Food

15 Things to Eat (and Drink) in Scotland

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If you’re like me, whenever you hear of Scottish food, you probably think of Haggis.  But with the country’s changing eating habits, Scotland has evolved to be a culinary destination for food lovers with a strong emphasis on fresh and locally sourced produce. With the Atlantic ocean on its doorstep and plenty of rolling green hills means an abundance of fresh seafood, succulent beef, and wild game. You can eat extremely well from the big cities to the furthest isles. Fine bistros, cozy pubs, quirky cafés, and everything in between offer delicious fare. Here is a list of all the food (and drinks) you should try while visiting Scotland: Continue reading →

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Eating in New Zealand

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One of my all time favorite things about travelling is the food!  I am always excited to try exciting new flavors, cuisine, and fresh local produce. New Zealand is not only known for their unbelievable natural scenery, Lord of the Ring movies, and a massive population of sheep, but also their amazing food.  Their cuisine is an interesting mix of Polynesian, Asian, and European flavors.

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Eating in Kuala Lumpur

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In Kuala Lumpur, we continued our eating streak, fitting in 4-5 meals a day. I’m not kidding. We started early in the morning each day, and we ate all the way until night, and repeat. It’s probably a good thing that KL is a big place and we got to walk around between meals to help digest the food.

When it comes to eating out, there is a great variety of cuisine in Kuala Lumpur, all for very affordable prices. The food reflects the ethnic mix of the local population with a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian with influences from across South East Asia. Malaysia is known for its love of rich flavors and generous use of spices and ingredients such as coconut milk, lemon grass, kaffir lime, tamarind, ginger and galangal. When it comes to spices, few foods illustrate this as well as the national dish – Laksa. Continue reading →

Eating in Lisbon

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To me, eating is the best way to appreciate and explore a new country and culture.  It is always the favorite part of my trips – and the most memorable.  A good dish is something that I will remember for the rest of my life when memories of the city long fade into the cobwebs of my mind.  Portugal has fast become my favorite European country for food.  As you know, I had a really positive experience eating in Porto and couldn’t wait to try the cuisine in Lisbon.  Continue reading →

Eating in Porto

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A long drawn out dinner filled with good cheap wine and hearty food was our experience while eating in Porto, a city that is about so much more than port wine. The dining scene in Porto has evolved over the years to become the next food destination of Europe.  The unpretentious authentic northern Portuguese cuisine revolves around fresh local produce with delicacies such as francesinhas, sardinhas, and bacalhau taking center stage.  We had many memorable dishes from a cheesy, oozy sandwich to freshly grilled fish. Here are a few of the restaurants we’ve visited during our stay in Porto: Continue reading →

Eating in Mandalay

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Since Burma was quite insulated until recently, Burmese food has not had a chance to spread to other parts of the world.  Like most people, we had not tried Burmese food before setting foot in Myanmar.  In fact, we’re still hard pressed to find an authentic Burmese restaurant in New York, our melting pot city.  Our journey around the country was also a culinary learning experience.  While there are some similarities and influences derived from other Asian cuisines, some dishes we tried were quite unique and like nothing we have had before.   Similar to what we found in Yangon, food in Mandalay is both delicious and inexpensive, two of my favorite things. In fact, this is where we had some of the best and most memorable food of the trip. Continue reading →

Eating in Yangon

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Every time we travel out of the country, we get the same warning from our doctor: do not partake in street food.  Each and every single time, we chose to ignore that advice because to me, eating street food is half the fun of travel.  It’s where you get to try the most authentic local cuisine that also just happens to be super affordable.  That’s exactly what we did in Yangon.  Our motto was: forget the pizza and hamburgers (not that there are a lot McDonalds there),  jump in and try something that you won’t be able to get at home. Continue reading →

Eating in Rio

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Rio is often known for its gorgeous beaches and natural attractions, but you’ll be missing out if you don’t try the amazing food. It’s normal to over-indulge when you visit Brazil.  The country’s rich history and diverse culture results in a mix of cuisine  with flavors influenced from Africa, Portugal, and Japan. The city’s unique atmosphere makes the eating and drinking experience even more enjoyable. It’s no surprise that the people here love to eat, especially meat. From street food to traditional BBQs to upscale restaurants, there is a place to suit every palette.  The meals in Rio can be long drawn out affairs with many side dishes.  The remarkable thing is how everyone manages stay fit after so much food!  Based on our short stay, here are a few places to eat and drink in Rio:

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Eating in Prague

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Many people are drawn to Prague for its incredible history, magnificent spires, and old-world charm, but you don’t often hear about Czech cuisine.   There are a lot of great eating options in this beautiful city: from traditional fares, to home-cooked staples, to tempting street food; there is a deep-rooted culinary tradition inspired by classic dishes from the nearby countries of Germany, Poland, and Austria.  Prague’s classic dish is usually a large platter of meat (did I mention that there are A LOT of meat?), bread, sauerkraut, and of course beer to wash it all down.  Luckily, their world-famous golden lager is usually cheaper than water. Whether you’re dining on the street or on a hill terrace, the food remains highly affordable by North American standards. Here are a few places to eat in Prague:

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