Comparing the Cost of a Ham Sandwich on European Budget Airlines

by Neil Woodburn on

With the rash of budget airlines flooding the skies of Europe comes a rash of hungry passengers who must learn to fly without the now-missing complimentary meal, or fork out the big bills to purchase something on board.

Captive consumers trapped within an airplane have no other options but to eat the expensive food now sold by flight attendants. They do, however, have a choice of which airline to fly if they want some cheap(er) eats.

CheapFlights.com has put together a rather extensive chart comparing the cost of a ham sandwich and a gin & tonic aboard 22 European budget airlines.

Costs for a gin and tonic vary from free (Air Berlin) to nearly $9 on Ryanair. Ryanair offers much cheaper tickets than Air Berlin and obviously makes up part of their profit difference with over-priced drinks and $7 ham sandwiches. That’s perfectly fine with me. Just sell me the cheap ticket without the frills; I don’t want to subsidize someone else’s free in-flight alcohol when I myself drink only water while flying.

Wait! Water’s still free, isn’t it?!?

Shogun Sushi

by Adrienne Wilson on

Almost everywhere I turned in Jackson, WY I had someone tossing out a restaurant recommendation or two. This absolutely delighted me, however it is during these times when everyone wants to provide you with the most delicious dish on the most delicious dish, that you aren’t quite ready to saddle up and dig right in because your taste buds are craving something totally different. For instance, while walking around the Old Faithful gift shop trying to kill time before the big geyser blew, the manager heard my partner and me talking about where we should dine. Being as helpful as can be, he suggested we go to the nearby lodge that made an amazing bison burger or something. My stomach immediately felt heavy. As much as I like red meats I was in no mood for anything that could be the size of a small dinosaur. I wanted some lighter international fare which leads me to the moment I actually had the chance to nab some in Jackson.

It was the day after our big adventures in the park that we walked into Shogun Sushi. For the most part Shogun Sushi wasn’t knock-your-socks-off sushi, but it was decent. I ordered spicy hamachi maka and my pal had an order of shrimp tempura. I enjoyed my dish, but my friend found his only to be okay. Both of us each had a side of tasty plain inari. At Shogun Sushi they offer stuffed inari with items like crab, tuna, etc. It’s a bit unusual, but our super friendly waiter said it sales. The food was only slightly expensive considering everything in the mountains is slightly expensive, but it is certainly worth stopping in if your belly isn’t ready for bison burger.

Shogun Sushi is located at 265 W. Broadway, Jackson, WY. Ph. 307.733.9168. Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week. M-F 11 AM- 11 PM and Sat-Sun 5 PM to 11 PM. Take out or delivery.

Red Corner: Czech Food the Worst?

by Neil Woodburn on

For quite some time now the British have deservedly suffered under the Worst Food on the Planet moniker. For centuries, the Anglo palate has been mocked, maligned and otherwise dragged through culinary slander.

According to a critic from South Africa, however, another nation has finally dislodged Britain from the dregs of gastronomy: The Czech Republic.

Jeremy Maggs, writing for The Herald, has caused a stir in Prague for suggesting that it is the Czechs who win the award for the world’s worst, “stomach-churning” gruel. The Czech’s “horrendous diet of fat and dumplings” was aptly summed up by the following plate of food served to Maggs;

…four thickly hacked pieces of undercooked pink pork with shining yellow fat rinds which were placed on top of five burst veal sausages, their seeping innards the colour of mud and blood.

Naturally, the Czechs were a little disturbed for having worsted Britain and loudly rejected the claims. Dave Faries of the Prague Post, not only interviewed a handful of local chefs aghast over the accusations, but also offered up some mouth-watering restaurant recommendations to prove Maggs wrong.

In the meantime, there’s always the beer; no one ever argues about Czech beer.

Peter Menzel’s Photography

by Neil Woodburn on

Every once in a while I come across a great website devoted to one photographer’s work. Just yesterday I was directed from the Smithsonian site to that of Peter Menzel’s.

This talented photographer has published his work in the most prestigious of photography magazines such as National Geographic, Life, Le Figaro, and, of course, Smithsonian, to name just a few.

His personal website features a number of galleries organized by topic. Naturally, we are spotlighting him here on Gadling because one of these topics is travel.

Menzel breaks travel down into the smaller sub-groups of Africa, Asia, Eastern Sierras, Latin America, and Spain. To click on any one of these links is to virtually travel to another part of this planet, a part which Menzel so eloquently captures.

The photo above, however, may not be as inspiring.

We post quite regularly here at Gadling about strange foods one encounters while traveling; apparently this is a passion shared by Menzel as well. In fact, the photographer has published an entire book called Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects. Judging by the photo above, it is not for the squeamish. All of our sick readers out there, however, might want to click here for more bug-munching goodness.

Everyone else can take a moment from your busy day to click on over and explore some new lands through the talent of Menzel’s photo genius.

America’s Odd Fascination with Fried Foods

by Neil Woodburn on

Those of you who have never been to an American state fair, can think of them as no different than a typical fair found elsewhere on this planet. There are rides for the kids, livestock competitions, and food.

It’s the food, however, that really differentiates an American fair from one found in France, or Germany or somewhere in South America. More specifically, it’s the fried food. We’re talkin’ fried Snickers, fried, pizzas, fried Twinkies… the list goes on and on.

We’ve posted about this phenomenon before, and it continues to receive quite a bit of press-especially when someone comes up with something brand new to drop into a boiling cauldron of oil.

The never-ending quest to really stand out amongst the other fried offerings, however, has taken yet another ghastly dive into high cholesterol hell. The most recent clog in our nation’s culinary arteries is Fried Coke.

Introduced last month at the Texas state fair, this gooey blob of fried soft drink is topped off with cola syrup and then tossed into the eager mouths Texas fair goers–who undoubtedly wash it down with a big gulp of Coke.

For those of you eager to fly out and try it yourself, I’d recommend NOT flying Southwest on the way home.