I was recently attended a sushi-making session at The Giggling Gourmet, courtesy of iStore. A friend invited me to be her team-mate because both my cooking and iPad skills are basically nil, so she thought this would be a good opportunity for me to learn something. Having attempted sushi-making at Wasabi in Constantia a while ago, I was very intrigued to find out how an iPad could teach me how to cook!
We spent two hours learning the art of making California Rolls, Nigiri, Maki, and Fashion Sandwiches. We were guided by one of the head chefs at The Giggling Gourmet, using the iPad “Teach Me Sushi” app as a backup. Turns out the app was pretty much spot-on, with the instructions being almost the same as the head chef’s. Using a video tutorial, the app shows you everything, from how to prepare the rice to how to slice salmon. For me, the best part is the calculator that lets you know exactly how much of each ingredient you need depending on how much sushi you are making. No more mountains of leftover rice!
The esteemed Jenni Morris was on hand to judge our sushi at the end, with the winning team walking away with a new iPad Mini. It was all loads of fun and of course we got to eat our delicious creations at the end of the session, which in itself is a prize. We are also now armed with the knowledge that we can show off our sushi-making skills at our next dinner party, using the “Teach Me Sushi” iPad app. How convenient indeed!
The “Teach Me Sushi” app is not the only app that you can download on your iPad (and in many cases, your iPhone). Here are some apps that could prove most useful in your kitchen:
Free iPad and iPhone cooking apps
Hello Cupcake
If cute cupcakes are your thing, learn how to create butterflies, ducks, penguins and more using this app. Even if you never actually make them, they will definitely make you smile.
Divine Chocolate HD (iPad only)
Mouth-watering chocolate recipes with step-by-step guides and tips on how the best out of chocolate.
Jamie Oliver recipes
Even if you’re not a budding chef, you’ve probably heard of Jamie Oliver. This app shows you that cooking delicious and fresh food can actually be very simple.
All recipes – your kitchen inspiration (iPad only)
This app includes a wide variety of menu options for ingredients, dish types, cuisine and occasions. You can even search recipes by course, cooking method or by preparation time.
Epicurious
If your are curious to attempt something new, this app allows you search delicious recipes, view recipe reviews and create shopping lists.
Dinner for two cooking app
Table for Two (R7.99 – iPad only)
Get access to a mix-and-match menu of salads, sides, entrees and desserts specifically designed for an exclusive party of two.
Vegetarian cooking apps
Green Kitchen (R32.99)
An inspiring source of organic and vegetarian recipes with ingredients straight from nature while using a bare minimum of gluten, sugar and dairy products. The photos are drop-dead gorgeous too!
How to Cook Everything – Vegetarian (R79.99)
If you think meatless and vegan foods are unappetizing, think again. This app will definitely prove you wrong! If you aren’t a vegetarian, it’s perfect for “Meat-Free Mondays”.
Sushi cooking app
Teach Me Sushi (R39.99)
I have personally tried and tested this one and cannot recommend it enough. The calculator alone makes it worth it. Everyone, from beginner to advanced, will enjoy this sushi-making app. Unfortunately Fashion Sandwiches are not included, but almost everything else is.
Martha Stewart’s Cookies app
Martha Stewart Makes Cookies (R32.99)
Cookie lovers will enjoy this app that features over 80 of Martha’s mouthwatering cookie recipes. It includes instructional videos, baking tips and even packaging ideas.
Kitchen assistant app
Kitchen Calculator Pro (R32.99 – iPad only)
This handy app makes cooking and measuring much easier as it does all the conversions for you. It also makes it easy to scale recipes up or down to change to the number of servings the recipe yields.
There are a number of great Sushi Restaurants in Cape Town that you can explore.
