California cooking classes teach artisanal, local food-crafting

by Meg Nesterov on

Cooking classes are nothing new, but how about learning how to roast your own coffee beans, brew beer at home, or even prepare a roast chicken from scratch, including catching the bird? The Southern California-area Institute of Domestic Technology brings farm-to-table eating to a new level with workshops focusing on hyper-local food-crafting of everything from dairy products to artisanal mustard.

Classes are currently posted for March and April, with a few more on the schedule for early summer. Most workshops are around or under $200 including ingredients and lunch, and held at or near the Institute’s headquarters at Mariposa Creamery, north of Pasadena. The coffee roasting class will be held on April 28 with fees of $95 for supplies and snacks. The classes are a tasty way to take a piece of California home, and learn how to eat locally, wherever you are.

Photo courtesy Institute of Domestic Technology Facebook page.

10 things you probably didn’t know about Holland

by Jessica Festa on

While Holland is well known for its bright flowers, the canals of Amsterdam, and wooden shoes, there are still many surprises to discover about this region. To help expand your knowledge, here are some things you probably didn’t know about Holland.

1. Rotterdam is the only Dutch city with a true skyline. In fact, it is so impressive the area is known as “Manhattan on the Meuse.” In terms of architecture, Rotterdam has a superb reputation, making it no wonder that the Netherlands Architecture Institute was also founded here.

2. Holland is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Schokland, the D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station, Wadden Sea, the Defense Line of Amsterdam, the Beemster Polder, the Rietveld Schröder House, the Mills of Kinderdijk, and the canals of Amsterdam.

3. In the late 16th century, gin was invented under the name jenever in the Netherlands and was sold as medicine.

4. Dutch people are the tallest in the world with the men averaging 6 feet 1 inch and women 5 feet 6 and one half inches tall.

5. The Dutch love cheese. Annually, they consume about 32 pounds of it.

6. Holland has more museums than any other region in the world. In fact, Amsterdam alone is home to over 50 of them.

7. In Holland, it is common for families to hang a Dutch flag and school bag outside their homes when children pass their exams.

8. Almost every person, regardless of class or status in Holland, owns a bike and there is double the amount of bikes as cars.

9. While Holland is known for its tulips, they were originally brought from Turkey in the 16th century.

10. Once every ten years, one of the largest horticultural events in the world takes place in Holland, Floriade. Luckily, the event will be taking place this year from April 5 to October 7 in Venlo.

For a more visual idea of Holland’s unique culture, check out the gallery below.

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Special Saint Patrick’s Day beers and where to get them

by Melanie Renzulli on




With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, many microbreweries around the United States are starting to release their special Irish-inspired beers. Red ales, cream ales, and chocolate- and coffee-flavored stouts are making their annual debut, going head-to-foamy-head with the traditional St. Paddy’s Day libation Guinness. Here is a roundup of some of the nation’s St. Patrick’s Day beers and where to get them.Location: Boston
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Special Beer: Harpoon Celtic
What It Is and Where to Get It: The Boston brewery’s popular Harpoon Celtic has been brewed since 2000 and is the de facto seasonal brew for spring. Available in 27 states and counting, Harpoon is best enjoyed at the brewery’s Boston Tasting Room.

Location: Frederick, Maryland
Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery
Special Beer: Lucky SOB Irish Red
What It Is and Where to Get It: This brewery north of Washington, D.C., claims to brew its Lucky SOB Irish Red with “real four-leaf clovers handpicked at the brewery last St. Patrick’s Day.” Ahem. Look for their beer on draft only at pubs in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C., throughout March.

Location: Durango, Colorado
Brewery: Steamworks Brewing Company
Special Beer: Irish Car Bomb
What It Is and Where to Get It: Blended with Irish cream and Jameson whiskey during its second fermentation, Irish Car Bomb is “named for the beer’s effect not as a political statement.” Yeah, right. At any rate, the first cask of 2012’s Irish Car Bomb brew will be tapped at 3 p.m. on March 16.

Location: Lake George, New York
Brewery: Adirondack Pub and Brewery
Special Beer: Mocha Stout
What It Is and Where to Get It: Adirondack Brewery uses organic cocoa and ground Caffe Verro coffee in its rich stout. Look for Adirondack beer at restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley.

Location: Cleveland
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Special Beer: Conway’s Irish Ale
What It Is and Where to Get It: This eco-friendly Cleveland brewery makes the “malty” Conway’s Irish Ale for the St. Patrick’s Day crowd. Great Lakes Brewing Company beers are available throughout Ohio and in 13 other states.

Location: Brooklyn
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Special Beer: Dry Irish Stout
What It Is and Where to Get It: Brooklyn Brewery’s unfiltered Dry Irish Stout is brewed the traditional way, meaning that they use flaked raw barley rather than nitrogen to give the beer its foamy head. Dry Irish Stout is on tap at the Brooklyn Brewery’s Tasting Room as well as a few other restaurants and pubs in NYC and Brooklyn.

Location: Bend, Oregon
Brewery: Three Creeks Brewery and Silver Moon Brewing
Special Beers: O’Cosci Stout from Three Creeks Brewery; Shamrock Green Bridge Pilsner and O’Shawnigan’s Irish Red from Silver Moon Brewing
What It Is and Where to Get It: The central Oregon town of Bend has no fewer than 10 microbreweries along its Bend Ale Trail. Two of those breweries, Three Creeks Brewery and Silver Moon Brewing, produce St. Patrick’s Day beers, which are available on draught from the breweries’ tap rooms.

Location: Chico, California
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Special Beer: Knightro – Celtic Festival Beer
What It Is and Where to Get It: Sierra Nevada beers are sold throughout the United States but you can only get the brewery’s small batch Knightro stout – and 14 other limited-edition beers – at its Chico Taproom and Restaurant.

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Brewery: Arbor Brewing Company
Special Beer: St. Pat’s Strong Stout
What It Is and Where to Get It: Arbor Brewing Company brews St. Pat’s Strong Stout, which has a “chalky, Turkish coffee palate” for the holiday. Also available each March at the ABC Brewpub are Espresso Love Breakfast Stout and a vegan-friendly Blackheath Sweet Stout.

Photo Flickr/miamism

Top ten things to do in Brussels, Belgium

by Sean McLachlan on

A couple of weeks ago I was chatting with some fellow travel writers and the conversation turned to Brussels. The general consensus seemed to be that Belgium’s capital isn’t worth visiting.

I disagree. While it can’t compete with London or Paris, it has its own charm and can easily fill up three or four days of a European tour. The mixture of Flemish and Walloon culture makes for a distinct city with an interesting history. A large immigrant population is livening things up too, with Ethiopian cafes, Asian restaurants, and a string of Congolese shops in the Matonge area.

Here are ten reasons not to skip Brussels.

Beer!
Belgian beer is justly famous for its variety and flavor. From the rich Trappist and Abbey beers to the more secular but equally tasty Lambics and Saisons, Belgium is a beer snob’s paradise. There are plenty of fine bars in Brussels serving up this lovely brew. A Gadling favorite is the centrally located Delerium Cafe, which sells more than 2000 varieties from around the world, and of course a huge selection of Belgian labels.

Chocolate!
Like Belgian beer, Belgian chocolate needs no introduction. Hey, it’s so good you can even snort it. Chocolate shops abound in Brussels and most cafes will serve you a piece along with your coffee.

Peeing statues!
Ah yes, the famous Manneken Pis. Has anyone gone to Brussels and not seen this? There are several stories about how this little guy came into being. The one I heard was that a sculptor’s son went missing back in the seventeenth century. A frantic search ensued and the sculptor swore he’d make a statue showing his son exactly as he found him. Take a look at this photo courtesy Jim Linwood to see what the kid was doing when he finally turned up. In the spirit of affirmative action, a female counterpart was erected in 1987 in Impasse de la Fidélité/Getrouwheidsgang (Fidelity Alley) showing a little girl squatting and doing her business. She’s called Jeanneke Pis.

Art Nouveau!
Brussels is justly famous for its many Art Nouveau buildings dating to the early part of the last century. The best way to savor the scene is to go to one of Brussels’ many Art Nouveau cafes where you can enjoy a coffee and a piece of Belgian chocolate while admiring the architecture. One of the greatest of Art Nouveau architects was Victor Horta whose house museum is a classic of the style.

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Classic Films!
Belgium was an early innovator of film back during cinema’s infancy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The best place to learn about this is the Musée du Cinéma/Filmmuseum, where you can see artifacts from the birth of motion pictures. The museum’s two cinemas show arthouse classics and silent films with live piano accompaniment.

Tanks and Swords!
The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History is one of the best war museums I’ve ever visited, and I’ve probably visited too many. The land that now comprises Belgium has been fought over for centuries and this museum’s collection reflects that bloody past. It has an excellent tank collection from both world wars as well as an extensive armory of medieval weapons to slice, dice, chop, hack, and crush your enemies. Why is this cool? It just is.

Fine Art!
Museums are the best way to stay dry when the Belgian weather gets wet, which it does frequently. Brussels has several art galleries and museums. The most prominent are the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. Together they boast some twenty thousand paintings, sculptures and drawings. They include the Ancient Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the Wiertz Museum, the Meunier Museum, and the Museé Magritte Museum.

The Historic Center!
Much of medieval Brussels was leveled to make way for new construction in the nineteenth century. Luckily, a classic core survives around La Grand Place/Grote Markt, where centuries-old mansions and churches still survive. This is the most photogenic part of Brussels and while it can get overrun with tourists, it’s still worth a look. A little further out, visit the Basilique du Sacré Coeur/Basiliek van het Heilig Hart, an Art Deco basilica that’s the fifth biggest church in the world, and La Cambre Abbey, a 12th century abbey.

Comics!
Besides film, beer, and chocolate, the Belgians have always been big into comics. At the Belgian Comic Strip Center you can learn all about this with a variety of comics on display and a big gift shop if you want to bring some home. Belgium’s most famous comic artist was Hergé, creator of Tintin, who of course has his own museum.

Day trips!
Belgium is a small country with a good rail system. This makes it a good base for day trips. The lovely countryside is dotted with several castles and rustic villages. Regular trains go to several historic cities such as Antwerp (one hour), Ghent (30 minutes), Bruges (one hour), and Liege (one hour). For more information on day trips, click here.

So head on over to Brussels. You won’t be sorry!

Weekend trip from Rio de Janeiro: Buzios, Brazil

by Jessica Festa on

While many travelers to Brazil choose to spend a majority of their time in the large and lively metropolitan city of Rio de Janeiro, there is a culturally rich and sophisticated village about two hours away that is well worth a visit. Búzios, with its sandy beaches, opportunities for adventure, ambient restaurants, and charming shops, was once a tiny fishing town made famous by a visit from actress Brigitte Bardot in 1964. Now, the area is thought to be similar to the luxurious Saint-Tropez, and for good reason.

Getting in:

To get to Búzios you can fly into Búzios Airport, which receives regular flights from Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, or from Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro on Fridays and Sundays. Private and non-regular aircrafts use Umberto Modiano Airport, also in Armação dos Búzios. Likewise, you can catch a Viação 1001 bus daily from Rodoviária Novo Rio in Rio de Janeiro.
Beaches:

Búzios is world-renowned for its breathtaking beaches. While there are many worth exploring, here are some of the best:

João Fernandinho Beach (pictured right)- This small, laid-back beach has clear, calm water as well as a unique desert-like landscape.

Brava Beach– If you’d prefer something a bit more adventurous, Brava Beach is well-known for its strong waves and excellent surfing opportunities.

Geribá Beach– For those who want to be “in the know” and surround themselves with beautiful people, Geribá Beach attracts a hip and sexy crowd.

Azeda Beach– This secluded beach is said to be one of the most beautiful in all of Brazil. It’s considered an Environmental Protection Area and can only be accessed via water-taxi or hiking a small track from Ossos Beach.

Ferradura Bay– This warm-water beach is loaded with activities including banana boating, waterskiing, bar hopping, and trying different restaurants.

Sports and Adventure:

Because of its excellent water and nature-rich location, Búzios is home to many outdoor and active options, some of which are:

Scuba diving– Because of the crystal-clear water in Búzios, there is great visibility for seeing marine life like giant turtles, grouper, manta rays, and bright corals. Moreover, the water is around 72 degrees, making it comfortable to stay in for long periods of time. One great place to dive is Âncora Island, which you can reach in about 30 minutes via boat. Arraial do Cabo, which is about 30 minutes by car, is another great spot and is well known throughout the entire country. If you’ve never dived before and want to learn, or if you have but would still like to go with an instructor, Casamar, Mar Azul and True Blue are all reputable companies.

Búzios Golf Course– This elite course consists of 18-holes and was designed by internationally famous architects Pete and Perry Dye. Golfers come from all over the globe to experience the unique landscape and topography of the venue, which can be seen by clicking here.

Sailing– Búzios plays host to some great sailing, and athletes come from all over the world. Even famous Brazilian sailing champion Lars Grael practices in Búzios. Furthermore, the city hosts a Brazilian Sailing Week for the country each year. If you’d like to try sailing for yourself, I would recommend going with Happy Surf located on Ferradura Beach.

Experience an eco-tour– Búzios has a diverse landscape of mountains, hills, beaches, and rich flora, making it ideal for people who enjoy hiking and exploring the outdoors. Visit Emerências Reserve, the only place in Búzios where you will find the beautiful and vibrant endangered golden lion tamarin (monkeys), or Tauá Reserve, which is home to over 300 butterfly species and sixty bird types.

Fishing– Because Búzios is surrounded by beaches on all sides, it is a prime location for fishing. Shark, sea bass, anchovas, and sea bream can all be caught and enjoyed from the beaches; however, if you’d like to experience an authentic fishing trip with an experienced local, head over to the Fishermen’s Colony to rent a boat and hire a sailor who will promise a catch of up to twenty fish each hour.

Kite surfing– Búzios, the land of water sports, is also home to excellent kite surfing opportunities. While kite surfing is fun it can also be dangerous, which is why it’s important to learn from a certified instructor. Eduardo Graf, a 6-year instructor certified by the International Kiteboarding Association, runs the Búzios Kitesurf School. Participants will be able to fly like a kite over Rasa Beach while taking in views of the beaches and the town.

Explore the cultural hub of Rua das Pedras (Stone Street)

The cobblestone road, which is often thought of as the place to see and be seen, extends towards the Orla Bardot and is a continuation of the road accompanied by the Armação Beach. Moreover, bars, clubs, hotels, shops, restaurants, and art galleries litter the street, making it a lively and interesting area to explore the city through.

Experience the arts

There are an array of worthwhile galleries and shops on the road to put you in a creative mood while experiencing local and international art. Galeria das Artes features numerous artists from all over the world showcasing a mix of medias like bronze sculptures and oil paintings in permanent displays. If you enjoy public art, Christina Motta has beautiful sculptures set up in the area, like the famous bronze Brigitte Bardot piece (shown above). Other must-see galleries to visit on the street include Celina Lisboa (contemporary paintings), Abigail Schlemm (illusionist paintings), Atelier Flory Menezes (paintings and sculptures on permanent display), and Vilmar Madruga (world-renowned paintings).

Gastronomy

There are an array of diverse and delicious restaurants on Rua das Pedras, but these are some of the best:

Chez Michou– Stop here if you’re craving a casual, mostly open-air atmosphere and delicious sweet and savory crepes. Choose from unique options such as cheese and banana, chicken curry, and caramel banana while enjoying beers, cocktails, and music.

Sawadee– This upscale oriental restaurant with traditional low tables and plush cushions for kneeling brings a fusion of cultures to Brazil. The flavors are exotic and hand-carved decor, Asian-inspired art, outdoor gardens, and numerous small tea lights create an exotic ambiance.

Cigalon– This romantic restaurant has beach views, an extensive wine list, generous portions, and food that seems to be a mix of Argentine and French fare. It is one of the best places in town to get ceviche and delicious duck.

Capricciosa– This famous pizza restaurant bakes pies to perfection. Best of all, they’re made in a wood oven and guests can choose from an array of toppings like spinach, shrimp, tomatoes, olives, artichokes, and more.

Salt– If you like unique dishes and international flavor, you’ll love this place. This contemporary restaurant opened in January of 2011 and is often praised for its fresh seafood, friendly staff, beautiful dark chocolate interior, and upbeat music.

Estancia Don Juan– This funky restaurant is painted in vibrant Earth tones and serves some of the most delicious Argentine cuisine in town. Old photographs and posters adorn the walls and furnishings are carved with unique and precise detail. The wine list is extensive, and their steaks are served sizzling and juicy.

Nightclubs

The nightclubs on Rua das Pedras are some of the best in the world. Check out:

Pacha– For those who love techno and house music, this upbeat indoor/outdoor club has amazing views of Canto Beach. Their unique design features part of the club being partially built in glass, 3 feet below sea level, and overhangs the sea for 98 feet.

Moor- Here you will find a mix of Argentinian restaurants, a bar, and a nightclub on the second floor. The venue also hosts concerts and performances on a regular basis.

Privilege– Known for its world class DJ’s and breathtaking views of Orla Bardot, this upscale two-story nightclub brings in a sexy crowd. If you like trance music and beautiful people, this is where you’ll want to go.

Patio Havana– This sophisticated venue features concerts of blues, jazz, and popular Brazilian music.