food
Chicken!
'Da lachen ja die Hühner,' cackle the Germans. 'Even chickens would laugh!' - it sounds so ridiculous that it's actually unbelievable! But don't undermine the global power of chickens, you cowards; these south-east Asia originating birds have oft harmed global markets and relations
Once upon a pizza
On 4 February, the EU paid homage to Neapolitan pizza by designating its trademark status. Yet when we eat a margherita, does it mean we're also paying homage to the three colours of the Italian flag? Behind this round piece of bread and staple in European diets lies the story of kings, queens and Italy
Italian housewives: the vital ingredient for a good polenta
So all you need is salted water and cornmeal, right? Most certainly not! Modern instant recipes are no substitute for the real thing. It’s impossible to make good polenta without a bit of elbow grease and a lot of patience. Don’t forget the copper pot for cooking it in either
M**Bun, Eataly, GROM: the organic flavour in Turin
Eating well can save the environment, economy, and local heritage, according to the Slow Food Movement, an international non-profit culinary educational organisation which was founded in 1989 by the Italian writer Carlo Petrini. Its appetising premise is to combat the acculturating effects of corporate America & co. through the affirmation of local, fresh, organic food. Its phrased in its manifesto as ‘the right to pleasure’, and in Turin, it’s a right that’s being energetically exercised
food, business, italy, world financial crisis, cities, europe on the ground, start-up company
Who gives a cabbage?
Cabbage is the prince of warming winter dishes. It's the main ingredient of choucroute, Milanese cassœula (stew), German sauerkraut and Polish bigos, chomped down with pork, sausages and/ or potatoes. Plus a cassœula recipe for six
Sourpuss
Being 'as sour as vinegar' is a saying that's recognisable across the continent, but why? It starts with the word itself - vinum acetum means 'wine turned sour'. Idiom of the week
food, tower of babel, translation, rome, expressions, language
Europe's breakfasts: I'll have what Obama's having
Russia: Putin feeds Obama whilst a leather boot fans the flames. Italy: whilst Obama becomes president, Berlusconi serves his escort a hot drink. Germany: Merkel cooks brekkie for hubby: a round-up of European politicians' breakfast stories in the news, plus a pancake recipe for the bimonthly gastronomy column
food, gastronomy, recipe, angela merkel, barack obama, yum nyam, silvio berlusconi
‘Oysters’ vs. Coke: popular European hangover cures
Have a read of these European hangover cures - it might make you not want to drink again. From a Polish ‘bull shot’ to a James Bond-style ‘prairie oyster’ via a good old hair o’ the dog, the advice is to get concocting
Ramadan arrives in Europe
We’re hungry, and in a hurry. The evening sun is still strong enough to melt the tar between the cobbles. I’m in Bologna, Italy, and Badr is bringing me as a guest to iftar, the daily feast that breaks the ramadan fast.
food, italy, recipe, ramadan, best of cafebabel.com, morocco, bologna
Tree huggers
The times in which eco-warriors and nature lovers raged unrest in the downtown areas whilst kitted out in hand-knitted wool jumpers and Birkenstocks are now over. Now that the trend of being eco-aware has come to the forefront of society, the whole of Europe is witnessing a bloom in eco-green ‘cusswords’
food, italy, bioethics, tower of babel, green cities, germany, poland
EU aphrodisiacs: unleash the rhinoceros in you
Eating at home is the cheaper and more pleasant seduction option. Create the appropriate atmosphere and know how to captivate your palate. All your senses are involved in sensuality, from soft music playing in your ears, to the food in your mouth
food, gastronomy, recipe, sex, best of cafebabel.com, yum nyam
Caviar: the most expensive food in the world
When Louis XV spat those viscous fish eggs which Peter the Great had offered him back into the face of the Russian Tsar, the French king did not know that he was turning down a delicacy which was soon to become the most expensive and coveted food in the world. Plus, recipe
food, economical crisis, environment, caspian sea, environmental protection, receta, russian federation
EU bread and salt directive gets Germans in a pickle
Whether it’s a pretzel or some yeasty rye bread, bread and salt are essential ingredients in Germany, despite the silliness of EU directives
CAP? The queen farms on EU money
Normally the EU doesn't shrink from using showing citizens with golden plaques and stardust whereabouts European money goes. With regards to cereal, meat and milk this is somewhat different. The agricultural subsidies, which were originally meant to support the agricultural community, now flow in quite different directions. Latest news titbit from Brussels
food, cap, agriculture, germany, international trade, euweek, united kingdom
Richard Adams, Britain's father of fair trade
The Fairtrade movement has come a long way since its humble beginnings, when two students began importing fruit and vegetables from India. As Fairtrade Fortnight sees over 10, 000 events held across the UK, we speak to one of its founding fathers
food, partenariats nord-sud, underground, fair trade, economy, légumes, fruits
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