Category: Food

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 […]

I once thought I could make a paella that would make the proudest Valencian weep with joy. Armed with a recipe from a dubious corner of the internet and a couple of overpriced saffron threads, I set out on my culinary quest. What emerged from my kitchen, however, was less a tribute to Spanish cuisine […]

I remember my first encounter with Italian pizza like it was yesterday, and believe me, it wasn’t love at first bite. Picture this: a naive, wide-eyed me, stepping into a bustling pizzeria in Naples, expecting a familiar, cheese-laden comfort blanket. Instead, I was greeted by a charred, floppy disc of dough with minimalist toppings. My […]

There was a time I believed that anything tossed in a bowl and drizzled with olive oil could pass as a Greek salad. In my defense, I was a kid from a mountain village where anything beyond the local fare was as foreign as the idea of a flat Earth. It wasn’t until I found […]

I once thought the French croissant was a gift from the culinary gods, bestowed upon us mere mortals to elevate our breakfast rituals. That was until I found myself in a Parisian boulangerie, staring at a lineup of pastries that seemed far too perfect for their own good. The air was thick with the scent […]

I once found myself at a Tuscan table, the air thick with the aroma of simmering sauces and the banter of animated Italians. My host, an old friend with a penchant for embellishment, regaled us with a tale of how Marco Polo supposedly brought pasta to Italy, a story so well-worn it could double as […]

I once found myself in a cramped, dimly-lit tapas bar in Madrid, elbow-to-elbow with strangers whose names I’d never know, shouting my order over the din of clinking glasses and laughter that could only be described as dangerously infectious. With a menu that read like a cryptic crossword puzzle, I was left to rely on […]