European Foods You NEED To Try

two people european foods

European Foods You NEED To TryCalling all foodies, when you are on your travels in Europe, here are some things to keep an eye out for, as advised by some of the world’s best travel advisors.

Italy

Drink Chianti in Tuscany, indulge in some Prosciutto on your Parma and savour the taste of the authentic Bolognese sauce in the city of its origin– Bologna. Learn to make pasta or simply delight in a meal of pasta al Pomodoro, which is usually prepared with fresh pasta, olive oil, just picked tomatoes, basil, and various other fresh food components. Make sure you check out the traditions of Italian cuisine and wine from the town or city of their origin, however if you can’t get there, at least try a delicious gelato while exploring Rome’s Piazza Navona. From Panini to Pancetta, check out the depth of food lover heaven when in Rome, Florence, Venice, Parma and Tuscany, and more. If you miss the food upon reutrning, make sure to check out South Yarra’s very own authethentic European bistro.

Spain

Munch your way through Andalusia, Madrid, Seville and Barcelona. Join in with the locals at the maze-like La Boqueria Market in Barcelona, taste-testing samples of regional Manchego cheese, jamón serrano and olives. Immerse yourself in the regional tapas scene in Barcelona, find out how traditional Paella is made during a cooking presentation of Spanish prepared meals and savour the scrumptious local Catalan food, from Tuna escabeche to crema Catalana.

Scotland

The Scots claim to be the best food nation in the world! Scotland’s plentiful natural food game of, dairy items, fish, fruit and vegetables allow chefs to produce meals including different seasonings and spices. From Aberdeen Angus beef, Stornoway black pudding, Arbroath Smokies and Shetland Salmon, Lock Fyne Oysters to Scottish whisky and craft beer and wine, foodies can travel around Scotland tasting regional specialities from local restaurant and wineries. Don’t miss Scotland’s national meal, the haggis, which is a savoury pudding that consists of meat mixed with oatmeal, onions, different spices and salt. There’s even haggis ice-cream and haggis-flavoured crisps and chocolate if you’re game to try!

Poland

Poland is an emerging destination for food, a destination that is also well-known for it’s Vodka. Some local meals to keep an eye out for include Kwasnica (Sauerkraut soup), placki po góralsku (potato pancakes with goulash) and smoked Sheep’s cheese. Don’t miss trying out the pierogi (Polish packed dumplings), but for those more daring foodies, you can attempt bull testicles, jellied calves’ trotters or duck blood broth with vinegar. Street food fans must keep an eye out for Zapiekanki “Polish pizza”, an open-faced baguette topped with melted cheese, sliced mushrooms and sauces, or the Obwarzanek,  which is touted as a symbol of Krakow, a chewy bread roll topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds or salt.

There are definitely more common European foods to keep an eye out for, even just to say that you’ve tried it. Like a Croissant from a breakfast restaurant in France, or a German sausage. Europe is the place your culinary dreams are made of, and with so many countries in close proximity to each other, it would be silly not to give everything a go!

Travel to India, The Blend of Cultures

taj mahal

Travel to India, The Blend of CulturesNowadays travelling to India has become very popular among tourists across the globe. More and more people want to travel to India. India is a country rich of heritage be it cultural or intellectual.

On travel to India, the tourists get to visit different cities portraying their own sweet, beautiful and magnificent culture. India is a country of diversity. In India, there are people of all religions be it Hindu, Muslims or Christians.

To visit India means to visit the world, with snowy Kashmir, urban Delhi, busy Mumbai, ethnic Kerala and beautiful Calcutta. India is such a wonderful and magnificent country to travel that people from all over the world come to travel to India and visit the amazing monuments, the beautiful theme parks and the amazing nature. Not only are there the mighty Himalayan Mountains to admire but also amazing waterfalls, beautiful rivers and fabulous sunsets.

India offers a lot of things for tourist on his travel to India to do. One cannot only visit the amazing and magnificent monuments like the mighty Taj Mahal, The elegant Qutub Minar but also the amazing temples of Amritsar, the beautiful mosques of Delhi and the serene churches or Pondicherry. Not only have that but one can enjoy the metro in Delhi and the bridges of Kolkota. Assam and Darjeeling well known for tea production are famous for making your eyes widen and your jaws drop. Bangalore, which is the major IT hub of India, is so amazing that one is enthralled by the beautiful high rise buildings and the busy rush that entails.

One can also enjoy the hot bollywood flicks with lots of music and dance and if you are in for something traditional try out the serene southern states. India is such a beautiful mix of various cultures that one cannot stop himself from admiring this country while on his or her travel to India.

Why I love Community Produce Grocers

groceries

No matter where I travel around the world, nothing beats coming home. I have seen many fresh produce markets in many many countries and there are some that are world renowned but there is one very close to home that doesn’t have the worlds attention just yet but it is my tip that it will soon.

I begin my Saturday with an early rise and a simple yet delicious Potato & Salmon Rosti Stack at one of my favourite breakfast cafes. Today, before lunch I’m off to the Yarra Valley to check out a cool and hip little produce grocer that sources some of the best food, wine and ingredients from around the area

A Simple drive from my current Hawthorn home base, as well as conveniently situated for Valley residents, in Yarra Farm Fresh you’ll discover the best locally developed Yarra Valley produce under one roof! Yarra Farm Fresh is a pleasant, buzzing location, in which you will experience old-fashioned customer support and knowledgeable help to aid with your choices. In addition to their new produce, they also give you a plethora of gourmet products and special gift wares sourced from the Yarra Valley.

The Best of Neighborhood Seasonal Fruits and berries step to a colourful world of tasty fresh food in Yarra Farm Fresh. Select from seasonal produce sourced from yarra valley wineries and boutique growers, and revel in the best the Yarra Valley has to offer you. Yarra Farm Fresh specialises in cherry types and also you may enjoy tasting the two or three distinct varieties available daily! Yarra Farm Fresh is dedicated to freshness, therefore fruits and vegetables frequently arrive in the store only hours later harvesting! Frequent clients enjoy the relationship with the regional farmers and feel safe in the sense that their food has been grown in the valley, and also they’re supporting farming.Why I love Community Produce Grocers

What you can look forward to based on the season

Spring: The Start of Spring is indicated with the arrival of Gino’s large fat berries, Eddie’s berries and Maggie’s garlic together with a lot of different offerings, such as yummy beers in late October.

Summer: Immediately through summertime, local growers arrive everyday, bringing within their just-picked, farm fresh vegetables and fruits, such as luscious cherries, berries, apricots, peaches and other stone fruit.

Fall: Early fall is harvest season and with most Yarra Valley accommodation providers having no vacancy, the shop is brimming with customers. If you can get there in time, fall is also fig period, where customers rush to grab the plumpest of ‘Gavin’s figs’, yummy quinces, along with also the freshest walnuts.

Winter: Even winter brings pineapple and fruit supplies from local growers, like rhubarb, apples and wonderful heirloom pumpkins. Publish their seasonal calendar for a month crop time and combine with their newsletter to keep current with arrivals of fresh produce, store news, specials and availability.

The folks behind the labels are gifted, enthusiastic and innovative, and use quality components to generate a cornucopia of fantastic gourmet goods. Small family businesses like Cunliffe & Waters have assembled a well-deserved reputation as a manufacturer of several of the best handmade preserves in Australia. Their famous Tomato & Red Capsicum Relish was a best seller in their shop from the day it started! Yarra Valley Pasta is created out of exceptional culinary customs and is available frozen and fresh, complimented with their conventional sauces. It has ever been Anita’s fervent vision and mission to provide customers something special: the freshest produce right from the farm, while simultaneously at the exact same time encouraging local farmers, farming households and regional companies. They’re advocates of encouraging the local market and our neighborhood staff and clients will be the backbone of their success.

Anita Jackson enjoys everything Yarra Valley along with the title ‘Yarra Farm Straight from the farms for you personally’. Since Anita drove the doors into the tractor Drop to get a small number of consumers in December 2006, the store has developed and Grown in to the Yarra Valley meals mecca it is today. They stuck a hand-crafted sign out and within minutes of it going up they were greeted by their very first client, Paul. He requested on that first afternoon to discover what else was avaliable from the region?’ The rest is now history! You may Always find decent quality, seasonal and regional produce in Yarra Farm Fresh, with costs that reflect each year’s bounty and the aid of the neighborhood Providers.

As I head home, car boot brimming with lots of goodies, and a stomach well and truly brimming from one too many samples I can definitely say the hour drive was well worthwhile. While there’s the odd fresh food store in Melbourne that offers quality produce and a strong variety of products; there’s a rustic feel and a genuine enjoyment of small community grocers which is just lost in the booming metropolitan landscape. From the shop assistant knowing where every product came from and who ran the associated farm, to the country roads and vastness of space. While I love the city, I love that place like this continue to exist and I’ll happily take the hour drive whenever I can to support them.

Tips For Traveling with Pets

dog in carry bag

travelling with petsIf you are carrying your pets with you when you travel, there is a lot of preparation that you need to do first. Make sure that your pet is as comfortable as you can get it, not too hot and not too cold when traveling. If you are traveling by car maybe a pet carrier would be better for a kitty. A sick animal can make a trip miserable for you.

If you are going to be visiting with someone, be considerate. You need to find out in advance if the pet is welcome to come. They may have pets of their own that won’t get along with yours. Also use this rule for hotels, parks, and certain camping areas.

If you have to leave you pet in a motel room for some reason, make sure that you place the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door and tell the hotel supervisor or maid what is going on. It is a good idea to bring your kennel with you on your trip for these times. Also, it’s good if you are staying at someone house that does not want your pet running freely around the house.

Be sure your pet has its current tags on its collar. The tags should properly identify your pet with your address on it.
Make sure your pet is well-groomed before the trip that way they are nice and neat for everyone. Take the animal’s favorite toys, meal, and dishes with you if you can. This will make the animal feel more at home and help it to relax.

Have a copy of your pet’s most recent shots and medical history. You will need to have this if you are crossing some state or international borders. Some people take their pet to the vet for a checkup before they travel anywhere with it. This way they know that their animal is healthy and there should be no problems with them while they are traveling.

If your pet is going on a long journey with you in a car, there are some things that you can do to make the experience an improved one. If your animal is not used to riding in a car, you can check them out by giving them short rides in the car with you first. Some pet just don’t like to ride. I’ve got a cat that meows with every breathe as long as he is in the car.

If you can stick to the pets regular routines, like feeding and so forth. Be sure the food you carry is the food the pet likes. Also stop ever so often for your pet to stretch and do whatever. Keep your pet in the back of the car and out of your lap.