People queue for information or to apply for a job in Saint-Denis, Paris. PHOTO: AP
SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE (AP) – Paris Olympics organisers and their partners set up a giant job fair on Tuesday meant to help fill about 16,000 vacancies in key sectors including catering, security, transport and cleaning, 10 months before the opening of the Games.
About 50 companies are now recruiting in various fields to be able to welcome millions of spectators and more than 14,500 athletes next year for the Olympics and Paralympics.
The job fair was organised in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of the French capital, on the future site of the Olympic village. Jobseekers can also apply via a specific website.
“There are many opportunities globally in France, for Paris 2024 and beyond, because definitely there are also some jobs that will have for sure a second life after the Olympics,” said organising committee president for Paris 2024 Tony Estanguet.
People queue for information or to apply for a job in Saint-Denis, Paris. PHOTO: AP
“We will welcome the world in 300 days. And definitely we are more than determined to be at the best level,” he added.
The working-class, multicultural area of Saint-Denis is also one of the poorest places in France’s mainland, where the unemployment rate reaches about 10 per cent – or three points above the national average. The Olympic committee worked with the state and local authorities to encourage companies to hire local workers and disadvantaged people.
Working for the Games “is a source of personal pride”, Estanguet stressed.
“It’s also a very rare professional experience, quite exceptional, which I think will benefit those who need to find a job,” he said. “Having an Olympic experience on your CV is very valuable.”
The recruitment may especially prove a challenge in fields where the country’s businesses already have difficulties to fill job vacancies, like restaurants and security services.
Sodexo Live, which is in charge of the catering during the Olympics, is looking to fill 6,000 jobs. The company noted that many don’t require specific qualifications and that those who are hired will be offered training.
Elise Patry, in charge of human resources communication at Sodexo Live, said “we’re recruiting for 14 competition venues and also for the Olympic village, where we’ll set up the world’s largest restaurant”.
About 3,000 jobs are estimated to be needed to take care of cleaning and waste management. French metro and rail groups RATP and SNCF are also hiring people on long-term contracts to operate transports during the Games.
The Olympic organising committee estimated that between 2018 and 2024, more than 181,000 people will have worked directly in relation with the organisation of the Games.
Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau makes a speech at Huawei's launch event in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Monday. Photo: CHINA DAILY
(ANN/CHINA DAILY) – Huawei Technologies on Monday revealed a range of new products, including a brand-new high-end smartphone brand known as “Ultimate Design.”
This move follows the positive reception of the company’s Mate 60 series smartphones among Chinese consumers, sparking discussions about Huawei’s strong comeback in the smartphone business despite facing restrictions imposed by the US government over the past three years.
During a launch event in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s device group, emphasised the company’s commitment to producing Mate series smartphones efficiently.
The highly anticipated “Ultimate Design” brand features Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau as its brand ambassador.
Huawei unveiled its latest smartwatch and smartphone under this brand, marking a significant effort to expand its presence in the premium segment.
Furthermore, Yu revealed that Huawei’s self-developed Harmony operating system has amassed a user base of over 600 million individuals. Founder Ren Zhengfei also highlighted that more than 30 operating systems in China are currently being developed based on the open-source Harmony version, demonstrating its growing influence in the technology landscape.
Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau makes a speech at Huawei’s launch event in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Monday. Photo: CHINA DAILY
EV hydrogen charging station or electric vehicle recharging station for green energy
PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – Industry experts predict that Malaysia will experience an upsurge in hydrogen-powered vehicles post-2024, positioning hydrogen as a significant and sustainable energy source for the nation.
Datuk Tony Khor Chong Boon, President of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia, underscores the potential of hydrogen vehicles, aligning with the global trend seen in countries like Japan, the United States, and various European nations. However, he acknowledges the challenges, including high production costs and the need for government investment.
Khor also highlights environmental concerns associated with battery-based electric vehicles (EVs), such as battery disposal issues and higher greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. He points out that EVs require battery replacement every eight to ten years, which poses environmental challenges.
Domestic automobile companies are showing a growing interest in hydrogen, exploring opportunities in China. Khor emphasises the importance of addressing safety concerns related to hydrogen fuel stations, advocating for comprehensive safety measures like leak detection, isolation, and proper training for hydrogen handling.
Automobile enthusiast Tai Choo Yee echoes Khor’s sentiments, emphasizing the environmental advantages of hydrogen-powered vehicles in a country like Malaysia, which heavily relies on coal and natural gas for electricity. He highlights the quick refueling time and comparable driving range of hydrogen cars, citing models like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo. However, he acknowledges the high hydrogen storage and transportation costs.
Tai stresses the need for more robust government investment and incentives to dispel misconceptions about EVs and promote the adoption of hydrogen vehicles. He notes that EV development in Malaysia has progressed swiftly, driven by tax incentives that have attracted various brands.
Tai anticipates the growth of hydrogen-powered cars in Malaysia, especially with the Sarawak state government actively promoting hydrogen energy, aiming to become a commercial hydrogen producer by 2027. However, he emphasises that addressing infrastructure and educational challenges will be crucial for Malaysians to embrace electric and hydrogen vehicles in the local market, with hydrogen cars expected to shine in the coming years.
Fans react as they meet withs France's players in front of city hall of Aix-en-Provence, on September 26, 2023, during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup. PHOTO: AFP
AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE (AFP) – France forwards coach William Servat said on Tuesday he had “no doubt” that emblematic captain Antoine Dupont could return from injury in time for a potential Rugby World Cup quarter-final next month.
Scrum-half Dupont underwent surgery after suffering a fractured cheekbone in Thursday’s victory over Namibia, putting hosts Les Bleus on the verge of the knock-out stages which take place on the weekend of October 14-15.
France’s next game is against Italy on October 7 when a victory would guarantee top spot in Pool A and a last-eight tie, in all likelihood with World Cup holders South Africa.
“The operation went well, he’s resting. He will be back training on Sunday,” Servat told reporters.
“I have no doubt about his ability to play the quarter-final,” the former France hooker added.
Former World Rugby player of the year Dupont, 26, was helped off the pitch in last week’s win over Namibia and has been at home since undergoing surgery on Friday.
Missing poster boy Dupont for the knock-out stages of the tournament would be a big blow to France’s chances of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time.
The Toulouse half-back is yet to lose on home soil as captain of his country, a run dating back 14 Tests.
“Friday and Saturday are days off for us,” Servat said.
“He will have time to return in that period of time,” he added.
Doctor Bernard Dusfour, former president of the medical commission of the French National Rugby League (LNR), told AFP on Friday that after undergoing surgery, the minimum period of unavailability for an elite athlete was “four weeks”.
On Saturday, former France back-rower Olivier Magne warned about bringing Dupont back too soon.
“I think, quite naturally, that he will return in his own way,” Servat said.
“It’s out of the question that we (the coaching staff) decide whatever before speaking to him and having the green light from the medical department,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Namibia captain Johan Deysel was banned for five matches for the challenge on Dupont.
After the game in Marseille Dupont remained upbeat, posting “The show must go on” on social media.
Maxime Lucu or Baptiste Couilloud are set to replace Dupont at scrum-half against Italy in Lyon with the likes of Anthony Jelonch and Charles Ollivon among the contenders to lead the side.
Apart from Dupont, Fabien Galthie’s France also have injury concerns about flanker and former skipper Ollivon, back-rower Paul Boudehent as well as starting hooker Julien Marchand, with all three rested for Tuesday’s training session.
Fans react as they meet withs France’s players in front of city hall of Aix-en-Provence, on September 26, 2023, during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup. PHOTO: AFP
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – The blockbuster football video game franchise from Electronic Arts, no longer linked to FIFA, will allow mixed-gender line-ups in fantasy matches that have triggered sexist pushback even before the Friday release.
Early access to the game, now renamed FC 24, began last week with the novel feature of female soccer stars virtually taking to the pitch with male counterparts for fantasy squad matches in an “Ultimate Team” mode of online play.
A version of the game tailored for mobile devices powered by Apple or Android operating systems was released Tuesday.
Spotlights on female soccer stars such as Sam Kerr and Alexia Putellas reflect the reality of the sport today, something the franchise wants to capture, EA Sports FC vice president of brand David Jackson told AFP.
“It’s not a moral thing; it’s not a cause-related thing,” Jackson said of fielding women soccer stars.
“It’s a faithful replica representation of the real world of football.”
Fans of the franchise offended by the idea of women and men athletes battling in mixed matches have bashed the game in online posts.
“This is like putting go-karts in F1 and racing them together,” a critic groused in a chat forum on YouTube.
“Putellas is actually good though,” a reply countered. “Don’t be sexist.”
The launch of FC 24 marks the end of an alliance with world soccer governing body FIFA that spanned three decades.
Since kicking off the franchise in 1993 with FIFA International Soccer, the annually refreshed lineup has become a key part of EA’s business, boasting some 150 million players last year alone.
The franchise has shed the FIFA name for the first time as the California-based video game giant pursues a vision of becoming a “global football platform” incorporating broadcast games, live match play and more.
“There are a number of different ways we can grow and expand and we intend to do that in the future,” Jackson said.
“While we were called FIFA, we weren’t able to realise the potential due to limitations of the rights that we held.”
Along with freeing EA from contractual constraints that came with carrying the FIFA name, the rebranding also enables the franchise to avoid being marred by scandals at the governing body.
“If we’re going to carry the name of the organisation as the name of our product, we’ve got to make sure that name carries the requisite level of quality, integrity and weight over time,” Jackson said.
“Now that we own that name, it’s all on us.”
EA designed FC 24 to be familiar to fans while adding novelty to make it fresh, according to Jackson.
EA uses motion-capture technology on real athletes and in-stadium cameras to capture action that translates into the gameplay, ramping up the amount of content it gets from games in top leagues, he said.
“Yes, the FIFA license is gone, and the game won’t feature the World Cup, but other than that, the feature set is basically unchanged and arguably even improved,” Circana video game analyst Mat Piscatella said of FC 24.
“It’s been a huge part of the US gaming landscape over the past decade, and of course elsewhere in the world it’s even bigger.”
Piscatella expects FC 24 to be among the top 10 bestselling video games of this year in the United States.
The games have already been among the top 20 bestselling titles annually in the United States for more than a decade, he added.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter expects most players to see FC 24 as the game they have come to know, just with a different name.
As the franchise evolves, EA may explore incorporating advertising or real-time matches into its game engine, eventually allowing live-action viewers to play out matches their own way.
“You could be watching an English Premier League game,” Jackson envisioned.
“If you don’t like the score at halftime, then you jump out of that and into our game and kind of rewrite history.”
Spotlights on female soccer stars such as Sam Kerr and Alexia Putellas reflect the reality of the sport today. PHOTO: EA SPORTS
SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang during the press conference. PHOTO: ANN/KOREA HERALD
South Korea’s largest wireless carrier by subscription SK Telecom unveiled on Tuesday the company’s roadmap to leap forward as a global artificial intelligence (AI) firm within the next five years by expanding its business and technology based on its AI assistant service.
SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang during the press conference. PHOTO: ANN/KOREA HERALD
At a press conference held in Seoul, the telecom giant’s CEO Ryu Young-sang introduced the firm’s new “AI pyramid strategy,” which focuses on three major areas: AI infrastructure, AI transformation and AI service. It is the key to realising the firm’s goal as the “global AI firm” by creating new industrial innovations, he said.
“The AI gold rush has begun. SK Telecom is trying to run most aggressively into the AI revolution. Since telecom operators have no legacy, the AI revolution is a definite opportunity for us,” the CEO said. “We’ll create business models that a telecom operator can do to be competitive in the market.”
For this, the telecom company plans to triple its investment in AI-related business from 12 per cent from 2019 to 2023 to 33 percent over the next five years until 2028 to achieve sales of more than 25 trillion won (USD18.5 billion) in 2028, while it logged some 17 trillion won in sales last year.
“Disruptive innovation triggered by generative AI has already created new values in all areas of industry, our society and life. … SK Telecom will accelerate our execution ability and continue to expand investment in AI-related resources based on the strategy centered around self-reliance and cooperation,” Ryu said.
As the AI market is in full swing, data center supply shortages, excessive power use, and rapid increases in carbon emissions have emerged as new social problems. SK Telecom will introduce energy-saving solutions to solve the issues while making a foray into the global market. It is also planning to double the size of its domestic data centers by 2030, Ryu said.
Sapeon Korea, a global AI semiconductor company that spun out from the telecom giant last year, will launch the next-generation inference AI chip, X330, by the end of this year. It has the advantages of approximately twice the computational performance and 1.3 times the power efficiency compared to its competitors.
To secure competitiveness in the multi-LLM sector, it will strengthen cooperation with major Big Tech firms such as OpenAI.
SK Telecom looks to expand AI services to its existing telecommunications and IPTV services to reduce their costs by more than 20-30 percent in the mid to long term, as well as to non-telecom sectors, including Urban Air Mobility, health care, and media.
At Tuesday’s event, the CEO announced the official launch of A., which began its beta service in May last year. Based on A., the company will provide an AI phone service with call summary and calendar functions, AI sleep management tool, and AI music service that can create users’ playlists.
Additionally, SK Telecom plans to roll out a personal AI assistant roaming service that can provide about 1.2 billion telecom users in 45 countries, based on its global alliance formed in July. The Korean telecom firm joined hands with Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, the United Arab Emirates’s e& and Singapore’s Singtel to expand AI cooperation.
“Just as we subscribe to two to three over-the-top platforms these days, telecom users are expected to use two to three personal AI assistants within the next three years,” the SK Telecom chief said. “The personal AI assistant market will likely become a battleground for leading global firms in the near future.” – ANN/Korea Herald
Angela Lee is in town this week ahead of the One Fight Night 14 event on September 30, where she is expected to make an announcement on her future. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
SINGAPORE (THE STRAITS TIMES) – In the demanding realm of mixed martial arts (MMA), fighters often appear unbreakable and invincible, portraying themselves as relentless machines pushing their bodies to the brink for victory.
However, beyond the chiselled physiques and brute strength, they are just like the rest of us – individuals grappling with stress and mental health challenges.
One Championship superstar Angela Lee believes in breaking this facade.
She’s on a mission to remind her fellow fighters and athletes that it’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge vulnerability and seek assistance.
Last Tuesday, the 27-year-old sent shockwaves when she revealed that she had tried to take her own life six years ago in a personal essay, while also confirming that her sister Victoria died by suicide last December.
In an emotional interview with the source a week later, Lee said: “As fighters, we have to portray this image that we’re the best in the world, where we’re so strong, where we’re on top of the world.
Angela Lee is in town this week ahead of the One Fight Night 14 event on September 30, where she is expected to make an announcement on her future. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
“What I would say to fighters out there is… we have to do this image for our profession. But make sure that you give yourself an outlet to show how you really feel to be who you really are, whether that outlet be through friends or family or coach, or through just journaling, getting those feelings out there. You can’t keep it all bottled up for so long.”
Inspired by late sister and her own mental health struggles, Lee has launched a non-profit charity called Fightstory, dedicated to inspiring hope and building a community for those struggling with mental health.
The current One atom-weight champion, who has not fought since October 2022, is in town this week ahead of the One Fight Night 14 event on Saturday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, where she is expected to make an announcement on her future.
Encouraging others to speak up about their battles is just one way Lee, mother to two-year-old Ava, hopes to help.
She added: “There are many things that can be done to help support the mental health of athletic individuals especially in the fight world.
“That traditional mind-set of pushing hard and doing whatever it takes to win and to not show weakness is good and bad but finding that balance in between is something that I hope we can share and shed some light on.
“Because we do want to see the next world champion, see people succeed and winning. But at the same time, we don’t want them to do that (at the expense of) possibly hurting themselves in the process.”
One chief executive officer Chatri Sityodtong told the source that mental health is not solely a MMA-related issue, but applies to other sports as well.
The Singapore-based outfit will engage in various initiatives to support the cause, such as fundraising and having athletes visit schools to speak to children about mental health.
Chatri shared that he has been in constant contact with Lee and her family, who include Christian, 25, the reigning One Lightweight and Welterweight Champion and Adrian, 17, who is also set to follow in the footsteps of his siblings.
They were all coached by their father Ken Lee – their mum is South Korean – at their family’s United MMA Hawaii Gym in Waipahu, which was permanently closed after Victoria’s death.
Christian is likely to return to the octagon in early 2024, said Chatri.
When asked if he had any regrets about not being able to intervene before the tragedy, Chatri said: “No, I trust Ken Lee, and this is a family of expert martial artists.
“And like I said, I don’t think it’s an isolated incident. I think athletes of every sport around the world go through this at some level.”
Regardless of her decision on her MMA future, Lee, who holds a 11-3 win-loss record, will continue her fight to spread awareness on mental health.
As her thoughts turned to Victoria, Lee struggled to hold back tears as the interview came to a close.
“Victoria has always wanted to use her life to help others to do good. I know that one of the things she’s always wanted to do was to find something that she was good at, something that she loved, that would help others. And I know that’s what we’re doing with fight story.
“I know she would be proud.”
A photo of Angela Lee (Right) with her late sister VIctoria Lee. PHOTO: ANGELA LEE/INSTAGRAM
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam delivers the titah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) in Jalan Dewan Majlis. PHOTO: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, underscored the imperative need for an overhaul in the pedagogical psychology within religious schools.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam delivers the titah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) in Jalan Dewan Majlis. PHOTO: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
During an unannounced visit to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) in Jalan Dewan Majlis on Wednesday, the monarch not only emphasised the urgency of strengthening teaching psychology among religious educators but also expressed reservations regarding the curriculum’s content.
His Majesty stressed the need for a comprehensive reevaluation, advocating for a shift from the subject of “Tarikh” to “Tarikh Islam,” making it a mandatory component of the curriculum.
His concerns also extended to the subject of “Tasawuf,” which he believed could pose challenges for children aged 10 to 13. The monarch suggested that restructuring “Tasawuf” into a subject focusing on values, more comprehensible to young learners, was paramount. His Majesty questioned why the name “Tasawuf” persisted in primary-level books, signaling a need for alignment.
Furthermore, His Majesty acknowledged grievances from parents who lamented their children’s unhappiness in religious schools due to overly strict teaching practices. He theorised that teachers may be neglecting the psychological aspects of education. “If such claims hold, it points to a deficiency in addressing the psychological well-being of students by their educators,” noted His Majesty.
The monarch’s visit also encompassed a tour of several departments within the Ministry, including the Department of Waqf, Zakat & BaitulMal Affairs.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam speaks with officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) during the visit to the ministry. PHOTO: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
Chinese volunteers stand at a shuttle bus hub at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Signs around Hangzhou billed the city as a "paradise on earth" while China adopted the motto "heart to heart" for the games, which attract feature some 12,000 competitors, more than the summer Olympics, from across Asia and the Middle East. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
BEIJING (ANN/CHINA DAILY) – The ongoing Hangzhou Asian Games, coupled with the upcoming eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period, are set to ignite China’s consumer market, with the tourism sector anticipated to reach its peak.
The 19th Asian Games are currently underway in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from September 23 to October 8. As of September 20, data from online platforms like Meituan and Dianping revealed a remarkable 380 per cent surge in dine-in orders within the catering industry compared to the same period in 2019.
In host city Hangzhou, as well as co-host cities including Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing, and Jinhua, hotel rooms and Chinese-style bed-and-breakfast establishments (Minsu) are nearly fully booked.
A man poses with Hangzhou Asian Games mascots for photos in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Sept 22. PHOTO: ANN/CHINA DAILY
Hangzhou has now secured a place among the top 10 preferred railway destinations for the National Day holiday.
By September 18, the booking number of air tickets to Hangzhou increased 20 per cent compared with the same period of 2019 at travel portal Qunar during the Asian Games, the hotel booking number jumped 4.4 times, and the scenic spot ticket sales grew 20 per cent.
The Asian Games is driving tourism consumption in the host city and co-host cities.
The search volume of Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing and Jinhua increased two times month-on-month in recent weeks, according to the Qunar.
During the Asian Games, the hotel booking volume and entrance tickets in these co-host cities soared over five times and over three times compared with the same period of 2019.
The Asian Games also bring sports fever to the country. As of September 20 the number of sports and fitness orders in Zhejiang province grew 150 per cent year-on-year, with the popularity of ball sports and fitness centres rising the fastest.
Chinese volunteers stand at a shuttle bus hub at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, September 26. PHOTO: AP
Catering is an essential element of mass tourism, and gourmet food is a rigid demand to well-off tourism, said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, at a forum.
Gourmet food has become a new driving force for facilitating tourism consumption and promoting tourism to high-quality development.
This year, many young people turned their eyes to some small-crowd cities with characteristics for enjoying a leisurely holiday while having a good meal, as well as avoiding the surging tide during the eight-day holiday.
According to a list of popular small-crowd tourism destinations from Mafengwo, a travel service and social networking platform, more than half of cities stand out for their gourmet food.
Quanzhou of Fujian province, Taizhou of Zhejiang province, Leshan of Sichuan province, and Liuzhou of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with gourmet food such as ancient flavour food, seafood, and luosifen (river snail rice noodles) are ranked in the list.
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and Potatoes. PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST
THE WASHINGTON POST – I hate the expression “dump dinners.” Every time I hear it, I recoil because it sounds so unappetising to me. And, yet, I’m so drawn to the concept: Put all of the ingredients in a baking dish, on a sheet pan or in a Dutch oven, skillet or multi-cooker, and then step away while it cooks.
Even if the vessel changes from recipe to recipe, I prefer to call this one-pot cooking, if that’s okay with everyone.
I’ve never fully embraced the slow-cooker function on my multi-cooker, but I make frequent use of its pressure-cooker function for one-pot, weeknight suppers, especially when the weather starts to turn cool and I want something convenient, cosy and saucy without the wait.
I’m a big fan of the bright flavour of lemon as the days grow shorter, too, so this Lemon Chicken with Potatoes from “Instant Pot Miracle Mediterranean Diet” by Urvashi Pitre sounded just right for welcoming autumn.
Along with lemon juice, a whole lemon – peel and all – is thinly sliced and added to the multi-cooker with the chicken, broth and seasoning. The potatoes are added last to keep them on top and prevent them from overcooking.
The result is a luscious stew with a thin broth that has a slight pleasantly bitter note from the lemon pith. The cooked lemon calls to mind preserved lemons, but without the extra step, Pitre writes in her cookbook.
(If you want a richer sauce, she says to remove the chicken, potatoes and lemon and whisk in a bit of butter.)
In her cookbook, Pitre extols the virtue of eating a Mediterranean diet, and she writes about how her Instant Pot helps her continue to cook even while dealing with a degenerative disease that can limit her mobility.
The cookbook is a good one for the multi-cooker novice because she offers insights into Instant Pot terms – quick release vs natural release, for example – and descriptions of what all the buttons do. She also gives general tips for using a multi-cooker:
Factor the time it takes for a pot to come up to pressure into your cooking equation, keeping in mind that a fuller pot takes longer to reach pressure.
Don’t worry about browning proteins and vegetables. She says that pressure cooking delivers flavour without that step. (This is a hard one for me to give up because I like the look of browned meats, but I did as she instructed with this chicken dish and it was delicious.)
Consider using frozen vegetables. This slows the cooking so that you don’t end up with mush.
Each recipe offers active time and total time, the functions you will use, and the kind of release you will use for the dish.
I tried several of her recipes. Each worked just as she described. I chose to feature this one because I liked it best among the ones I made, and because it is was a good belly-warming recipe for any novice cook who wants to dip a spoon into one-pot cooking using a multi-cooker.
The recipe takes 15 to 20 minutes to prep; the rest of the time – about 25 minutes – is hands-off. That gives you enough time to clean up the kitchen, and maybe slice up a cucumber salad and make a quick dressing if you feel like it.
Or, you could just go pet the cat and call your sister for a quick catch-up like I did.
A whole, sliced lemon goes into the pot, followed by the potatoes styled by Lisa Cherkasky. PHOTO: SCOTT SUCHMAN/THE WASHINGTON POST
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Four servings
Active time: 20 minutes; Total time: 45 minutes
Lemon looms large in this fragrant chicken and potato dish, where the broth has a slight pleasantly bitter note from the pith. Along with lemon juice, a whole lemon is thinly sliced and added to the multi-cooker.
The dish takes only 20 minutes to prep; the rest of the time is hands-off. We tested this recipe in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
INGREDIENTS
A quarter cup water or chicken broth
Two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Three large cloves garlic, chopped
Two tablespoons fresh lemon juice
One teaspoon dried oregano
One teaspoon dried rosemary
One teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Half a teaspoon fine salt
One pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, halved
One medium white or yellow onion (8 ounces), halved and thinly sliced
One large lemon, ends trimmed and thinly sliced
One pound unpeeled baby new potatoes
Chopped fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
In the multi-cooker, combine the water or broth; olive oil; garlic; lemon juice; oregano; rosemary; pepper; and salt. Add the chicken, stir to coat it with the oil and herb mixture, and let rest while you slice and chop the other ingredients.
Add the onion and stir to combine. Arrange the lemon slices on top of the chicken, then scatter the potatoes over the lemon, making sure to leave the potatoes on top so they don’t overcook.
Secure the lid on the pot and close the pressure valve.
Select PRESSURE (HIGH) and set to six minutes. It takes about 10 minutes for the appliance to come to pressure before cooking begins.
Once cooking is complete, cover your hand with a towel or hot pad and release the pressure manually by moving the pressure-release handle to “Venting.” Never put your hands or face near the vent when it’s releasing steam. Let the pot sit undisturbed for five minutes.
Transfer the chicken and potatoes to a platter, sprinkle with the parsley or basil, and serve.
