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CHRISTMAS CANDY CANES: 10 CREATIVE WAYS TO USE THIS HOLIDAY CANDY Christmas is synonymous with candy canes. What are you planning to do with all your leftover holiday candy this season? We'd like to share these 10 creative ways to use Christmas candy canes in everything from hot beverages and cupcakes to beautiful festive decorations that will make your home cozier this winter. You'll have a hard time picking just one DIY project so why not try them all. It's time to put your Christmas candy canes to good use! CHRISTMAS CANDY CANES IDEA NO.1: GARNISH FOR BAKED GOODS Crushed candy canes make wonderful garnish for cakes and cupcakes, especially when the icing is of a contrasting color. Mini candy canes are great too. Crushed candy canes make wonderful garnish for cakes and cupcakes, especially when the icing is of a contrasting color. Mini candy canes are great too. CHRISTMAS CANDY CANES IDEA NO.2: AWESOME STIRRERS Add a festive touch to your wintertime beverages by usi

MICHELIN GUIDE TO HONG KONG AND MACAU 2018 - THE FULL LIST The results for the Michelin guide Hong Kong and Macau 2018 have been released, with news of eight new one star restaurants in Hong Kong appearing on the list. Meanwhile, all the three and two star establishments have retained their stars with no new entrants. The three Michelin-starred list remains the same with eight restaurants, six in Hong Kong and two in Macau. There are also 11 two-starred establishments in Hong Kong, and five in Macau, as per last year. The Bib Gourmand eateries listed in the guide have also increased with 17 first time entrants making a total of 82 Bib Gourmand eateries listed in this year's guide, a distinction "handed out to eateries that offer a quality three-course set menu for a maximum of HKD400." This is the tenth edition of the Hong Kong and Macau Michelin guide which now totals 227 restaurants in Hong Kong, and 65 restaurants in Macau, a huge tripling of numbers since it was

DO-IT-AGAIN-DANIELA Get to know Daniela Soto-Innes, the chef who has stormed New York with her explosive take on Mexican gastronomy. When the stern lady phoned to ask if President Obama and his wife Michelle could get a table for two at Cosme that evening - the buzz immediately erupted. A table was found, a cosy private space at the back, it didn’t matter that the restaurant was consistently serving over 300 covers a night and turning people away at the door, they would accommodate. As suspicious servicemen inspected exits and nervous floor managers jigged seating plans, they would accommodate. Daniela Soto-Innes, the chef in charge of the kitchen at Cosme in New York, had a dilemma. She’d just been told the president was coming to dinner and she wasn’t there. “They really don’t give you a lot of notice,” she recalls during a recent chat. Her sister was going into labour, she’d already missed her wedding to cook for a VIP table and she had sworn not to miss any more important events

GRANT ACHATZ AND NEXT RELEASE 2018 MENU IDEAS Every year we get excited when Grant Achatz and his crew release the latest menu for their ever changing NEXT restaurant in Chicago. The restaurant is constantly evolving with themed menus throughout the year that see the entire team take on the painstaking task of creating an entirely new restaurant experience every time. In a new video posted online the team have revealed the upcoming menu ideas for 2018 and it’s all going a little retrospective. For two of the menus, NEXT will produce Alinea themed restaurants, the first inspired by the Alinea of 2005-2010, the second inspired by the restaurant in 2011-2015. They will also give a nod back to the foundations of gastronomy with two themes dedicated to France: French Classique and French Nouvelle - two menus that will actually work in tangent. The first classical menu will focus on local french traditions and preparations, the second menu will take many of the same dishes and present the

Could Your Child Be A Psychopath? 4 Signs You Need to Watch Out For As a society, we have long been interested in the phenomenon known as psychopathy. Torn between a morbid curiosity and an incredible feeling of fear, we watch documentaries about Jack the Ripper and Jeffrey Dahmer. While we can clearly see the pain, destruction and devastation that these individuals have caused, we can’t help but wonder about the thinking behind it all. We are curious about the motivation and the mentality that can lead to such unspeakable acts. But do we truly understand what makes a psychopath, and which of our favourite characters on television fit the definition? Believe it or not, not all psychopaths are portrayed as the villain, however, in an attempt to simply an otherwise difficult concept, we have chosen to view it in that way. Matt Nix, the creator and executive producer of both ‘Burn Notice’ and ‘Complications’ explains: “The thing about psychopathy, at least as we usually represent it i

INTRODUCING THE PINT SIZED HONEY NUT SQUASH PHOTO KB.ART/INSTAGRAM If you love squash, but not their unwieldy size, there's a dinky sized alternative out there that's altogether sweeter in both stature and taste. We're talking the pint-sized honey nut squash developed by pioneering US chef Dan Barber, chef and co-owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns with Michael Mazourek at Cornell University, according to the Organic Authority. This mini-butternut is roughly half the size of a normal butternut squash making it ideal for single serve portions or simply roasting whole. It also has "more colour, sweetness and a fine texturethan any butternut squash on the market," according to creator Mazourek. We're sold. And if you haven't already tried it, take a look at its dedicated Instagram following to be inspired as to how to put it to good use in the kitchen: #honeynutsquash http://bit.ly/2j0GEes

HOW TO MAKE STOCK - 5 GREAT VIDEO RECIPES Stock is important in the kitchen - it's the basis of soups, sauces , gravy and risottos and making a rich homemade stock can even set a great restaurant apart from a good one. There are a number of different styles and ways to make stock and hundreds of different techniques. Here's a selection of videos to help you make your own stock at home, from chicken to beef and vegetable to veal. How to make homemade stocks How to Make Chicken Stock Chicken stock is a classic stock to have on hand, as you can add to mostly anything. It’s great in soups, sauces and as an accent to potato, stuffing and rice dishes. Chicken soup just wouldn’t be the same without it. How to Make Turkey Stock Making turkey stock is a natural progression after Thanksgiving or Christmas. Watch this recipe for boiling up a tasty broth with the secret ingredient - a ham hock. How to Make Beef Stock Hearty and strong, beef stock makes a great base fo

WHAT IS PASTEL DE NATA? EASY RECIPES FOR THIS PORTUGUESE FAVORITE Pastel de nata is the Portuguese word for custard cakes. This decadent dessert is a specialty of Lisbon and features buttery flaky tarts filled with caramelized egg custard. It is a must-try dessert if you ever find yourself in the Portuguese capital. They can be made at home, but the most famous custard tarts are from the Confeitaria de Belém in Lisbon, that's why they are called Pastéis de Belém. Here are some excellent recipes that will help you enjoy your very own pastel de nata at home. A PASTEL DE NATA RECIPE Ready to roll up your sleeves and get baking? Give this video from CupcakeJemma a watch. The talented chef shows you how to make authentic pastel de nata step-by-step. Spoiler alert: there is lots of butter involved! JAMIE OLIVER'S PASTEL DE NATA RECIPE If you are not keen on making puff pastry from scratch, or simply don't have the time, follow this easy recipe from Jamie Ol

CHENGDU, CHINA: A CITY TASTING TOUR A selection of typical meals and gourmet stops: don't miss this list of places where to eat in the Chinese city. China is astonishingly diverse in the richness and variety of its cuisines. While Cantonese cuisine has traditionally been the most well-known and visible around the world, in recent years the cooking of Sichuan Province has come to the fore thanks to its complexity, nuance and subtlety. Chengdu is one of China’s megacities with a population of 14 million and a history that spans more than 2,000 years. It’s famously home to the giant panda breeding centre and has a reputation as one of China’s most laid-back cities where people lack the frantic rush of Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. In common with the rest of China , food is taken incredibly seriously and there a mind-boggling array of restaurants and hole-in-the-wall spots to choose from. Its reputation may be made on chilli and numbing Sichuan peppercorns known as hua jiao, but t

19 FOOD PICS FROM TOKYO'S NEW MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURANTS The new Michelin guide for Tokyo 2018 might not have brought about any new three-starred restaurants but there were five new restaurants that gained their second star. Tokyo now boasts 234 starred restaurants restaurants in a relatively tiny area when you consider the amount of restaurants to receive the Michelin accolade. Below is a look at dishes from all the new two-star Michelin restaurants in Tokyo. See the full list of all the new Michelin starred restaurants announced so far in 2018. DEN RESTAURANT  FLORILEGE RESTAURANT  HIGUCHI RESTAURANT  HOMAGE RESTAURANT  SAZENKA RESTAURANT http://bit.ly/2j14qal

SHOCKING NEW SURVEY ON CHEF MENTAL HEALTH IS RELEASED PHOTO ILYA / FLICKR Anyone who has ever stepped foot in a professional kitchen knows the stresses of the environment: the intense heat, pressure and long hours worked. It’s a gruelling job that most people pursue because of passion. However, a new survey by Unite , England’s largest work union, has found a large percent of chefs in London are working at risk of increased mental and physical damage because of “punishing long hours”. It’s been an issue of debate for a while now, but the new figures in Unite’s survey point towards numerous issues and the union are calling for them to be addressed. They surveyed 87 chefs working in pubs, restaurants and hotels in London and some of the results are shocking. One that stands out is that 78 percent of those surveyed said they'd had an accident or near miss at work due to fatigue. 44 percent said they worked between 48-60 hours a week and 69 percent of those people said long hours

IDENTITÀ GOLOSE GUIDE 2018 AND AWARDS PHOTO BRAMBILLA-SERRANI The new Identità Golose Guide for 2018 was today presented during a ceremony held in Milan, Italy, in front of an audience of chefs, media and restaurateurs. This third edition of the Italian online restaurant guide boasts 900 addresses, including more than 220 new entries this year, selected by 99 members of staff using their characteristic formula: no scores or rankings, simply stories written by the authors. As usual, several prizes were awarded during the presentation ceremony. The Acqua Panna S.Pellegrino Water Award for the best female chef went to Marta Scalabrini, the young chef from Marta in Cucina in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. Massimo Bottura , who also saw his sous-chef's from Osteria Francescana win awards in this 2018 edition, commented on the guide and the theme of the human factor: "We are a family, and like that you not only realise what you imagine but you can dream big." Here are

MICHELIN GUIDE TO TOKYO 2018 The Michelin Guide to Tokyo 2018 has been released, with the big news being that the city with the most Michelin stars in the world now has five new two-star restaurants. Joining the two star club this year are Zaiyu Hasegawa's Den , two French spots, namely former Asia's One to Watch Florilège and Hommage, Higuchi, and Sazenka, a Chinese restaurant. Though there are no new three three stars this year (all existing three stars retain Michelin's highest honour), there are 23 new one star restaurants. This means Tokyo, incredibly, now has 12 three star restaurants, 56 two stars and 166 one star restaurants – a total of 234. Tokyo's nearest city rival in the stars-stakes, Paris, has 107 starred restaurants in comparison. See all the new stars below and the full list here .  SEE MORE MICHELIN GUIDE NEWS NEW TWO STARS Den Florilège Higuchi Hommage Sazenka NEW ONE STARS Argile Azumaya Bottega Crony Ginza Ishizaki Ginza Shinohara

WIN THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE PHOTO WORLD OF DIAMONDS GROUP A diamond company is offering to chance to win the 'ultimate dinner experience' for two worth an estimated $2million, simply by purchasing a $2 token. It's from the same people behind this $2million Singapore dining experience offered in 2016, only this time, it's basically a raffle. Each $2 token purchased from the Jane Seymour website will give you one chance to win the experience, plus one share in a special blue diamond ring. And potentially, you get a lot for $2: first class return flights to Singapore for two, four days and three nights in the city, all expenses paid, a three hour luxury yacht ride, an 18-course meal prepared by chef Kirk Westaway of the Jaan restaurant on board an airborne private jet, a pair of customisable diamond chopsticks worth $34,000 to eat it with that are yours to keep, vintage wines, roses, your own fireworks display, more Michelin-starred meals once

ASIAN GLAZED SALMON: HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE ASIAN GLAZED SALMON Asian glazed salmon is an iconic restaurant dish you can easily recreate at home. You probably have most of the ingredients on hand or can easily pick them up at your next trip to the grocery store. So how do you make this classic dish? Here are our tips for the ultimate Asian glazed salmon. HOW TO MAKE ASIAN GLAZED SALMON: GETTING STARTED The sweet and sticky sauce of Asian glazed salmon is positively addictive. The hint of citrus and aroma of ginger balance out the sweetness of the glaze. Here is what you'll need for a basic Asian glazed salmon recipe: 1/4 cup of honey 1/4 cup of soy sauce 1 teaspoon of sesame oil 1 teaspoon minced ginger 1 garlic clove, minced the juice of half a lemon Cooking Instructions Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Save half for later use. Use the remaining sauce to marinate two salmon fillets for at least 20 minutes. Put two tablespoons of oil to a sauté pan and cook the salmon o

9 NUMBERS BEHIND... CHESTNUTS Chestnuts' nutrition facts, consumption figures and recipes: a focus on one of the best loved and most widely consumed autumn delicacies. 7 is the maximum number of fruits one chestnut husk can contain. 3 if the chestnut is a marron or sweet chestnut, a close relative obtained by cross-breeding chestnuts. You can tell sweet chestnuts from horse chestnuts by their size, which is generally larger, and their slightly lighter colour. 12 are the principal species of chestnuts, which can be classified as European, Asian or American varieties. The only species from the Old Continent is the Castanea Sativa, while those originating from Asia are the Castanea Crenata, Castanea Mollissima, Castanea Davidii, Castanea Henryi and theCastanea Seguinii. The typical species of the American continent are the Castanea Dentata, Castanea Pumila, Castanea Alnifolia, Castanea Ashei, Castanea Floridiana and the Castanea Paucispina. 57.9 metres was the girth recorded i

An Evangelical Rethink on Divorce? On questions relating to the Bible's treatment of family and morals, one might expect assurance, if not rigidity, from Evangelical Christianity. So, it may surprise many to learn how "live" the topic of divorce remains in Evangelical circles. Last month, the cover story of the monthly Christianity Today was titled "When to Separate What God has Joined: A Closer Reading on the Bible on Divorce." The heated controversy provoked by the story showed how Biblically flexible some Evangelicals can be — especially when God's word seems at odds not just with modern American behaviour, but also with simple human kindness. As the article's author, the British Evangelical scholar David Instone-Brewer, points out, for most of 2,000 years Christians have viewed divorce through two scriptural citations. In Matthew, the pharisees ask Christ, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?" Jesus refers to t

ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CHAMPAGNE AND THE INFLUENCE OF TERROIR Struggling for Christmas gift ideas for the demanding wine lover in your life? Forget the ubiquitous corkscrew, and instead allow them to drink in this luxurious box set complete with a complete guide to the region of Champagne and maps. Champagne: The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region, released on October 10, 2017 is the new groundbreaking guide to the modern wines from the Champagne region from the lauded expert Peter Liem, who is also behind the top-rated online resource ChampagneGuide.net . Infact, US born Liem has dedicated years to pusuing his passion at a micro level by living in Champagne and exploring the impact of " terroir " on the locally produced wines. The idea that "a wine reflects the character of the place in which it is grown." And it's this novel exploration that offers a unique lens on the entirety of the region - understanding the combine

5 RECIPES FOR OVERCOOKED PASTA FROM A MICHELIN-STARRED CHEF Overcooked pasta is the worst, but if it happens to you, don’t just throw it away, you can actually use it to make whole new dishes. That’s the advice of Michelin-starred chef Davide Scabin of the Combal Zero restaurant in Rivoli, Italy, which currently sits at number 59 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 list . In the video below, Scabin whips his overcooked pasta up in a blender to create a substance he calls ‘pongo.’ He makes all sorts of things from it – tacos, soufflés and even uses it as a sauce for pasta itself. Take a look: some of these recipes are quite advanced, but they should spark ideas about what to do with overcooked pasta, so even if you have a disaster in the kitchen, remember, don’t throw that overcooked pasta away. WATCH MICHELIN-STARRED CHEFS COOK PASTA IN MANY WAYS http://bit.ly/2jqWEpB

WHAT'S ON IN DECEMBER: THE PICK OF EVENTS AROUND THE GLOBE December is a month rich in sensational culinary experiences, from festive countdown dinners to exclusive chef masterclasses. Take your pick of locations, from Thailand to Turkey and decide whether you want to try tackling techno sensorial cooking with Andoni Aduriz from Mugaritz or posing your questions to culinary greats at Gastromasa in Turkey. Take a look at more of December's Best Food Events. GASTROMASA, TURKEY 2 DECEMBER Turkey's cutting edge gastronomy conference sponsored by S.Pellegrino, returns for a third year with yet another increedible chef line-up. Mitsuharu Tsumura, Virgilio Martinez, Kamilla Seidler, Joan Roca, Mauro Colagreco are just a few of the international chefs joining the talks at at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul to debate this year's theme: "Product." The even it open to a ticketed audience who will get a chance to put their questions to the speakers. ( ti

MICHEL TROISGROS IN PICS AND VIDEO Chef Michel Troisgros, who has been named best chef in the world 2018 by Le Chef , is no stranger to accolades. The Troisgros family, one of France’s most famous culinary dynasties, has held three Michelin stars at their flagship restaurant, originally in Roanne, but recently relocated down the road to Ouches, since 1968. Michel took over the family business in the 1980s and has since opened a sister restaurant in Tokyo, which currently holds two Michelin stars . His sons César and Léo are the fourth generation of the Troisgros to enter the culinary world, while his brother Claude runs the acclaimed Olympe restaurant in Rio . In honour of this, take a look at some of Troisgros’ amazing work, both from Le Bois sans Feuilles in Ouches and Cuisine(s) Michel Troisgros in Tokyo, below. Also, halfway down is a video of Troisgros making the family's famous salmon and sorell dish, which has been on the menu since his father and uncle, brothers Pierre an