Europe a la Carte Blog

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East Lothian, located east of Edinburgh will be hosting the 8th annual Food & Drink Festival from 26 - 28 September 2008. Various events are being held to showcase the quality.local produce.

Haddington, East Lothian

The weekend kicks off with a Ceilidh with supper a the Glenkinchie Distillery on the evening of 26 September. On the morning of the 27 September there are cookery demonstrations at the Farmers Market in Haddington. The Slow Food Summer Fair is in North Berwick on 28 September from 11.30 - 15.30.

North Berwick harbour

There a couple of events for kids. On 27 September it’s Kids Food Fun Day at North Berwick from 11.30 - 15.30 and the “Kids in the Kitchen” is part of the Royal Scots Family Day at Musselburgh racecourse on 28 September.

Gourmet Glasgow launches tomorrow Monday 4 August 2008 and runs until 31 August. During this period you can enjoy £15 per head dining deals at some of Glasgow’s best restaurants. If you book online you’ll also receive a free dram of Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky. There are also event nights such as the Buccleuch Beef Night, Shellfish Evening and Dine around France.

Deep fried Mars Bar

Glasgow is keen to ditch the image of fish suppers and deep fried Mars Bars washed down with Irn Bru to project a more sophisticated culinary image.

Plenty of small towns and villages dot the landscape, and one charming spot in particular, about one hour from the good-sized city of Poznan (which is, by the way, earmarked by UNESCO) is called Miedzychod—a town of barely 1,000 people, but at least 3 large lakes and several pastry shops to die for. Don’t expect fine dining and hot night clubs here (or English menus!), but you will pass a smattering of pubs and cafes that offer you a rather tasty slice of the local cuisine and culture.

One of Miedzychod’s several lakes, copyright suchi

If you’re feeling adventurous, turn off the little main road into the forest, where you might happen upon abandoned German graves, and also have a chance to hunt for mushrooms—one of eastern Europe’s most cherished pastimes.

Wooden Man, copyright suchi

Spend the night in Hotel Neptune (this and other hotels at Travel to Poland), which stays true to its name with its lakeshore location, and ask for a lake view room. The hotel’s restaurant probably had its heyday a couple decades ago, but even when I visited, the back room was curtained off for an audibly festive anniversary party, Polish-style. Speaking of Polish style, don’t be shy to ask the waitress for a glass of Zubrowka, a sweet grass-infused vodka, mixed with apple juice, a tried and true tradition. You can also pick up a few bottles of this unique drink at the local supermarket.

If you happen to be here on a Saturday morning, head down to the weekly town bazaar to bargain for a pair of cozy house slippers, a stylish beret or locally produced honey in several delicious varieties. The jar label features the town’s name on it, making for a great keepsake.

In this guest post Diana Perez, a Spanish journalist shows us how to get off the beaten track in Barcelona.

Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist city destinations in the world. Its streets are always full of people, regardless of the season. It is the favourite holiday destination for most tourists: famous because of its good weather, its delicious Mediterranean food and its spectacular architecture – cradle of artists as important as Gaudí. But Barcelona is much more than a simple tourist city. Probably, most of you already know the typical and always crowded tourist streets, monuments, clubs, restaurants, shops or museums. But, what about `the other´ Barcelona? There is another city behind this scene: an alternative, amazing city that hosts a reach subculture. Art, music, cinema, gastronomy, and a whole world to discover!

Barceloneta by Pierre Phaneuf

Other neighbourhoods

Let’s begin with an alternative tour among the city. Everybody knows Ciutat Vella (Old Town),that includes El Barri Gòtic, El Raval and El Borne, and forms the monumental center of Barcelona. But moving away from the crowds around El Born and the Gòtic Quarter and heading down to Barceloneta, we find an old fishing village close to the harbour. It’s less crowded and feels more authentic than other parts of the city. The area was developed on a grid pattern and the narrow streets hanging with washing give it a certain air of Naples. There are lots of restaurants, specialist in seafood.

Poble Sec is a charming neighbourhood located between El Raval and Montjuic. Despite its excellent restaurants, nightlife and central location, this neighborhood is off the radar for most Barcelona visitors.

In guidebooks, Poble Sec is usually lumped in with the gardens, museums and Olympic constructions of Montjuic – if it’s even mentioned at all. But with low-key hotels and apartments available to rent, Poble Sec is a wonderful place to visit and to stay in Barcelona. It has ethnically diverse, quiet streets, real local flavour and a wide variety of dining and nightlife options.

Sarrià is a gorgeous, 1,000-year-old village. It has become a haven for petit bourgeois merchants, writers, and artists, as well as a home for many Barcelona schools occupying what were once summer mansions for the city’s commercial leaders. It’s a must to do a stop in Bar Tomás, famous for its patatas bravas (potatoes with a sauce of pounded garlic and olive oil).

Keepin’ it real in Sarria by jpvarga

Good food, better restaurants

Flash Flash (C. La Granada del Penedès, 25) was inaugurated in 1970, and has become an essential reference point. Hamburgers, steaks salads, and over 70 types of tortillas are served up in a pop-art setting of funky black-and-white murals and white leather banquettes. It’s completely authentic!

Misaki (C. Aribau, 40) is a small Japanese restaurant. It offers a very large variety of dishes and regional specialities in a familiar, cozy space. Probably, it is one of the best Asian food restaurants in Barcelona, even you will not find it in any restaurants guides. Do not expect to find a super-modern local. This is a family, small restaurant managed by Misaki, where you’ll eat quality Japanese food. Delicious!

L´Hortet (C. Pintor Fortuny, 32) is the best vegetarian restaurant and enough of a reason to travel to Barcelona! For less than 10 euros you can have a nice three course menu. Vegan vegetarian friendly place that offers a good value set menu at lunch time. Don’t miss it!

7Portes (Pg. Isabel II, 14) it is one the most classic of Barcelona’s eating-places. Here you can enjoy the finest Catalan cooking in an intimate setting or in one of the spacious banquet halls, accompanied by Spain’s best wines and “cavas” (sparking wines) from the well-stocked cellar.

Gaudi, off the beaten track

by mike 23

Gaudi’s work is admired by architects around the World as being one of the most unique and distinctive architectural styles. His works are all over Barcelona. There are some world famous Gaudi´s builds like Parc Güell, Palau Güell, Sagrada Familia, Pedrera or Casa Batlló that give Barcelona a special magic. But there are some of Gaudi´s lesser-known, beautiful contributions that you shouldn’t miss:
The Gigantic fountain in Parc de la Cuitadella
The Three Graces Fountain in Placa Reial
The amazing wrought-iron embellished street lamps that line the streets are 125-year-old originals in the heart of the city. In Plaza Reial, by Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gracia and the old port entrance.

More than culture: more music, more art, more cinemas…

MauMau: (C. Fontrodona, 33) this cultural centre and lounge club built into an old warehouse is discreetly hidden away in a quiet backstreet. It’s a unique space, ideal for all kinds of presentations and projections: art, theater, lectures and other activitie. Since May 2002, Maumau runs a Funk, Soul, HipHop & Rare Groove session, weekly at dance venue Apolo. There is an interesting weekly agenda with the best of alternative culture in Barcelona!

Antisonar: Anti-Sonar is the alternative music party to Sonar, which runs in Barcelona at the same time. It’s totally free. Whereas Sonar attracts a moneyed, trendy, international crowd, Anti-Sonar is an anarchic impromptu festival for the scruffier inhabitants of Barcelona who can’t afford or simply resent the festival and the hordes of techno tourists that take over the city for the weekend. Don’t expect any big name DJs. Expect unrelenting hard techno, and bring your own water, beer, absinthe, and sun cream, as you’ll be dancing through into the morning. Usually located on the outskirts of the city near to the Sonar by Night festival site, follow the crowds or ask around.

Cinema Maldà: (C. del Pi, 5) located in the middle of Ciutat Vella’s neighbourhood, this special cinema projects Bollywood’s movies in original version and independent movies. This spring, cinema Maldà, now known as the Maldà Arts Forum, expanded it programming and artistic offer to include other arts such as music, theatre, performance, literature or journalism. It is a must for all film fans. On top of providing high-quality cinema, Maldà allows its visitors to enjoy two films (run consecutively) for the price of one.

There are infinity proposals to enjoy of the other Barcelona: the city that many tourists and even Catalan people do not know. Look for the best alternative leisure and cultural offers of the city in `La Butxaca´, a very special leisure guide of Barcelona (it’s very difficult to find). And now, have a great and different time in this original city.

Diana recommends Apartments in Barcelona for your stay in Barcelona.

The 14th Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship took place in the Scottish Highlands yesterday. Being an exiled Scot, albeit it three miles over the Border in England, my attention was drawn to this. Now I do like to eat porridge for my breakfast some mornings but I have to admit it’s the porridge oats version cooked in the microwave, rather than the traditional recipe made with oatmeal.

The overall winner Maria Soep

The contest winner, Maria Soep, who runs a B&B in Argyllshire, triumphed against several professional chefs.

Speciality winner, Al Beaton

The Speciality winner’s concoction featured stewed apples, raisins and cinnamon topped with cream. Other entries included seafood porridge and white chocolate porridge with stewed fruit and whisky cream. The mind boggles, I think I’ll stick to my plain quick cook oat porridge served with sugar and full fat milk.

I’ve just uploaded my guide to the county of Fife. in the east of Scotland. Fife lies north of Edinburgh over the Forth Estuary. St Andrews is the best known town in Fife, due to golf and being the place of study chosen by Prince William.

Falkland Palace

However there are a lot of other places worth visiting such as the villages of Falkland, Culross and Ceres and the East Neuk of Fife, a collection of small fishing villages south of St Andrews. One of the things l really like about Fife is the variety of view over the Forth Estuary towards Edinburgh and East Lothian. I think that the best views are from Kirkcaldy, Burntisland and Kinghorn.

Burntisland from the beach 

I’ve started a swicki, an intelligent search engine, for cultural and activity holidays in Europe. If you’re thinking of a themed holiday in Europe, whether it be walking, cycling, painting, horseriding, language, water sports, tennis or cooking, try searching in the swicki. If you find any great companies you add them to the swicki and vote for your favourite site. Help build a great resource.

check out the European Cultural & Activity Tours swicki at eurekster.com

[tags]Swicki, Europe themed vacations[/tags]

I came across this interview with Maria Liberatti on her virtual book tour to promote her new book, Basic Art of Italian Cooking. The book is being described as a recipe novel versus a mere cook book. It’s about more than following the recipes, an attempt to evoke the whole experience and atmosphere of preparing the meal and bask in pleasure of eating with family and friends. The book aims to appeal to those interested in travel, food and culture.

photo by Albree

I do enjoy the food when I visit Italy. I agree with Ms Liberatti when she advises travellers to look for restaurants serving authentic local food to enhance your trip experience. If you are really into Italian food and cookery why not go on a cooking holiday in Italy.

[tags]Italian cooking, Italian recipes[/tags]

A top chef declared that he would rather eat a Big Mac than most meals served on airlines even in business class!

Photo by utkurifat                    Photo by linghuaya

What do you think? Well I reckon a Big Mac would be more filling and more recently cooked. I am inclined to take my own food with me when I fly. I like to have some fruit with me and a homemade sandwich, or even crackers and cheese, is tastier than the average economy class meal.
[tags]Big Mac, airline meals, airline food[/tags]

Today we ate the buffet lunch at the Kama Sutra Indian Restaurant at 331 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3HU, tel 0141 332 0035. I was impressed by the interior of the restaurant with it’s terracotta and blue colour scheme and the sculpture suspending from the ceiling. There was a choice of four starters, my favourite was the chicken tikka pancakes, and four main courses, two lamb curries and two chicken dishes with various accompaniments including nan bread, rice and bombay potatoes. I thought that all the food was very tasty, none of the dishes were too hot and spicy for me to eat and the meat was of good quality. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. The toilets were very clean. At £5.95 for a lunch it was excellent value for money with good food in pleasant surroundings.

Have you eaten at this restaurant, what is your opinion?

[tags]Glasgow restaurant review, Glasgow restaurants, Glasgow Indian restaurants[/tags]