Friday 24 October 2014

Focaccia Bread

Fococcia bread is an Italian flatbread. It is similar in style to pizza dough, it is usually topped with herbs, such as rosemary, and olive oil. It is very popular in Italy and can be served with meals, used as sandwich bread or even on its own with onions, cheese and meats. The dough is made up of flour, oil, water, salt and yeast. In ancient Rome, it was called panis focacius. This means hearth, which is a place for baking. This is where the word focaccia originated from. Pictured below is focaccia bread topped with garlic, olive oil, rosemary and sun dried tomato.

Photo credit: myself

Monday 20 October 2014

Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips are a snack food, made from corn tortillas, they are cut into wedge shapes and then fried. It is a Mexican dish, which is also known as tostados. Tortilla chips are often served with salsa, as pictured. It is almost quitessential in Mexican cuisine. Pictured are tortilla chips with salsa brava.

Photo credit: myself

Thursday 16 October 2014

Carbonara

Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish from Rome. Traditionally, it is made solely with eggs, guanciale (bacon) and cheese. The pasta usually used is spaghetti. The history of this dish is quite obscure, there are many theories as to the origin of the name 'Carbonara'. Since the name seems to be a derivative of the word 'Carbonaro' which means charcoal burner in Italian, it is thought that it was a classic meal for Italian charcoal workers in the US, whom had emigrated there. This name seems to be a very recent transpiration, as that would contradict that fact that it is indeed a Roman dish. Pictured is traditional Carbonara with bacon.

Photo credit: myself 

Potato Farls

Potato farls are a traditional Irish dish, usually found in Ulster, and served in an Ulster Fry. It is made with potato, flour and butter. You shape it into discs and fry it on a pan, much like a pancake. It can be served with a variety of items, such as in frys, topped with butter or even with something sweet like jam. Pictured is a stack of plain potato farls.

Photo credit: myself 

Monday 13 October 2014

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is an American dish which involves covering chicken in flour or a batter and then pan frying or deep frying it. Fried chicken originated in Scotland, however Scottish immigrants brought it to the Southern United States, which is where the name Southern Fried Chicken comes from. In the US, fried chicken has been stereotypically associated with African Americans. There are a couple of reasons for this, the dish was popular among African slaves during the civil war, as chickens were generally the only animals they were allowed have. Pictured below is floured pan fried chicken.

Photo credit: myself

Thursday 9 October 2014

Pizza

The pizza is an oven baked flatbread that is normally topped with a tomato sauce, cheese (generally mozzarella) and other toppings. It was invented in a place called Naples in Italy. Places called pizzerias specialise in making pizzas, but are also served in many restaurants. Pictured is a classic Neapolitan Pizza with mozzarella cheese and chicken.

Photo credit: myself

Pancakes

Pancakes are a worldwide phonemenon. No one person or country created them, but every country seems to have their own way of making them. They are usually a thin round unleavened cake, served with jam, fruits or syrups. For example, American pancakes are much thicker than British pancakes, as Americans usually add a raising agent to them. Pictured are classic British pancakes with syrup and chocolate shavings.

Photo credit: myself

Friday 3 October 2014

Intro

Hi guys! On this blog I'm going to be talking about the geography of food from all over the world!

Hope you enjoy,

James