Live to Eat. Love to Travel. Hungry for more.
All in Culture
When someone mentions Taiwan, the first thing that comes to mind for me are its popular night markets. Images of street stalls as far as you can see, tons of people, high energy, and of course snacks and foods that you should stuff yourself with! The Taiwanese night markets are truly a part of the culture and way of life in the country.
Daikaya is no newcomer to DC. In fact, Daikaya has been one of the pioneers of not just the ramen movement in the city but Japanese food beyond ramen and sushi. When they first opened in 2013, DC, was not a “ramen city”! Now 4 years later, the “Daikaya group” comprises Daikaya ramen bar and the upstairs izakaya, Bantam King with chicken ramen, and Haikan with Sapporo style ramen and Japanese small bites. They are each different and provide a unique take at various aspects of Japanese cuisine.
Valdivieso winery dates back to 1879 when they introduced the first sparkling wine in South America – the “Champagne Valdivieso”. And yes, they could call it champagne back then because the whole ‘champagne from Champagne only’ laws only came about after that! They focused on sparkling wine for the longest time and introduced still wines in the 1980’s. Even now, they are mostly known for sparkling wine in South America, and the majority of their still wines are exported, although the production of both is pretty much split evenly now.
From Uros, we spent about 3 hours on the water going to Amantani Island. On this ride is when you get an appreciation for the size of the lake and the gorgeous water! It was a beautiful morning and (thankfully) the water was not choppy at all – perfect for getting some sun and then a nap before reaching Amantani island for our overnight stay.
When planning a trip to Peru, Lake Titicaca is not always at the top of one’s priority list. Peru normally brings images of Machu Picchu or the Nazca lines, but the lake definitely deserves to be right up there! The lake is the highest navigable (by commercial craft) lake in the world – at 12,500 feet above sea level, and is the largest in South America, at over 8000 square kilometers. Sitting at the border between Peru and Bolivia, we started our exploration of the lake from the commercialized port city of Puno in Peru.
The Mayflower is one of the most historic hotels in DC – it has been home to Presidential Inaugural balls, the spot for the power lunches of power lunches, scandal and gossip, and is known as DC’s “second best address” (the first being the White House, of course). But it is also known for something else – BANANA BREAD. Yep, the hotel has been making banana bread since the 1950’s and it has become one of the hotel’s signature items, used in the hotel’s turn down amenities, served in the hotel’s Edgar restaurant, and even as dessert at many weddings in the hotel!
Barranco is Lima’s bohemian, funky neighborhood. It is artsy, creative, laid back, trendy, and mostly non-touristy, which made me love it even though we spent less than 24 hours here. Read on for ideas on how to spend 24 hours in this neighborhood.
Turkish coffee and tea are well known for their robust flavors, and the preparation and consumption of coffee and tea are both integral to Turkish culture and daily life. After enjoying a fantastic brunch at Turkish restaurant Ankara with endless cups of tea, and a cup of strong Turkish coffee complete with fortune reading, I was curious to learn more about the importance of coffee/tea in Turkish culture. I sat with Erin Gorman (co-owner along with her husband Utku Aslanturk), to learn a bit more about this …over a cup of tea, of course!
If you are looking for margaritas, micheladas, tacos, tortas, or other Mexican deliciousness with a great atmosphere, then you probably already know that El Centro DF is a good bet. I’ve visited several times and have always really enjoyed myself whether for happy hour or late night (bring back the pork carnitas tortas late night!)
What you may not know, however, is that Chef Richard Sandoval (of El Centro, Zengo, Masa 14 fame) and his corporate chefs visit a different region of Mexico every year to research the culinary heritage of the area, and then come back and incorporate dishes into the menu at El Centro to showcase the diversity and flavors of Mexico.
I honestly believe there is no better way to experience a culture than through its food, and always try to stop by a local market when traveling. The Mercado San Pedro is a local market in Cusco and basically has everything you would need. The market is big, the length of about 3 blocks, and a block wide, and packed with vendors. It has aisles upon aisles of fruit, vegetables, food stalls, food products, pastries, juices, herbs, textiles, and all sorts of other stuff.
