8 picks, 8 correct, 8 tentacles. Paul the Oracle Octopus is clearly the biggest winner of the World Cup 2010 after recording a perfect prognostication record. Since then, Paul has been an international celebrity of the highest order now, everyone wants a piece of him – both literally and figuratively.

The world hails Paul, most importantly because of him, Spain has won the World Soccer Cup in South Africa! This is more than just a huge world-wide event. In Spain, the streets are empty while the games are played, while the bars with big screen TVs are full.

If you are a soccer fan, you probably are not sitting in the middle of a street, but you are most likely watching with friends. What could be more appropriate than serving Spanish tapas while watching such big events being played? Do you love watching soccer and eating something nice and easy at the same time?

Tapas in Spanish cuisine is the name of a wide variety of appetisers, or snacks. They may be cold, such as mixed olives and cheese or warm, such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid.

Calamares fritos or fried squid is a very popular appetiser or tapa in Spain. Many people know it by its Italian name Calamari. These lightly breaded and fried rings will disappear as soon as you put them on the table.

They are not hard nor expensive to make at all, can be found in any supermarket, and are super easy to cook – especially if you buy them already cleaned and ready to slice! Our next blog we will look into making this tapa using our recommended approach. So, stay tune everyone

Red is hot, fiery, bright and glaring. Red brings joy, luck and prosperity. It is the Chinese New Year 2010. This year is so special because we have both Chinese New Year (Imlek) celebration and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day, Sunday 14 February 2010.

Red does not only symbolise happiness, wealth, prosperity and good luck, it is also believed to ward off evil spirits. Imlek is a holiday for everyone to enjoy and show their love, warmth, harmony and togetherness with family.

As Chinese New Year is just around the corner, the atmosphere is strongly felt everywhere including malls, shopping centres, star-rated hotels, Chinatown, etc., where the shops are brightly adorned with red-themed decorations. Various kinds of accessories are on offer for those celebrating this special moment with family.

Imlek is also a celebration of love for the family. As usual, many people will be dressed in red during Chinese New Year. They also decorate their houses with red ornaments and cook Chinese food cuisine for family reunion dinner. Red envelopes containing money – called ang pao – are normally handed over by the elderly to children and teenagers during the day.

When it comes to cooking for a Chinese New Year celebration, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind. The foods that are prepared each one has its very own meaning and a definite reason for being prepared. Noodles, garlic chives, peanuts, lettuce, lobster and chicken are a few examples that are normally served.

On behalf of Ellane & Chefer team, we would like to wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai – wishing you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.

Di bulan Februari yang penuh dengan cinta ini, apa yang akan Anda lakukan? Sibuk mengurus acara romantis Anda di hari Valentine yang jatuh di hari Minggu 14 Februari? Atau anda masih bingung memilih restaurant untuk tempat dinner anda dengan si dia? Apapun yang anda rencanakan, inilah saat yang tepat untuk anda mencurahkan isi hati anda dengan si dia.

Sebetulnya rumah anda-pun dapat digunakan untuk acara dinner romantis valentine day’s anda, asalkan didukung dengan dekorasi dan suasana yang tepat seperti lilin dan musik – terutama bagi anda yang dalam kondisi money tight, ini tidak berarti anda berdua tidak dapat menikmati fun. Oleh karena itu, kami ingin memberikan anda “back to basic” recipe untuk memasak “fine dining style” Indonesian Beef Rendang:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1kg diced beef
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 50g sachet Rendang spice paste
• 400ml can coconut milk
• ½ cup beef stock
• ½ cup desiccated coconut
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp kecap manis
• Tomato wedges, diced cucumber and sliced red chilli, to serves

METHOD

• Serves: 6
• Preparation: 15 mins
• Cooking: 2 hrs

PREPARATION

1. Heat the oil in a large, deep frying iPan. Cook beef in 4 batches over medium high heat until browned. Transfer to a plate. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the pan. Cook for 5-7 mins until onion is soft and brown.
2. Add Rendang paste and cook, stirring, for 1 min. Return all meat to pan. Reserve 2 tbsp of coconut milk and add rest to pan with stock. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to very low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hr, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in coconut, sugar and kecap manis, and cook for 30 mins, stirring often so it doesn’t catch on bottom of pan, until liquid is almost all reduced. It should be quite a dry curry.
4. Serve topped with tomato, cucumber and chilli, with reserved coconut milk drizzled over.

This recipe is specially brought to you from MasterChef Australia.

On behalf of all Ellane & Chefer staff, we would like wish you, your family and friends for happiness and prosperity during this festive season and the New Year (2010) ahead, so that the festivities may continue in all our lives all throughout the year. Thank you for your kind cooperation and support in this year 2009 and let’s have better communication and successful relationship in the Year ahead 2010!

Yesterday is memory. Today is a gift. Tommorow is a Hope. Let’s begin the New Year 2010 with faith, love, peace and new hope! May this new year bring all of us a new spirit to reach all our dreams, good health and happiness forever.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!

Panggung cokelat ini berhasil memperoleh penghargaan dari Museum Rekor Indonesia (MURI) dengan kategori “Backdrop Panggung Berlapis Cokelat Ukuran 12x3x7m”. Backdrop diciptakan hampir menyerupai gedung, dibuat dari tumpukan bakery, cokelat dan permen. Pembuatan panggung ini merupakan sebagian daripada rangkaian acara The Flavours of Ramadhan yang juga menampilkan pameran produk pengusaha bakery di Jakarta, beberapa dari daerah dan memasarkan peralatan memasak.

Acara ini turut dimeriahkan oleh chef pelawak dan bintang tamu seperti Miss Indonesia 2009, Karenina Sani Halim dan band penghibur Kahitna yang membawakan 4 lagu hit mereka. Beragam stan-stan penjual kue dapat ditemukan seperti Breadtalk, Grand Cities, Ellane, Shokupan, Creole Chocolates, Leluxe dan masih banyak lagi. “Cokelat tidak saja nikmat dan menyehatkan tapi bisa melapisi atau dibentuk menjadi suatu maha karya benda seni. Kembali rekor MURI dicatatkan untuk inovasi cokelat backdrop panggung terbesar.” tutur salah satu media. Kita semua dapat berbangga karena sekali lagi Indonesia berhasil menunjukan kreativitas-nya yang tidak kalah dari dunia Internasional.

We learned from the last post that chocolate is good for your health according to the different food studies. Not only does it contain much more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables, but it also helps enhance blood flow, promote healthy cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure. When we think of how chocolate tastes and melts in your mouth, we can imagine the indulgence of a flowing fine chocolate feast, where you can dip your favourite food into a cascade of warm Swiss’ Lindt chocolate. A chocolate fountain is all you need, especially in this coming holiday season and event celebration.

What is Chocolate Fountain?

Chocolate fountain is one of modern equipments that serve a melted chocolate. It gives people an amazing experience and creates an elegant extravaganza focal point to your party and event. It looks like a tabletop unit with several tiers. Chocolate fountain can be made of plastic or stainless steel which has a motor to heat the chocolate in the heating tray and flow the heated chocolate up through a pipe or tube. When melted chocolate reaches the top of the tube, it will flow down over multiple tiers until it arrives back at the base of the tray and flow over again. Your party guests can dip various sweets and snacks, such as: marshmallow, cakes, poffertjes and fruits (strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, bananas, etc) into the chocolate stream by holding them under the chocolate melted flow.

Different Types of Chocolate Fountain

Several kinds of chocolate fountain include:

1. A mini chocolate fountain that holds 3 to 4 tiers and can be used for a small party at home with around 15 up to 25 guests, or
2. A bigger one with more tiers for bigger events such as wedding, corporate catering, annual executive general meeting, sweet seventeen or happy 21st birthday parties

Chocolate Fountain Specialist

Looking to buy or need assistance with Chocolate Fountain? PT Dinamika Agra Alam is here to assist with your requirements, whether you have a big wedding event coming up or a small catering or food on display needs, we try to be flexible for you. Talk to us now, it’s free!

Dear fellow readers, friends & families,

On behalf of PT Dinamika Agra Alam, we would like to wholeheartedly say “Happy Idul Fitri 1 Syawal 1430 Hijriyah. Minal Aidin wal Faidzin. Please forgive our physical and spiritual wrongdoings. Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1 Syawal 1430 Hijriyah. Mohon maaf lahir dan batin“. Let us all share the happiness, laughter, joy and excitement in this everlasting moment with our beloved families and friends. May we become better human beings with all the good deeds we have practiced during Ramadan.

Idul Fitri marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a celebration and a starting point for us to have a new heart and soul to realise how important it is to maintain silaturahmi (good relations) with everyone we know, have respect for others and start a new life with good will. May God The Almighty bless us all. Happy Lebaran everyone!