Kitchen Gear:
Ever stand in front of all the knives, spatulas, and other things at your local supermarket? And do you ever think who needs all these. Well some kitchen items are more useful than others, and other…well those are just silly.
With a few key items you can cook, whisk, flip, or mix just about any items.
Let me help you out.
Things that no one needs:
Ever see those avocado cutters? There is no need for that, if you cant cut an avocado then don’t eat one…or look online on how to cut one. Recently I saw a banana fresh keeping box, which is shaped…well like a banana. You put a whole banana in it. The only issue with that is that bananas already come with a fresh keeping box! Its called the peel.
Don’t be that guy or girl that buys that 125-piece set of knives for 29.99 either, it may look cool and like a good value, but I guarantee you all those knives will be useless within a year.
Things to get instead:
It’s very simple to properly fit your kitchen will all you need. A few quality key items are needed, not quantity. Buying something suitable will ensure that you will have it for many years to come.
Knives: No need to go overboard! But don’t get the cheapest either. Any good German or Japanese brand will do just fine. Just please make sure you NEVER put knives in the dishwasher as it ruins the cutting edge, and will make it feel like your cutting with the edge of a chopstick
Spatulas: Get one good metal one. A slotted one is more suited for delicate things like flipping fish.
Cutting board: Buy a good plastic one! The optimal one you can get at any commercial kitchen supply store. Don’t get wood, it’s unhygienic and difficult to clean. NEVER use glass! It kills your cutting edge.
Pots and pans:
Get a few good Teflon coated pans, eventually even the best items the Teflon will break down and you will notice that scratches have removed all the necessary coating. When this happens, we recommend getting rid of them and get new ones. As for pots, anything that’s stainless steel is perfect. The better you get, the longer they will last.
If all this is making your head spin…. well just give us a call and order some food or one of our meal plans, we have the equipment figured out! ■
Recipe:
Braised Beef Cheek with Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Pepper Sauce
INGREDIENTS
Serves: 1
• 1 Piece Beef Cheek, Trimmed with Fat Removed
• ½ Large Orange Sweet Potato
• 1 Carrot, Peeled and Diced
• 1 Onion, Peeled and Diced
• ¼ Celery Root
• 5gm Black Pepper
• 3 Tbsp. Mustard
• Water
• Bay Leaf
• Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper
• ½ Clove Garlic, Chopped
• ½ Tsp Rosemary, chopped.
INSTRUCTIONS
Season the beef cheek with salt and pepper. And sear it in a large hot pot.
Once seared and browned, remove the beef cheeks.
Add a little more olive oil to sear the vegetables and until brown.
Return the cheeks on top of the vegetables and add water (just enough to cover the cheeks), bay leaf and the mustard.
Close the pot either with an oven proof lid, or with aluminium foil. And add to an oven at 160c for 3 hours. Braise until soft.
Once done remove the cheeks out of the sauce, and reduce the cooking liquid until the consistency of syrup.
Peel the sweet potato and cut it into cubes about 2x2cm large.
Marinate with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and salt. Spread on an oven tray and bake at 160c for 30 minutes.
Located at The Cycle Hub, Dubai Motor City
Call: 04 425 3000
Website: www.thecyclehub.com
info@thecyclebistro.com
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The Cycle Bistro
GPS location:
Latitude: N 25° 02.792
Longitude: E 055° 14.384
Words + Photos by: Robert Jahn
