restaurants have a proven track record of consistency in exquisite food, excellent service and the pricing is not for someone on a budget, because you’ll be getting your money’s worth!

As far as bistro’s go ‘Spring’ is on the top of the list and getting a reservation will prove challenging not only because of the superb food, but because it’s one of the smallest restaurants in Paris – 16 seats, and tiny tables with no frills, like flowers! This marvelous restaurant is run by chef Daniel Rose, an American who has mastered the French cuisine. The menu is ‘prix-fixe’ every night and allows for no substitutions. His ingredients are fresh from that days fare at the Place des Fetes market. That days menu might consist of prepared snails encased with tiny diced tomatoes and herb in Tunisian bik pastry, deep-fried and brushed with citron-cardamom confiture. The second course being a mound of brandade, made from fresh cod and mashed potatoes, deep-fried, turning it into latkes, served with a eye-pleasing winter fennel and arugula salad with colorful sections of grapefruit, orange macerated in a sherry vinaigrette. Dessert could be a poached pear topped with chocolate and whipped cream with chestnut paste. Spring is located at 28 rue de la Tour d’ aAuvergne 9th, and the average meal will cost 48 Euros.

If you’re staying at a one of the cool hotels in Paris, then you’ll want to be seen at ‘Chez Dumonet – Josephine’ . Chez Dumonet’s cuisine is exactly why you came to Paris in the first place. The food served here never disappoints, such as the seared escalope de foie gras cooked along with white grapes and served with creamy mashed potatoes, or monkfish with white beans; marinated herrings or potent boeuf bourguingnon. For dessert, which is a must, try the unctuous chocolate mousse, the millefeuille, which can serve 3, or the Grand Marnier souffle’ that can rival the Eiffel Tower. The establishment should be declared a national monument and the 1930’s light fixtures, the white-linen tables and the humorous waiters only illustrates this old-world bistro as a true classical French restaurant. Located at 117 Rue du Dherche-Midi, 6th and a meal will cost you on average, 50 Euros, 120 Euros for two.

Two Top-Notch Bistro’s in Paris is a post from: The Success Chain

Some of my roommates are, unfortunately, celiacs. This means they have a gluten, wheat or wheat byproduct, intolerance and means when it’s my night to cook I tend to be at a loss. I grew up in a family where starchy foods and lots of bread were common in dinner often my mom would serve any number of meals ranging from fried southern fare to Italian inspired dishes. Since my arrival here I’ve discovered a wide variety of alternatives to wheat starch in my meals that normally call for it and have explored cuisine from regions I love that don’t necessarily involve anything that contains gluten.

There are plenty of cuisines you can find that aren’t heavy starch or wheat, usually these are Asian dishes. Thai dishes in particular are wonderful for creamy broths with bold flavor without having to modify a recipe around a gluten laden ingredient. Mediterranean dishes, like ninety-percent of Italian cuisine , I’ve encountered have becomes synonymous with pastas breads and all sorts of wonderful dishes I can’t prepare for my friends. Bright side, there are plenty of rice dishes and many dishes that don’t include pasta or, if I have my heart set on pasta and up to trying something new, there are now gluten-free flours made from potato starch now available. Recently, I tasted some of the best chicken and dumplings I have ever tried that turned out to be completely gluten-free. I’m looking forward to trying a gluten-free lasagna recipe soon.

It turns out restaurants, even those celiacs previously avoided, are introducing gluten free meals. I even overheard recently that Starbucks is introducing gluten free drinks, my roommate’s verdict was still pricey but good. Some of the shocking restaurants to discover have these new menus are P.F. Chang ´s , Chili’s , Boston Market, and even The Old Spaghetti Factory . This is delightful since it gives me the option of calling and getting some take out when I can’t make up my mind to cook.

Italian Cuisine Can be Done Gluten Free? is a post from: The Success Chain

Looking at arts and cultures around the world is always a fascinating thing. There are always ideas and notions that get reinforced, as well as ones that get changed utterly. Most of the time, what happens in the quest for difference is that we find out more about ourselves, and how our own particular lenses are constructed to see the world. This is perhaps the greatest part of looking at international trends in art, because helps us to see our own biases and expectations, and also teaches us that we are still teachable. Singapore is one of the most exciting places in the world right now in this regard, with a blend of cultures that are constantly re-defining contemporary art, as well as re-defining tradition.

It’s a splendid thing indeed to be able to begin a night on the town at one of Singapore’s many excellent chinese restaurants , and sampling some of the most delicious culinary traditions on the planet. This is usually traditional cooking from the south of China, where a majority of Singapore’s population comes from, and it’s a great chance to learn about a culture in the most delightful way. From here, there is a wealth of choices for things to do on the town, and if multi-ethnic dance interests you, then you’ll be thrilled by the work of Sri Warisan Som Said .

Their focus has been on dance in the past, but now they also include music, vocal, and multi-media works in their ever-expanding repertoire. The emphasis is always on fusions, and particularly cultural fusions, demonstrating the great variety of cultural traditions in contemporary Singapore. They have roots in Malay dance, and, in the past decade, have participated in literally hundreds of performances, and new collaborations are always in the works. This is one way to step into the folkloric local work, and get accustomed to new ways of seeing.

Sri Warisan in Singapore is a post from: The Success Chain

One of the best times in some environments is the summer time, as this is when the backyard barbecues take place, and the hot tub parties begin.  However, in the Southwestern Desert, this is the time when we all tend to stay inside, as standing over a hot grill, and soaking in hot water is just too much to think about.  For us, the perfect time of year is the Autumn Season.  This is when that extra warmth of the grill and the hot tub can really be experienced and enjoyed, quite frankly, without fainting from the heat.

All of the ingredients that you place atop a grill become consumed with flavor.  All of the senses are enhanced at this time, as when the temperature falls below 118 degrees, you can actually begin to smell the scents again, not only of the heated grill, but of the incredible outdoors as well.  Creating the perfect backyard design, when you are prone to hosting large parties, is essential.  When you choose to install an outdoor kitchen, but need to figure out how to place it next to your new hot tub or spa, the people at choosehottubsdirect.com are always there to help, whether they are answering your questions regarding their vast inventory, or offering suggestions on your layout, their help has solved the issues for not only myself, but for many of my friends as well.

We were lucky to have all of our outdoor amenities for this Thanksgiving past, and this was one of the most successful celebrations in our backyard dinner party endeavors.  What was great, was for one the weather, and for two, the fact that while our guests eagerly awaited the 6 hour slowly roasted turkey, they could relax, chat and reminisce while taking in a hot tub soak.  When everyone was able finally to approach the dinner table, eye lids were heavy and we were all relaxed.  This was truly one of the best holidays ever.

A Wonderful Family BBQ and a Great Soak in a Hot Tub is a post from: The Success Chain

The appeal of an outdoor kitchen never gets old.  There is always more to learn, and it always seems like magic when your experiments with cooking styles and flavors work like you never expected.  When you start to work with our fire magic grills, you’ll understand the appeal.  It does awaken something almost primal, when the combination of fresh air and meat cooking over a flame starts to hit your senses, and everyone in the neighborhood will be catching a whiff at what’s going on in your backyard.  There’s no limit to what you can do.

You’ll enjoy experimenting with different taste combinations, and the flavor is always so different when it’s fresh that even the near misses will seem like hits.  Learning is certainly part of the fun, but the tried and true methods are also very lovely.  There’s nothing like a grilled steak.  It’s a comfort food that’s been a main staple for many generations.  As a sign of success, or a simple reward at the end of a long day’s work, a steak that’s perfectly grilled can do wonders for a person’s attitude.

The grilled steak, at its most basic level, is simply cooked for a few minutes on each side, with a bit of redness still in the center of the meat, so the juices can help bring the flavor of the meat right to your taste buds.  A little practice at grilling techniques can help you to achieve that perfect criss-cross pattern that is the signature of every connoisseur.  Be creative in your choice of side dishes, and keep in mind that potatoes wrapped in foil and grilled can add that extra touch of splendor, for the perfect meat and potatoes meal.  Corn and tomatoes are also fantastic accompaniments, and of course, you can certainly marinate the meat, but it can stand all on its own, and is an easy way to make a day special.

Basic Grilled Steak is a post from: The Success Chain

Visitors usually travel to Cape Town on their way to other parts of Africa. Those who stay tend to zero in on the city’s beaches, mountain parks, and historic landmarks. There’s also plenty of shopping, food, and entertainment to keep any tourist happy. However, those willing to go a bit off the beaten track will find that touring some of the many vineyards in the region provides a memorable and enjoyable holiday.

Most visitors to the city are aware of the existence of vineyards as it’s difficult to find a restaurant that doesn’t serve local wines. And some will even take time to drive to one of the nearby vineyards to sample the vintage, eat at the restaurant, or even stay overnight in one of the guesthouses.

There are literally hundreds of vineyards in the Cape Penninsula region. Wines of South Africa, an wine marketing and educational organization, put together a map in celebration of 350 years of wine making in South Africa. It details fifteen separate wine tours available in the area.

Some of the more established vineyards include Kevin Arnold’s Waterford Estate, the Meerlust Estate, Thelema, and Franschhoek. Most vineyards offer tours and tastings. Many have their own restaurants with menus designed to complement their wines and still others have guesthouse or even boutique hotels attached, which offer an alternative to the city’s five star Cape Town hotels.

Wine making in the region dates back to the mid seventeenth century. Jan van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape in 1652 with the mission of establishing a garden. in 1655 the first vines were imported from France, Spain and the Rhineland. The first wine was pressed in February 1659. Six acres of the original Company’s Gardens are preserved as part of Cape Town’s botanical garden.

Cape Town Vineyards is a post from: The Success Chain

The next global food industry event will be the Thaifex – World of Food Asia 2009, scheduled for May 13-17,2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Billed as “the leading trade platform for the food and beverage industry in South East Asia” the event seeks to provide “one-stop” shopping for everything from ingredients to processing technology for food and beverage.

Organizers expect over 2,100 booths featuring exhibitors from across Thailand as well as around the world. Leading food entrepreneurs are confirming their flights and reserving rooms in hotels in Bangkok Thailand to attend the event.

This year’s event will focus on three main areas: “Coffee & Tea,” “Hospitality & Foodservice,” and the all-important “Food Technology.” Innovative and eco-friendly food packaging will be highlighted as will food safety. Special attention will also be paid to “Food Catering” and consulting will be available in “Retail and Franchise.”

Seminars and demonstrations are an important element at the event. Some of the featured seminars include “Growing Trend: Healthy Food,” and “Today’s Market & Challenges in Import/Export.” Large audiences are expected for the Coffee Barrista contest and the cooking competition.

In 2008 nearly 22,000 visitors from 127 countries attended the show, which featured exhibitors from 32 regions and countries.

Food Entrepreneurs Preparing for World of Food Asia is a post from: The Success Chain