Everybody has a list of top x things you should do for 2005.
Yesterday it was the Pacific Northwest, today it is
Outside’s Top Food
Destinations list. They’ve highlighted seven locations for globetrotters like us to go to and dig into the culinary
scene while perhaps learning a little something about the people and places the food comes from at the same time.
What’s nice is they also include suggestions on how to “burn it off” after you “pack it on”. My favorite has to been
the artisanal food tour in Vermont. Plenty of great cheeses and
great spots to hike it off afterwards…
Cooking Thai – Yum Yum!
I highlighted a Thai cooking school a ways back and got
some good feedback from a Gadling reader who had been there and said it was a great experience. The reader also
recommended another school in Thailand for the engaged traveler interested in exploring the connection between culture
and food. The Baan Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai is just a few blocks from
Thapae Gate in this northern Thai town. It doesn’t seem too expensive and you get to learn a whole range of tasty Thai
dishes.
Times: Gastronauts Unite!
The Times runs
a piece on people it refers to as Gastronauts, or those who undertake a vacation around the concept and consumption
of food. From Paris to Italy to Thailand to Scotland (really? I thought Scottish food was terrible? Well, what do I
know?), it seems food tourism is all the fad. This should come as no surprise, though. Gadling’s engaged travelers have
long been aware of the potent connection between travel and food.
(subscription)
Coffee!
Ah, Sunday morning. The Internet Cafe is quiet. And here I
am sipping a remarkably tasty cup of Joe. And it just turns out that as I am doing so, I happen across this great
little interactive on coffee
(and caffeinated beverages, as there are lots of shots of gleaming Red Bull cans). Brought to us by the kind folks at
National Geo who actually took the time to understand and explain where coffee comes from (mostly Asia and Latin
America), how its made, how its popularity has grown, etc., the damn well done
little Flash piece will help
stimulate your mind, if that cup of coffee in your hand hasn’t already done so.
And btw: I was reminded of this hilarious piece in McSweeneys on the
virtues of this magical elixir.
Make Some Glogg
OK, in the spirit of the holidays (and because I had some at a
recent Christmas party held by a couple of Norwegians) I am posting
this link to a recipe for glogg, that hot spiced wine so
thoroughly enjoyed at this time of year in Scandinavia. With New Years just an eye blink away, this might be a good
time to give the recipe a try, and herald in 2005 with a raised glass and a hearty “Skol!”. Disclaimer: We cannot be
held responsible for bizarre reindeer-related accidents resulting from glogg overindulgence.