Food & Drink

Italy’s Prosecco Region is Just One Hour from Venice

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Wine tour from Venice Prosecco Region Visit Prosecco Italy Views

I conducted an entirely unscientific survey over the festive fizz period of December – I asked everybody with a glass of Prosecco in their hand if they knew that the Prosecco region was just one hour from Venice in Italy. Results: 10o/10o people didn’t know (or some number like that). The ensuing conversations went a little something like this: Prosecco drinker: You can take a Prosecco wine tour from Venice? Me: Yep Prosecco drinker: It’s only an hour away? Me: Yep Prosecco drinker: So, I didn’t need to go on that bl%$dy day trip from Venice to Murano to look … Read more

Where is the Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago?

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Where is the Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago

To say I was jet-lagged when I stepped off the plane at O’Hare airport would be a vast understatement. I’d zig-zagged across the Atlantic twice in two weeks with stops in London, Istanbul, Bologna and New York. Not sure which way was up, I arrived in Chicago on a crisp October morning, craving a week in bed during the only week I had to explore the city. Cracking open the cloud and searching for the glorious silver-lining, I remembered that jet-lag leaves me craving carbs and Italy had provided a residual hankering for pizza.  And the solution to both of these … Read more

How To Go Wine Tasting in Ensenada

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Want to know how to go wine tasting in Ensenada? Want to know which vineyards to visit, which wine tour company to book with, where to stay and what to do in Ensenada? You’ll find it in this guide. Step into any bar in Mexico and the drink of choice is overwhelmingly beer. Which may explain why Mexican wine is barely on the map. However, as the oldest wine producing region in the Americas – yes, that one surprised me too  – and with vines that can be traced all the way back to 16th century Spain, its less of … Read more

How To Go Wine Tasting in Thailand (Near Bangkok)

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Finding good wine in Thailand is a bit like trying to find a unicorn: elusive at best and, according to some, this mythical creature simply doesn’t even exist. And that was how I felt until I discovered Hua Hin Hills Vineyard. For weeks I’d travelled through Thailand, craving a glass of crisp, white wine. It’s the sunshine. Does it to me every time. But, to be honest, even a bold red would have done, despite the heat. I. Wanted. Wine. Yet, all attempts at ordering a glass had failed. In a country where “Red or white?” is the most common wine … Read more

Cheat’s Guide to Sparkling Wine

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I’m the kind of person who will find any excuse possible to sup on something bubbly – “What? My second cousin, third removed just found out she doesn’t need a root canal? That requires a celebration.” POP. Whether you’re a woman (or man) after my own heart or whether you prefer save the popping of corks for special occasions, like birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year, there’s one universal truth: this whole sparkling wine thing is a touch complicated. Is it Champagne? If not, what is it? And what on earth is this Prosecco that everyone is going wild about? One … Read more

Sardinian Diet – What They Actually Eat in Sardinia

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Francesco Cetti once said, “There is not in Italy what there is in Sardinia, nor in Sardinia what there is in Italy.” The 18th century zoologist was probably talking about the wildlife. Probably. But he could equally have been talking about Sardinian food. I’m fast loosing count of the number of times I’ve been to Italy, but my sojourn to Sardinia was the first time I’d visited one of the country’s islands. And, for the first time in a long time, it felt like I was experiencing Italy anew. Located west of the bulk of the boot of Italy, Sardinia is the country’s … Read more

20 Best Japanese Dishes To Try (Besides Sushi)

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Before I visited the land of the rising sun, my knowledge of what to eat in Japan could be summed up in one word: sushi. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan and I dined out like sushi was in short supply during my month in Japan, but I spent half of that month with my dad who, after trying sushi for the first time, promptly declared (with a scrunched up face), “mmm, not for me,”. That turned out to be a good thing because it left us searching for other Japanese food to try. I have to say I was surprised … Read more

How To Order Coffee in Italy

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Even if you’re decked head to toe in Gucci and are sauntering around Venice, Florence or Rome with all the panache of an Italian superstar, there’s still a very simple way to tell whether you’re a local or not: how you order coffee. Believe it or not, there is a huge (and unhelpfully unspoken!) protocol for how to order coffee in Italy. Of course, many of you won’t actually give a stuff and you’ll boldly step forward and order whatever the hell you like. Mocha-choca-frappa-latte, please. However, if you do care about being judged by the Italians for your poor … Read more

12 Best Food & Drink Experiences to Enjoy in Brussels

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I love an indulgent foodie (and drinkie) weekend break and with my 40th birthday presenting the perfect excuse (and my messed up knee preventing me from jetting off to Hawaii), I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate than Brussels where chocolate, fries, mayonnaise, waffles and Belgium beer were all on the menu. As you’ll see from the pictures below, I did a lot of food and drink based research during my weekend in Brussels (you’re welcome) with breakfast often expanding into lunch before blending into Dinner.  The upshot: here’s my tried and tested recommendations for where to eat … Read more

21 Must Try Traditional Jamaican Food & Drinks

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Real Jamaica

Eating the traditional food of a country is one of the best parts of travel for me. In fact, if I don’t enjoy the local food, I’ve been know to get food depression. Fortunately, Jamaica has some fantastic flavours to try. Whether you’re about to visit Jamaica or are looking to pull together a tropical feast of Jamaican recipes for the family at home, here’s my guide to traditional Jamaican food. 1. Jerk chicken Ask someone to name a traditional Jamaican food and they’ll most likely mention jerk chicken. Ubiquitous throughout Jamaica from roadside shacks to fancy restaurant twists, jerk … Read more