Carnival Cruise Line Chilled Avocado Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced.
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground ancho chili (or chili powder)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• juice of 2 limes
• 1 quart of low-fat buttermilk
• 12 oz plain yogurt
• 5 ripe avocados
• 2 cups chicken stock or water
• salt
• pinch or more of cayenne pepper
• pinch of dried mint

Preparation

• Puree avocados with lime juice in a blender or food processor.
• Put puree into large bowl and whisk in yogurt, buttermilk, and chicken stock.
• Add chili powder, garlic, cumin, cayenne and mint.
• Stir in the diced cucumber.
• Taste for salt – we suggest at least 1/4 tsp.
  
• Garnish the soup with cilantro.

10 – 12 servings

Carnival Cruise Line Tapenade Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 clove minced garlic
• juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tbls. capers, chopped
• 6 anchovy filets, chopped
  
• 8 ounces of black olives (pitted)
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 4 tblsp extra virgin olive oil
  

Preparation

• Rinse olives in cold water and remove pits.
  
• Mix all ingredients in a food processor to make a paste. (we like to leave on the chunky side)
  
• Transfer to a bowl and serve with toast points or a nice toasted french baguette.
  

Carnival Cruise Line Penne Sicilian Recipe

This is a lovely take on Penne a la Vodka, adding zucchini and eggplant.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. uncooked penne pasta
  
• 2 c tomato sauce
  
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
  
• 2 tbs olive oil
  
• 2 cups diced zucchini
  
• 1 c diced eggplant
  
• 3/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese
  
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  
• Salt & pepper to taste.
  

Preparation

• Cooked pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions.
  
• Heat tomato sauce and cream over medium heat, stirring often until it reduces in half. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  
• In a separate pan, heat olive oil on medium high and cook zucchini and eggplant for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 3 to 5 minutes until veggies are tender but still crisp.
  
• Add in the pasta and creamy tomato sauce.
  
• Stir.  Add mozzarella cheese and stir until melted.
  
• Top with grated parmesan cheese and serve.
  

We loved to add oregano and fresh basil leaves before serving!

Popular Carnival Cruise Line Recipes is a post from: TasteForCooking

Here is a Greek Salad recipe from Executive Chef Robert van Rijsbergen of Azamara Club Cruises.  In this salad, Robert uses olive tapenade instead of regular olives, uses creamy feta instead of cubes of cheese, and chops vegetables on an angle rather than dicing.

Greek Salad With A Twist (Makes Six Servings)

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick in an angle
• 1 red bell pepper, large-diced
• 1 green bell pepper, large-diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, julienned
• 5 scallions, sliced on an angle
• 1/2 pound feta cheese, blended until creamy (you can add a little sour cream)
• 1/2 cup olive tapenade
• Small bunch flat parsley
• Rosemary or thyme croutons

Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions: 

Place the chopped cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour most of the vinaigrette over the vegetables and toss lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Add the creamy feta, scallions and olives tapenade on top immediately before serving. Garnish with croutons and flat parsley. Drizzle the rest of the vinaigrette around each serving of salad, and serve at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Azamara Cruises Greek Salad Recipe is a post from: TasteForCooking

Windstar Cruises recipe for incredible dining begins with the freshest ingredients which are purchased from the local markets, wherever possible.

2 cups chopped onion
3 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon dried cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon curry powder
3/4 teaspoon dried cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 to 4 sweet potatoes (3 1/2 pounds) peeled and cut into 2 inch cubes 6 cups
1 large red bell pepper seeded and coarsely chopped 1-1/2 cup
1 eggplant cubed 3 cups
3/4 cup vegetable broth or water
2 cups canned garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
3 cups canned ready-cut tomatoes
3/4 cup raisins
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Combine onions and garlic in a large saucepan and cook covered over low heat until tender, about 10 minutes or until the onion is translucent, adding a little water if necessary to prevent scorching. Stir in turmeric, cinnamon, curry, cumin, nutmeg and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the sweet potatoes, bell pepper, eggplant, and broth or water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 5 minutes. Add garbanzo beans, tomatoes and raisins, and simmer covered until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro before serving.

Moroccan Sweet Potato Stew from Windstar Cruises is a post from: TasteForCooking

We have gotten several requests recently for Carnival cruise line soup recipes, so we put together a few of their unique and delicious soup recipes below.

Watermelon Soup

4 cups seeded watermelon chunks & juice
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs chopped fresh spearmint
1 tbs sugar
1/3 c white wine
1-1/2″ fresh ginger root, sliced- 1/8″ thick
Fresh spearmint springs for garnish

In a blender, blend all ingredients except the ginger. Add the ginger slices and chill the soup several hours. Remove the ginger slices. Serve the soup garnish with mint sprigs. Serves 3 to 4 people.

Chilled Mango Soup

1 Qt. Mango Ice Cream
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 cups milk
2 oz. fresh ginger
Peeled mint sprigs
1 mango chop
A small slice or two of fresh ginger

Combine all ingredients (except mint) and blend at the last possible moment. Served in chilled soup cups and garnish with a mint leaf.

West Indian Pumpkin Soup

1 cup onion quartered
1 cup leeks
4 cloves fresh garlic
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 quarts Chicken Stock
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt & Pepper to Taste
Dash of nutmeg when serving

Heat oven to 300. Place onions, leeks, and garlic in shallow roasting pan & drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes. Let vegetables cool and then puree in blender.
Bring the chicken stock, pureed vegetables and pumpkin puree and bring to a bowl. Turn heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes.   Add half-and-half, salt and pepper to taste and simmer another 30 minutes.  Finish with heavy cream and a dash of nutmeg.

Serves 10-12

Strawberry Bisque

3 c strawberries, washed and hulled
1 ½ c water
¾ c sugar
3 T lemon juice
1 t grated lemon peel
1 ½ c red wine
1 c. sour cream
fresh mint leaves

Combine strawberries, ½ c water, and sugar in a blender. Cover and blend the mixture until pureed. Stir in lemon juice, peel, 1 c. water and wine. Stir in sour cream until blended. Chill for several hours before serving and garnish with mint.

Chilled Avocado Soup—Serves 12

3 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced.
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground ancho chili (or chili powder)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 2 limes
1 quart of low-fat buttermilk
12 oz plain yogurt
5 ripe avocados
2 cups chicken stock or water
salt
pinch or more of cayenne pepper
pinch of dried mint

Puree avocados with lime juice in a blender or food processor.
Put puree into large bowl and whisk in yogurt, buttermilk, and chicken stock.
Add chili powder, garlic, cumin, cayenne and mint.
Stir in the diced cucumber.
Taste for salt (at least 1/4 tsp)
Garnish the soup with cilantro.

Caribbean Pepper Pot Soup—Serves 6

2 TBSP Vegetable Oil
1 Cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 cups sliced okra
1 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup choped green pepper
1 cup diced potatoes
1 cup diced yams
1 cup quartered and sliced plantain
6 cups chicken stock
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

Spaetzle
1/2 lb flour
1/2 cup water
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Heat oil in Dutch oil; add onions and garlic. Cook until tender. Add okra, red and green peppers, potatoes, yams and plantain. Saute until lightly browned. Add stock and coconut milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 2 to 3 hours or until soup thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, for Spaetzle, combine flour, water, egg and parsley to form a smooth dough. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Pass dough through a spaetzle mill or colander with large holes. Cook about 3 minutes or until cooked through. Drain; rinse with cold water.
Add Spaetzle to soup. Garnish with Cilantro

Carnival Cruise Line Soup Recipes is a post from: TasteForCooking

Throughout many cities tourists can visit a market to pick up a few one of a kind items. Some of the best markets aren’t that popular, but have some great products. While the following markets aren’t that well-known they are definitely worth the visit if you are in the area.

Thanon Khao San Market, Bangkok
A wide variety of items can be found here. There’s everything from fake ID’s to selfie sticks. This is a great stop for tourists that want to bring back something for their relatives other than the traditional “I Love Bangkok” t-shirt. While t-shirts can be found here, many of them have obscenities on them that wouldn’t be appropriate to give to Grandma.

Queen’s Market, Long
Being that this market is located in Upton Park, it’s not frequented often by tourists. However, locals have been coming here for years. At Queen’s Market you can find a wide variety of items at a good price. In fact, this market is considered to be one of the least expensive ones in London. There are approximately 80 stalls and 60 shops located here.

The Marché International De Rungis, Paris
Despite this being the world’s largest wholesale food market, not a lot of tourists know about it. It spans 232 hectares and mostly features a variety of food items. Here you can find everything from dairy products to fresh fish in large quantities. This can be daunting to tourists who probably don’t need to buy bulk food items while on vacation. However, it’s worth stopping at as some of the vendors may allow you to buy less of an item they normally sell in bulk just to get you to purchase something. If you do plan on visiting here, remember that it can get quite crowded as more than 20,000 people visit the market each year. If you are intimidated by it, but still want to check it out, consider getting up early and going on a guided market visit. They occur anywhere from 4:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and afterwards participants can stick around for some breakfast.

Ten Katemarket, Amsterdam
Located in the residential neighborhood of Amsterdam West, this market is in the middle of a busy shopping area. It features more than 100 stands. Many of these stands sell produce, fresh foods and flowers. After stopping at the market you can also get a bite to eat as there are a number of cafes and restaurants nearby.

Less Popular Markets To Visit is a post from: TasteForCooking

If you have the opportunity while on a cruise to take part in a Single Malt Tasting, we highly recommend it.  It’s a great way to taste some expensive 10 to 15 year old whiskys at a low price.  You can also host  a whisky tasting party after dinner or appetizers.

One tip we learned is that you can tasting the single malt both on its own and with a couple of drops of bottled water.  Adding water enhances the aroma and changes the taste a bit.

If you are a first timer, tilt the glass and whirl it around a few times, small the whisky and then take a small sip.

On our recent Oceania Cruise, we tasted 4 high quality Single Malt for just $15.50.

1. Dalwhinne Classic 15 Year Old
A gentle, delicate 15 year old malt from the windswept Highlands of Scotland, Dalwhinnie Classic is subtle and smooth with a honey finish.
I found this too strong! Yes it was my first tasting but again for me personally I did not like it as much as the others we tried.

2.  Glemorangie The Quinta Ruban
This elegant non chill-filtered malt is matured in bourbon casks then again in Ruby port casks. It is defined by notes of mint and dark chocolate.
Being a novice, I can’t say that I tasted much of the mint or dark chocolate, but I did like the flavor.

3.  Oban 14 Year Old
Founded in 1974, Oban Distillery overlooks the Firth of Lorn in a great location fro a single malt with the perfect balance between Highland and Islay.
This was the smoothest of the 4 brands we tasted.

4.  Glenmorganie The Sherry Wood
This non chill-filtered single malt is initially matured in bourbon casks, then finished in Olorso Sherry casks to create a rich taste.
This was my favorite of the ones we tried – reminded me a bit of a port but with more complex flavor and characteristics.

Other brands that were available for tasting were the Knockando, The Balvenie Founders 10 Year, Laphroaig 10 Year, Bunnahabbain 12 year, Gragganmore 12 year, Aberlour 10 year and Talkser.

Again whether its your first time or you love single malts, these tastings on a cruise ship are a great way to taste several brands for an extremely reasonable price.

Single Malt Scotch Tasting is a post from: TasteForCooking

Does anyone know about the food museums in the US? We all love to eat, right? It’s no wonder that there are a variety of museums throughout the U.S. that are dedicated to our love of food. These are the top food museums that are located throughout the United States.

Spam Museum In Austin, MN

Calling all Spam lovers! This 14,000-square foot museum replaced the original Spam museum that was located at Hormel Foods. Even if you are not that into Spam, you can still appreciate all of the exhibits. Visitors can learn a lot about the history of Spam, including how it was important for the United States military. Favorite exhibits include the bluegrass instruments that are actually made out of Spam cans, a Spam can conveyor and a 12-foot Spam rocket. There’s also a children’s play area, a theatre and a gift shop. Most of the activities here are interactive which really lends itself to the experience. If you haven’t tried Spam before or are just feeling particularly hungry, don’t worry as there will be “Spamples” available (Spam samples).

Museum of Food & Drink In Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The Museum of Food & Drink in Williamsburg, Brooklyn also known as the MOFAD, is rather large as it’s nearly the size of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One of the most popular attractions here, besides the food, is the smell synthesizer. It allows you to push a button and smell a variety of scents like nail polish remover or smoke. Visitors are given a tablet that they can suck on that can either taste like salt, mushrooms or tomatoes.

Museum of Ice Cream In New York

Opening in 2017, the Museum of Ice Cream in New York has a lot of interactive features. There’s a rainbow sprinkle pool that’s edible, a chocolate room, edible balloons and a large ice cream sundae that’s bound to be the biggest one you’ve ever seen. Of course, there’s plenty of ice cream to sample along the way.

Southern Food and Beverage Museum, New Orleans

This museum celebrates foods that are common in the south. Visitors can see demonstrations, listen to lectures, see exhibits and take part in tastings. If you have ever wondered how certain foods became popular in the south, this is the place to go to learn about the influence that various cultures have had. The museum was previously located in Riverwalk Marketplace when it first opened in 2008, but has since moved to its current location at Dryades Street Market.

Wilbur Chocolate Candy Americana Museum in Pennsylvania

First opened in 1972, this museum was created by Penny Buzzard who was the wife of former Wilbur Chocolate President, John Buzzard. She gathered chocolate memorabilia from flea markets and antique shows to display in the museum. In 1977, a modern candy kitchen opened onsite as well. While at the museum you can watch a video of how chocolate is made and view some of the antique candy memorabilia that’s on display here. There’s also plenty of different types of chocolate available to purchase.

Food Museums in the US is a post from: TasteForCooking

Wine Theme Park

Hey all you wine lovers out there! After 7 years of construction there’s a new theme park just for you that’s opened. La Cité du Vin, which translates to City of Wine, recently opened off of the banks of the Garonne River in Bordeaux. Fill up your glass and check out this flavorful theme park. Up to know the only thing you could do is visit a vineyard or the California Wine Museum, but a park is the first of its kind.

The Stats

The theme park, which opened on June 1, 2016, cost $91 million to build. It has 20 themed areas with exhibits. It’s no surprise that its location is one of the most popular wine regions in the world.

Attractions

Guests can enjoy classes and screenings in the 250 seat auditorium, a simulator boat ride and of course wine! There are tasting sessions, a tapas bar, wine for sale from over 80 countries and a wine salon. One of the most interesting experiences at the park is the tasting experience. It includes 3d images and moving sets. If you are needing to sit down after all this fun, there’s an area that features plush chairs and stories of people that have had a little too much to drink. Even if you don’t speak French, you can still enjoy the park. Guests are given a digital guide that is translated in one of eight languages.

There are also plenty of events and shows scheduled throughout the year.

After The Park

Since Bordeaux is considered to be one of the top producers of wine in the world, there’s a lot of fabulous wine to have, even outside of the park. Two of these places include Aux Quatre Coins de Vin and the École du Vin de Bordeaux. If you happen to be in the area from June 23-26, the Bordeaux Wine Festival is an event that you must go too. There are 80 wine pavilions that span over 1 mile and feature a variety of wine to taste and purchase. Let’s not forget about the wine tours in the area as well. There are approximately over 1,500 wineries in Bordeaux.

Getting There

The best way to get to the theme park is to fly directly into Bordeaux from Paris as it’s only a 65-minute flight. In the spring France will be offering a high speed train network as well. In the future they may even add a “wine line” from London, to make it even easier to get to and from the area.

As you can imagine, this theme park is meant for adults only. Even though tickets cost $25, it’s bound to be worth the price with the amount of wine that you will be able to sample while there.

Start planning France river cruise of this beautiful wine region today!

Wine Theme Park in Bordeaux is a post from: TasteForCooking

One of the biggest perks of traveling is getting to try new foods. Something that all of us traveling abroad must remember is that in order to experience some amazing dishes, we must keep an open mind. The following dishes are rather unusual, but simply delicious.

Pie Floater In Australia

While this dish may look unappealing, it’s actually known as a great cure for a hangover. This thick pea soup contains a meat pie as well as vinegar and tomato sauce. While some visitors turn their nose up at this green soup, they really don’t know what they are missing out on.

Poutine In Canada

As word spreads about how good this dish is, it is gaining popularity. Poutine basically consists of French fries served with cheese curds and gravy on top. This dish is packed with flavor and calories!

Khachapuri In Georgia

This is the perfect dish to eat for breakfast. This chewy bread is filled with cheese and sometimes a few eggs. It’s so good in fact that you may just find yourself coming back for seconds.

Escargot In France

Many people might think that trying escargot, which is simply snails, would be slimy and gross, but it’s a totally different experience in France. The snails are served in their shell, which somehow preserves the flavor. They are often made with a garlic herb butter and the end result is a dish that just might surprise you.

Dim Sum In Hong Kong

The dish, Dim Sum, varies greatly on where you eat it at. In Hong Kong it can consist of anything from spare ribs to shrimp dumplings. The key is for it to be in bite size pieces that you don’t need a knife to cut.

Cendol In Malaysia

This is the dessert of all desserts. It’s made with palm sugar, shaved ice, green rice flower jellies and coconut milk. Some recipes also include kidney beans and corn. Cendol is a refreshing treat for those that have spent the day out in the sun seeing some of the sites of Malaysia.

Ceviche In Peru

For those that love fish, they must try Ceviche. The raw fish is cut up and bathed in citrus juices until it is tender. It’s often served with onions, herbs, corn or sweet potatoes.

Kabsa In Saudia Arabia

This dish is very flavorful. The main component of it is rice. A variety of spices are added to it like cinnamon, cloves and saffron. It is also sometimes mixed with vegetables and meat to turn it into an entire meal.

Biltong In South Africa

This dish is similar to beef jerky. It’s made with game meats that are salty and dried out. The taste of it can vary depending on where you get it from.

Varenyky In Ukraine

Dumplings are taken to a whole new level with this dish. They are stuffed with things like cheese, mashed potatoes and meat. After they are steamed or boiled they are topped with a type of sour cream called Smetana or a type of pig fat called salo.

The Most Delicious And Unusual Thing to Eat Around The World is a post from: TasteForCooking

Dependent on where you live you may be feeling a little chill in the air. With winter knocking on your door you need a way to warm up, from the inside out. Forget the hot chocolate and the coffee! To get rid of the chill that you can feel down to your bones, try one of these hot drinks from around the world. They may be just what you need to warm up!

Agua Dolce From Costa Rica

Although Costa Rica doesn’t really get cold, there are still many days to where it experiences a lot of rain and the locals need a way to get rid of the chill. Agua Dolce can do just that, probably due to all of the sugar! Basically it just consists of hot water and sugar cane. It’s fairly popular to drink among farmers.

Blanco From Bolivia

Who knew corn in a drink could help you warm up? Blanco is made by adding white corn, sugar, cinnamon and milk to a pot and warming it up. It’s not uncommon to find it at bus stations or on the breakfast table at a home right along with a few pastries. This drink was consumed by the Incans.

Wattlecino From Australia

The national flower of Australia is used in this hot drink. Wattleseeds are ground up and used as a substitute for coffee. This drink doesn’t contain any caffeine and it has a flavor that’s somewhere between hazelnut and chocolate.

Sarraba From Indonesia

Not only will this drink warm you up, but it will delight your tastebuds with it’s white peppercorn and ginger flavor. It’s made by adding these items to coconut milk tempur and sprinkling in some palm sugar.

Masala Chai From India

Those who drink this find that it isn’t your typical chai tea. It’s very strong and is made with both hot milk and water and a variety of different things like ginger, cinnamon, peppercorn and cloves. It’s not uncommon for some individuals to add vanilla or nutmeg as well.

Hot Toddy From Ireland

Most people have at least heard of this beverage. It’s a great concoction if you don’t mind a little bit of whisky in your hot drink. To make it, combine whisky cloves and some brown sugar. The cloves are poked through a lemon rind so that the drinker can still get the taste of them without having to deal with a mouth full of cloves getting stuck in their teeth.

Anijsmelk From Holland

If you like black licorice then you may very well love this drink. It’s made by adding anise to hot milk. Some people add sugar cubes to it as well. It’s known to calm the stomach and also acts as a sleep aid.

Dubai is a food lover’s paradise. Filled with everything from traditional restaurants, quaint cafes and intriguing shops, it difficult to not be pleasantly overwhelmed with all of the food options here. For those that get the chance to visit Dubai, there are a variety of culinary attractions to indulge in.

Deira Fish Market
Even if you don’t plan on purchasing any fish (which a lot of travelers don’t because they don’t have a way to cook it), you still should visit the Deira Fish Market as it truly is a unique experience. It’s interesting to watch the fish being prepared and visitors trying to haggle their way into getting good deal. Both the stall-holders and the patrons tend to be friendly and it’s a very lively experience. In addition to the fresh meat selection that features large carcasses on display, there is a fruit and vegetable market that features a lot of different local produce. Stall-holders are often more than willing to let visitors sample some of their items. Other food items available to purchase include honey, dates and almonds.

The Coffee Museum
For those that want to escape some of the midday heat, the Coffee Museum will suffice. This small little museum offers visitors the chance to learn about the history of coffee and how the way it’s brewed has changed over the years. They will also be able to taste some of the coffee that’s been fresh brewed using a method that’s more than 300 years old.

Street Food
Dubai is known to have some of the best street food in the world. Since you will probably be walking around quite a bit you might as well try as much of it as you can. However, there are some things that you should know. The food can be spicy so pay attention to what you are ordering and try to sample a few items if you can. Dishes that feature camels are also very popular. It’s not uncommon to see it being sold virtually everywhere. The locals love the rich flavor and the tender meat.  If you aren’t keen on trying camel, choose another authentic dish like the Shawarma. It basically consists of meat and spices in a wrap. If you find the flavor to be too strong, add in some extra mint sauce to tone it down. There are also other versions of it available like the chicken shawarma that uses a garlic sauce that makes the dish tangy rather than spicy.

The happiest place on earth is about to get a little bit happier- for adults that is! Until recently, guests could only get alcoholic beverages at one restaurant. This all changed recently and many guests couldn’t be more thrilled.

The Restaurants
Four more restaurants are now selling alcohol in the Magic Kingdom in addition to the Be Our Guest restaurant- Cinderella’s Royal Table, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. The beer and wine available at each restaurant will be different than the next. Each option will aim to go with the “theme” of the dining establishment.  For instance, those dining at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant can try Italian inspired alcohol, Cinderella’s Royal Table will serve sparkling wines and champagne, the Skipper Canteen will have beers and wines from around the world and Liberty Tree Tavern will serve domestically produced products.

Why It Took So Long
It may seem odd that it took so long for the Disney enterprise to add more beer and wine options for its park guests, but this dates back to the founder of Walt Disney World, Walt Disney himself. He wanted the Disney Resorts to be dry. He feared that parkgoers would drink too much and get out of hand. Today though the resorts in both California and Florida do serve booze and the California Adventure theme park does also serve alcohol at the members only Club 33. It does seem though that the Magic Kingdom in Florida was the last to get on board with selling booze. In fact, the Be Our Guest restaurant didn’t start serving alcohol until 2012 and even then it was quite controversial for a while.

Not Everyone Is Happy
While some adults are very happy that they can get their favorite wine or beer when they are at the Magic Kingdom, others aren’t so thrilled about it. The fear is that adults will get out of hand and ruin the experience for everyone. So far though, there hasn’t been many issues with the Be Our Guest restaurant selling alcohol, so there isn’t a lot of worry that these new restaurants selling alcohol will get out of hand. Still, if it becomes an issue, we’re sure that Disney won’t tolerate it and will make more changes if necessary. Alcoholic beverages will only be served during lunch and dinner and will not be available at any pop up locations.

When you are traveling you will find yourself faced with some difficult food related decisions. Where to find a good restaurant, which one to go to and what cuisine to try. Eating a bad meal can ruin your vacation, especially if you get sick from it! Fortunately, there are some ways to find good restaurants while you are on vacation.

Research Is Your Friend
Before you leave for vacation, research restaurants at your destination. It can be challenging sifting through numerous reviews and restaurants, but it will be worth it so that you can narrow down your options. Really take your time to read a lot of reviews so that you can find out what diners liked or didn’t like about a particular restaurant you are interested in. Pay close attention to not only the quality of the food, but the cost and the difficulty of getting to the location as well. Local blogs or city guides also can be very helpful when it comes to finding a good restaurant. Many of them will highlight those hidden gems that have great food and service, but may not be very well known.

Ask Around
Your friends and family members may be a wealth of information when it comes to restaurants at your vacation destination. A quick post on your social media pages that asks for recommendations may leave you with many different options. Just make sure that for each recommendation or each restaurant you are told to stay away from that you delve in further to find out what they liked or didn’t like. It’s important to remember that you probably have different expectations than your friends or family members do so you need to take that into account.

Talk To Others At Your Destination
Once you are at your destination, you can get firsthand restaurant experiences from the locals. The staff at your hotel is a good place to start. Even if they haven’t personally eaten at a restaurant that you are interested in, they can tell you what other hotel guests have thought of it. You should also strike up a conversation with the locals and ask for their opinion. They are usually more than willing to offer you a few suggestions.

Utilize An App
There may be times where you aren’t near any of the restaurants that were recommended, but you are hungry! Utilize an app to try to find a good restaurant to eat at. Many of these apps allow you to sort restaurants by distance from you, cuisine offered and rating given by other diners. Popular apps include Foodspotting, LocalEats and Urbanspoon.

Use Your Best Judgment
When you are at your destination, you can tell a lot about a restaurant just by walking by it. If it’s completely empty even during normally busy times, like around lunch, there usually is a reason why no one is there. While you probably don’t want to wait for a seat, a restaurant with full tables and a line to get into the door is a good thing. Also, check out the menu. Before committing to a restaurant, you need to make sure there’s something there that you want to eat. If the options just look mediocre, go to another restaurant. You don’t want to waste your money eating something that you didn’t like.

Wine has been made for centuries. Many individuals have gone through great lengths in order to try to produce the best wine. However, what they often find is that it really all comes down to the grapes. When you think of wine, Napa or Sonoma probably come to mind, but the first American wine was actually created in Florida by the Spanish settlers. Today, winemaking continues in the Sunshine State with the use of the muscadine grapes and other ingredients. In addition to visiting the beach or an amusement park when you are in Florida, consider visiting one of these wineries as well.

Henscratch Farms Vineyard & Winery In Lake Placid
Just because you go to a winery it doesn’t mean you have to leave the kids at home. Henscratch Farms has activities that the whole family can enjoy. In addition to the wine for the grownups there are seasonal activities such as a grape stomping competition and opportunities to pick fruit and take it home.

Lakeridge Winery And Vineyards In Clermont
This is by far the busiest winery in Florida. Visitors can take part in a tour or a wine tasting at the horseshoe shaped bar. Onsite there are 12 different wines that are produced here with none of them being fruit-based. For those tourists looking to save some money this is a great place to go as both the tours and tasting are free.

Rosa Fiorelli Winery In Bradenton
Visitors not only can enjoy muscadine wine at this winery, but they can take in the view as well. Rosa Fiorelli is located in a barn and has acres upon acres of vineyards onsite. This allows visitors to get a scenic view while enjoying their sweet wine.

Schnebly Redland’s Winery In Miami
Many people are surprised when they learn that even Miami has a winery. Schnebly is a true paradise for wine lovers. It features a waterfall, tasting tables and tiki huts. Instead of using grapes in their wines they use exotic fruits like lychees and mangoes. Schnebly is known for their specialty wines. There are onsite tastings offered each day.

The Gilded Grape Winery In Punta Gorda
This “winery” is very different than other wine producers in Florida. It’s actually located in a storefront and offers visitors the opportunity to make wine themselves. Wines here don’t use ingredients from Florida as the fruit juices used in the production of each wine is imported from other states, mostly from California. What this means is that visitors have a lot of options when it comes to creating a specialty wine. For those that opt to become a mixologist and concoct their own creation, they will need to wait two months for it to ferment. Fortunately there are some ready made wines available here for those who don’t want to wait for something tasty to drink.

If you are visiting London you will now have the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the city at the highest bar in London. The Shard just opened their new bar called the Shangri-La London. The bar is 52 floors above the street and has become a popular spot to stop and get a drink at since it has opened.

What You Can See
Visitors can get a peek at Big Ben, The Gherkin, The London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The bar is an amazing place to visit at sunset as you will get to see these notable landmarks basked in the glow of the setting sun. Overall it creates a glittery orange affect that’s picture worthy.

About The Bar
The bar was designed with minimal decoration. This was to keep the emphasize off of the décor and onto the views of the city. It consists of traditional Chinese architecture of wooden brackets that interlock as well as burgundy leather chairs, a marble bar and bronze lamps. The décor creates a very inviting atmosphere

What To Get
The Shangri-La London has a very personable element for its guests. The bar’s supervisor, William Yarney, is well versed in mixology and often refers to himself as a walking menu. He’s known for matching drinks to his customer’s personalities. The head mixologist, Henning Neufield, is famous for his 8 signature cocktails. Some of the most popular drink choices at The Shangri-La London include The Big Smoke and The Black and Blue Swizzle.

Location
The Shanri-La London is located on the 52nd floor of the Shard at 31st Thomas Street. Reservations are required as there is a maximum occupancy of 90 people and the bar tends to fill up pretty quickly. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. and on Sundays from 5 p.m. until midnight. Wednesday-Sunday there is a minimum spend policy of about $40.

The Shangri-La London is sure to become one of the most popular bars in the area. Not only does it have simple, inviting décor, but knowledgeable staff and an amazing view. For most people there’s not really anything better than kicking back and enjoying a drink while getting an amazing view of London.

Japan’s cuisine is often considered to be one of the world’s finest. It was in Japan that umami was first identified, named and mastered. Known as the fifth taste, it is neither sweet, sour, bitter nor salty. Defying exact description, some call it, “earthy” or “brothy,” like the warmth of a satisfying bowl of dashi, a soup made of dried seaweed and fish flakes. It’s a perfect lens to understand the people and culture behind the food. While the rest of the world never noticed it, Japan felt it and celebrated this feeling – a soulfulness that is infused in every one of its plates.

It’s by experiencing that taste of umami that you begin to understand the passion that Japanese culture has for its cuisine – and for its traditions. And it is only in Japan where epicureans can discover memorable and satisfying culinary experiences that are created through the country’s seasonal changes, dedication to traditions and fusion of local flavors and world cuisine. This is a place where chefs ritually wake before dawn to find the freshest catch of the day at the Tsukiji Fish Market where ancient rituals are celebrated, where you are invited to a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and can learn the proper way to serve rich matcha (finely ground green tea) and delicate jewel-like wagashi (sweets).

With flavors from all around the world, Japan not only offers a rich epicurean culture, making it an eastern hotspot for culinary figures worldwide, it also boasts the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world – 242 in Tokyo, 109 in Kyoto – more than Paris and New York. We recommend you have an unforgettable dinner at a Three-Star-Michelin restaurant like Kyoto-based Kikunoi Honten, known for its beautifully prepared kaiseki ryori of vegetables and fish dishes. For the more adventurous, indulge in the eight traditional courses of fugu (pufferfish) at acclaimed Three-Star-Michelin restaurant Usukifugu Yamada-ya in Tokyo. Or go the international route and choose from the wealth of celebrity chefs’ tables from the likes of Joël Robuchon, Gordon Ramsay and Paul Bocuse.

For a more casual night, have an equally memorable meal at a local izakaya (gastropub) where locals often gather in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere to imbibe fresh sake, beer, and some of the best small plate dishes to be found, like buta kakuni, a stunning morsel of pork belly that is often slow-cooked over a few days to render out fat and intensify flavor. Wherever you go, the range of flavors, not to mention the range of cuisines you will find in Japan are extraordinary. Even within Japanese cuisine, every region has its own unique specialties, reflecting the influences of the local climates and seasons and their deep-rooted ties to tradition. From north to south, Japan produces a variety of world-class and affordable cuisine to enjoy year-round.

This is especially true in the springtime, when thousands of beautiful cherry blossom trees begin to bloom and spring harvests yield some of the most exquisite fresh ingredients: musk melons, sweet cabbage and crisp leafy greens. In Kyoto you can savor the city’s fresh, handmade tofu, yudofu (boiled tofu) in the famed Nanzenji or Sagano District. In the seaside city of Hiroshima, watch as finely shaved bonito (fish) flakes flutter atop your okonomiyaki (savory pancake), made with fresh spring cabbage and seafood, as it cooks at your table atop a special teppan, or hot plate. In Osaka, be mesmerized as you watch local vendors prepare takoyaki (octopus dumplings), quickly turning small dollops of the flavorful batter with exquisite skill in specially made cast-iron plates. On the northern island of Hokkaido, where the climate is colder, the traditional stew, called ishikari nabe, highlights the region’s bounty of fresh seafood, bringing together fresh salmon, tofu and vegetables in a hearty stew that’s perfect for brisk nights.

If you are interested in traveling to Japan to experience the different flavors Japan has to offer, visit escorted Japan tours.

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San Juan is home to a lot of great food. The chefs love to cook and work hard to make each dish their own with a variety of fresh ingredients and spices. The following foods can be found at many of the area’s restaurants and if you try them you will see why they are favorites among the locals.

Arepas de Coco
This popular side dish is very tasty and filling all on its own. It’s made with rice and pigeon peas. A trick that many locals know is that you should try to claim the pegao. It’s basically the rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot and is crunchy.

Mofongo
Almost anyone that’s from San Juan has had this dish at some point in their life. It’s made with mashed fried green plantains and pork cracklings. Some restaurants will also serve mofongo relleno which also contains vegetables, chicken, seafood or steak. The dish doesn’t always look pretty, but it tastes delicious.

Pastelon
Almost like lasagne, this casserole dish consists of ground beef, tomato sauce and cheese. Just like with a lot of other San Juan dishes, a few plantains are thrown in as well. If you are missing some of your momma’s comfort food while you are in San Juan, make sure you order this dish.

Alcapurrias
Similar to a fritter, alcapurrias is made with the taro root called yautia, green bananas and meat. It is formed so that it looks like a perfect round ball. It can be eaten as an appetizer or a main course.

Sorullitos de Maiz
This dish is a staple throughout the country. It has a somewhat cylinder shape and is made out of fried cornmeal. It’s often stuffed with cheese and served with both mayonnaise and ketchup.

Aranitas
Kids love this dish. Aranitas is made with green plantains that have been shredded and fried. The name means “little spiders” and the clustered together fried strips certaining do look like one. This dish is crunchy and some restaurants will sprinkle sugar or other toppings on them.

Tembleque
You won’t find a huge variety of desserts in San Juan so you know if one makes it on a menu it must be good! Tembleque is considered to be the island’s signature dish. It’s basically a coconut custard with a little bit of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Surprisingly it’s fairly light so you can easily make room for it after a heavy meal.

Several cruise lines spot in San Juan as a cruise port so that you can get a taste of San Juan including Royal Caribbean cruises, Celebrity Cruises, NCL cruises and Holland America cruises.

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River cruise culinary innovations are all the rage in Europe on all different lines including AMA Waterways, Avalon, Uniworld, and Tauck… Recently, river cruise lines have been getting more innovative and savvy about what they serve onboard, employing established chefs to churn out a wider range of options that incorporate more local and fresh ingredients, with a greater emphasis on clean and healthy eating without sacrificing taste.

Avalon Waterways
One example is Avalon waterways Avalon Fresh program. Avalon Fresh is based on the premise of bringing together wellness with locally sourced vegetarian cuisine. Taste is always #1!

Passengers have a choice of several entrees during dinner, as well as the Avalon Fresh options of either a lightly spiced root vegetable casserole or a butternut squash chipotle chili as an example.

Tauck
Tauck river cruises too, said it has been overhauling its onboard menus to add healthier choices to all its meals as well as continuing to source ingredients locally. Tauck is also redesigning the alternative dining venues, converting space into a restaurant called Arthur’s that will have its own dedicated kitchen and staff. Arthur’s will serve an early-riser breakfast and then be open from 11am to 11pm daily, serving bistro fare in a less formal setting than the main restaurant.

AMA Waterways
Ama Waterways is stepping up its Chef’s Table offerings to a “true tasting menu” that features  three appetizers, a Champagne sorbet  intermezzo, three main course tastes and three desserts, all complemented with wine pairings.

Uniworld
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection prides itself on high quality, gourmet Cuisine. Their S.S. Joie de Vivre will feature two dining venues, the main restaurant and a private wine room, with strong emphasis on French cuisine.

Scenic
Scenic is debuting an onboard cooking school on their ships sailing the French waterways and their sister company, Emerald Waterways will feature a Provencal-style meal for all guests on Emerald’s Sensations of Southern France during the evening when the ship is docked in Avignon.

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Apple lovers, there’s a festival just for you. The National Apple Harvest Festival will be taking place in Biglerville, Pennsylvania once again. For more than 50 years individuals from all over the world have come to this festival to celebrate all things apple. This year it will be held October 6-7 and 13-14 from 8a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine.

Here’s what you can do at this year’s festival.

Food
One of the best parts about The Apple Festival is the food. There are so many different food stands here that many people come to the festival just to eat. There’s kettle corn, barbeque type items and french fried sweet potatoes just to name a few. But, the real stars here are all of the apple dishes. These include apple jelly, apple pancakes with apple syrup, applesauce and candied apples.

Entertainment
You can find a variety of entertainment at this festival. What’s nice about it is that it’s all included in the admission price. There are numerous musical performances as well as plenty of contests. You can see everything from Native American dancers to apple pie eating contests. There will also be steam engines on display as well as antique farm equipment. Visitors can also watch chainsaw carving and scrapple making demonstrations.

For The Kids
This festival really caters towards kids and those with families. Kids will get to interact with animals in the petting zoo. They can go on an orchard tour with their parents and pick apples. There are also hay rides and pony rides and a few characters, such as Johnny Appleseed, will be making an appearance.

What really makes this festival unique is that the majority of the money made is put back into the community or donated to charity. So those that attend the National Apple Harvest Festival will know that the money that they are spending will be going to a good cause. Located only a couple of miles from Gettysburg and about 2 hours from Washington D.C. the National Apple Harvest Festival will no doubt bring in thousands of visitors from the surrounding areas this year who want to spend some time outdoors and to indulge in their love of apples. Tickets are only $10 for those ages 12 and up and $9 for individuals that are 60 years of age or older. Admission for children under 12 is free.

Fall Foliage tours are a great way to enjoy the changing of the leaves and apple and pumpkin harvests in New England.

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Unique Food Festivals in the US

Are you ready to eat? If so, then you are in luck as there are plenty of food festivals right here in the good old U.S.A. That’s right, you don’t have to leave the country to enjoy all sorts of delicious dishes. Mango, corn, potatoes, lentils… here are some of the more unique food festivals around the U.S.

• Mac & Cheese Festival

Where: Bakersfield, California

When: April

Who doesn’t love mac and cheese, right? This festival offers this beloved comfort food in every way possible. You can find it with barbeque sauce, wrapped with bacon or even with lobster. Mmm…In addition to all of this deliciousness, there’s wine and beer tastings available and plenty of live music to enjoy while you are eating and drinking.

• National Lentil Festival

Where: Pullman, Washington

When: August

Started in 1989, all things lentil are featured at this festival. You can enjoy a lentil pancake breakfast, lentil cook-off and a food court that offers a lot of different foods to purchase that mostly feature, you guessed it, lentils! At this festival you can also see the largest bowl of lentil chili in the world. The National Lentil Festival is very family friendly as there is a children’s entertainment stage that features bird shows, juggling and comedy shows. After you’ve indulged in all the lentils you can handle, you can take part in a golf or softball tournament, race or bike ride.

• Potato & Corn Festival

Where: Branford, Connecticut

When: August

This 3 day festival has grown quite a bit since it started back in 2002. Each year over 25,000 people come out to take part in all of the potato and corn festivities. In addition to all of the opportunities available to eat potatoes and corn, there’s also a beer and wine garden to indulge in. Participants can even enjoy a car show and numerous carnival rides. Just make sure you don’t eat too much before hopping on one.

• International Mango Festival

Where: Miami, Florida

When: July

Taking place at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden every year, there’s all sorts of mango fun to be had here. There are fruit trees for sale and even classes on how to grow and take care of them. Visitors can also take part in cooking demonstrations, with many of them featuring fresh mango. One of the most popular things to do is to indulge in the mango tastings and to try all of the unique mango related items for sale.

• Shrimp & Grits Festival

Where: Jekyll Island, Georgia

When: September

This festival is one of the most popular things to do on Jekyll Island. Visitors come from near and far to experience the shrimp and grits, live music and other entertainment. There are a variety of artists on hand selling their goods and there is a kid’s zone to keep the little ones entertained.

• Lobster Roll Festival

Where: Portland, Oregon

When: July

Even though this festival is only a couple of years old, it is gaining popularity. One of the highlights of it is the World’s Best Lobster Roll Competition that is always fun to participate in. There are numerous other things to do like croquet, bocce ball and cornhole. The kid’s area features things like a butter churning station, aquarium touch tank and face painting.

• Waikiki Spam Jam

Where:Waikiki, Hawaii

When: April

This is a festival with a purpose. Each year locals and tourists come together for this street festival to enjoy Spam related dishes from some of Hawaii’s best restaurants, as well as 2 stages of entertainment. The event benefits the Hawaii Foodbank, which is the island’s biggest non-profit organization that helps to feed the needy.

• Cheese Curd Festival

Where: Ellsworth, Wisconsin

When: July

Cheese lovers, there’s even a festival for you! The cheese curd festival features over 5,000 pounds of cheese curds. This means that there are plenty of samplings and tastings available. Food offerings include deep-fried cheese curds and even a dessert curd that’s supposedly pretty tasty. There’s also a car show and vendors that feature a variety of unique items for sale. For those that are feeling competitive with their cheese eating, There is the Cheese Curd Eating Contest that’s fun to participate in or just watch.

Other blogs that may interest you include New Years Lucky Foods 2019, Music Festivals Around the World and Chinese New Years Lucky Foods.

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