Food
International recipes, food experiences, wanderlust cooking club, street food, new foods, everyday foods and more from around the world.
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Culture: Turkish Coffee in Istanbul
It’s no secret. I love coffee. It’s a daily ritual I can’t live without. At home, I tend to stick with my espresso in the morning and drip coffee in the afternoon, but while traveling, anything goes. I’ve enjoyed a steamy bowl of café au lait in Paris, and strong Italian pressed coffee in Venice. I’ve even tasted a good old fashioned percolated cup of Joe in a diner in Tennessee. So naturally, when we traveled to Istanbul, I was very excited to try my first Turkish coffee. Of course I knew the taste would be different (all use different types of coffee grounds) but I also found it interesting how different the tastes could be just based…
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Culture: Churrasco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On our last night in Rio we went to one of Brazil’s famous churrasco restaurants for Brazilian BBQ. We came to the conclusion that this type of restaurant would be a vegetarian’s nightmare! We picked a lively spot on the Copacabana, recommended by our hotel. The bright place had a modern interior, filled with tile mirrors and long communal tables. Upbeat dance music played loudly in the background. The place was crowded and it was still early. The instance we sat down, the food started pouring out of the kitchen, plate after plate. First up was some light appetizers – hearts of palm, cheese, olives, bread, and tomatoes. Then came…
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Culture: Bouillabaisse in Marseille, France
You never forget your first bowl of true bouillabaisse. It’s a meal experience that will stay with you forever! It was a chilly Spring day in March when we ventured to Miramar Restaurant in the historic Vieux Port of Marseille, France. We had left our then infant daughter with a babysitter, and were going to enjoy an adult-only day out. My parents, who have tasted their share of fine dining throughout Southern France were eager to take us to try the “vrai bouillabaisse.” Excited for the experience, and time away from parenting, we jumped at the chance! We headed to the Vieux-Port (old port), to find the restaurant. This area…
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Culture: Cassoulet in Carcassonne, France
When the late afternoon sun started getting low, and the tourists all began to file out of the fortified city gates, that is when I started to fall in love with Carcassonne. Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon southern region of France, Carcassonne is reminiscent of a scene out of a Disney movie. The walled city sits high upon a hilltop. It’s impenetrable citadel and imposing towers have incredible historic charm, yet the mid-day crowds meandering through the tiny Medieval streets can get a bit overwhelming. I was advised to book a room within the city walls to really experience the town and was definitely not disappointed. There are only a few…
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Culture: German Pretzel (Bretzel) Love
And they say it’s just a snack. I’m here to say they are quite wrong. German pretzels (called bretzel in Germany) are definitely a meal. Trust me. There is one in my family who survived several days on bretzels alone while in Munich, Germany. And, who could blame him, they are quite tasty! As in most of my vacations, mealtime usually happens at odd times. My husband and I have been known to skip breakfast, forget about lunch and finally break down in utter hunger and grab the closest food available when exploring. In Munich, although we kept well fed, there were just too many pretzel vendors tempting us as…
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On Location: The Berthillon Ice Cream Experience – Très Français!
When I read things like, “the best ice cream in all of France,” “the grand dame of ice cream, ” and “world-renowned ice cream”, you bet it will make it to the top of my list of places to go when traveling, especially in sweltering hot Paris in July! The glacier (ice cream maker) that holds these illustrious proclamations is Berthillon, and I’m here to say, it’s worth a visit! After wading through the summer crowds at Notre Dame and exiting out the back gardens, I was looking forward to crossing over the small bridge (Pont Saint-Louis) that connects Île de la Cité with Île Saint-Louis. I had read wonderful…
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Culture: Cooking Class in Cusco – The Versatile Aji Amarillo Sauce
My mom has always been a wonderful cook. She’s a lot like me in that she loves to cook delicious dinners with rich sauces, spices and flavors, but is not much of a baker. She’s also been a huge proponent of eating various ethnic foods. Before she and my dad would head off on a big adventure, she’d always come home with what seemed to be very exotic ingredients (exotic ingredients to a pre-teen, that is!) She’d whip up various dishes typical to the place she was traveling. Of course, we kids would complain. She’d just inform us that if we didn’t try it, then we just weren’t up for…
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Culture: Coca Leaves and the Andean Culture
Flying from San Francisco, CA to Cusco, Peru can be quite an altitude adjustment. 11,139′ to be exact. Before our family trip to Peru, I definitely did my research about altitude sickness, and things I could bring, or do to help prevent it for me and my kids. My doctor prescribed me Acetazolamide without a blink, but our pediatrician said, “Sorry– can’t prescribe the same, that medicine is not allowed in kids.” So, I started doing a little research about other remedies. It didn’t take long (maybe one click on the internet) to have the mysterious coca tea pop up in my search results as a common remedy to prevent…
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Culture: The Art of the French Cheese Plate
There’s nothing more artistic than a French cheese plate served after a delicious meal. You’re guaranteed a gastronomical treat of flavors and textures you’ll never forget. Although I’ve had a variety of cheeses all my life, I never experienced a true French cheese plate until a lovely evening dining at Le Bistrot du Paradou, in the South of France. It was hard to top our Provençal meal, but the cheese selection we enjoyed definitely delivered. Since this experience, my husband has become a true cheese fanatic– the stinkier, the better for him, but he’ll never refuse a creamy goat cheese either. After picking his brain, and finding this wonderful website,…
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Culture: Chowda – The Best Soup in New England
After a red-eye flight from the West Coast, we arrived in Nantucket on a foggy May morning. The weather felt like very late Winter for us Californians, although to someone from New England, it must of been rather pleasant. My luggage had not arrived with me… we were tired, weary and in desperate need of some good comfort food. What we needed was a nice big bowl of chowda! New England Clam Chowder is one of those dishes you must order when in any of the Northeastern states. It’s a tradition. When my steamy, creamy, thick bowl of soup arrived– I could see why. This was not just any soup……