Posts Tagged ‘cilio pepper mill’
When I opened my first restaurant a few months ago, I knew it was going to be an arduous process. Especially in these tumultuous economic times, luxuries like going out to eat are usually the first to be struck from personal budgets. With that in mind, as the proprietor of a new restaurant I recognized the necessity to deliver a high quality experience to my customers while keeping their pocketbooks in mind.
I catered my menu to this economy, using affordable meats like chicken and local fish while using the in-depth sauces and spice combinations to create eclectic flavors. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring your customers a first-rate dining experience. Doing the small things, such as offering fresh cracked pepper from pepper mills and bringing fresh baked bread to each table, really makes your eatery standout in people’s minds.
When I was going up, I always loved ordering Caesar salad at restaurants. I certainly wasn’t a vegetarian or health nut—far from it. Sure, I liked the taste of the salad and everything, but what really attracted me to it was the fancy cheese and pepper. Now I know it’s just grated parmesan and cracked pepper, but at the time, it seemed like a special production.
I used to think that this whole dog and pony show was just to make the affair seem more upscale, but there’s actually a reason—and it’s not just to subject the wait staff to manual labor. Freshly grated parmesan is obviously superior to the cheap, pre-grated stuff, but freshly cracked pepper from a pepper mill has its benefit too. The flavor is more pronounced and the grains are larger, which is good for dishes with big flavor like Caesar salad.
Every summer my grandkids come to stay with me while their parents go on a much-deserved vacation. I relish the opportunity to spoil the kids, letting them stay up late and going on fun outings everyday. But like most grandmas, my favorite indulgence for the little ones is cooking up some of their favorites.
I create all of the classic items—cookies, cakes and pies—but my grandkids also love my savory cuisine. Most of the time I’m cooking in the oven, but since it’s been so hot lately we’ve actually been utilizing the grill for the majority of the cooking. Last night I decided to cook some ribs, starting them off in the smoker with just a dash from the pepper mill and a few other basic spices. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good, and they paired perfectly with my famous mac ’n’ cheese.
If you spend any time whatsoever in the kitchen, you are undoubtedly aware that there are several different types of salt. And while you make think that their differences are negligible, each type of salt is best suited for a particular 
purpose. Here are a few of the most popular types of salt and their recommend usage:
~Table Salt: This is what you will typically find in a Cilio salt mill. Table salt is refined, comprised almost exclusively of sodium chloride.
~Kosher Salt: Because of its large, oddly shaped crystals, kosher salt lends itself well for preparing meat under Jewish law, hence its name.
~Sea Salt: Made by evaporating seawater, this salt contains a greater variation of minerals than its counterparts, lending it a distinctive sea flavor.
When my son left for college last fall, I didn’t want him to be one of those stereotypical college males who are incapable of taking care of themselves. My friends tell me horror stories of how their sons are constantly calling them for advice on how to do laundry, go grocery shopping and complete other tasks which should be menial by this point of their lives. Much to the chagrin of my son, we carved out a couple of hours a week to go through some basic training.
Each day I would make him do a chore or task that I typically do but he takes for granted. Some nights I would make him cook dinner, while on others I would make him do the laundry for the entire family. Although he vehemently opposed my training regimen, he admits that it helped him a lot during the first year. Before he left, I made sure he had everything he needed—from salt and pepper mills, to laundry detergent and a wet mop.
Ever since my children were old enough to talk I’ve tried to instill in them the desire to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Many of their friends live on fast food and spend hours on end playing video games and watching TV, rarely venturing outside to see the light of day. I’ve learned that it’s crucial to encourage healthy habits without being overbearing; otherwise, you run the risk of promoting rebellion.
When my children were little, I encouraged them to assist me in the kitchen—whether they were helping me measure out ingredients for recipes or using the pepper mill to season a dish. I also made sure to make time for some hands-on activity during the day, no matter how busy our schedules were. Making a concerted effort to educate your children on a healthy lifestyle and incorporate the habits into their daily lives will pay huge dividends in the end. Now that my kids have reached adolescence, I’ve noticed that they live healthier than most of their friends—but I do see them splurging now and again, of course.