Every home cook has been there—you’re halfway through a recipe when you suddenly you find yourself running low or missing some critical ingredients. Do you abandon your culinary masterpiece? Order takeout? Panic? Absolutely not! The secret to great cooking isn’t just about following recipes—it’s about knowing how to adapt, improvise, and make magic with what [...]
At Stir Crazy, we train our chefs that delicious cooking is an artful balance of flavours. Beyond the simple addition of salt and pepper, understanding the interplay of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami is key to creating truly memorable dishes. Imagine this - you've diligently followed a recipe, the kitchen is filled with [...]
We've all seen them - most often late at night as we're leaving the restaurant. You can make out the shapes sitting in an alleyway, the giveaway glow of a cigarette lighting up their faces, chatting about the shift that just ended. You hurry your loved ones past them before they see you, concerned that [...]
Is culinary school worth it? Let’s explore the advantages and downsides of getting a culinary degree or diploma. Whether you’re a high school student debating your next move… an established adult considering a career change… or an experienced cook looking to advance your skills or start your own business… attending culinary school is a big [...]
Let's face it - as much fun as cheffing is, its as much hard work. And a lot of fun... We thought we'd showcase the day in the life of a chef, so people know what we face every day. We're sure you've all seen the series The Bear, Burnt, Chef and other movies about cheffing, [...]
Over the months of April and May 2021 South Africa witnessed several outbreaks of highly infective avian influenza in different poultry farms across the country. Avian flu may also be harmful to humans and WHO (The World Health Organisation) have advised on precautionary measures to prevent a potential outbreak amid the COVID-19 pandemic which [...]
Sweet, salt, bitter, sour and umami – is getting taste right an art or a science? The art of seasoning is about far more than adding a few grinds of salt and pepper. Balancing flavours relies on the perfect selection of the five basic tastes: sweet, salt, bitter, sour and umami. When you get it [...]
Cooking helps with social-emotional, physical, cognitive and language development. Hands-on cooking activities help children develop confidence and skill. Following recipes encourages children to be self-directed and independent, it also teaches them to follow directions and develop problem-solving skills. Fine motor and eye-hand coordination skills are developed by chopping, mixing, squeezing, and spreading. Cooking encourages [...]
Wondering what is happening food-wise in 2021 and what to expect. Here are some trends that popped onto our radar, some started in 2020 and will continue into 2021. With the world-wide Pandemic, the industries mostly affected by COVID-19 have probably been the Restaurant/ Hospitality/ Food Industries. This means a lot changed and some of [...]