July 30th, 2009 by Admin
The word Teppanyaki literally means to grill on an iron plate, so essentially any flat hot plate could be considered a Teppanyaki, but what’s Teppanyaki without the entertaining chef? Teppanyaki cooking is traditionally a western infulenced style of Japanese food and is probably most well known for the skill and tricks performed by the chef as he prepares and cooks the food in front of diners.
Teppanyaki cooking is very versatile as well as healthy and packed full of flavour. Meals from noodle dishes, rice dishes, steaks, fish and stir fry’s can all be cooked using the Teppanyaki. That’s not to say you can’t use it to cook the humble sausage or chicken kebab either. Teppanyaki grills have powerful burners and thick cooking plates so they retain heat for longer for efficient cooking.
The most important aspect to Teppanyaki cooking is the set up which usually consists of the large grill being centred around the dining area. Teppanyaki cooking is fast so you need to have the right storage to have all your ingredients and utensils on hand but most of all it’s for entertaining so you want it to look fantastic.
Categories: Teppanyaki grill
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July 9th, 2009 by Admin
Porcelain tiles that replicate a granite look can be used for outdoor kitchen bench tops
Having a kitchen outdoors means the quality of the materials used needs to withstand some harsh elements which is why granite is a popular choice for outdoor kitchen bench tops. While granite does look great it really bumps up the price of the outdoor kitchen, especially if there’s a large area of bench space or lots of cut outs required for pizza ovens, BBQ’s, side burners or sinks. A tiled bench top is significantly cheaper than a granite bench top and has the advantage of an almost limitless choice of styles, colours and sizes.
For many the idea of a tiled bench top brings to mind an old fashioned 70’s country style kitchen. One trip to your local tile shop will change your mind! There are metalic finish tiles to match in with stainless steel, tiles that have the same look as granite, tiles that have texture, and tiles in larger sizes (even as big as 600mm x 1200mm) so you can still get a streamlined look. There are so many fashionable tiles to choose from to compliment your outdoor kitchen.
Porcelain tiles are the best choice for outdoors. They are a dense tile fired at a high temperature so they are tough and have a superior resistance to chips. They are resistant to fading, salt water and chlorine safe and will not absorb spills from food or oils so they can be safely used next to the BBQ without the risk of staining. They are the perfect choice for an outdoor kitchen bench top.
Categories: Outdoor kitchen options
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June 30th, 2009 by Admin
With clean lines and minimalistic designs the trend these days, outdoor BBQ manufacturers have taken note and produced some good looking integrated BBQs that make a statement by blending into background.
Electrolux Jeppe Utzon
The Electrolux Jeppe Utzon has won the Australian Design Award and is a quality barbecue constructed from marine grade stainless steel. It’s got all the features of a regular BBQ including a stainless steel grill and roasting lid or for those who would prefer, a flat lid that provides extra bench space when not in use.
Heatlie Island Gourmet
Then there’s the Heatlie Island Gourmet BBQ for those who want a Teppanyaki style outdoor grill. It’s a compact design which comes in two sizes and a choice of stainless steel or powder coated finish. It’s easy to clean and perfect for those who use the wood fired oven for roasting.
We also have integrated solutions for those who don’t have gas and for those that are environmentally aware. The Greenplate uses up to 70% less energy than existing heating technology and heats up to 300 degrees in minutes. It’s compact design makes it perfect for small spaces, balconies or those just cooking for one or two.
Categories: Outdoor BBQ
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June 24th, 2009 by Admin
I have found that the best way to entertain my almost 2 year old while I’m trying to cook is to pull out the step ladder and let her watch what I’m doing. I try and cook with plenty of time to spare so that I can let her get in there and do some ‘mix mix mix-ing’ as she calls it!
Making pizzas is one of her favourite things to cook and I’m not surprised. Firstly she gets to help measure the flour and mix the dough. She gets to sample most of the things I’m cutting up for the topping and enjoys checking progressively throughout the day how big the dough is growing.
Making her very own pizza for the oven gets her very excited! She cheats a little and uses a rolling pin to roll out her dough first but it always ends up with her little fingers in it before the sauce makes it on. It’s amazing how many colourful veges you can get a toddler to eat when they’re using it to decorate their own dinner! I find kids and toddlers are much more willing to try new foods when they have been involved with the preparation and cooking and choosing the ingredients.
My little one eagerly watches her pizzas cooking in the oven. She loves the warm fire on her face- so she tells me. She’s so excited when she sees her own creation cooked to perfection come out of the oven ready for her to eat. She loves her weekly pizza night. To her it’s so much more than just the chore of having to sit down to eat. I love creating these memories for my little girls and our family tradition that is pizza night.
Tags: Entertaining outdoors
Categories: Entertaining outdoors
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June 7th, 2009 by Admin
We all know how easy cooking on the BBQ is. For a start it’s usually the men that do the cooking, but secondly it doesn’t require much effort or skill to make food cooked on the grill (or in the wood fire for that matter) so tasty. So why don’t we use it more often?
For those that simply have a BBQ on a stand outside it means ferrying the meat, veges, oil, salt, pepper, paper towels, tongs, barbe-mate, plates, cutlery etc, etc, etc outside and then back inside once you’re done! Not to mention having to head inside each time you want a drink. What a hassle. No wonder the BBQ gets covered in cobwebs.
Our outdoor kitchens come with a choice of outdoor storage solutions to make using your BBQ and wood fired oven easy so you’ll get great value out of your purchase. Our cabinets and drawers are sealed to prevent dust, water, insects and vermin from getting in so you can safely store everything you need to cook, eat and entertain in your outdoor kitchen. This makes cooking and entertaining outside so much more efficient and enjoyable.
Our ‘Cosmo’ kitchen also has a large storage area under the bench seat which comes in handy for stashing away everything from gardening tools, cushions, mosquito repellent, Jamie Oliver cook books, even the kids toys that usually scatter the back yard! We can custom design your outdoor storage solution that is functional and stylish.
Categories: Outdoor kitchen options
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May 26th, 2009 by Admin
Australians love the outdoors. In particular us West Australians- we are approaching winter and the temp is still a warming 25 degrees.
So now is not the time to be hiding inside in front of the television. Take the TV outside, light that wood fired oven and cook delicious meals while you watch your favourite footy team battle it out.
This time of the year is also a good time to start that vegetable garden that you have been wanting to. With cooler days, plenty of sun and the odd rainy day, seasonal vegetables will thrive. Its great for the environment and for your back pocket. Look out for West Australian TV shows like the Garden Gurus for great hints and tips with local knowledge for getting your vege patch started.
Having fresh home grown veges is not only convenient but it gets your creative juices flowing when if comes to cooking with seasonal veges that you wouldn’t usually buy. And for those who don’t like to experiment, you know nothing beats the taste of home grown food cooked on the BBQ or in the wood oven.
Categories: Recipes and Ingredients
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May 22nd, 2009 by Admin
Once winter comes around, the outdoor entertaining goes into hibernation right? Wrong!
Sitting around the warmth of a wood fire with good company, a nice glass of wine snd some beautiful home cooked comfort food is the way to spend your cold winter nights. And who can resist toasted marshmallows?
Cooler weather is the perfect time to enjoy watching your pizzas cook before your eyes and also take advantage of the additional heating. A wood fired oven under a patio roof will take the chill right out of the winter weather and eliminate the need to use an outdoor gas heater. Some cafe blinds enclosing the area make a good investment for winter as they will keep the rain out and keep the alfresco area warm and toasty.
It’s also a great time to experiment with your oven a little and try some slow cooked dishes such as roasts, casseroles, risottos, and tagines whilst you bask in the warmth of the fire. So forget winter nights in front of the television and get outside.
Categories: Eating outdoors
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April 6th, 2009 by Admin
Perth Sunset (Image: Richard Giles, Flickr)
I often get asked why an outdoor kitchen? The obvious answer, living here in Perth, is the weather.
With endless summer days and milder winters that extend our outdoor time, could there be a better place in the world to entertain in the backyard?
But I also think that an outdoor kitchen also fits with our laidback attitude to life.
This is not a fast-paced society. No-one would think twice about spending all day out the back relaxing by the pool. It’s normal. Why rush anywhere?
And with everyone cutting back on expenses, more of us are entertaining at home.
We still want to catch up with friends but don’t want to spend a fortune at a restaurant or hotel doing so.
Of course, the entertaining area might not be up to scratch, but therein lies another vote in favour of the outdoor kitchen.
Not everyone can afford to renovate their home on the inside, but almost everyone can add an “outdoor room”. One perfect for getting their mates and family together any time of the year.
Image Credit: Thank you Richard Giles.
Tags: perth
Categories: Entertaining outdoors
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