Tasty Destination - Food & Travel

Feel like eating more than an entrée and a salad? When the mood to feast on sumptuous servings strikes, the best way to go is to hit up the buffet. In no particular order, here are ten of the best, tried and tested, value for money buffets that will leave you with a satisfied tummy and two thumbs up: 1.     The Hotel Experience: Spiral at Sofitel Spiral reopened two years ago to bring a bigger and better continental buffet selection. Apart from the usual must-reach-out-for goodies like their famous chocolate chip cookies and mouthwatering grilled meats, one shouldn’t miss checking out the Cheese Room. Imagine being surrounded by Brie, Camembert and other cheeses, replete with a variety of crackers, grapes and other cheese-loving accouterments. As the price is definitely on the steep side, it is a must to come on an empty stomach and the determination to try as many cuisines as possible. Budget: Allocate P3,000 per head. Website:  http://spiralmanila.com ...

Summer is just around the corner and that means so is grill season, the time when you relax outdoors with friends and family, all gathered around to watch—and sample—your magnificent grill feats.  But are your grill chops up to snuff?  With a foodie sweep taking the nation, BBQ starring in several TV shows and even high-end chefs getting into the BBQ craze, expectations are running pretty high.  Not to worry, we’ll show you how to BBQ like a Pitmaster Pro. Know Your Grill Every master needs to know his or her instrument, whether that be a surgeon and a scalpel, a mechanic with a torque wrench, or a master Flamenco guitarist.  For Pitmasters that means knowing your grill : knowing the hot spots, the cold spots, how much temperature is lost through to grill cover or hood—which can make a dramatic impact on foods that require a long time to cook, like pork tenderloins, turkeys or the smoking of briskets and ribs.  So many grilling instructions for meats and ot...

When you think of traditional British food you immediately think of bangers and mash, fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. In fact Britain's best dishes are set according to area; what is a stable diet in Liverpool may not be the traditional favourite in Cornwall. Scouse Scouse is a homely dish that you will find in Liverpool. The dish was originally introduced by European sailors who called in Labskause, eventually the name evolved to Scouse which was eaten by sailors and their families. Today this delicious heart-warming meal is a dish that makes any Liverpudlian feel at home. Scouse is usually made from lamb with potato, carrots and onion to form a mouth-watering and warming dish perfect for winter. If you order what you need in your veg boxes you can make this delightful feast next time you have a friend visiting from Liverpool. The Famous Cornish pasty The Cornish pasty dates back centuries and was originally made for miners enabling them to get a full meal when they ...

Most of us are familiar with Route 66 at least in name, it being one of the US's most famous historic highways. Personally, I think it is the ultimate road trip destination - after all, is there any road that's more iconic? As well as simply being an amazing slice of US history, Route 66 is peppered with fantastic places to eat, with the food they serve being almost as famous as the road itself. So, this post aims to show you some of the best things to eat while driving Route 66 - enjoy! 1) A 72 oz steak Let's start with one of the most famous things, shall we? The 72 oz steak that's served at the Big Texan Steak Ranch is an eating challenge known across the country and even beyond, thanks to appearances on TV programmes like Man vs Food. Provided you can eat this absolute whopper of a meal, your steak will be served to you absolutely free of charge! Regardless of whether you actually believe you can eat the steak or not, I think this challenge is one that's ...

I don't know about you, but one of my absolute favourite things about going on any holiday, whether it's a quick weekend break or a long, luxurious getaway, is sampling the local food. You might think that this is only exciting if you're heading abroad, but actually, trying local dishes is a real highlight of traveling around the UK. If you're planning a trip to Dorset any time soon, you're in for a particular treat! A quick introduction to Dorset classics Dorset is a county famous for its gorgeous scenery - but it's also got a fantastic reputation for its food. Its position on the coast means it's a brilliant place to sample the freshest local fish, while its acre upon acre of pastureland means it is also known for its dairy products. Personally, I particularly love the luxury ice cream, but you might be more enticed by the prospect of Dorset Blue (also known as Blue Vinny) cheese. I also recommend the local cider and ales, while indulging in some Dor...

When you’re busy with work and life, it’s really easy to fall back on the same boring recipes you always throw together for dinner.  That’s why one of the best, most anticipated things about traveling is being able to get out of your normal routine and sample different types of food. If you’re planning a holiday to Tunisia, your taste buds are in for a treat. Tunisia, the smallest country on the North African coast , draws culinary influences from many sources. Because Tunisia has suffered under many different colonial rulers over the past centuries, the food mixes elements of French, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine with native North African flavours. Tunisian cooking tends to be spicy, but not all dishes tend this way – one of the most famous dishes to come from Tunisia is couscous. Mixed with peppers, chickpeas, potatoes and meat, couscous is a hearty dinner that can be mild enough for even the faintest of heart. Lamb is a common meat found in many Tunisian dishes, but ...

Start off your holiday party or Christmas dinner on the right foot with savory treats for guests to snack on as they arrive. Even Santa thinks that many of these are better than milk and cookies, and you'll probably find some recipes that you keep coming back to year after year. Prepare several different types of Christmas appetizers so guests have options to choose from and everyone can find something they love. Parmesan and Artichoke Dip Bringing a steaming hot dip out of the oven right before your party begins is the perfect way to invite guests over to load up their plates with appetizers. This recipe brings together the sharp flavors of Parmesan cheese and artichoke hearts in an undeniably delicious and creamy dip. What You Need • 1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1 cup mayonnaise • 1 clove garlic, minced • 2 Tbsp. chopped tomatoes • 1 green onion, sliced Make It • HEAT oven to 350ºF. • MIX first 4 i...

Hawaii is considered one of the best vacation spots in the United States and is visited by millions of people each year. The weather is warm and tropical all year and there are plenty of beautiful beaches to hang out at in Hawaii. This beautiful vacation spot is also filled with plenty of restaurants. Here are the top five places to eat in Hawaii. 1. 12th Avenue Grill If you are in the mood for classic American food, stop by 12th Avenue Grill. When you open up the menu, you will find dishes like pork chops, short ribs, baked macaroni and cheese and beef tenderloin. If you still have room for dessert after your meal, try the crème brulee or chocolate cake. 2. Mermaids Café Mermaids Café is the perfect restaurant to go to if you want to eat something healthy. All of the dishes are homemade and cooked with the freshest ingredients. Some of the items featured on the menu include tofu wraps, tropical tacos, organic salads and chicken stir-fry noodle plates. The staff will treat yo...

Take your significant other into a moment of Zen while you watch the sun ease the stress out of you. The gentle music playing in the background really calms any worries you have. Relax in one of London’s rooftop venues as the rush of horns go off in the busy capital right under you. There’s not a single thing that can ruin the moment you’re experiencing. Here are London’s best rooftop bars and restaurants that will give you a view you’ll never forget. The Oxo Tower Terrace Many of the rooftop luxurious in London come with high costs. They are, after all, the epitome of an elegant wine and dine experience. The Oxo Tower, owned by the Harvey Nichols group, is nothing short of brilliant. The real stunner is their set-menu deals, though. A course of two with a bottle of wine only costs £25. The Terrace is definitely worth a visit—despite being amongst the best central London hotels , it remains relatively cheap. It makes for the perfect romantic getaway. The quality of service and...

When visiting New York City, it may be important to you to enjoy fine dining restaurants, bars and lounges. If you are not in the market to experience these spots daily, then you will want to take special care in researching for the one-time event that you are planning. It is important to know how much you may want to spend, what area of the city will you frequent and most especially, the type of food that you desire. There are so many fine restaurants in New York City. Many restaurants compete to be the very best at preparing their highly advertised, specialty items. They all work very hard to earn their money and to give their customers a most memorable experience. They each hope that you will be talking about them long after they have served you your meal. They hope that you will recommend them to your friends who plan to be visiting the city. There are various city locales, such as Greenwich, Manhattan or Soho. All of these are experiences of unique downtown areas. Some restau...

Finding the right wine to accompany a spicy dish can be quite tricky. Get it wrong and your more heat-sensitive diners won't thank you for it- heavily oaked wines or those with a high tannin level can are certainly best avoided, as they can add to the heat rather than provide a cooling contrast. On the other hand, you don't want to serve a wine that will be completely overpowered by the strong flavors of the food. However, get the pairing right and a good wine choice can make a pleasant meal into something really special. There are plenty of wonderful (and reasonably priced) wines that go beautifully with richly spiced Asian dishes. With a little help you should be able to get all the information you need from the label on the back of the bottle, but here are a few suggestions to get you started: 1. Vegetable samosas and Dr Loosen Riesling A good veggie samosa is a masterpiece of spices and flavors, wrapped in just enough pastry to deliver a satisfying crunch. A Riesl...

Phuket has been on our radar for sometime as a popular holiday destination and we have been monitoring it for some time. When we finally made it to the Island, we found that it was better than we ever imagined. The island province offers a wealth of exhilarating activities custom designed with the tourist or visitor in mind. While having some good money is a plus, this is one of the few places across the face of the earth that allows you a lot at no money or very little if any. If you are looking for a place to be yourself, then you will find Phuket as the place to be. For us, both my wife and I, we found it as the excellent place worth basing our day-trips into the huge number of dive spots surrounding the Island. Also, if you would like to depart to some of the many liveaboard types of dive trips, Phuket is the place to be. We used it to depart to fabulous visits to Mergui Archipelago and Simmillan Islands. While there are a number of Padi 5-star dive operators in Patong with their...

Foodie confession time: I’ve eaten at a certain well-known fast food restaurant in at least seven countries that I recall. In my youth, far from home, I was comforted by the familiar saltiness of French fries and was intrigued by the slight variations in ketchup on the burgers. I might even have a hamburguesa wrapper tucked away in a scrapbook. Now that my palate has expanded and I’ve learned more about the importance of local food, my taste buds have become an integral part of exploring wherever my travels take me. Terroir is something that has long been appreciated in the world of wine; I’ve discovered that it applies equally well to foods. Every meal provides the chance to learn a little more about the culture, heritage, environment, and taste of a given location. Blood Pudding  by  Mrs. Gemstone The haggis  by  Duncan Brown (Cradlehall) I deeply regret having been to Edinborough and at the time not daring to try the haggis; London and not tryin...

Travelling is always an exciting experience, but it can be dangerous as well. Many travelers find themselves sitting in cramped airplane cabinets, breathing recycled air and spending hours in close quarters with possibly sick passengers. Destinations may be breeding grounds for germs that are relatively harmless to locals, while newcomers find themselves fighting off illness due to a lack of conditioned immunity. This shouldn't scare anyone away from the many joys of travel. Indeed, the experiences found far away from home can be the most memorable and precious. However, it is vital to your health to maintain a strong immune system while you travel. Try to incorporate foods rich in probiotics into your daily diet to build up immune defenses even before travelling is a consideration. Fermented foods and cultured dairy can be excellent additions to your diet. Be sure to take in lots of fiber and consume foods that are easy on the digestive system. Dense, overly processed foods s...

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There are certainly many types of cuisines throughout the world. American cuisine, Italian cuisine, French cuisine, the possibilities are endless. However, one of my favourite types of food is Asian cuisine. One of the most popular types of Asian dishes to date is yes, stir-fry. Stir-fry, originating from China is incorporates two types of cooking techniques. Chao and Bao, chao is similar to western style "sauteing" but instead using a wok. Bao is similar to Chao but the wok is heated to a dull red glow, ingredients are cooked consistently with no stopping in between, unlike chao. Today's recipe is one of my favorite recipes to make, inspired by my trips across Asia and from local restaurants around here that also does great catering in London Ontario . By  poopoorama Chicken Stir Fry with Thai Peanut Sauce • 1 pound of Chicken Breast, cut to 1 inch pieces • 1 pound of Shitake Mushrooms, stems removed and cut into large pieces • ½ cup of Unsalted Ca...

Kimbap   Some rights reserved  by  gamene If you find yourself lucky enough to travel to South Korea, the next challenge is to try as many of the dishes as possible. With limited time and only so much your stomach can handle, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly which dishes to eat. It’s hard to narrow down the list to a few items, but the following are the top 10 Korean dishes that must be tried while in South Korea: 1. Kimchi When it comes to Korean cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is kimchi. This fermented dish is made of napa cabbage, radish, and other vegetables, along with a variety of seasonings. A common sight at Korean tables, kimchi is both eaten on its own and combined with a variety of other dishes. 2. Ddeokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)  This dish is most commonly seen in street vendors around South Korea, and is made from cooking rice cakes in a spicy sauce. A variety of other ingredients can also be added to this dish, ranging fr...

Pasta The belief that Paris is Europe’s undisputed gastronomy capital is outdated at best. In recent years, several other European cities have stepped into the limelight and won over the taste buds of tourists. Italy boasts several culinary contenders, including Sorrento, Siena, Rome, and Florence, the last of which has become a particular tourist favourite; Copenhagen, San Sebastian, and Barcelona also receive honourable mentions. But perhaps the most surprising city to claim a spot in the world culinary competition is London, a city that has suffered from a negative—if bland—culinary image for far too long. Over the past decade, London has been lauded by food critics and tourists alike for its gastronomic diversity and innovation. In fact, four London restaurants made the list of the Top 10 European Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2012, putting the rest of Europe to shame. What makes London an exciting culinary destination is that in recent years, the cit...

When it comes to Israel travel, no trip is complete without experiencing full range of Israeli culture – which includes, of course, Israeli food! From falafel and hummus to shwarma, couscous, and shakshooka, the list of Israeli culinary delights is long and tasty…  Falafel image by: Tasty Kitchen Israel is famous for many things: ancient Biblical sites, historical monuments, revolutionary archeological discoveries, breathtaking scenery, adventurous hikes, reviving the Modern Hebrew language, famous scientific inventions, and more. Israel is also renowned for its many achievements in the areas of dance, sports, theater, fashion, literature, music, and cinema. However when it comes to cuisine, Israeli food really takes the cake! As you travel through Israel and enjoy its diverse landscape, grab a bite of an authentic Israeli breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you're not sure what's on the menu in many Israeli homes these days or what street foods will leave your taste bud...

Whether you're heading to some sun-drenched shore, hitting the slopes at your favorite ski resort, or taking the Grand Tour of Europe during your hard-earned, weeks-long sabbatical, it's in your best interest to make sure that you do everything in your power to ensure that you remain healthy during and after your trip. After all, it's going to be awfully hard to muster up the energy to see the sights when you're suffering from heat exhaustion, withdrawal from prescription medication, or malaria, just for example. So before you hit the road for parts unknown, here are a few tips to help you stay healthy during your time as a tourist . 1. Immunizations. If you're traveling to a foreign country you'd better hope you left enough time for the many immunizations you might need. Your country of origin may not be subject to ailments like malaria, diphtheria, or hepatitis A, for example, but that doesn't mean you won't be exposed to such diseases should you tr...