Cooking the Google Way

Much to the dismay of Microsoft, Google is the most used search engine is the world. It's incredible how much this company has affected our lives since its inception in 1997, and one of the latest features from the boys out in Mountain View, California is Google Helpouts, a new service that connects you to experts, live over video chat, to get help with issues ranging from home repair, learning a new language, or general lifestyle advice. Many of them are completely free, so here are some suggestions that many be of interest to the wired foodie.

• Basic Cooking
  
  Need help cooking? Rouxbe chefs are here to help with your questions about basic cooking, recipe troubleshooting or to simply help you get dinner on the table.


• Improve your Food Photography
  
  Be the darling of Instagram with these tips from Earl Lee, a food blogger with over 5 years of food photography experience.


• Kitchen Catastrophes Solved
  
  Is your soufflé sad? Your stew lacking spice? Your steak kinda grey? Run out of menu ideas for a dinner party? Let Sherród Faulks, the creator of Sunday Supper Club video series help.


• Learn about Coffee: Advice from Roasting to Tasting
  
  Baristas aren't the only people who know from coffee, become more of a coffee connoisseur with the advice for this small batch hand roasting expert.


• Top Chef University
  
  Want to cook like your favourite Top Chef? Got some money you want to spend? If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, you now have access to over 50 hours of video cooking content, 220 video lessons and footage from 11 of the most popular contestants from the Emmy Award winning show.


• Urban farming basics: how to grow your own vegetable garden
  
  In this Helpout, you'll get information about garden size, what to grow, where to grow it, how to take care of your plants, as well as tips on the herbs and vegetables you should pick for your climate and personal preferences, and how to make it work with available space for planting.