Sri Lankan Snack Recipe

by Adrienne Wilson on

Three years back after I had done my first Global Village Build with Habitat for Humanity I was
eager to do another one. After looking over the list I started eyeing the tear-drop shaped
country of Sri Lanka for my next volunteer vacation. Sadly, that trip never happened. It was too difficult getting
funding at the time for my international efforts due to the many issues we were having stateside. My friends and
family would have been more than happy to help toss in some of their charitable dollars if they weren’t tapped from my
previous excursion. (Blushes.)

With all that being said, I’m still very much interested in visiting the little country one day. Something in the
name alone sparks my curiosity. And whenever I can’t quite get there I always go hunting for a local restaurant or
recipe to help me give me a quick taste of what the place may be like. Info
Lanka is a great site with loads of recipes from Sri Lanka. (More than I was expecting actually.) This snack
recipe was one of the easiest I could find outside of the drink recipes. Especially nice for vegetarians, the dish is
called Vadai and appears to be spicy fried split pea lentil
patties. Yummy! Aside from soaking the kadala parippu or split pea lentils for 4-5 hours, it’s rather quick and with no
fuss.

Explore Oman

by Adrienne Wilson on

Over the year we’ve hand plucked some very exciting things to do, see, and eat all over the
globe. Some leave a very heavy impression in our minds hours after reading or writing
about them. They work themselves into our dreams and become sort of an infatuation until the flight
is booked and our feet touch the soil for the first time. For me, Oman is quickly starting to become this
place. In the past we’ve touched on Mark Evan’s kayak trip around the country’s coastline, some terrific diving,
cave trekking, bird-watching as well as cruising the Straits of Hormuz by dhow. You can catch-up on the
past Oman coverage here.

All of these things have caused me to go back and google Oman several times. Each time I find another new site.
Explore Oman seems like an awesome place to begin if you’re completely
unaware of what this country is about. A tour agency located in the UK operates the site and offers independent
and group tour packages. The country overview provides all the needed basics, while the gallery displays some very nice
photos from all over the country. Sweet website to check out if you’re wanting to dream Arabian nights, though I
think I’m ready to skip dreaming and start living.

Ode to Philly

by Adrienne Wilson on

I’ve often heard our readers out in Philly say their beloved city never gets the props it
deserves. Today it does. Their cries to spread the word on how
Philadelphia is truly happening place to be must have been heard well before us, as I spotted some interesting
points in USA Today on
the various scenes in the city. Not quite as diverse as the urban eats in cities like San Fran or NY, Philly
does offer a wide selection of dining in all categories. On the mid-range of restaurants one might slip into Buddakan
(entrees, $18-$32) to stare back at the giant wall-size Buddha staring down on you while gobbling up tasty
Asian-influenced cuisine. Should your budget afford it and if you remembered to pack something a little formal, try the
famed French Le Bec-Fin (six courses, $138).

Great food isn’t the only thing putting the city back in the minds of anxious urban city travelers, think
well-preserved Victorian brownstones and an impressive booming art scene. For those needy for a history fix while
exploring the city is saturated with museums, landmarks, and celebrations around Independence Hall and the Liberty
Bell. Personally, I’d love to take in the sights and sounds a bit longer than my first run through the city,
which lasted one night at a club called Tragos. Great Afro-funk comprised of Yoruba lyrics over Brazilian drum beats
kept my feet moving all evening long which makes a plus for the nightlife. In any case, this certainly makes a nice
starting point if you’re considering a journey to the city of ‘Brotherly Love.’ And if you happen to love Phila and
know of any great spots shout em’ out here!

One for the Road: Hidden Kitchens

by Kelly Amabile on

Today’s book may not be a true travelogue, but it is a unique collection of cooking traditions from all corners of
America. Hidden Kitchens
is a new book by NPR’s Kitchen Sisters that explores the world of street
corner cooking and kitchen rituals. It offers an interesting perspective on how communities come together through food.
There are tales about little known firepits, traveling circus kitchens, picnics, clambakes and makeshift kitchens
crammed in NASCAR racing pits. The underground food traditions of America may give you some creative cooking ideas for
your next trip.

Little Ethiopia – Los Angeles

by Adrienne Wilson on

Of all Los Angeles’ little ethnic neighborhoods one that I most regret spending the least amount of time in is Little Ethiopia. I’d always cruise through the little area using Fairfax Ave as a way to weave in and out of city traffic. On a good day free of work and school, I would have pulled over and gazed into the shop windows or gone inside to make small-talk with the retailer, but these days were always few. So instead I kept my foot on the gas looking sadly out the window towards little Addis Ababa styled stores and restaurants. My heart would beat fast.

My interest in visiting Ethiopia one day is as genuine as visiting the other twenty plus countries on my growing list, but in the meanwhile I’ve got to learn to take advantage of the small finds tucked inside this melting pot of a country. There is a lot to learn and a lot to find on the tiny strip. For language enthusiasts kick back in a cafe and listen to the sounds of Amharic and Tigrinya, the two main languages of the country. The piece found here at Urban Mozaik appears a tad dated, but has a great handful of suggestions if you’re hungry for the cuisine. Merkato provides a more hands on experience to dining, while Nyala has a more Western one. If cold beer is the only thing on your mind, swing by for Harrar at Rosalind’s and Messob. Of all things I can promise you this – a stroll down the sidewalks of Little Ethiopia might not be far off L.A.’s beaten track, but it will be far more culturally enlightening than Hollywood Blvd.