Category Archives:Food Culture

When most people think of American wines, their thoughts gravitate toward California–specifically Napa and Sonoma. Nothing wrong with that; California turns out an excellent product. On the opposite coast, however, is Virginia. While not as prolific as California, Virginia’s wineries turn out several complex and tasty varieties amid scenic surroundings that are just as lovely as anything found in California. Try these three the next time you find yourself in the mid-Atlantic.

Vineyard, photo by deannanmc

Set on a 475 acre farm by Shadow Lake, Tarara Winery has a sunny patio for socializing and a delightfully extensive tasting menu. Tastings are $10 per person but well worth the money; the wines themselves are very affordable and your biggest problem will be choosing which one you want to enjoy outside and which ones you want to take home. If you like white wines, you’ll want to try their Charval. It’s a blend of chardonnay, pinot gris, vigonier, and sauvignon blanc that is crisp and sunny. The chardonnay itself comes from five different regions of the farm which lends a lot of complexity and interest to the flavor. Personally, I’m happy with anything Tarara sells as long as I can pair it with some of the local cheeses, charcuterie, and chocolates on sale just next to the tasting floor.

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Today, while browsing class projects at the Italian middle school where I teach, I wandered from the Art exhibits to the Civics display, where the theme was, “I’m proud to be Italian because….” Many students wrote things along the lines of: “… because Italy is a democratic country.” A few wrote, “… because every citizen is free.” One young lady, however, wrote: “... because the entire world is jealous of our food.”

Chiara V. from 2F, you ain’t kidding. Find me a soul who doesn’t like Italian food and well, I’ll sell you mine.

In English-speaking countries, a “typical” Italian eating establishment will feature checkered tablecloths, framed pictures of Jesus, and a little opera on the sound system to set the right mood. It will also most likely be called a “restaurant.” But “restaurants,” in the Anglo sense, merely scratch the surface of the eatery options available in Italy.

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Baby, it’s cold outside – unless you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, that is (you tanned, happy jerks). In this nose-freezing weather, you may be tempted to reach for a hot drink; in these hard times, you might be tempted to make that drink alcoholic.  But put aside that classic hot toddy or glühwein and try something with a little Latin flavor: Guatemalan rum punch.

Like many boozy hot drinks, Guatemalan rum punch – or ron ponche in Spanish – is fruit-based, with the heady additions of cinnamon sticks and cloves. The recipe makes use of the land’s natural bounty (I refer, of course, to rum). Ponche been a holiday favorite in my family for years, and has gotten plenty of my friends and acquaintances drunk as well. The best part? There’s zero skill required – all you need are a handful of ingredients, a kitchen, and time.

Full stomach recommended.

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Everybody loves Mile End. Montreal’s most popular neighborhood (a subset of The Plateau Mont-Royal) has seen a real estate boom and its version of gentrification but still, its charm remains. No longer a secret by any means (chef Gordon Ramsay has even colonized a local rotisserie chicken restaurant on its outer edges) but it still somehow retains its sense of discovery for visitors and even old hands like me. You could simply ask a local to point you to “Mile End” and you’ll stumble upon most of the cool spots, but here are a few of my favorite things.

The Alleys

One of the many things I miss about my hometown when it’s not there are the alleys stretching out behind the mostly two- and three-story apartments. Some of them extend several city blocks and are perfect for exploring on lazy afternoons or silent nights. Secret gardens, street-wise alley cats and rows of laundry flying in the breeze are just some of the things you’ll find, along with a constantly evolving gallery of graffiti.

Back alley Life

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Surprise: one of the most delicious things you can eat in Japan doesn’t even have Japanese origins. Yakiniku – Korean-style barbecue adapted to Japanese tastes – is an extremely popular food in Japan, due to the country’s high percentage of Korean immigrants. Yakiniku (焼肉) literally means “grilled meat” in Japanese. Part of yakiniku’s appeal is the campfire-like atmosphere: each diner cooks his or her own meat on the grill built right into the table.

Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city, is home to the world’s largest population of Koreans outside of Korea. The Tsuruhashi neighborhood is Osaka’s little Korea - a labyrinth of Korean food and goods vendors underneath the train station. It is quite possibly the best-smelling place in Japan.

Yakiniku isn’t the most cost-friendly cuisine, but remains a hallmark of social and business gatherings nonetheless. Birthday parties and sayonara parties are made all the more bittersweet by the tangy smell of roasting meat. It is raw, simple deliciousness on a plate. Read on for some tips to better enjoy your yakiniku dining experience.

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I forget why we chose to make Cakebread Cellars part of our sojourn through Napa and Sonoma (a trip we fondly refer to as “Boozecation”). It certainly wasn’t a hotel recommendation; as part of an effort to save money we stayed in a campground. Whatever it was that inspired us to go, I’m glad that we did. Cakebread Cellars is an essential stop on any tour of the northern California wineries.

Cakebread Cellars. Photo by deannanmc

One thing that you have to know about Cakebread is that it is not a walk-in winery. In order to sample the wares you must make an appointment for a tasting. We did the basic tasting of their current releases (which is $15 as of this writing) but there are six different options at varying price levels. The food-and-wine pairing option utilizes ingredients from the revered Cakebread garden, an organic marvel maintained on the grounds. The quality of the wines and the food showcase Cakebread’s commitment to both healthy, sustainable food culture and fine wine that’s also fun and accessible.

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Jean Talon Market is like a microcosm of Montreal. There are bigger markets out there, more dramatic and spectacular ones, but in terms of charm and value, it’s tough to beat. I originally intended to stroll along one of Montreal famous boulevards and post about that but on a rain-soaked blustery day I was thankful that the city fathers made the decision to build a roof over the shopping hub a few years ago.

Bienvenue!

Contained within the glass top that lets the light in is an alley of gourmet food emporiums that feels like the main street of small town with an organically-conscious soul. On either end are fresh seafood mongers that feature the best of what Quebec’s waters have to offer. Oysters from the Gaspé peninsula on one end, Mussels from the Iles de La Madeleine on the other.

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What’s strange for you may be usual for others…and the holidays are certainly no exception.  Some of us may immediately think of our families, and wish we could trade those in for new.  That might not happen any time soon, but you might think of adopting one of these unique Christmas traditions we found around the globe.

1. Tió de Nadal – “The Shitting Log” – Catalonia, Spain

Children beating a Tió de Nadal to make it shit candy. Photo source Catalan Wikipedia. Viquipèdia in català.

There is a Christmas Day or Christmas Eve tradition in Spain that may seem quite strange for those unfamiliar with it.  Each family acquires a ‘tio de nadal’ early in the month.  It sits in the house, under a small blanket, getting ‘fed’ daily up until Christmas.  That is when someone puts the tió partly into the fireplace or the middle of the room and orders it to “shit” by singing traditional songs.  To make him “shit” everyone begins to beat the log with sticks (much fun for children of adults with some stress to release I’m sure.)

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So let me tell you a little bit about how planning my recent trip to Vienna went down: my friends pointed to churches and museums in the guidebook; I pointed to pictures of food. Yes to this… yes to that… yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I’m really pretty easy to please when it comes to traveling, folks – if the food is good, I will go. And I don’t know what it is about the food I ate in Vienna – the crispy fried goodness, the tart potato salads, the hearty stews – but I’ve been craving it ever since.

Photo by Eva Sandoval. Oh, won't you take me back to Vienna, pleeeeasseeeee.....

Viennese cuisine, like Austrian cuisine, is characterized by a melange of recipes originating from neighboring Hungary, Germany, and Italy, as well as Jewish, Polish, and Southern Slavic influences. While the dishes might seem familiar to anyone who’s traveled through this part of the world, note that in Austria, the recipes have taken on their own unique forms: my Hungarian friend was quick to point out Gulasch is soup in Hungary. We also have topfenknodel but they’re different. Sweetheart, I’ll gladly try gulasch in any variation you want to give me. But first, I give you: Ten Things to Put in Your Mouth in Vienna.

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Without the delightful yet fattening excess of Thanksgiving to break up the expanse between Halloween and the winter holidays, the United Kingdom is already getting into the spirit of Christmas. Part of the fun includes traditional Christmas markets. The Christkindelmarkt in Leeds is a German-style market that delivers fun, festivities…and a lot of mulled wine.

Christmas stall, photo by deannanmc

Having never been to Germany, I can’t speak to the authenticity of the Leeds market. I can say that the wooden stalls, bedecked in lights and greenery, are very welcoming and homey. And for free admission I don’t mind a bit if the market does or doesn’t adhere to actual German traditions. Upon entering the market and smelling the delicious foods and beverages for sale, our primary goal became to eat as much culturally important junk food as possible: thick waffles drowning in syrups, Bavarian dumplings stuffed with cherries and covered in vanilla sauce, pretzels the size of serving platters. And it was delightful.

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