Balsamic vinegar is the 'wine' of Modena, Italy. It is rich, thick, expensive and marries up beautifully with food such as steak to produce an unusual finish that greatly enhances the look and flavor of the meat.

But be warned. Not all vinegars labeled 'balsamic' are the real thing. In fact, most are decidedly not even though the label may insist they are.

Food and drinks have been a world of its own that has provided us with several reasons to celebrate. They offer the perfect answer to pamper the taste buds and make every occasion truly memorable. There are a range of food trends that have been observed over the years and 2008 is no exception. The food trends have been broadly dictated by factors like the changing tastes of people around the world.

Vegetarian sushi? Many people are perplexed by this idea. After all, most Westerners think that sushi means "raw fish" (confusing it with sashimi), so it's little surprise that vegetarian sushi seems like an anomaly.

But vegetarian sushi is not only possible, it's downright delicious! With a little creativity (and a little help from The Veggie Guy), you can create all sorts of variations of vegetarian sushi that will satisfy your palette and impress your friends.

Coffee transcends all cultures and creeds and is today arguably the most consumed drink in the world.

For such a plain and simple plant, it is odd to think that it has had such an impact on our daily lives. The coffee bean is what is contained inside the coffee berry. The two most common coffee plants are the Coffea canephora and Coffea arrabica.

To press or not to press, that is the question! Garlic is undoubtedly high on the list of seasonings for many chefs and food lovers. It is found in foods worldwide, from main courses to side dishes. Honey garlic ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, garlic bread, and the list goes on. Have I whetted your appetite?

But what is the best method for you to prepare this pungent herb? This question has been a hot topic among food preparers for years.

Before you go out and purchase a gourmet gift basket for someone, it is important to take a number of things into consideration. The very first thing you will need to consider is the person you're giving it to. Knowing their likes and dislikes will make it easier for you to design the perfect gift basket for them. Is there a type of wine they like? Do they like cheddar cheese, or swiss cheese? If you're looking to by a basket that is pre-packaged, but it has things in it that the recipient probably won't like, it would probably be a good idea to make your own.

The New England clambake is a great method of cooking foods, fresh seafood such as lobster, mussels, crabs, clams, and quahogs. The seafood is often supplemented by sausages, potatoes, onions, carrots, corn-on-the-cob, etc. A New England Clambake is usually held on festive occasions along the coast of New England.

The classic recipe for a New England Clambake starts with gathering seaweed along the shore; it's a vital ingredient for helping to prepare the food.

Most of the connoisseurs of good taste will readily agree the significance of the gourmet food. While the mention of it is quite confusing for some of us, we will try and explain the details in a simplified manner so that it develops a good understanding of this tasty topic.

A Gourmet is someone who has expert knowledge and enjoyment of food and drink.

An Aga Cooker is an amazing cooker at the best of times, however when Christmas comes around it really comes into it's own. Just imagine; it's Christmas Eve and you have made your list of Christmas food, possibly prepared vegetables and got all the pans ready for the Christmas day cooking marathon to come.

If you were to use a normal cooker or even a range cooker the chances are that you will have to slave over it for most of Christmas morning, however, if you were to be lucky enough to own an Aga cooker the chances are that most of the hard work will happen in the background whilst you are free to enjoy Christmas morning with the family.

Attention all chocolate lovers! Are you ready to truly enjoy your chocolate even more than ever? First the disturbing news about chocolate before we get to the good part.

Everyone is aware of the overuse of pesticides. As a chocoholic, are you aware that the use of pesticides on usual cocoa is second only to the amount used on traditionally grown cotton? Just think as you put that piece of chocolate in your mouth, you can almost taste the organophosphate pesticides.