The AnswerBank Articles

How would immunisation of animals for Foot and Mouth affect our food

A. It would affect the movement of cattle, sheep and pigs from farms to factories or abattoirs and the double pasteurisation of milk. The implications are not just for farmers, but for food00:00 Tue 17th Apr 2001

Why do you decant some wines and not others

A. Most wines do not require decanting, but it's usually done for one of the following reasons: to separate clear wine from the sediment, in the case of rare wines (vintage port, older Bordeaux) that00:00 Thu 12th Apr 2001

What is beef carpaccio

A. It's a dish of thin slices of raw beef, usually in a marinade of olive oil or lemon. It is often accompanied by a salad and dotted with flakes of parmesan cheese. Q. Where was the dish00:00 Thu 12th Apr 2001

What is halal meat

asks Dooza:A. Halal means 'lawful' or 'permitted' and Muslims are permitted to consume only Halal foods and drinks. Q. Can you give some examples of Halal foods and drinks A. Certainly. There's milk00:00 Mon 16th Apr 2001

What is the origin of Easter Eggs

asks Mayastar:A. Like many customs associated with this Christian celebration, Eater eggs have their roots in pagan traditions. (The word Easter comes from the Saxon goddess of dawn, Eostre, who had a00:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

How to cook polenta

asks jayne b-t:A. Polenta, also known as cornmeal or maize meal, is a bright yellow grain. We've only been using it in this country for about ten years, but it's a staple in Italy and the Americas. In00:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

What does kangaroo meat taste like

A. It tastes very similar to beef and is also often compared to venison, it is high in iron and protein and it contains much less fat - less than 2% -than most other red meats. Q. Is it readily00:00 Mon 02nd Apr 2001

I know nothing about wine, except that I like it, give me the basics

A. There are three types: red, white and sparkling. There are other types called blush and rose, but they are not taken as seriously by wine conoisseurs. Q. What do you drink red with A. Red00:00 Wed 28th Mar 2001

What is so special about eggs

A. A hen's egg is a masterpiece of design with brilliant packaging. It is extremely nutritious, filled with protein, vitamins and minerals. The amount of air inside the egg is what the cook needs to00:00 Tue 27th Mar 2001

Where was bread invented

A. Bread is one of the oldest foods known to man and has been a staple food for over 5,000 years. It even has the biblical name of The Staff of Life. Some 8,000 years ago man made flour by crushing00:00 Tue 27th Mar 2001

What are scallions

asks bogof A. Scallions are also known as green or spring onions. The bottom is white and the long leaves are green and both parts can be eaten. Scallions are eaten both raw and cooked. They are00:00 Tue 20th Mar 2001

Where does Saffron come from

asks HOMER A. Saffron comes from the crocus flower. Crocus Sativus is grown for this spice used to colour and flavour dishes. Q. How do we get the spice A. The long crimson stigmas ( the female00:00 Tue 20th Mar 2001

When were herbs first used in cooking

A. Herbs have been used for thousands of years, as much for preserving foods or disguising unpleasant smells, as for adding flavour. Q. What do herbs add to cooking A. Herbs add flavour and aroma00:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

Where can I find out about cookery courses in the UK

asked Grom A. As well as the sources listed in the answer, there are lots more courses for hobby chefs, some of which can turn amateurs into professionals. Leith's School of Food and Wine in00:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

When was the first pint of Guinness poured

A. Very nearly 250 years ago. Guinness was first produced in a Dubin brewery by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Q. Why is there so much mythology surrounding it A. Lots of reasons. A lot of it has to do00:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

Ask us another

The best questions on The AnswerBank's Food and Drink channel this week came from, amongst others, Megan who wanted to know more about the hot smoke method of treating and preserving food. To help00:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

How did food preservation come about

A. Before intensive farming and before foods could be flown from all over the world for us to buy in the shops, people grew their own foods. These smallholders had to concentrate on cultivating one00:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001

What meals can I make in minutes

...asked Poppy A. Apart from the specific dishes mentioned below, the boring advice is to prepare in advance. Cooking sauces to add to pasta or home-made soups in batches, and freezing different size00:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

Where can I get my hands on specialist foods

A. A specialist cheesemonger who has a great mail order service and a great website is Paxton and Whitfield in Jermyn Street, London SW1. Their website address is www.cheesemongers.co.uk In the hard00:00 Mon 12th Mar 2001

Food for thought

THE FOODIES out there have been keeping The AnswerBank busy with lots of tastebud-teasing food and drink related questions. Jbcputnam wanted to know how the Germans eat. The best we have come up00:00 Mon 05th Mar 2001