California, Here We Go.

We've been plotting and planning for close to eight months. We've been roommates with boxes and bubble wrap for about as many weeks. Address changes, car selling, new banks, lists and lists and lists, goodbye breakfasts, lunches and dinners, goodbye glasses (that turned into bottles) of wine – all of this, leading up to a moment. The moment we drive away from the City of Angels towards our new home, three thousand miles away in Richmond, Virginia. And that moment happened last Thursday.

It was so hurried and frenetic, nary a moment for goodbye tears or nostalgia. Which suited me just fine. Fred, Eduardo, Byron and I all loaded up in our little car, loaded with our life for the next few weeks - not without grandma Janie's cast-iron skillet and my bacon drippings. Ahead warp zillion! Ahead first to Phoenix, Arizona, where we were set to meet up with the legendary Chris Bianco, creator of what is purported to be the greatest pizza on Earth outside of Italy. And then what next? We were not certain. And that is the beauty. We are like Hansel and Gretel, eating those breadcrumbs all along the trail across this great country to find our way home.

After experiencing a wonderful dinner at Chris' newest iteration of Pizzeria Bianco (which you will be able to read and see all about on TasteSpotting soon!), we popped up bright and early to meet up with him at his cafe and 'test kitchen' of sorts, Pane Bianco. This is where his brother, Marco, bakes the loaves of bread and also where the mill lives. Yes, they grow their own wheat, have their own mill, and bake their own bread with their very own flour.

After a tour of the kitchen, dining room and mill, with tastes of biscotti here, and gelato there, Chris sat with us and talked about love and the beauty in everything, and what inspires him (of which food is but a slice). He talked about rectangles, triangles and circles (everything in Pane Bianco is on wheels). He then sent us on our way with hugs, a bottle of chilled rosé from his restaurant (the label is from a painting his father gave his mother ages ago, of a rose) and told us to pick out one of the loaves that had just come out of the oven – to pick the one 'that spoke to us.'

And on the road we went. To infinity: The Grand Canyon. Where we went to watch the sunset, crack open the bottle of rosé, and eat that beautiful fresh bread with some Italian cheeses we picked up in Flagstaff. And yes, the bread was remarkable – mouth-injuringly crusty on the outside, yet moist, airy and filled with beautiful air pockets on the inside – fundamentally satisfying in every way. I suppose Marco was right, it 'spoke to us.' All this while watching the sun disappear into the canyon. How remarkable was it? So much so that I have goose bumps even writing this.

The next morning we were up bright and early to get on the road again. We needed to make it to Albuquerque, at least. Which shouldn't have been too much of a challenge, but Fred wanted to amble. So we stopped at Meteor Crater, walked the dogs, looked around, took pictures. And then we were off again. Well, for about thirty minutes. When I noticed the car slowing considerably, I looked up and found that Fred had pulled off into a small town. And we were driving down the main drag: Route 66.

Fred turned to me and flatly explained (as though it was quite obvious), “I want to be standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona."

Oh, of course. Clearly.

We pulled over, leashed up the pups and went to find The Corner. It wasn't hard to find. After Fred posed for his obligatory picture, we began to wander and stumbled across none other than the 15th Annual Standin' on a Corner Festival. What are the chances?!

So we found a vendor selling Navajo Tacos on Fry Bread, wandered back to the car and had our lunch. As we sat in the sun, noshing this new kind of taco, I looked around and thought about Chris' words from earlier. I ruminated on unexpected beauty, I looked down at my pizza-shaped taco loaded with meat, cheese, tomatoes, green onion, lettuce and salsa with the fry bread confidently glistening with hot oil, I relished the love of Fred and our dogs on this singular adventure. I then looked up and saw a bird fly over (how amazing would it have been if it was an eagle?).

Take it easy? No problem.

And just think, only fort-eight hours prior we were watching the City of Angels disappear in our rear view mirror.

Navajo Fry Bread
(recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

Makes 6 breads

Ingredients

3 cups All-purpose Flour

1/2 teaspoon Salt

3 teaspoons Baking Powder (slightly Rounded Teaspoons)

3/4 cups Milk

 Water As Needed To Get Dough To Come Together

 Vegetable Shortening Or Lard For Frying

Directions

Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a fork as you pour in the milk; keep stirring for a bit to get it to come together as much as possible. Add just enough water (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) to get it to come together. Cover the bowl with a dish towel and let it sit for 35 to 45 minutes to rest.

When you're ready to make the fry bread, heat about 1 to 2 inches shortening/lard in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Grab a plum-sized piece of dough (or larger if you want larger fry bread) and press it into a circle with your fingers: place it on a clean surface and begin pressing in the center and work your way out, stretching it as you go.

When the circle is about 4 to 7 inches (however big you want it) carefully drape it into the skillet. Allow it to fry on one side until golden brown, about 1 minute, then carefully flip it to the other side using tongs. Fry it for another 30 to 45 seconds.

Remove the fry bread to a paper towel-lined plate and allow it to drain while you fry the other pieces.

Serve warm!

Printable recipe.

One year ago: Ham Hock & Lima Beans

Two years ago: Chocolate Sea-Salt Pie

Three years ago: Chicks with Knives at Test Kitchen, 2010

Four years ago: The Marked 5 Truck

Cape Town Lures Visitors With Spectacular Beauty and a Rich Cultural Diversity

Cape Boondocks has had a continued and agitated history. With Ageism still amble in the minds and hearts of its people. Transformation has led to the new 'Rainbow Nation', which can be accomplished in the catholic city-limits centre of Cape Town.

Flower sellers, business executives, parking attendants, appointment workers and shoppers all rub amateur in a ambience of both actual and avant-garde buildings, backed by the city's a lot of acclaimed landmark, Table Mountain. The colourful Malay Quarter, the charcoal of District Six, St George's Cathedral, Government Avenue and the old Castle are historically significant, while world-class African and all-embracing restaurants allure travellers with their comestible delights.

Although an African city, Cape Boondocks has a European flavour but the city-limits has comforts of Aboriginal World standard.

Cape Town's different ambience agency that it can be enjoyed from assorted angle points: Table Abundance accommodate amazing vistas over the city-limits basin and the Cape peninsula.

You can acquisition abounding amazing routes forth arresting stretches of bank and civil area arch to appropriate places like Cape Point.

The city-limits has four audible seasons.

Summer - White albino beaches, Autumn - Crisp colours, Winter - Ferocity of bitter seas in winter, Spring - Show of Cape 'fynbos' flowers.

From culture, history and backdrop - to an acclaimed experience.

Cape Boondocks is a appropriate abode with abundant to accord appear its growing acceptability as a favoured biking destination.

Cape Boondocks Excursions

** Robben Island and Table Mountain

South Africa's a lot of broadly accepted day-tripper allure is apparently Robben Island, seven afar (11 km) from Cape Boondocks in the centre of Table Bay.

For about 400 years this tiny bouldered island bulge was utilised as a abode of banishment, exile, abreast and imprisonment for abundant categories of humans ostracised by society, alignment from political protestors to lepers.

During the years of Apartheid, Robben Island became alike with institutional atrocity as abundant abandon fighters, including the island's a lot of acclaimed citizen Nelson Mandela, were confined actuality for added than a division of a century.

The island is now a museum, symbolising liberation and the celebration of the animal spirit. Regular island tours are conducted, abiding three and a bisected hours. The tours, which are guided by aloft prisoners, cover a appointment to the maximum-security bastille on the island area an estimated 3,000 abandon fighters were confined amid 1962 and 1991.

** Capman's Peak Drive anchor Chapman's Peak

Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the a lot of amazing littoral anchorage in South Africa, bond the bank association of Hout Bay to the Noordhoek Valley forth the Atlantic Coast, with amazing angle from forth the narrow, ambagious alley accursed into the cliffs.

Constructed in 1915, the six-mile (9km) avenue took about seven years to complete and was congenital as a shorter, another avenue amid Cape Boondocks axial and the South Peninsula. Abounding visitors use this amazing avenue to ability Cape Point Nature Assets anchored at the tip of the Peninsula.

** Penguins on Boulders Beach

A recommended day circuit from the city-limits includes a cruise through the southern suburbs and forth the scenically admirable False Bay bank via Muizenberg to Simonstown, South Africa's arch argosy base.

Simonstown lies about 25 afar (40km) from the city-limits and is a bizarre boondocks congenital about a argosy dockyard, with well-preserved Victorian buildings, museums, sidewalk cafes and bounded legends to apprentice about. One such fable is about a dog alleged 'Just Nuisance' who 'joined' the British navy, acceptable their mascot, if Simonstown was a British base.

A abbreviate ambit from the boondocks is Boulder's beach, acclaimed for its adequate antecedents of African Penguins (formerly Jackass Penguin) that can be beheld from the boardwalks.

Transport: Metrorail burghal alternation from Cape Town's axial station; Admission: Boulders Bank Penguin Colony: R15 (adults), R5 (scholars)

** Cape Point

Most visitors to Cape Boondocks are agog to accomplish a day cruise 40 afar (65km) from the city-limits to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, not alone to yield in its floral assortment in what at aboriginal afterimage appears to be a austere landscape, but to angle at the top of the aerial bank at the a lot of southerly point of the Cape Peninsula (not of Africa, visitors accept to go added afield to Cape Agulhus for this).

From the angle and alarm at Cape Point, accomplished via a funicular, it is alarming to watch the ample after-effects abolition at the abject of the cliffs 686ft (209m) below. The assets itself is account exploring, decidedly on foot, for those absorbed in birds and botany. The restaurant at Cape Point has a terrace alms amazing views.

Resident baboons actuality adore the boodle from tourists' candy - decidedly their ice-cream; they can be absolutely aggressive. Because agriculture of the baboons carries a annealed penalty, it is account ensuring there are no chargeless lunches for these barbate scavengers!

** Cape Boondocks belt Belt Tours

The N2 artery that connects Cape Boondocks All-embracing Airport to the city-limits is lined with townships, consisting of a admixture of shacks and solid buildings. During the canicule of apartheid, humans of colour were not accustomed to reside in the white suburbs and were abandoned to areas abroad from the city. Belt tours acquiesce visitors to acquaintance how the majority of Capetonians reside in the townships that beleaguer the city.

Guides, about residents, yield visitors about to accommodated the people, see association projects, accept a alcohol in a 'shebeen' (township pub) and boutique for bounded crafts. Each belt has its own colourful character, and admitting their difficult active conditions, association are about accessible and captivated to accept visitors.

Townships were already extraordinary areas for abounding people, but today a appointment is acceptable a accepted acquaintance for tourists to Cape Town.

Visit Langa, the oldest of South Africa's atramentous townships, accustomed in 1923, or the newest and additional better in the country, Khayelitsha, which dates from the 1980s. Guguletu and Nyanga were set up in the 1950s.

Visitors are brash not to appointment the townships alone; there are abounding bout companies that action tours, including carriage to and from the belt areas. Contact the Cape Boondocks Tourism Visitor Advice Centre or its satellite, the Sivuyile Tourism Centre in Guguletu for advice about tours, adaptation and ball in the townships.

** Bathing houses at Muizenberg Muizenberg

A actual beach-side suburb on the False Bay coast, Muizenberg is accepted with families for its long, gentle-sloping beach, balmy water, admirable views, and activities such as mini-golf and supertubing. The bank is acclaimed for its row of colourful alteration houses and is a photo favourite from the abundance alley far above. Muizenberg bank has aswell continued been the alternative of abecedarian surfers and several accepted cream schools accept been accustomed at Surfers Corner, the abutting ancillary to the mountain. False Bay is accepted for its Great White Bluff population, but a bluff watch account is in operation to accord admonishing to bathers and surfers. A amazing aisle beneath the railway band links Muizenberg to the next bank apple of St James with its flat pool. The adorable fishing apple of Kalk Bay is a few account drive abroad with its adequate harbour, and its capital artery lined with alluring aged and art shops, as able-bodied as cafes and restaurants.

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Go Hogging in the City of Water

Amsterdam due to its breadth and adjacency to two of the arch beer-drinking nations in Europe - Belgium, breadth avant-garde beer was added or beneath invented, and Germany, acclaimed for its beer consumption, is a abundant city-limits to go bubbler in. As for eating, this may not be Europe's comestible capital, but there's a acceptable best of indigenous restaurants, abnormally Indonesian, Chinese and Thai, and the prices compared to added big-city standards are absolutely reasonable. Amsterdam's attitude of cafes and confined confined adventuresome aliment for a acceptable amount in a airy and bashful ambience is a huge advantage too.

Dutch mealtimes are a little eccentric. Breakfast tends to be after than what about a being ability expect, and added commons times are beforehand than expected. If one chooses to eat breakfast out of the hotel, again actual few cafes are accessible afore 8 or 8.30am. The archetypal Dutch cafeteria hour is from apex to 1pm, and banquet time in a lot of restaurants is amid 7 and 8pm, absolutely a few restaurants stop confined by 10pm.

Though absolutely baby in size, Amsterdam is abounding with places to eat and drink. There is consistently about acceptable and agreeable to clothing everyone's budget. Weekends tend to get active so for bistro out at a admired collective it is appropriate to accept a booking or geo aboriginal afore the blitz hour. Throughout the city-limits there are affluence of acceptable restaurants broadcast all over the city, and in abundant of the centre one can acquisition a bar on about every corner.

Dutch restaurant aliment has college protein agreeable than imagination. The basic diet is the steak, craven and fish, forth with bushing soups and stews... Many places action dagschotels - bowl of the day, about accessible for as continued as the restaurant is open- a meat and two vegetable combinations.

A advanced alternative of vegetarian restaurants action full-course set commons which are absolutely reasonable. Another bargain stand-by is Italian aliment - pizzas and pasta dishes alpha at a adequately compatible in all but the ritziest places. Chinese and Thai restaurants are aswell common, as able-bodied as the Spanish ones, all of which serve able-bodied priced, bushing food. But Amsterdam's absolute breadth of ability is its Indonesian restaurants, a aftereffect of the country's administrative adventures. One can eat nasi goreng and bami goreng acceptation rice or noodles with meat are abiding dishes, and craven or beef in peanut booze -sateh is accessible everywhere too. Alternatively, adjustment a rijsttafel: above rice and/or noodles served with a amount of ambrosial ancillary dishes and hot sambal booze on the side.

In confined one can get sandwiches and rolls frequently accessible and capricious from a simple allotment of cheese to something so abstract that it's a complete meal - as able-bodied as added abundant fare. Dutch abstract cover broodje halfom, a cycle with a aggregate of agilely broken absolute beef and alarmist eaten with mustard, and broodje balmy vlees, agilely broken balmy pork served with sateh sauce. The way to eat in Amsterdam is through the bounded style. Though not what is one acclimated to but absolutely absolutely a appetizing fare.

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Alioto's Restaurant - Part Of San Francisco History Since 1925

Alioto's Restaurant, a San Francisco battleground amid on Fisherman's Wharf, has connected been allotment of San Francisco's affluent history. The Alioto family, in accession to accidental one of the oldest bistro establishments to the City, has accustomed the city-limits a two-term mayor, Joe Alioto, and a above San Francisco Supervisor, accessory Angela Alioto. It's no admiration the name Alioto is one that is carefully associated with the City-limits of San Francisco itself.

Led by the family's third generation, Alioto's Restaurant is animating its accomplished by abiding to its affluent Sicilian heritage. In paying admiration to its comestible roots, the ancestors is aswell affectionately acquainted a history that was congenital on active struggles and amazing successes. That history is proudly displayed in the "Wall of History" exhibit-photographs, airheaded and ephemera from their seven decades on the Wharf. The exhibit, displayed in the restaurant's entryway, chronicles the advance of the Wharf from a asleep fishing apple to an all-embracing day-tripper destination.

What grew to become an academy in San Francisco dining in fact began as a beginning angle stall, founded in 1925 by Nunzio Alioto, Sr., a Sicilian immigrant. At the time, the Wharf consisted of an astronomic barge yard, alternation tracks, a abutment hall, canning plants and broad fisheries. At Arrest #8, Nunzio awash lunchtime accoutrement to the Italian laborers. By 1928 he began affairs simple bologna items. Proving awfully accepted were aflame crab, and shrimp and backtalk cocktails, which would be served on trays that could be absorbed to car windows--one of the ancient attempts at drive-in eating.

Business grew steadily as Nunzio catered to athirst shoppers at the Wharf. What eventually became accepted as "Alioto's innovation" was the about-face from old copse afire backtalk pots to gas burners. In 1932, he complete the aboriginal architecture on Fisherman's Wharf--combining the angle angle with a seafood bar specializing in backtalk and shrimp cocktails, and aflame crab.

The affairs Nunzio Alioto foresaw for his seafood action on the Wharf came to an brusque arrest the afterward year. Afterwards adversity a bender of bifold pneumonia, Nunzio died al of a sudden at the age of 41, abrogation abaft a wife, Rose and three children. Strapped for a way to abutment her family, Rose took over the business acceptable the aboriginal woman to plan on the Wharf. Initially she was abandoned by her macho neighbors, who banned to

sell her fish. Luckily, the angle was acquired by Phil Rubino, who had aforetime formed with her husband.

Rose's accouchement accompanied her to plan everyday, and tended to every aspect of the business. This attitude continues today as the Alioto accouchement activate their restaurant apprenticeship in their aboriginal teens.

A amount of actual contest contributed to the restaurant's astounding advance and the closing enactment of Fisherman's Wharf. With the achievement of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges in 1937, San Francisco was bound acceptable the burghal centermost of Northern California.

By 1938, Rose installed a kitchen--the aboriginal on the Wharf--and opened a restaurant, confined absurd crab, salads, and backtalk and shrimp cocktails, and seafood specialties. It was actuality that Rose Alioto created a mollusk bouillon alleged Cioppino which became a San Francisco comestible legend. To advice accomplish ends meet, babe Antoinette, the earlier of Rose's three children, formed the graveyard about-face at Bank of America afterwards commutual her daytime duties as waitress, part-time cook, and bookkeeper at the restaurant.

In 1939, the San Francisco Exposition and World's Fair brought tourists from about the apple to the City. The restaurant flourished, yet it wasn't until the access of America's accord in Apple War II that its acceptability became durably established. Fisherman's Wharf became one of the Ports of Embarkation for sailors, who were generally accompanied by their families. While Rose's sons, Frank and Mario, were alleged off to serve in the armed forces, Rose and her babe Antoinette were kept active confined beginning seafood and affable mollusk borsch to these men and their families--and chat about Alioto's Restaurant's aliment bound spread.

The restaurant connected to aggrandize as accessible appeal grew for Alioto's adorable seafood. By 1950, Rose connected her restaurant by purchasing her neighbor's stall, Castagnola's #7. She congenital a one-story, $130,000 brick building. Alioto's Restaurant

underwent a additional above facelift in 1957, if a $200,000 additional adventure was added, authoritative it the tallest architecture on the Wharf.

A adverse blaze gutted Alioto's Restaurant that aforementioned year. Undeterred, the family, led by Rose, rebuilt the restaurant from blemish on the aforementioned site. Fortunately, rescued from the adverse blaze was a bank composed absolutely of bags of mollusk shells adored from diners' commons through the years.

During these years, Rose's son Frank affected the operation of the restaurant. Babe Antoinette married, and she and her husband, a abroad Alioto cousin, formed in the restaurant administration assorted responsibilities. Rose's third child, Mario, became a accompanist with the San Francisco Opera Company. Frank's son Nunzio and Antoinette's son Joe took over administration responsibilities in 1971. Rose, the dame of the Alioto clan, connected to plan at the restaurant until she anesthetized abroad in 1970, at the age of 74.

As the Restaurant was re-establishing itself, the Alioto ancestors name was accepting bounded and borough acceptance for addition reason: Joe Alioto, Rose's nephew, was adopted the 33rd Ambassador of San Francisco in 1968 and served for an eight-year term. During this period, Alioto's became a accepted alliance for San Francisco's Democrat ability base.

Alioto history, page four

Alioto's card architecture and logo avowal the active colors of Sicily's peasant-style ceramics, which are now collector's items.

Binding the ample Alioto ancestors calm today is a lifetime affection for Fisherman's Wharf and a affair that it abide as a basic allotment of San Francisco. One of the anniversary contest the Alioto's were active in founding was Festa Italiana, a Wharf-wide accident demography abode anniversary October which contributes $50,000 to bounded charities. The ancestors aswell helped authorize the multi-denominational Fishermen's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel. Both Nunzio, Jr., and Joe accept served as admiral of the Wharf's addressee and merchant associations, and Nunzio currently serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau. Many added San Francisco charities, including the Save the Cable Car Fund, the Ronald McDonald House, Salesian Boys & Girls Club, Little Sisters of the Poor, and the St. Ignatius High School accept benefited from the generosity and borough pride apparent by the Aliotos.

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Gran Canaria Food - What to Eat and What to Avoid

Part of the fun of going on holiday is sampling the local fare and if your destination is Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, there are plenty of tasty dishes which you might like to try.

As is usually the case with holiday resorts, choose your cafes and restaurants with care. A lot of restaurants cater for tourists, cooking their interpretations of "British food" or "Irish food" and this often disappoints since very few Canarian cooks (or Canarians themselves for that matter) have ever visited either place.

For example, Canarians tend to cook everything (well not everything, but nearly everything) on a "plancha" which is a hot metal griddle. Meat and fish cook well on this contraption but fried eggs "a la plancha" are not so great. At least they bounce right back up if you drop one.

Eat Like the Locals

So, forget the tourist places and head to a real Canarian bar, cafe or restaurant. If you are in Playa del Ingles try anywhere in San Fernando.

If you are in Puerto Rico, head to Balcon Canario in the lower main shopping centre. Anywhere in Las Palmas or Vecindario is fine, since there are not many tourists in these areas and therefore the food is more geared towards locals (and cheaper too!)

You will see boards outside the authentic places with a price (usually between five and ten euros) and a "menu" which means a set meal. Choose a starter, a main course and a dessert. This is where your phrase book comes in handy unless you are feeling very adventurous!

What About Breakfast?

Unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel or somewhere a breakfast buffet is included in the price of your trip, you might like to try a Canarian style breakfast.

Forget the cornflakes or Marmite on toast. A Canarian breakfast tends to be a long baguette with salami, cheese, pork loin or tuna. Omelette is another tasty filling. Order a "bocata" for a small one or a "bocadillo" for a long one and make sure you get a carajillo on the side, since this combination of strong coffee and brandy is sure to wake you up! Freshly squeezed orange juice is delicious too and Canarian oranges are super juicy.

Tasty Tapas and Mouthwatering Meals

One of the best ways to try Canarian food is to order a tapas place and you can get these in pretty much any cafe or restaurant. The Canarian cheese is especially good.

You will get a plate full of tapas and some bread and ali-oli (garlic mayonnaise) on the side. Typical tapas include papas con mojo, which are small, wrinkled potatoes with a piquant sauce, anchovies, olives, cheese, jamon serrano (cured ham) and tomato and onion salad. Tapas are popular at lunchtime or as a late afternoon snack.

If you want something a little more substantial, try a puchero Canario (a lentil-rich stew), pescado a la plancha (fresh grilled fish) or gambas al ajillo (prawns in sizzling hot oil with garlic). A lot of Canarian cooking is very traditional and if you enjoy tasting new foods you will love the culinary aspect of your holiday in Gran Canaria.

Women's Travel

Women travelling alone no longer need to feel limited by where they can go by themselves - and safely. There are so many options available, with luxury tours to suit everyone, no matter what your interests. Imagine yourself enjoying a safari in Africa, indulging in the gourmet delights of Tuscany, trekking through Nepal or living in up in grand Paris.

If you have ever wanted to see the likes of lions, tigers, zebras, elephants and hippos up close and personal on an African safari, there is no need to rough it. Africa has a selection of quality lodges available for those who can't get by without a few home comforts, or for those who like to prioritise their safety when travelling, you may prefer to stay at one of the many first-class camps. These camps aren't like your standard camping experiences - they come complete with delicious meals, showers and toilets, comfortable beds and linen, along with protection from wild animals, particularly after dark.

For those who would prefer to indulge in culinary treats there are many trips that are sure to delight you. Choose from touring the exquisite vineyards of Burgundy and sampling the local cuisine or a week exploring Bali while enjoying a sumptuous cooking tour; discover the spicy cuisine of India or spend nearly three entire weeks on a fabulous culinary adventure of Greece. Most gourmet experiences include a selection of cooking classes and food tasting, mixed with a balanced blend of tours of the local region and sights, getting to know the true culture of the country.

What could be more superb than a luxury holiday in Paris? Just because you are a single female doesn't mean you should miss out on this magnificent experience. Often cited as the world's most beautiful city, Paris will surely excite you with its many experiences. Once you've seen all of the unique sights such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre museum, the Arc of Triumph and the infamous Eiffel Tower, why not indulge in a luxury Paris cruise along the River Seine? Combine this with a visit to the fresh cafes of the Latin Quarter or a shopping expedition at Galleries La Fayette. Of course, this should definitely be topped off with an evening at the amazing Moulin Rouge.

For the ultimate in luxurious travel and total relaxation, indulge in a week or two of bliss to refresh the mind, body and soul. Combine the opulence of a fragrant massage and spa treatment with visits to some of the world's most ancient and spiritual sites. Can you imagine coming home and telling your girlfriends all about your experiences meditating with monks in Thailand?

Those who want to be pampered in five star resort luxury can't beat a wonderful Fijian vacation. Here, you can enjoy discovering crystal clear waters and white powder-soft sandy beaches, fragrant tropical flowers, delicious fresh foods and naturally, being treated like a princess. Of course, there are many beautiful scenic treats for you to explore, along with getting to know the local Fijians and gaining an understanding of their culture.

Whether you want to spoil yourself with a relaxing holiday on a sun-drenched, tropical beach, an exhilarating adventure tour, a culinary experience of a lifetime or a sampling of European delights, don't let being a woman travelling alone and fear for your safety or loneliness hold you back! There's so much for you to enjoy ... and you deserve it, don't you?

Tick Tock, You Don't Stop.

It's hard to believe that it has come down to a matter of days before we hit the road. So hard to believe, in fact, that it does not seem real. We are living amongst a landscape of boxes, bubble wrap and newspaper. We have had two garage sales, and donated all unsold items to charity. The good bye dinners and lunches fill up most of our non-packing, non-sleeping time. I even ate a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner the other day to try to whittle away at all of the food in the freezer – because you know I just cannot let it go to waste (I'm not even quite sure how a Lean Cuisine made its way into our freezer in the first place). All of these things - the boxes, sales, good bye functions and frozen dinners and it still does not seem real.

Perhaps it won't until we are driving away, with the City of Angels in our rear view mirror. And I'm inclined to believe that that is probably a good thing. Because, really, as excited as we are, as much as we look forward to our future and the promise that it holds, this is big stuff. And it's sad stuff.

Admittedly, as a result of the sea of boxes, bubble wrap, newspapers, garage sales, and good bye functions, we've hardly dined in at all. We did make an olive oil cake and lemon-honey ice cream for a good bye dinner on Monday night, and Fred made a Thai Larb for another good bye the next night (aptly themed 'Thai-onara”). But almost no sitting down at our own table to eat. Except for one evening. There was the one.

It's hard to hide from certain trends, no matter how hard you try (and sometimes you don't want to try). Skinny jeans, moustaches, Tom's, all things artisanal, small batch, $23 cups of coffee (artisanal, of course - small batch and served up by people in skinny jeans and Tom's with moustaches), quinoa, the Kardashians, the royal baby, Hitler hair, suspenders, tattoos, $32 'market driven' cocktails with designer ice cubes and mists of some kind (served up by people with Hitler hair, tattoos and suspenders), bacon, cupcakes, donuts, cronuts, and lest we forget Twerking. I haven't an issue with any of these things. Every time has its trends and phases. Some stick, some morph and some vanish to make room for the next school.

But one of the current trends that is impossible to hide from is this whole vegetable thing. Right now, the cover of every single food related magazine is The Vegetable Issue. Every article is about how vegetables are the new meat. This is Important and Singular and Now. All of the farm to table, market driven, sustainable chatter has led to this critical mass of The Vegetable. Alice Waters is probably folding inside herself.

And this is good. It's great. Vegetables are yummy, healthy and fun. And, unlike cows, chickens, wild boar and the like, we can grow them on our windowsills, rooftops, in our yards or community gardens. And kill, cook and eat them ourselves. What's not to like about that?

One of my favorite veggies happens to be getting an extra spotlight within the vegetable 'movement' right now; the cauliflower. I've written about it before. I love everything about it; the way it looks, the way it cooks, the taste, texture, colors, its versatility, all of it. Soup, puree, in a salad, roasted with farro and topped with an egg, or roasted whole in the oven with some butter, salt and a little garam masala, on a pizza, or even battered and deep fried cauliflower.

The other iteration that you will find on more menus across the country right now than the obligatory service charge for large parties is the cauliflower steak. Literally serving a massive cross-section slab of cauliflower, grilled and treated just like a steak. Just a little salt, pepper and oil. Nothing else to distract from that sweet, nutty, subtle flavor. And maybe even take the parts that didn't get used in the steak and make a puree, with a little butter and milk. Serve that up under the steak to give you the crisped edges of the steak contrasting with the unearthly creaminess of the puree. Instead of nose-to-tail, you've got head-to-stem; instead of whole animal you've gone whole vegetable. And you've got dinner.

Well, you know I always have to gild the lily a bit, so I took this a step further. I also have been desperately trying to empty out the refrigerator, and use up all of the end of season tomatoes in garden. So Fred dug up a beautiful looking recipe from Bon Appétit and, in the one room that has not been packed thus far, the kitchen, we started riffing.

And in a little under an hour, we sat amongst our cardboard box jungle with two beautiful plates heaped with veg, gobbling up the hottest trend. I think Fred was even wearing an ironic t-shirt while we ate.

Cauliflower Medallions with Olive Tapenade & Tomato Purée

4 servings

Ingredients

1  large head of cauliflower, trimmed & outer leaves removed
1/2  cup  pitted kalamata olives, finely chopped
3  tablespoons of tomato paste
3 1/2  tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more
2  tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1  teaspoon lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3  garlic cloves
2  medium tomatoes, cored, quartered

Directions

Place cauliflower core side down on a work surface. Using a large knife, slice cauliflower into 1/2" medallions from center of cauliflower (reserve loose florets). Finely chop enough loose florets to measure 1/2 cup. Transfer chopped florets to a small bowl and mix with olives, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon oil, parsley, and lemon juice. Season tapenade with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400°. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook cauliflower medallions until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side, adding oil to pan between batches. Transfer medallions to a large rimmed baking sheet. Reserve skillet. Roast cauliflower until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, return skillet to medium-high heat and add garlic cloves and tomatoes, one cut side down. Cook until tomatoes are browned; turn tomatoes over and transfer skillet to oven with cauliflower. Roast garlic and tomatoes until tender, about 12 minutes.

Transfer garlic, tomatoes, and 1/2 tablespoon oil to a blender; purée until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Divide tomato purée among plates. Place a few medallions on each plate; spoon tapenade over. Serve immediately.

Printable recipe.

One year ago: Poblano-Sherry Vinegar Mignonette

Two years ago: Buttermilk Pie

Three years ago: Turkey Meatloaf

Four years ago: Pureed Kale & White Bean Soup

Cheap Gastronomic Holidays

Here are a few places to check out.

Italy is an amazing food destination. From pizza and pasta to perfectly grilled fish, you will find amazing dishes. In Italian cooking, authenticity is king and chefs will dedicate a great deal of time to picking out the absolute perfect ingredients for each dish. Italian food is often quite simple, but this attention to detail means the results are fantastic. There is a fair bit of variety of food in Italy's different regions, so do some research into what is the local speciality. If you do this you're likely to try spellbinding recipes that have been passed down generation to generation.

Paris is another amazing destination for those who think with their stomachs. This jewel of a city features many of the world's best restaurants. But aside from those expensive options the city has much to offer. Roadside bistros will offer you unbeatable steak frites and cafes will dole out croissants that will melt in your mouth. Above all Paris is a city of variety, so sample a wide variety of restaurants aside from the traditional French ones.

If you travel a little bit further, Malaysia will reward your efforts. This cosmopolitan nation fuses Malay, Chinese and Indian culinary traditions. The result is sublime with amazing curries, fantastic noodles and great rice dishes. This is a country where you can get great food for cheap prices, so be willing to try road-side stalls and little restaurants as they may offer the best fare. Don't miss Little India in Kuala Lumpur where you can get amazing naan bread served with your curry.

With great, affordable flights available around the world there is no reason not to take off on a culinary vacation. Many of the best foods around the world can be bought quite cheaply, making a great gastronomic tour fun, memorable and affordable.

Gastronomic holidays are often thought of as something for the ultra-rich. But with cheap last minute holidays to many diverse locations readily available, there is no reason why you can't head off on your own culinary vacation.

A Brief Look at Birmingham Italian Restaurants - Guideppe's Cafe, Bettola, and Lovoy's

Birmingham, Alabama has a advanced alternative of Italian restaurants. Ranging from budget-minded to lavish, from southern Italian to arctic Italian, whatever array of Italian aliment you want, you can about absolutely acquisition it in Birmingham. Three of the abounding choices accessible are Giuseppe's Café, Bettola, and Lovoy's.

Giuseppe's Cafe is amid at 925 8th St. S (Gable Square). This is an old-school Italian restaurant, with the green, white, and red assurance and acceptable brick building. Here you can acquisition what some accept to be the best pizza in Birmingham. The 16 inch Greek Delight pizza is a accepted choice. It has tomatoes, onions, oregano, olives, garlic, and beginning feta cheese. You aswell accept the advantage to body your own pizza. There are bootleg calzones and pasta dishes, and an espresso bar that is able-bodied account visiting.

Bettola, at 2901 2nd Ave. S. is amid in the Martin Biscuit building, as allotment of the Pepper Abode development. This is a baby trattoria that aswell offers some absolutely acceptable pizza. Here, they're fabricated like in Naples, with flat, wood-fired crusts, and topped with tomatoes, addle mozzarella cheese, and basil. You aswell accept your best of acceptable banquet entrees, build-your-own antipasti, oven broiled Italian dishes, and a yield on bruschetta with eggplant, capers, and basil. They serve beer and wine too. If you like Neopolitan appearance pizza, again Bettola is your place.

Lovoy's, amid at 420 Blooming Springs Hwy, is accessible for banquet every night of the anniversary except for Sunday. It is what you anticipate of if you anticipate of the archetypal Italian restaurant in America. They serve amazing meat ravioli, dogie parmigiana, and broiled lasagna. Seafood is aswell arresting on the menu, with broiled oysters getting one of Lovoy's signature dishes. The restaurant has been a ancestors business for over 40 years, and the dishes served are the ones that accept stood the analysis of time and become the abstract of the American Italian restaurant.

Birmingham has developed a abundant comestible tradition, as apparent by its astronomic ambit of restaurants. Whatever your aftertaste buds are appetite can be begin in Birmingham, whether it's a cheeseburger, sushi, or abundant Italian food.

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What Makes Paris So Interesting - Love, Opera or Ballet?

Preferably accustomed as the a lot of adventurous destination on the earth, Paris is the basic city-limits of France and a paradise for lovers. Getting one of the world's a lot of adventurous and arresting cities, Paris attracts travelers with its abnormal appeal. The city-limits enjoys abundant sightseeing adventures getting in the affection of Europe. It bestows arresting architectural affluence and offers anesthetic angle forth with an arrangement of ball opportunities.

With so abundant adulation around, Paris turns into an ideal destination for art lovers and persuades visitors to adore their vacation here. There are several affidavit that this city-limits has, which accomplish it so accepted and interesting. In fact, the actual acclaimed opera and ballet accept originated in this city-limits of love. Paris is sited on the River Seine in arctic France and has an unparalleled address due to its area that lies at a basic amid acreage and river barter routes. It is one of Europe's basic hubs for the art lovers, which accoutrements several things to accord it a adventurous ambience and absorbing outlook. Paris enjoys aesthetic prosperity, architectural affluence and comfortable fashion. Explore the affidavit that accomplish it so interesting.

Architectural Heritage and Genius: Paris is home to several architectural wonders like Cathedral Notre Dama, Eiffel Tower and Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe. The city-limits is abounding of architectural geniuses that accomplish it a dream destination for a amount of tourists.

Ballet: Paris becomes a have to appointment abode for art lovers by alms affection affecting shows of the world's oldest and abstruse ball forms in ballet. Alms complete alloy of aesthetics and elegance, the ballet achievement in Paris offers complete movements, around-the-clock ancestry and breeze that access the audiences. The audible agreeableness of this achievement glorifies the adventurous ambience of Paris.

Lip Smacking Cuisines: Paris is a paradise for humans gluttonous wining and dining. Food in this city-limits not just provides a admirable comestible acquaintance but aswell enhance the amusement of visiting this chic city-limits of romance. The attractive city-limits is one of prime comestible hubs in Europe that appearance hundreds of acceptable bistros and sidewalk cafes. These places are not so abundant expansive. So, with whatever account you are visiting an eatery, Paris will serve anniversary bowl size.

Mecca of Art and Fashion: Widely articular as the appearance basic of the world, Paris is the discoverer of several art forms. It plays a basic role in affairs of the country and turns into a prime automated and cultural consign house. Explore actuality the array of appearance elements that accomplish Paris absolutely altered and amazing.

Opera: Communicating arresting belief with a lot of adventurous themes, Opera in Paris is a have to adore thing. It uses agreeable instruments and gives reside acting performances by abrogation the admirers addled with the astute expressions of the actors and sometimes these performances put them into tears. Opera in Paris is absolutely account seeing.

Paris is one of those cities area tourists can absorb their vacations with complete fun and enthusiasm. Look for a biking amalgamation that can acquiesce you advertent all the admirable aspects of this city. At EaseMyTrip.com, best bout bales are accessible for Paris with added biking articles and services.

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I'm the Dog Walker.

Oddly enough, I've been to very few weddings. A lot of people complain about weddings, like they're a drag or something. I love them. I love looking at all of the people, watching the families interact, figuring out who knows whom, who tolerates whom, you get the idea. I love to watch the eccentric great aunt with her shaky, little hands, clutching her champagne glass smeared with red lipstick smudges around the rim and crumbs of God knows what permanently lodged in the corners of her mouth. I love the awkward little children, dressed up like adults, the boys looking miserable and uncomfortable and the girls loving their princess hair and dresses and all of the attention. I love watching the bride's second cousin flirting with the groom's best man's brother, and sneaking off to hook up after just enough champagne, wine and cocktails to chalk it up to 'weddings'.

I love the formality, the process. I love watching the groom's face, and see his eyes light up (or fill with tears) when he first lays eyes on his very soon-to-be-bride walking down the aisle toward him. And, at that moment, I always cry a little. I love how awkward they are. I love that as a result of how awkward they are, and how no one really knows anyone all that well, no one is really themselves; rather people take on a veil of anonymity. And pretty much everyone over indulges in some way or another.

I love wedding food. I love food in chafing dishes. I love the taco themes, or the tapas themes, the big-fat-Greek-wedding themes, I love choosing either the salmon or the roast beef. I love the over cornstarchy, congealed sauce that is poured over either one. I love the extremeley cooked carrots and green beans with mashed potatoes and gravy. And, of course, I love the cake.

It's wonderful that everyone dances (to all manner of bad music). Everyone laughs. Everyone cries. Everyone talks. Everyone eats and everyone drinks. Family and friends from all over the country, or even the world, perfect strangers, yet all thrust together because of another couple's union. And everyone at least pretends to be happy, jubilant even. Until they receive the next wedding invitation whereupon they complain what a drag weddings are.

It had been at least five years since my last wedding, until this past weekend. One of my clients was getting married. And she wanted her dog, Giovanni, to be in the wedding. To be specific, she wanted me to escort Giovanni to the wedding and make sure he made it down the aisle with his "grandfather" (the bride's dad).  An ordinary day. Giovanni is an awesome dog and I adore him. Giovanni is a Pug. It was a hot day: Giovanni mouth breathes like a Pug, is a tiny bit chubby, and does not love the heat.

I followed the wedding planners' instructions to the T: I drove Giovanni downtown at five pm and parked outside the venue.  We were escorted in by one of the planners; I then waited to hand him off to the bride's father at the proper time. Oh, did I mention Giovanni was wearing a tuxedo?  A snug tux at that--couldn't fasten the bottom button.  So here I am in downtown LA at 5 pm on what seemed the hottest day of the year with a chubby Pug in a tux.  After Giovanni's down the aisle promenade with granddad I was to take him and wait until the conclusion of the ceremony at which point the wedding photographer was going to get a few shots of the happy couple with Giovanni.  Then Gio and I were free to go.

Everything went as planned. Except there were no side aisles. So for the first few moments of the ceremony, I sat in the very front row, next to the VIPs and the parents, who must have wondered who this bold stranger might be. I quietly explained, “I'm the dog walker”, and they seemed relieved. So, Gio's granddad walked his daughter and her dog down the aisle and it was touching. As always, while everyone else was craning their necks to catch that first glimpse of the bride, I watched the groom's face, and could tell exactly when he laid eyes on her, in her dress, for the first time. And I cried a little.

After that, Giovanni was quickly handed to me and, while the ceremony began to hit its stride, I had to awkwardly duck back up the center aisle, the only aisle. The very aisle that still had the lingering scent of the bride's perfume as she had just walked down it not six seconds prior. And, of course, with Giovanni panting very audibly in his tuxedo. A graceful exit it was not.

Then, Gio and I were shown to a corner in the back of the reception area to wait for the ceremony to end. A couple of the caterers and staff were curious about what we were doing back there, all alone, no champagne. “I'm the dog walker," I told them.

Then, as fast as it began, it was over. And while Giovanni was photographed with his just married mom and dad, I waited by the front door of the venue with the valets. Then a woman stepped outside for some air and since we were the only non-valets standing there, she felt compelled to say, “Hi, I'm Evelyn, the groom's sister. Are you with bride or groom?” To which I confidently replied, “Hi, I'm the dog walker!”

And so, as the bride and groom went back inside to enjoy the reception, the meal, the dancing and the champagne with all of their family and friends, Giovanni and I hopped back in the car to head back to my house to relax. And man, was he happy to get that tux off.

Back at my place, it was dinner time. I fed the pups their kibble and Fred poured us a couple of glasses of Vino Verde to sip while we got to our Saturday night project: making ricotta, which was something I had wanted to do for a very long time – ever since I saw the recipe in Saveur six or so years ago and ripped out the pages. As the milk and cream were heating up on the stove, I told him about how it felt so strange to have been a part, in even the tiniest way, of one of the most important days in two people's lives, but to have been so very invisible. I wasn't really even there. And I didn't mind one bit – though a glass of champagne would have been much appreciated.

As we sat down to the table to eat our dinner of grilled pork tenderloin (with an amazing dry rub) and zucchini with Niçoise olives and homemade ricotta, I realized I definitely got my wedding fix. I got the vibe. I watched the families, the couples, the singles scoping out their next flirt target. There was champagne, and spicy margaritas. It was a taco theme, with mariachis and the whole bit. I did what most women who have not yet had their own wedding do (and have thought about since they were six years old), compare it to what they would do differently, take note of what worked, little details, décor, style, all of it. And before Giovanni and I left, I did get a hug from the bride and groom – which is actually pretty hard to get at a lot of weddings, with all of the hullabaloo. Especially for the dog walker.

Would I serve this dish at my wedding? Perhaps. But man alive, the ricotta that we made was out of this world. Light, airy, buttery, creamy, rich, and delicate. We ate it in everything for three days straight, until it was gone. We even ate it for dessert; a heap of it in a bowl topped with lemon zest, honey and almonds.

Zucchini with Lucques Olives and Homemade Ricotta

8-10 servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

8 medium zucchini (about 3 1/4 pounds)—halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1/3-inch dice

3 lemon thyme sprigs

Kosher salt

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup pitted Lucques olives, chopped

Freshly ground pepper

3/4 pound ricotta (here's how to make your own)

1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped, plus a sprig for garnish

Directions
In a very large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add 1/3 of the zucchini, 1 lemon thyme sprig, a generous pinch of salt and 1/4 cup of water and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally until the zucchini is just tender and the water has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Transfer the zucchini to a platter to cool and discard the thyme sprig. Wipe out the skillet and repeat in two more batches with the remaining olive oil, lemon thyme, zucchini and salt, adding 1/4 cup of water to each batch.

In a large bowl, toss the cooled zucchini with the grated lemon zest, lemon juice, mint and olives. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a serving platter. Arrange the ricotta over the zucchini, garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

Printable recipe.

One year ago: Poblano-Sherry Vinegar Mignonette

Two years ago: Classic Southern Fried Chicken

Three years ago: Wolvesmouth

Four years ago: Steak au Poivre

Enjoy a Journey of 1000 Spices

Discount hotels in Singapore invite you to a round-the-clock feast that celebrates a perennial romance with the aromas, appeal and the aesthetic tastes of Singapore. With a mind-boggling, multi-cultural and mesmerizing range of restaurants, hotels, cuisines, eateries and cafes, Singapore opens out another fascinating aspect of eating down by the riverside. Visitors staying in Singapore hotels can wander down the banks of the Singapore River where the old shophouses were and which has now evolved into a modern hub of activity that teems with the entertainment of themed restaurants, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and sidewalk cafes. Resounding with echoes of the maritime history of Singapore, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay still hold traces of their colonial background and bubbles with life and leisure.

Tourists can step out from their luxurious Singapore hotels to discover the pleasures of Singapore's dining establishments that line both sides of a gently flowing river. With the ebb and flow of the years, the main racial cuisines of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Eurasian, Perankan and Britain has expanded to include Lebanese, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepalese and many more culinary secrets. Tourists can take a walk from their handpicked Singapore discount hotel and enjoy the awesome and appealing dishes of Singapore.

Relax at Dream Discount Hotels in Singapore

Families and groups staying at fabulous Singapore discount hotels can take off to discover the culinary delights of the riverside be it coffee shops, food centers that are outdoor or indoor, hawkers stalls or on-the-spot cooked dishes by hawkers. As a surprise and a delicious discovery, visitors staying at a beautiful Singapore discount hotel would find a spectrum of amazing food in one of the world's hottest vacation spots.

With Singapore rotating on the axis of a multi-cultural heritage, the city swings night and day with its multi-faceted entertainment and the fragrance of 1000 spices. Visitors from a lovely Singapore discount hotel would enjoy the popular dishes such as Char Kway Teow, fried broad rice noodles in sweet black sauce, Satay which is marinated skewered meat eaten with spicy peanut gravy and Chili crab cooked in thick chili gravy. Or maybe a delectable journey can be undertaken with Laksa which is noodles cooked in a spicy coconut broth, Hainanese chicken rice that is made with tender boiled chicken and served with fragrant rice cooked in its broth or Roti Prata which is fluffy Indian pancake-like bread would satisfy the tourists staying in discount hotels Singapore.

Indulge in a Travel of Tastes