The Hungry Nomad - Food, Travel, Lifestyle

Boulangerie Chopain (Vancouver, Canada)

February 14, 2011 No Comments

Back in Vancouver and first thing is first…I must find a neighborhood bakery to buy fresh french Baguettes. My boulangerie hunt did not take long. As I was walking along Davie street, I noticed a long line up of people waiting to buy bread at Boulangerie Chopain. Never one to miss out on an investigation opportunity involving food I decided I would join the line-up. And folks I was not let down. One word for you, Chocolate-Almond Croissants (to die for). It’s gooey, creamy and chocolaty and just the perfect amount of sweet. They have a wonderful range of french pastries, breads and sandwiches to choose from. While originally on a mission to buy fresh baked bread, I did end up inhaling a croissant instead. It was very fresh and I assume everything else is baked fresh to serve. On further investigation, I will write more.

Boulangerie Cho Pain is located at 1165 Davie Street Vancouver, BC

Italy, Travel

Summer Inspiration II (Sicily, Italy)

February 13, 2011 1 Comment

Number two of Kim’s post on Sicily, enjoy!

Today I’ll be sharing a bit more of sunny Sicily. My favorite part of the island was by far the Southeast, where the pretty baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica, Noto and Syracuse are to be found. On the East coast Catania, Acireale and Taormina are popular tourist destinations. Rightly so, they’re gorgeous towns close to the impressive volcano Etna and with some beautiful spots for swimming nearby. I’d also suggest not to miss out on beautiful drives around central Sicily and the Unesco World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples in the South.

Gourmand, recipes

Ghalieh Mahi (Southern-Iranian Fish Stew)

February 11, 2011 3 Comments

This delicious and pungent dish comes from the south of Iran and is less known than the other more popular Iranian stews. Ghalieh Mahi has very rich flavors including a melange of garlic, tamarind paste, cilantro and fenugreek. It is best served with Basmati Rice.

Ingredients:

King Fish steaks or any fish that can be cut into small cubes and does not fall apart easily OR Prawns (I personally put a mix of Tilapia and Prawns for a wonderful combination- you can substitute for any type of fish you prefer)
2 Bunches of Cilantro
2 Tablespoon dry Fenugreek available at most Middle Eastern/Indian stores
1 Cup chopped fresh Garlic
1/2 Cup tamarind (or more depending on how sour and tangy you want your Ghalieh Mahi to be)Pls note: There are two types of tamarind sauce: the one in a jar that is in liquid form- I personally do not like this as it is too sour and tangy and tastes like chemicals. Try to buy tamarind in bulk form. The bulk form comes in a square shape with seeds in it and has a sour flavour. Remove the seeds and soak in 2-3 cups of warm water.
2 whole red chili peppers (optional, although highly recommended to add a spicy flavour to the dish)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional)
2/3 Cups of warm water

Preparation:

Pour the dry fenugreek into warm water and let it soak for 30 minutes
Chop the cilantro well and sauté with two table spoons of olive oil or any oil you prefer on low heat.
Drench the fenugreek and add to the sauteed herbs; Continue to sauté until the herbs permeate a melange of smells
At the same time, soak the tamarind paste in 2-3 cups of warm/hot water. Once it has fully soaked, drain the water, allowing the juice to sip through, leaving out the seeds and skin.
Next, add the tamarind paste, salt and pepper to the herbs and then turn the knob on low heat.
Optional step: add chili peppers to the paste
Add 2/3 cup of warm water and put the lid on until you are finished with the next step.

In another pan:

Chop garlic
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and sauté the chopped garlic until slightly golden
After a few minutes remove the garlic and place it in a small dish aside
Saute the fish/prawns for a few minutes until slightly cooked. Remove and set aside
Add the sautéed garlic to the cooking ghalieh (herbs and tamarind paste) and if you like here you can add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
Set your timer for 30 minute and let the ghalieh cook on low heat
After 30 minutes add the fish and let it cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.

This dish can be varied depending on personal taste. For more of a garlic flavour, add more garlic. For a more sour and tangy flavor, add more tamarind paste. For a more spicy flavour add a few more dried red chili peppers.

Serve with a side of basmati rice and radish

recipes

Lettuce Cups with Tuna and Lime Mayonnaise

February 10, 2011 No Comments

From Donna Hay’s new book, Fast, Fresh, Simple

Serves 8
Ingredients:

3/4 cup asparagus, trimmed and blanched
1 1/2 cups watercress sprigs
8 iceberg lettuce leaves, trimmed into cups
2 x 200g loin fillets sashimi-grade tuna, trimmed
Vegetable oil, for brushing
Cracked black pepper

Lime Mayonnaise

1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime rind

“To make the lime mayonnaise, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice and lime rind. Set aside. Finely slice the asparagus. Toss with the watercress and place in the lettuce cups. Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Slice each piece of tuna into 3, brush with oil and sprinkle with pepper. Sear the tuna for 10 – 20 seconds each side then slice into 24 slices, 5 mm thick. Divide the tuna slices among the lettuce cups and drizzle with the lime mayonnaise.”

Donna Hay’s new book, Fast, Fresh, Simple, is now available.

Italy, Travel

Summer Inspiration I (Sicily, Italy)

February 6, 2011 No Comments

Enjoy this post by resident blogger Kim!

A lot of us are still living in chilly wintery conditions and although I am enjoying Mediterranean weather conditions nowadays, February can be very grey, cold and wet. So while heavy rains are pouring down on us here, I thought it might be a good time to share a little taste of summer with you all. Not as popular as other destinations in Italy, Sicily is a rough gem to be discovered. During high season (outside the main tourist attractions) I encountered only an agreeable amount of other tourists and many available small & charming hotels. To me, Sicily has everything to offer for a lovely get-away: beautiful nature, delightful baroque towns, impressive historic sights, pleasant beaches and simply scrumptious food.

New Orleans, Travel, USA

Just your typical day on Bourbon St. (New Orleans)

February 1, 2011 2 Comments

Bourbon Street (French: Rue Bourbon) is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. When founded in 1718, the city was originally centered around the French Quarter. New Orleans has since expanded, but “The Quarter” remains the cultural hub, and Bourbon Street is the street best known by visitors. Although, once you’ve seen it you really won’t be drawn back to Bourbon since present day bourbon is filled with drunks (day and night), rowdy college kids, strippers hanging out by their clubs, and at times it can be quiet dangerous. Many hang out in the balconies and will throw you beads if you are drunk enough to flash them your boobs. Although sometimes they’ll be nice enough and just throw you one without you having to expose your privates. It is however, packed, day and night! So if you are looking for some crazy fun then definitely make your way to Bourbon. If you are really in need of getting drunk at 9 am. Don’t fret: bourbon street is waiting for you.

I personally MUCH prefer the street parallel to Bourbon: Royal street. Its filled with antique shops, restaurants, and jazz musicians performing on the street. (see my post: french quarter, new Orleans for more).

Gourmand, Istanbul, Travel, Turkey

Sweet & Savory Streets (Istanbul, Turkey)

January 30, 2011 No Comments

Another great post from our resident blogger, Kim. Enjoy!

Surely I love a good restaurant as much any other girl. But sometimes the best treats can be found out there on the streets. Just imagine enjoying fresh ice cream while strolling in the summer sun or warming up on spicy hot cocoa on a crispy winter day. So when I went to Istanbul, of course I had to try all the Turkish on-the-go delights.

It took a long time for me to open up to chestnuts, but on a cold cold day these hot roasted little treats are exactly what you might need to warm up and continue your adventurous walks around town. I have seen chestnuts stands from Northern Italy and Geneva to Athens and also in Istanbul people munch happily on chestnuts while out and about. Also, keep your eyes out for chestnut treats in coffee shops and restaurants as there are some seriously deliciously chestnut cakes and deserts to be found.

A new discovery for me when I went to Turkey was fresh pomegranate juice. All around the city you may notice small coffee shops and kebab stands squeezing and selling orange & pomegranate juice to take away. Extremely refreshing, I love how it makes for a healthy change from sipping on (also very enjoyable) Turkish coffees and black teas.

Much less greasy than the varieties I have tasted in Greece, kebabs in Istanbul are a popular fast food. My favorite is the döner kebab with a thin pita, lamb meat, sour pickles and veggies (which you see in the picture), yum! Couple it with a pomegranate juice, relax on a bench and enjoy the bustle of the city around you.

Salep is a sweet and spicy drink which will definitely do you good on a rainy and chilly day. Originally made from the salep orchid, it is now usually made with hot milk, cinnamon and salep flavorings. You can see salep being sold by some traditionally dressed men pushing their carts and shouting “Hot Salep, hot salep!”. A word of caution: Salep is extremely hot, so don’t burn your tongue.

Simit (“koulouri” in Greece) stands are present on every street corner in Istanbul. Considered breakfast by many in this neck of the woods, you almost can’t go wrong with these simple bread rings sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Gourmand, New Orleans

World’s Best Barbecue shrimp at Mr. B’s Bistro (New Orleans)

January 24, 2011 2 Comments

Mr. B’s Bistro is one of our favourite restaurants in the French Quarter. The chic setting and cozy atmosphere make for a great dinner out. Upon entering the restaurant through the revolving door you get a feeling that you’ve stepped through a machine back in time. Everything from the decor, the servers and the experience could be straight out of a turn of the century movie.

Each time we have gone to this restaurant there has been a wait…but its never a problem since many come just for the bar where you can have yourself a bloody mary, mint julip or a sazerac while you wait for your table. The restaurant serves contemporary Creole cuisine in a warm relaxed atmosphere. Signature dishes include Gumbo Ya Ya, Barbequed Shrimp, and Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey Sauce (see menu). The service is amazing- the waiters always happy and welcoming. If you happen to have the Barbeque shrimp (which is really a must if you go to this restaurant) they even go so far as to put on your bib for you (needed to peel the shrimp), bring you hot towels and lemon and continuous servings of fresh out of the oven french bread, which ofcourse you proceed to dip in the bbq shrimp sauce (probably the best part of the meal). The gumbo ya ya is also a must- definitely one of the best I have had since my time in New Orleans…and I have had ALOT of Gumbo. Finishing off with a plate of desert you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu: my favorites- the profiteroles (a french dessert consisting of light fluffy dough filled with vanilla ice-cream and topped with dark chocolate sauce (TO DIE FOR), if you want something more New Orleans in flavor then try the home made breadpudding. You will not be dissapointed. Not with the dessert. Not with your meal. And definitely not with the service you receive at this charming restaurant in the quarter.

Famous Mr. B’s BBQ Shrimp

Clean bib before

getting dirty in the dirty south

Gumbo ya ya

Delicious Bread Pudding with whiskey sauce

Crabcakes

Cancun, Gourmand, Mexico, Travel

Thai Lounge and Elefanta Restaurant(Cancun, Mexico)

January 23, 2011 1 Comment

Thai Lounge: Bulevar Kukulcán Km. Plaza La Isla Shopping Village

Thai Lounge– Thai food in Mexico? It’s possible! Thai Lounge is a beautiful restaurant located in the La Isla Shopping Center overlooking the lagoon. If you do happen to go here, make sure to call ahead to book one of the cabanas (cabana #7 is the nicest one-includes a bed and a table for two). The place is very intimate, cozy and romantic. It is one of the nicest places to go for dinner in Cancun and I highly recommend it.

The food was really good. As good as the dishes I had tried in Thailand…just not as cheap. My favorite Thai dish that I discovered in Thailand (Glass Noodles with Prawns) was also on the menu and I was not disappointed. The setting is very romantic, especially if you make it in time for the sunset.

Adjacent to the Thai Lounge is Elefanta Indian Cuisine. I would have liked to have tried the Elefanta as well but didn’t have time. They are both set on the edge of the lagoon with magnificent views.


Make sure to ask for Cabana #7 (did I already say that?)

Istanbul, Travel, Turkey

Istanbul Impressions (Istanbul, Turkey)

January 23, 2011 No Comments

Istanbul has been on my to-go list for a very long time and finally this winter I made it! Such a wonderful place. Literally at the border between East and West, its long history remains tangible everywhere you walk in this vast city. I was dazzled by the beauty of its historical mosques, palaces and churches while I thoroughly enjoyed all the modern city had to offer. Tea houses and wine bars, modern art galleries and ages-old mosques, eastern bazaars and western malls all make for an exciting mix for the traveler. I will be sharing more of Istanbul with you soon, for now a few colorful impressions. (by The Dutch Nomad, Kim)