Food and Beer

Are you new to grilling? There is nothing to fear, and it is not as complicated as it looks. While it might seem like organizing a BBQ is fun and simple, there is more that goes into making your first BBQ a success than meets the eye.

Grilling, like all types of cooking, can be dangerous. Whenever you are in doubt, always consult the grill’s user manual and heed the safety warning. However, no one starts as a BBQ master, and despite all the planning, several things are bound to go wrong.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know before making your first BBQ. This guide will help you grill like a pro every time.

Picking Out the Right Grill

Modern outdoor grills come in various shapes and sizes. You need to choose the right one for your first BBQ. Stainless steel is the standard material, but it is not created equal. For your first grill, you need to have at least grade 304 stainless steel, which should have a cooking area of between 600 and 900 square inches if you are cooking for friends and family.

Here are the different types of grills available on the market:

Gas Grills

Gas grills are perfect for people who want to grill their hot dogs and burgers quickly. They heat up much faster, and it are easy to clean. However, you need to choose one that has lava rocks, which mimics charcoal in heat distribution.

They are designed to be used with bottled propane or natural gas. When buying a gas grill, look for brands that have a grate with porcelain coating steel bars.

Charcoal Grills

Charcoal grills are for people looking to experience the age-old method of long and slow barbecuing process. This type of grill gives your meets the full-bodied charcoal flavor due to the open flame.

If you also want to smoke your meats, this is the best type of grill. When buying, look for a charcoal grill that has cast-iron grates since they are better heat conductors than stainless steel.

Electric Grill

Electric grills cook meat using heated grill plates, which means that there is no fire required. They are best for people living in apartment blocks who are prohibited by fire regulations. When shopping for one, you need to consider the size, especially if you live in an apartment. They are cheaper than other types of grills, and they are easy to clean.

Grilling Accessories

Having picked out a grill, you also need the appropriate accessories for your first BBQ. Here are the must-have grilling accessories:

Chimney Starter

This is a necessary grilling accessory if you have a charcoal grill. The chimney starter allows you to start the grill much faster and hotter without using lighter fluid. You can use crumpled newspaper or odorless fuel starter to start the fire. Let the charcoal burn until it is covered with white-grey ash, which means it has achieved the right temperature for grilling.

Grill Mitts

Most beginners pass up on using grill mitts and use oven mitts instead, which is a fatal mistake. The grill mitts should be long enough to reach your elbows and made from fire-retardant fabrics or silicone, leather, heavy-duty cotton and more.

Meat Thermometer

Temperature is one of the best ways to tell if your meat is cooked through. A meat thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the food and away from the bone.

You should check the meet towards the end of the recommended cooking time to avoid overcooking and burning it. We have designed a handy buying guide that includes everything you need to know to make your first BBQ memorable.

Basting Kit

Basting is the act of brushing, pouring, or spooning sauces, liquids, and marinades over food. It is the best way to add flavor to grilled meat and add moisture. While you can use an ordinary container such as a bowl, it is best to invest in a proper basting kit that includes a cast iron sauce pot and a nesting silicone or natural bristle basting brush. To kill bacteria, you need to keep dipping the brush in the sauce.

Spring-Loaded and Long-Handled Tongs

The best types of tongs for grilling have spring-loaded and long handles. They can be used with different kinds of foods, including thick steaks, thin and long dogs, sausages, or asparagus spears. Some beginners use big forks, but they tend to ruin the shape, and they let the juices escape. In addition, the long handles will keep your forearm from burns.

An All-Purpose Grill Basket

Grill baskets are useful for grilling vegetables, fruit, delicate fish, and other small foods that could fall through the grill grate. While there are specialized grill baskets, such as one for sliders, meatballs, and more, but a large, all-purpose grill basket will allow you to grill a variety of foods.

Skewers

Some people call skewers shish kebabs, but they are the same thing. They are easy to customize and great for mixing flavors as well as ingredients. Wooden skewers are inexpensive and widely available. However, you need to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to avoid them burning. However, if you plan to grill more often, invest in a set of stainless-steel skewers, which are re-usable and come in a variety of sizes.

Grill Brush

For healthy grilling, you need to keep your grill clean by using a grill brush. Brass bristled grill brushes are the best compared to steel bristles, which can scratch the enamel or porcelain finish on some grates. In case you do not have a grill brush, you could substitute it with a ball of heavy-duty aluminum foil held by a pair of tongs.

Conclusion

Many things can go wrong on your first BBQ. We hope that the advice and tips above will be useful for your first and subsequent grilling. You could also consider portable grills. They can use propane or charcoal as fuel and are great if you plan on grilling outdoors when camping or picnicking.

If you’ve only ever had unhappy experiences with steamed asparagus, this recipe will change how you feel about asparagus forever. “Salty and savory, the roasting method kills the natural bitterness of asparagus. Try it next to grilled fish or lamb,” says recipe creator Swedish milk. It’s ready in just 25 minutes, making it a quick and easy side dish for maple salmon.

Sweet Restaurant Slaw

Coleslaw is the perfect pairing for fried fish (especially this Southern Fried Catfish ). “This was absolutely delicious, and I’m not even a huge slaw fan! I used two bags of prepared slaw and made the dressing as directed. Plenty of dressing. Refrigerated overnight, and plenty of sweet, creamy slaw,” says reviewer Saveur.

Easy Zucchini Fritters

Reviewer Autumn Heather says, “These were just scrumptious! I had been given a huge zucchini and was looking for something to do with it and found this recipe… My mother pronounced them ‘Delicious!’ twice! We loved ’em!” This is a great way to sneak in some veggies on the side. When paired with Hudson,s

Baked Tilapia With Dill Sauce, you have a delicious and well-balanced meal.

Quinoa and Black Beans

Quinoa, corn, black beans, and fresh cilantro make this a light and colorful sea side dish for Veracruz-Style Red Snapper. “This satisfies ALL my requirements for a ‘great’ recipe! Get a load of this, and I am not exaggerating: It’s quick and easy, inexpensive, attractive to look at, delicious, and very very healthy. It travels AND refrigerated well and it can be eaten hot or cold,” says reviewer Naomi Witzke.

Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

Pasta is a classic pairing for seafood, and this top-rated tortellini salad is no different. “I have made this dish over three dozen times (for catered events, family parties, etc.). It always gets raves — no leftovers! As recommended by others, I blanch the broccoli florets for about 30 seconds, plunge into ice water until cooled then drain and dry. The broccoli stays a gorgeous green and is easier to eat,” says reviewer TLBRAN. Try serving it with this simple Grilled Salmon.

Baked French Fries

These homemade seasoned fries are an easy side dish that everyone at the table will love. “These were phenomenally good! Quick and easy — and much tastier than the frozen variety,” says reviewer Serena. Pair them with Heavenly Halibut.

Curried Cashew, Pear, and Grape Salad

Curried cashews, bacon, pears, and red grapes are tossed with mixed greens in a light vinaigrette. “This is a wonderful salad and very forgiving as you can add almost any fruit to it and it still comes out superb! Try adding mandarin oranges — you won’t be disappointed,” says reviewer Crystal S. It’s a flavorful and crunchy side dish for Alaska Salmon Bake With Pecan Crunch Coating.

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

There are endless ways to cook cauliflower, but this roasted variation has more than 2,000 glowing reviews for a reason. Reviewer Naples 34102 says, “This was unlike any cauliflower I have ever eaten — truly special and unique. Whether it’s the roasting aspect, or the addition of Parmesan cheese, or the combination of the two, this is a memorable dish, which is saying a lot since, after all, this is just cauliflower!” Serve it with Perfect Ten Baked Cod to make this memorable side dish into a memorable meal.

These are the two Beekman Brothers. They are in search of great beer all around the world. Follow their travel into Tampa Bay, and what they found.

Places like Tampa Bay have a lot to offer. Spending a short time in the area can give you a great sense of what you want to do, where you want to visit, and what beer you want to drink.

Going to a new place for the first time can be intimidating, however, so we want to give you some insight into what we like to do in Tampa Bay and where we would recommend you visit.

If you’re someone that is looking for adventure or a laid back trip, we have a little something for everyone.

Keep reading to learn more about the Beekman Brothers’ time in Tampa Bay and what you may want to do next time you visit.

4 Things to Do in the Tampa Bay Area

While there are a lot of things you could do during your time in Tampa Bay, these are four things that we absolutely loved. If we could do them again, we would.

Don’t forget to explore as much as you can to make the most of your vacation!

1. Visit the Palma Sola Botanical Garden

This is a 10 acre garden with a lot of different kinds of plants, including fruit trees, tropical plants, and native plants. You will find three lakes that you can relax by during the day or two gazebos to sit under if the sun gets to be too much for you.

Not only is this a great place for a self-guided tour, but you can also take part in one of the many activities on the calendar.

In the Florida sun, you will probably want to be outside as much as possible. Why not learn about some interesting and beautiful plants at the same time?

2. Get Out on the Water

Check out some of the best boating destinations in this area to maximize your trip. There are a lot of small islands around Tampa Bay that are great for photography or just general sight-seeing, but one we wanted to mention was Egmont Key.

Egmont Key is a beautiful island with a lot of local history that you can only access by boat. You will find plenty of natural beauty and you may even see some wildlife. The refuge there has a lot of animals and if you’re interested in photography, this is a spot you can’t miss.

3. Don’t Miss the Salvador Dalí Museum

If you’re a Salvador Dalí fan like we are, you absolutely need to check this museum out. It has the biggest collection of his works outside of Europe and is set right on the water, making for some beautiful views.

There are events for so many different things that you’re sure to find something that interests you, but you can also just tour the museum and check out the artwork on your own.

4. Do Something That Gets Your Heart Rate Up

If you want something that is a little more adrenaline-filled, Tampa Bay has plenty of that as well.

Whether it is indoor skydiving without a parachute, swimming with sharks, or riding a rollercoaster, there is something for you. Just be sure to put safety first and you’ll have a great time.

Beekman Brothers Find Great Beer in Tampa Bay

You might be like us and want to find the best beer everywhere you go. If so, you’re in luck because below are some of the places that we found to have a great local selection in the Tampa Bay area.

Don’t be afraid to check out other local breweries as well to find the perfect spot for you and your crew. Tampa Bay has a lot of beer options and while they may all be great, these were our favorites.

Angry Chair Brewing

This brewery has developed a cult following in recent years and while it is pretty small on the inside, you want to check it out if you get the chance.

They are known for their stout beers, but you really can’t go wrong with anything that they offer. The menu changes often, so you’ll always find new selections to keep it interesting.

Coppetail Brewing Co.

Coppetail has great food and great beer, which is obviously a great combination, but it also has a fun atmosphere.

The staff here know what they are talking about and are willing to answer questions about the menu, beer selection, or the local area.

You can also ask for a tour here for $7.50 (including tax) to see “where the magic happens” and get a souvenir pint glass.

Ulele Spring Brewery

Located on the Tampa Riverwalk, this brewery is fun and inviting. You’ll find beer of all types here, so whether you like light lagers, oatmeal stouts, or a hoppy IPA, something will fit your needs.

If you’re interested in a brewery tour, you can request one and set up a time that works for you.

7venth Sun Brewery

While the original 7venth Sun is located in Dunedin, FL, the Tampa location is a lot bigger. In what was once a roller skating rink, this brewery has 28 taps to choose from and displays art from local artists that you can buy on the spot.

Are You Going to Tampa Bay?

The Beekman Brothers love to travel and Tampa Bay is a great place to visit.

Not only do you get some great food and beer in this area, but you also get some wonderful views and there is plenty to do.

If you’re looking for great beer in a certain area or just some travel advice, check out the rest of our website to see what other posts may interest you.

Going vegan comes with plenty of ups and downs, but your range of food options are certainly some of the best things that come with the transition. While most people believe that vegans eat nothing more than cucumbers and celery, the truth is that cruelty-free food is full of flavour and texture and, more often than not, more delicious than their ordinary counterparts.

The key to cooking delicious vegan dishes is to look for alternatives to your kitchen essentials. Whether it is cheese, butter, or mayonnaise, you will surely find a variation appropriate for cruelty-free diets.

You can even make magical vegan condiments out of dairy replacements such as chickpeas and almond milk, and you will undoubtedly fall in love with their more vibrant, guilt-free flavour profiles. Here are some fun and easy recipe inspirations to kickstart your meat-free gastronomic adventure.

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are french fries’ sweeter and more nutrient-dense cousin. Their boiled or roasted variation is a popular item on the weight loss menu for dieters all over the world because they contain plenty of antioxidants, Vitamin A and C, and selenium. While they are delicious that way, you can opt to bake sweet potato fries if you can afford a little bit of a caloric leeway.

The process is simple: preheat the oven to 400 F. Wash the sweet potato, peel, and slice to fry-sized pieces, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, add in cumin, paprika, and sea salt before tossing in a bowl. Meanwhile, you want to spray a baking sheet with vegetable-based oil and add in a wax sheet before lining up your sweet potato fries.

Bake for 30 minutes, and you have a brilliant burst of crispy flavours. To further elevate the taste, add in your favourite vegan condiments. A recommendation is to use chipotle mayo — the perfect low-calorie dip for equally low-calorie fries.

Vegan Burrito

Nobody can say no to a burrito, so a vegan version is necessary for all meat-free folks to enjoy the infamous Mexican dish. There are plenty of ways you can go about this recipe, but here is a super easy one for days when you’re in a rush to prepare a healthy dinner spread. First, lay out the ingredients: rice, beans, lettuce, corn, tomatoes, guacamole, cilantro, lime, and vegan sour cream.

You want to cook the rice, beans, and corn before mixing them along with the rest of the ingredients, based on your preferred ratio. Generally, 2 cups of rice equate to 1 cup of beans and 1 cup of veggies. Lay them all on top of a tortilla, spread a generous amount of vegan sour cream, and wrap them up nicely. Squeeze in some lime as you eat, and you will soon be addicted to the delicious — and completely vegan — flavour.

Fishless Fingers

While a classic fish and chip will never make it back to your vegan diet, there is a fantastic alternative that will bring back the dreamy combination of a soft texture wrapped with a crispy exterior. But this recipe is entirely cruelty-free. The magic ingredient is tofu — a common meat alternative used for its relatively mild flavour.

To start, get blocks of firm tofu, cut into thick strips, and coat in flour. Mix soy or almond milk with lemon juice on a separate bowl before using it to add another layer to your floured tofu.

For the crispy exterior, dip the coated tofu onto breadcrumbs before baking for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. If you do not have an oven, you can pan fry each side until you get the desired colour. You can enjoy your fishless fingers with an array of vegan condiments, including garlic aioli and sour cream. Alternatively, you can make tartar sauce with vegan mayo, relish, lemon, and a hint of dill.

Anyone can enjoy vegan recipes regardless of their lifestyle and diet choices. Nothing beats exploring new flavour profiles and finding fresh condiments to stock your shelves and flavour your food, after all. Who knows — it might be the push you need to transition to a cruelty-free lifestyle.

Author – Jane Smith

Kids today prefer only snacks and finger foods when it comes to their tiffin. Parents have to make sure that these snacks are filling when hunger hits in school hours. Protein could be the key that makes sure that kids’ school snacks are nutritious. Proteins like beef promote fullness and ensure a great taste that kids love. Here are some beef snacks that your kids can enjoy taking in their tiffin:

• Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas-

  Tastefully ground beef with sweet sauce, oodles of gooey cheese and a crisp golden tortilla on the outside is the perfect combination that kids can bring to school. This recipe is quick, easy and fuss-free. The kids can take these quesadillas to school happily as they are perfect for eating with hands and do not create any mess.

  You could make these cheesy quesadillas with simple ingredients like freshly made or leftover minced beef, a basic tomato sauce, your favourite melting cheese and store brought tortilla wraps. All you need to do it butter up a flat pan and lay a tortilla there- slather half of it with the sauce, put the cooked beef and add the cheese. Now fold the wrap and flip it, the cheese will melt and do its job of keeping this tortilla together in the tiffin.

• Australian Meat Pie-

  This beef meat pie is very simple to make, easy to carry and yummy to eat. The filling consists of chunks of steak braised in mild spices with fresh rosemary, and if your kid is a fussy eater, you may even incorporate some veggies in the filling.

  Many of us might think making a puff pastry will be the most challenging task, but you could buy a ready and precut puff pastry, and it can all come together quickly with just 30 minutes of baking. You can make a batch and stack it as this is a freezer-friendly snack.

• Bacon Cheeseburger Bombs-

  These little bombs are not only delicious, but they are also easy to make. The buns are crispy on the outer side and soft on the inner side. The fixing is full of all things good like cheese, seasoned ground beef, onions, and irresistible bacon bits.

  Your task is to pack all these fixings into a rolled bread dough and bake it in the oven till it becomes fluffy and golden brown. The best part is that these are very quick to make and super convenient to bring in the tiffin as they are sealed on all sides. Your kids will polish them off. Don’t forget to pack extra ones for their friends!

• Mini beef meatballs-

  Everyone loves this classic beef recipe, and when you make them in mini size, your kids will love them even more. You can never go wrong with beef meatballs as they are made with simple ingredients like good quality Australian beef, fried onions, breadcrumbs, and simple seasoning.

  To do these little wonders, mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and shallow fry teaspoon-sized balls of mince mixture in a skillet. You can freeze them, and they are great to go in the lunch box with a side of pasta or veggie sticks. Click here for more side dish options.

• Indian style beef cutlets-

  This is a crunchy bite-sized tiffin snack that your kids will fall in love with. These beef cutlets are easy to make and refrigerator friendly, so you can make them ahead and store. To make these add cooked beef, boiled potatoes, onions, ginger and curry leaves in the food processor. Make small balls, coat them with egg wash and breadcrumbs and then deep fry the cutlets.

 

The number of tea drinkers in Australia is steadily increasing in the past couple of years. A recent study shows that 9.8 million Australians aged 14 and up are now drinking at least one cup of tea every week, and those who are over 65 years old are drinking an average of eleven cups per week. The rise could be attributed to the growing appreciation of tea’s physical and mental health benefits.

If you are one of the many who are getting hooked with the calming and soothing effects of a cup of warm tea, you should stop buying mass-produced tea products from the supermarket and order from a specialty tea store instead. Before you dismiss the idea, here are some compelling reasons why you should make the switch:

Expertise

Do you ask the grocery staff to give you some recommendations when shopping for tea? No. Unless you want to know what brands they have and the price of each, nobody in the store will have an idea of what kind of tea would be best for you. The best you could do is read the labels and rely on the description of the manufacturers.

When you buy from a tea shop, you will meet tea specialists who can guide you in finding the tea that will not only fit your palate but will complement your health and lifestyle requirements. Stopping by the supermarket to buy a box or two of your favourite tea may be convenient, but you will not find experts there who have a wealth of knowledge, passion, and love for tea that can help you find that perfect cup.

Quality

The superiority of the tea is primarily determined by leaf quality. Given this condition, you can readily tell that you are not drinking the best tea if you buy mass-produced products sold in the supermarket. To produce in bulk means manufacturers rely on machines to pluck tea leaves. As such, meticulous leaf selection is eliminated from the process.

Tea products sold in a tea store, on the other hand, are not only sourced from the best tea-producing regions, but they are also hand-picked to ensure that every tea leaf is of excellent quality. Moreover, artisan teas are made from 100% tea leaves. In contrast, those in the grocery stores are often made with artificial ingredients, colours, flavours, and other additives to mask the inferiority of the tea leaves used.

Taste

You may enjoy the flavour of store-bought teas for now, but once you tried drinking premium teas sold at specialty tea shops, you can readily tell the vast difference in depth of flavour and overall drinking experience. Apart from the quality of leaves, the process of tea-making significantly impacts flavour. While machines can manufacture tons of tea bags in a short time, no type of technology can recreate the taste of teas carefully crafted by tea masters.

Selection

The types of teas available in supermarkets are limited compared to the wide array of tea selection offered by specialty tea shops. Apart from the usual green, oolong, English breakfast, and black teas, tea stores offer herbal, wellness, and other types of brew you cannot find anywhere else.

Even if you have been drinking and enjoying tea for years because of its many benefits, you have yet to experience the exquisite pleasure of real tea drinking if you only tried mass-produced tea bags sold in grocery stores. Try purchasing your supply from a reputable tea store, and you will discover what you have been missing all along.

When you finish your workout, you most likely reach for a protein shake. These nutritionally-dense drinks help feed your body, ensuring you develop lean muscle mass. These drinks are also great for recovery because they help in repairing those tiny tears which your body sustains after a hardcore workout.

However, the fad these days is a big switch from whey and casein protein powder to vegan protein powder. A lot of people are testifying for this vegan product, saying it is high time to unlock and unleash the potential of these powerful plants. Take a look at the following typical ingredients of these plant-based powders and see why they are right for you.

Rich in Plant Protein Sources

These vegan versions of protein powders are made using a variety of protein sources like pea, soy, hemp, and algae. All of these are just as healthy as their meat-based counterparts. Whey and casein protein is usually derived from milk and other animal-based proteins. As a result, the latter is generally full of harmful antibiotics and chemicals that farmers use to grow these animals.

In contrast, vegan-based powders are entirely non-GMO. Since they don’t contain lactose and other gluten products, these are also safe for those with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, and digestive issues.

Chock Full of Amino Acids

One of the notable perks of vegan protein powder is it is very rich in amino acids. For instance, hemp protein contains 20 amino acids that improve heart health, quell sugar cravings, and boost your immune system. A diet that is rich in amino acids means you feel full longer, so you are not tempted to reach and graze on junk food.

You can make better meal decisions and nourish your body with the best ingredients when you use vegan protein shakes. Because you’re feeding your cells with the best ingredients, you optimise your health and keep illness at bay.

Loaded with Fibre

Vegan based protein powders have more fibre than their traditional counterpart. A diet that is rich in fibre means you can regulate your bowel movements, ensuring all the toxins and impurities in your body get eliminated daily. There is decreased constipation, bloating, acid reflux, and gas.

Moreover, you also improve your heart health with a diet rich in fibre as it has the power to lower your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Those who load up on fibre tend to snack less because they feel full longer, making it so much easier to maintain a healthier weight.

Packed with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Specific vegan proteins are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids that are essential to a healthy body. Omega 3 fatty acids are known to fight anxiety and depression because these acids nourish the brain and improve the interactions of neurons.

Most importantly, this ingredient is also known to improve heart health by managing your triglycerides, blood pressure, good cholesterol, plaque build-up, blood clots, and inflammation. The factors that make you prone to heart disease are well-managed by loading up on omega 3.

Full of Antioxidants

Vegan protein powders are also rich in antioxidants, which are known to reduce the risk of numerous diseases like heart issues and certain cancers. When you fortify your body with antioxidants, you’re equipping your body with the means to fight free radicals.

These antioxidants scavenge these harmful elements in your cells, preventing and reducing the damage caused by a chemical reaction in your body called oxidation. This frequently happens when you break down food, smell tobacco, get radiation exposure from x-rays, or prolonged sun exposure. Minimize oxidation and your propensity for diseases by loading up on antioxidants.

Final Word

Including vegan protein powders in your lifestyle has so many benefits. Adding variety to your nutritional sources will not hurt your progress. In fact, you stand to gain so many benefits by switching to vegan protein shakes. They taste just as good as your usual casein and whey proteins while managing to deliver more benefits. Adding a vegan protein shake to your routine is one of the most valuable fitness tips you can follow today.

 

The average person will associate specialty coffee with mochaccino, macchiato, or any other fancy-sounding name other than the regular black.

However, specialty coffee is actually a lifestyle.

Being an advocate means you are supporting small farmers who are buying into the concept. They employed best practices in growing the beans. For instance, they do not use chemicals in fertilizing the soil or pesticides to treat the trees.

When you buy specialty coffee beans online, you are purchasing organic products made with the highest regard for safety.

Specialty coffee is a quickly growing industry as more and more people have bought into the advocacy. According to Adroit Market Research, from the $36 billion in 2018, the market is projected to grow to $83.6 billion in 2025.

The research noted an upward trend in the number of soda drinkers who shifted to coffee. In terms of market, the UK, Germany, France, and Italy are the biggest market for specialty coffee worldwide. North America and Asia still have a lot of catching up to do.

The objective is to deliver only superior quality products to the end consumer. And once you order from a specialty store selling coffee beans online, you can never go back to instant coffee or Starbucks.

But how do you know that you are getting specialty coffee? Here are some handy tips:

1. Where they are cultivated — Buy only from a website that shows the origins of the coffee beans. The distributor should be transparent about the region where the beans come from and the way they are processed. So, you should be looking for the altitude, the variety, the producer, the type of harvest, cupping notes, and the certifications.

Bonus tip: the more information you get from the label, the more you know that it is specialty coffee. It is much like vegans–they can’t stop talking about being vegans.

1. The certifications — Anybody can make a claim they are selling specialty coffee. However, you need to look at the types of accreditation they have. Look for seals like Organic, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, Direct Trade, or Fair Trade on the label.
2. When were the beans roasted — The product label should also tell you precisely when the beans were first processed. It means that the product manufacturer cares about the freshness of the coffee when you mix it into your cup. They care about your experience whenever you take a sip. After all, that is what the entire industry is all about–flavour first before the packaging.
3. When they describe the flavour — The average person is not aware that coffee has nuanced flavours. The notes should be specified on the label. For example, you can read on the cupping notes about the coffee giving you that hint of chocolate or caramel with a dominant sweet red fruit taste. In other brands, you will taste a sturdy crema, with a dark, rich flavour. So, when you drink the latter, the flavour is tilted toward a more chocolatey taste.

What you need to understand is that specialty coffee is a tightly-knit community. While manufacturers are also competitors, everybody has a stake in the success of others in the same industry. The ultimate objective is to deliver ethical, flavourful, and ecologically friendly products from the soil to your cup.

A big part of your life is what you eat and drink. So why not make that both fun and profitable? If you think about most of your favorite memories or the things that you do that you enjoy the most, eating and drinking are almost always a part of it. That is why if possible, you should incorporate food and drink into the parts of your life that you enjoy anyway, and comma taking the DIY angle makes it even more fun.

So what exactly do we mean by this? First, for the experimental type, you can try a homebrewing kit. Second, if you need some ideas for how you can do DIY food and drinks at home, try subscribing to a meal-delivery kit service for a few months and see how it works out. Guaranteed you can determine a better way to do those kinds of meals on your own. And the last concept would be to check out tips for canning. You would be amazed at how much money you can save by canning, and if you successfully make extra, you can earn good money selling your excess.

Home Brewing

Even if you don’t like drinking alcohol, it can be a lot of fun to try a home brewing kit. There are lots of fascinating steps to the process, and you may end up with something that you enjoy. If you spend a lot of money on beer or alcohol, having a home brewing kit can make your habit that much less expensive. And if you get good at brewing, you can give your drinks out as gifts for celebrations. Just as an enjoyable family activity, homebrewing has some unique bonding perks as well.

Meal Delivery Kits

If you want some ideas about how DIY food and drink might work, subscribe to a meal-delivery kit service. These are fascinating examples of self-contained meals that go together, typically with seasonal ingredients. By seeing how companies have put these things together, it will give you an idea of how you can do it on your own. Once you start buying in bulk with the same methodology as meal delivery kits, you will see what the various benefits are in terms of cost savings and health.

Tips for Canning

One of the first activities to take on as a DIYer when it comes to food is canning. You have the option to can almost anything. That means you can buy things when they are cheap, prepare it to go in a can, and then store it indefinitely. It takes some effort and some experience to do it right, but ultimately, you will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on food, and you can give other people cans of some of your favorite fruits, vegetables and sauces. DIY Canning is something that lots of families enjoy because it has so much potential for profit and practicality in the long run.

 

Anyone in the hospitality industry knows bartenders are often among the highest earning staff members. The pool of applicants is thus large for both bartenders and barbacks (as a step toward bartending). However, owners and managers have to see beyond eagerness and assess applicants for responsibility, ability to communicate, attention to detail, and awareness of the position’s demands.

Attention to the lesser known demands often make the difference between excellence and real problems on the bar floor. A prepared owner or manager knows how to clarify job expectations during the hiring process and how to train bar staff to cover all demands of their positions.

The Hiring Process

Not all establishments utilize barbacks, and, even when they do, the responsibilities of bartenders and barbacks often overlap. Making potential employees aware of expectations in a carefully written position announcement can be the first step toward weeding out the unprepared.

Basic information in a job announcement should include: physical challenges (e.g., lifting heavy items and the stamina required for long periods on your feet); the communication skills required to interact with customers, relay information to the kitchen, and keep information updated between stockroom and bar; and the attention to detail required for keeping stocks refreshed, bottles filled, and barware in supply.

During the interview process, it’s important to convey the specific expectations of the job and to ask questions that encourage the candidate to consider lesser-known and less glamorous challenges of the position. A simple question, for example, such as “how would you deal with an angry customer?” can cull those uncomfortable with confrontation. Additionally, a tour gives the candidate a chance to understand physical challenges (i.e. distances, stairs, volume of business, etc.) and also offers the opportunity to introduce staff members so that you can assess the candidate’s communication abilities.

Training

After you’ve found the strongest candidate, training becomes a vital next step in keeping a bar running smoothly. On an employee’s first day, provide them with a manual with rules, procedures, dress code, acceptable behavior, a code of ethics, drug and alcohol policies, food safety procedures, safety issues, and employee evaluation processes.

First day training may include bar preparation, how to communicate with customers, a review of the food and drink menus, introductions to staff members, bussing procedures for glassware and food service, and expectations for preparing garnishes. It is important at this early stage to emphasize inventory procedures: pour measures for drinks, how much garnish to use and amount of garnish an item should provide (how many slices from a lime, for example), when an item is in need of refilling, and how to record items used from stockroom. It will also help you protect inventory to train employees on point-of-service options and the additional charges to customers incurred by add-ons.

Both new and old employees require ongoing training for successful, safe, and profitable bar business. Training in occupational safety procedures, such as how to use knives, recognizing and preventing slip hazards, proper lifting of heavy items, dealing with breakage, and avoiding overuse injuries will help protect you from lost time for employees, lawsuits, and damage to property.

A good training program should also provide coverage of health and safety standards, such as handling glassware and food, proper storage of garnishes, hand washing, dish-cleaning procedures, storing cleaning items, and use of clean towels. Employees well-versed in safety and health issues prevent sick customers, on-the-job injuries, and health code violations.

The Pink Elephant in the Room: Drunk Customers

The last essential training for service employees, and the one they least want to consider, is dealing with intoxicated customers. While there are techniques you can encourage, it is crucial to require service employees to complete TIPS Certification (Training for Intervention Procedures). TIPS training covers state laws on alcohol service and ID requirements, offers valuable techniques for handling drunken customers, walks employees through scenarios, and provides records of your commitment to customer safety.

Some procedures you can reinforce as follow-ups to TIPS training are:

• Provide mentors for new employees to help them spot signs of intoxication.
• Make employees aware of “hot spot” events, such as holidays or local occasions.
• Teach employees how to politely decline service, avoid escalation, and when to call for help.
• Train employees on how calling for rides and the procedures for safely seeing off an intoxicated customer.
• Instruct employees in simple techniques to avoid confrontation, such as using a friend to help, speaking with customers out of hearing-range of others, and being firm but friendly.

A well-trained employee will make your business run smoothly, and a safety-aware employee can save you time, money, and potential litigation. As a restaurant owner or manager, be proactive in providing a thorough knowledge of your expectations and procedures that will prevent future concerns.