Search Results for: Andorra

Crystal waters stream down from the high mountains of the Great Pyrenees and wind through the bucolic country side of this small nation. Andorra is only 188 square miles and is nestled between France and Spain. This uniquely positioned country was granted independence from Charlemagne in 1278. Its government is the world's only dual principality, also called a diarchy, with two heads of state; the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell. Andorra is also the only country in the world whose official language is Catalan, with Castilian Spanish and French also spoken. Its close to 80,000 residents are largely Roman Catholic. Andorra has no airport, military or currency of its own. It is a tax haven and very popular as a tourist destination with its duty free status. The male citizens of Andorra, between the ages of 18 and 60, would be called upon to take up arms and defend her if there were a crisis, but that has not occurred in over 1000 years.

As you can imagine, the cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbors, France and Spain. Yet Andorra has some unique flavors of its own. Due to the mountainous terrain, it has a surprisingly low amount of arable land so Andorra imports many food items from her neighbors. The main crops harvested there are tobacco, wheat, rye, barley, oats and vegetables.

The people of Andorra love to celebrate and have many festivals and holidays. The national dish of Andorra is a stew called Escudella. This very hearty stew has numerous ingredients such as beans, ham, chicken, pork sausage, cabbage, potatoes, rice and pasta. What I love about this dish, is when there is a celebration, a giant vat of Escudella is served for the whole community to partake. Everyone is welcome to have a bowl. What a wonderful tradition of community. How nice it would be for other cultures around the world to embrace such camaraderie.

Andorran’s love to hike up into the mountains and forage for mushrooms, wild herbs and berries. Andorrans have long been referred to as mycophilics, or mushroom lovers. In fact, traditional restaurants in Andorra will serve three course meals featuring nothing but wild mushrooms during times when they are most abundant, from September to November.

Andorrans have the honor of having the longest life expectancy on the planet. The average Andorran can expect to live at least 85 years. I am not sure if it is the altitude, the foraging and hiking in the mountainous terrain, the good natural food, crystal clear water, or just the stress free living. Perhaps it is the unusual sense of community and closeness to friends and family. Whatever it is, I am certain there are excellent lessons to be learned.

You will find a lot of bread plates served in Andorra. Instead of serving bread with butter, they rub garlic and mash fresh tomato on warm slices of grilled country bread. They call it Pa Amb Tomaquet. There are so many incredible choices to represent Andorra, finding something delicious is a cinch. I hope you will enjoy my picks as much as we did!

The Menu

Escargot Bolets Fordices
(Escargot stuffed mushrooms)

Trucha a la piedra
(Grilled Trout on slate seasoned with parsley, oregano, savory & lemon)

Trinxat an Andorran Specialty
(Potatoes, cabbage and bacon fried together to make a hash pancake)

Espinaca a La Catalan
(Andorran style wilted spinach)

Desert
Crema de Catalan (a citrus custard cousin to the crème brulee)

 The colors of the Andorran flag were used in the table setting; red and yellow from Spain and blue and red from France.
We began the meal with the escargot and mushroom appetizer. I really wanted to make cargols, which are small live snails charred in wood or coal ovens and are found everywhere in Andorra. However, I could not find any live ones in my vicinity. The canned version still worked really well. They were stuffed into the mushrooms then covered in the traditional minced garlic and melted butter. They were spectacular.
Next on the menu was the whole trout, cooked on a piece of slate over the grill. Andorrans cook many meals on stone and using the slate made for an incredible presentation for the main course. Fresh herbs and lemon flavored the flesh. The fish was cooked perfectly so that tender pieces of trout just fell off the bone.
The side dishes of the Trinxat (cabbage and potato)and Espinaca (wilted spinach) were wonderful accompaniments to the trout. I had never mashed cabbage with potato before and it added a lovely sweetness to the potato. The quickly cooked apples in the wilted spinach (Espinaca dish) also added sweetness along with the raisins and the pine nuts provided interesting texture.
For dessert, we savored the rich custard augmented with a citrus flavor. I garnished the dessert with an edible yucca flower I foraged from my yard. The yucca flower reminded me of the Andorran national flower, the Grandalla Narcissus Poeticus.
We drank a lovely French, white burgundy Montrachet with our meal and dined Continental style, with the fork in the left hand, knife in the right, as is their tradition.
I am intrigued with this little country called Andorra and hope one day to make a visit during one of their many festivals. I look forward to being offered a bowl of Escudella and to experience the sense of community they so graciously provide.
Warmest regards,

Darlene

How did Spain get its Name?

Spain is known as the “Land of Rabbits.”  It was named by the Carthaginians somewhere around 300 B.C.  They called it Ispania (sphan, meaning “rabbit.”)  Evidently, there was an abundance of rabbits that roamed the land back then. 

The Romans, when they arrived, decided to keep the name, calling it Hispania.  Eventually, the name was changed officially to Reino de España, in Spanish or the “Kingdom of Spain,” in English. 

Spain did go by a few different names over time.  Its earliest name was Iberia, named for by the Moorish inhabitants from North Africa.  Iber was the Iberian word for “river.”  The Greeks called the entire peninsula Hesperia, meaning “Land of the Setting Sun.”   (Interestingly, I currently live in a town called Hesperia, California.  Now I know the meaning of the name.) 

Where is Spain Located?

Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula in the southwest part of Europe.  It shares land borders with Portugal to the west, France and Andorra in the north and northeast, and a small border with Gibraltar to the south.  It also has water borders, such as: the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Strait of Gibraltar to the south and the Bay of Biscay to the north. 

Aside from the mainland, the territory also includes many islands on the Atlantic, the Balearic and Mediterranean Sea.  If you were to combine all the Spanish beaches into one stretch it would be almost 5000 miles long.  It is no surprise that the country and its islands are very popular beach destinations.  Its capital city is Madrid and is located in the heart of the country.

A Brief History of Spain

There is very early evidence that most of the Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited since prehistoric times.  Sometime around 4000 BCE much of Spain was settled by Iberians.  Then the Celts, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Carthaginians all had settlements. 

It was the Romans that had the largest influence on Spain’s culture, as they ruled for nearly six centuries, until the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century CE.

Sometime, around 500 CE, the Visigoths arrived and drove out the Romans.  Then it was the Muslim Moors of North Africa, in 711 CE, that came across the Mediterranean Sea and conquered Spain, ruling for several hundred years. 

Meanwhile, Christian kingdoms in the north were gaining power and the Reconquista, the Christian re-conquest of Christian territory, began to retake Spain from the Muslims. 

Eventually, the Reconquista ended with the conquest of Grenada.  The Alhambra Decree expelled all the Jews from Spain that did not convert to Christianity, in 1492 CE.

In 1469, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon were married.  The Kingdom of Spain was formed and they were named the king and queen of Spain.  In 1492, Queen Isabella sponsored the expedition of explorer Christopher Columbus who then discovered the “New World.”

In the 1500s, during the Age of Exploration, Spain became the most powerful country in Europe, if not the world.  Spanish conquistadors, such as Herman Cortes, conquered the Aztec’s Empire in Mexico and Francisco Pizarro,  conquered the Incan Empire in Peru, along with others who conquered much of the Americas and made them into Spanish colonies.  This brought great wealth to the Kingdom of Spain, especially from gold, but from countless other treasures as well.

In 1588 in a battle of the world’s great navies, the British defeated the Spanish Armada, which began the decline of the Spanish Empire.  In the 1800s, many of Spain’s colonies started to revolt and wanted to separate from Spain. 

Spain continued to be in many wars but was losing most of them.  In 1898, Spain lost the Spanish-American War and with it, many of their primary colonies.

Generally, Spain stayed neutral during both World Wars, but did side somewhat with Germany, which made things difficult after the Second World War.  In 1936, there was a civil war in Spain.  The nationalist forces won the war and General Francisco Franco became Spain’s ruler and dictator until his death in 1975.  Since that time, the country has experienced rapid and remarkable, cultural, political and social changes.

 A new constitution was adopted in 1978, which has served as a means to democracy.  The country is now run as a constitutional monarchy in which executive decisions are made by the government.  The Spanish monarch is currently represented by King Felipe VI. 

Spanish Culture

Spanish culture is a true reflection of its crossroad’s location and influences from the different inhabitants over the centuries.  The country comprises 17 autonomous regions.  Each region of Spain has its own unique culture and even has some of their own official languages, such as: Catalan, Galician, Valencian and Basque.  Spanish (Castilian) is the official language of the whole country.  Spanish is a Romance language that is closely related to Latin.  It is the second most widely spoken “first” language in the world, with more than 400 million speakers.  (The most popular “first” language spoken is Mandarin.)

Spain has a population of about 47 million and is known for its relaxed way of life.  La siesta (the afternoon nap) was born in Spain.  Nothing happens in a hurry; life is slow and treasured.  Spaniards have an uncanny ability to be in the present and not plan every minute of the day.  Perhaps this is why Spaniards have one of the highest life expectancies in the world, at an impressive 83 years of age.  One statistic from the OECD, reported that the average Spaniard devotes 16 of the 24 hours of every day to leisure; including eating, drinking and sleeping.

Spain is home to 47 UNESCO world heritage sites, listed for their cultural significance or natural beauty; some are even entire towns.  These sites, along with hundreds of beaches, make Spain one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Spain also has many popular festivals throughout the year; from the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, to La Tomatina, where you participate in a giant tomato fight.  Las Fallas in Valencia is where giant paper sculptures are turned into bonfires and Carnival, is their Mardi Gras festival, plus there are so many others. 

I had the privilege of being in Spain for Semana Santa (Holy Week,) which was an experience I will forever treasure.  About 70 percent of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics (although only about 13 percent of the population goes to church each Sunday.)  Despite that, religion has huge importance in Spanish culture.

Music and dance is at the heart of Spanish tradition.  Spain is world famous for its flamboyant flamenco and Spanish guitar. Flamenco dance is often associated with the passionate dancing and the colorful dresses worn by the performers but it is important to note that flamenco can also be performed without dance.  It does, however, always feature the cante jondo (deep song) of the gitanos (gypsies) of Andalusia.  It is of no surprise that Spanish guitar is also at the heart of Spanish culture.  It was actually invented in Andalusia in the 1790s when a sixth string was added to the Moorish lute.  It gained its modern shape in the 1870s.

Spain has a remarkable artistic heritage dating back for centuries. However, it was in the early 20^th century that the art world was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists, such as: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miro and Salvador Dali, to name just a few.  The architecture throughout Spain, includes its massive Gothic cathedrals built in nearly every town square, as well as incredible castles and plazas. This includes the famous Alhambra palace and fortress and of course Gaudi’s, La Sagrada Familia, to name just a couple of the amazing sites in Spain.

Bullfighting is considered to be the national sport of Spain and is the most controversial of all Spanish traditions.  Some places in Spain have banned its practice due to the cruelty to animals. However, there is a long history of the bullfighting sport.  Matadors (those who fight the bull) are very highly respected.  The largest bullring in Madrid called Las Ventas  has a historical museum dedicated to the sport.  Actually, some would argue that soccer is truly the national sport of the 21^st century.   Spain won the FIFA World Cup in 2010.  Fútbol, as it is called there, is a beloved sport throughout the country.

Spanish Cuisine

Each and every region in Spain has its own history and cuisine. Generally speaking, the cuisine is considered to be Mediterranean.  Spain is the world’s largest olive oil producer.  You will find delicious green olives on every table in Spain.

They also have a very old viticulture.  Archeologists believe that some grapes were cultivated between 4000 and 3000 BC, long before the Phoenicians showed up.  Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world and has 2.9 million acres of vines planted.  Just like their cuisine, the wine differs from location to location.  Rioja and Ribera de Duero are known for their Tempranillo production.  Whereas, Jerez de la Frontera is home of the fortified wine; sherry.  Cava, a delicious sparkling wine, comes mostly from the Catalonia region.

There are many sumptuous foods for which Spain is famous but the one that stands out to me is what comes from the black-hoofed pig, known for its acorn diet.  These Iberian pigs are raised in the southwest.  Pork is loved in many forms and made into sausages, roasted, stewed etc.  However, jamon iberico, is a cured ham that is simply unbelievable.  You will see legs of pork hanging in nearly every market throughout Spain. One bite of this ham will simply melt in your mouth.  It goes perfectly with Spain’s cheeses, from the castile-La Mancha region, called Manchego.  Together, they are a perfect combination of flavor.

Interestingly, some of Spain’s most famous dishes would not have been possible without the discovery of the New World.  Tomatoes, potatoes, maize, peppers of all kinds, paprika, vanilla and cocoa are some of what was brought back to Spain.  Another famous dish is the tortilla Espanola or Spanish tortilla, which in Spain is a potato and egg casserole, not what you would likely think of as a tortilla.  Some believe that this should be the national dish of Spain.  

Often when we think of Spain, we think of paella being a representative dish.  However it is quite regional, coming from Valencia.  The original paella was made with chicken and rabbit, but seafood is now very common.  It is of no surprise that seafood (mariscos) is also very important to Spanish cuisine.  Fried fish is very common in the south and all around the coast.  Octopus is on nearly every menu.  I had the best seafood salad of my life at the La Boqueria market in Barcelona. 

Literally, books can be written about the different regional offerings in Spain.  One food that is popular throughout Spain and for what Spain is most famous, are tapas.  Tapas actually means “cover” and originally it was a little plate of small bites to cover the top of a drink at a bar.  In Spain tapas (little appetizers) are served everywhere and there are more bars in Spain per capita than just about anywhere else in the world.  (They rank 2^nd .)  Often times, when you pay for the drink, you get the tapas for free. 

Spain keeps some unusual hours and tapas are also used to tide one over as dinner is usually not eaten until around 9:00 or 10:00 pm.  After work, one would go enjoy a drink and have some tapas.  Today many people will make tapas their meal. 

So let’s enjoy a Spanish meal:

The Meal

On the table,

Olives and Bread

Tapas

Jamon Iberico (Cured ham) with Manchego Cheese

Gazpacho (Cold Tomato Soup)

Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)

Championes al Ajillo (Garlic Mushrooms)

Tortilla Espanola (Potato and Egg Casserole)

Pulpo a la Gallega con Cachelos (Octopus with Potatoes)

Main Course

Paella (Rice and Seafood)

 Dessert

Crema Catalan (Creamy Custard)

We set the scene with fresh, red carnations, their national flower.  We placed ships, representing Spain’s exploration era, a fan, called a pericon and castanets, to represent flamenco, a pitcher of  sangria, for their wine regions and added food as well, so it was part of the scene.  We added, olives and pan (bread) typically called barra or pistolas, which is similar to the French baguette but a little shorter and wider.  We decorated in the colors of the Spanish flag; red and yellow, and put on some classic Spanish guitar music to color the mood.

We began with a toast, Salud, which means “Cheers” in Spanish and we clinked our glasses of sparkling cava.  Our first course was the famous jamon iberico and manchego cheese.  If you ever get the chance to try this, I hope you do.  It is simply heaven!

We then slowly went into the different tapas.

The first was a cold soup, called gazpacho.  It is a made with raw, blended, vegetables such as: tomato, cucumbers and peppers.  It is perfectly refreshing, especially on a hot summer day.

Next were the little garlic shrimps.  This is such a quick and easy tapa to make.  It is made in a terracotta dish called a cazuela, which goes from stove to table top while the shrimp are still sizzling.  Equally as good as eating the little shrimps, is sopping up the garlic sauce with the bread.

Since we just had a nice dose of garlic we continued the theme with the garlic mushrooms.  These have a different sauce, where Spanish sherry is the star.  These mushrooms were just another wonderful, simple tapa that you will also choose to soak up every last drop of the sauce with the bread. (Mushroom foraging is a popular past time in Spain, especially in the wooded and mountainous regions).

Our next tapa was the octopus on potatoes.  This dish comes from the Galicia region.  I absolutely love octopus and this dish highlighted the octopus beautifully.  Little pieces of tender octopus were placed on a slice of potato that was drizzled with Spanish olive oil. Perfect!

I simply had to include the Spanish tortilla.  This egg and potato casserole is considered by some to be the national dish of Spain.  It is a true comfort food and offers a very savory bite.  (This would be wonderful served for breakfast as well.)  When we finished the tapas, we took a siesta.  We were perfectly satisfied.

Several hours later, when we were once again hungry, we continued with a glorious dish of paella.  It is a true, one-pot meal.  Many places in Spain have paella pits set up in parks and on beaches, so you can just bring your paella pan and cook it right there.  Paella is a truly decadent dish, filled with seafood, meat and sausages.  Hidden in the paella is saffron seasoned rice.  Magnifico.

For dessert, we had citrusy flavored, creamy custard, often referred to as Crème Brulee’s cousin; Crema de Catalan. It was wonderful.

The Spaniards have a saying: Barriga Ilena, Corazon content, which translates to “A full belly and a happy heart”. 

Until next time,

Estar segura, “Be safe.”

Darlene Longacre

How did the Seychelles get its name?

Just hearing the name Seychelles conjures up dreamy, white sand beaches and oceans of every shade of green and blue.  It is known to be an island getaway and is very popular as a honeymoon destination.  It is pronounced, “Say-shells.” 

The name of one of the islands, Mahe’, was renamed by the French in 1776 after King Louis XV’s Minister of Finance, Jean Moreau de Sechelles, named it “Isle de Sechelles.”  The name has since been anglicized as Seychelles and is applied to the whole archipelago.

Where are the Seychelles located?

The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 islands.  The islands are located in the Indian Ocean, about 1000 miles off the coast of Kenya in East Africa, and northeast of Madagascar.  The Seychelles are considered to be part of Africa but they do meet at the crossroads of Asia as well. 

The capital city is Victoria, which is on the largest island of Mahe.  About half of the islands are of granitic origin, with narrow coastal strips and ranges of hills.  The highest range is Morne Seychellois, which rises to just shy of 3000 ft.  The rest are coral atolls, many of which are uninhabited.  All together the islands are about the size of the tiny country of Andorra.

A Brief History of the Seychelles

The beautiful and bountiful islands were a must stop for early Islamic traders and they were known to be a sanctuary for pirates in the early 17^th century.  In fact, to this day, it is thought the famous pirate known as The Buzzard, hid his treasure there, which still remains undiscovered.  The Seychelles were charted by both Portuguese and Asian explorers.  However, it was the French who originally inhabited and colonized the islands, having laid claim in 1756 to establish spice and coconut plantations. 

The first settlers were slaves and French planters who arrived in 1770.  When they arrived, one of the biggest problems they faced were saltwater crocodiles.  It is believed they became nearly extinct around 1819.  It was ultimately the British who ended up with the Seychelles in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris, after the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.  The Seychelles became a crown colony, separate from Mauritius in 1903.

The British transformed the islands economically with the establishment of cinnamon, vanilla  sugar cane, coconut and tea plantations. They also built up the capital city of Victoria (renamed after the Queen).  There are many landmarks that remain today which were built in the early 1900s.

The Seychelles gained independence in 1976, which was then quickly followed by a coup and eventually socialist rule.  It has been a newly established, free country since the 1990s.  Tourism is the main industry, making up most of the country’s revenue.

Today the Seychelles is known for its pristine beaches, fishing, birding and scuba diving as well as a honeymooner’s haven.

Seychelles Culture

The locals are called Seychellois and are a melting pot of cultures, mainly from Africa, Europe, India and Asia.  They speak Creole, English and French, all of which are official languages.  The Seychellois’ government is heavily invested in protecting the integrity of the Creole language.  The national newspaper is printed in both Creole and English.

The main religion is Roman Catholic, practiced by about 90 percent of the population, but there are members of other Christian denominations as well.  There are also Hindi Muslims and adherents to the Baha’i Faith.

Many Seychellois believe in ghosts.  In fact, there is an entire island, Moyenne Island, that is believed to be haunted, (many believe that is where the buried treasure is hidden.)  Shaman, known as bonom di dwa or man of the woods, are regularly consulted for solving problems through supernatural guidance.

The Seychellois family unit is matriarchal.  Institutional marriage is not widely practiced and unwed mothers are the societal norm.  The law, however, does hold fathers accountable for financial support for their children.  Nearly 75 percent of the children are born out of wedlock.  This structure is known as en menage and it carries no negative social stigma.

Under the constitution women enjoy the same status as men and comprise 45.8 percent of the total number of delegates; having one of the highest numbers of women in parliament in the world.  Despite the country being a land of many colors, racism is non-existent.

Music is very important to the Seychellois and has evolved over the years.  African influences dominate, mainly in the moutia and sega music, that are often accompanied by dance.  The moutia dates back to the days of slavery and is a slow, erotic dance that was actually banned by the British.  Sega has a Calypso like rhythm and is also very popular in Mauritius.  This is the dance where your feet are not lifted from the ground. 

Seychelles Cuisine

The original French settlers arrived with their legendary skills in the kitchen.  Their ability to blend spices and herbs was adapted to island living, where seafood is particularly abundant.  Coconut, mango, papaya, banana, pumpkin and the golden apple are often used to make tangy salads.  It is said that if you eat breadfruit on the Seychelles it will guarantee your return.  Pork, chicken and beef are available but seafood remains king.

When the British arrived, they added their influence to the Creole cuisine with tea, cakes, custards and crumbles, as well as corned beef.  This influence however was mild compared to what the Chinese brought with their love of noodles and rice, the Indians who introduced, curries, beans, chilies and dahls, and the Africans  who contributed their use of creamy coconut milk, cassava and bananas.  Add in the local spices such as: vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and lemongrass and you get a fusion Creole that is simply mouthwatering.  Fruit bat curry is considered one of the Seychelles specialties along with boudin, a blood sausage, sausage rougay (pork sausages in a rich tomato sauce.)  Freshly barbecued fish and kebabs can all be found in the night markets. 

So let’s enjoy a Seychellois meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Molouk (Crispy Fried, Flavored Dough)

Salad

Smoked Fish Salad

Main Course

Octopus Curry over White Rice

Dessert

Daube de Banana (Caramelized Bananas)

We set the scene with the national flower, an orchid, called tropicbird.  We included other tropical things like palm leaves, coconut and bananas to the décor, as well as cinnamon bark and the vanilla bean, as they remain huge exports.  A bit of sea life and shells were added, (after all it is the Seychelles.) 

We lit two candles, one of which had a picture of the famous tortoise, named Esmeralda, who is still living at 170 years of age on Bird Island.  He is the biggest and heaviest, free-roaming tortoise in the world, weighing a whopping 670 pounds.  Bird Island is home to the largest wild Aldabra tortoise population in the world and is a UNESCO world heritage site.  Speaking of large, every visitor to the Seychelles will learn about the Coco de Mer or “Love Nut.”  It’s the largest seed in the world and stands out due to its voluptuous shape.  The other candle we lit had a picture of the black parrot, the threatened national bird.  With candle light glowing, we put on Calypso music to set the island mood.

For the first course, we loved nibbling on molouk, as it is called there.  In India it is called murruku.  Molouk is served in most bars on the islands as a popular snack.  They are made with rice and chickpea flour with added spices, such as hot chili powder and cumin.  The dough is drawn through a noodle press to shape it into thick noodles with curves.  We enjoyed them with an icy cold beer, which is also quite popular there. 

For our next course we had the smoked fish salad.  Salads of all types are served in the Seychelles.  This one was made with smoked marlin, shredded cabbage, carrots and onions.  It was served with a lime and olive oil dressing.  I think I could savor this salad every single day.  A true keeper recipe from the Seychelles and I am certain any type of smoked fish would be equally amazing.

For the main course, we served octopus curry and quickly learned why some consider it the most famous dish in the Seychelles.  It is a creamy curry made with coconut milk but so flavorful as it is spiced with masala and chilies.  Octopus is one of my favorite seafoods and we absolutely loved this curry over steamed white rice.  The original version comes from the island of Praslin and is a must try recipe.

For dessert, we wanted to enjoy something with bananas.  The Daube de Banana was perfect.  Bananas are loved and abundant on the islands.  What an absolute joy to savor this dish with all the special flavors that come from the Seychelles like: vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and of course, coconut.  This was yet another perfect ending to an International Cuisine meal.  The Seychellois cuisine was reminiscent of delicious Mauritius, which makes sense since they share much of the same history. 

As we say goodbye to the beautiful island nation of the Seychelles, I leave you with a poem written by  Terry Brewer called, Thoughts from the Seychelles Islands:

The sun carresses this granite isle

Where quietness rules the day.

The other world is sometimes grim,

here we smile, it is the Seychelles way.

Morne Seychellois stands tall, touching his cloud

Guarding, watching, massive and proud.

While flying foxes, sea birds, giant tortoises roam

Making this peaceful green island their home.

Red earth roads scurry through verdant hills

Clinging to mountains with desperate wills.

Sometimes destroyed by furious rains,

Making cataracts where there are no drains.

In Victoria, the Cathedral clock strikes twice at noon

Reminding time – move on, slowly, well soon!

Why hurry, there’s time to do what is to be done

And time goes slower if you stand, so much quicker if you run.

We trade with the world, who know not quite where we are

Vanilla, salt fish, green snails, beche de mer, copra

Go to far distant lands with a skilled sailors ease,

In schooners creaking slowly through fickle green seas.

Praslin Island is not too far away

The Garden of Eden, General Gordon did say

With the Coco de Mer in the Valley de Mai

Black parrots, peace and the silence of creation day

No airstrip yet intrudes and defiles

These untouched, unique, so, so beautiful isles.

Though there will be one soon, I’ver heard them say

Sadly, progress will change the quiet Seychelles way

Until next time,

Oo-rer-vwa  (“Goodbye” in Creole)

Darlene

Bon Jour! France gets her name from the people, the “Franks” that occupied the area known as lower Rhineland. The name “Francia” was used to identify several territorial areas until it became the Kingdom of the French Sovereign. The official name today is the French Republic (Republique Francaise.) It became a republic in 1792 after centuries of royal rule. This occurred as a result of the French Revolution. (The subject of the classic movie, Les Miserables.) The revolution began with the storming of the Bastille fortress (prison) on July 14, 1789. This is an event celebrated all over France every year known as, Bastille Day.

The French often refer to their country as “L’hexagone,” due to her six-sided, hexagonal shape. With over 200,000 square miles, France is the largest, western European nation, covering five percent of the entire European continent. Due to her shape, she has many neighbors; Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain and Switzerland. She is also surrounded by water; the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the English Channel to the north. The country has a diverse topography, with large mountain ranges like the Alps and the Pyrenees forming natural borders. Mont Blanc in the Alps is the tallest mountain in all of Europe. There are also four main rivers, called “fleuves,” in the country: the Loire, the Rhone, the Garonne and most famously in the Paris area, the Seine. France is generally considered to have a temperate climate, with the Mediterranean portion considered sub-tropical. The country is made up of 22 regions, each playing an important role in the nation’s rich history.

France has the second largest economy in the Euro zone, behind Germany. They are the largest exporter of luxury goods in the world with Cartier, Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, being some of the top brands. Their other exports are not so glamorous but still very important to the economy: exports include aircraft, food, chemicals, machinery, iron, steel, motor vehicles and pharmaceuticals, to name a few. And then of course they are known for fine wines and they make the only real “champagne.” All other imitations must be labeled, sparkling wine. The climate and topography allows France to be self-sufficient with regard to food and wine production and fishing and farming are very important, especially in the rural areas. Open air markets can be found throughout the country and are a big part of their cuisine, which relies on the freshness and availability of the local ingredients.

The population in France is diverse and the country still retains 15 territories overseas. The country’s colonial past is one reason there are more than five million people of Arab and African descent that call France home. France has the second largest population in all of Europe, again behind Germany. Eighty percent of the population is Roman Catholic and 10 percent are Muslim. The balance is a mixture of Christians, Jews and other. The official language is French with several dialects spoken in the different regions of the country. French is the second most widespread language worldwide, after English. It is the official language of 29 countries and is known as a Romance language. Even if you don’t understand a word, it is a beautiful language to listen to; full of passion and emotion.

Paris is the capital city and known as the “City of Lights.” The previous name was “La Ville- Lumiere,” accredited to Paris as being the intellectual center during the Age of Enlightenment. But it also was literally illuminated, back in 1860, by 56,000 gas lamps. Today all the city’s famous landmarks are illuminated. Paris is home to the Eiffel tower, which was built as the entrance arch to the World’s Fair in 1889 and in honor of the French Revolution centennial. It has become one of the most recognized monuments in the world. Paris is also home to the Louvre, the largest and most visited art museum in the entire world. The Louvre, built originally as a fortress in 1190, was turned into a royal palace where Napoleon himself hung the prized Mona Lisa in his private bedroom. The Louvre was turned into a public museum in 1793 with just 537 paintings. Today it holds over 380,000 pieces in total, 35,000 of which are considered priceless masterpieces and antiques. Art is everywhere, with museums holding special works from renowned artists, like Monet, Degas and Pisarro, that gave rise to the Impressionism movement. One of the first Gothic cathedrals ever built was Notre Dame de Paris. Another treasure, the Basilica Sacre-Coeur, was built in a Roman Byzantine style and overlooks all of Paris. Then of course there is Champs Elysees, the most prestigious and famous boulevard in all of Paris with its iconic arch. This is the ceremonial finish line for the world famous Tour de France bicycle race. These are just a few examples of the Gothic, Romanesque, Rococo and neo classical influences found in buildings and churches throughout the city. One can walk down the streets of Paris and be surprised by one architectural marvel after another. Often seeing a magnificent building from down the street, upon arrival you would learn, it was just another department store.

It is not a surprise that France is the most popular tourist destination in the world. Last year, in 2014, she hosted 84.7 million visitors. There is a certain charm there, perhaps it is due to the over 9000 different open terrace cafes in Paris alone. One could actually go to a different one every day and not hit them all for 25 years! Or sit down and have a croissant with cafe au lait or a famous baguette at one of the French bakeries, or enjoy a special meal at one of the many Michelin starred restaurants (the highest of ratings.) There is no doubt that French cuisine is known throughout the world. In fact, UNESCO lists French Gastronomy as the one of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage.” Needless to say, I was a bit intimidated to choose a meal to represent this country. Nearly every region in France has unbelievable specialties from which to choose. Add in wine, champagne, or even cognac to the mix and how could one properly make a meal to represent the country? The truth is you can’t. Every town and region deserves recognition of their specialties, in their own right.

I decided to take my cues from Chef Julia Child. She was the one that made French cooking accessible to the masses. I can still hear her distinctive voice proclaiming, “Bon Appétit” when finishing any one of the delicious recipes she shared with the world. She was probably the first chef to do a cooking show on television and I still enjoy watching them. There was a movie made called Julie and Julia, about a girl who decided to cook every recipe from Julia Child’s cookbook called “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her role as Julia Child. It is funny that when I tell people that I am cooking a meal from every nation on earth, I often get the response “Oh like that movie Julie and Julia.”

So let’s eat some French cuisine:

The Menu
Starter
Escargot Bourguignon (Snails from Burgundy)

Soupe à l'oignon (French Onion Soup)

Main
Sole Meuniére (Pan Fried Dover Sole)

Served with Carottes Glacées (Glazed Carrots)

Salade Nicoise (Nicoise Salad)

Pre-Dessert
Plateau de Fromage (Cheese Plate)

Dessert
Crème Brûlée (Vanilla Bean Custard with Caramel Top)

We set the table with symbols of France; the Eiffel tower and a rooster, their national animal, (even though Napoleon had concern that it was not a strong enough symbol for France.) It is the main ingredient in one of France’s famous dishes made using an aged rooster, called Coq au Vin. For additional décor, we placed the national flower, the Iris and used a café chalkboard sign to represent the quaintness of the many open air cafés. Then we put on some French music, Edith Piaf, “La Vie en Rose,” to set the mood.

We began with a glass of champagne and toasted “Sante A la Votre” pronounced sahn-tay/ ah la vo-tre which means, Bottoms up or Cheers in French. We then served the amazing escargot (aka, snails.) I know many may be squeamish about eating a snail but really you have no idea what you are missing. If you just imagine you are eating a mushroom, you can get past the thought of it and then, it is pure heaven. It was served in the traditional way with just a garlic and herb, butter sauce and a French baguette, impossible to beat!

Next was the famous, French onion soup. This can be served along with a baguette as a meal by itself. We enjoyed small portions of this rich, cheesy, onion soup. The top has “croutes” which are toasted baguette covered with a combination of melted cheeses. It was superb. The rich, beef based broth pairs beautifully with any good French red wine.

For the main course I chose Sole Meuniere, a pan fried, Dover sole that was served with glazed carrots, fresh from the garden. The sole meuniere was the first true French meal Julia Child had when she arrived in Rouen France, and while eating it, she had an epiphany. This was the meal that changed Julia and the whole world for that matter. This is what she had to say about that meal:
“Rouen is famous for its duck dishes, but after consulting the waiter, Paul, had decided to order sole meuniere. It arrived whole: a large, flat Dover sole that was perfectly browned in a sputtering butter sauce with a sprinkling of chopped parsley on top. The waiter carefully placed the platter in front of us, stepped back and said, “Bon Appétit!”
“I closed my eyes and inhaled the rising perfume. Then I lifted a forkful of fish to my mouth, took a bite, and chewed slowly. The flesh of the sole was delicate, with a light but distinct taste of the ocean that blended marvelously with the browned butter. I chewed slowly and swallowed. It was a morsel of perfection.”
She later said “That lunch in Rouen….. It was the most exciting meal of my life.”

We concur Julia, the fish was out of this world. It is a testament to simple recipes and oh yes, sputtering, browned butter! The carrots were sweet and savory and added the perfect visual contrast on the plate, next to the sole.

A Salade Nicoise was also served. The salad gets its name from the olives, a small black olive that comes from the region of Nice. This salad is beautiful to behold with its colorful blend of ingredients: tuna, eggs, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, potato and green beans along with the simple dressing made from olive oil, lemon and shallots. It was lovely.

Plateau de fromage was up next. It is a cheese plate served on an artist’s palate to represent the French Impressionism era. Over 1000 different types of cheese are made in France, the most traditional being the blue/green veined, Roquefort. Ripening takes place in natural caves dating all the way back to the 17th Century. I was thrilled to find some real, imported French cheeses to enjoy. I picked out four; a Roquefort, camembert, brie and a triple cream brie made with wild mushrooms. These were served with a French baguette of course, some honey and a variety of jams. Cheese plates are often times served as a dessert or as an appetizer and are also wonderfully complemented with fresh fruit, such as apple, pear and grapes.

Last but certainly not least, was dessert. There were many choices for this course; crepes, croissants, e’clairs, macarons, soufflés, tarts and the list goes on and on. But this choice was an easy one for me, Crème Brulee, my all-time favorite dessert. The top of the brulee was gently caramelized to a sweet and crunchy crust using a cooking torch. Not a bite was left uneaten. Paired with dessert was a fine, French cognac, with which my guests raised their glasses and said, “Merci beaucoup” meaning, thank you very much.

After dinner we headed outside to work off some calories with a friendly game of Petanque, the sport that perhaps is closest to French hearts. Similar to lawn bowling or bocce ball, the French version is played on a dirt surface, with metallic balls. As an aside, one wonders how the French stay so thin eating this rich and delicious cuisine of theirs. Well, besides playing Petanque, you will see people in France walking at a very quick pace, almost everywhere they go. So “Bon Appétit” indeed!

To be honest I am a little sad to leave this country. Part of me wants to further explore every region and specialty France has to offer, perhaps a new project when I am finished with the rest of the world.

Until then,
Au Revoir France!
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Three hundred and sixty five beautiful beaches, one for everyday of the year, is how Antigua is described.

Christopher Columbus, the first European to visit the Island, named it Antigua pronounced “An Tee Ga” after an icon in a cathedral in Seville, Spain in 1493. The Caribbean Islands located in the West Indies are part of what is known as the Leeward Islands. Antigua was also known as “Waladli” so named by her early inhabitants.

In 1632 a group of Englishmen established the first permanent European settlement on the island. Located on major sailing routes, Antigua was considered to be Britain’s “Gateway to the Caribbean.” Sugar became Antigua’s main crop and regrettably with it, came slavery.

Barbuda, has been intimately tied to Antigua and is a small island just 30 miles due north. She has very few inhabitants and is a home to a frigate bird sanctuary, the national bird. Barbuda is known for its pink and white sandy beaches, abundance of ship wrecks and beautiful reefs. During the days of cultivating sugar, this island was leased to the Codrington family. It was used to grow food and to house additional slaves for the sugar plantations on Antigua.

Antigua and Barbuda gained their independence from England in 1981. Together Antigua and Barbuda are considered a dual nation. Standard English is the official language, however Antiguan Creole, a hybrid of West African languages mixed with English is also spoken. Today 91% of Antigua’s residents trace their roots to Africa, others are British, Portuguese, Lebanese and Syrian. This nation is even smaller than Andorra, measuring 108 sq miles and inhabited by only 80,000 people.

As the majority of Antigua’s land was used to grow sugar, food was imported from the Americas and Britain. The main influence on the cuisine came from the ancestry of her people as well as her occupiers, bringing some creole specialties to the islands.

Antigua's African influence is evidenced in their national dish called fungie, (pronounced “foon-jee”) a porridge made from corn flour. The pepper pot, called Tomali ((Toma means sauce, and ali a clay pot) is also a traditional dish which is a thick stew flavored with salted meats, peppers, spinach, squash, peas and okra. The early islanders would also throw any other “protein of the day” (including a rodent called Agouti) into the mix and cook the pot on a fire for days. Other popular dishes include ducana, a sweet potato dumpling wrapped in banana leaves, macaroni pie, salt-fish, seasoned rice and of course the abundant local seafood.

The Arawaks, early dwellers of the island, get credit for introducing Antigua’s most popular fruit, the Black Pineapple. It is said to be the sweetest you have ever tasted. Today you can find pineapple crops throughout the islands.

For our meal, in the interest of full disclosure, I must say that I originally prepared salt-fish and ducana for this journey but I was not happy with my results. I decided I could not leave this beautiful place with a less than deserving meal. So I hunted for additional recipes and came up with a fantastic new meal. (I hope you agree.) Please know that I am in no way suggesting that salt-fish and ducana are not wonderful dishes, I was just not satisfied with my attempt to make them. I would love for anyone of you to share your experience with Antiguan dishes with me as well.

The Menu
Served with Pineapple Rum Punch

Salad
Pineapple Salad with Sweet Rum Drizzle

Main Course
Grilled Red Snapper Kabobs with Mango-Pepper Salsa

Served with

Coconut Rice and Peas

Dessert
Banana Flambe'

There is something about the Caribbean beat of calypso, steel band and reggae that instantly puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step. Add a nice rum punch and one can't help but feel the rhythmic spirit of Antigua while preparing their cuisine. I set the table using tropical fruits for our centerpiece, as they influenced every dish on our menu.

We started off with the pineapple salad, in honor of their sweet black pineapple. Ours was served in a pineapple boat and drizzled with a mixture of honey and rum; it was succulent and delicious.

For the entree, a local fish, red snapper, was used to make the kabobs. It was marinated in yogurt with mango for just a brief time, then onto the skewer with mango and onion chunks. Our kabobs were placed on a hot grill for a few minutes per side. Once cooked to a perfect tenderness, the kabobs were served with an unbelievable mango and red pepper salsa. The sweet and tart contrast in the salsa was surprisingly refreshing. Along side the kabobs we enjoyed coconut rice with young English peas.

Our grand finale was dessert; banana flambe', served with a rich vanilla ice cream... need I say more?

I leave you with a couple of lines from Antigua’s national anthem:
“Each endeavoring, all achieving.
Live in peace where man is free!”

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Angola is located in south, central Africa. It borders Namibia on the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, Zambia on the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Angola only gained her independence from the Portuguese in 1975. Angola is a large country, rich with vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and strikingly beautiful. These qualities may in part explain why she was embroiled in a 27 year old bloody, civil war once she gained independence. (1975-2002).

Angola’s economy has seen double digit growth since the civil war ended but don’t let the statistics fool you. Everything had been destroyed. So everything had to be rebuilt from the ground up. I suppose you can call that growth. Despite Angola's many assets, there are only a handful of elite that enjoy the wealth, while the rest of her people struggle in poverty. Too often this is the norm in war torn countries.

Recently International Cuisine visited Andorra, a country that boasts the longest life expectancy in the world. Yet here, Angolans have among the world's worst life expectancy, with a staggeringly high infant mortality rate. You may remember Princess Diana making the news with a trip to Angola about six months before her tragic death. She wanted to bring attention to Angola's deadly land mine issue. She choose the town of Cuito Cuanavale, considered to be most dangerous area for land mines in all of Africa. More recently, in 2013, Prince Harry made the same visit in his mother's footsteps, supporting the Halo Trust to carry on her mission. We must ask, how can Angolans cope with daily life when with every step they live in fear of death or injury by land mines? It is unimaginable to most of us. While they have some signs and rocks painted red to indicate where known mines are located, it is clearly the location of the unknown mines that fill each day with torment.

Still, despite all of the tragedy, past and present, Angolans find comfort in their special meals shared with family and friends. The influence on the cuisine is Portuguese, as they ruled there from the 16th to the 19th century. The official language is also Portuguese however Bantu and other African languages are also spoken. Angolan staples include flour, beans, rice, fish, chicken, okra, sweet potato, tomatoes, peppers, onions and peanuts. In fact, Angola is the 21st largest producer of peanuts in the world.

While Angolan staples make for some fine dishes, many poor households, on a daily basis, consume what is called funge or funje. This is a paste or porridge made from cassava flour. It is very common in the north. In south Angola they call a similar dish Pirão, which is made from corn flour. Many times this is the only available meal. Even so, Angolan recipes prevail which reflect the days of more plentiful abundance.

As I researched this country for the menu, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the riches we enjoy in our country. I plan to donate to the Halo Trust, as they continue their valuable work in Angola. In the meantime, I cook this meal with love and hope in my heart that Angolans will see much brighter days ahead.

The Menu

Appetizer
Papaya Com Vinho do Porto (Papaya and Port Wine)

Salad
Limão e Salada de Funcho (Lemon Fennel Salad)

Main Course
Cosa-Cosa Camarão (Hot-Hot Prawns)

Served with
Arroz Integral com Mantiega de Amendoim e Bananas
( Brown Rice with Peanut Butter and Fried Bananas)

Dessert
Pé-de-Moleque (Peanut and Caramel Candy)

There is something to be said for cooking with love in your heart. This was one of my favorite meals on the journey so far. The papaya appetizer with port wine and a squeeze of lime, was over the top.

The rest of the meal was served in family style. The spicy shrimp was unbelievably delicious coupled with the side of brown rice with peanut butter and fried bananas. It worked beautifully. Then, there was the refreshing fennel salad. I love this salad; so simple, healthful and just sumptuous. All three dishes complimented each other and made for an amazing meal. To be honest, when I saw the recipe for the brown rice dish, I was a bit skeptical. These are not ingredients I would have normally paired, but just do it. You will love it!

Oh and then there was dessert. The peanut and caramel candy was very similar to what I know as peanut brittle. It was delightful and with a cup of coffee and time to reflect on this country called Angola; it was a perfect end to an incredible journey.

Warmest regards,
Darlene