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Aspiring Chefs: How To Land Your First Job In A Professional Kitchen
The one-two sucker punch of Brexit and a global pandemic has led to the hospitality industry being woefully understaffed. Though this has sadly left many restaurants struggling, if we’re...
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5 IDEAL TIPS FOR VEGAS FIRST TIMERS
They say that what happens in the City of Sin should stay there, and perhaps this is why Vegas virgins so often visit without a clue of what’s in...
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7 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COMPOSITE DECKING THIS SUMMER
This just in; with summer just around the corner, people are discovering the delights of decking in their droves, with CNBC reporting that “demand for composite decking is rising...
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6 Of The Best Summer Coffees, Ideal For A Caffeine Hit When The Weather’s Hot
Hello reader, how do you take your coffee? If your answer was ‘very seriously’, then rest assured, you’re in good company; here at IDEAL, we too love a cup...
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6 Of The Best Takeaway & Delivery Neapolitan Pizzas In South London
It’s funny how lockdown and that enforced, prolonged period of domesticity has warped our sense of time. Doesn’t it seem so long ago that everyone was watching Tiger King?...
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HOW TO MAKE RISOTTO IN 7 EASY STEPS
Let’s get something out of the way before we begin. To suggest the existence of a ‘right’ way to cook risotto is a dangerous, contentious claim. Italians with grandmothers...
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5 IDEAL WAYS TO RAISE YOUR SUMMER BBQ GAME
Us Brits do love a barbie. As soon as the clocks go forward to welcome in British Summer Time and a couple of hopeful rays puncture familiar clouds, that’s...
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7 OUT-THERE FOOD PAIRINGS THAT SHOULDN’T WORK, BUT DO
Some food combinations are the very definition of tried, tested and triumphantly tasted. Fish and chips, strawberries and cream, mash and gravy, eggs and bacon...pairings which work so well...
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO SERVING WINE AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
The difference between a good and a great glass of wine doesn’t always hinge on the grape, the terroir or the producer. Sometimes, to elevate a wine to dizzy...
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TINNED SARDINES RECIPE IDEAS: 6 DELICIOUS THINGS TO COOK WITH TINNED SARDINES
An excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, a deliverer of protein, cheaper than chips and more delicious than, erm, chips, tinned sardines are one of the most underappreciated, overlooked...
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WHERE TO EAT MEXICAN FOOD IN BRIGHTON: THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN BRIGHTON
Mex this can on Monday, took her for a taco on Tuesday, we were making mole on Wednesday, and on Thursday and Friday and Saturday, we chilaquiles on Sunday…
Hmm,...
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IDEAL TRAVEL GUIDE: HOW TO EAT LIKE A LOCAL IN TUSCANY
For holidaymakers who love to base their adventures around food and wine, Italy is one of the world's most sought-after destinations. While the basic staples, such as the ubiquitous,...
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5 OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON, LONDON
Islington, it’s safe to say, is a place you can expect to eat and drink well. The home of the champagne socialist and champagne football, of allotment enthusiasts, Little...
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5 IDEAL WINE PAIRINGS FOR THE UK’S FAVOURITE TAKEAWAYS
Us Brits love a takeaway. It should come as no surprise, then, that during lockdown takeaway service revenues have soared, with online food delivery declared as being ‘one of...
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WINE + HIKING = ‘WIKING’: WIKE YOUR WAY THROUGH THESE 5 INCREDIBLE WINE DESTINATIONS
Hands up who participated in a wildly popular virtual wine tasting session during lockdown? Oops, perhaps use the other hand...you’re spilling claret down your front.
Joking aside, activities normally reserved...
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THE BEST DRINKS TO TAKE TO A FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER
Ideal for sipping by the stage this summer
With summer festivals back on the calendar (rejoice!), we just can’t wait to be among like minded people, having a singsong to...
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WHAT TO EAT WITH BURRATA: 7 WAYS TO ENJOY BURRATA
IDEAL if you’re after burrata recipe ideas and pairings.
So many of the world’s greatest dishes are born out of necessity. Indeed, even some of the world’s most beloved ingredients...
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5 IDEAL TIPS FOR THE PERFECT ESPRESSO SHOT
Mine’s a double, barkeep! We had you for a minute there, didn’t we? But nope, we’re not ordering a ruinous tequila, but rather, a shot of delicious espresso. Could...
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5 IDEAL SPRING VEGETABLES AND HOW TO COOK THEM
Spring has well and truly sprung (finally) and with it a whole host of new fruit and vegetables are coming into season, at their peak and tasting truly vital...
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THE BEST TINNED CRAB, TUNA, SARDINE, SALMON & ANCHOVY RECIPES
It’s amazing what you can do with a tin of fish. It’s also amazing what it can do to you; boasting heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and plenty of...
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8 PROFESSIONAL CHEF’S TIPS FOR A BETTER ORGANISED KITCHEN AT HOME
It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but when it’s cluttered, disorganised and dirty, that ticker is in some serious danger of cardiac arrest.
If...
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Where To Eat Near King’s Cross Station, London: The Best Restaurants
All within a five minute walk of the station.
The 3 billion redevelopment of Kings Cross, just north of Central London, has been comprehensive and staggering. Once an area with...
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8 OF THE WORLD’S BEST COFFEE & ALCOHOL COCKTAILS
IDEAL for trying on your next night out, or even making at home.
Calling all java and liquor aficionados! If you are a coffee lover who also appreciates the relaxing...
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10 STEPS TO A PERFECT, TRADITIONAL PAELLA
Ideal if you're looking for top tips on how to make paella
Though there are countless regional variations, global mispronunciations and quarrels over a whole host of celebrity chefs'...
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10 IDEAL HACKS TO TURN YOUR FOOD WASTE INTO SOMETHING DELICIOUS
Now is the perfect time to start thinking more smartly about just how much food you’re throwing away. Whether cooking a simple mid-week dinner for family, hosting a dinner...
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5 OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS NEAR LONDON VICTORIA STATION
A series looking at the best dining options within walking distance (1 mile) of city landmarks worldwide. Here, we offer our 5 IDEAL restaurants near London Victoria Station.
With over...
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FROM DIOR MULES TO CUTE CLOGS: 5 SHOES WE’RE COVETING FOR SUMMER 2022
The sun has shone brightly over Britain lately. Suddenly, the mood is more buoyant, ice creams almost acceptable, and the anticipation for the warmer months has reached fever pitch....
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10 IDEAL PANCAKES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE
Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday. The final day of frivolity before Lent. Ash Wednesday Eve. Though the names differ, we expect the fillings won’t. Lemon and sugar? Check. Nutella? Check....
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7 IDEAL MORNING COFFEE REPLACEMENTS TO KICK YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT
Not coffee. Anything but coffee. Is nothing sacred anymore?
We hear the desperation in your voice, and rest assured; we feel you. We’re not here to make sweeping statements about...
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WHERE TO LIVE IN TUSCANY FOR FOODIES
It’s a tale well told and a trip well made. One visits Italy, falls in love with the good wine and even better food, and then decides to move...
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6 IDEAL STEPS TO DELICIOUS, VEGETARIAN CHINESE DISHES AT HOME
We've reached the end of Veganuary and we're feeling great; a spring in our step, lightness in our gut and a fresh approach to vegetables in our cooking canon....
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5 IDEAL STEPS TO FINDING THE RIGHT ROOFING INSULATION CONTRACTOR
You know how the old saying goes, that the sky’s the limit with a roof over your head? Well, never has a truer word been spoken, we think. Indeed,...
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7 OF THE BEST LOCAL DISHES & DELICACIES TO TRY IN SANTORINI
Some say that Santorini, the captivating Greek island and jewel of the Aegean Sea, is the most visually arresting place on earth. Regularly included in ‘the most Instagrammed locations’...
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5 IDEAL CARIBBEAN TOURIST HOTSPOTS IN 2022
Rarely does a single uttered word transport the listener to far flung climes quite so effortlessly. To golden sands, to crystal clear waters, to beach barbecues and bassy grooves...yep...
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5 THRIFTY, HEALTHY MEAL IDEAS USING SEASONAL FOOD FOR JANUARY 2022
January is traditionally a particularly bleak period in the British calendar. Bank balances are barren, the calendar is bare, our glasses half empty (and with water only), and the...
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5 LIFESTYLE CHANGES WHICH WILL MAKE SUSTAINING DRY JANUARY EASIER
Ideal for a life without all those hangovers.
Clearer complexion? Heavier wallet? Energy levels through the roof? Concentration retur……
Hey, you! Yes, you. Back in the room. For many who...
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6 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR COFFEE TASTE GREAT AT HOME
Buying coffee from that cafe around the corner used to be one of the commute’s great perks; a pick-me-up, time saver and the quickest path to a decent cup....
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7 INCREDIBLE VEGETARIAN CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & SEASONINGS
Ideal for dialling up the deliciousness on your dinner.
Getting levels and layers into your home cooked food needn’t require a mountain of fresh ingredients, a razor sharp knife, hours...
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS FOODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Everyone knows that the best thing to eat on Christmas Day is turkey with all the trimmings. We’re talking roast potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire puddings, those little sausages wrapped in...
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8 IDEAL GIFT IDEAS FOR A COOKING LOVER THIS CHRISTMAS
Christmas is just around the corner. Can you hear the children’s laughter, jingle bells ringing and strains of Mariah Carey? If you’re like us, then perhaps you’ll be putting...
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO THE BEST CHRISTMAS DINNER EVER
Okay, first things first. Christmas dinner is a subjective, personal experience. Its enjoyment - and ideas of ‘perfection’ - are rooted in nostalgia, family and a whole load of...
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5 IDEAL GIFTS TO GIVE AN ICE CREAM LOVER THIS CHRISTMAS
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. And if those screams are louder than ever this festive season, turning into demands for a Christmas full of...
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A FESTIVE FEAST: THE BEST CHRISTMAS DINNER COOKING TIPS
Yep, we’ve just dropped the C-Bomb, and in the IDEAL offices, we’re already thinking of where to put up the tree.
It seems like we’re not the only ones; Retail...
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5 IDEAL TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NAME AS A FOOD BUSINESS STARTUP
We’ve all heard the frightening figure; nine out of ten new food and drinks businesses fail, often within their first year and sometimes even before opening. Why, then, is...
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IDEAL CHRISTMAS COOKING TIPS FROM SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE CHEFS
Christmas may be looking a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go all out when it comes to the biggest feast of 2020. We could...
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO STOCKING FILLERS FOR ALL THE FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS
Nearly there. Just two more sleeps. And whether that fills your excitement or dread largely depends on your age. If you fall into the latter category, we’re sure the...
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IDEAL FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS: TURKEY & SQAUSH LASKA SOUP
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
Total time:45 minutes
Serves: 4
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
2 tbsp vegetable oil
500g cooked turkey, shredded into bitesize pieces
385g pack butternut squash wedges
...
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6 OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS NEAR THE ROMAN BATHS IN BATH
To describe Bath as picturesque is something of an understatement. The honey hued Georgian architecture, the rolling, verdant hills, the soothing, laid back canal life...it’s all here and it’s...
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HOW TO ACHIEVE THE IDEAL WORK/LIFE BALANCE IN LONDON
Let’s state the obvious here; the term ‘’9 to 5’’ isn't in the vernacular of overworked, underpaid Londoners.
Before the pandemic, the Office of National Statistics revealed that those living...
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THE BEST VOLUNTEERING DESTINATIONS ABROAD FOR SUMMER 2022
For so many young people, whether they’re on a pre-university gap year, have finished studying, or are simply looking to broaden their horizons, volunteering abroad used to be something...
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6 HEALTHY MEALTIME HACKS TO STOP YOU OVEREATING
Earlier this year, the House of Commons released a report on adult obesity in England, and the numbers made for stark reading. In the UK, around three quarters of...
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HOW TO KEEP YOUR SKIN IN GOOD CONDITION DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
Winter is coming, and with it, those three words will be used to start every seasonal based article from now on…
Sadly, when winter comes, so do issues with our...
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HOW TO MANIFEST YOUR DREAM LIFE DURING OCTOBER’S FULL MOON IN ARIES
Ideal for feeling like you're in control of the cosmos
Harness your manifestation powers because this month’s full moon in Aries presents you with a blank canvas to paint...
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THE SEASONLESS WARDROBE GUIDE
Ideal for a wardrobe that works all year round
We tend to buy our clothes in line with the four seasons, but what if we could have a timeless...
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CUFFING SEASON FOR COUPLES: 4 WAYS TO GIVE YOUR SEX LIFE A LIFT TODAY
IDEAL if your love life is feeling more tepid than tempestuous this autumn
Cuffing Season is officially upon us, that time of year when single folk look to bed...
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HOW TO DESIGN A GARDEN BUILT TO INSPIRE HAPPINESS & TRANQUILLITY
After 18 months spent locked down, indoors and isolated, the UK’s gardens have never felt more vital to our collective contentment. As the Financial Times reported in September of...
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THINKING ABOUT BREAST AUGMENTATION? HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Though overall, the number of cosmetic surgery operations in the UK has reduced in recent years, breast augmentation remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries here.
The procedure is...
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HOW MUCH DO COMMON SKIN AGEING TREATMENTS COST?
Time is a great healer. Try telling that to the mirror, as the appearance of fine lines and signs of a life well lived seem to deepen with each...
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DIY FASHION: 6 WAYS TO CHEER UP OLD CLOTHES THIS AUTUMN & WINTER
Ideal for giving your wardrobe a custom look this cold season.
Ways to cheer up old clothes? We’ve got just the idea; tell them a joke!
Hmmm, extremely bad jokes aside,...
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7 EXTRA SPECIAL DATE NIGHT IDEAS FOR AUTUMN
Hey, let’s look on the brightside a little as the days darken. Autumn is perhaps the season for lovers, a time to curl up and cuddle in, get cosy...
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BUDGETING FOR CHRISTMAS: 5 MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR AUTUMN
Autumn is traditionally a time of abstinence and asceticism, taking stock after a heavy summer of sunshine and celebration and readying the wallet for the excesses of Christmas spending.
This...
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5 VITAMINS & NUTRIENTS YOU NEED IN AUTUMN
The changing of the seasons and the arrival of autumn heralds many things; a nostalgic pining for spring and summer, an increased intake of pumpkin spice lattes, a renewed...
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5 OF THE BEST LUXURY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR 2022
Sure, we could start with the usual spiel about the word ‘luxury’ meaning different things to different people, whether that’s a warm cup of cocoa next to a crackling...
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HOT TUBS AT HOME: YOUR FAQs ANSWERED
There’s something deeply therapeutic about the idea of slipping into a hot tub, steam rising and bubbling water enveloping. In fact, it’s not just the idea that offers a...
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8 TRANSITIONAL FASHION PIECES YOUR WARDROBE NEEDS THIS AUTUMN
The clichéd couplets that herald the arrival of autumn pile up on pages like these like just shed cornelian leaves. As September becomes October and the nights draw in,...
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7 REASONS TO BUY A BOUQUET FOR A LOVED ONE TODAY
National Flower Day is celebrated on the 21st March across the Northern Hemisphere, heralding the start of Spring and the blossoming of some of the country’s most beautiful native...
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GO SOBER FOR OCTOBER: 7 SURPRISING WAYS ALCOHOL AFFECTS THE BODY
A pulsating feeling in your head, the feeling that a cat has died and crawled into your mouth, a wave of nausea after you eat that obligatory McDonalds, a...
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5 CITIES YOU SHOULD CONSIDER FOR A FRESH START IN 2022
After a stressful two years, 2022 might be the perfect time for a fresh start abroad. But where?
Have you ever wanted to leave everything behind and start anew somewhere...
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5 HEALTHY EATING TIPS FOR AN AUTUMN SPENT INDOORS
Hunker down, it's hibernation time. As the days get colder and the nights draw in, our eating habits change too, with dishes heartier and more comforting. That shouldn't mean...
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DELICIOUS AND EASY VEGAN RECIPES THAT YOU WILL DEFINITELY LOVE
The most common problem people face is being able to prepare healthy plant-based recipes. There are so many good-tasting restaurant vegan dishes, but not many people know how to...
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COOKING AT HOME: HOW TO FIND MORE TIME FOR GOOD FOOD
If you live a busy life, you don’t have a lot of time. From the moment you get out of bed in the morning, you’re rushing around, trying to...
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BRITISH STREET FOOD IS ON THE RISE…
The UK hasn’t always embraced street food but – luckily – things are changing!
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spin on the way we eat out, with indoor venues having...