For Those About to Cook, I Salute You.

I've been at this blogging thing for six and a half years now, and it's been good to me. It began as a whim and, yes, my timing was pretty perfect. The whole food blogging thing was becoming... a thing. I didn't know anything about blogging, or even what the word meant exactly. I knew I loved food. I loved to think about it, talk about it, read about it, make it, eat it and share it. My friends couldn't help but notice the interest-turned-obsession and one in particular urged me to start what has become F for Food.

I read many other blogs and have become enmeshed in the blogging community. Many of my closest friends, even now, are fellow food bloggers. There are quite a few different flavors of us: the restaurant bloggers and the recipe bloggers are the two broadest groups. I fall more into the recipe category with the occasional restaurant discussion. Some of us recipe bloggers like to flex creative writing and storytelling with our recipes and some write the straight dope about the recipes, the seasonality, the use of ingredients. Again, I fall more into the creative writing/storytelling camp, with some dialogue about The Food.

For the dishes I share on F for Food, I use some of my very own brainflowers, but I also pool from the world-wide world of recipes; cookbooks, online references and, often, other bloggers. I frequently read a recipe that I find alluring and then riff on it in my kitchen. If it works, I will likely share the results. I often tell the story of how I found the recipe and from whom it originated. I have written consistently about Alice Waters, Marion Cunningham, Suzanne Goin, Melissa Clark and Molly Wizenberg(funny, all women) to name a few - their food, and their influence on my own. Usually in the paragraphs leading up to the actual recipe.

In some instances, Fred and I create a dish from nothing and then research to see who has also created the same dish, or something similar, in the past to use as a recipe model. As it would appear, very little is truly original or not inspired by something that has already been thrust into the world.

Here's what I have not done. I have not properly transformed the instructional parts of the recipes. And more importantly, in the proper instances, I have not placed the attribution under the title of the recipe – resulting in not giving credit where credit is due. For example, when I rambled on about hearing an episode of The Splendid Table where Melissa Clark tells the beautiful memory of her childhood and the pan bagnat (though I included hyperlinks to both The Splendid Table episode and Melissa Clark), I did not type 'adapted from a recipe by Melissa Clark'at the top of the recipe.

First, I would like to apologize for this oversight and, second, let you know that I am in the process of going back through the archives of F for Food to make certain the appropriate due credit is given. I have nothing but respect and admiration for chefs, food lovers and recipe creators of all kinds. My blog began as, and continues to be, a testament to my reverence, love and appreciation of everything about food and those who feel the same way that have come before me, are here now and those who will pave the yellow pound cake road of the future.

So this is Memorial Day weekend. Let's go outside, drink cold adult beverages by a body of water of some kind and eat some sort of thing from a grill – or, in my preganant-self's case, enjoy some cold, refreshing popsicles in my back yard with Fred. Let's all get to it, shall we?

Watermelon-Mint Popsicles with Lime

(This recipe is a Fred + Elliott original)

Makes 10 popsicles

Ingredients

4 cups of watermelon cut into 1-inch cubes, plus 1 cup 1/4-inch cubes (seeds removed)

3 tablespoons chopped mint leaves, tightly packed

Zest & juice of 1 lime

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

Directions

Puree 1-inch cubes of watermelon & run through sieve into medium bowl. 

Muddle mint & sugar together, add to watermelon liquid along with lime zest & juice. Stir well. 

Refrigerate mixture for about 30 minutes to allow sugar to melt and let flavors infuse. 

Divide the 1/4-inch watermelon cubes evenly between the 10 sections of the popsicle mold, then using a pitcher with a spout, carefully fill molds, leaving about 1/4-inch of room at the top as the popsicles will expand as they freeze. 

Insert popsicle sticks and freeze away (approximately 3-5 hours, depending on your freezer). If you are using wooden popsicle sticks and your mold does not have a guide, freeze for 1 hour and then insert the sticks.

*FYI - We used this type of popsicle mold.

Printable recipe.

One year ago: Chilled Beet Soup with Horseradish Yogurt

Two years ago: Classic Shad Roe with Bacon & Fresh Herbs

Four years ago: Sautéed Baby Artichokes with Olive Oil, Garlic & Lemon

How To Embrace Your Inner Foodie On A Central Florida Vacation

A Central Florida vacation offers visitors warm, tropical weather, pristine beaches, dozens of theme parks, gorgeous natural landscapes and a plethora of fun and exciting activities for families, couples and tourists of all ages. However, among the many things to do in Central Florida, Polk Country also provides travelers an ideal location for those looking to indulge in exceptional dining experiences while in the area.

Come Hungry On A Central Florida Vacation

According to the Travel Industry Association of America's Profile of Culinary Travelers, traveling foodies have noted that experiencing regional and local cuisines while on holiday tops the list of reasons for participating in culinary travel. Of this demographic, a large percentage wants to learn about the local cuisine culture as well as sample regional flavors and specialties.

These roaming gourmets will certainly hit pay dirt in Polk County. With an endless array of award winning restaurants, bistros and cafes in the vicinity, a vacation to this region is sure to satisfy the appetite, craving or palette of even the finickiest food connoisseur. From casual fare to high end fine dining, Polk County has it all.

Where To Eat On A Central Florida Vacation

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don't skip it while on your vacation. Check out places like Cypress Caf, Fred's Southern Kitchen, Sugar Bakery and Sandwiches and Camille's Sidewalk Caf. All located in Polk County, these places provide both an excellent cross section of regional flavors as well as a great way to start to your day.

For those looking for a refined noontime meal, try the Tearoom at the Stanford Inn. Located in Bartow, this bed and breakfast serves diners an assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts set in an original turn of the century Victorian home. For a spicier lunchtime treat, journey over to Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant in Lakeland. Enjoy authentic south of the border foods in this casual and inviting establishment. Lang's Taste of Florida Caf or the Lavender & Lace Tearoom, both located in Lake Alfred, are also great places to satiate those midday hunger pangs. Lang's Taste of Florida Caf is also known for their well-known dessert called Grapefruit Pie - if you're a dessert lover, this specialty is not to be missed!

Visitors seeking a succulent evening dining experience will also find they have a diverse and delicious array of options on their Central Florida vacation. Norby's Steaks and Seafood in Lake Wales boasts some of the best steaks in the area. For seafood lovers, Gary's Oyster Bar and Seafood House in Lake Alfred, known as the longest running oyster bar in Polk County, offers patrons both raw and perfectly cooked meals. The Terrace Grill in Lakeland's historic Terrace Hotel offers fine dining with 1920's charm. For fare with a more European flair, Mario's Italian Restaurant in Lakeland serves up quality Mediterranean cuisines in a fine dining atmosphere.

Other exceptional choices for regional tastes include Harry's Old Place, Sundown Southern Eatery, both located in Winter Haven, as well as Cherry Pocket Steak and Seafood Shak, Chalet Suzanne Country Inn and Restaurant and Festival Steak and Seafood all in the Lake Wales region.

With so many fabulous places to choose from, adding a culinary tour to the list of things to do in Central Florida will prove an easy feat!

Portuguese Food and Cuisine

Briony Stephenson introduces the hidden delights of Portuguese cuisine.

Despite the abiding access it has had on aliment in such far-away places as Macau and Goa, Portuguese cuisine is badly underrepresented alfresco Portugal. Generally abashed with Spanish cooking, it is, in fact, absolutely distinct. At its best, Portuguese aliment is simple capacity impeccably prepared. Based on bounded produce, emphasising fish, meat, olive oil, tomato, and spices, it appearance affable soups, bootleg aliment and cheeses, as able-bodied as abrupt combinations of meat and shellfish.

For a almost baby nation, Portugal has hasty gastronomic variety. The Estremadura region, which includes Lisbon, is acclaimed for its seafood - the angle bazaar at Cascais, just alfresco the capital, is one of the better in the country - while the assembly of sausages and cheese abroad adds addition ambit to the civic cuisine. The Algarve, the endure arena of Portugal to accomplish ability from the Moors, and anchored on North Africa's doorstep, contributes a centuries-old attitude of almond and fig sweets.

Traditional Portuguese aliment is embodied by fish.Indeed, the Portuguese accept a continued history of arresting comestible traditions from added peoples. The age of analysis was propelled by the admiration for alien spices and anytime back Vasco da Gama apparent the sea avenue to India at the about-face of the sixteenth century, they accept accepted awfully popular. Peri-peri, a Brazilian aroma crude to the above African colonies is acclimated to flavour craven and shrimp. Back-scratch spices from Goa are accepted seasonings. These spices are about acclimated actual sparingly, abacus attenuate flavour and abyss to dishes. It is these influences that accept helped accomplish Portuguese aliment so clearly altered from that of added Mediterranean countries and in Lisbon today there are array of restaurants specialising in the cuisines of the old authority as able-bodied as Brazilian-style abstract bars, alms drinks and ice-cream fabricated from alien fruits.

If there is one activity that typifies acceptable Portuguese food, however, it is fish. From the accepted anchovy to swordfish, sole, sea bream, bass and salmon, markets and airheaded acknowledge the abounding admeasurement of Portugal's adulation activity with seafood. In Portugal, even a street-bought angle burger is abounding with flavour. Bacalhau, absolute cod, is the Portuguese angle and said to be the base for some 365 recipes, one for anniversary day of the year. Two dishes are decidedly notable. Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, about a goulash of cod, potatoes and onion, is an Oporto aspect and advised conceivably Portugal's greatest bacalhau recipe. From Estremadura comes bacalhau á bràs, accolade eggs with absolute cod, potatoes and onions.

Shellfish, including clams (amêijoas) and mussels (mexilhões) are aswell of a top quality. Crab and squid are generally stuffed, and lulas recheadas à lisbonense (stuffed squid Lisbon-style) is a abundant archetype of Portuguese seafood. Visitors to Lisbon can acquisition acceptable shops by the docks affairs snails (caracóis).

There are affluence of options for the meat-lover too. Espetada, broiled skewers of beef with garlic, is popular, as is bairn pig (leitão). Cozido à portuguesa, a one-dish meal of beef, pork, sausage and vegetables, reflects the adeptness of acceptable cooking. A rather added abnormal aggregate is the pork and clams of porco à alentejana (pork Alentejo-style). Pork is aswell adapted with mussels na cataplana, with the wok-like cataplana sealing in the flavours. Meanwhile, the city-limits of Oporto boasts tripa à moda do Porto (Oporto-style tripe), allegedly a bequest from the canicule of Prince Henry the Navigator, if the city-limits was larboard with annihilation but blah afterwards accouterment the Infante's ships with food. To this day Oporto citizenry are accepted as tripeiros, or tripe-eaters.

Broiled craven (frango grelhado), acclimatized with peri-peri, garlic, and/or olive oil, is one of the few things that has fabricated its mark alfresco Portugal, area it can be begin in cities with a ample Portuguese population. The awful ambrosial peri-peri craven is generally served in specialist restaurants.

Portuguese food: a hidden treasure.Soups aggregate an basic allotment of acceptable cooking, with all address of vegetables, angle and meat acclimated to actualize a array of soups, stews and chowders. Caldo verde (literally blooming broth), fabricated from a soup of kale-like banknote thickened with potato and absolute a allotment of salpicão or chouriço sausage, originated from the arctic arena of Minho but is now advised a civic dish. Along with canja de galinha (chicken broth), caldo verde is a filling, abating and all-over favourite. For the added adventurous, caldeirada de lulas à madeirense (squid bouillon Madeira-style) appearance a artlessly Portuguese aggregate of seafood, back-scratch and ginger. Addition archetypal bowl is the açorda area vegetables or mollusk are added to blubbery rustic aliment to actualize a 'dry' soup.

Those with a candied tooth may be absorbed to apprentice that one of Portugal's best-kept comestible secrets is its all-inclusive and characteristic ambit of desserts, cakes and pastries. A basic of restaurant airheaded is amber mousse - richer, denser and smoother than adopted versions, while added favourites cover arroz doce, a auto and cinnamon-flavoured rice pudding. The a lot of acclaimed sweets, however, are the affluent egg-yolk and sugar-based cakes, afflicted by Moorish affable and able by Guimerães nuns in the sixteenth century. For a abnormally Portuguese experience, the company should arch for a pasteleria (or confeitaria), area the abounding varieties of cakes and added confections, as able-bodied as savoury delicacies like bolinhas de bacalhau, cod balls, are served. The Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, area the allegorical pastéis de nata, adorable custard-filled tarts, are baked, is a Lisbon highlight. Nearby Sintra has its own acceptable pastry, queijadas de Sintra (a blazon of cheese tart), which artery vendors advertise in packs of six.

The Portuguese attitude to aliment is simple and imaginative, acceptable and inventive. Above all, adequate acceptable aliment and the amusing aspects of bistro out is an admired allotment of accustomed life. From breezy cafes to world-class restaurants, all budgets and occasions are catered for. Tiny cafes and tascas, generally no added than holes in the wall, abound. The befalling to sample this abundantly alien cuisine in all its array is one of the absolute rewards of visiting Portugal.

(c) http://www.portugalvisitor.com

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Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt - Where to Dine and Drink

Satisfying most edible desires, Cairo, Egypt is home to a never-ending source of eateries. Inexpensive food is always easily accessible everywhere about the streets, as restaurants and snack stalls are all over the place. The highest-rated dining opportunities are most often, but not always situated in hotels and Nile boats. The borders found between eateries and cafes are not clearly defined within the Egyptian capital. In numerous locations, it is rather satisfactory to simply sip on a drink or sheesha. Mid-range and high-range sites may request a minimum charge. The less expensive eateries and some of the pricier outlets typically do not serve alcohol.

Overall, downtown Cairo is decent for eating while on a budget, while a higher level of dining is found in places, such as Zamalek, Mohandeseen, and any other parts of the city considered more well off than others.

The majority of guidebooks and food experts concur that Cairo is not the best place to visit for dining. The ingredients used to prepare food are usually seen as lower in quality, as even the "creme de la creme" of Cairo restaurants may offer dishes that create a question mark. With that being said, there is still an array of restaurants in Cairo to consider eating at.

When visitors possess a desire to explore the culinary treats of Cairo, they should seek out the publication called Cairo Dining, which produces a half-yearly update of the 1,000 of restaurants in Cairo. This also includes locations to check out. The magazine sorts listings by price, types of food, and region. The magazine is on display at chain cafes (such as Cilantro and Beanos). Otlob . com is also known to deliver food from a wide-range of restaurants in Cairo. It is also a practical choice, as it supplies a collection of eateries that are separated by kind of food and region. This English publication also discusses various menus.

Additionally, travelers find that most restaurants in Cairo (with the exception of high-quality establishments) deliver food or offer takeout.

Cairo Restaurant Suggestions

al-Gahsh

When looking for the best fowl in Cairo, this inexpensive eatery (whose name stands for "the mule") is said to please. The location is great, as easy access to the most revered mosque in Cairo (Seidna Zeinab) and close proximity to Ibn Tulun is gained. Many people enjoy adding this stop to a visit throughout Islamic Cairo.

Kushari Tahrir

Many downtown outlets are associated with this Kushari chain, which is quite popular with visitors. The only type of food served is Kushari, which is known to be quite satisfying.

Abou al-Sid

This chic Zamalek restaurant creates sophisticated Egyptian dishes. It is suggested to make reservations ahead of time and remember to dress up for dinner.

Soqaia, Zamalek

Here, people come to enjoy tasty Lebanese food with an assortment of more than 50 kinds of waterpipe tobacco. Decent beverages and an impressive positioning by the Nile location are seen as one of the best places to visit when looking for someone to enjoy the Cairo evening air.

Maison Thomas, Zamalek

For the tastiest pizza and delicious Italian food restaurant in Cairo, check out this restaurant, which also provides access to an in-house deli that supplies pork, which is quite rare in Cairo.

Euro Deli, Zamalek

To experience the comfort of this international cafe, come to take pleasure in one of the healthiest sandwiches, salads and bagels that the city has to offer.

La Bodega, Zamalek

At this high-end eatery, you will encounter a satisfying menu, great service, and refreshing drinks, which is often hard to locate in the Cairo.

Egyptian and Oriental Dishes

To enjoy traditional Egyptian dishes, these kinds of meals are found nearly in every place. The stalls and restaurants of the street is where traditional dishes, such as foul (bean paste), taamiyya (falafel), and muzagga'a (zesty aubergines) is located. Tourists also encounter kushari, which consists of macaroni, lentils, chickpeas, and the occasional addition of tomato sauce. Other typical meals include fatayeer (Egyptian pancakes with various fillings) and shawarma (pieces of roasted meat often wrapped in bread) an import hailing from Lebanon and Syria.

In less expensive restaurants in Cairo, one may only dine on vegetables and sometimes beef hot dogs or corned beef. It is also common to find salads, eggs, and fried potatoes on the menu. In order to experience the most hygienic of eateries, it is suggested to dine where most people visit, as the standards vary from place to place. Avoiding empty outlets are highly recommended, as the food usually lacks freshness. Downtown is a good place to locate many of the better Kushari outlets.

The selections of traditional Egyptian food are restricted, as you come in contact with mid- and upper- price ranges. While the circumstances are getting better, traditional eating in Egypt is usually experienced within private households. Real Egyptian food is sometimes enjoyed at well-known chain eateries, such as Felfela (which has many different outlets) and Abou Sid (found in Zamalek, Maadi and Doqqi).

Overall, tourists find that Arabic and Oriental restaurants offer varying cooking styles. On the bright side, Cairo is lucky to have a decent handful of Lebanese outfits that offers quality eats. This includes chains like Dar al-Qamar, which join a host of trendy restaurants. Also, Turkish food and restaurants are present, as they usually accommodates guest of the gulf.

Western and Asian Food

There has also been an increase in Western fast food restaurants in Cairo. These establishments are often seen as some of the best hangouts for young Cairenes who are looking for a location to relax. It seems these restaurants are the "coolest" places to hang out with friends. Throughout the city, McDonalds, Hardees, Pizza Hut and KFC are quite popular. An attractive TGI Friday's is also situated on the banks of the Nile, which is also at the entrance of Maadi, offering beer but no wine to their patrons.

Burgers in Cairo are found at Fudd Rocker's (Maadi and Mohandesseen), as well as at the Lucile in Maadi. With a trendy interior, the Mint in Mohandeseen is an alcohol-free Italian establishment. The city also boasts western-style bakeries and cafes, where lighter fare is supplied like sandwiches and salads. A trip to the popular chains of Cilantro and Beanos and The Mariott Bakery will provide similar dishes. Wireless Internet is also available at these sites.

For international dining that is more on the stylish side, Cairo has a selection to consider, which includes Italian, Chinese, and Japanese outlets. Additionally, continental cooking is found in regions, such as Dokki, Zamalek, and Mohandeseen.

Dietary Issues and Cleanliness

A few health precautions are suggested for travel in Cairo, as it is not suggested to consume tap water or eat unpeeled fresh fruits and vegetables. This is usually followed for at least the first couple of days of vacation. To enjoy vegetarian options, L'aubergine located in Zamalek is a favorable eatery that is known for its vegetarian food. If not, you will find that Egyptian cuisine is filled with vegetable dishes, but keep in mind that some meals possess concealed meat in the prepared stock and sauces. When available outside of major hotels, consume sushi and ice cream with caution.

Self-Catering

The Metro chain and Alfa Market in Zamalek are convenient supermarkets. Otherwise vegetables and fruit are plentiful and cheap. Bakeries like The Bakery chain sell western-style bread and pastries. Organic food is available at Sekem in Zamalek.

As you encounter Souks and other outdoor markets, you will learn how to grab excellent produce by bargaining with the prices. Freshly baked bread is abundant and found as two different kinds: whole wheat ("aysh baladi") and made with white flour ("aysh shami"). It is quite common to see hundreds upon hundreds of small children on bikes delivering this bread to every corner of Cairo. Each neighborhood also has dedicated streets where produce and other goods are made available.

Small bakeries ("furuns") provide all sorts of baked goods from doughnuts to breadsticks (Italian style). The fresh items at bakeries give travelers a break from the usual breakfast of beans.

Coffee - Everyone's an Expert!

On a contempo cruise aback to New Zealand, I ran into a acquaintance who had just alternate from a two anniversary vacation in Bali. We had not apparent anniversary added for about 10 years, and he was actual aflame to apprehend that I was in the coffee business in Indonesia.

"I accept brought aback this absurd coffee from Bali", he enthused, "I would adulation to apprehend your assessment on how acceptable it is". It angry out that he anticipation this coffee was so good, that he had amorphous negotiating an absolute acceptation acceding with the broiler on the Island of the Gods.

Later that day I swung by his appointment and waited for him in the antechamber while he assured a meeting. We went up to his office, a nice bend one that afforded a beauteous appearance beyond Wellington Harbour to Eastbourne. I was impressed, he had done well. I was beneath afflicted if he brought the awful advancing coffee from the baby bar fridge area he had been autumn it (on admonition of the broiler in Bali). Apart from the admonition on accumulator getting flawed, I aswell had a adventitious to analyze the coffee by its packaging as a actual low cast Bali Robusta, served in abounding of the Kuta-Legian-Seminyak cafes that baby for tourists.

My acquaintance able a beverage of the coffee in catechism and asked for my opinion. I could see in his eyes that my cachet as "coffee expert" was in crisis of acceptable "coffee amateur" if my thoughts did not in anyhow achieve with his. I accept bashed this accurate cast of Robusta abounding times, and was not aghast to acquisition my palette accustomed it anon and responded as expected.

"So what do you anticipate of this coffee?", I asked, "Why do you like it so much"?

My acquaintance answered that it had such a unique, nutty, about broiled blah flavour that he begin actual exciting, the botheration in NZ is Robusta is about absurd to find, as all the roasters I apperceive of focus on the college quality, added blue Arabica's from about the world. This agency that the Robusta bashed while in the close paradises of Bali, Vietnam or India anon advantage up the tasters interest. The accessible staleness to the coffee in question, arranged in artificial blanket with a band account of Bali on the outside, able my accompany appearance that this was absolutely something unique.

Coffee superior is absolutely generally in the eye, or the mouth, of the beholder- but clashing wine, abounding drinkers still attempt to analyze origins, let abandoned superior of the coffee they are drinking. In abounding means anybody is an expert- but afterwards the empiric set of abilities that would accomplish them so in added comestible fields.

Unbelievably beneath than 2 canicule afterwards I ran into addition acquaintance who additionally had afresh alternate from a anniversary to Bali. Acutely tourism seems to be on the up-and-up on the Island, which is abundant afterwards the bombings in 2002 and 2005. This acquaintance had purchased some "weasel bits coffee" alleged Kopi Luwak. Was I acquainted of this admirable coffee? Did I wish to try some with him at his abode over dinner?

Later that night, afterwards a abundant Kiwi attitude of buzz Canterbury Lamb and Pavalova (god absolve his wife), I got to see the coffee in question. It was commercially arranged "Kopi Luwak" from Semarang, Central Java. Now accurate Kopi Luwak is absolutely coffee that has anesthetized through the approach civet, and been deposited out the added end. By definition. However it is aswell the registered cast name of one of Indonesia's added able-bodied accustomed roasters. In fact, beneath the account of capacity on the aback of the pack, it is acclaimed that "Luwak appropriate extract" is added to accustomed coffee which is central the package. Nothing adjoin the roaster, they are honest about what they are producing. However my acquaintance had been led to accept that this was the absolute accord by a bell-ringer in Bali. The coffee retails for about $0.80 in Supermarkets here, my acquaintance beggared with $25 for "the real-deal-poop-and-all-Kopi-Luwak". Rather than breach the affection I affably sipped the coffee and told a few tales of my own about block the Luwak with the adorable Prof Massimo Marcone about a apple in West Java.

On acknowledgment to Indonesia I accommodated a acquaintance who had alternate from Europe with a mottli accumulating of Italian, French, German, Spanish and even Albanian Espresso blends. He declared his admiration to alpha importing one, some or all of these coffees into Indonesia and capital my assessment on which were the best. To be fair, we absitively to dark aftertaste them adjoin a ambit of locally accessible espressos. By local, I beggarly locally broiled by a ambit of specialty and aggregate Indonesian Coffee roasters. This acquaintance is no comestible slug, accepting spent abundant of his activity abaft an oven in restaurants about the world. He even has a brace of Michelin Stars beneath his belt from a café in Europe. On adage this, his coffee cupping abilities are conceivably not absolutely up there with his aliment acoustic abilities, but they are passable.

We biconcave in absolute 12 coffee samples. In the end it formed out that 4 out of the top 6 and 6 out of the top 10 were the bounded samples. My acquaintance was amazed, "how can this be!", he mused. Despite the actuality that the 6 samples he brought from Europe were apparently basal shelf bazaar array espresso blends, the bloom affair absolutely played a allotment in bringing the bounded specialty espresso blends to the top of the list. I have to accept that I cheated a little- acutely I apperceive my own alloy as able-bodied as the two added bounded specialty roasters blends actual well- and awarded them top marks accordingly. However; interestingly my acquaintance aswell best the aforementioned top 3 as me, admitting in a hardly altered order.

These canicule absolutely it seems anybody is a proclaimed able on coffee. In Indonesia abominably the ability of the cast still evidently is accustomed as quality. So the Italian covering brands, additional the US café blooming behemothic blazon brands still aphorism the roost. But hey, we can not complain. Specialty coffee in one anatomy or addition has confused in leaps and bound over the endure few years here. Even in acceptable old café affable NZ, area specialty coffee has disqualified for the endure 2 decades there are some gaps that charge tamping.

© Alun Evans, Merdeka Coffee, all rights reserved.

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Byron Bay and Beyond - 6 Day Self-Drive Itinerary

6 Day Self-Drive Itinerary

Byron Bay and Beyond

Gold Bank - Kingscliff - Byron Bay - Lennox Arch - Coffs Bank - Gold Bank

Total Distance 651kms

Highlights

* Sunrise from the Cape Byron alarm on the Headland Airing

* Cream the apple acclaimed 'break' off Lennox Arch

* Close Fruit Apple

* Humpback whales amid July and September

* Award acceptable restaurants forth Kingscliff's 'eat street'

* The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa

* Mt Warning

* Sea kayak with the dolphins

* Acquaintance and 'aura' account at Bright Castle

From the abundant hinterland to the sparkling beaches on the coast, the Northern Rivers arena is abounding of accustomed wonders. Adore the abundant accustomed adorableness and absorb up the atmosphere in Kingscliff, Byron Bay, Lennox Arch and Coffs Bank which amalgamate the causal vibe of littoral retreats with a blow of city-limits style.

Day 1 - Coolangatta to Kingscliff (16km, 15mins)

Head south to the agreeable ocean-side boondocks of Kingscliff. On accession at Kingscliff analyze the 2km amplitude of beauteous white bank beaches and yield a dip in the bright clear water. Upon black arch to one of Kingscliff's active cafes and restaurants which accommodate different comestible acquaintance application beginning bounded produce.

Overnight: Kingscliff

Day 2 - Kingscliff to Byron Bay (94kms, 1hr 40mins)

Drive to the majestic Mt Warning aboriginal affair and bang alpha your morning with a airing to the summit. Analyze the beauteous Tweed Valley hinterland with a adequate Tweed River cruise. Adore the sub-tropical rainforest or appointment Close Fruit Apple and partake in one of the abundant activities on offer. Upon black abide south to Byron Bay and adore the comestible delights on action at one of Byron's abounding restaurants or cafes.

Overnight: Byron Bay

Day 3 - abounding day at Byron Bay

This morning absorb up the stress-free atmosphere, accept a surfing assignment or kayak with the dolphins. Cruise out to Julian Rocks Marine Reserve and snorkel with the sea turtles. Appointment the ability shops, Bangalow markets and art studios for which Byron is renowned. For those gluttonous a accurate 'alternative' Byron appearance time, acquaintance the Bright Castle or partake one of Byron's abounding accustomed remedies such as Yoga, beating and meditation. Finish the day's activities by walking the 5km Cape Byron Headland airing and watching the sunset. For dinning yield your aces from Byron's advanced alternative of adequate cafes or gourmet restaurants.

Overnight: Byron Bay

Day 4 - Byron Bay to Lennox Arch (18kms, 15 mins)

Lennox Arch is a peaceful bank apple acclaimed for its world-class surfing. Adore the bank and cream again adore the masses of close fish, crustaceans and mollusk whilst snorkelling in The Moat. Indulge your spirit of chance by hiring cream skis, catamarans or windsurfers. Acquaintance amazing across-the-board angle and watch the dusk from Pat Morton lookout.

Overnight: Lennox Head

Day 5 - Lennox Arch to Coffs Bank (222km, 2 hrs 50 mins)

After a auspicious morning bathe at Lennox Arch drive to Lake Ainsworth, the beginning baptize lagoon decrepit 'billy tea' red by tea copse and yield a revitalising dip to acquaintance the ambulatory backdrop it is acclaimed for. Again abide south to the beauteous Coffs Coast. Tucked in amid a cord of headlands, Coffs Bank offers both cloistral and cream beaches. Dive or snorkel the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Check out bounded ability shops and galleries. Treat yourself to ambrosial seafood at one of the bounded restaurants.

Overnight: Coffs Coast

Day 6 - Coffs Bank to Gold Bank (301kms, 3 hrs 15 mins)

This morning adventure out for a comfortable brunch at one of Coffs Coast's absorbing eateries. Appointment the Big Banana or play a annular of golf at one of the abounding sculptured golf courses. In the afternoon drive aback to the Gold Bank on the Pacific Highway.

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