I saw this movie, with my intended, when we were in the full flush of love. But you don't have to be in love to appreciate the beauty of this cinematic gem directed by Alfonso Arau.The title alone, especially in Spanish, (Como Agua Para Chocolate - go on, say it and see if you don't get goosebumps)is deeply evocative and the movie delivers on all the unspoken promises the title makes. "Like water for chocolate" is apparently a Spanish colloquism/euphemism for sexual frustration - something th...

Coconut vinegar is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually the fermented sap of nipah palm flower clusters. The flavour is wonderfully refreshing without the usual face puckering sourness of most vinegars and it is much more subtle than regular distilled white vinegar, malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar. It's very complementary to fish, chicken and fruit like semi-ripe papaya and mangoes and if you're throat feels sore of if a bout of the sniffles is coming on, a couple of table...

     

I have what almost amounts to a fetish for dainty sugar crusted rose petals and will put them on cheesecakes, mousses, cupcakes, tarted up layered cakes, syrup soaked pancakes, ice cream desserts and just about anything sweet that doesn't put up a fight. I make them myself, when time permits and my pots of roses are particularly productive. For those not similarly disposed, India Tree makes lovely crystallised flower petals that reportedly taste as good as they look. If your computer res...

I've always recommended the French Press or cafetiere for making good coffee at home and the Bonjour Maurice Ceramic French Press makes a great cup with the added advantage of keeping the coffee warm for longer than most other presses do. This is achieved by its double walled construction which retains heat marvellously but does not alter the taste of the coffee. Its filter is rimmed with either rubber or silicone which makes doubly sure that the grounds stay put at the bottom of the pot and ...

Years ago, I used to get my supply of Bath and Body Works products from a girlfriend who's a flight attendant. Each time she flew to San Francisco, a group of us would wait with bated breath until she returned with bottles of self foaming Bath and Body Works anti-bacterial hand soaps spilling out of her luggage. They smell divine, really do keep your hands soft and  zap all those microscopic nasties your digits habitually harbour.This particular variant doesn't have a self foaming dispenser b...

Have you ever seen such a ridiculously fabulous cake stand? It's amazing the things you stumble upon when you're bored out of your mind at two in the morning and trawling the internet for an insomnia remedy. It reminded me of those flapper dresses that women loved wearing in the 1920s. Even the plainest of cakes would have a certain cachet, served on this (ever so slightly) over-the-top stand. It's actually for weddings but we could all use a little beauty in our lives, even on ordinary days....

Bickford's is an Australian institution and their range of cordials is delicious in every sense of the word. The gently curving bottle, the beautifully rendered label and even the gold tone on the cap all ooze old world charm. Looks aside, I cannot sufficiently describe how wonderful a tall, icy glass of this tastes on a day like today, when the tap water comes out hot enough to make instant coffee, even with the heater off, and laundry dries almost brittle crisp in two hours. They carry a st...

These glazed ceramic bowls scream "MEDITERRANEAN" and will cheer all but the most stoney hearted. They're sold individually at USD 7.95 a piece, have  a capacity of 16 oz and measure 9 inches across. I think they're pretty enough to use out of the kitchen; for holding bars of soap or potpourri in a Mediterranean themed bathroom for instance, if you've got one or want one, now. They caught my eye probably because I've just come back from an island vacation and remain in island withdrawal. Pity...

This set of 4 antique silver finish bottle stoppers, embellished with clear glass jewels, is  as useful as it is heartbreakingly beautiful. If like me, you've always got half finished bottles of wine in the fridge or a bottle of brandy with a broken stopper then you know you need this. Or, imagine your own home made bottles of lemon or lime cordial crowned with one of  these dainties. Each stopper is about 2.5 " tall and made from real cork. Use them in your kitchen or bar. Suggested price US...