May 13, 2011 by Tristan

How to create perfect pork crackling (video)

Roast pork is an Australian favourite, particularly when served with all the customary trimmings; roast vegetables, apple sauce, gravy and, of course, crackling. To most of us, a traditional Australian pork roast isn’t complete without perfectly formed, golden crackling, but getting a consistent result can often be a challenge.

Adrian Richardson, chef at La Luna and author of the book ‘Meat’, shows how to get perfect crackling results every time. This …

May 2, 2011 by Tristan

Ponthier French chestnuts

Few ingredients are as evocative as chestnuts. Their rich, warming flavour, intoxicating aroma and dazzling versatility have made them symbols of the colder months in the Northern hemisphere, where a bowl of chestnuts is rarely far from a glass of brandy and a crackling fireplace.

In Australia, it’s easy to make these fleshy nuts- low in sodium and fat …

March 9, 2011 by OCM

Understanding the various types of sugar

Sugar! Without it there would be no chocolate, no cakes and no diversion from the afternoon meltdown. Sugar is a wondrous ingredient that can be used in countless ways. But sugar is not without its mysteries.

How do the different types of sugars and syrups work in cooking? Can one be substituted for another? What is the difference between molasses, treacle, …

February 8, 2011 by OCM

The Essential Guide to Olives

Olives have been a part of the Mediterranean diet for thousands of years.  When choosing olives, much will depend on their end uses; whether they are to be enjoyed with a glass of wine before a meal, included in a salad, or added to a slow braised dish.

An evergreen tree with a silvery-green foliage, the olive is slow to mature, …

January 24, 2011 by Tristan

Baldjis whole green Greek figs

Few foods evoke as much culture and history as figs.

Prominent in the bible, eponymous throughout the Greek empire and still a fixture across the landscape of contemporary Greece, the fig manages at once to represent the lushness of the Mediterranean throughout the ages and the modern charm of Greek cuisine.

The Essential Ingredient is proud to stock …

January 19, 2011 by Tristan

The Essential Ingredient Saffron Harvest

Saffron is one of the world’s most highly-prized ingredients, its value as a spice equal only to the care required to produce it at the highest quality.

Saffron stocked by The Essential Ingredient is sourced from skilled Spanish producers who still carry out all stages of production using processes that are centuries old.

The annual saffron harvest must be completed quickly once the stigmas of the saffron flower are fully developed. To …

November 5, 2010 by Tristan

Visiting Mulino Marino Felice in Italy

Peter Walmsley, part of the Essential Ingredient team, took the opportunity during a recent trip to Italy to visit the Mulino Marino Felice mill, makers of the world’s best polenta. His trip highlighted both the unique qualities of the region, and the traditional methods of manufacture used by Mulino Marino Felice.

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I was lucky to visit one of …

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