Regional cuisine is a great way to get a feel for the culture of the location to which you are traveling. And what’s the best part of the meal? Dessert. Check out this list of foreign desserts you shouldn’t skip while traveling:
Baklava (Turkey and nearby) – Made from phyllo dough that has been brushed with butter, this flaky dessert is also soaked with honey.
Alfajores (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, other Latin American countries, via Spain) – Cookies reminiscent of shortbread or cake sandwiched with dulce de leche (milk caramel). Sometimes coated with meringue, white or dark chocolate, or covered with shredded coconut.
Semla (Sweden and similar in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia) – A seasonal dessert available between Christmas and Easter, these bun-like pastries have their insides hollowed and filled with milk and almond paste and topped with whipped cream.
Sfogliatelle/Cannoli (Italy) – Sfogliatelle is a pastry shaped like a clam, stuffed with cream or ricotta filling that can be infused with orange or lemon flavor.
Taiyaki (Japan) – Kind of like a fish-shaped waffle, and filled with a sweet red bean paste.
Churros (Latin America, Spain) – Loops with a crunchy texture, topped with confectioners’ sugar and served with thick hot chocolate, in which you are to dunk the churros.
Sopaipillas/Picarones (Chile, Peru) – Fried dough that you dip in a solid brown sugar derived from sugar cane.
Galub Jamun (South East Asia) – Little balls of dough made of a flour and condensed milk mixture, that has been fried and dipped in a sugar syrup flavored with cardamom, rosewater or saffron.
Koeksisters (South Africa via Cape Malay) – Fried and dunked in a cold simple syrup to avoid them getting mushy.
Tres Leches Cake (Mexico, other countries in Central and South America) – Condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream are the “tres leches” in this cake.
Suspiro Limeño (Peru) - Evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks and sugar make a pudding, which is then topped with meringue.
Sernik (Poland) – The Polish version of a cheesecake.
Tangyuan/ Yuanxiao (China, Taiwan) – Balls of dough made from rice flour and hot water, and filled with sesame paste, adzuki bean paste or other sweet fillings.
Brigadeiro (Brazil) – Balls of fudgey caramel, rolled in chocolate sprinkles.
Khao Niaw Ma Muang [mango and sticky rice] (Thailand) – Rice is cooked in coconut milk and served with fresh mango.
Italy is currently the world’s biggest consumer of wine… But not for long. By 2012, the United States will overtake Italy. And China and Russia will soon overtake Spain, which is a country whose history is associated with this alcohol. Read more…
Now here is information I have always wanted. Here is a list of the best locations in the world for chocolate and the names of their finest chocolate makers:
Zürich, Switzerland - Why? Sprüngli, Lindt and Teuscher
Hershey, Penn. - Why? Hershey’s
London, England - Why? Cadbury’s and Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate
Pacific Northwest - Why? Theo Chocolate, Daniel Le Chocolat Belge and Chocolate Arts
San Francisco Bay Area - Why? Scharffen Berger and Ghirardelli
Arno River Valley, Italy - Why? Amedei, Mannori, Catinari and Vestri
Belgium - Why? Pierre Marcolini
Burlington, Vt. - Why? Lake Champlain Chocolates
Valrhona, France - Why? Valrhona’s Ecole du Grand Chocolat
Villajoyosa and Alicante, Spain - Why? Chocolates Valor
In honor of the world’s largest beer festival (Oktoberfest - taking place now in a Munich near you!), here is a list of the top 20 beer-drinking countries in the world:
20. Portugal – Saude! | Tchim-tchim!
19. Canada – Cheers!
18. Poland - Na zdrowie!
17. Hungary – Egeszsegedre!
16. New Zealand – Kia Ora! | Cheers!
15. Netherlands – Gezondheid! | Prost!
14. Croatia – Zivjeli!
13. US – Cheers! | Bottoms up!
12. Spain – Salud! | Amor y!
11. Slovakia – Na zdravie!
10. Luxembourg - Prost! / A votre sante!
9. Finland – Kippis!
8. Denmark – Skaal! | Skal!
7. Belgium - Op uw gezondheid! | A votre sante!
6. UK – Cheers! / Cheerio!
5. Austria – Prosit! | Zum wohl!
4. Australia – Cheers! | Cheerio!
3. Germany - Prost!
2. Ireland – Slainte!
1. Czech Republic - Na zdravi!
From USA Today:
ROME (AP) — Twenty-two nations are particularly threatened by the global food crisis that has seen soaring prices increase hunger, leading to protests and riots in some countries, the United Nations said Wednesday.
A report prepared by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization for a summit in Rome next week said the countries are vulnerable because they suffer from chronic hunger and are forced to import food and fuel.
The report said Eritrea, Niger, Comoros, Haiti and Liberia are particularly affected.
The three-day conference that opens Tuesday is expected to draw a number of world leaders. The FAO said it will provide a “historic chance” to relaunch the fight against hunger and poverty and boost agricultural production in developing countries.
High oil prices, growing demand, flawed trade policies, panic buying and speculation have sent food prices soaring worldwide. Food riots have occurred in Haiti, Egypt and Somalia this year.
for the rest of the article click here.
NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ — Kids’ menus at most restaurants today reflect the daily diet of the average American kid: chicken fingers, fries, hamburgers and pizza. While these items may top kids’ list of favorites, they are high in fat, calories and salt and lack nutritional value. However, there are plenty of interesting, fresh and healthful foods that kids will love — we simply need to take the time to introduce them to our children.
Robin Miller, nutritionist and host of Food Network’s Quick Fix Meals, is an expert when it comes to fast, easy meals that kids adore. “As a mother, I understand how difficult it can be to find wholesome and appealing meal ideas that your children will enjoy,” says Miller. “But, there are simple fixes for even the pickiest eaters. Incorporating grains, legumes, low fat and high protein meats and seafood along with fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruit, such as Clementines from Spain, is an excellent example. These small gems are packed with of lots of those ‘good for you’ nutrients and a naturally, sweet flavor — your kids will think this tiny treat is dessert!”
Getting Out of the Kids’ Menu Rut
Clementines from Spain are a portable, healthy kid-friendly food that will please both parents and kids — and get them out of the “kids’ menu” rut. Robin Miller offers the following menu suggestion for busy moms on the go:
— Clementine Salsa
With this zesty salsa, your kids will simply devour their fruits and
vegetables. Combine 2 cups sectioned and halved Clementines, 1 cup
diced tomato, 1/4 cup minced red onion, 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh
cilantro, 1 teaspoon each of ground cumin and fresh lime juice, and
salt and pepper to taste. Serve with corn chips or spoon over pork
chops, chicken and fish.
— Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Fresh Clementines and Olives
A perfect way to give your children their grains. For this delicious
and satisfying lunch or side dish, combine 1 pound cooked whole wheat
spiral pasta, 1 cup pitted Greek olives (such as kalamata), 1 cup
halved Clementine sections, and 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese in a large
mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup Clementine or
orange juice, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2
teaspoons chopped fresh dill, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano. Pour
mixture over pasta and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and
black pepper.
— Clementine and White Bean Salad
Beans are a great nutritious choice for kids. For this incredible side
dish, in a large bowl, combine 2 cans (drained) white or navy beans, 1
cup halved Clementine sections, 1 seeded and chopped red bell pepper, 2
tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1
tablespoon white wine vinegar, and 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard. Season
to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve over lettuce, in lettuce
cups or in hollowed-out cucumbers if desired.
— Clementine Shortcakes
Kids love sweets, but Moms don’t love all the sugar. Here’s a creative
way to deliver a dessert that is good for them and tastes fantastic.
Cut baked biscuits or shortcakes in half and top the bottom half with
whipped cream (or non-dairy whipped topping) and Clementine sections.
Place remaining biscuit on top and spoon more whipped cream on top.
Garnish with confectioners’ sugar and fresh mint if desired.
Healthy Kid-Friendly Snack — Limited Time Only
Kids aren’t the only ones who can enjoy Clementines from Spain. Your whole family will love this healthy and delicious fruit. In fact, Clementines from Spain are a great substitute for the usual holiday treats, like cookies, cakes and candy, with only 50 calories each and without all the sugar! Packaged in cool five-pound wooden crates, Clementines from Spain also make a great holiday gift. But, act quickly — these festive and fun citrus fruits will be gone soon after the New Year so get them while they last!
Sweet and Sun-Kissed from Spain
The best Clementines are from Spain — they deliver great flavor, have a thin peel which makes them a snap to unpeel, are virtually seedless, have lots of juice and are refreshingly sweet. In fact, most of the Clementines you’ll find in your local grocery come from Spain, which has the ideal climate on the Mediterranean coast to grow these delectable fruits.
For more recipes, serving ideas and nutrition facts, visit http://www.clementinesfromspain.com.
So, next time you’re in the area, check out El Bulli.
A restaurant in Spain has been named by an international panel of judges as the World’s Best Restaurant for the second year running.
El Bulli, near Barcelona, claimed the top spot in this year’s list of the 50 best places to eat, announced in London on Monday evening.
A panel of 651 judges from around the world reviewed restaurants in 70 different countries to compile this year’s S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant list.
El Bulli’s success relegated The Fat Duck in Berkshire, England, to the number two place for the second time.
The two restaurants have similar approaches to food — both are known for dishes that combine unusual ingredients using sophisticated scientific techniques.
El Bulli chef Ferran Adria is the brains behind the restaurant’s menu. He travels for six months every year in a quest for gastronomic inspiration, then returns to his Barcelona laboratory where he experiments with new tastes, temperatures and textures.
Read more.
So, next time you’re in the area, check out El Bulli.
A restaurant in Spain has been named by an international panel of judges as the World’s Best Restaurant for the second year running.
El Bulli, near Barcelona, claimed the top spot in this year’s list of the 50 best places to eat, announced in London on Monday evening.
A panel of 651 judges from around the world reviewed restaurants in 70 different countries to compile this year’s S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant list.
El Bulli’s success relegated The Fat Duck in Berkshire, England, to the number two place for the second time.
The two restaurants have similar approaches to food — both are known for dishes that combine unusual ingredients using sophisticated scientific techniques.
El Bulli chef Ferran Adria is the brains behind the restaurant’s menu. He travels for six months every year in a quest for gastronomic inspiration, then returns to his Barcelona laboratory where he experiments with new tastes, temperatures and textures.
Read more.
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