Food: What do Estonians eat? Hearty, simple, country food is how traditional Estonian cuisine can be described. Like many countries in Europe, Estonia's cuisine has been influenced by foods from the neighbouring countries as well as the cuisines of the countries that used to rule Estonia, i.e. Germany, Russia, Denmark and Sweden. The German influence is predominant as Germany ruled Estonia for centuries. Food here is seasonal and relies heavily on pork, potatoes and garden … [Read more...]
Dare you eat blood sausage and jellied meat?
April 1, 2009 by
Food: What do Estonians eat? Hearty, simple, country food is how traditional Estonian cuisine can be described. Like many countries in Europe, Estonia's cuisine has been influenced by foods from the neighbouring countries as well as the cuisines of the countries that used to rule Estonia, i.e. Germany, Russia, Denmark and Sweden. The German influence is predominant as Germany ruled Estonia for centuries. Food here is seasonal and relies heavily on pork, potatoes and garden … [Read more...]
Marchfelderhof Restaurant – Vienna
March 25, 2009 by
A fun dinner at the Marchfelderhof! If you're looking for an fun and memorable place to have dinner on your Vienna holiday, you may like to head out to the Marchfelderhof Restaurant, Austria's most historical and traditional restaurant. Marchfelderhof Restaurant is a bit out of town, at A-2232 Deutsch-Wagram so you'll need to organize your transport to and back from the restaurant. Although this restaurant is frequented by tour groups, don't be concerned about it being rowdy or noisy … [Read more...]
Portuguese Tarts – Desserts
March 23, 2009 by
Oh What a Tart! Like the early explorers before it, the Portuguese tart has circumnavigated the world and today, this delectable dessert can be found in coffee shops and pastry joints around the world. Yes, I've devoured many of them in different countries, but strangely so, not in Portugal. So, I'm on a mission this summer in search of this sweet temptation! Where to find the best Portuguese tarts? Cafe de Belem, or Pasteis de Belém, at Rua de Belém 84-95 is the place to head for and the … [Read more...]
Portuguese Cuisine – What to eat on your holiday
March 20, 2009 by
Fishetarians will eat well in Portugal! Cuisine in Portugal varies by region, but being a seafaring nation with a well-developed fishing industry, fish and seafood dominate most menus. Fishetarians like Tony and I will eat well here. Portugal has been fishing and trading cod since the 15th century and it's no wonder that 'Bacalhau', a cod dish served with potatoes, is their national plate. Other popular seafoods include fresh sardines (especially when grilled as sardinhas assadas), hake, … [Read more...]
Is there more to German cuisine than sauerkraut, bratwurst and schnitzel?
March 2, 2009 by
Regensburg Bratwurst sausages may be renowned German fare, but what else is there? German cuisine and French cuisine may be neighbours geographically, but they're a long way apart in character. Whilst Germany's Oktoberfest and beer festivals are famous around the world, its food unfortunately does not enjoy the same reputation. Germany's cuisine is actually very region-based and varies according to geographical factors and access to waterways for transportation. Overwhelmed by the … [Read more...]
Swiss Cheese Fondue
February 22, 2009 by
How Swiss Cheese Fondue was invented and how to make it: When the temperature is freezing and the chill in the air is converting into goosebumps on your skin, there's nothing like some rich comfort food to ward off the cold. The Swiss cheese fondue comes to mind. Origin of the Swiss Cheese Fondue The Swiss cheese fondue, a most typical of Swiss foods, had a very humble beginning. Back in the 18th century, the long winters prevented people in the Swiss villages from getting into … [Read more...]
Swiss Cheese – more than Gruyère, but…
February 16, 2009 by
When I read that there are more than 400 varieties of Swiss cheese, I was astounded. Most non-Swiss people would only know of a handful, the most popular ones being Emmenthal and Gruyère. Still, Gruyère is undoubtedly the big cheese of the Swiss dairy industry, so when we visited the walled city of Gruyères, we of course visited the eponymous factory which is in the AOC Production area. The AOC designation, or Appelation d'Origine Contrôlée, is an official stamp of quality that … [Read more...]