Category: Food

I first tasted Portuguese port wine in a dimly lit tavern in Porto, lured by the promise of liquid history in a glass. Or maybe I was just trying to escape the incessant rain that seemed intent on drowning the city. Either way, there I was, a skeptical journalist with a palate more accustomed to […]

I once found myself in a German beer garden, ostensibly to soak up the culture, but really, let’s be honest, I was trying to nurse a hangover with a pint of something strong enough to recalibrate my life choices. As I sat there under the sprawling chestnut tree, nursing my existential crisis as much as […]

I remember my first encounter with French wine like it was yesterday—an overhyped bottle at a pretentious little bistro, where the waiter’s raised eyebrow was as sharp as the cheese knife. I was a wide-eyed fool, convinced that deciphering the foreign squiggles on the label would somehow unlock the secrets of the universe. Instead, I […]

I once found myself standing awkwardly in a bustling Roman café, a foreigner in a land where the very air seemed to hum with the rich aroma of espresso. I’d committed the cardinal sin: ordered a cappuccino after noon. The barista’s eyes pierced through me with the kind of disdain usually reserved for someone who […]

I once found myself standing awkwardly in a bustling Roman café, a foreigner in a land where the very air seemed to hum with the rich aroma of espresso. I’d committed the cardinal sin: ordered a cappuccino after noon. The barista’s eyes pierced through me with the kind of disdain usually reserved for someone who […]

I once found myself squinting skeptically at a wine glass in a sun-drenched corner of Bordeaux, wondering if it was the intense sunlight or the swirling tannins that made my head spin. The guide prattled on about terroir and ancient viticulture techniques, while I mentally cataloged how many more sips I’d need before I could […]

I once found myself elbow-deep in a so-called food tour, clutching a flimsy napkin soaked with the drippings of something unrecognizable yet supposedly “authentic.” The guide, who seemed more like a salesperson than a culinary expert, prattled on about the rich history of a dish that tasted like a culinary afterthought. I remember thinking, “Is […]

Let me set the scene: I’m standing in a cramped Tuscan kitchen, feeling like an awkward giant amidst the smell of fresh basil and the sharp gaze of the nonna who clearly disapproves of my existence. Her name is Maria, and she’s about as forgiving as a falcon eyeing a mouse. My crime? An abysmal […]

I once found myself in the heart of Istanbul, desperately clinging to my coffee addiction and skeptical of anything that wasn’t a quick caffeine fix. But then came the morning I stumbled, bleary-eyed, into a Turkish breakfast spread. It wasn’t just breakfast; it was an unrelenting onslaught of colors, flavors, and textures. Picture a table […]

I once found myself in a swanky Brussels chocolate shop, feeling like an imposter in a world of glossy boxes and truffle pyramids. The kind of place where the air is thick with cocoa and pretension. As I tried to blend in, a chocolatier offered me a sample—a single, delicate praline. It was a moment […]