Monday 17 December 2012


Christmas Recipes from Mexico! 


Everyone loves Christmas, it's a time to get together and enjoy time with family and loved ones, and to celebrate the end of the year with good food and wine. But let's admit it, while the Turkey's a treat, brussel sprouts and Christmas pudding aren't always everyone's favourite. Wouldn't you like to end the year with something a little different...


                                   


Christmas is big in Mexico, and the food is rich, warming and just that little bit exotic. Curl up by the fire with a chili and cinnamon hot chocolate after some tasty Mexican tamales. Swap mulled wine for ponche, a traditional Christmas punch, or make your deserts a little lighter by trying a classic Mexican alternative. 


Here are some tasty Mexican recipes you can try this Christmas...





Did you know that in Mexico, 'La Posadas', or the events which build up to Christmas Eve are just as important to Mexicans as Christmas itself. Each night from the 16th December to 24th December Mexicans perform a ceremony known as the 'Posada' which is led by children. The celebrations culminate with a firework celebration on Christmas Eve and the traditional 'Mass of the Rooster'. 




And don't forget Mexican pinata (left) which is filled with sweets!










You can read about Mexican Christmas traditions in more detail here

Want to learn how to cook Mexican food with the help of our local experts? Here is the link to our Mexican food tour, 'Flavours of Oaxaca'.


In the meantime, a very Happy Christmas here from Trip Feast! 

  

Thursday 13 September 2012

Philippines food in pictures


One of Asia's lesser known cuisine's, the Philippines', is captured by the BBC in this beautiful gallery of food images. Click here to view the gallery. To read about Philippines attempts to bring more spotlight to its cuisine click here. To experience first-hand the food and culture of the Philippines on our Taste of the Philippines tour click here

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Top 10 foods to try before you die!


Sampling the local cuisine can help you make friends, understand the history, politics or religion of the place you're visiting and provide a lasting memory of your trip. Food and travel go hand in hand, and there's no better way to delve deep into a destination than to try its most famous dishes.
No matter where you go around the world, every culture puts its own spin on food, whether they're serving a slightly different version of a familiar favorite or a strange (to you) dish sure to challenge even the most adventurous eater.
From China's famous Peking duck to good old US barbecue, here are ten iconic dishes from around the world that every traveler should try at least once!
Check them all out here.

And to taste some of the best check out our Malaysia food tour (seafood curry laksa), our South India food tour (masala dosa), our China food tour (Peking duck) and our Thailand food tours (Som tam/green papaya salad). Enjoy!

Turkish Airlines Food Named No. 1

A panel of international travelers has spoken and named Turkish Airlines' cuisine the best in-flight food, beating out 18 other airlines around the world. The survey, coordinated by flight comparison site Skyscanner, asked passengers to judge airline food based on presentation and taste. Turkish Airlines menu, which includes such dishes as Turkish meatballs, stuffed eggplant, caprese salad, and walnut pear tart, took first place with a score of 86%. Read more

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Colombia Coffee Region

Day 1: Coffee Region - Pereira

It was a morning flight from Bogota to Pereira, one of the three major towns in Colombia's verdant coffee region. As the plane approached Pereira all I could see was mile-upon-mile of lush green mountains. We were greeted at the airport and whisked away to our hacienda where we were served the freshest Colombian fruit juice (passionfruit is widespread here and with good reason extremely popular).

After a filling lunch and some energetic dancing from some Colombian dancers, we moved on to the wonderful Hacienda Venecia, where the owner, Juan, gave us an extremely informative and interesting tour of his vast coffee plantation. There is a real science to coffee cultivation and he explained the challenges of unpredictable climate and trading in the international market. Starting from seedlings and the careful nurturing of the coffee plant, once the first leaves start to appear, the plant is shifted to the main plantation where it is nurtured until the coffee beans bear fruit. Only once the beans turn from green to red are they picked by hand.

Colombia is known the world over for the finest washed Arabica coffee, and the soil and climate lends the bean a sweet flavour. Juan then went on to show us the complex machinery used to 'wash' the beans. After washing, the beans have a green tinge and are then stored in large coffee sacks ready to be sold in the international market. Due to the ever-growing demand for coffee and the prices that can be fetched for raw beans, Colombia exports its best beans, which are then roasted abroad and sold in supermarkets and drank in huge volumes in coffee shops around the world.

Juan also showed us how the roasting process is carried out using a small roasting machine. In just 7 minutes, these green beans took on a deep brown colour, expanded in size, giving off the most delightful aroma. He then served us cafe tinto (black coffee) which tasted sublime. It was easily the smoothest cup of coffee I remember having in a long time. and the slightly sweet undertones also came through.

Just spending a few hours in Juan's company, I felt humbled by the hard work and dedication these coffee farmers put into cultivating the finest coffee beans. There is no doubt coffee is vital for Colombia and is one of its major exports. Numerous livelihoods depend on coffee production and all those involved take great pride in it. Having tasted real Colombian coffee, I can't see myself drinking coffee from anywhere else!