Revolutionise your takeaway with the ‘Fakeaway’

Published 11 Jan 2012 12:30

The humble ‘Fakeaway’ has become one of the most fashionable trends of 2011. With food prices rapidly increasing, it is becoming progressively more expensive for us to eat out in our favourite restaurants or to order that greasy takeaway from down the road. And cue the ‘Fakeaway’...

‘Fakeaway’ is the term given to creating your own version of a takeaway. We all like to dine at restaurants with friends and family, but this can pull on the purse strings especially at this time of year. Having to travel to the restaurant can also become a nightmarish task, with stationary traffic, limited parking and tired, irritable children.

Hence the joy of the ‘fakeaway’. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home, there’s no need to scream at your family to herd them out of the door, and you don’t have to anxiously watch the pennies… what’s not to like?!

And it’s easier than it sounds. ‘Fakeaways’ have become increasingly popular in recent years, as supermarkets are cottoning onto the growing market and stocking more exotic herbs and spices than ever before. You can easily nip into your local supermarket and find a ready-made rogan josh, or all of the ingredients you will need to make your own without even having to break into a sweat.

Another benefit to the ‘fakeaway’ is that you know what you’re eating. Your local Chinese takeaway may taste delicious, but what exactly goes into it? How many calories are there in that spring roll? And what makes it so taste so greasy?

Making your favourite dishes from scratch allows you to choose what you’re eating and tailor the dish to your specific needs, and nothing beats that sense of satisfaction you gain from successfully cooking your own delicious meal from scratch. You will feel healthier, more fulfilled and, of course, wealthier!

An inspiring way to learn to cook your favourite dishes is to enrol on cooking holidays abroad. Another popular trend, cooking abroad has become one of the best ways to not only learn how to cook delicious authentic dishes in the country itself, but also to bring the element of fun back into cooking.

Take the humble Italian pizza. Discovering the secrets of pizza making in your own home can’t be compared to the warm and welcoming experience of cooking with a friendly Italian chef in her home in Italy, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, tasting limoncella as you learn to create the perfect Napoletana pizza.

Inspirational chefs can guide you through the maze of local markets so you can taste and smell the fresh ingredients and learn what really goes into your favourite Pad Thai dish in Thailand, those delightful Tapas dishes in Spain, and classic dainty patisseries in France – the holiday ideas are endless!

Learning to cook abroad is also a magnificent way to socialise and meet like-minded budding chefs who you can share recipes with over a glass on wine. Singles holidays allow you to really immerse yourself in the culture and culinary delights the country has to offer, while also encouraging you to meet new friends for life.

And once you return back home, buzzing with fresh recipes, extensive culinary knowledge and a new passion for food, imagine how impressed your friends and family will be when you casually whip up their favourite takeaway in minutes and tantalise their taste buds with your newfound skills!

So why not give it a go? Make 2012 the year of the ‘Fakeaway’ and let your creative side go wild in the kitchen.

Tweet

This article appeared in Taste Bracknell 11 Jan 12

Follow @rdgchronicle