In Our Kitchen

Typically a Chateau (which is a word from the French language) is either a modern luxurious manor house or can be an almost archaic historic house. Getting married in a French chateau is possibly the closest cultural equivalent in France to what it would be to get married in an English castle. Quite often Chateau’s which are described as grand manor houses have belonged or still belong to nobility and are passed down the bloodline. They are often then rented out for the day to be used for a wedding in a grand location.

There are many wedding packages available online varying in price greatly to cater for small to big budgets. Simply Chateau is a link to one of the leading chateau rental websites on the internet. Clicking the Simply Chateau link will take those interested to information on getting married in a luxurious French chateau and staying for the night with friends and family. The facilities across many of the chateau’s vary with most Internet access being very basic. The majority have recreational activities such as swimming and tennis available. Also being France wine tasting is a popular cultural experience that is available at many of the chateaus and most bedrooms tend to be en suite.

There is a big market for wedding packages at French chateau’s especially due to the large number of grand chateau’s that have been made available in the modern day for special events such as weddings. For those wanting to have the day as stress free as possible there are many chateau’s which have a specific wedding planning service. These can be a bit like an expensive pick and mix where you can choose for example to have a DJ or a four string quartet. Rather than planning the majority of the organising, an experienced team can manage planning including aspects such as flowers, wedding favours, food, entertainment, etc. These organizers have planned weddings at their grand venue numerous times.

The Chateau la Durantie is a good example of a grand chateau which offers a wedding planning service. Their personal website says they have over a decade organised more than 200 weddings and this is just one of the grand French chateau’s offering this service.

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricohplio/3950325038/

One of the popular places in France for chateaus is the Loire Valley which contains more than 300 chateaus to choose from. Chateaus have been built there between the 10^th- 20^th centuries. The more vintage the chateau is then the more likely it is that the chateau was built by nobility. An important aspect to remember when it comes to getting married in France are the legal aspects of marriage. In addition it needs to be remembered that under French law the religious marriage ceremony cannot take place until there has been an official civil marriage. Also one of the two getting married needs to have resided in the town where the marriage takes place for at least 40 days prior to the day of the wedding. A marriage under French law is still very much recognized as legally binding in the UK.

World Cuisine

The funny thing about food is – it’s all about a number of basic, recognisable ingredients that are cooked into the food that we know and love. It is but natural that the most popular meals in the world are the ones that are almost ingrained in the cultures they are made in.

This article is about ten of the most popular meals in the world.

Paella

Originating in the south-western region of Valencia in Spain, paella is essentially a rice dish with a lot of herbs, olive oil and saffron. Seafood and meat can be added to this mixture for some variety.

Pasta

Each one of us has our very own favourite Italian joints for digging into some great pasta. Ranging from fusilli, lasagne, spaghetti and macaroni, pastas have been adapted by different cultures worldwide, but the most famous form certainly is from the heart of Italy.

Pizza

It feels plain strange to even start describing a pizza, but here goes – a flat, baked piece of bread that has a number of toppings that make this one of the most universally loved dishes you’ll ever find.

Chicken Tikka

This is a chicken dish from the Indian subcontinent that is wildly popular both over there and in the UK. It is made using skewers that are baked with boneless chicken (which has been marinated with yoghurt and herbs prior to baking). This may not be the best option around for the health conscious, but it is wildly popular nonetheless.

Janssons frestelse

This popular Swedish dish is also known as Jansson’s temptation, and with good reason! It is a traditional casserole made with onions and anchovies, which are sandwiched between some potato slices. It can be stored and had at your convenience too, all day long.

Sushi

Sushi is simply the most famous Japanese culinary export ever! It is basically a mix of rice, vinegar, raw fish and tangy vegetables. It is traditionally consumed as a mound or rolled up in its Westernized avatar.

Chow mein

Chinese food is consumed by a third of the world’s population every single day, apparently, and with good reason. The Chinese specialise in making relatively simple and economical dishes which taste very unique as well. Chow mein is the Chinese name for stir fried noodles. Onions and meat are also added in more contemporary variants of this dish.

Falafel

A very common food in Israel and the Middle East, Falafel is a mixture of ground chickpeas and fava beans that is made it into a ball-like dish. It is notable in its versatility, as you can snack on it or have it as part of a larger meal.

Thai Curry

Native to Thailand, but exceedingly popular worldwide, Thai curry is a spicy curry paste that is served with rice and coconut milk. Meat and/or vegetables can be added to suit localized tastes.

Cheese Fondue

This is a Swiss dish whose popularity has endured through the ages. It requires using melted cheese that is made specifically in Switzerland. Large pots are used to add pepper, wine, etc. to the cheese. What you need to do next is dip fresh bread into this delicious hot concoction, and let your taste buds experience bliss!

You may fiercely love the meals that you’re used to, but in case you are ready to experiment, the world does have a number of delectable meals for you to enjoy!

This is a guest post on behalf of Crunchlunch.co.uk –

Whether you are looking for

Pizza Hut Vouchers or Zizzi Vouchers,

Crunchlunch.co.uk has it covered.