Italy battles buffalo mozzarella fraud

by Katie Hammel on

There’s a cheese scandal brewing in Italy, and it involves buffalo mozzarella, one of the country’s most famous foods. Served on pizzas and pastas, with antipasti, in salads or just enjoyed by the handful (what? I’m the only person that does that?), the cheese is known for its quality and purity. But it seems that much of the cheese passed off as 100% from buffalo milk actually contains trace amounts of cow’s milk. In some cases, it was even as much as 30%.

So what’s the big deal? I’m not sure I could discern the taste difference between pure buffalo mozz and one with cow’s milk. The problem is that Italy’s authentic buffalo mozzarella is produced under the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) seal, meaning that all products bearing that seal need to be produced using certain ingredients and procedures. According to LeaderPost.com, the concern is not about health issues or taste, but rather ” to protect the “Made in Italy” label.”

It seems the scandal even reaches to the highest levels. The president of the consortium of buffalo mozzarella was also found to have watered down his cheese. He was removed from his post by the Italian Minister for Agriculture and replaced with a temporary leadership group.

Until the problem has been solved, visitors to Italy may (unbeknownst to them) wind up eating cheese that isn’t 100% buffalo milk. Of course, it will probably be just as delicious anyways.

[via NPR]

Foodie travel: One day in Rome

by Melanie Nayer on

With all the smells scenting the streets of Rome, it’s hard to know where to start when you’re hungry. Don’t worry, weary travelers, the best thing about being in Italy is that you can taste everything in one day (as long as you know how to pace yourself).

Nothing wakes you up quite like a coffee from an Italian cafe, and since you’re likely to be a little jetlag from your flight this first cup will be an essential start to your day. Grab a cup of whatever you choose and spend the morning people watching near the Spanish Steps or along the Via Condotti.

After some strolling and sight-seeing, cop-a-squat at any of the cafes in the Piazza Navona and enjoy some much-needed sustenance while you watch the local artists paint in the square. A basic tomato and mozzarella salad with a glass of red wine provides the perfect nourishment. The basket of fresh bread on the table goes great with the olive oil and balsamic from the dish.

Dinner is served late-night in Italy, so you’ll want to snack on something late-afternoon to hold you over while you enjoy cocktail time or late-night sightseeing. Most hotel bars have antipasto options including cheese plates, chips or olives, and they aren’t to be missed.After a long day walking Rome, standing in lines for the top tourist attractions and spending a few Euro on some finer things, you’ll want a little something to tide you over until dinner. Order up a glass of Barolo, dig into the olives and enjoy the start to your evening.

It’s hard not to find a good meal in Rome, but Italians take dinner seriously and you should be prepared for a feast. Don’t miss the zucchini blossoms in the Jewish Quarter or a fresh prosciutto pizza from any of the cafes in the city. If you’re craving pasta, however, you’re obviously in the right place. Sit down and let the waiter be your guide.

Rome restaurants have a way of making guests feel at home. The kitchen is at your service, the antipasto bar is for your perusal and there’s a wine on the list to go with everything that comes to your table. If you’re not sure what to get, just ask – the purpose of the meal is to be together and embrace the flavors of the food, and the people that surround your table.

I couldn’t decide between the pomadoro or the pesto, and so I got a little of both. The moral of the story: You can have it all in Italy, if you just ask.

Airport security fail

by Aaron Hotfelder on

We give the TSA a lot of well-deserved guff here on Gadling, but we can’t blame them for the picture above, which shows a security officer at Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Italy, occupying his or her time with a bit of solitaire.

You’re off the hook this time, TSA. But we still haven’t forgotten about this.

[Photo courtesy of FailBlog, via the Vagabondish Twitter feed]

Check out these other stories from the airport checkpoint!

National Geographic Student Expeditions expand for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

The popular and successful National Geographic Student Expeditions program is gearing up for another outstanding year, adding new options for high school students looking for an adventurous and educational escape this summer. The lucky travelers have their journeys enhanced further by the inclusion of National Geographic experts and trip leaders designed to deliver travel experiences unlike any other.

Of course, many students spend their summer traveling, but the Student Expeditions program offers some unique options that aren’t available elsewhere. While on their journey, each student will select an “On Assignment” project in the area of interest that includes photography, travel writing, filmmaking, exploration, archaeology and ancient culture, climate and geology, marine biology and conservation, Earth science, and wildlife and conservation. Those projects can take such forms as a photo portfolio, a travel film, or a short story, with a focus on capturing the culture and natural wonders of the locations visited.

The students are guided in their assignments by handpicked experts, such as National Geographic photographers, writers, or researchers who join their expeditions for anywhere from three to seven days. These experts are generally well known in their field and offer years of experience and expertise to the next generation of explorers on the trip. For example, when traveling through Tanzania, the students will be joined by Anna Estes, a wildlife ecologist who has conducted research in the Ngorongoro Crater, while those selecting Australia as their destination of choice, will see the country with photojournalist and filmmaker Ulla Lohmann.As if that wasn’t enough all of National Geographic’s trip leaders are college graduates who are working in journalism, photography, science, and similar fields. Each has insightful and extensive knowledge of the destination the students will be visiting, and in order to ensure the best experience possible, the ratio of trip leaders to students is roughly six or eight to one.

The 2010 schedule offers 15 exciting trips, lasting three weeks in length, to such destinations as Costa Rica, Iceland, Peru, China, India, and more. New to the schedule this year are expeditions to Alaska, Hawaii, and Tuscany. You can check out the entire list by clicking here, and high school students interested in joining one of these trips can fill out an online application here.

For a great look at what one of these trips is like, check out this wonderful video from a student expedition to Peru. Why couldn’t this have been an option when I was in high school?!?

The best ski resorts in the Alps

by Kraig Becker on

There are few places on Earth that offer better skiing than the Alps. The mountains, which stretch across France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and beyond, offer a mix of culture, history, atmosphere, and amazing slopes covered in some of the best powder on the planet. It should come as no surprise that there are a number of world class ski resorts in the Alps, and British newspaper The Guardian has made their selection of the very best lodges to be found there.

This list of ten great resorts are not listed in any kind of order. Instead, they each come with a qualifier, such as “Best for romance” or “Best for families”. In the case of those two examples, The Guardian suggests Wedelhutte in Austria as a romantic getaway for you and your significant other, and Hamilton Lodge in Switzerland as a fun destination for the entire family.

The more adventurous travelers will want to head to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Hut, located outside of Zermatt, Switzerland. This destination is lauded as the “Best for hardcore skiers”, and Zermatt is legendary for its challenging runs. Others may want to go to Roc de La Peche, in Pralognan, France, named the “Most remote” of the lodges in the Alps.

Other categories include “Best for foodies”, “Best views”, and even “Best-kept secret”, so no matter what you want out of your skiing, there is a location on the list that will cater to your needs. With the New Year now upon us, expect some great deals on airfares to Europe. Don’t forget to pack your warm clothes, and prepare for some fun on the slopes.