A rise in status for home cooks is in the reckoning, thanks to the innovations offered by kitchen and appliance companies. Esther Faith Lew talks to four premium brands on how they have captivated their fans at hello.

Have your cake and eat it too, with healthy sugar alternatives and sweeteners explained. Granulated sugar is the standard ingredient for most baking recipes, but as people become increasingly mindful of their personal health, there is a growing demand for a variety of natural sweeteners and sugar alternatives.

Charcoal grilling doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you have the right techniques, tools and a little patience. Here are some tips and tricks for the perfect barbecue.

With their wonky trunks and grubby appearance, you wouldn’t think that matsutake mushrooms are a contender for the world’s most expensive ingredient, but those grown domestically in Japan can fetch sums that rival black truffles. Why is it so expensive?

Despite its connotations of being the ‘plain Jane’ flavour of all ice creams, vanilla bean actually has one of the most alluring and complex flavour profiles known to man. The island of Madagascar is the heart of vanilla bean production, accounting for 80% of the world’s vanilla, and boasts the finest quality vanilla beans found anywhere on this planet.

For the average wine lover, a typical night consists of grabbing a bottle of wine from the fridge, a simple twist, pour and there you have a perfect glass of wine. However, once the bottle has been opened, soon enough the taste and quality no longer holds up. But what if wine could stay perfect?

Fiery, numbing and alluring, Sichuan peppercorns are the ultimate flavour bomb. Responsible for uplifting Sichuan cuisine to the world stage, they provide a culinary kick we come back for again and again. Get to know the intricacies of these legendary berries, and maybe one day you will be able to blow the minds of your guests by introducing these piquant peppercorns into your cooking.

Varying from region to region, Chinese cuisine is rich, elaborate and diverse. Chinese cuisine dates back thousands of years, and has evolved with shifts in climate, culture and produce. These differences across the country have given rise to eight distinct regional cuisines, Sichuan, Hunan, Cantonese, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shandong. 

Macarons are a delightful and irresistible dessert that has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. These delicate French pastries are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. With their smooth, crispy shells and soft, chewy interiors, macarons are a perfect balance of texture and flavor.