Archive for category: Food

World cuisine can do so much more than pamper our sense of taste; it can also open new doors to different cultures and traditions, each of which has fantastic stories about the value of food to our lives. According to research by The American Culinary Traveler, around 88.2% of people consider gastronomy a defining element of travel destinations. If you are seeking inspiration for the perfect spot to visit, take a look at our small selection of food trends worth trying!

Around the world in a day

If you love Mexican, Japanese, or Spanish food, why choose just one? Savvy restaurants like El Celler de Can Roca in Spain are offering bites from different culinary traditions in one elaborate tasting menu. How does starting your meal with a burrito with mole and guacamole sound, followed by a Turkish vine leaf tartlet with lentil puree, eggplant and spices sound? China is next, then Morocco, Korea, and more influences that are well loved by sophisticated palates that enjoy exciting and surprising ingredients.

Probiotics: You are what you eat

The health and organic food industries are booming across the globe, with Europe and the U.S. making up the biggest demands for foods that feed the body, mind, and soul. Probiotic dishes, containing live bacteria and yeasts wielding a wealth of benefits, are making their way into sophisticated and family restaurants alike. One Arizona restaurant, Farm & Craft, has a wellness menu that incorporates probiotic classics like kombucha into dishes and beverages alike. Founder Ryan Hibbert notes that wellness offerings “focus on four main topics for optimal health: increasing your daily probiotic intake, boosting your immune system, reducing your stress level and enhancing an antioxidant diet.” In London, meanwhile, diners are raving over dishes like spinach and tofu miso soup or pork served with vegetables and kimchi, at Gaya restaurant.

Food swaps

In line with the penchant for health foods come substitutions for carb-rich or refined ingredients. Think cauliflower for pizza crust, spiralized zucchini for pasta, and dates mixed with orange juice instead of syrup. As noted by strategic food designer, Marielle Bordewijk, Magioni’s cauliflower pizza crusts and Halo Top’s Non-Dairy, Vegan ice-cream (made with coconut milk, prebiotic fiber and other healthy ingredients) are doing a roaring trade. It is relatively easy to opt for low-sugar, low-starch foods these days, with restaurants and supermarkets alike providing inspiration for healthier home cooking.

Haute cuisine tapas

Gourmets across the globe love Spanish tapas (small dishes served alongside great wine or Cava), but these days, presentation is everything. This is evident in restaurants like Bodega 1900, opened in Barcelona by master chef Albert Adrià (brother of ‘Father of Molecular Cuisine’, Ferran Adrià). Sa Brisa Gastro Bar in Ibiza, meanwhile, serves traditional tapas in a brand new way, using ingredients native to countries like Peru or Japan and presenting each dish as though it were a piece of contemporary art.

We have mentioned just a few food trends taking over the gastronomic world but there are so many more – including the penchant for regional cuisine, purely plant-based dishes, and eco packaging for foods. Travel is the best way to experiences these trends, taking home their influences to whip up dishes your friends and family will love. In general, health and sustainability will be big, and as for artistry – isn’t all great food a work of art?

It often feels like we’re nothing but compromises when it comes to eating well. You could have a delicious steak on the table, or you could opt for a salad. It doesn’t take a food lover to see that this isn’t quite a fair trade! But here’s the thing: very often, it’s not about making big changes, ones that fundamentally change your enjoyment of the meal. In many cases, there’s a healthier alternative available; not replacement, alternative. Below, we take a look at some of the easy food substitutions that will have you eating well, without losing any flavour – indeed, some of these alternatives are even tastier than the originals!

Get Rid of Potato Crisps

It’s understandable that we have a packet of something to hand when we’re at home, watching a movie on a chilly evening. But do they always have to be fattening options? No! If you’re determined to have potato chips, then switch to baked chips as opposed to fried; they’re much healthier. You can also make super healthy options, such as apple chips and kale chips, in your own kitchen. Kale chips in particularly delicious; throw on some salt and you won’t go back to regular chips.

Dairy Products

In our coffees, in our foods; dairy products make up a large part of our diets. If you’re still plugging away with full-fat milk, then it’s high time you make the switch to 2% or less. It doesn’t quite have the creaminess of the 4% stuff, but it’s far from a poor alternative – indeed, you likely won’t notice. When it comes to cheese in things like salads, take a look at marinated fetta cheese. It’s delicious and is known as the “world’s healthiest cheese” by the people who monitor such things. Nice!

Go Darker Green

You’re hopefully eating a lot of greens anyway, but you would be helping yourself if you make the switch to darker greens. While things like lettuce and other watery greens are fine, things like spinach, kale, and watercress are jam-packed with nutrients and minerals. They’re typically tastier too, so you’ll be improving your meals at the same time, too.

Try Veggie Equivalents

Now, we know that some people don’t want to follow a vegetarian diet, but there are benefits to making a few subtle changes. A veggie burger, for example, is much better for you than a hamburger, and can be truly delicious – especially if they’re homemade! In things like curries and chilies, leave the meat out altogether – it adds very little to a dish which is all about the flavor.

Avocado Over Mayo

Finally, our favourite one – an excuse to eat even more avocados! When it comes to your sandwiches, leave the mayo in the fridge, and instead spread avocado. It’s a delicious, healthy option.

If you’re looking to slim down, or just all-around ensure that you’re getting everything your body needs to feel well, make sure you’re topping up your cupboards and fridges with the ingredients above.

Sometimes, we all need a little help in the morning. Caffeine has been being used for this purpose for thousands of years, providing a boost on the days when sleep alone doesn’t quite seem to have been able to get the job done.

For most of us, caffeine comes from a single source: coffee. Coffee consumption has reached almost cultish levels; have you ever seen the number of different items you can buy, proclaiming your love for coffee? Drink coffee, it seems, and you confirm yourself as a sophisticated adult.

The problem is, drinking the same beverage day in and day out can get a little… well… boring. Yet you’re in need of a caffeine fix, so you stick with the coffee because what else can you do?

Well, here are a few options for caffeinated beverages that don’t include coffee in the line up. Why not see if something sounds tempting enough for you to want to give it a try?

1. Green Tea

Okay, so, green tea. Let’s be real about this. Green tea is not nice. Few – if any – people have ever tried their first sip of green tea and muttered: “ooh that’s good!”. Even when compared to even the bitterest of coffees, it’s still not going to come out on top.

However, green tea is caffeinated. Not as much as coffee – you’d need to drink three cups of green tea for the same amount of caffeine as found in a single coffee – but it’s there. There are various ways to make green tea more palatable as well, such as honey and a slice of lemon. Given that green tea also has a myriad of health benefits, it’s worth considering.

2. Chai Latte

You may be familiar with the word ‘latte’, but chances are you primarily associate it with coffee. However, the Chai latte is a different beast; for a start, it’s made from tea rather than coffee. It’s a unique taste that still has the delicious creaminess of the coffee version. Along with a gorgeous blend of spices, it’s comforting and tasty, while having a little zing to it also.

There’s plenty of caffeine to be found in a Chai latte as well. Again, it’s not quite as much as coffee, but it’ll be enough to perk you up when you need some help in the morning.

3. Pu-erh Tea

As our final option, let’s explore something a little more esoteric. Unless you’re a real tea aficionado, chances are you’ve never heard of Pu-erh tea. While it is slowly making its way into markets around the world, it’s still something of a hidden secret.

Pu-erh is Chinese in origin – and if any nation knows their tea, it’s the Chinese. Unlike regular black or green tea, Pu-erh goes through a different – and longer – fermentation process. The result is a delicious tea with a malt kick to it. If you have trouble sourcing Pu-erh tea, your best option might be eBay – you can usually buy it loose leaf and then brew it yourself.

So while coffee may rule the roost, there are plenty of other options for your caffeine fix – so why not give one a try?

In the early part of the 20th century, Western cuisine was slightly mundane and less adventurous than it now. The younger generation can’t even contemplate not having the plethora of cuisine choice they do now as so many people didn’t have. The thought of eating raw fish was thought of as not just strange, but it carried with it a stigma of uncivilized eating. Who would have thought that America would become the home away from home for so many sushi chefs plying their trade. Yet, now this Japanese delicacy has become synonymous with fine dining and those who know their fish are seen as cultured and sophisticated. The food was made palatable for the North American audiences by not using such strong and pungent flavored fish. This caught on particularly in Hollywood, with the advent of the ‘California Roll.’ From cozy residential neighborhoods to high-rise apartment buildings, most people of every wealth class enjoys the unique combination of fish and rice.

Masa, New York City

Are you a sushi fanatic looking to tour some of the finest Japanese cuisine outside of Japan? New York City, the undeniable hotspot for the best sushi on the East Coast. Masa Takayama is a sushi master, with a calm, precise and instinctive knife hand. His fugu sashimi which includes delicate cuts of liver is well worth the $450-per-person tariff for the particular menu it features in. The generous helping of rich, black caviar seems to justify the price of admission. Masa’s stuffed maki rolls are juicy and the salt of the sea explodes in your mouth with each bite. His pride and joy is located in Manhattan’s Time Warner Centre, so expect to be surrounded by sophisticated architecture and people who follow traditional customs.

Naoe, Miami

Miami is a city of Cuban influence and sunshine is almost treated as the currency, as the bright beach culture is what has made it be the everlasting image. Sushi lovers will be can enjoy a little slice of heaven made by the hands of Kevin Cory also known as the Omakase King. Forbes’ Travel Guide gave the establishment a five-star review, and it’s plain to see why. There’s a horse mackerel dish topped with freshly grated wasabi. Some of the best fresh-roasted basted eel and cured squid sushi you’ll ever find anywhere. The careful selection of ingredients goes hand in hand with the restaurant’s ethos of Japanese customs of politeness and dedication to the craft.

Photo by – Ron Dollete

Sushi Zo, Los Angeles

A taste of American-Japanese cuisine just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the West Coast. For some time it was a secret, but chef Keizo Seki has a no-nonsense traditional sushi chef approach that has lured in a more refined class of sushi lover. Somewhat of a purest, Seki’s course of expertly cut and seasoned nigiri is one of the staples of the restaurant. With beautifully presented dishes of seaweed and raw crab, you’ll want to savour every bite of the internationally sourced produce at Sushi Zo.

It’s a staple and one of the most widely enjoyed meals by meat-lovers around the world. Sometimes, nothing scratches the itch or fills you up just as much as steak does. But the truth is that a lot of people simply cook it wrong. If you’re ever making steak for you and your friends, you need to make sure you do it right.

It’s an involved process

There’s a set order to preparing a steak and failing it is a big mistake. For instance, you need to take it out of the fridge before cooking and let it come to room temperature so it cooks exactly as even as you want it to. Make sure you season it before you throw it on the pan too. Otherwise, it’s not going to be seasoned so much as dusted with added touches that will likely fall off it while it’s being cut up and eaten. You can season it as it cooks and releases the juices, too, with things like butter and thyme. Six minutes is the optimal cooking time for a medium-rare steak, but it’s not going to turn out well unless you turn it every minute. Finally, when it’s done, don’t serve it immediately. Let it sit on a hot plate for a minute so the juices can gather before you start carving and serving.

It’s all about the contrast

Few things taste better than a juicy, well-made steak. But it’s a taste that you can get bored of if you don’t have the right contrast. It’s not enough to just serve a steak with a simple staple like potatoes. The best sides are a little more flavoursome, Pearl onions, and add a tart sweetness that does well to liven up the heavier taste of steak.

Different cuts deserve different wines

If you’re serving wine with your steak, then it’s good to base the choice off what cut you’re serving. We all know red wine goes best with steak, but there are plenty of different kinds of red wines. With leaner cuts, like top sirloin, then you want something light like Shiraz. For fattier cuts like a porterhouse, it’s all about those sweet, tannin-riddle flavours like a cabernet or maybe even a port.

Counteract the bloating

Steak is very filling. If you have even a few ingredients that cause bloating to go along with it, it can really make the post-dinner relaxation very uncomfortable. Instead, counteract it by serving the meal with tomatoes or asparagus. A banana and blueberry fruit pot after or even a cup of green tea can help people regain some control over their belly after they’ve had such a big meal.

When it’s done wrong, steak is more of a chore than something to enjoy. It’s not a pleasant eating experience and it can make you feel a little worse for the wear after. Make sure you know how to serve steak properly before you start throwing poorly prepared slabs of meat at everybody.

British cuisine is known for its specific set of cooking traditions, which have been passed down for centuries. Regardless of what the French might think of English cooking, they can pack a punch, given that they are made with fresh local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate the flavour, rather than disguise it. British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish. It is generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable.

Even the full English breakfast is a mighty meal by itself. It is delicious and usually inexpensive. To enjoy this meal and many others to the fullest, stay at great value budget hotels in Earls Court, such as Hotel Lily, which offers a breakfast that consists of sausages, mushrooms, eggs, tomatoes, potatoes and more.

5 Traditional Dishes to Try While in London

Here are five must try dishes during your stay in the capital of the UK:

1. Fish & Chips: Traditional Fish & Chips has been on the top of any foodie’s list for not just decades, but maybe centuries, for times when they visit London. The dish is a combination of fried battered fish and hot chips. They are often garnished with salt and vinegar and are traditionally eaten with mushy peas.
2. Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding: A true British classic, the Sunday Roast is typically served on Sunday, as the name suggests. It consists of roasted meat, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and accompanied by Yorkshire Pudding. The pudding is made of batter consisting of eggs, flour and milk or water. You’ll find this dish in the menu of almost all cheap & budget hotels in Earls Court. The size of the dish is such that you might find it difficult to finish all by yourself!
3. Pie and Mash: This has been the staple diet of Londoners for centuries. It is traditional working-class food that originated inthe city itself. The dish has come a long way from the simple steak and kidney pie to pork pies. You’ll have a whole plethora of pie types to choose from in Britain. The pie is served with a pile of creamy mashed potatoes and lashings of gravy.
4. Eton Mess: A traditionalEnglish dessert, this dish is a fabulous mix of crushed meringue, whipped heavy cream and strawberries. However, several variants are made using different kinds of fruits or with ice cream instead of simple cream. But nothing can beat the classic strawberry version.
5. Beef Wellington: Moorish, flaky and filling, Beef Wellington is a standard British classic, made of filet steak, covered with pate and duxelles. It is then wrapped in a puff pastry and baked. However, the tenderloin may be sliced into individual portions prior to wrapping and baking. Spices like allspice and ginger are added to enhance the flavour.

For a great experience and best value, stay at the reputable budget hotels near Earls Court Station. And, the next time you visit London, don’t miss out on enjoying the ultimate British tradition, the afternoon tea, which begins with a glass of champagne-rose. Accompanied with finger sandwiches and scones, lathered with fig and strawberry jam, along with pastries that include a tangy citrus meringue and pistachio profiterole. The list goes on!