For those of you who don’t know what sous vide is, it literally translates from French as ‘under vacuum’. What this means is the food is sealed in a pouch under vacuum before being cooked very slowly at controlled temperatures. Sous vide uses a water bath to accurately cook the vacuum packed items at a precise temperature, which then creates enhanced texture and taste.

Its benefits: 

• Unique flavours
• Vibrant colours
• Consistent results
• New opportunities to be creative

Operational benefits:

• Gives you accurate portion control
• Extended shelf life for food
• Reduces wastage
• Increases yield
• Lowers energy costs
• Increases profitability

One very recognisable uniform in the Western world is the chefs uniform, traditionally known as chefs whites, which include a toque, white double breasted jacket and chequered trousers. White has always been the common colour to wear in the kitchen generally because it is known to indicate cleanliness, and was worn by head chefs to signify the importance and high regard of their profession.

Although we’re still in the middle of summer, the new university term will soon be with us. For students, it can be a daunting time with lots of preparation in the run up to the start date. To help ease you in to student living, Nisbets have put together a range of great value student kitchen packs, particularly suited to those moving into halls of residence.

Featuring everything from cutlery and crockery through to pots, pans and kitchen utensils, they include all that you’ll need for the kitchen in your new digs and will help to elevate your culinary repertoire beyond beans on toast! There are 3 packs available to suit all budgets and requirements; our basic set, standard pack and the full works:

When it comes to cleaning, cleaning with care matters, regardless of whether it’s in your home or in a communal establishment. Good hygiene is always of upmost importance wherever you go, be it your bathroom at home or a restaurant floor. Made from natural, sustainable plant-based ingredients, the Ecover range is fully biodegradable and has less impact on aquatic life. All these products also offer Ecover consumers superior cleaning power without leaving behind harmful toxins. This brand is constantly working to ensure they leave fewer unwanted residues, which means they are a better and more proficient cleaning
product

As the only Tudor Castle Hotel in England, Thornbury Castle is uniquely placed to offer guests a culturally rich experience. Steeped in over 500 years of history, Thornbury is without doubt the jewel in the crown of the Luxury Family Hotel Group and as you venture beyond the heavy oak doors you'll find yourself walking in the same rooms and grounds as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn did all those years ago.

Although the venue oozes history, this is perfectly contrasted by a modern yet traditional internationally inspired menu that uses the finest and freshest ingredients, many of which are sourced from the castle’s own gardens, local markets and nearby suppliers, to provide a culinary experience that the Guardian once described as ‘being fit for a king’.

My Nisbets product of the week has to be this fabulous KitchenAid Mixer. A little pricey you may think for a domestic kitchen, but I can assure you it’s worth every penny and they last a life time. This luxurious brand will certainly stand proud in the kitchen for those who wish to entertain and impress dinner guests; it certainly is eye-catching on the TV show Saturday Kitchen! Whether you want this for the home or for it to be used in a commercial kitchen it will noticeably simplify your preparation time and allow you to indulge your creativity in the kitchen.


Not only does it have a gorgeous vintage look to it, with smooth rounded edges for easy cleaning, but this mixer is strong enough to process larger amounts of food. To give you a better idea of the amount, it can process 19 egg whites, 1.9 litres of whipped cream, 4.5kg cake mix, 3.8g dough and 3.6kg of mashed potatoes; it does this fast and thoroughly, helping you keep up with the demands of a busy kitchen.

It’s a wise investment, and to help you get started with it, here are a few ideas of what you can use it for...

• Soup 
• Ice Cream 
• Bread 
• Cakes 
• Dough’s 
• Batters 
• Whipping Cream 



Don't forget to come along to our KitchenAid Mixer Demo Days in our London and Birmingham stores from 11-4pm on Thursday 18th July, there will be exclusive offers on the day – not to be missed!

By Charlotte Le Lohé