When planning your next vacation, consider visiting a part of the country where you can experience one of the following cultures:

Cajun

The Cajun people descend from Acadians, who were French colonists that settled in Canada. As Acadians migrated to New Orleans and the surrounding area in Louisiana, they influenced the dialect, food and even the accent of the Louisiana area.

Cajun culture is known for its distinctive food, like jambalaya, gumbo, blackened catfish and crawfish. While many kitchens around the country now prepare these foods, if you want to experience the best in Cajun cooking, plan a trip to Louisiana.

photo credit: cloverleaf.ca

Amish

The Amish people have sworn off many modern comforts and chosen to instead lead a simple, agricultural life. The culture originates primarily from Swiss and German immigrants, and over the years it has developed several smaller sects that have broken away from the larger group. Many Amish, in keeping with religious tradition, wear long beards and use livestock to plow and tend their fields, even rejecting modern transportation for the traditional horse-and-buggy.

Smaller pockets of Amish settlers can be found throughout the United States, but the largest population of Amish can be found in rural Pennsylvania, particularly in Lancaster County.

Native American

Native American culture exists throughout the United States, but in some parts of the country, tribes are relatively close to each other, allowing travelers to visit many Native American cultural destinations during  a short vacation. Oklahoma, for example, is home to many tribes, including the Chickasaw Nation. The Chickasaw people put great effort into preserving their culture and sharing their traditions with others. No matter where you go in Oklahoma, you’re sure to find several opportunities to learn more about native cultures.

Chinese

The San Francisco area known as Chinatown is the largest such area outside of Asia, and began with Chinese immigrants in the 1800s. Spend a day wandering the streets of this lively and busy district, or plan a trip to see one of the many parades and festivals that occur here every year. It’s about as close as you get to being immersed in Chinese culture, short of visiting China.

This is far from a comprehensive list of cultures in the United States – in fact, this barely even scrapes the surface. You’re bound to be familiar with cultural influences in your own area. No matter where you’re located or where you’re going, take time to immerse yourself in the cultural diversity of these areas – it will teach you more about why the United States is home to so many different viewpoints and will help you appreciate those other viewpoints, too.

Japan – the home of all things raw and beautifully presented, Japan constitutes an incredible cultural experience for westerners, especially when you venture off the beaten track. Imagine having to point to a photo in a menu and cross your fingers, or even just put yourselves at the mercy of the restaurant and eat whatever you’re given!

North Africa – stunning weather, outstanding natural beauty and a mix of spice infused flavours like nothing else; travel with Explora Morocco and get to know this exquisite cuisine. Discover authentic tagine dishes and even give the local wines a try – you will be pleasantly surprised.

England – (yes, England). The UK has been on the receiving end of derogatory remarks about their national dishes and cooking abilities for far too long. England boasts a host of the worlds most famous chefs, exclusive restaurants and some of the most sought after ingredients too. OK so it’s not a holiday where you can experience dare devil stuff like Surfing in Morocco from Explora Morocco but you could discover areas of outstanding national interest and cultural significance right on your own doorstep.

North America – contrary to popular belief it is not all about burger and fries. Yes, feeding obesity seems to be a national pastime – literally – but actually, if you know where to look there are some delightful dishes to discover in the good old US of A. New York offers the best of the best of the rest of the world – what you can’t find well cooked here really isn’t worth eating, and Los Angeles brings us some of the most innovative and up to date health food around. Stop off at a few strategic foodie-points along the way across the Deep South and Mid West and you’ve got yourself a culinary tour!

Wherever your stomach takes you next try to immerse yourself in everything the local culture has on offer to eat and enjoy a genuinely, gastronomically authentic trip.

Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca

It’s one of the most hidden classy, romantic gems in the city. The Italian cuisine is known for it’s comfort, delicious set of choices and is fantastic for those who love to eat around a fireplace during the chilly winter months.

Raincity Grill

The view from this restaurant is perfect for a Vancouver newbie. The amazing view of the English Bay along with the modern art ambiance is more than you can ask for. The restaurant is known well for it’s lovely outdoor patio and outstanding brunch menu.

Chambar Belgian Grill

If your looking for a snazzy, stylish and hip restaurant this is the place to try out. It’s not only romantic but it’s great to have a class of wine with a few friends too. The location is another highlight considering it located near the top tourist locations within the city. Its near the GM Place, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and on a very popular street called Beatty Street.

Simply Thai Restaurant

If you’re looking for something a little different, this Thai place is a must! The dishes are well known by all locals. Some dishes include Thai Basil and Keffir Lime leaf. It’s a mix of goodness!

Even if you’re not a wine junkie, you most probably know that South Africa is one of the top new world wine producer. If you didn’t, well now you know! South Africa was introduced to wine when the Dutch arrived in South Africa. The first vineyard was introduced in Constantia which is the closest vineyard to Cape Town, perfect for a one day trip if you’re tight on time. Otherwise, you can visit Stellenbosch or Franschhoek which are about an hour away from Cape Town. We decided to take a tour to Stellenbosch so we wouldn’t have to worry about drinking and driving. And it’s a good thing we took a tour because we began wine tasting at 10am and ended at about 6pm. Five vineyards and 30 glasses of wine later, let’s just say we couldn’t taste the differences in wine anymore.

I must say that the vineyards we visited got progressively better as the day went on. We decided to buy one bottles from each vineyard. What a great idea. I can’t wait to open a bottle. It will bring back great memories from South Africa, that’s for sure.

Interesting Facts that I learned during my tour:

• Stellenbosch is knows for its wine making with Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Pinotage wine grapes. Pinotage is a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that was created in South Africa.
• Red wine is achieved by fermenting the juice and the skin of the grape while the fermentation of white wine is done using the grape juice only.
• Yeast is necessary to begin the first fermentation. It converts the sugar into alcohol.
• The second fermentation most often involves red wine sitting in oak barrels for a set period of time (depending on the wine maker). Barrels are toasted (light, medium or dark) so the wine can pick up its oak aromas. Barrels cost a few thousand dollars so wine makers will reuse their barrels a few times before buying new ones. This will of course impact the aroma of the wine.
• A sommelier is a wine expert/professional.
• So why do wine glasses have a stem? So you can see the color of the wine and so that your hands don’t warm up the wine.

Wine Tasting Steps:

1. Before you taste wine, you need to look at your wine. Is it clear? Is it dark? For white wine, the lighter the color, the younger the wine is. For red wine, it’s the opposite. If you’re red wine is darker, it most probably means it’s a young wine. Of course, there are other factors that come into play but you can always keep this in mind. You can also swirl your glass it to see how thick and how quickly the “legs” drip. This will determine if the wine is high in sugar and alcohol content. If the legs come down quickly, it means it’s low in sugar and alcohol. And vice versa. Lastly, you can tip your glass to the side and see if the wine at the border is clearer than the middle part. This would tell you how concentrated your wine is. Sometimes, when the vineyards experiences a rainy season, the grapes are filled with water and that will have an impact in the concentration of the wine they make that year.
2. Once you know that, it’s time to smell your wine and guess what aromas you smell? Does your wine smell fruity? Floral? Woody? Spicy? Like chemicals? Mineral?
3. Now, it’s the fun part… let’s taste the wine. This will confirm your smell of aromas. Does it really taste like lemon? Is the wine dry? Acid?

You’re ultimately looking for a well-balanced wine. Meaning that there is a good level of sugar and acid. It can be disappointing when you smell nice aromas and when you actually taste the wine, it’s very acid. Yuck! But all this to say, if you’re in South Africa, or in any wine making region for that matter, do make a stop at the vineyard. It will be an interesting experience, guaranteed!

It was a random Friday night when my boyfriend and were looking for a BYOW restaurant. After looking for restaurants online, we fell on Akwaba restaurant, only a few minutes from our place, and of course, a BYOW restaurant. The best part of this research is that not only was it a BYOW restaurant but it was also an African restaurant with Greek fusion. Odd mix, you’re thinking right? That’s what we thought but we decided to give it a try because of the good reviews.

When we arrived, there was only two other African men sitting at another table. The restaurant itself is cozy with an African decor and you typical African background music. The menu offers a varieties of options, from “nems abdijanaises” to “spannakopita” to “beef choukouya”. We had baklava for desert and we later found out they were homemade. Everything we ordered, from the appetizer to the dessert was tasty and delicious. The chef, also owner of the restaurant uses a mix of spices that blends so well. The highlight of our night is when the chef and manager of Akwaba, also the owners, came to see us to chat. The first question we asked is why their restaurant was an African and Greek fusion. We thought maybe the owner was Greek. But surprisingly, there was a very interesting story to this. The couple who is originally from Cote d’Ivoire lived in Greece for many years before immigrating to Montreal. The chef worked in various restaurants in Greece before finally opening up his own restaurant which turned out to be very successful. Despite a university degree in their hands, the owners spent most of their time in the restaurant business when they immigrated to Greece. After almost 10 years of living in Greece, they finally decided to move to Montreal where they started over by working in various restaurants on the island. After 8 years of gaining that experience, they finally opened their restaurant last September, called Akwaba. Akwaba is the result of the experience they gained living in Greece and Montreal. A true culinary delight!

Anyone who enjoys discovering new culinary experiences should give this restaurant a try. It’s a personalized experience you won’t forget!

You can find more information here.

]]> http://offtrackbackpacking.net/2012/02/06/akwaba-restaurant-in-montreal-an-african-adventure/feed/ 0 http://offtrackbackpacking.net/2012/01/12/travelling-etiquette-around-the-world-how-to-fit-in-with-the-locals-when-eating-and-drinking-on-your-travels/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=travelling-etiquette-around-the-world-how-to-fit-in-with-the-locals-when-eating-and-drinking-on-your-travels http://offtrackbackpacking.net/2012/01/12/travelling-etiquette-around-the-world-how-to-fit-in-with-the-locals-when-eating-and-drinking-on-your-travels/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:45:30 +0000 Nara http://offtrackbackpacking.net/?p=5646 Experienced travellers will know that there’s nothing worse than insulting a particular custom or tradition, but thankfully, by learning a little bit about travel etiquette, it’s easy to avoid this predicament. Instead of horrifying your hosts, aim to impress by being aware of cultural differences and respecting them, especially when it comes to eating and drinking.

One of the greatest pleasures of travelling is immersing oneself in new cultures and different ways of doing things and food is a big part of the experience, both socially and educationally. With a few pointers it’s easier to enjoy food abroad and by remembering a few dos and don’ts, everyone is more at ease with the situation.

There are many differences from country to country and some of these are deep-rooted in centuries of superstition and legend. For this reason, it’s wise not to try to interfere with this in any way, even if it feels alien to you and contradicts how you would normally do things at home.

Below are some things you should be aware of when travelling abroad on holiday:

Japan

The Japanese culture is unique and regarded as being very different from that of many countries in the western world and this is regularly evident across mealtimes. When indulging in a bowl of noodles in Japan, there’s no need to be too particular, as it’s expected that the contents are slurped or eaten messily! This suggests enjoyment and contentment. Japanese people never pour their own drink in company, as it’s seen as the height of bad manners. Instead, your companion will pour it and vice versa.

These ‘rules’ are typically similar across Asia, with the use of chopsticks throwing up many difficulties. When learning to use chopsticks appropriately, you will come to realise that it’s not a good idea to point them at anyone or pierce food with them. It’s important to note that chopsticks should not be inserted upright into a bowl, as this is reminiscent of the way rice is presented to the dead and is a grave insult.

Portugal

In some countries, such as Portugal, the local people take great pride in creating culinary delights, so refrain from asking for condiments if they aren’t already on the table. By requesting salt and pepper, or any other seasonings, you are seen to be saying that the cook’s food is not up to scratch, which is of course unacceptable, even if that was not your intention! It is also good manners to compliment the cook and be very enthusiastic in doing so.

Germany

When having dinner in Germany, it is expected that guests will remain standing until shown to the seat by their host. It’s also good manners to refrain from eating until signalled to do so, again by the host. Good etiquette states that diners eat everything on their plate, avoiding elbows on the table and lying the knife and fork parallel across the ride hand side of the plate when finished.

Mexico

One of the quirkier customs surrounding food involves a tradition in Mexico, where it’s polite to say ‘provecho’ (enjoy), whenever you catch the eye of anyone eating. It doesn’t matter if you know the person or not, this mannerly greeting is difficult to ignore, especially as it’s so nice to say and encourages polite conversation!

France

Not all faux pas are associated with the actual eating of food and sometimes table manners can descend into other areas. For example, the French loathe any discussion of money over the dinner table and find it poor taste to even talk about how the bill will be divided or paid. The French have perfected the art of table manners and insist that the correct knife and fork is used for everything, from fruit to cheese.

Middle East

We all have personal limitations as to what we will and will not eat, but sometimes these boundaries are pushed and we need to decide how to deal with that. We may all be used to delicate cuts of meat but in some countries, delicacies vary from the ones we know, so it’s important not to act horrified when obscure and perhaps unappetising cuts of meat are presented. In the Middle East, for example, prime cuts include most parts of the animal include the head and eyes. Be prepared for this if it’s something you are unfamiliar with.

When dining in Middle Eastern countries, eat with your right hand only and leave food on your plate when you are finished, otherwise the empty space will be continuously filled with more food and this could leave you feeling very uncomfortable!

Russia

Of course there are also things to be aware of when drinking in other countries and one such example can be found in Russia, where it is seen as bad luck to place an empty vodka bottle on the table. With this in mind, all empty bottles should be placed on the floor instead. Russians take their vodka very seriously indeed and it is frowned upon to mix the precious liquid, as everyone drinks it straight up.

Armenia

In Armenia, try not to empty a bottle into someone else’s glass as this obliges them to buy the next bottle; the best option is to put the last drops into your own glass instead.

Australia

Meanwhile, in Australia, it’s typically expected that you shout your drinks order and never leave the bar before at least paying for one round! Australians have a reputation for being very laid-back and relaxed but they appreciate fairness and honesty when it comes to social drinking.

Wherever you end up on your travels, there are some things that are pretty universal displays of good manners. Such customs as waiting to be seated, attempting all food offered, asking to be excused and complimenting the host, will all stand you in good stead and help dinner flow smoothly and without any hiccups.

With all this in mind, it may seem as though there are lots of things to remember, which can be daunting, but these examples are not always set in stone and some allowances will no doubt be made for non-locals. With a little bit of advance research, it’s possible to avoid all the major pitfalls and to ensure you come across as knowledgeable, polite and respectful when travelling on holiday in 2012.

The CNE offers shows such as the strong man show, the human cannonball, the flow-rider, and the skating/acrobatic show. The skating/acrobatic show was what impressed me. I had no idea that the CNE offered such good quality shows. They even had the Canadian Olympian Joannie Rochette join the skating show.

Every year, the CNE offers some sort of a new fried food. This year the two main deep fried dishes were deep-fried Cola and the Crispy crème doughnut burger. Of course every person who walks through the gates of the CNE wants to experience these insane deep-fried dishes. And of course I was one of them. Well, I could only go as far as trying the deep-fried Cola, the doughnut burger looked a little nasty to me. I couldn’t bring myself to try a 2000 calories meal. I think my body would go into shock after eating a hefty type of meal like that.

My first impression of the deep-fried Cola was what is “THAT”. It looked like long strips of very burnt bacon, but tasting like burnt cookies. Overall it wasn’t like any Cola I have experienced before. As for the doughnut burger, well at first I thought who in the world would eat something so crazy. Funny thing is, the line up was huge! Most of the people in the line up were men, but still. A burger that contains, cheese, egg, bacon, onion, lettuce, and on top of that two Crispy crème doughnuts sounds like heart-attack waiting to happen. But who knows, maybe this burger is yummy.☺

After capturing the scenes of people eating, I decided to go on a ride, the Ferris wheel. I am not a big fan for rides at the CNE, but I do love the Ferries Wheel. I feel like the kid inside me comes out. Love it. As the day slowly came to an end, I think my first visit to the CNE was an entertaining one.

Untreated water is the biggest cause of illness for backpackers in India, but it is freely used by Indians themselves. Be very careful about drinking water in the country, or using anything washed in water. Only drink from hard-plastic sealed bottles of water, insist that waiters bring unopened bottles of water to your table and try to stick to brands you recognise. Do not assume every bottle of water is sealed as Indian people regularly refill empty water bottles with tap water and ensure the bottle doesn’t have any holes or dents. Examine every bottle of water carefully for debris or bugs and if you are ever handed a bottle of water that has an odour when opened, do not drink it. When eating at a restaurant, wipe down glasses and cutlery with a clean cloth – kitchen staff may try to be helpful by rinsing these down for you before they are brought to the table, but even a drop of Indian tap water can contain harmful bacteria.

Malaria is present all through the year in most parts of India, so ensure you are vaccinated before you leave and take necessary precautions, such as using mosquito nets at night. All of your vaccinations should be up to date before you leave, but ensure you are vaccinated against Polio and Typhoid. Always wash your hands before and after eating to avoid cross contamination.

When eating out in India, ensure all food you eat is piping hot and avoid buffet restaurants where food may have been lying out unprotected from disease carrying insects or dirt. It’s not recommended that Westerners eat dairy products in India as these are not pasteurised, but if you eat small amounts of yogurt when you first arrive you may find your system adapts. All fruit and vegetables should be washed with bottled water and peeled before consumption. Do not buy from street food vendors, as the food may not have been prepared in sanitary conditions. Avoid meat altogether if possible as you are more likely to get sick from spoiled meat than rotten vegetables.

By remembering where you are and applying additional caution staying healthy and safe while in India is a cinch.

Italian bean pasta Salad

As for cooking it, the only hot point of preparing the meal is boiling the pasta. Yet that never takes very long. But do make sure you chill the pasta, before adding it to your next step. Next step would be adding tomatoes, green peppers, onions, red / white kidney beans, chickpeas, feta cheese and basil into one large bowl. For the dressing, grab some lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, basil, and oregano in another bowl. Mix well and pour the dressing over the vegetables and beans. Let the dressing sit in the salad for 15 minutes before serving, so it will sink into all the vegetables.

Ingredients:

Salad:

12 oz of shell pasta
¾ cups of diced tomatoes
¾ cup of diced red onion
2/3 cup of each canned red kidney beans, white kidney beans, chickpeas, and drained/rinsed.
½ cup of feta cheese
1/3 cup of fresh chopped basil or parsley

Dressing:

¼ cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
3Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp of dried basil
2 Tbsp of crushed fresh garlic
1 ½ Tbsp of dried oregano