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Happy Thanksgiving

I want to send you a personal note of gratitude for being part of International Cuisine. I am so thankful that you have “Joined the Journey.” It is especially gratifying that our Journey is growing, with followers both here in the United States and Internationally.

As we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, I can’t help but think of the world as a whole. When I research recipes for each country along the Journey, I am always struck by how important food is to every culture. Obviously food is a necessity of life, but it is so much more. People all around the world take absolute pride in their cuisine and especially their cherished family recipes, handed down from generation to generation.

Thanksgiving started as a celebration of the harvest and a way to thank the native, American Indians who saved those first settlers from starvation back in 1621. The Indians shared their food, their knowledge of how to grow crops and how to live off the land. Many cultures have a similar celebration, festival or holiday, just for the harvest. Thanksgiving is ours in the United States. Food is truly the ultimate way to show hospitality and kindness. This is exactly what the pilgrims wanted to do for the Indians, show appreciation for their culture and say thank you for sharing it with them. In many ways, this is the essence of what I hope we will gain from our culinary journey around the world. Together, by exploring each new culture, the traditions and cuisine they enjoy, we grow a little closer to our fellow man.

I’d like to share a few things that make Thanksgiving special in our family. Sometimes, it is the simplest of things that brings about that flood of fond memories and sense of connection. For me strangely, it is black olives, simply out of a can and pitted. As a child, I remember placing one on each finger and waving to my siblings while we waited at the table for the big meal to be served. Then I would savor each olive, from my pinky to my thumb, first one hand and then the other. Black olives have been a condiment on our table every year and for me, well, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without them.

Here is a cranberry salsa recipe that my family has grown to love and has become a tradition in our home over the years.

Cranberry Salsa Recipe

Although my husband loves it too, for him, he must have the wiggly, jellied, canned cranberry sauce to get that special feeling of Thanksgiving. As it turns out, cranberry sauce was in fact served as part of the first Thanksgiving meal. The cranberry was called ibimi by the Indians which means, “bitter berry.” The colonists noticed that the flowers of the berry bent the stalk over and it reminded them of the long-necked bird, called the crane. This is how the berry got its name. The Indians used this berry to treat infections and found the juice of the berry was a perfect dye for their rugs and blankets. They taught the pilgrims how to cook these special berries to make a sauce.

I am curious to know about your family traditions or foods that give you that special feeling on Thanksgiving or your harvest festival. Is it a precious family recipe for some type of stuffing, perhaps a special pie or other dessert, or an incredible side dish? Is it a tradition of giving thanks by serving others or going around the table to take a moment to share your blessings? Maybe it’s participating in a turkey-trot race? Whatever it is, I would love for you to share it with us in our comments section.

This goofy little appetizer is also a hit at our family’s gathering. The kids love to get in on the action of making this creation. If you are interested in how to make this cute little appetizer, you can find the directions here.

Goofy Thanksgiving Appetizer

I also want to share how thankful I am to have a bountiful organic garden! I am able to harvest and make use of the many fruits and vegetables grown there for each week’s culinary journey. For those of you who garden, I am sure you can relate to the joy of taking your grocery list out to the garden and then realizing you have little left to pick up at the store. It is also so enjoyable to share the bounty with friends and family and this year we even made arrangements to give to a local food bank. (My husband, Dan, gets the credit for building and maintaining our beautiful garden, for which I am most grateful).

Gardening in the high desert at 4000 feet, requires some extraordinary measures. The first time we planted seeds in our raised-bed garden, we discovered by the next morning each place we had planted a seed, it had been surgically extracted by some unknown critter. It was clear at that moment, we needed to build an enclosed structure and as you can see, we did just that. If you would like any garden tips or would like to know how this was built, don’t hesitate to contact us either by email or better yet, in the comments section.

A Morning's Bounty!

And before we go, I need to give a shout out to “the Girls.” We call them Lightfoot, Darkfoot and Blackie and they too, are part of the Journey, providing fresh eggs for any recipe in need.

Look for the fresh content while we are on our journey to South East Asia beginning December 1st.  I will be posting stories on Instagram as I find that the easiest way to share our journey while on the road.  You can find me on Instagram at @internationalcuisine  I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving or harvest celebration, filled with love, fantastic food and that special something that makes it “Thanksgiving” for you!
Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

The week I want to share a few favorite dishes, perfect for the fall weather.  I also have some exciting news.  My husband and I will be embarking on a four month journey beginning December 1st.  This is a life-long dream of ours to travel the world.  I truly hope you will follow along on our journey.

We will be heading to Southeast Asia and the first country we will be exploring is Cambodia.  This Cambodian soup, made with pork and shrimp and those amazing, glass noodles, is a big reason why this country is a must see and taste for us.  Once you make it you will understand why.  It is amazing!

Kuy Teav (Pork and seafood noodle soup)

India will also be on our journey.  We can't wait to explore this country and plan on eating lots of Chicken Butter Masala, as well as many other delectable Indian dishes. As it happens, we will be there during the Holi Festival of Colors, something I have always wanted to see and experience firsthand.

Chicken Butter Masala (Murgh Mahani)

Laos is another stop on our trip.  We hope to see the monks receiving their alms at the cultural center of Luang Prabang.  You can look forward to new, authentic recipes from this spectacular country.

Khao Poon (Coconut Noodle soup)

Nepal is our next country. This lentil soup would be perfect to sustain you while trekking in the Himalayas, or adding comfort and warmth to any cool, fall evening.  We will not be scaling Mt. Everest but we will certainly be warmed by this staple soup, called Dal Bhat.

Dal Bhat (Red Lentils and Rice)

There has been plenty of negative press about Myanmar of late.  We added Myanmar to our itinerary and although we have mixed feelings about going there, we ultimately decided to include it.  As you know International Cuisine shares the traditions and cultures of world counrties but also includes their struggles as well.  Hopefully on our visit, we will experience more of the positive aspects. In any case, we know the food will not disappoint. This dish, called Mohinga, is a favorite!

Mohinga (Fish Base Soup with Rice Noodles)

Malaysia, our next destination, will be so exciting. We will be heading to Penang for their authentic Nyonya cuisine and to learn firsthand about Peranakan culture.  Of course enjoying Laksa, this scrumptious Malaysian soup, will be a real treat while there.

Laksa (Coconut Curry  Soup)

Oh and we cannot forget Indonesia. We will make a stop in Bali and Java on our journey.  Bakmi Goreng is a dish I make regularly.  I simply love this recipe as it is a quick and easy meal to prepare.  It has a little bit of everything: sweet, sour, savory and spicy. It is also a very flexible recipe; you can make it with beef or chicken or seafood, it is all soooooo wonderful!

Bakmi Goreng (Seafood Stir Fried Noodles)

We will also be exploring Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and then making a stop in Portugal, on our way home.  Of course, exploring street food and cooking with locals will be the highlight of every country.  Be on the lookout for great new posts, with recipes as well.  In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy some of our favorite dishes listed above.  Simply click on the name or the picture to get the recipes.

Until next time,

Stay warm with these amazing recipes.

Darlene Longacre

We flew in a small plane from Dar es Salam, Tanzania, over the spectacular, aqua and turquoise, Indian Ocean.  In a short 20 minutes, we arrived on the island of Zanzibar, aka, “The Spice Island.”  Today, Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, however it wasn’t always that way.

Simply Paradise, seriously the water really is that beautiful.

The Portuguese arrived in the 16^th century and brought in some spices and plants from South America and India, however they never used the island for much more that a military base.  It was the Sultan Seyyid Said, the first Omani sultan to govern Zanzibar back in 1698, who quickly realized the potential of this acquisition.  With its superb, tropical climate it was a perfect location for spice farming and was now part of the overseas holdings of Oman.

Although spices were clearly traded along these seafaring routes since ancient times, Zanzibar was not growing them on any large scale until the Omani Sultan issued a decree that all landowners had to plant two clove trees, for every coconut tree, on their land.

It did not take long before Zanzibar became a major producer of spices.  This ended up being a very important income generator, especially after the slave trade ended in the late nineteenth century.  It is only recently that tourism has surpassed clove sales as the number one economic contributor.

                                      This photo taken at the slave trade memorial museum in Stonetown, Zanzibar.  A powerful memorial worth seeing.

We arrived at our amazing hotel in Stonetown, called, the Dhow Palace Hotel.  We were blessed to stay in the Presidential Suite of this mansion, which was built back in 1559 AD for Sheikh Mushin bin Mujbia.  The hotel is filled with priceless antiques and was simply charming on every level.  It was the hotel that made arrangements for our tour of a spice plantation.

The Presidential Suite at the Dhow Palace Hotel Stonetown, Zanzibar

We arrived at the spice plantation, after a 30 minute drive from town, where we met our guide, Mohammad.  He was incredibly knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor.  He spoke flawless English and always made sure he told us what the Swahili words were, as well.   We would walk through the working plantation and Mohammad would find a plant, get a spice or leaf and have us smell it, or taste it and try to figure out what it was.  Mohammad was impressed with my knowledge of the spices (a talent I developed by cooking more than half the countries of the world.) I pretty much could decipher each and every one, although he kept trying to stump me.

Although I could tell what the spices were, I learned many things I did not know about them. He told us how certain spices grow and that many spices are used not just for cooking, but for medicinal and other purposes as well.  Here are a few of those things I learned:

Annato seed comes from the Achiote tree is used as a spice as well as used in cosmetics. Mohammad showed us how it looks as lipstick!

These are  Annato seeds, they are tucked away in a fuzzy pod that looks similar to lychee.

Mohammad showing us how annato seeds are used for cosmetics like lipstick!

Cinnamon is just the bark of the tree rolled up.  The leaves are used to make green tea.  The roots are used to make Vick’s Vapor Rub.  You can boil the cinnamon root, mix it with coconut oil and inhale it, to clean out your sinuses.

A giant, 80 year old Acacia tree provided the shade necessary to grow cardamom pods and vanilla.  Cardamom is used as an air freshener and a breath freshener, as it helps to remove the smell of any alcohol.  Green cardamom is also used to make soap.

The Cardamon plant

Vanilla pods still green waiting to ripen on the vine.

Vanilla grows in Zanzibar and also needs shade. However, in Zanzibar it must be hand pollinated, so it is quite labor intensive to grow.

The flowers of the Ylang ylang tree are used for making perfume, including the famous Chanel #5.

They grow two types of lemongrass; one from Thailand and one from Zanzibar.  The lemongrass from Zanzibar had great flavor and was much smaller than the lemongrass from Thailand.  Lemongrass is used to make soap and is great as an insect repellent as well as used in many dishes.

Harvesting lemongrass this was the variety brought from Thailand

Pepper, comes from only one pepper plant, however from it you can get green pepper, white pepper, red pepper, yellow pepper, and black pepper.  It just depends on when you pick it and how it is processed as to what color you get.  Pepper of course is used as a common ingredient in cooking but is also used as a tea, to eliminate stomach gas and they make a drink to restore essential vitamins, after a woman gives birth.

Mohammad showing us a peppercorn in the red state.

Nutmeg and mace come from the same tree, and have similar uses in cooking.  Nutmeg is purported to increase the sex drive in women. The red part is dried in the sun and then ground to produce the spice.

Nutmeg looks so cool

We walked through areas that had ginger, which is used to tenderize meat, used to cure sea sickness, and beloved in their ginger beer.  Turmeric which is used as a spice for curry and has numerous medicinal properties is also grown there.

I love the color of turmeric especially when freshly picked.

Cassava and pumpkin are also grown on the plantation and every part of these plants are used in the African cuisine.

Freshly picked cassava is much different from what we get in our stores.

Although we were on a spice tour, we noticed that fruit trees abounded.  Soursop, a delicious sweet fruit, is believed to cure cancer and heart problems.

An unusual looking fruit called soursop has delicious sweet white flesh that is believed to cure cancer.

They grow green oranges there, not orange ones.  It was funny because at breakfast they had a pitcher labeled orange juice, but it was green. I didn’t try it just then.  The oranges are fully ripe when green and had I not gone on that tour, I probably would have missed out on orange juice for the rest of our stay.  It turns out the green, orange juice is excellent.

Yes this is a ripe green orange, go figure!

Some of the other fruit trees we saw were bananas of all varieties, mangoes, and passion fruit, both red and yellow and something called a Zanzibar apple.

It is the clove however, that is known as the King of spice or Korafu in Swahili.  It is the most famous spice of Zanzibar.  It contains an oil, called eugenol, which acts as a food preservative. It's an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and known to cure toothaches and stomach aches.  The tree is used, when dried for firewood; however in Zanzibar if one clove tree is cut down, five more must be planted.  This is regulated by the government.

The king of spice, the clove

As we were walking along the tour, we came across a big Muslim celebration that was happening in the local village.  There were scores of boys and girls of all ages, waiting to be served a feast.  We were thrilled that they allowed us to photograph them while they were waiting.  We learned that the vividly, colored veils that the girls were wearing, represented the village in which they live and the different designs on the hats that the boys were wearing, did the same.  It always gives me hope to see beautiful, children, happy and going to school, especially in remote parts of the world.  We felt like it was our lucky day.

Beautiful school girls striking a pose.

The boys thought they were so funny hiding their faces with a shoe and a hat.

Our tour ended with a tasting of fruits and an opportunity to buy various spices and soaps which we did, to support the community.

A fruit stand on the plantation.

It was a fantastic tour that shed so much light on the importance of these crops to this island and how these flavors are ingrained in their daily lives and in the delicious foods they cook.

I leave you with a scrumptious  calamari curry recipe that I discovered while cooking with Mr. Okala in Jambiani, Zanzibar. Just click on the link or picture below for the recipe.

Calamari Curry

Until next time,

Asante sana (that means thank you very much in Swahili)

Darlene

How Oman was named remains a bit of a mystery.  The area was called Mazoon, which stems from the word muzn, which means, “heavy clouds which carry abundant water.”  The name Oman is thought to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated there from the Uman region of Yemen.

Oman is the oldest, independent state in the Arab world.  The official name is, The Sultanate of Oman and it is one of the few countries in the world that is run as an absolute monarchy.  The Sultan, Qaboos bin Said al Said, has been the leader of Oman since 1970.  He is the longest serving leader in the Middle East and the fourth, longest reigning monarch in the world.

Oman is strategically located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.  Its neighbors are: United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west and Yemen to the southwest.  It also has two exclaves, territories called the Madha and the Musandam, which are surrounded by the United Arab Emirates, on their land borders and with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, forming their coastal boundaries.  Oman shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan.  The coastal border is the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman, on the northeast.  It is made up of towering mountain ranges, vast deserts and about 2000 miles of coastline.

Oman has a fascinating history, as the area was a key place for trade for thousands of years.  Recent discoveries in Oman have shown pre-historic, human habitation dating back over 125,000 years.  Some stone tools found, resemble those made by humans in Africa, during the same time period.  Oman is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  A couple of these sites date back some 5000 years.  They are called tombs but possibly could have been silos, as no human remains have been found.  They are made of stone and shaped like a bee hive.  There is a sense that there is much more yet to be discovered in the mountains of Oman.

Ancient civilizations traversed through the deserts of the Middle East to Mesopotamia (Iran and Iraq).  The camel caravans would carry incense, an extremely important product of antiquity.  Oman is one of the few places in the world where frankincense trees grow.  The Land of Frankincense is one of the world heritage sites.  Additionally, ships carried copper and other various minerals by sea.  Omanis often get credit for being some of the best shipbuilders in the world.

Due to its strategic location, the region was impacted by several invaders.  These included, other Arab tribes, Portugal and Britain.  Oman at one time even had its own colony, which included the island of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Africa and was the place where Oman became wealthy from the slave trade.  Oman also has oil wealth and reserves which it began exporting in 1967.  It has tried to have a diverse economy that is not solely based on oil and gas.  The economy has focused on tourism, fishing, mining and agriculture.  The main crops grown in Oman are dates, limes, tomatoes, eggplant, bananas and carrots.  Its most fertile land is found along the coast in the northeast.

Oman is a Muslim country and governed by Shari’a law.  Most of the Muslims adhere to the Ibadi sect of Islam, while the remaining are either Sunni or Shia.  The Sultan is a member of the Ibadi community, however, the government does not give official preference to any particular religious group.  Despite being a Muslim country, they allow freedom of religion and prohibit discrimination of individuals on the basis of religion.  About five percent of the population is Christian, Hindu or Buddhists; mostly non citizen immigrant workers.  Arabic is the official language in Oman, although English is also spoken.  In the capital city of Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was completed in 2001, built from 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone.  It has a capacity of 20,000 worshipers.  It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful architecture.

In the mid 20th century and up until the 1970s, Oman was basically shut off from the outside world, until the current Sultan overthrew his father in a bloodless coup.  Since that time, the country has opened up in all sorts of new ways.  Prior to 1970 Oman basically had no national infrastructure.  There were no hotels in Oman, yet today there are hundreds.  Back then, Oman had only six miles of paved roads whereas today there are over 3800 miles of paved roads.  In 1970, only three primary schools existed for just 1000 boys. Today, there are well over 500,000 kids (boys and girls) in over 1000 schools.  Education is free up until the higher education level.  Today the country has been totally transformed.

The Sultan is often called a Renaissance man, for his transformation of a nation in so little time.  Despite being run as an absolute monarchy, he is not considered a dictator.  He has developed a constitution, as well as two houses of Parliament.  A recent change in the constitution gives the lower house even more power.  The Parliament consists of both males and females from all over the country.  The Sultan is loved in his country and highly respected.  The biggest concern in Oman is who will succeed the Sultan, as he has no children of his own.  He recently spent eight months in Germany for an undisclosed medical condition.  When he returned, the country erupted in celebration.

As we look into the cuisine of this most interesting country, it is clear that they have many wonderful influences.  Located along the spice trade route, their cuisine is loaded with the best and most expensive spices like: saffron, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon, to name a few.  Oman was responsible for bringing clove to the island of Zanzibar.  The main influences come from Persia, India, Asia, and East Africa along with her neighbors.

In Oman, the cuisine is regional, however, most dishes have some element of curry, cooked meat, and vegetables.  Seafood, is of course, very popular along its long, fertile coastline.  Rice is a staple. Omani cuisine is full of different biryanis and machboos, (Middle Eastern rice with meat and spices) but it also has its own unique element of beaten or mashed rice.  This is rice that is cooked a very long time along with other ingredients, like chicken, to the point where it becomes like a porridge.  Soups are also common and typically made with chicken, or lamb and vegetables.  One element in the cuisine that is quintessential Omani, is the dried lime or black lime.  The lime, which originally came from Malaysia, is dried in the sun until the shell becomes rock hard and the interior is a gummy black.  This dried lime adds an intensive, citrusy, earthy, almost fermented flavor, to many of their dishes.  It is a beloved ingredient in Persian cuisine and other Middle Eastern cuisines.  In Oman it is called loomi.

Shuwa is considered to be the national dish and requires a distinctive, underground pit.  It is a time intensive dish that usually takes a few days and is reserved for special occasions.  It is typically made with beef, lamb, goat or camel, with a mixture of spices and oil and then wrapped in banana leaves and placed in the pit.  It is served over a massive platter of rice.  It is a big production, in both the preparation and in the enjoyment of the feast.  Alcohol is available in Oman but requires a special license, proving that you are spending less than ten percent of your income on it.  Pork is strictly forbidden.

So let’s eat an Omani meal:

The Menu

Starter

Balah, Juz and Kahwa (Dates, Nuts and Coffee)

Salad

Omani  Salata (Omani Salad)

Main course

Paplou Hasa’ (Fish Soup)

Madrouba (Beaten Rice & Chicken)

served with

Khubz (Omani Thin Bread)

Dessert

Halwa (Sweet)

We set the scene with a special coffee pot called a dallah.  For this meal, we were honored to have my sister and her husband as our guests.  We began by saying, “As-salem alaykum”, which means “Peace be with you,” in Arabic.  Coffee and dates are the ultimate form of hospitality in Oman.  The hot Omani coffee is served in little cups without handles called fenjans.  The coffee is lightly roasted and ground with cardamom and often times rose water is added to the mix.  Dates are served as a sweetner for the coffee.  Your coffee will be constantly refilled until you shake your cup vigorously, signalling that you have had enough.  You will be offered coffee and dates just about everywhere you go in Oman.  We began our meal with coffee and dates, both fresh and dried, along with some nuts.  It was the first time we had ever had a fresh date and we loved the crunchy texture and sweetness.

For the dinner setting we included a rug, as sitting on the floor and eating with your right hand is how food is enjoyed by the locals in Oman.  An Arabian horse figurine was placed, since they are believed to have originated in Oman and Omanis are known to be some of the best, Arabian horse breeders in the world.  Dried limes and spices were also positioned, along with a incense burner filled with frankincense.  I don’t think I ever had the privilege of smelling frankincense before and it turned out to be a lovely, earthy scent that we all enjoyed.  Pictures of elaborate carved doors were also added, as they were one of the things I loved so much about our trip to Stonetown in Zanzibar.  (I really wanted to bring back a set of carved doors,)  I loved them, and it turns out Oman is full of them.  Even the smallest, most unassuming abode, will be graced with a spectacular entry door.

Our next course was a spicy cirtusy seafood soup called paplou.  It was made with those dried limes and fresh lime juice, which was a perfect balance to the spiciness of the broth.  There are many variations to this dish but generally speaking it will contain, black lime, onions, tomatoes, turmeric, chili and fresh tuna.  It is served over a scoop of basmati rice.  We loved it!

Next were three dishes served communally, all at the same time.  It was a simple Omani salad that  had cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, parsley and mint but what made it unique was the addition of preserved lemons.  These are like a pickled lemon and added a unique element to the salad.  This was another keeper, everybody loved the salad; simple and delicious.

The main course was called madrouba, which literally translated means, “beaten rice.”  Despite the long cooking time, this dish is pretty easy to make and will infuse your kitchen with wonderful scents.  It has many spices but is not a hot spicy dish at all, it is simply a flavorful one.  It was enjoyed alongside Omani bread called khubz which is simply made with flour, water and salt.  It is cooked on a stainless flat surface above a hot flame where the dough is just lightly touched to the surface resulting in a very thin almost lace-like piece of bread.  The bread is not flipped but removed from the pan with what resembles a paint scraper.  It was very delicious hot off the grill.

For dessert, we served a small bowl of Halwa.  This is a gelatinous, sweet dessert made mostly of sugar and water and then flavored with saffron, cardamom and nuts.  It was a lovely end to our delicious Omani meal that left us wanting more.

As we say goodbye to this peaceful Middle Eastern nation, that has essentially no terrorism or crime, I leave you with a quote from His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said:

““The path we have followed in our foreign policy over the past decades has shown itself to be both sound and effective, with God’s guidance.  We are committed to this approach, which supports justice, peace and security, and tolerance and love; which calls for international cooperation in order to reinforce stability, promote growth and prosperity and tackle the causes of tension in international relations by producing just and permanent solutions to critical problems; which fosters peaceful co-existence between nations; and which generates well-being and prosperity for the whole of mankind.”

Until next time,

Shukran (thank you)

Darlene

Both Niger and Nigeria get their names from the magnificent, River Niger.  How the river got its name, remains a mystery.  It is a very unusual and most important river to both countries.  The Niger River is the third largest in Africa, after the Nile and the Congo.  It is nearly 2600 miles long.  What makes the river so unusual, is its route.  The river’s source is only 150 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in the ancient rock of the Guinea Highlands, but instead of heading toward the ocean it flows away from the sea, into the Sahara Desert.  It is a crescent shape and makes its turn near the ancient city of Timbuktu, in Mali.  It then flows south, though Niger, Benin and Nigeria, where it finally ends, at the Niger Delta, in the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean.  It also floods each year along its route, making a marsh area that is valuable for farming, fishing and wildlife.  The river is known to be clear, with very little silt.

Both countries are located in West Africa.  Niger has seven neighbors: Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west and Algeria to the northwest.  The country is landlocked, with eighty percent of the land, covered by the Sahara Desert.  The land area of Niger is the largest in West Africa, however, most of the population lives in the far west and south of the country.  The country’s nickname is “The Frying Pan of the World.”  Yes, with its subtropical climate, it is one of the hottest countries in all the world.

Niger gained Independence from France in 1960 and has since had five constitutions and three periods of military rule.  Since a coup in 2010, Niger has become a democratic, multi-party, state.  The population, of nearly 19 million, lives in rural areas.  The capital city, is now Niamey, located in the southwest corner of the country.  Prior to 1926, Zinder was the capital city.  The economy is based on subsistence crops, livestock and uranium mining.  Niger’s population is made up of several ethnic groups. The three largest are: the Hausa, Zarma-Sonrai and the Tuareg.  The Tuaregs are often referred to as the” Blue people”, for the indigo, dye-colored clothes they wear, which stains their skin.  They have been one of the ethnic groups that have been historically influential in spreading Islam to the region.  Islam is the prevalent religion of Niger with eighty percent Islam and the balance mostly Christians.  French is the official language, along with ten others commonly spoken.  Most of the population speaks their indigenous language as their first language.

Unfortunately, Niger faces extreme challenges.  Aside from being one of the poorest nations on earth, it has one of the highest birthrates in the world.  Each Niger woman has on average, seven children.  The median age of the population is a very young, 15 years.  The literacy rate is only 28 percent; one of the lowest in the entire world.  Poor education, lack of healthcare, environmental degradation, overpopulation and drought all add to these challenges.  Most recently the government has had to also deal with the Islamic terrorist, jihadist group called, Boko Haram that is wreaking havoc on its border with Nigeria.  The country, in its landlocked position, faces additional challenges from turmoil all around it.  While the country does get some assistance from other nations, much work needs to be done to pull its citizens out of poverty.

Despite all the hardships that the people of Niger face, they go about their daily life and have celebrations and festivals that are deeply rooted in their histories.  Nearly every ethnic group in the region comes from an empire that ruled the area at one time or another.  They have many traditions.  The Salt Cure Festival and Guerewol Festival are two important ones in the country.

Niger also has some very important national parks; one in the north called, Air and Tenere National Nature Reserve and one in the south, where the W National Park has the most important population of the rare, West African lion, and the one of the last populations of the Northwest African cheetah.  Other wildlife includes elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and warthogs.  The Niger River is also home to the endangered, West African Manatee, as well as 250 fish species; twenty of which are found nowhere else on the planet.

The main staple crops are millet and sorghum.  These are made into stiff porridges and enjoyed alongside sauces, soups and stews.  Rice is also available and grown in the marshes.  The soups and stews are typically made of vegetables and peanuts, as meat is somewhat scarce.  The river provides fish as a needed protein and beans are also popular.  Like many African countries they like a bit of spice in their cuisine.

Nigeria also gets its name from the River Niger.  Aside from Niger to the north, its neighbors are: Chad to the north, Cameroon to the east, Benin to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.  Unlike its neighbor Niger, it is one of the wealthiest countries, due to oil and other mineral resources.   It is part of OPEC and the twelfth largest producer of oil in the world.  It accounts for 85 percent of the government’s revenue. Despite its richness, 62 percent of the population lives in poverty.  This is due to mismanagement and corruption.

Nigeria is the most populated country in all of Africa and eighth most populated in the world.   It is home to nearly 190 million people.  It is believed that one of five Africans, is of Nigerian descent.  Its nickname is “The Giant of Africa.”  The population of Nigeria is made up of more than 250 ethnic groups.  The largest and most politically influential are:  the Hausa, the Fulani and the Yoruba.

English is the official language, as they gained Independence from Britain in 1960.  However, more than 500 languages are also spoken.  The religious makeup is: 50 percent Muslim, who live mostly in the north, and 40 percent Christians, who call the south home, and the balance is a mix of indigenous beliefs.

The divide between the north and south continues to be a problem for the government.  The current president, Buhari, a northerner, elected in 2015, has spent two long stents out of the country on medical leave.  He has recently returned and is hoping to calm political disputes that have escalated in his absence, along with making good on his promise to face the war with Boko Haram.  The country has made strides to take territory back from the Jihadist group but are now facing terror threats on soft targets.  Boko Haram is using children as suicide bombers in crowded market places.  You may remember hearing about the young school girls who were kidnapped by the Boko Haram in 2014.  Some have been found but many are still missing.  With the country in recession, the government must work quickly to make opportunities for its young population, to keep them away from religious divides and civil war.  The population average in Nigeria is also a very young, 18 years of age.

There is much work to do in Nigeria especially in regards to infrastructure, power supply, sanitation and clean water.  If the president makes good on his promises to curb and squash corruption, there should be plenty of money to be used on these most important projects.   There are other opportunities in the large cities.  For example, “Nollywood” as it is called, is the second largest producers of movies behind India’s Bollywood.  Telecommunications, along with finance and information, are growing industries in Nigeria.  Many of these growing industries are located in Lagos, the largest city in all of Africa.  It is the financial hub and commercial capital of the country.  Lagos used to be the capital city, which was moved to Abuja in 1991. Lagos sits on the Atlantic coast, has many beaches, including the Ancient Slave Port of Badagry, which was also known as, “The Point of No Return.”  Today the area serves as an important place for reflection.

As we look into the cuisine of these two West African countries, they are very similar to the region as a whole.  They both use millet, sorghum, cassava, corn and rice as staple ingredients. Protein sources, like meat and chicken, are available to the wealthier people in the countries.  Fish from the River Niger, like carp, Nile perch and catfish, are all loved by all.  Melon seeds, which come from a gourd, somewhat shaped like a watermelon, called egusi, are a source of protein as well.  They are not only delicious, when toasted, but are used as a thickener in soups and stews.  Fruits, like mangoes, pineapple, oranges, melons and bananas, are available in the tropical areas.  Yams are an important crop in the eastern areas.  Peanuts are also a common ingredient in the cuisine, as is spice; they like it hot.  Alcohol is not consumed in the Muslim areas of the countries but local beers are enjoyed in the South of Nigeria.  Palm oil is the most used cooking oil in the region.

So let’s enjoy a Nigerien/Nigerian Meal

(just click the name or picture for the recipe)

The Menu

Starter

Suya (Grilled Spicy Meat)

Nicaragua’s nickname, “The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” is a good description of this beautiful Central American nation.  The actual name of Nicaragua is believed to stem from Nicarao, the name of the people who inhabited the area on the shores of Lake Cocibolca, (now called Lake Nicaragua) when the Spanish conquest first arrived.  This name, Nicarao, combined with the Spanish name for water, agua, is how the country got its name.

The country has two land neighbors; Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south.  Its eastern border lies along the Caribbean Sea and its western border along the Pacific Ocean.  Lago de’ Nicaragua or Lake Nicaragua is located in the southwestern area of the country.  Aside from this massive lake there is another large lake called Lake Managua.  Additionally, the area has over 400 volcanoes.  Nicaraguans use steam from their many volcanoes as geothermal energy.  They also are home to the “Dual Volcano.” It is the only volcano in the world that is fed by two different magma flows. The area also has many lagoons and rivers in the region.  Additionally, there are small islands, called cays, located in the Caribbean Sea.

The country is made up of three geographical regions: the pacific lowlands, in the west, the Caribbean lowlands, in the east (also known as the Mosquito Coast) and the central highlands, located between the two.  When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s, there were three main tribes residing in these areas, each, its own monarchy, headed by a chief.  Many of these indigenous people later died from diseases the Spanish brought over, as well as from tribal wars.  Today the population of Nicaragua is mostly mestizo, about 17 % white, 5% Amerindian and 9% black. The black population lives mostly on the east coast where the community primarily speaks English and Creole.  For a time, from 1633 until 1860, the British controlled this area on the east coast.

Managua, the most populous city and also the capital, is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua.  The total population of Nicaragua is just over six million. The population is young and has one of the healthiest growth rates in the region.  Most Nica’s, as they are called, live in urban areas.  This is a good thing since they do not have addresses in Nicaragua.  People get their mail based on their proximity to a known landmark.  Spanish is the official language, although English, Creole and indigenous languages are also spoken. The literacy rate is 82 percent and education is compulsory for only six years.

Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in September of 1821, however they then became part of the Mexican Empire.  Eventually Nicaragua gained complete independence on April 30, 1838.   Independence, however, brought years of conflict between the conservatives and liberals.  There was even a brief time an American, named William Walker, decided to take control of the country and declared himself president/dictator, with the idea of annexing the region to the United States as a slave state.  This occurred from 1856 to 1857.  He was forced out a few years later.

The Somoza regime was Nicaragua’s longest lasting hereditary, military, dictatorship and ruled there for 43 years.  After a few other leaders, it was the Sandinistas who took charge, which eventually led to the counter, revolutionary forces (who were financed and trained by the U.S. CIA.)  They were called the Contras, which led to the “Iran-Contra” scandal during President Reagan’s administration in the USA.  The U.S. had concerns with the country’s ties to Cuba, Venezuela and Russia.  Over the years, millions of dollars in aid were given to the government, especially after Hurricane Mitch in 1988, which was one of the worst hurricanes in their history.  There has been massive corruption over the years, leaving nearly half of Nicaragua’s people living in poverty, on only $2 a day.  Despite strong opposition from the U.S. and stifling embargos, Daniel Ortega (a known Sandinista), won reelection.  Today, the country maintains relations with the U.S. and its rivals, such as Iran, and Venezuela.  Despite apprehension concerning Ortega’s leadership, he has taken Nicaragua to new heights.  Nicaragua was recently listed on the happiness index, as the top country on the rise for happiness in the last decade.  The people in the county believe things are getting better.

Tourism is an important piece of Nicaragua’s growing economy.  Each year, for the past decade, it has grown some ten percent.  Nicaragua’s west coast is known worldwide for its spectacular surfing beaches.  Lake Nicaragua is also a huge tourist attraction.  Kayaking through spectacular islets and hiking volcanoes are also tourist attractions.  Coffee tours are trendy, as Nicaragua is a big exporter of coffee.  Other exports include: beef, shrimp, lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold and peanuts and textiles and apparel are on the rise.  Nicaragua is part of the CAFTA-DR, a free trade agreement that has been a major contributor to their growth.

Nicaragua is filled with natural beauty and extremely, warm and hospitable people.  The city of Granada was the first city to be settled by the Spanish and has some of the most well-preserved Spanish, colonial style architecture.  Leon is another popular, city destination.  It used to be the capital city, up until 1857, and is home to the National University.  It is also home to the Ruins of Leon Viejo, dating back to the 16^th century.  This site is Nicaragua’s only UNESCO World Heritage site.  Nicaragua is a laid back country and one that is among the safest to visit in the Central America. While it is replete with volcanoes, rainforests, mangrove forests, beautiful islands and spectacular beaches, it is, nonetheless, the friendly locals that will leave you with the fondest memories.

As we look into the cuisine of Nicaragua, or “La Comida Nica” (as they call it), is a Latin creole mix of indigenous and Spanish dishes.  Corn, rice, beans, plantains, yucca and pork are all common ingredients, as is seafood, along the coast.  They have an extensive variety of tropical fruits, which they incorporate into their diet.  Nacatamales are their national treasure.  They fill their tamales with meat, vegetables, olives and prunes and wrap them in banana leaves.

So let’s enjoy a Nicaraguan meal:

The Menu

Starter

Quesillo (Corn Tortilla with Melted Cheese)

Salad

Vigoron (Yuca, Pork Rind and Cabbage Salad)

Main Course

Nacatamales (Nicaraguan Tamale)

Served with

Gallo Pinto ( Red Beans and Rice)

Dessert

Buneulos de Yuca (Cassava Donuts)

We set the scene with the colors of the Nicaraguan flag; blue and white.  The blue represents the two coasts and the white symbolizes peace.  We placed a Saint candle on the table, as nearly every village in Nicaragua has a named, village Saint and all the festivities to go along with it.  We also included a cross, as most of the population is Roman Catholic.  Also a baseball bat was added, since it is the national sport (even beating out soccer, another very popular sport there.)  Also we included an ear of corn, as it is such an important staple ingredient.  Many drinks are made from corn as well as their tamales and tortillas.  Lastly we placed a banana leaf along with some coffee beans.

We began our meal with a toast, “Salud”, which means, “Cheers” in Spanish followed by, “Buen Provencho”, which means,”Bon Appetit.”  The appetizer was called quesillo, which means “little cheese. “ The tortilla surrounded a soft, white cheese that goes by the same name.  It is somewhat similar to mozzarella cheese and it is then topped with picked onions, and sour cream and vinegar.  They are usually served at a roadside stands in a thin, plastic sleeve; warm cheese in a tortilla, simply magnifico!

We then savored another very popular dish called Vigoron.  It is believed that this dish was developed in Granada, Nicaragua by a woman who went by “La Loca” or “Crazy Woman.”  She named the dish Vigoron, after seeing a poster advertising an early medicinal tonic, back  in 1914.  This dish consistis of a salad, known as curtido, that has cabbage, tomatoes, onion, chili pepper and lime, then boiled yuca root and fried pork belly or pork rinds are added. We loved it!

For the main course we had the famous nacatamales.  The masa is somewhat similar to a regular, mexican style, tamale masa however, they use a bitter orange in it.  The filling is typically pork with rice, onion, pepper, potato, green olives and prunes.  The meat  is seasoned with anchiote.  The biggest difference in this dish and a traditional tamale is that this tamale is wrapped in a banana leaf instead of a corn husk.  This imparts a wonderful flavor to the tamale.  The banana leaf is secured with twine and then the tamale is steamed to perfection.  (You do not eat the banana leaf).  This nacatamale was very filling but we managed to enjoy it with the gallo pinto; another staple dish of rice and beans mixed together.  It is typically made with day old rice and small, red kidney beans.  It is flavored with garlic, onion and  chicken stock and fried together for a delicious side dish.  Often in Nicaragua, gallo pinto would be a main dish, as opposed to a side, offering the balance of protein with carbohydrates, for an inexpensive, yet robust, meal.

For dessert we took the hot and syrupy, cassava donuts, called Buneulos de yuca along with a nice, strong cup of coffee outside, into the night air.  We wanted to see what constellations we could find.  In Nicaragua, you can see 86 of the 88 constellations.  It was a beautiful, clear summer night and a perfect ending to our Nicaraguan meal.

Until next time,

Muchas Gracias! (Thank you, very much)

Darlene Longacre

Netherlands, in the Dutch language, literally means, “Lowlands.”   Its name is fitting, as much of the land is actually below sea level.  Centuries ago, the people from the Kingdom of the Netherlands began building strong sea walls, called dykes.   You may remember the story from Hans Brinker, of The Silver Skates, about the little Dutch boy who plugged a dyke with his finger, saving the countryside below from flooding.  Statues of the fictional boy have been erected in various locations throughout the country, mainly for tourists to enjoy.  The Dutch used windmill powered pumps to drain the North Sea waters from behind the dykes.  The pumps are used to pump the sea water out, leaving low lying land behind, called polders.  Using this technique, they have actually been able to increase the size of their small nation.  Their constant battle against the sea has given the Dutch a strong sense of national pride.

The Netherlands is often mistakenly referred to as Holland.  This is because back in the 1800s, the area called Holland made the biggest contributions to the nation as a whole.  Holland is actually just two of twelve provinces within the nation.  Noord-and Zuid-Holland are what make up Holland.

The Netherlands is located in northwestern Europe.  Its land borders with Germany to the east and Belgium to the south.  It also has a large maritime border with the North Sea.  It shares this border with its two land neighbors and also the United Kingdom.

The Dutch have a long and fascinating history dating back some 37,000 years.  In 2009 a fragment of a Neanderthal skull was found partially buried in the sand on the floor of the North Sea.  Anthropologists estimate this fragment to be from the earliest years of inhabitants in the area.

The Dutch war, in which they were fighting for independence, is often referred to as “The Eighty Years War” (1568-1648.)  The first fifty years were between Spain and the Netherlands but in the last thirty years, much of Europe was involved and this segment is called “The Thirty Years War.”  During “The Eighty Years War”, the Dutch provinces became the most important trading centers of northern Europe.  In the 17^th and 18^th centuries, the Dutch were the most economically wealthy and scientifically advanced of all European nations. This time in history is referred to as “The Golden Era.”

The invention of the saw mill, allowed the Dutch to construct massive fleets of ships used for both trading and defense.  Known as a seafaring people, they were also keen mapmakers.  These undertakings allowed them to obtain an increasing position in world trade.  In 1602 the Dutch East India Company was founded, and was the first ever multinational corporation.  It was financed by shares creating the first modern stock exchange.  You may have heard of tulip fever which also occurred during this decade.  It was a bubble in the market when the price of tulip bulbs reached extraordinarily high levels and then crashed.  During this time, the Bank of Amsterdam was also established, and is considered to be the first ever, central bank.

The Dutch shipping fleet hunted whales, traded spices in India and Indonesia, and even founded colonies. These colonies include New Amsterdam, which today is called New York in the USA, South Africa and the West Indies.  The fleets conquered Portuguese colonies like northeastern Brazil, Angola, Indonesia and Ceylon.  They even began a trade monopoly with Japan.  They also dominated trade with European countries.  By the 1680s, nearly a thousand Dutch ships each year were sailing in the Baltic Sea.

After the Golden Era, there were many ups and downs.  In 1940, Germany took over the Netherlands, during World War II.  The Netherlands was known for diversity and acceptance of people, so the Holocaust hit them hard.  Approximately 107,000 Dutch Jews were deported to concentration camps and most perished there.  In the capital city of Amsterdam, remains the House of Anne Frank, where she and her family hid behind the walls of the main residence in a tiny cell, during the Second World War.  On August 4, 1944, the hiding place was discovered and all inhabitants were sent to concentration camps.  Her diary and papers were given to the sole survivor of the family, Otto Frank, Anne’s father.  Otto compiled her work and created “Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl.”  This museum is one of Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attractions.

Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in the world.  It is known for its beautiful canal ring and the impressive architecture.  There is a Museum Square which includes: the Van Gogh Museum, an art museum dedicated to his works and his contemporaries, the Rijksmuseum, home to many of the Dutch masters’ work, including Rembrandt and the Dutch National Art and History Museum, which ranks number one.  Amsterdam has the highest density of museums in the world.  Aside from art and history, one can enjoy a canal ride or shop at the authentic Nine Streets, visit the Red Light District or experience “coffee shops” where marijuana and hashish are sold, (Although it is technically not legal, it is unofficially tolerated).  There is a cheese museum, as Holland is famous for cheese.  The Dutch have been making cheese since 400 AD.  Also one of the most famous beers in the world, Heineken, is brewed there and offers tours.  In the flower market, they are famous for growing tulips and the tulip fields are always a big draw in springtime when the tulips are at their peak.  It should be noted that the first tulip bulb was actually imported from Turkey although today the Netherlands supplies 75% of the world’s bulbs.

There are three other big cities in the Netherlands: Rotterdam, which is the second largest port in the world, Utrecht, and Hague.  The Netherlands has the highest population density in all of Europe, with 487 people per square kilometer.  Hague is the seat of the Dutch government, Parliament and the Supreme Court.  It is also one of the select cities to host the United Nations. King Willem-Alexander became king on January 28, 2013.  He represents the kingdom both at home and abroad and is the second youngest monarch in the world. The Royal Family will move to the Palace of Hus ten Bosch in Hague, when renovations are complete.

The Netherlands is the bicycle capital of the world.  There are more bicycles than people.  The land is flat as a pancake and thousands of kilometers of bike paths, called fietspadens, have been built.  Pedestrians are not allowed to walk on them.  The average person rides their bike 2.5 km per day.  The Netherlands is also the windmill capital of the world.  The 19 polder, draining windmills of the Kinderdijk are an UNESCO world heritage site.  The Netherlands have used windmills for over 30 different uses; the most common use was for grinding grain and spices. Windmills are a national symbol of the country.

The official language in the Netherlands is Dutch, although nearly ninety percent also speak English.  As far as religion, the Netherlands is mostly Roman Catholic and Protestant, of those who practice religion, however 2/3 of the people claim no religious faith.  The Netherlands is known for their social acceptance and was the first country to legalize “same sex marriage” in 2001.

As we look into the cuisine of this nation, well let’s just say, aside from cheese, beer and gin, they are not especially known for their cuisine.  Herring, with chopped raw onions and pickles is considered to be the national dish.  Many people eat raw herring, straight down the hatch, with head and tail attached.  The Dutch consume some 12 million kilograms of herring every year.  Although seafood plays an important part in the Dutch diet, they are big vegetable eaters, with little meat consumed.  Potatoes play a large role in the traditional cuisine.  Grains, such as rye, are used for breads, as well as pumpkin and sunflower seeds.  Often sausages, called rookworst, accompany mashed potatoes and vegetables such as curly kale, in a dish called Boerenkool Stamppot.   Indonesian food is also very popular in their cuisine, as they had colonized Indonesia back in the day. Often times curry powder, and slices of pineapple or bananas are added to the stamppot, giving the oldest Dutch dish an exotic flair.

Dairy also plays a large role in the diet and only one percent of the population is believed to have lactose intolerance, the lowest in the world.  It may also account for why the Dutch are the tallest in the world. Most believe it the combination of good DNA and dairy.

International cuisines can be found throughout the cosmopolitan country.  Other favorite foods are: pancakes that are made both sweet and savory, called Pottertjes, snert a very popular pea soup especially in the winter (when made, the spoon should stand upright in the soup), mustard, pickles and sauerkraut are popular accompaniments, as is applesauce.  Children are served applesauce with nearly every meal and they mix it in with the potatoes and vegetables for sweetness.  For desserts, there are many: oliebollen is a famous dough that is fried and served on New Year’s Eve, stroopwafel is a thin waffle cookie with caramel in the middle, which is a national favorite.  They also love “the Dutch drop” which is a black licorice that can be found everywhere. They make them soft sweet, soft salt, hard sweet and hard salt.

So let us enjoy a Dutch meal:

The Menu

Starter

Bitterballen (A Deepfried, Meatball Served with Mustard)

Main Course

Boerenkool stamppot (Sausage with Mashed Potatoes and Kale)

Served with

Huzarensalade (Hussars Salad)

Dessert

Appeltaart (Dutch Apple Pie)

We set the scene with the color orange, as that is considered to be the color of the Netherlands.  The flag is now red, white and blue but it used to be orange white and blue, as that was the livery colors of the Dutch prince, William of Orange.  They even created a carrot, that was orange in color, to honor of their prince.  We added to our decor, an anchor, representing the seafaring nation, a picture of a windmill and little wooden shoes, known as clogs, called Klompen.  They are still worn by farmers, and gardeners are a popular tourist souvenir.

We began our meal with a pub fare, called bitterballen.  These are deep fried, meatballs but inside they contain a mixture of bechamel and minced seasoned beef.  Sometimes they are made as long sausages, instead of balls and are then called kroket.  They are both served with spicy mustard and enjoyed with an icy cold, Heineken beer.  These were so yummy and went especially well with soft gouda cheese, making for a lovely appetizer.  The Dutch are actually the largest exporter of cheese in the world.

We said, “Eet samkelijk” which means, “Bon appetit” in Dutch.  For the main course, we served their most famous dish, Boerenkool stamppot.  This dish is made with sausage, alongside a mashed potato and curly kale.  It was hard for me to make this dish as it was 105 degrees outside at my house and it seemed way too hardy to enjoy in this kind of heat.  The truth is, we thoroughly enjoyed it anyway. It was a simple and delicious combination of flavors.

We served the main course with a Hussars salad, which is a potato salad that contains several other ingredients.  Typically it is made with beef, however I eliminated the meat and kept it vegetarian.  This is probably the best potato salad I have ever tasted.  It was dressed with mayonnaise, toned down with white wine vinegar, making it much lighter than what I am used to.  It was the apple that added the tart, lovely, bite in the mix.  This salad would make a perfect lunch or light summer dinner.  We loved it!

For dessert, it was appeltaart.  This was probably the best apple dessert ever.  Saying this statement is almost sacrilege.  My grandmother, Agnes, made a mean apple pie and I often channel her spirit whenever I have to make a dough.  She was beyond amazing in how she could just whip up  a meal for eight or more people and bake three or four pies, after 18 holes on the golf course. I believe I got my passion for food from her.  I thought of her often making this dessert.  She was able to peel an entire apple with a paring knife, keeping the skin in one long, curling piece.  I like to try this because it reminds me of her.  This apple tart is similar to a pie but the crust is much softer than a pie, almost melting in your mouth.  The flavor was divine.  This dessert will be a staple in my home for years to come.  We enjoyed it with a cup of coffee, as the Dutch are the world’s biggest coffee drinkers.  They drink an average of 3.2 cups a day.  They also were the first to import coffee to Europe on a large scale, way back in 1600s.

As we say goodbye to most fascinating country, I leave you with a lovely Dutch proverb:

“Gezelligheid kent geen tijd” which means literally ”Coziness knows no time” or an English translation is:  “Time spent together is time well spent”.

Until next time,

“Vaarwel” which means, “Farewell.”

Darlene Longacre

Myanmar is what this country is called today, but it is also known as Burma.  The official, English name was changed from the Union of Burma to the Union of Myanmar, in 1989.  It was the ruling military junta who changed the name to wipe away remnants of the English colonial period.  Since this was not done by the people, many countries did not recognize the new name and it is still a bit uncertain as to what the country should be called.  Burma came from Bama, which is the name of one of the largest ethnic groups.  However, this one group does not represent all the people.  There are over a hundred other ethnic groups who call the country home.  Myanmar is believed to mean a “fast and strong people” but also comes from the name of the majority Burmese, Bamar, ethnic group.  It was not just the country name that was changed; many of the city names were changed as well.  For example, the old capital city of Rangoon is now called Yangon and remains the largest city, however it is no longer the capital.   So, although confusing, you would be correct to call this country Burma or Myanmar.  I chose Myanmar simply because that is how it showed up in my world atlas book.

Located in southeastern Asia, she has a long coastline along the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.  Her neighbors are Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Laos and China.  Burmese is the official language but nearly one hundred ethnic languages are spoken as well.  About ninety percent of the population is Buddhist, with Christian and Muslim minorities.

Myanmar has an intriguing and rich history.  Stone tools were discovered dating back to 11,000 BC.  In the 11^th century, the Bamar, King Anawrahta, converted the land to Theravada Buddhism.  This was considered to be the Golden Age.  He built the first temples at Bagan (Pagan.)  It was during this age that thousands of stupa, dome shaped Buddhist shrines, sprouted up under successive kings.  From the 11^th to 13^th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone.  It is believed that so much money was poured into the building of the stupas that it ended up being the demise of the kingdom.  Today only about 2200 remain, after earthquake and war damage over the years.  The most recent earthquake was in 2016.  That earthquake alone destroyed nearly four hundred temples.  Myanmar has started a reconstruction effort with the help of UNESCO.  This area is now an important tourist attraction for the country.

Myanmar gained Independence from the British back in 1948, after being under their rule since 1885.  There was a brief time during World War II when the Japanese took over the area and it became a major, battle ground, during which time, much of the country was destroyed.  After gaining independence, there was a coup in 1962.  The military junta took over and began to shape a single-party, socialist system.  It was considered a pariah state while under this oppressive rule.  The generals who ran the country suppressed almost all dissent, which was symbolized by the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  Her late father, General Aung San, was considered to be the Father of Burma and was assassinated on July 19^th, 1947.  The military junta was accused of gross human rights abuses, which resulted in worldwide condemnation and harsh sanctions.  Since independence, civil wars have been a constant problem.  Even today, foreign journalists and visitors have to obtain special permits to travel to areas where civil war continues.

The country, in turmoil, was forced to make changes when they held “free” elections in 1990.  Although the party of Aung San Suu Kyi won 81 percent of the seats, the military junta refused to cede power.  She was under house arrest for 15 of 21 years between 1989 and 2010, which made her one of the world’s most prominent political prisoners.  In a landmark election in 2015, her party won a majority in both houses.  In the beginning of 2016, and for the first time since the military coup of 1962, a non-military president took office, named Htin Kyaw.  Despite the win, the military still remained in charge of many aspects of government.  Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, is constitutionally barred from becoming president.  A role similar to Prime Minister was created for her, called State Counselor.  Her presence in government and as a Nobel Peace Prize winner back in 1991, remains a sign of hope for a successful transition to a free, democratic system.

The country has promise as an emerging economy.  It is projected to have a growth rate of nearly eight percent for the next several years.  Their main agricultural industry is rice, which covers about 60 percent of the country’s cultivated land.  Garment production is an important industry as well.  The Myanmar government introduced a meager minimum wage for garment workers in 2015, of $2.80 per day.  The country has some great natural resources, such as gems, especially rubies and sapphires, although many top retailers will not purchase them due to inhumane conditions in the mines.  Oil and gas production has increased recently.  However, tourism will be a massively growing sector of the economy, as the world wants to see this land that was off limits for so many years.

As we look into the cuisine of this mystical nation, we can right away see how blessed it is with its neighbors’ influences alone.  Indian, Chinese and Thai influences are the most prominent.  Myanmar is a large country and therefore has regional and ethnic differences as well.  Rice, both regular and sticky, are staples.  Fish sauce and fermented seafood are used extensively in the cuisine.  Mohinga, rice vermicelli noodles in a fish broth, is considered to be the national dish and is often eaten for breakfast.  Seafood is common in the coastal cities, whereas meat and poultry are more common inland.  Pork is the most often consumed meat, as the cow is revered by devout Buddhists.  Vegetarian dishes are also prevalent.  Freshwater fish and shrimp from the rivers, are used in a variety of ways and are an important source of protein.

They also enjoy a large number of fruits and vegetables.  Salads are especially loved and often several are provided at once.  Condiments are always available, from sweet, to sour, savory and hot.  This allows you to make your dish according to your taste.  In traditional Burmese, medicine foods are divided into two classes, heating or cooling, based on their effects on one’s body.  They also have some interesting superstitions about food, like you shouldn’t eat chili while pregnant or your child will not have a good head of hair.

So let’s enjoy a Burmese meal:

  The Menu

Starter

Baya Kyaw (Spiced Yellow Split Pea fritters)

served with Myanmar Dipping Sauce

Salad

Laphet Thoke (Fermented, Green Tea Leaf Salad)

Main Course

 Mohinga (Fish Base Soup with Rice Noodles)

Dessert   

Falooda (Rose Flavored Milk Drink)

We set bamboo mats on the floor to sit and eat at a low table, as would be customary in Myanmar.  We decorated with a peacock, as it is the national bird.  It is common to eat only with your right hand, taking a piece of rice first making it into a ball and then dipping it in an assorment of dishes.  I did not make rice for our feast, instead Mohinga, the national dish was chosen for the main course, which is filled with rice noodles, which we ate with chopsticks.  We enjoyed a beer with our meal, which is very popular there.

Our first course was spiced, yellow, split pea fritters.  They were easy to make and delicious right out of the fryer, with a little dip into the sweet and sour dipping sauce.  The fritters are spiced up with chili pepper as well as cumin and turmeric.  We loved these little morsels. An interesting little note, when you want more or want to get your servers attention in Myanmar,  you make a smooching/kissing sound.

Typically, in Myanmar, the whole meal would be served at once  but we began with the fritters and next up was the famous, Laphet Thoke.  This is a fermented, green tea leaf, salad that includes all sorts of crunchy bits.  The fermentation takes about four days, so you need to plan ahead to include this in your menu.  I am totally addicted to this salad.  It is everything I love about southeast Asian cuisine,  The star of the salad is fermented green tea leaves, which are slightly bitter but in a good way.  The salad, also includes: cabbage, fried split peas, garlic, toasted sesame seeds, roasted peanuts, plus tomatoes and dried shrimp.  It hits every taste sensation.  It is sweet, sour, salty and with a bit of umami from the fish sauce.  The texture is also amazing.  It was dressed with a simple mixture of lime, sugar, fish sauce, and garlic oil.  This is my new favorite thing.  As far as I can tell, Mynamar is the only country that actually eats tea leaves.  Perhaps it will become the latest food trend.

Mohinga is the national dish and usually eaten for breakfast.  I really wanted to try it, so I made it as part of our Burmese meal.  It has an onion paste, base that is flavored with lemongrass, chilies, ginger, garlic and  shrimp paste and a delicious, catfish broth.  The soup recipe also included a banana stem. which I couldn’t find, so I substituted banana blossoms instead.  The broth was served over rice noodles, topped with chopped hard-boiled eggs, coriander, limes, crispy onions, fish sauce and chili flakes.  It is easy to see why this is the national dish… you can make it into whatever you like.

For dessert we served falooda. This is likely an influence from India but this type of drink/dessert is popular throughout many countries.  It has a bread pudding base and the milk is flavored with sweet rose syrup.  It has sago or pearl tapioca, along with sweet basil seeds  and topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  It was pink and delicious, oh I almost forgot to mention the sweet jello bits in it as well.  It was a perfect treat on a hot, summer like day…….. YUM!

As we say goodbye to this mystical country called Myanmar, we decided to try our hand (actually our feet) at the national sport, called chinlone.  It is somewhat similar to hacky-sack, where you just use your feet to kick a small ball around.  They do it as if it was a dance and the game can be mesmerizing  to watch when played by pros.  We were lucky to keep the ball in the air for only a few kicks, but we had fun trying.

I leave you with a few Burmese proverbs:

When it rains, collect the water.

If you really want honesty, then don’t ask questions you don’t really want the answer to.

and

Wise man’s anger never comes out.

Until next time.

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Mocambique is what the Portuguese called this African area.  The name likely originated from the name of an ancient Arab Sheikh, who lived on a northern island.  His name was Mussa Al-Bik.  Arab traders made their way down the eastern African coast and mixed with the African people, creating a culture and language called Swahili.  This culture, to this day, has a strong influence in many east African countries, including the northern areas of Mozambique.

Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa, right on the beautiful Indian Ocean.  It has many neighbors, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe to the west, South Africa and Swaziland to the south.  It has a varied topography, from forests and swamps to mountains, grasslands, sand dunes and beaches.  It is home to many rivers, however the Zambezi River is very important and home to the Cahora Bassa Dam, one of Africa’s largest hydroelectric projects.  However, the river can have its drawbacks, as it has experienced some devastating floods that have displaced thousands of people.

Mozambique is home to an archipelago, comprising many islands, which are stunningly beautiful, with white, sandy beaches and some of the best diving reefs in all of Africa.  The island Mozambique in the north, is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of their fastest growing tourist destinations.  Prior to 1898, it was the capital of Portuguese East Africa.  The Portuguese colonized Mozambique back in the early 1500s, after explorer, Vasco da Gamo, landed there in search of the spice route.  It became the first European settlement in east Africa, colonized by the Portuguese.  Before Vasco da Gamo, Greek, Persians, Chinese, Arabs and Indians had made their way there, making it a crossroads of trade and an international hub, at least until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1898.

Today, the capital city is Maputo.  Mozambique gained independence on June 25, 1975, after 500 long, years of occupation by the Portuguese.  Their reign ended following a coup in Lisbon, when colonialism died.  During the time of colonization, there was much oppression.  Mozambique was a hub for gold, ivory and slave traders.  At least one million Mozambicans were sold into slavery and it is estimated that for every one that made it onto a ship, at least 4 died on route to the ship, due to mistreatment and starvation.  There is a slave garden on Mozambique, to remember those who were lost and the sadness there is palpable even today.

Independence did not bring about good change.  Eighteen years of communism followed and then turned into a 16 year brutal, civil war.  The civil war was between two parties, Renamo and Frelimo.  Basically Renamo’s strategy was to destroy every building that Frelimo built.  This destruction extended to even small villages, until virtually the whole country was destroyed. Many people fled the countryside to the cities.  Many shantytowns were erected with poor sanitation, which led to the spread of disease, including AIDS.  The government worked hard to combat the problem by building low cost housing but they have had a hard time keeping up with the population growth.  The government has however, made great strides in removing the millions of landmines that were left during the war, declaring Mozambique “landmine free” in 2015.

Today, Mozambique is on the mend.  It is often listed as one of the fastest growing nations in Africa.  If you think about it, it is pretty easy to grow when basically everything needs rebuilding.  Despite this, many still live in poverty.  They are one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world, although things are slowly changing.  The United Nations has played an important peacekeeping role and helps to ensure the elections are fair and democratic.  One of the remarkable aspects of the people of Mozambique is their optimism and how they have chosen not to hold grudges about their past.  Today it is a hopeful place.  Every September 24^th is a day celebrated as, “The Day of Armed Soldiers,” remembering the war to gain independence from colonialism, not from the Portuguese people.  On that date, there was a massacre of nearly 500 people.  They have a saying, “We swear that nobody will make us again slaves”.

The population of Mozambique is overwhelmingly made up of Bantu people.  It is also a very young population, with 45 percent under the age of 15.  The official language is Portuguese, which is mostly spoken as a second language by only about half of the population.  Native languages are widely spoken with Makuwa, Sena and Swahili, being the majority.  The literacy rate is a scant 58 percent, due to lack of formal education.  The largest religion is Christianity, with significant minorities of Muslims and African traditional religions.  Nearly 80 percent of the population survives on subsistence farming for work and food.  Recent discovery of large natural gas reserves in 2012, gave Mozambique its best hope to dramatically change its economy.  Of course, as the country continues to improve its infrastructure, tourism too will surely play an important role in enhancing its GDP.

The country is home to several national parks.  Efforts are being made to rebuild them, along with the animal populations that are native to the area.  The Gorongosa National Park, which has over one million acres of land, has established a joint management relationship with a US non-profit in hopes of returning it to its rightful place as one of Africa’s greatest parks.  Their business model balances the needs of both people and wildlife, while protecting and saving the park.  Nearly 70,000 large animals roam freely today in the park.

As we look into the cuisine of Mozambique, it has been greatly influenced by the Portuguese.  They introduced new crops, flavorings and cooking methods.  At one time, Mozambique was the largest exporter of cashew nuts in the world.  Other ingredients common in the cuisine include: onions, bay leaves, garlic, paprika, red peppers, coriander, sugarcane, corn, millet, sorghum and potatoes.  Ncima, a thick porridge, made from maize, is a staple, as are cassava and rice.  These staples, just like in many African countries, are served with sauces of vegetables, meat, beans or fish.  A seafood stew called Matata, made with clams and peanut sauce is a favorite.  Port wines and Madeira wines are common.  Seafood is abundant along the coast in Mozambique and they are especially famous for their amazing prawns and crayfish.  Some believe they are the best in the world.  The crustaceans are typically grilled and basted with their famous peri-peri sauce, a spicy and smoky sauce, made from chilies.  Chicken is also served with the peri-peri sauce and usually accompanied with chips (fries) and a salad.  The influence of the spice trade, as well as the Portuguese, have made Mozambique a unique and delicious destination for food.

So let’s enjoy a Mozambican meal:

The Menu

Salad

Salada Pera de Abacate (Avocado Salad)

Main Dish

Peri-Peri Chicken

(Chicken basted with Spicy-Spicy Sauce)

Served with Peri Peri Sauce

and Chips (French Fries)

Dessert

Bolo Polana (Cashew and Potato Cake)

We set the table with the colors of their flag: red, yellow, green, black and white, all having significant meaning for the Mozambicans.  They have the only flag in the world that actually has an AK47 pictured on it.  We decorated with animal figurines, representing their national parks, shells, to represent the beautiful coast lines and islands and peri-peri peppers, for which they are famous.  We began with a toast of Madeira wine and said, Saude! Pronounced, sah-oo-jee!, which means “Cheers” in Portuguese.

We began with the avocado salad, paired with peaches and tomatoes, and served over a bed of lettuce.  It was adorned with a delicious, citrusy, dressing that hit all the right notes.  This dressing, made with herbs and peach syrup, just may be my new favorite salad dressing for summer.

For the main course, we savored the amazing peri-peri chicken.  The sauce was awesome.  Every family likely has their own version of the sauce and the heat can be adjusted to your tolerance level.  The spicy and smoky sauce, flavored the chicken perfectly.  We served the chicken with chips, as they are called, which are basically french fries.

For dessert, a most unusual cake, that I was very skeptical of at first.  The cake called Bolo Polana, gets its name from a suburb of Maputo.  It’s made with caju or cashews and mashed potatoes to form a cake.  Honestly, the end result was a rich, moist, nutty dessert that was lovely.

After dinner we decided to play a game of Scrabble.  Did you know that Mozambique is the only, one-word country to use all five vowels in its name and is the highest scoring, country name, worth 34 points, without extra bonus squares?

As we say goodbye to Mozambique,  I leave you with a few Mozambican proverbs:

“A sinking vessel needs no navigation.”

“There are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree.”

and

“A reflection does not see itself.”

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

As we welcome 2017 I am filled with great anticipation.  This week I will be in transit as I embark on a trip of a lifetime.  Here’s what is in store:

My upcoming trip takes me to Mauritius, (an island nation in the Indian Ocean) a place I call “Delicious Mauritius.”  There I will be guided by a renowned chef, who will personally take me and my husband Dan around the island to explore the full cultural experience, from a local perspective.  Of course staying with a chef has its perks, and as we cook together I will share our culinary creations as well.  I have not forgotten that I owe you a great dessert recipe for Mauritius.

Next I will be in Zanzibar, another island that belongs to Tanzania, where I will be cooking with Swahili women in a small village called Jambiani.  I will explore the main city of Stone Town, with its rich history dating back to antiquity.  I will also be visiting the luxurious north end of the island, known as a honeymoon destination and famous for its pristine beauty and deep sea fishing.

I then make my way to Nairobi, Kenya where I will fulfill a lifelong dream of feeding a baby elephant with a giant bottle of milk at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Refuge.  My husband and I are foster parents to two elephants; their named Esampu and Komak.  I also will bring highlights of our stay at the Giraffe Manor. This is where the giraffes dine with the guests of the manor by sticking their long necks through the dining room windows for treats.  This is also the place where Karen Von Blixen wrote her famed novel, Out of Africa.

After that, I head to the great Serengeti in Tanzania where I will meet with the local Masai tribe.  My travels will include a week long photographic safari of the great wildebeest migration and all that an African Safari has to offer.  I have been invited to cook at several local lodges along the way and will be preparing customary Tanzanian cuisine.

My next adventure will be in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. This is a place where the old and new collide in fascinating ways and where nearly every country in the world is represented by their cuisine.  There I will trek through the desert on a camel and have an authentic Bedouin experience with food and dancing.  I will of course explore the old souks, (markets) that still operate in the old city and where spices, textiles and gold have been traded for centuries.

Lastly I head to France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, England and soon after, Cuba.

I can’t wait to share this adventure with you. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to sign up to join the journey, it’s free and that way you won’t miss a thing!

Warmest Regards,

Darlene

Mextzlixcictlico, is believed to be what Mexico was first called.  The word combines three sounds in the old Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, also known as Mexicas.  Mextzli means ‘moon”, Xictlii means “center” or “umbilical” and co means “place.”  Mextzlixcictlico translated means, “place in the center of the moon” or “belly button of the moon.”  Mexicas were warrior tribes who came from a place thought to be in the north-western region of Mexico, called Aztlan.  They arrived in the Valley of Mexico at the beginning of the 13^th century.  They settled on a small island in the Texcoco Lake.  They called this lake, “the lake of the moon” and in the center was Tenochtitlan, their capital city (now Mexico City.)

Legend says that the Aztecs left their home to look for a place to start anew.  Their god had told them to find a lake where an eagle with a serpent in its beak would stand on a nopal cactus, growing from a rock.  After much traveling they found exactly what their god described and were sure it was the sign they had been seeking.  Tenochtitlan translated means, “place where a cactus grows from a stone.”  This symbol of the eagle with the snake on the cactus is the national emblem of Mexico and is proudly displayed on their flag.  When the Spanish arrived in 1519, they could not pronounce Mextzlixcictlico, and so it was shortened to Mexico.  In Spanish it is pronounced Mejico, with the j pronounced like an h.  The country was ultimately named Estado Unidos Mexicanos or the United Mexican States.  There are 31 States in Mexico, plus Mexico City, known as the Federal District.

Mexico is located in the southern part of North America.  It is bordered to the north by the United States of America (the second largest border in the Americas after Canada) and to the southeast by Belize and Guatemala.  Baja California is a peninsula of arid land that extends between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.  It is where the desert meets the sea.  The mainland, as it is called, is surrounded by the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean to the west and Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of Campeche (formed by Mexico’s other peninsula, the Yucatan) to the east, as well as the Caribbean Sea.  Mexico is the 14^th largest country in the world by size.

Mexico has something for everyone; it has a variety of geographical regions and climate variations, from high deserts and scrubland, to lush tropical jungles and 6000 miles of spectacular coastline.  Central Mexico is mostly a volcanic plateau, surrounded by vast mountain ranges, running north to south.  Mexico is located on the “Ring of Fire” and has suffered from several major earthquakes.  Mexico City was built on top of the old Aztec capital and is actually sinking.  The city is home to some 24 million people and is the second most populated city in the world.  They consume about 287 billion gallons of water each year.  However, because 70 percent of their water comes from the aquifer below the city, it has actually sunk, more than 32 feet in just the last 60 years.

Mexico has an amazing history of notable ancient civilizations.  This period is referred to as the Pre-Columbian period.  There are at least five major civilizations that existed in Mexico: the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Toltec and Aztec.  First populated some 13,000+ years ago, the country had complex indigenous civilizations long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.  What these civilizations left behind, is why Mexico is home to over 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  There are places like the Pre-Hispanic towns of Chichen-Itza, Tulum, Teotihuacan and Uxmal, to the ancient rock paintings of the Serra de San Francisco and historic centers such as Zacatacas, Puebla, Morelia, Oaxaca, Monte Alban and San Miguel de Allende, to name just a few.

Mexico was under Spanish rule for nearly 300 years.  The Mexican people, led by a priest named Father Hidalgo, rose up against the Spanish on September 16, 1810.  Hidalgo is considered to be the Father of modern Mexico and Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th each year.  This date actually marked the beginning of the war.  It was not until a decade later that Mexico declared independence from Spain, on September 28, 1821.  Since her independence and through many civil wars and revolutions, Mexico’s borders are what they are today.  It used to be a much larger country, incorporating a vast swath of the USA’s western states.

The Spanish left an indelible mark on the culture of Mexico.  Spanish is the language they speak and Mexico is the largest Spanish speaking nation in the world.  They also adopted the Catholic faith and 88 percent of the population are Catholics.  Many of their cities were built in colonial times with beautiful churches and town squares, called Zocalas, which make up the hub of activity in the center of the city.  They have incorporated local religious practices and customs from the pre-Christian era into their celebrations and festivals.  For example, the very popular “Day of the Dead” represents a fusion of All Souls Day, with rituals from earlier Aztec and Meso-American tribal customs.

The largest ethnic group in Mexico is Mestizo, a mix of Spanish and Indian ancestry. The next largest group is the indigenous population, mostly Amerindian, who keep their unique customs alive and well.  The constitution recognizes 62 indigenous groups living in Mexican territory and grants them autonomy and protects their culture and languages.  Americans, Europeans, Africans and other immigrants from Asia and the Middle-East, make up the balance.

As we look into the cuisine of Mexico, it is extremely varied by region.  The north is famous for its ranch culture, where the most popular dishes are based on beef and goat.  Dishes like machaca, arrachera (fajitas) and cabrito (baby goat) are famous.  Cheese, in many varieties, comes from this region; including queso fresco, that is loved all over the world.  Corn tortillas are ubiquitous throughout Mexico.  However, the north has created at least forty different types of flour tortillas and created the burrito in Sonora, which has also become world renowned.  Baja California is home to Mexico’s oldest wine region with a reputation for delicious wines.

The north Pacific coast supplies much of the country’s grains, fruits and vegetables. The area is famous for pozole (an hominy soup), birria (a stew made of beef, lamb or pork with chili peppers and spices), menudo (made from cow intestines) and many pork dishes.  Jalisco is famous for its tequila.  Of course, seafood is abundant along the coast.  It is generally cooked with chili peppers and European spices.

The Bajio area is famous for its carnitas, (deep fried pork) originating from Michoacan.  The area is also famous for its sweet desserts, like arroz con leche, (a rice pudding) and cajeta (goat’s milk caramel).

The south Pacific coast, incorporating the area of Oaxaca, is famous for their indigenous cuisine.  Chicken and pork are staple ingredients, along with seven different moles (pronounced mo- lays.)  Chocolate is also used frequently, hand ground and combined with nuts and cinnamon for a delicious beverage.  Corn is another staple food of the region and used in tortillas and there is a cheese similar to a string cheese, simply called Oaxaca cheese, made from this region as well.

The food from the Yucatan region is based on Mayan food, with Caribbean influences.  One of the main spices is achiote, which gives the food a reddish color.  Recados, are pastes made with achiote and used on chicken and pork.  Pibil is a cooking method used in this area where meat and vegetables are wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a pit.  This area also loves habaneros, a fiery chili that is typically served on the side.  Tropical fruits are plentiful and used to make delicious salsas.

The Gulf region of Tabasco and Veracruz, is a fusion of Afro-Cuban and Spanish cuisines.  The Europeans introduced herbs to the region which are used to make dishes like, Huachinango a la veracruzana, red snapper, prepared in a tomato sauce, seasoned with bay leaf, onions, capers, olives and sweet yellow peppers.  Yes, the beloved hot sauce, called Tabasco, comes from Tabasco.  Dishes made with peanuts along with plantains, yucca and sweet potatoes are the Africans’ contribution to their cuisine.  The whole area is teeming with seafood, used often in the dishes from this region.

Central Mexico is where every type of Mexican cuisine can be found.  Mexico City’s street foods are very popular, with taco stands and tortas (sandwiches) found on nearly every corner.  You can find restaurants featuring pre-Hispanic food, to the latest haute, Mexican cuisine and every style of cooking in between.

Corn, chocolate and chilies are just a few of the gifts from Mexico, to the world.

So let’s enjoy a Mexican meal:

The Menu

Starter

Campanchana (Seafood Cocktail)

Soup

Pozole Roja (Chicken and Hominy Soup with Red Sauce)

Main Course

 Chiles en Nogada (Stuffed Chiles with Walnut Sauce)

 Dessert   

Flan (Caramel Custard)

We set the mood with Mariachi music, for which Mexico is famous.  We wore sombreros (big, mexican hats) and decorated the table with a tortilla press, terracotta pottery, molinas (wooden chocolate whisks) and a Dahlia pinnata, (Mexico’s national flower.)

We began our meal with one of my favorite things, typically found on a street cart, it is called, campachana.  It is a seafood cocktail that is served with the broth in which the seafood is cooked.  It usually has octopus, shimp, squid, scallops and sometimes oysters.  This is served in a cup and topped with cilantro, jalapeno, onions and lime.  It is heaven in a cup.

Next we had pozole, pronounced “po-so-lay”, a chicken (or often times made with pork) and hominy soup in a red sauce, that is popular all over Mexico.  It is not always made with a red sauce, but this is my favorite style.  The red comes from a combination of pureed dried chilis which impart a delicous flavor.  Hominy is a giant, white corn kernel.  When it cooks it almost appears as though it is blooming.  It also gives wonderful flavor to the soup.  Pozole, whether white, green, or red, is always served with accompaniments:  limes, radishes, chopped cabbage or lettuce, white onion and tostadas.  Spices such as dried oregano, ground chili or a mexican mix, like tajin, are also on the table.

For the main course, I chose to make a very old recipe, that was created for the a general and his men who were to fight for Mexican independence.  The recipe comes from the nuns in Puebla.  It is a complex recipe and I can not even imagine making this without a blender.  Back then they would have ground the walnuts for the sauce using a metate.  It must have taken them days to prepare.  This dish features the colors of the Mexican flag; the walnut sauce being white, pomegranate seeds for the red and parsley for the green.  It is therefore a favorite for Independence Day celebrations, when pomegranates come into season.  Basically, this dish is a poblano chili stuffed with meat, fruit, nuts and an array of spices, all mixed together called picadillo.  It is then fried in an egg batter and topped with the walnut sauce and garnishes.  Honestly, this recipe was so different from any chili relleno we have ever had, I was not sure what to expect.  All I can say is that those nuns had divine inspiration.  The complexity of flavors and textures in this dish can be summed up in one word,  Sublime!

For dessert we served one of the most widespread delights, flan; a delicious egg custard with caramel sauce.  It is extremely popular all over Mexico, and the world, and was a wonderful ending to our most amazing Mexican meal.

Growing up and living in Southern California, Mexico was a place  that along with my husband  I often visited.  We had many interesting adventures there.  In fact, we were even married at the Twin Dolphin Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, 28 years ago.

Please tune in next time for some first hand stories of our journeys to Mexico, where we experienced their warm hospitality, local traditions and shared in their amazing cuisine.  I’ll also bring you more delicious Mexican recipes, like:

Mole Poblano (Mexican Sauce)

Corn Tortillas (Handmade)

Enmoladas (Chicken Enchiladas in Mole Sauce)

Until then, I leave you with a famous Mexican saying, “Mi casa es su casa”,  which means, “My house is your house.”

Hasta la juego (See you later)

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Mauritius is a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean and considered part of Africa.  Its neighbors are: Madagascar, to the west, Reunion Island, to the southwest and the Seychelles, to the north.  Mauritius also controls three other small islands.  When the islands were discovered, sometime in the ninth century by Arab sailors, they were uninhabited. The Arabs were not interested in settling on the island but did give the island its first name, Dina Arobi.  In 1505 a Portuguese sailor discovered the island and called it Cerne, although the Portuguese did not settle on the island either.

It was 1598 when the Dutch colonized the island.  They landed on a bay which was named Warwyck Haven, after their commander and today it is known as Grand Port.  The islands’ name Mauritius, came during this period and it was named after the Prince of Holland Mauritz de Nassau. Today it is called Moris, in Mauritian Creole and L‘ile Maurice, in French.

The Dutch abandoned the island in 1710 after doing irreversible damage to the indigenous flora and fauna.  When the island was first discovered it was covered in dense forest.  They exploited the black ebony trees for their timber and left behind fugitive slaves, java deer, and sugarcane.  The famous dodo bird, indigenous to this island, also became extinct during this period, due to over hunting.  The dodo bird remains an important symbol to Mauritius.  It is proudly displayed on their coat of arms, and is their national animal.  The dodo bird got worldwide attention from Carroll’s, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, where it was a character in the book. The bird became flightless due to a lack of predators on the island which made it an easy mark for hunters, as it lost its habitat.  An image of the bird in a famous painting, called Edward’s Dodo, is housed in the Natural History Museum in London and is considered to be the most accurate depiction of the extinct dodo.

After the Dutch left the island, the French settled there in 1713.  They renamed the island, Ile de France.  They settled on the north-western side where they established their main harbor.  Port Louis is now the capital today of Mauritius.  This was a prosperous time for the island.  It was ultimately however, the British who took over the island, after a fierce battle which they initially lost, called the, Battle of Grand Port.  The island was renamed Mauritius under British rule until they gained independence on March 12, 1968 and then later became officially known as the Republic of Mauritius.  Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam is considered to be the “Father of the nation”, as he led them to independence and did much to advance their development.

Today the country is a stable democracy with free elections.  It has one of Africa’s highest per capita incomes.  Sugarcane and tea are both important crops for the nation.  Tourism and the growing financial sector contribute greatly to the GDP.  The majority of the population is indo-Mauritians, people of Indian descent, who were brought over by the British to work the sugarcane fields after slavery was abolished, in 1835.  About one quarter of the population is Creole, a mixed race of African descent and a small minority is Sino-Mauritians, of Chinese descent. This makes the country a multi-cultural society with great diversity.  The population is used to living together in peace and harmony.

The government sees to it that everyone can practice their religion without any prejudices.  Many holidays are celebrated in Mauritius based on the ethnic and religious makeup of the population.  For example the Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated as an official public holiday, as are a couple of important Hindu festivals, such as Cavadee and Maha Shivatree.  Hindu is the religion of about half of the population.  Christian holidays, such as All Saints Day and Christmas Day, are also official holidays.  Christians make up about one third of the population.  A public holiday for Muslims is observed that marks the end of Ramadan, which is a three day celebration, called Eid-Ul-Fitr.  On Fridays, Muslim men are allowed to attend the call to prayer during working hours.  Muslims and Buddhists make up the balance of this beautiful and diverse nation.

Mauritius does not have an official language however, the main language used by the government is English.  English is also what is taught in public schools.  Mauritian Creole is the most commonly spoken language, although there is no official written standard for it.  Mauritian Creole is French based, while incorporating words from English, Dutch and Portuguese.  French is the language that is most commonly used in the mass media and formal settings.  Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri and Mandarin are other languages spoken on the island.

As we look into the cuisine of Mauritius, just say the word “delicious” and you properly pronounce Mauritius; it rhymes perfectly and it is oh so appropriate when it comes to their cuisine.  Think of all the influences that have passed through this nation and remained on this island nation over the generations and you get a sense of the variety and fusion that is singularly Mauritian.  Culinary traditions from India, Asia, France, Britain and Africa makeup the largest influences.  Of course, the creatures from the sea play an important part of the cuisine as well.  Spices, lend another distinctive role: saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and mustard seed, along with herbs such as: thyme, basil and curry leaves, all help to define the unique Mauritian flavor.  All different kinds of tropical fruits are also abundant.  A couple of Indian delicacies, like samosas and dholl puri, have become famous on the island.  Glorious Asian soups and dumplings are also loved.  Roti and rice are enjoyed with endless curries as well as flavorful dals, (a variety of lentil soup.)  Often times, achards (spicy, pickled vegetables) accompany the dishes.  There is one sauce however that is ubiquitous and can be had with just about any type of meat or seafood.  It is called raougaille (pronounced rooh-guy).  It is a delicious, spicy tomato and onion sauce that is a variation of the French ragout that hits all the perfect notes in Mauritian cuisine.  It is enjoyed daily by most locals there.

So let’s enjoy a Mauritian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Dholl Puri (Yellow Split Pea Wrap)

Stuffed with Masala Gros Pois (Lima Bean Curry)

And

Satini Cotomili (Coriander Chutney)

Salad

Salde Ourite (Octopus Salad)

Main Course

Prawn Rougaille (Shrimp in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Dessert

Banana Beignets

We set the mood first by putting on sega music. This is the traditional music of Mauritius and like its food, has turned into a fusion.  The sega music mixed with reggae is called seggae.  It is an African sound with island character.  The origin of the sound comes from the music of the slaves that were brought to the island. The words are in Creole and the sega is danced without the feet leaving the ground, only the rest of the body moves.

We decorated with the colors of the Mauritian flag; red for the bloodshed of slavery and colonization, blue for the Indian Ocean, yellow for the golden sunshine and green for the lush vegetation.  Sugarcane and tea, along with a picture of the national flower, called the boucle d’oreille, completed the décor.

We began with the common, street snack food called, dholl puri.  This was two wraps made from yellow split peas which resembled a tortilla.  These wraps were then stuffed with a lima bean curry and coriander chutney and rolled all together like a burrito.  It was love at first bite!  The wraps can be filled any number of types of curries and chutneys.  Now I understand why this is one of Mauritius most popular street foods.

Next on the menu was a delectable octopus salad.  I love octopus and this is lovely way to enjoy it.  It was mixed with onions, chili, cucumber, sweet peppers and tomato.  The dressing was a lively one, made with oil, vinegar, lime juice, mustard seeds and a little salt and pepper; fresh and delightful!

For the main course, we savored the prawn rougaille; the delicious, spicy, tomato sauce is loved all over the island.  This one was made with extra-large shrimp.  It was quick and easy to make and was enjoyed alongside white rice.  It absolutely made us fall in love with Mauritius cuisine.

For dessert, a super easy to make recipe of Banana Beignets, basically battered pieces of bananas fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon. A lovely dessert!

As we say goodbye to this beautiful, island nation, I leave you with this; back on April 15, 1896, Mark Twain’s ship arrived at Port Louis during a world lecture tour.  This is what he had to say in his book titled, Following the Equator.  “From one citizen you gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and then heaven was copied after Mauritius”

Until next time,

Cheers,

Darlene

The Maldivians call their country, “Dhivehi Raajje” meaning, “Kingdom of the Dhivehi people.” The capital and main island of the Maldives, is Male’.  In ancient times, it was called Mahal or Mahal Dvipa.  Male’ was always the most important island and where the king resided.  “Dives” means “islands”, so it is logical to conclude the name means, “The Islands of Male’.”  Another theory is derived from the Sanskrit work, “malavipa” meaning, “Garland of islands.”  This is a wonderful description of what makes up the country of the Maldives.  The Maldives are an archipelago of beautiful, white sandy, coral islands.  Palm trees sway in the breeze, along the turquoise blue, to jade green, crystal, clear waters of the Indian Ocean.  Most would simply call this, “Paradise.”

The Republic of the Maldives is more than 99 percent ocean.  It spans over 35,000 square miles, with only 115 square miles of land; making it the smallest country in Asia.  It has 26 natural atolls, 1192 islands, of which, only 200 or so are inhabited.  The Maldives Republic is also the lowest nation on earth in altitude, with an average elevation of only 6 feet.  The Maldives are located in Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, just south-southwest of India.  The islands have a rich, 3000 year old culture, as they have been a strategic location for seafarers for centuries.

It is believed the islands were first inhabited as early as 1500 BCE and then were settled in the fifth century BCE by Buddhist seafarers from India and Sri Lanka.  Contact with Arab travelers, over time, paved the way for the Maldives to adopt Islam as their religion.  Islam replaced Buddhism by 1153 CE when King Dovemi Kalaminja, officially accepted Islam.  The Maldives came under British protection in 1887 and they became fully independent on July 26, 1965.  The official language is Dhivehi, a pidgin language that is somewhat similar to the Sri Lankan language but with many nuances from assorted influences overtime.  It is the only country that speaks Dhivehi.  English is taught in schools and is the unofficial second language.

Today, Sunni Islam is the official religion.  Adherence is legally required for citizens by a revision of the constitution in 2008:  Article 9, Section D, states that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.”   It is the Sharia law that forms the basic code of law of the Maldives.  Most of the inhabited islands of the Maldives have several mosques.  They are beautiful, white washed buildings, many of them constructed of coral stone.  The gold-colored dome of the Mosque, known as the Islamic Center, is the first structure you will see when approaching the main Island of Male’.  Coral reefs are now protected worldwide, so coral is no longer used as a construction material.  Many of these old coral structures are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The beaches of the Maldives are mostly coralline and strangely, it is the parrot fish that gets the credit for most of that exquisite, fine, soft, white sand.  It is estimated that one parrot fish can produce about one ton of sand per year.  Yes, parrot poop, or what we know as their beautiful sand, is the result of undigested corals they eat.  Of course, there are other factors that make up sand as well, but only about five percent of the worlds’ beaches are coralline; most are made of quartz.

Fishing is a loved pastime and occupation in the Maldives. The area is teeming with all types of fish.  Fishing is the second largest industry in the Maldives, after tourism and employs about 20 percent of the population.  All fishing is done using fishing lines, as the use of nets is illegal.  The fishing fleet consists of one of the Maldivians most famous symbols, the Dhoni.  This is a small, flat bottomed, boat, perhaps inspired by the ancient, Arabian Dhow, famous for its curved bow.  Many dhonis have converted from sails to outboard motors, to increase the annual fish catch totals.  Tuna is one of their biggest exports.  Shipping is also another important industry for the Maldivians.

The Maldives are especially in jeopardy due to global warming and the rising ocean level.  In fact, the president in 2009, actually held an underwater cabinet meeting to bring world-wide attention to the problem.  The Maldives were also gravely affected by the massive tsunami that hit on December 26, 2004.  Eighty-two people died, fourteen of the islands became uninhabitable and another 79 islands were left without any safe drinking water.

Some islands of the Maldives, have spectacular resorts for tourism and do serve alcohol and allow bathing suits.  These two things are strictly forbidden on the other Islands.  The islands are world renowned for their beauty and tranquility and especially as honeymoon destinations.  The food served on the resort islands, catering to tourism, prepare about every type of cuisine imaginable.

The locals eat much differently and many of the food items are imported, as there is not much arable land on the islands.  The staples, of course, include fish and coconut, with most all the protein coming from the sea.  Coconuts are used in all its forms.  Coconut oil is used for cooking, coconut milk for curries and rice and grated coconut are components of most dishes. Coconut hulls, called copra, are a big export item.  Some vegetables are grown, such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, corn and millet.  Breadfruit, mangoes, pineapples, sugarcane, limes, bananas, taro and chili peppers are also grown, mostly in homestead gardens.  Fresh water is a constant concern, as it is getting harder to come by.  Rice, which is a staple food in the Maldives is imported.  The main influences in the Maldivian cuisine come from its closest neighbors, India and Sri Lanka.  The Maldivians make a unique dish called Garudiya that is a clear fish broth, which has been included on the Maldivian table for generations.  Some consider it to be the national dish.  I wanted to make it for this journey, but was unable to find fresh tuna at the market.  In this dish, after the tuna-based garudiya is cooked and all the water has evaporated, it forms a thick brown paste called Rihaakura, which is also used often in Maldivian dishes.

So let’s enjoy a Maldivian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Biskeemiyaa (Egg  and Cabbage Egg Rolls)

 Main Course

Tharukaaree Riha (Vegetable Curry)

Served with

Mas Aluvi Roshi (Fish and Potato Flat Bread)

 Dessert

Gerikin Baakibaa (Sweetened Condensed Milk Cake)

We set the table with the colors of the Maldivian flag; green for peace and prosperity and red for the bloodshed of the past.  The flag also has a white crescent shape, symbolizing Islam.  The national flower is a pink rose and we decorated with coconut palm fronds and shells.  The Maldives in medieval times supplied cowry shells, which were used as units of currency for trade.  Cowry shells are still abundant there.  A whale figurine was also part of the setting, since it is the one place on earth where nearly ten to twelve species of whales can be found; this includes the mighty blue whale (so large that a small child could crawl through the aorta of its heart.)  We put on Bodu Beru music, also known as big drum music, as a reminder of the relationship with east Africa, centuries ago.  The music has a rhythmic beat, often perceived as transcendental.

Our first course was a egg and cabbage egg roll, that was deep fried.  It had a hint of hot, green chilies and we absolutely devoured them.  This is a street food, called biskeemiyaa, which is often made with smoked tuna, as well; a perfect starter for any occasion.

For the main course, we savored a delectable, vegetable curry.  Curries of all types are loved in the Maldives; they are most often, made with fish.  For our main course, we decided to go vegetarian, since there was fish in the flat bread.  Rice is always served, as well as roshi, an Indian flat bread.  We made a special flat bread that was stuffed with tuna and potato.  It was delicious!

For dessert, we enjoyed a simple cake, made from sweetened, condensed milk.  It was amazing and was not too sweet.  It  would be lovely with any type tropical fruit found on the islands.  We served ours with strawberries and just a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

As we say goodbye to the beautiful islands and atolls, which make up the Maldives, we do so with hope, that that they will not succumb to global warming.  We hope to turn this problem around and save the Maldives for generations to come.  Because, everyone should experience paradise, at least once.

Did you know that there is an English word, derived from the Dhivehi language?   The word is atoll, the word in Dhivehi is, atholhu.

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Malaya, is what this country once was called, which means, “hill or high ground.”  Malay is the main ethnic group that inhabits the country.  The earliest Malays were referred to as Kun-lun people by the Chinese, back in 688 A.D.  Malays, or more specifically Austronesian's, were reported in the “Old Book of Tang”, as merchants who arrived in ships with valuable goods to trade with the Chinese.  Today the country is called Malaysia, which holds a rich history.  After gaining independence from the United Kingdom, in 1957, Malaya was known as the Federation of Malaya.  In 1963, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were combined with Malaya to become the country of Malaysia.  However, shortly thereafter, Singapore was expelled from the federation, due to racial riots and became a country of its own.

Malaysia is part of Southeast Asia.  It is located on the Asian mainland known as West Malaysia and shares a border with Thailand.  It is connected by a causeway and a bridge to the island state of Singapore, with coastlines on the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca.  East Malaysia is on the island of Borneo and shares borders with Brunei and Indonesia.

The capital city, and largest city, Kuala Lumpur, is located on the Malay Peninsula in West Malaysia.  It is home to the bulk of the Malaysian population.  It is much more developed and urbanized than the east.  The two sides of the peninsula are separated by the Titiwangsa mountain range.  East Malaysia is about 800 km from the West Peninsula and occupies the northern third of the island of Borneo.  The island is partly covered by impenetrable jungle and is rich in natural resources but has a history of headhunters.

Malaysia is run as a federal, parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch.  The king’s position, nominally heads the government and rotates every five years between nine hereditary Malay rulers.  The king selects the prime minister from the leading coalition in parliament; a body of elected representatives.  There have been several uprisings but never a military coup since their independence.  The government demands a great deal of deference from the public.  Malaysia retains aspects of a police state, from back in the days of British Malaya.  The police are heavily armed and anyone found possessing an illegal firearm receives a mandatory death sentence.

Malaysia has a complicated history with kingdoms and sultanates, along with colonization from European powers like the Portuguese, Dutch and ultimately the English.  Japan had even taken over the area for a brief period, during World War II.  They arrived at the port of Khota Baru the same day they bombed Pearl Harbor.  They stole bicycles from villages along the way and it took them 45 days to arrive in Singapore.  The English however wanted to maintain the colony, as they were interested in the tin and rubber industries there.  It was the English who were responsible for bringing in Chinese and Indian laborers to work in those profitable industries.

These events have made Malaysia a very cultural and ethnically diverse country.  Today, Malay make up about 55 percent of the population, with Chinese around 23 percent, indigenous people about 12 percent and 7 percent are from India.  The balance are non-citizens from surrounding areas, including some Europeans.  The Malays and the indigenous groups are known as Bumiputras or “Sons of the soil.”  The official religion of Malaysia is Muslim, however they allow freedom of religion. The Chinese population is mostly Buddhist and the Indians are mainly Hindu.  Christianity is also practiced by about nine percent of the population, mostly in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.  The official language is Malay, with English taught as a secondary language. However, each ethnic group speaks their own language, with at least 137 languages identified.

Malaysia is ranked 14^th in the world, as one of the most competitive economies. They are the third richest in Southeast Asia, by GDP per capita, after Singapore and Brunei.  Back in 1971 they put economic reforms in place called, “The Malaysian New Economic Policy” and ran a newly industrialized, market economy.  This move allowed the Bumiputeras to rise out of poverty through special privileges in housing development, scholarships, and ownership of publically traded companies.  The government also subsidizes and controls prices on essential items to keep the cost of living low.  They have an extremely low unemployment rate, of only three percent.  Malaysia is a major hub for electrical component manufacturing, solar equipment and the automotive industries.  Although agriculture no longer plays a prominent role in exports, they are large producers of palm oil and rubber.  In an effort to make Malaysia’s economy less dependent on exports, the government pushed to increase tourism.  This was another big success, as Malaysia is now ranked 11^th in the world and second in Southeast Asia for tourism arrivals.

It is no wonder that tourism ranks so high.  Aside from the multicultural society, where festivals of all types take place, there is astonishing natural beauty, from gorgeous beaches to ancient, tropical rainforests.  The national parks are excellent for wildlife watching and offer cave exploration and river rafting.  There are six UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore, a couple of them are entire, historic towns.  Shopping is another big enticement, with malls in Kuala Lumpur being destinations in and of themselves.  One also cannot underestimate their exquisite cuisine as another draw for tourism.

As we look into the cuisine of Malaysia, they share many dishes with neighboring Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.  They also have influences from the Chinese, Indians and the indigenous populations. Thai, Portuguese, Dutch and British cuisines are also represented.  The fusion of the multicultural society makes for a highly diverse, complex and delicious cuisine.  Rice, nasi, remains the most important staple food.  Malaysia produces about 70 percent of the amount of rice it needs and imports the rest.  Noodles are also extremely popular, as is Indian style breads.  Fish, both fresh and dried, are abundant and mainstays in the diet.  Chicken and beef are also readily available and handled according to Halal standards, which means it is permitted under Islamic Shariʻah (law.)  The Chinese eat pork, but it is marked as non-halal, and Muslims do not consume it.  All types of exotic fruits and vegetables are grown and consumed as part of the Malaysian diet.  Often, green, leafy vegetables are stir fried with a shrimp paste and hot chili peppers.  Carrots, cucumbers, onions and beans are used to make a pickle called acar.  The durian is a pungent, spiky fruit known as the “King of Fruits.”  People either love it or hate it.  The fruit is sometimes banned from hotels and subways due to its pungent smell.  The mangosteen, in contrast to the durian, is called the “Queen of Fruits.”  Chili peppers are indispensable in Malaysian cuisine.  The come in all shapes and sizes and are used both fresh and dried. They are often ground into a paste or sambal and served alongside as a condiment or garnish.  Lemongrass, garlic and ginger, tamarind and pandan leaves, are also prevalent.  Coconut, in all its forms, is quintessential in Malaysian cuisine as well.

So let’s enjoy a Malaysian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Chicken Sate (BBQ Chicken on Sticks)

 Main Course

Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice with Dried Anchovy Sambal)

Served with

Laksa (Coconut Curry  Soup)

Kerabu (Coconut and Chili Salad)

Dessert

Pisang Goreng (Fried Bananas)

We set the scene with a variety of exotic flowers, including hibiscus, which is the national flower of Malaysia.  Tiger figurines represented the national animal but we also included a picture of an orangutan, as they are endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.  The name orangutan means, “man of the forest” and they are the closest genetic relative of humans.  Also, we had a photograph of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.  They are the largest twin towers in the world.  The two massive buildings are joined by a sky bridge at level 41 which is 558 feet off the ground.  The towers are an astonishing overall height of 1483 feet and a prideful symbol of Malaysia.

We began with a very popular street food that is loved all over the world.  Sate, as it is spelled in Malay, is known as satay everywhere else.  This appetizer is one of my all time favorites.  The complex marinade that the chicken is flavored in and the peanut, dipping sauce, are just simply scrumptious. The chicken was perfectly tender and delicious.  It is almost always served with cucumber and onions.  Simply awesome!

Meals are typically served all at once in Malaysia, as opposed to in courses. So everything else was brought out family style, except for dessert.  We said, “Jemput makan” which means, “Please eat” in Malay.

Nasi Lemak is ubiqutious in Malaysia and considered to be the national dish.  Although it is typically served for breakfast, it was enjoyed as part of our Malaysian feast.  The dish is a coconut milk, steamed rice that is flavored with pandan leaves.  A dried, anchovy sambal called Ikan Bilis was served alongside the rice.  The sambal was super spicy, with complex flavors and we served it next to fried sardines, fried anchovies, hardboiled egg, peanuts and cucumber.  It was served on a banana leaf, as would be customary in Malaysia.

A laksa was made with a delicous, coconut, curry broth and topped with vermicelli noodles, shrimp, tofu cake puffs, hardboiled eggs and bean sprouts.  Nearly every region has its own version of laksa and we loved this one.  It is really a meal unto itself.

A delicious coconut and chili salad, called kerabu, was also served.  Fresh, shredded cocounut with thinly sliced, red onion, bell pepper, chilis and bean sprouts, made up this light and refreshing salad.  However, it was clearly the dressing that was the star, bringing on those distict Southeast Asian flavors, that we love so much.  The dressing was made with fish sauce, lime juice, sugar and gingerroot. It is a keeper indeed.

For dessert, we prepared a deep fried, baby banana, which is another common street food or snack called, pisang goreng.  The warm banana was served on a banana leaf and dipped in the sweet, soy based sauce, called kesap, which is so loved in the region.  Although it seemed odd to dip it in soy sauce, it somehow was as satisfying as a rich chocolate.

After our meal, we decided to try a Malaysian game called “sepak takraw”  or “hit the ball.”  The game resembles volleyball.  The object is to keep the ball (typically made from bamboo or ratan) from hitting the ground, using anything but your hands.  Exact rules were drawn up and were formally introduced in the Southeast Asia Games in 1965.  It is not so easy, but we enjoyed trying!

Until next week,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Madagasikava is what the country is called in their native language, Malagasy.  The name Madagascar is likely a mistake made by the Venetian explorer Marco Polo, back in the 13th century.  It is believed that Marco Polo thought he was referring to Mogadishu, when he wrote Madagascar, in his journal.  The letter “c” is not used in the Malagasy language.  However, the error was made and that is what this island nation is called today.  It was also known for a time as St. Laurence, after a Portuguese explorer, who landed on the island on that day in 1500.  Sometimes the island is referred to as the “Red Island”, because that is the color of the soil in many parts of the island where slash and burn agriculture, has left the land bare.

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world.  It is located in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of Africa.  The island nation includes numerous peripheral islands, as well.  The main island is about 1000 miles long and 350 miles wide.  It is believed that this island split originally from the prehistoric supercontinent, called Gondwana.  Then some 165 million years ago split from Africa and 88 million years ago separated from India.  Due to this most unique circumstance, native plants and animals have evolved in relative isolation from the rest of the world.  It is a biodiversity hot spot.  Some ecologists refer to it as the eighth continent.  Over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth.  Its closest neighbors are the islands of Mauritius to the east, Comoros to the northwest and Mozambique, the nearest mainland, located to the west.

It is believed that the first human settlements occurred between 350BC and 550AD by Austronesians who arrived on the island in outrigger canoes from Borneo.  Other groups followed over time.  There are 18 or more subgroups considered to be Malagasy that make up the majority of the population.  The largest are the Merina of the central highlands.  Each subgroup has contributed to the cultural heritage of Madagascar.  Beginning in the early 19^th century most of the island was ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar, by Merina nobles. The monarchy collapsed in 1897, when the Island became part of the French colonial empire.  It remained in the hands of the French until they gained independence on June 26, 1960.

Since independence, they have had four major constitutional republics.  Constitutional governance was just recently restored in January 2014, when Hery Rajonarimampianina was named president.  This was after the international community deemed the election fair and transparent, since corruption has been a major problem in this country.  The population is over 22 million.  It is estimated that 90% of the population, live on less than $2 per day, making Madagascar one of the poorest nations on earth.  They hope that ecotourism and agriculture, along with investments in education, health care, and private enterprise, will lift the people out of poverty.

The two official languages are Malagasy and French.  Antananarivo is the political and economic capital of Madagascar.  It is located in the highland region, near the geographic center of the island.  It was founded as the capital in 1610.  The main religion is Christianity, along with traditional beliefs, which have been passed on by their ancestors.  The sacrifice of the Zebu (a species of humped cattle that is used for meat, milk and work,) is a method to appease and honor the ancestors.  Islam is also practiced by some seven percent on the island and was first brought there by Arab and Somali traders in the Middle Ages.  More recently Hinduism was introduced and is practiced by a small minority of the Indian population.

Madagascar has lost nearly 90 percent of its forests.  It is struggling to find a balance between the environment and traditions of its people.  It also suffers from destructive cyclones.  Some of the wildlife, like the lemur, which may be their most famous animal, is on the verge of extinction.  There are over 100 known species and subspecies of lemur that are found only on Madagascar.  There are a number of other mammals that are endemic to Madagascar, such as the cat-like fossa.  Some researchers believe that Madagascar is the origin of chameleons, since they are home to two-thirds of the world’s species, including the smallest chameleon known to exist.

Madagascar is home to nearly 15,000 plant species, of which, 80 percent, are found nowhere else in the world. Three quarters of the 860 orchid species and six of the world’s nine magnificent baobab tree species, are only found in Madagascar.  These trees can reach 36 feet in diameter and 98 feet tall.  There is an area in western Madagascar called “The Avenue of the Baobabs.”  It is a very popular destination for visitors from all over the world.  Some of these trees are estimated to be 800 years old.  The Malagasy call them renala, which means “mother of the forest.” It has 165 of the known 170 palm species, nearly three times as many species then found in all of mainland Africa.  The iconic, giant travelers palm is featured in the national emblem.  Despite this area being a popular tourist destination, it has not been declared a national park and there are no gate fees or visitor centers.  Many plants in Madagascar are used as herbal remedies.  The drugs vinblastine and vincristine, were made from the Madagascar periwinkle, and are used to treat Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia and other cancers.  Healthcare in Madagascar is found mainly in the urban areas, leaving the vast majority of the population to find help from traditional healers.

Madagascar is blessed with natural resources, which include agriculture and minerals.  Agriculture, fishing and forestry are the backbone of the economy.  They are the world’s supplier of vanilla beans, cloves, and ylang-ylang (the oil of which has many medicinal properties.)  Coffee, lychee fruit and shrimp are also important products for export.  Most of the population works in agriculture.  Madagascar currently provides half of the world’s supply of sapphires, which were only recently discovered in the late 1990s.  There are many mining projects underway and there is hope that oil and gas may give a big boost to the economy.  One can only hope that the relatively new government will end corruption and make the right choices for the people of Madagascar.

As we look into the cuisine of Madagascar, it is mainly influenced by what is available locally and of course the French.  Southeast Asians, Africans, Indians and Chinese all have influenced the cuisine as well.  Rice is certainly considered the mainstay and served with nearly every meal.  All sorts of sauces, called laoka, are made to accompany the rice.  Typically a sauce will be enhanced with the flavors of ginger, onion, garlic, tomato, vanilla, salt and curry powder.  Beef, chicken and pork are available, along with all sorts of seafood found along the coast.  Vegetables, like green beans, cabbage, carrots and onions, are abundant.  Also in the arid south and west, cassava, sweet potato, yams and taro root are staple ingredients.  Peanuts are often used in the dishes, as well.  All types of fruits, both temperate and tropical, are found and loved in the cuisine. The food is typically served with a condiment called sakay on the side, which is a spicy sauce made from red or green chili peppers.  It is added to the dish after the food is cooked so the individual can adjust the heat, according to their preference.

Street foods are also popular and they are called mofo, which means, bread.  These treats can be made plain, with coconut milk or with fruit.  There are endless combinations of mofo.  The fried fritters are made from a sweetened rice batter and flavored with chopped greens, such as watercress, onions, tomatoes and chilies.  This style is called mofo sakay, meaning, spicy bread and is how we began our Malagasy meal.

So let’s enjoy a Malagasy Meal:

The Menu

Starter

Mofo Sakay (Spicy Bread)

Salad

Lasary Avocat (Avocado Salad)

Soup

Lasopy (Pureed Vegetable Soup)

Main Course

Romazava (Meat Stew with Greens)

Served with Sakay (Spicy Condiment)

Dessert   

Vanilla Bean Fruity Clafouti (Cherry Custard)

We set the table with a colorful cloth that had flowers and palms on it, to represent the biodiversity in Madagascar.  We added vanilla beans, cloves and coffee to signify their main exports and of course a picture of a lemur. (Our cat Buddy sort of reminds us of a lemur, with his great big eyes!) Beautiful orchids completed the setting.

The first course was the typical street food described above, called mofo sakay.  We loved these little, fried, spicy treats.  We enjoyed them with an ice cold beer. They make a few different beers in Madagascar, the most popular is called “Three Horses Beer” or THB.  A popular non-alcoholic drink  is called ranonapango, which is made in an unusual way; after a pot of rice has been overcooked, boiling water is added to the pot to get the flavor.  The water is then chilled and served cold.  Some say it is an acquired taste.  But speaking of drinks, rum is the most popular alcohol consumed and is made from sugarcane.  When a new bottle of rum is opened, a capful is thrown in the corner of the home, to honor their ancestors.

Up next, we enjoyed an avocado salad.  We used the avocado as the vessel to hold the onions and diced tomato.  It was lightly dressed with a little olive oil and lemon juice and a dash of vinegar.  It was a light and lovely salad.

For our soup course, we had a hearty, pureed vegetable soup, called lasopy.  This vegetable soup is usually made with pork or meat bones to flavor the broth, but of course you could use a vegetable stock, if you prefer.  This soup is made with whatever vegetables are fresh and in season.  We got all of the ingredients for this dish straight from our International Cuisine garden, which is abundant now that summer is in full swing. The vegetables are cooked and then put in a blender to puree.  The soup and is served alongside a baguette of french bread and some sakay.  Their cuisine is pretty bland as cooked, until you add sakay. This is a spicy condiment made of thai chili peppers that is found on every table.  The sakay livens every dish up beautifully.

For the main course, we made Madagascar’s national dish called romazava.  This is a meat stew with fresh greens.  It is typically served over rice  and can be a one-course meal by itself.  It is hearty, as it contains three different types of meat; beef, chicken and pork.  Certainly, romazava can be made with just one type of meat,  Zebu cattle is most often used.  The greens are also very important elements to the dish.  The recipe calls for a green anamamy, which sometimes goes by the name, Malabar spinach; however, any spinach will work as a substitute.  Mustard greens are easy to come by and add a nice peppery flavor to the dish.  Paracress is a tough green that grows there.  It is known as the toothache plant and will numb the mouth completely, like a local anesthestic.  It is perhaps this green that makes the dish famous as the national dish.  The best we could do was to substitute arugula for the flavor of paracress, without the numbing affect.  We enjoyed this hearty stew with plenty of sakay.

For dessert, we went the French route, using one of Madagascar’s most famous ingredients, the vanilla bean.  We enjoyed a vanilla bean, fruity, clafouti.  These little custards were made with sweet cherries and the dessert was a lovely ending to our Madagascar meal.

Next, we were off to relax in front of the television, as I rented, what else, but the Dreamworks, animated film titled, “Madagascar”.

As we say goodbye to this amazing, island nation, I leave you with a couple of Madagascar proverbs:

“Cross the river in a crowd and the crocodile won’t eat you.”

and

“Life is a shadow and a mist; it passes quickly by, and is no more.

Until next time,

Mandra-pihaona, which means “see you later” in Malagasy.

Darlene

The name Macedonia is derived from the Ancient Kingdom of Macedon, between the seventh and the second centuries, B.C.  The borders of Macedonia in ancient times were much wider than they are today, and encompassed parts of Greece and Bulgaria.  The name Macedonia is disputed and is not accepted by the Greeks.  They claim that “Macedonia” belongs to their region and they simply won’t accept it as the country’s name.  Greeks from that region refer to themselves as Macedonian, although they are not affiliated with the ethnic Slavs that make up the majority of Macedonians today.

Alexander the Great was the King of Macedonia in 336 B.C.  He was the first, worldwide conqueror who extended his empire across Greece and Persia and to India and Egypt.  He is a hero to both Greeks and Macedonians.  Most Macedonians refer to the region where they live as Vardar Macedonia, the Greek part as Aegean Macedonia and the Bulgarian part as Pirin Macedonia.  The Greeks refer to Macedonians as Skopjeans.  Because of the dispute with the Greeks, the United Nations will only refer to them as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or (FYROM.)  However, 130 countries accept them as simply, the Republic of Macedonia.  There has been some discussion to change the name in order to end the feud with Greece, but this has not yet occurred.

Macedonia is a small, landlocked country, located in the south-central Balkans.  Its neighbors are Kosovo and Serbia to the north, Greece to the south, Bulgaria to the east and Albania to the west.  The country is mountainous with active fault lines, along which, earthquakes frequently occur.  The capital city of Skopje was nearly leveled by a devastating earthquake in 1963. The capital city is located on the upper course of the Vardar River and an important historical location on the north/south trade route between Belgrade and Athens.  It is the country’s political, cultural, economic and academic center and has been inhabited since at least 4000 B.C.  The largest cross in the world, called, the Millennium Cross, is located and lit above the capital city, on top of Vodho Mountain.  Mother Theresa is most likely Skopje’s most famous citizen.  Although she was Albanian, she was born in Macedonia in 1910.  There is a museum in Skopje in her honor.  She was a Nobel peace prize winner in 1979 for her work in India with the poor. This year on September 4th, 2016 she will be canonized as a saint.

The country has three tectonic lakes, created by the mobility of the earth’s crust.  Lake Ohrid is one of the deepest and oldest in all of Europe.  It is an UNESCO World Heritage site.  It is estimated that this lake is two to four million years old.  It has over 200 species of plants and animals unique to the lake and preserves an ecosystem that is of worldwide importance.  The area between two lakes, the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve, was added as an UNESCO Biosphere reserve.  Surrounding villages on the shores of the lake are some of the oldest settlements in Europe. The city of Ohrid, the largest city on the lake, is notable for once having 365 churches; one for each day of the year.  It has been referred to as “The Jerusalem of the Balkans.”  The area is one of Macedonia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Macedonia was part of the Ottoman, Roman and Byzantine Empires. It was later part of Bulgarian and Serbian Empires, and eventually became part of Yugoslavia.  Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia peacefully, without shedding any blood, in 1991.  Since their independence, Macedonia has not had an easy time.  The dispute with Greece is not just about the name.  Greece has caused major economic ramifications for this new country as well.  The controversy has affected Macedonia’s ability to attract foreign investors and their capacity to begin economic reforms.

Aside from the clash with Greece, Macedonia has also had issues with their largest minority group, the Albanians.  Nearly 25 percent of the population is Albanian.  There have been a few serious uprisings between the two factions.  The most recent was in 2015, when NATO intervened and called for calm after allegations arose about the prime minister’s illegal wire-tapping and abuse of power.  The country has a very high unemployment rate, as high as 30 percent.  However, there is a bit of a grey, underground market that claims it is not as bad as the statistics show.  Today they have found new trading partners and the economy has slowly begun to prosper.  Their main exports are iron, steel, clothing and food products.  Agriculture also plays an important role in exports, as they have rich, fertile lands in between their numerous mountain peaks. They grow tobacco, fruits, especially apples and grapes, vegetables, wheat, rice and corn.  Dairy culture is also prevalent, as well as a robust wine industry.

The majority of the Macedonian population, about 70 percent, are Orthodox Christians, with the exception of the Albanian minority population, along with Turks and Romas, who are of Islamic faith.  The official language is Macedonian, which is closely related to Bulgarian and Serbo-Croatian and is written in the Cyrillic alphabet.  The alphabet was developed back in the ninth century by two Macedonian brothers, Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.  The Macedonian language was not officially recognized until 1946, when it became a republic of communist Yugoslavia.

As we look into the cuisine of Macedonia, it clearly has many influences.  It is a combination of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern gastronomy, yet shares many characteristics of other Balkan cuisines.  The national dish is called, Trave Gravce, which literally means, “beans cooked in a skillet.”  It is a thick, chunky, bean stew cooked in special Macedonian earthenware.  Every family has their own recipe for this hearty dish.  The choice of vegetables and spices can vary but it always includes fresh, Macedonian paprika.  Other popular main dishes, include many of the recipes we have enjoyed from other nearby countries.  I have listed them here with links. They are dishes such as Mousaka, a delicious casserole we made for Cyprus, Polneti Piperki, a stuffed pepper that we enjoyed for Bosnia, Sarma, made with cabbage or grape leaves, which we made for Armenia and Lithuania and Burek, a spinach pie we had for Albania.  Any of these dishes would be an appropriate main course for Macedonia as well.

Macedonia has an important coffee culture, with Turkish coffee being the most popular.  There are literally over 5000 coffeehouses and bars called, the Kafeana, and they are the most popular places to go out, have a drink and socialize.  It is an integral part of Macedonian life.  The national drink is called mastika.  It is consumed as an aperitif, usually served over ice and enjoyed with appetizers.  It has an alcohol content of about 45 percent, a taste, not unlike brandy and is usually made from grapes, raisins, plums or figs.  Another popular drink is called rakija, a fruit brandy, which many Macedonians make themselves and which has a very high alcohol content; some as high as 80-90%.  They also make really good wine.  The Tikvesh wine region has been making wine since the fourth century.  This is a beautiful area of the country located in the heartland, with never ending fields of grapes and wineries.

One thing that you will find on every table in Macedonia is a wonderful condiment, called avjar.  It is made of roasted peppers and is a real treat to be enjoyed with just about anything imaginable but is most delicious, simply spread on a piece of freshly baked bread.  We made it for Kosovo as well, where it is also extremely popular.  You can find the recipe here. Avjar

So let’s enjoy a Macedonian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Kifli (Cheese Rolls)

Soup

Tarator (Cold Cucumber Soup)

Salad

Shopska Salate (Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber Salad w/Cheese)

Main Course

 Pastrmajlija (Macedonian Pizza)

Dessert   

Ovošje Ploča (Fruit Plate)

We set the table with the colors of the Macedonian flag; red and yellow.  They have a great looking flag.  It is a bright, yellow sun on a red background that is reminiscent of looking at a vibrant sun burst.  The sun is a simplified version of the star of Vergina, and is considered the “New sun of liberty.”  Red poppies adorned the table, as they are the national flower, a lion represented the national animal, apples and peaches, along with sesame seeds, signified the importance of agriculture in the country and finally, a wooden wine goblet, was an homage to their wine industry.

Our first course began with a toast, “Nazdravye”, which is how they say “Cheers”, in Macedonia.  Our first, two courses were served together.  Kifli, were these amazing cheese rolls, served hot out of the oven and sprinkled with sesame seeds.  They are popular treats and found in nearly every bakery on every street corner of Macedonia.  The Kifli were served with Tarator; a cold cucumber soup, made delightfully creamy with yogurt or kefir.  It is garnished with walunts and dill and is a perfect, refreshing soup for a hot summer day!

For our main course we had Pastrmailija.  This is a superb meat pizza.  It is typically made with either cured lamb or pork.  We made ours with pork, spiced up with a little cayenne pepper.  It is an oval shaped pizza.  The pork pizza was topped with egg and served with hot and mild peppers on the side.  This dish is so popular in Macedonia, they even have a festival each year to celebrate it.  We fully understand why; delicious!

Shopska Salate was enjoyed, along side the pastrmailija.  Shopska salate is served all over the Balkan region.  What sets the Macedonian shopska salad apart is the copius amounts of cheese served over it.  Sirene is the white cheese, typically used, or a sheep feta which is how we had ours.  This salad, simply served with a little extra virgin olive oil, is one of our all time favorites.

For dessert, we had a simple plate of fruit; apples, plums, nectarines and grapes.  This fruit plate may often times be drizzled with a sugary syrup or even some alcohol,  but we enjoyed ours just plain, sweet and lovely, all by itself.

After our meal we went out to look at the stars and the full moon.  Kokino, in Macedonia, is the fourth oldest astronomical observatory in the world.

As we say good bye to this little gem of a country in the Balkans, I leave you with the legend of the Stone Dolls of Kuklica:

There was a man who could not decide which of two women he should marry.  So, the man planned to marry both women on the same day, but at different times.  When the first wedding was in progress, the woman, who was to marry the man later, went to see who was getting married on the same day that she was.  When she saw her future husband marrying another woman, she cursed all in attendance at the wedding and turned them into stone.  The site is known as, the petrified wedding.

Until next time,

Priyaten den (Have a nice day)

Darlene

The name Kuwait comes from the Arabic words “akwat” and “kout”, which translates to “Fortress built near water.”  Kuwait is a small emirate on the Arabian Peninsula, located in the northwestern corner of the Persian Gulf.  Her neighbors are Iraq to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the south and the Persian Gulf to the east.  This country is tiny in size, but one of the richest on earth.  The country is run as a constitutional monarchy that the ruling family, Al Sabah, established back in 1756.  What began as a small trading fort, has grown to be one of the most urbanized countries in the world.

Kuwait, in addition to the mainland, comprises nine islands, only one of which is inhabited, called Failaka.  Mesopotamians first settled on this Kuwait island back in 2000 B.C.  The inhabitants were among the world’s earliest maritime traders.  The island was also once occupied by Alexander the Great.  In the eighteen century, Kuwait enjoyed rapid prosperity and became the principle commercial center for the transit of goods between India, Muscat, Baghdad and Arabia.  Kuwait was also the center for ship building in the Persian region. Their vessels were renowned throughout the Indian Ocean and they soon developed a reputation as the best sailors in the Gulf.  They also operated a significant pearl harvesting industry.

In 1899, the Shiekh Mubarak “the Great”, was fearful of a takeover by Turkey, during the time of the Ottoman Empire, and struck a deal with Britain to become a protectorate.  Britain provided naval protection in exchange for Kuwait’s agreement not to enter into treaties with other powers, or admit foreign agents, nor cede any part of its territory, without British consent.  In November 1914, Britain recognized Kuwait as an independent emirate that benefited from British Protection.  In the late 1930s, Kuwait struck oil and as circumstances radically changed due to the country’s riches, a new friendship agreement was signed.  Kuwait gained independence on June 19, 1961.  Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem was credited for Kuwait’s independence.  After his death in 1965, National Day was created and is celebrated on February 25^th, the date on which Abdullah ascended to the throne, in 1950.  Previously, Kuwait celebrated their independence on June 19.  (Perhaps that date was changed because it is just too hot to have a celebration in June.)

Kuwait is a low lying, arid land, with a desert climate.  It is extremely hot and dry in the summer, which is long, and temperatures range from 108 to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.  Winters are short and can get colder than other Gulf country, due to its northern exposure.  The desert land is mainly sandy and barren.  They suffer from frequent sand and dust storms throughout the year, but they are most prominent from March to August.  There are no lakes or rivers in Kuwait.  There is also very little rainfall, only 2 to 6 inches per year.  Kuwait gets almost all of its water for drinking and domestic purposes from their large and sophisticated desalination plants.  The first plant was established in 1953.  The water is stored in 33 different towers known as the “The mushroom towers,” named for their unique mushroom, shape design.  Each tower holds 3000 cubic meters of water.  They are strategically placed throughout Kuwait City and serve as landmarks for their districts.  The design is so unique that it won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, in 1980.

Kuwait supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, yet in 1990, Saddam Hussein tried to annex Kuwait with an invasion.  His regime was upset that Kuwait was flooding the market with oil and driving the price down.  A US led United Nations’ coalition was formed that drove out Iraq, and the war was ended in 1991.  February 26^th is celebrated as Liberation Day.  However, the effects of war on Kuwait were horrendous.  Many of the oil fields were set on fire and it took time and effort for Kuwait to return to prosperity.  The oil reserves in Kuwait account for ten percent of the world’s oil and nearly all of Kuwait’s GDP.  Although Kuwait has tried to diversify to be less dependent on the oil revenue stream, it remains dependent even today. They do have a vigorous shipping industry, as well as financial services, but oil is their main income.

The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest valued currency in the world.  The Kuwaitis are generous in foreign, economic assistance through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.  They also have a sovereign wealth fund which has directed investments into the United States, Europe and Asia, where holdings are estimated to be $592 billion, in assets.  They are considered to be one of the more progressive Middle Eastern countries regarding free speech and women’s rights.  Although they have a ways to go, women were given the right to vote and to run for elections, back in 2005.  Authorities in Kuwait monitor internet communications and block content deemed offensive.  Press laws prohibit any references against God, the Koran, the Prophet Mohammed and the Emir.

The nation is made up of less than half Kuwaiti citizens, as it has a massive immigration problem.  Many people have sought Kuwait as a place to work and live, due to its incredible wealth.  It is the fourth richest nation in the world.  Being a Kuwaiti citizen has many financial benefits.  They are given an allowance from birth with free education through college.  They will often pay its citizens to study at universities in other countries, which includes room and board.  Housing is also subsidized, if not free, as well as healthcare.  This causes a rift between the immigrants and those who are considered citizens, as the rules to become a citizen are very difficult and this has created instability within the government.

The ethnic makeup of Kuwait is 60% Arab; Indians and Egyptians are the largest expat communities, with Iranians and South Asians making up most of the balance.  The main religion in Kuwait is Sunni Muslim, with some Shi’a and other religions in the mix.  Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait and pork is not consumed.  Arabic is the official language and English is taught as a second language.

As we look into the cuisine of Kuwait, it is influenced largely by the wealth of the nation.  Due to the arid dessert landscape and lack of water, not much grows in Kuwait.  They do grow some grains, fruits and nuts but other imports are prevalent.  Nearly all international types of cuisine can be found in the capital of Kuwait City.  However, it is the Arab Gulf cuisine that is considered Kuwaiti cuisine, with influences from Arabian, Persian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines.  Lamb, beef and chicken are all readily available and usually served with basmati rice that is flavored with baharat, an Arabic spice blend.  Soups and salads are served with most meals, as well as khubz, an Iranian flat bread.  Fish and seafood are also a mainstay as they are located on the Gulf.  The typical spices, aside from baharat, are coriander, cardamom and saffron (the most expensive spice in the world.)  Machboos is considered the national dish. (We made machboos to represent Bahrain and the delicious recipe can be found under that country.)  Interestingly, they have an obesity problem in Kuwait, ranking eighth in the world.  Perhaps it is due to the serving size; Kuwaitis are known to always serve an abundance of food.

So let’s eat a Kuwaiti meal:

The Menu

 Soup

Shaurabat Adas (Red Lentil Soup)

Served with

Sultat Basita Kuwaiti Simple Salad

Kabees El Lift (Pickled Turnips)

Main Dish

 Murabyan (Shrimp and Rice)

Dessert

 Elbah (Vanilla Custard)

We decorated with the colors of the Kuwait flag; green, white, red and black.  Little yellow flowers were strewn about, representing the national flower, the Arfaj.  We added pearls, to symbolize a robust pearling industry, a ship, signifying their shipping talents and an oil can, denoting their wealth. The coat of arms, featuring a falcon (their national bird) and a camel (their national animal), was also included.  Dates and saffron strands completed the scene.

Our first course was a tasty, red lentil soup, common to the Arabian Gulf.  The soup was flavored with baharat, coriander, turmeric and loomi, (A dried black lime that imparts a unique flavor to Arab cuisine.) Lentil soup is hearty and could easily be a meal by itself, with a little flat bread.  It is best served with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Our next course was a Kuwaiti simple salad.  The salad was a typical green salad; made with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onion, then dressed with a bit of lemon juice and oil.  What made it so special, was adding the pickled turnips.  (I am now officially in love with them.)  They are crunchy, salty, wonderful tidbits that have a bit of an earthy flavor, from the beets with which they are pickled.  The color is a bright pink.  They are found as a side dish on most tables, throughout the region.

For the main dish, (since we had already made the national dish, machboos, for Bahrain,) we prepared a dish called Murabyan, also extremely popular there and made with rice and shrimp.  The rice was first sautéed with onions and then, tomatoes and shrimp.  A topping was added made from all the Arabic seasonings one would expect, along with more shrimp.  The result was a lovely, spiced, shrimp and rice dish that was totally satisfying.

For dessert we made a vanilla custard, (perhaps an influence from the British friendship), called elbah, which was served cold.  It would be perfectly refreshing on a hot, Kuwaiti, summer day.  What made it Kuwaiti, was the addition of cardamom and saffron.  We enjoyed it with a hardy cup of Arabic coffee.

As we say goodbye to Kuwait, I leave you with a couple or proverbs:

“A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.”

“Believe what you see and not all you hear.”

and

“I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.”

Until next week,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

p.s. Have you ever tried those bright pink, pickled turnips?

South Korea’s official name is the Republic of Korea.  Like its neighbor to the north, the name Korea, originates from the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo and the name Choson or Koryo, which means “Land of the Morning Calm.”   The modern spelling of Korea, or Corea, first appeared in travel writings by the Dutch East India Company in the 17^th century.  It was sometimes spelled with a “C” and some Koreans believe that after Japan annexed the peninsula, they intentionally standardized the name with a “K” so Japan would show up first alphabetically. After the surrender of the Japanese in 1945, the government controlled only the southern portion of the peninsula.  The term “South Korea” was coined by the western world.  South Koreans refer to their country as Han, or Hanguk.

In stark contrast to North Korea, South Korea has done quite well for itself since the war.  South Korea’s economy was one of the fastest growing economies in the world from 1960 to the late 1990s.  This period of growth was known as, “The Miracle on the Han River.”  Today South Korea is the fifth largest exporter and seventh largest importer in the world.  Although it suffered severely during the Asian economic crisis of the late 1990s, it managed a rapid recovery.  Additionally, South Korea was one of the few countries in the world, that avoided a recession during the global financial crisis of ’08 and maintained a low unemployment rate, of only 3.6%.

South Korea is home to some of the world’s largest global companies such as: Samsung, Hyundai, SK Holdings and Kia, to name a few.  They have a technologically advanced, transport network of high-speed rail, highways, bus routes, ferry services and air routes.  North Korea is its only land border, so South Korea basically has to exist like an island nation.  This country has an interesting taxi system as well.  The level of service is based on the color of the car.  A gray or white taxi is a basic car with inexperienced drivers, whereas a black car is a luxury cab, with an experienced driver.

South Koreans love to shop.  They are the world’s biggest users of credit cards and have some of the largest malls in the world.  The malls in South Korea are open nearly all night.  This may be because Koreans are hard workers.  Most Koreans work an average of 55 hours per week.  When they are not working or shopping, they may be drinking.  It is perfectly legal to drink in South Korea and they top the list worldwide in terms of hard liquor consumption.  Soju, a Korean rice liquor, is the best selling liquor in the world, even outselling Smirnoff Vodka, for over ten years in a row.  Liquor is even sold in vending machines.  Despite the drinking statistics, the Organization Co-Operation and Development (OECD), declared that South Korea is the country with the highest estimated Intelligence Quotient, (IQ) on earth.

South Koreans are mostly Christians or Buddhists. The Yoido, Full Gospel Church has the biggest congregation in the world, with close to a million members.  On a given Sunday, 200,000 parishioners attend one of seven services and an additional 300,000 watch the service on TV or in satellite churches.

Christmas is an official holiday in South Korea, although Santa Claus may wear a blue suit instead of a red one.  He is known as Santa Kulluso, or Grandfather Santa.  Brides, by contrast, wear red, which is a symbol of good fortune.  Speaking of holidays, Valentine’s Day is not an official holiday but it is celebrated quite differently than in the USA.  On February 14th, women show their love by giving chocolates and gifts to their husbands and boyfriends.  Then on March 14th, they celebrate White Day, where men are supposed to reciprocate, but should spend three times the amount that they received on Valentine’s Day.  The 14^th of nearly every month has a romantically themed holiday.  There is Kiss Day in June, Hug Day in December and for single Koreans, there is Black Day in April, when they mourn their lack of love and eat sticky, black noodles.

South Koreans also have some other interesting quirks, when it comes to birthdays.  When you are born in South Korea, you are one year old.  So, if you go to South Korea you are automatically one year older than you are now.  It is also common to eat myeogguk, or seaweed soup.  This highly nutritious soup is given to mothers just prior to childbirth.  It is eaten on birthdays to remind their children of the pain of childbirth so that they appreciate what their mothers endured.  Blood type is also very important, as they have beliefs based on one’s blood type.  It is thought to be an indicator of someone’s personality and helps to determine compatibility.  You should know your blood type before visiting South Korea, as you will likely be asked what type you are.

Seoul is the vibrant, capital city of South Korea.  It is home to five UNESCO world heritage sites, dating back more than 2000 years.  Today, Seoul is a sprawling metropolis, a leading global city that ranks fourth in world in population after Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles.  A leader in technology, Seoul ranks first as the world’s most wired city.  It is home to over half of the South Korean population and receives over ten million international visitors per year.

In South Korea there is also something known as “Hallyu” also called, “The Korean Wave”, which is pop culture and entertainment, essentially “the flow” of South Korea.  It has a significant impact on the economy of South Korea as K-pop, K-dramas and K-food have taken the country by storm.  Social media, networking and YouTube, have increased the popularity to the rest of the world.  South Korean soap operas are the number one programs that are smuggled into its neighbor, North Korea.  Do you remember the Gangnam style video that went viral back in 2012?  (You should check it out.) Karaoke, called Norabang in Korea, is also extremely popular.

As we look into the cuisine of South Korea, we see influences from the ancient, agricultural and nomadic traditions of the peninsula.  It has evolved further from the cultural influences of its neighbors and the USA, after World War II.  Like most countries, it has regional specialties but “The Korean Royal Court Cuisine” brought all of the specialties together for the royal family.  Many feasts from the Royal Court Cuisine are described as the ultimate Korean food experience.  Another interesting characteristic of the cuisine is called banchan, which means “side dish” in Korean.  They are known to serve dozens of sides dishes with a meal.   Served in small bowls, they typically accompany galbi or Korean BBQ, for which they are also famous.  They often grill meat right in the center of the table and enjoy the meats with any number of vegetable sides, such as rice, guk (soup) or jjigae (stews).

Kimchi is considered the national dish and is literally served, in one form or another, with nearly every meal.   Kimchi is a fermented side dish made of vegetables and an assortment of seasonings.  There are literally hundreds of varieties of kimchi made from napa cabbage, radish, scallion and cucumbers, as the main ingredients.  Traditionally, kimchi was stored in large underground vessels to keep cool during the summer months and unfrozen in the winter months.  It is estimated that the average South Korean consumes about 40 lbs. of kimchi per person, annually.  It is highly nutritious with a lot of dietary fiber, low in calories and rich in vitamins, A, B1, C, calcium and iron.  Kimchi also contains a lactic acid bacteria that is believed to protect against infection.  Many regard that it is this dish alone, which accounts for the high energy level of its people.

Common ingredients used in Korean cuisine include: sesame oil and seeds, doenjang (fermented bean paste) gochujang (fermented red chili paste) soy sauce, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper and Korean pepper flakes.  Mung beans, are sprouts and are also considered a staple, along with cabbage, radish, green onions and seaweed.  It is also known that Koreans love sweet potatoes (made into just about anything) and have a sweet tooth for honey.  Their diet, with small amounts of meat and fish in comparison to the vegetable sides, is likely why the country has the second lowest obesity rate in the world, just after Japan.

So let’s enjoy a Korean meal.

The Menu

Soup

Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)

Served with

Galbi (Korean BBQ)

Banchan (Side Dishes)

Jap Chae (Sweet Potato Noodle Dish)

Dessert

Patbingsu (Shaved Ice w/ Fruit Toppings and Sweet Bean Paste)

We set the scene with the colors of the Korean flag; red white and blue.  Their flag features the yin and yang symbol, called Taeguk, as well as four trigrams, called Kwe, representing heaven, fire, water and earth.  Oddly, the number four is taboo in Korean culture and many elevators skip that number, so it is curious there are four trigrams on the flag.  We also decorated with the tiger, their national animal and the beautiful hibiscus flower, called the Rose of Sharon.

An appetizer was not served. (You will understand why shortly.)  The soup, or stew course, is served with the meal, along with white rice.  Chopsticks and a spoon were the utensils used for the feast.  A typical Korean meal is enjoyed on a low table.  Shoes are removed at the door.  Proper etiquette dictates that the rice bowl is not lifted and the soup (or stew) is enjoyed with the spoon.  Elders get the honor of being the first to eat.  A toast, “Cangai” which means, “bottoms up” begins the meal.  You should never pour your own drink; your dining partner is obliged to fill it as you hold your glass to receive it.  If you were to fill your own glass, it would cause your host or dining partner to lose face; a big no-no in Korean culture.

We began with a taste of the stew, called kimchi jjigae.  It was outstanding.  The kimchi and spiciness of the base, flavored with gochujang were excellent.  Tofu and mushrooms were part of it, but the best part was the occasional bite of pork belly.  There was something about the mixture of flavors that clearly made us understand why this is such a popular stew.  Soups and stews are always served with rice.

Typically, galbi, or Korean BBQ, is cooked with the grill right on the table.  We enjoyed this amazing main dish without that luxury, which did not diminish it one bit.  The flavors of the marinade is what makes galbi so special.  Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and onions are all part of this delicious marinade.  However, it is the secret ingredient of Asian pear that tenderizes and flavors the meat.  Of course the cut of meat is also important; flanken style, sometimes found as Korean style, short ribs.  The delicious BBQ meat is then enjoyed with banchan or side dishes.  We used a piece of red lettuce and made wraps with the meat and our choice of banchan.  For our feast we had blanched and seasoned spinach and mung beans, sautéed shitake mushrooms, carrots and zucchini, kimchi (both cabbage and radish style), along with seasoned seaweed.  (Now you know why we skipped the appetizer.)

Another dish we enjoyed is called japchae.  I wanted to make it because is it one of Korea’s best loved dishes, (plus I felt like I needed to make something to represent the sweet potato obsession.)  It is made with sweet potato, glass noodles that were combined with vegetables (individually cooked first) and meat.  This dish can easily stand on its own as a main course.  What a feast!  I am not going to tell you making Korean food is fast and easy.  It is quite time consuming as they cook each little dish separately for the perfect cooking time and the perfect blending of seasonings.  Is it worth the effort?  You bet.  It is absolutely delicious food!

For dessert, we delighted in patbingsu.  Although dessert is not all that common after a Korean meal, I felt like I needed to share a Korean sweet treat.  This dish is made of shaved ice that is soaked with sweetened condensed milk (really who needs chocolate?)  and then topped with sweetened red beans and fruit along with a couple scoops of green tea ice cream.  It is then topped with rice cake treats, which reminded me of little marshmallows; just another reason to fall in love with Korean food.  This was yet another perfect ending to an International Cuisine meal.

To work off our feast, we decided to try a little beginner’s lesson of Taekwondo.  It literally means “the way of the foot and fist.”  The name is new, having been used only since 1955, however its roots, date back some 2300 years.  Taekwondo is a Korean martial art form and the national sport of South Korea.  Aside from its effectiveness as weaponless self-defense, it is also a competitive sport and great way to stay in shape.  Taekwondo is taught in school and utilized by the military.

A little bonus:

Lunch (bonus)

Bibimbap (A sizzling rice dish with vegetables and egg)

Bibimbap is another well- known Korean dish.  This dish is often served in a stone pot that features the sound of sizzling rice getting an awesome crispiness at the bottom of the pot.  The rice is then topped with an assortment of vegetables and sometimes meat is added.  The word Bibimbap actually means “mixed rice.”  I had leftover banchan from our feast and decided to include the recipe here, as it is another delicious Korean meal.   A sunny-side up, fried egg is placed on top of each serving, along with a delicious spicy sauce made with the amazing flavors of Korea.  Another keeper!

As we say goodbye to South Korea, I leave you with a fun fact and a proverb.

When you take a picture in Korea and you want someone to smile, don’t say “Cheese”, you say, “Kimchi.”

Go-saeng Gguet-eh nake eun da, literally means, “At the end of hardship comes happiness.”  I thought this was an appropriate proverb after cooking all those incredible side dishes.

Have you ever enjoyed a Korean meal with banchan?

Until next time,

Warmest regard,

Darlene

North Korea is officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or the DPRK.  The name Korea is derived from a Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the tenth century A.D.  The North Korean name, “Choson” means “Land of the Morning Calm.”

North Korea is located in East Asia.  It occupies the northern half of the Korean peninsula and borders the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan.  Its land neighbors are China to the north and South Korea to the south.  It also shares a small border along the Tumen River with Russia to the northeast.

Korea was an independent kingdom for much of its long history.  Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905.  The Japanese formally annexed the entire peninsula following the Russo-Japanese war in 1910.  After World War II, Korea was split in two. The northern portion, belonging to the Soviet sponsored, communist controlled regime was created, and the southern (US backed) portion, known as the Republic of Korea was also formed.   Talks regarding reunification failed, and from 1950-1953, the Korean War ensued and North Korea failed to conquer the south.  Although a cease fire agreement was signed, no peace treaty was ever adopted.  It was at this time, under the direction of its founder, President Kim Il-Sung, that a policy was adopted of economic self-reliance, also known as “Juche.”  The country calls itself a self-reliant, socialist country although many say it is simply a totalitarian dictatorship.

Kim Il Sung is considered to be the eternal leader of North Korea.  North Korea bases its calendar on Kim Il-Sung’s birthdate which was April 15, 1912.  The year today is not 2016 but 104.  Although the north holds an election every five years, there is only one option and Kim Il-Sung’s heirs have taken the reins, keeping the power in the family.  Kim Jong Un took over as head of state in 2011, after his father Kim Jong Il’s passing, and remains in power today.  He is called the Great Leader and worshiped as a God king.  There is a recent documentary on an eye surgeon volunteer from Nepal gaining entry to North Korea to treat over 1000 patients, blind from cataracts and malnutrition.  The patients, after the procedure, waited one by one for removal of the bandages from the doctor, which once removed, totally restored their vision.  They immediately ran over to a portrait of the Great Leader and bowed down with thanks and exuberance to him for giving them back their sight.

North Korea has a military-first policy, known as “Songun.”  North Korea has the greatest number of military service members of any other country; with a total of nearly 10,000,000 active reserve and paramilitary personnel.  Its active duty army, of over 1,000,000, makes it the fourth largest in the world after China, the U.S. and India.  North Korea also has nuclear capabilities.  It seems every year, when the US and South Korea engage in military exercises off the coast, North Korea answers with missile launches.  This year was no exception and with each year, there seems to be an escalation of this retaliation.

The border between North and South Korea is known as the Demilitarized Zone, or the DMZ.  This is one of the most highly protected borders in the world.  The area is 160 miles long and four miles wide and was established in 1953.  Meetings between the parties are often held in this location.  It is a dangerous place and no access is allowed without permission.  There have been various incidents in and around the DMZ that have resulted in military and civilian casualties.  It is rumored that several tunnels have been built as an invasion route to the south, for the North Koreans to use.

Generally speaking, there is no freedom of speech or freedom of religion in North Korea; basically freedom in nonexistent.  Many human rights experts share grave concerns for the citizens of North Korea.  There have been terrible famines, where hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have died from hunger.  Even today, it is unclear what the true state of poverty really is there.  North Korea is often called a “Hermit” society, as it is a closed society to the rest of the world.  North Korea, along with its culture, history and society, is hidden behind iron curtains.  It is hard to get any good information.  The information we do get is, unfortunately, dark in nature.  They evidently have four government owned TV stations and 11 broadcasting stations, which is the most significant source of information for the average North Korean citizen. The government prohibits listening to (and jams) any foreign broadcasts from its citizens and also will allow no internet access.  Very recently, a young, American student visiting there was given a 15 year sentence for trying to take a North Korean government, propaganda poster back to the US for a church friend.  North Korea is indeed a “Hermit” society.

To keep a society so loyal to its leaders, it must use tactics that the rest of the contemporary world might find difficult to understand.  If a person gets in trouble, they are sent to a prison camp, along with two other generations of their family.  It is estimated about 200,000 people are in these camps, where the prisoners are forced into slave labor and food is scarce.  It is believed that many live on corn and kimchi, (a fermented cabbage or radish dish.)

Kimchi is listed as an UNESCO world cultural dish, which is considered to be the national dish of North Korea.  Kimchi is usually made in jars and buried in the ground to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter.  Also, the North Korean city of Kaesong, is listed as an UNESCO, World Heritage Site.  Kaesong features 12 sites within the city, which were established in the tenth century.  The sites include a palace, a school and defensive walls.  A recent discovery was made there when new, Koguryo tombs were uncovered in Pyongyang, (the capital city of North Korea.)  This important discovery will shed light on the mysteries of ancient East Asia.  It is believed the relics they found were created around the fifth century.  Another site in North Korea is Mt. Myohyang, a biosphere reserve.  It is a sacred site, believed to be the home of King Tangun, the forefather of the Korean people.  Mt. Myohyang is a scenic, mountainous area with spectacular cliffs and rocks, which provide habitat for 30 endemic plant species and 12 animal species that are endangered.  A variety of medicinal plants also grow there.

Education in the DPRK is universal and state funded.  The North Koreans report that the literacy rate is 100 percent, as this was mandate of the founding leader.  Healthcare and housing are also provided by the state.  Most North Koreans live in apartments, with occasional electricity.  Generally speaking, the government decides where the people will work and live.  Once the government has assigned a place to work and live, it is difficult to change.  Even though people have a job, many will try to find a way of earning a living on their own.  Joining the military is mandatory for all boys and some girls.  Bribery is said to be common.  The people who are privileged to live in the capital city of Pyongyang, are the elite who are trustworthy, loyal and healthy.  Life in Pyongyang is said to be very different from the rest of North Korea.  It is reported that half of the population (that is 50%) lives in extreme poverty, where access to basic human needs are not met.

As we look into the cuisine of North Korea, one has to remember, it only recently (after World War II) that the country was divided.   The people from the north and south share many common dishes.  The main difference between the two, is that North Korean cuisine, is not as spicy as its neighbor to the south.  Different regions have different local specialties, based on agriculture and climate.  The staples are corn, rice and kimchi.  Noodles, of all varieties, vegetables and legumes are common as well, and served in a broth, sometimes with meat.  Dog meat is called sweet meat in North Korea and considered a delicacy.  (Sweet meat is eaten far less often than once thought.)  Beef, chicken and pork are meats used in many dishes, especially for special occasions.  Kimchi is served at every meal.  Condiments include fermented pastes, like a red pepper paste and a soybean paste.  Other condiments are red and black pepper, mustard, garlic, onion, ginger and scallions.  Fish and shellfish are readily enjoyed, especially in and around the cities along the coast.  Baby shrimp are used as a seasoning agent and raw oysters and other seafood often enhance the flavor of kimchi.  Many types of fish are preserved with dehydration.

So let’s enjoy a North Korean meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Mandu (Large Dumplings stuffed with Pork, Beef and Kimchi)

Main

Naengmyun (Cold Buckwheat Noodles in Broth)

 Served with

Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancake)

We set the table with the colors of the North Korean flag; red, white and blue.  The North Korean flag was officially adopted on September 9, 1948.  The two blue stripes, signify sovereignty, peace and friendship.  The white stripes, signify purity and the red represents the Communist revolution, with the red star recognized as the symbol of Communism.  Magnolias were strewn about the table to represent the national flower of North Korea.

We began with a toast of soju, which is a rice wine, very popular there.  We said, “Gun-bae” which means “Cheers” in Korean.  Our first course was called mandu or mandoo; a giant sized dumpling made of pork, beef and kimchi.  Sometimes it is stuffed with pheasant but usually, just kimchi.  This dumpling originated from the area of Pyongyang and is giant sized to represent a king’s portion.  This North Korean specialty is delicious and was a wonderful way to begin our North Korean meal.

Our next dish was called Naengmynun, pronounced (nang-myun), which literally translates to “cold noodles.”  (Know that I spent quite some time at the Asian market getting schooled on the proper Korean pronunciation.)  We loved this unique dish and it would be especially refreshing on a hot summer day.  The noodles were almost black in color as they were made from buckwheat.  The broth was savory and of course, served with the ubiquitous, kimchi.  The combination of flavors, with the cucumber, Asian pear and egg, was superb.

Our next course (and last course) originates from the Pyongan province, called Bindaetteok.  This dish was made from mung beans, which when blended, makes the base or batter for the pancake.  Kimchi is added, along with bean sprouts, onions and pork belly meat.  This, “crispy on the outside” pancake, dipped in the soy-based sauce, was excellent.  I can easily imagine that this pancake made with many combinations of ingredients, including seafood, and would be a great way to use one’s leftovers.  This is a dish that can be enjoyed as a snack (or a meal) at any time of day. Desserts are not commonly served.

After our meal, we went to shoot some hoops, as basketball is a loved sport in North Korea but with some unique rules.  They allow four pointers, (which is a three pointer that doesn’t hit the rim) and they also deduct points for missed free throws.

As we say goodbye to North Korea, we do so hoping that the division between the north and south is one day, soon, peacefully rectified.  We hope that North Korea will find its way to be a more open society, so that the rest of the world can learn more about the people of North Korea and their wonderful cuisine.  We pray families that were separated during war, can be reunited (which is only very sporadically allowed) and that aide can get to people who most need it.  The North Koreans have had so many sanctions put into place by the rest of the world (as punishment for its testing of missiles) that it has suffered greatly in obtaining necessary resources.  It is hard to imagine what life is like behind an iron curtain for the average North Korean, especially today when we are all so much more connected as humankind.  So we send our many wishes for the prosperity of the people of North Korea.

I am curious have you ever had a cold noodle dish North Korean or otherwise?

Until next week,

Warmest regards

Darlene

The name Kenya likely comes from the Kikuyu tribe who lived at the foot of the mountain called Kirinyaga, which means, “Place of Brightness.” It is believed that the British who colonized the area in the mid-19th century, mispronounced the name and called the mountain “Mount Kenya” and the entire territory “Kenya” as well. Although Kenya is located on the equator, Mount Kenya has permanent glaciers on it and is the second highest peak in all of Africa.

Kenya is located in East Africa with 333 miles of coastline on the Indian Ocean to the east. Her neighbors are Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. Sometimes referred to as “The Cradle of Humanity”, the country is part of the Great Rift Valley. Paleontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man’s ancestors, dating back to 3.3 million BC.
The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and the port of Mombasa became an important resupply stop on route to the Middle East. The Portuguese gave way to Islamic control under the Imam of Oman, in the 1600s. That lasted until another European influence came along, the British, who founded the East African Protectorate (now known as Kenya) in 1895. It became a British colony in 1920. During this period, thousands of Indians were brought into Kenya to work on building the Kenya/Uganda railway line and subsequently settled there. After numerous uprisings, thousands of Kenyans were incarcerated in detention camps. Kenya finally became independent on December 12, 1963.

Today, Kenya is multifaceted with over 40 different ethnic groups. The largest group is the Kikuyu, who migrated to the region at the beginning of the 18th century. Each ethnic group has their own indigenous language and culture. About 13 percent of the population is of non-African descent. The official languages of Kenya are Swahili and English. They bridge the communication gap and unite Kenya as a single nation. The constitution of Kenya guarantees freedom of religion and worship to its people. The vast majority of Kenyans are Christians. Islam is another major religion. Followers include both Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims and are mostly found in Mombasa and the neighboring coastal regions. The small, Indian population mostly adheres to Hinduism and Sikhism. Their indigenous beliefs of traditional African religions are combined with various aspects of Christianity.

Almost all ethnic tribes have their own variety of music and dance. Traditional African beats are usually backed by drums and guitar like instruments. Contemporary music, including lingala and benga rhythms, as well as taarab music, were inspired by Arab and Indian immigrants. Another fascinating aspect of Kenyan culture is the art and artifacts crafted manually by the different tribes. Beautifully carved wood sculptures are produced locally and sold throughout the world, as well as hand-woven baskets made of sisal, Maasai beaded jewelry, musical instruments, tribal masks, paintings, prints, batik cloth, colorful kangas (African cloth) and the beautiful Kikoys (African sarongs).

Kenya is one of Africa’s most developed economies. It has gradually emerged from political instability and government corruption, although it still struggles. Terrorism has been a big problem in recent years. In 1998 Al-Qaida operatives bombed the US embassy in the capital city of Nairobi, killing 224 and injuring thousands. In 2011, Somali militants raided Kenyan coastal resorts, targeting the foreigners staying there. Most recently, in April of 2015, Al-Shabab militants massacred 148 students at Garissa College, horrifying Kenya and the rest of the world. This was just two years after 67 were killed and 175 wounded when gunmen attacked the most upscale mall in Nairobi. Yet even after these tragedies, Kenya remains a very popular tourist destination.

By far the main tourist attractions are the safaris through the 19 national parks and game reserves. Safari used to mean a hunt but thankfully today, the rifles have been mostly replaced with cameras. It is one of the few places you can still find the “Big 5” deadliest mammals: the lion, Cape buffalo, leopard, rhino and elephant (which sadly have both been heavily poached there, even in the national parks.) Animals are literally everywhere, with herds of zebras, giraffes, hippos, dozens of species of antelopes, monkeys, wildebeest, (where 1.4 million migrate each year from Tanzania to Kenya and back again), hyenas, cheetahs, wart hogs and so many more. The show is up close and personal as you see lions, devouring their kill, elephants charging and leopards dragging their prey up a tree. It is raw nature at its finest. Bird watching is another huge tourist attraction, with over 1000 species found there including seas of pink flamingos, egrets, guinea hens, giant raptor kites and vultures that clean up on a kill once the lions are satisfied. Then there is a whole other arena with beautiful coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, offering some of the best diving opportunities in the world.

Another attraction is the Maasai Mara National Reserve where the Maasai villages can be found. The Masai people live in southern Kenya, along the Great Rift Valley. They are a semi-nomadic tribe whose subsistence economy relies on cattle, goats and sheep. A Maasai prayer “Meishoo iyiook enkai inkishu o-nkera” translated to English means “May the creator give us cattle and children.” Cattle and children are the most important treasures of the Maasai people. The Maasai live in villages, called Kraals, which are arranged in a circular fashion. Every person in the Maasai community has a role to play. The fence is made of acacia thorns to prevent lions from attacking their cattle. The houses, or Bomba, are built by the women and made of timber poles and then plastered with a mix of mud, sticks, grass, cow dung and urine. Nearly all the needs for food are met by the cattle they raise. They eat the meat (although they prefer to amass large herds), so they also have a tradition that collects blood from a nicked jugular on the cow’s neck, which they then mix with the cow’s milk and drink. This allows the cow to stay alive and provides a rich protein source in their diet. Recently with drought and climate change causing their herds to diminish, the Maasai have grown dependent on other foods such as sorghum, rice, potatoes and cabbage. Bright red is the traditional color of the Maasai and the shield on the Kenyan flag is in fact, the shield of the Maasai warriors. The Maasai welcome guests into their community to see their most interesting culture and traditions.

As we look into the cuisine of Kenya, maize, potatoes and beans are the staple crops. Ugali is a porridge made of maize, similar to fufu made of cassava. It is served at almost every meal along with stews. Meat, mostly goat, beef, mutton and chicken are eaten. Fish from the Indian Ocean and from Lake Victoria are enjoyed by those who live nearby. In the capital city of Nairobi, International faire is found. The Indians who were brought over to help build the railroad have had a very strong impact on the cuisine. Chapati is an Indian flat bread that is ubiquitous there. Nyama Choma is grilled meat and considered the national dish (served with Ugali.) Kenyans are big exporters of coffee and tea (chai) and Kenyans themselves consume a lot of tea, which is served with milk and sugar. Afternoon tea time is coveted there and is clearly an influence from the British. Kenya has had challenges with poverty and hunger. Drought at times, has been severe. They even have a dish called Sukuma wiki that literally translated means, “stretch the week.” Any leftover meat can be combined with greens to make another meal.

So let’s enjoy a Kenyan Chakula (meal):

The Menu
Starter
Bajias (Battered Potatoes with Seasoning)

Served with Madras (Mango Chutney)

Main
Nyama Choma (Grilled meat)

Served with
Sukuma Wiki (Greens Simmered with Tomatoes)

Irio (Potatoes, Peas and Corn Mash)

Dessert
Biskuti Ya Nazi (Coconut Macaroons)

We decorated the table with  animal print and animals that would be found on a safari. Corn and coffee were arranged as they are important agricultural items to the Kenyans.  We also decorated with orchids, the national flower of Kenya. We put benga music on the stereo, with its infectious guitar and drum beats to set the Kenyan mood.

We began our meal by saying “Chakula Chema” which means, “Bon appetite” in Swahili. Our first course was a street food called bajias, which clearly shows the Indian influence. Heavily seasoned and battered potatoes are fried and then dipped in a delicious mango chutney, called madras. The chutney has a nice kick to it, due to the hot peppers, a real delight to enjoy with a good Kenyan beer. “Maisha marefu” means “Cheers” and Kenyans are the largest consumers of beer in all of Africa.

Next, was the main course, Nyama Choma, which in Swahili means, roast meat. It is always eaten with your hands and goat meat is most often used, but beef ribs are also very popular. The preparation is simple; just a mist of salt water while cooking slowly over the flame. The result is awesome. Sometimes I find, it is the simple things in cooking that are the best and Nyama Choma is a perfect example. This dish represents the fun loving spirit of the Kenyan people. Whenever there is Nyama Choma, people gather for delicious food, music and a good, festive time.

The meat was served on a cutting board, which is customary there. Alongside it we had another very popular dish, called Irio (pronounced eer-e-o.) This dish is basically mashed potatoes with peas and corn added. The result is a lovely side dish for nearly any occasion.

We also enjoyed the greens dish, called Sukuma wiki. We didn’t add the meat to ours, but we did use left overs for lunch the next day to “stretch the week.” The dish is made of greens, kale or collard greens, both of which I happen to have in abundance in our International Cuisine garden. Onions are sautéed with tomatoes and then the greens are added. This is another keeper of a side dish; simple to make, healthful and yummy!

For dessert, fruit is often served as an end to a Kenyan meal. However, we instead had coconut macaroons; a sweet treat to finish our Kenyan feast and savor with our chai. We concluded our evening by watching the movie “Out of Africa,” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford (a couple of our favorite actors). The movie was filmed in Kenya.

As we say goodbye to this African nation, we simply say “Asante” (thank you) in Swahili.

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Jordan is officially known as “The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.” Hashemite is a member of an Arab princely family claiming descent from Hashim, the great-grandfather of Muhammad. Yarden is the Hebrew name of the river that flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The name stems from the root word “yarad”, which means “to descend” or “flow down.” Known today as the Jordan River, it is a significant, fresh water source for the people of Jordan. The river also has major significance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This is the site where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land and where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. The name Jordan was adopted as a common name in Europe when crusaders returned with water from the river to baptize their own children.

Jordan is located in the Middle East, in western Asia, on the east bank of the river Jordan. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Iraq to the northeast, Syria to the north and Israel and Palestine to the west. Jordan’s location, at the crossroads of the Middle East, has been an important location since the dawn of civilization, connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Today Jordan is considered the safest Arab country. However, it is right in the crosshairs of surrounding turmoil and has been extremely gracious in accepting refugees from conflicts dating back to 1948. Many Palestinians and Syrians now reside in Jordan. Jordan is the only country where a Palestinian can become a citizen.

Jordan was part of many kingdoms throughout history, including the Ottoman Empire, from 1516 until 1918. It was previously known as Transjordan. The Turkish rule came to an end during World War I when the Hashemite Army, in alliance with the British, took over and secured present day Jordan. Jordan became independent from Britain on May 26, 1946 and is run as a constitutional monarchy today. King Abdullah II is the current King who succeeded his father King Hussein after his death. King Abdullah II reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to the peace treaty with Israel and its relations with the United States (US). Jordan is a key ally of the US and United Kingdom and together with Egypt, is one of only two Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with Israel. King Hussein was loved in the country and was distinguished by marrying an American woman who became known as Queen Noor or Noor Al-Hussein, which means “Light of Hussein.” She is credited for her work with refugees, as an advisor to Trust Women, (an organization aiming to put the rule of law behind woman’s rights) and as an advocate to ban landmines and eliminate nuclear weapons. Although she is no longer the sitting queen, she remains in Jordan to continue her work.

The country of Jordan is ethnically made up of 98 percent Arabs. Arabic is the official language and English is widely understood and spoken among the upper and middle classes. The majority of the population is Sunni Muslim, with a very small number of Christians, mainly Greek Orthodox. Jordan’s economy is among the smallest in the Middle East. Jordan does not have the natural resources on which many of her neighbors rely. King Abdullah has tried to implement economic reforms such as opening up foreign trade and privatizing state owned companies but it is tourism that is most lucrative. However, tourism has been hurt recently by the surrounding areas of conflict. Additionally, the large influx of refugees has caused massive unemployment and strains on their government. Their main industries, aside from tourism, are information technology, clothing, fertilizers, potash and pharmaceuticals. Their main crops are citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries. They also raise sheep and cows and dairy products are widespread.

The capital city, Amman, is unique, in that it was originally constructed across seven hills, known as “jabals.” The city today spans over nineteen hills and directions are given based on “jabals.” It is the most populated city in Jordan, home to more than four million. Many of the buildings there look alike, as they are made from the same light-colored limestone.

Their main tourist site is the city of Petra, which is a UNESCO site and listed as one of the seven new wonders of the world. Also known as the “Rose City” for the color of the stone from which it was carved, it dates back some 2000 years. (It was featured in the Indiana Jones film, “The Last Crusade.”) The city, which has to be entered through a gorge only about a mile wide, is stunning with its rock cut architecture and water conduit system. Other historical sites in Jordan include Mount Nebo, which it is believed to be the burial site of Moses, Madaba which dates back at least 3500 years and is mentioned in the Old Testament numerous times and Pella. Madaba it is most famous for its intricate fifth and sixth century mosaics, prolifically laid throughout the town. Pella is a sleepy, small rural village, where there is evidence of humans dating as far back as the Paleolithic era, some 100,000 years ago. However, one of the most popular tourist destinations and also the lowest place on earth, is the Dead Sea. It is well known for its spiritual and healing spas.

The most notable aspect of Jordan, has to be the hospitality of the Jordanian people. They are known to be decent, honest, respectful and courteous. Generally speaking Jordan is a liberal society. They will smile and say “Welcome to Jordan.” The only thing they ask is in return is that foreign tourists make an attempt to honor their culture. When visiting there you should dress modestly and not show any public displays of affection to the opposite sex. It is very likely that you will be asked to drink some tea, or even be invited for a full meal at someone’s home. They will have a sincere interest in getting to know you. If for any reason you choose not to accept the invitation, you should say “Shukran shukran” (Thank you, thank you) and then you follow it up with, “Marra okhra insha’Allah (Another time, if God wills it”), which softens the no, yet indicates you won’t forget their kind offer. Also, never photograph a woman without permission, it is considered highly offensive.

As we look into the cuisine of the Jordanian people, it is mainly Middle Eastern, Arab and Greek, with some Turkish influences as well. Dishes include meze (small starter dishes) such as hummus, tabbouleh, and mouttabal. Kebabs are found all over and usually made with lamb. Rice is served at most meals along with an array of dried fruits and fresh vegetables. Grains, cheese and yogurts are also important ingredients in their cooking. Sweets, such as Baklava, are widely loved and sesame seeds, thyme, sage and mint are all quintessential flavors of Jordan.

So let’s eat a Jordanian feast:

The Menu
Starter
Mouttabal (Smoky Eggplant Dip)

Served with Shrak (Jordanian Flat Bread)

Main
Mansaf (Lamb cooked in goat’s milk yogurt with rice)

Served with
Fattoush (Mediterranean Salad with toasted bread)

Dessert
Kunafa (A sweet pastry with a cheese filling)

We decorated with the colors of the Jordanian flag; black, white, green and red. The colors represent the historical dynasties. We also used the black iris, which is the national flower along with citrus fruits, tomatoes and cucumbers. A sheep and a goat represented the nomadic lifestyle of the Bedouins, who are considered to be native Jordanians.

We began with a thimble of bitter, Arabic coffee, which is a welcoming gesture in Jordan. We downed it and then shook the cup back and forth indicating we don’t want anymore. If you were to hold the cup out straight, that indicates you want a refill.

We brought out the food and said “Sahtayn” (May you eat.) We began with the Jordanian flat bread, called shrak that was used to enjoy the dip, called mouttabal. (Of course we only used the right hand to eat.) The dip is very similar to baba ganoush which we made for Bahrain, except it has a beautiful smoky flavor due to the way the eggplant is cooked.

For the main course, we enjoyed the unique dish called mansaf, which also happens to be the national dish of Jordan. Mansaf is lamb, mixed with aromatic herbs and spices then cooked in yoghurt and served with lots of rice. The lamb is cooked in jameed (an Arabic word for dried yoghurt). The jameed is made from goat’s milk then mixed with water to produce a creamy sauce. The lamb is stewed in this sauce until perfectly tender. A large tray is first covered with the doughy, flat bread, (shrak) then dampened with yoghurt. On top of this, a layer of rice is heaped. The meat is then piled over the rice and covered with the sauce. (Pine nuts and almonds are used for garnish.) This dish is served for every special occasion and we can see why; it is truly a feast. The jameed adds both a salty and sour taste to the dish that is most distinctive. Jordanian etiquette dictates that one should only eat the portion of food on the platter that is directly in front of them. Often the host will add special pieces of meat to your section for added enjoyment.

We served the mansaf with a side salad, called fattoush. This is your basic Arabic vegetable salad with the addition of toasted shrak which absorbs the dressing perfectly, like a crouton. We loved the simple lemon and olive oil dressing with just a touch of salt and pepper. It was garnished with sumac, which is quite popular in that region.

For dessert, we had an interesting sweet pastry, made with very fine strands of dough called kataifi. This dough is lightly coated with ghee and when baked makes for a lovely, crunchy pastry. The kunafa has a delicious cheese filling tucked in-between the layers of the pastry. The whole thing is coated with a sweet syrup, lightly flavored with citrus and rose water. The kunafa was garnished with dried fruit and nuts; a superb ending to our Jordanian feast.

We finished our meal and placed our right hand over our heart and said, “Al-Hamdulillah” which means (Thank God), which expressed our enormous appreciation for this lovely feast.

Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Xaymaca is what the indigenous, Taino, called their island. In their native language, called Arawak, it means, “The Land of Wood and Water” or “Many Springs.” Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage to the New World. He landed there on May 5, 1494 and Jamaica remained under Spanish rule until 1655. By the 1600s, the Spaniards managed to wipe out the Taino population through slavery, and disease. As a result, the Spanish then transported enslaved, West Africans to the islands to work the fields.

Christopher Columbus spent nearly a whole year on Jamaica after his ships were damaged by wormwood (which is actually a wood eating, saltwater clam), in mid-1503. While he was stranded, the Taino stopped giving him and his crew supplies, as they were torturing and pillaging the Taino people and the land. Columbus, being the navigator he was, had heard about a German astronomer, named Regiomontanus, who predicted that a full lunar eclipse would occur on February 29, 1504. He told the Taino that he would remove the moon and not return it until they gave him the supplies he needed. Needless to say, the plot worked, the moon went away and the Taino offered them whatever they needed to get the moon back. Forty eight minutes later he agreed, and the moon reappeared. From then on, he had all the supplies he needed until he was picked up by the caravel from Hispaniola, on June 29, 1504.

In 1655, the English invaded Jamaica, defeating the Spanish colonists. However, the African slaves seized the opportunity and fled to the island’s interior, forming independent communities, known as the Maroons. The English built a settlement at Port Royal, which became a base of operations for pirates and privateers. In the 18th century, sugarcane replaced piracy as Jamaica’s primary source of income and the English brought in hundreds of thousands more African slaves to work the plantations. By 1800, black Jamaicans outnumbered whites by twenty to one. When the price of sugar dropped, it was replaced as the leading export by bananas and coffee. After the emancipation of slaves in 1834, the plantations were worked by indentured Indian and Chinese workers. British rule lasted until their independence in 1962 but there were numerous, bloody uprisings throughout this period. Jamaica joined the Commonwealth of Nations, an organization of ex-British territories and continues to be, what is called a Commonwealth Realm, with the British Monarch as Queen of Jamaica and Head of State. Kingston became the capital city in 1872 and remains so today.

Jamaica is one of the islands known as the Greater Antilles, located 90 miles south of Cuba, and 100 miles west of Haiti, in the Caribbean. The island is made up of coastal lowlands, limestone plateaus and the beautiful Blue Mountains, in the east. The mountains get their name from the azure haze that settles around its peaks. Jamaica is known for its stunningly beautiful, white sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Although, many people say that if you never leave the all-inclusive resort, you have not really visited Jamaica. Still, Jamaica’s tourism industry thrives and she hosts numerous cruise ships from many ports of call.

Jamaica beckons to be explored: she offers incredible diving in the crystal clear, turquoise ocean, hiking the pristine plateaus and mountains replete with water falls, tropical foliage and wildlife, rafting through breathtaking rapids or floating along enchanting lagoons and discovering her underground caves, sink holes and underground rivers. Tourism accounts for thirty percent of Jamaica’s GDP. Some say the all-inclusive beach resorts hurt the locals who call Jamaica home. In Jamaica, outsiders can own the beach along with the property, stripping the land from its people. Efforts are being made to protect marine life, which seems like a noble cause, however, it forces the locals to go out further to reach the local catch, requiring more fuel, time and money. Jamaica has its challenges with high unemployment, poverty and a reputation for violent crime and drug trafficking, which is why the tourists are asked not to leave the resorts. If you do wander from the resorts, women will often be bombarded by merchants wanting to braid their hair into cornrows, as was popularized by Bo Derek, in the movie “Ten”. And you will often hear the locals say, “Yeah mon, no problem” in their kicked back Jamaican style, in response to almost any request.

The famous novelist, Ian Fleming, had a beautiful five bedroom villa in Oracabessa that he named “The Golden Eye.” All fourteen of his “James Bond” books were said to have been written there. Today his home is part of a place for tourists to enjoy. The resort is now owned by Chris Blackwell, who was founder of Island Records and who brought the spiritual sounds of Bob Marley’s reggae to the rest of the world. Bob Marley’s music resonated with humanity, as it identified oppressors and stirred social change, while allowing listeners to escape their troubles and sway to its rhythmic beat. After Marley’s death in 1981, he was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. His 1977 album, “Exodus” was named “album of the century” by Time magazine. He was bestowed the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Bob Marley’s music was rooted in his Rastafarian beliefs and he was known for smoking marijuana or “herb”, as it is called in Rasta culture. He was a believer of the herb’s medicinal, meditational and spiritual abilities. He once said “Rum, teach you to be a drunkard, and herb, teach you to be someone.” Bob Marley will forever be a Jamaican cultural icon. The Bob Marley museum is located in the capital city of Kingston.

Jamaica was made famous on the world stage with its showing at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988. There, the Jamaican Bobsled Team competed against all odds in the Olympics. This was quite extraordinary for a team from the tropics who had never seen snow, let alone a bobsled. Since then, they have qualified multiple times in the Winter Olympics and were the inspiration for the movie about the trials and tribulations of the team, called “Cool Runnings". Then there is Usain Bolt AKA Lightening Bolt, a Jamaican sprinter regarded as the fastest person ever timed.

The small island of Jamaica is home to nearly 2.8 million people. The majority, about 80 percent, is overwhelmingly from African descent; many from the Akan tribe from Ghana and the Igbo from Nigeria. The balance of the population is Afro-European, East Indian, Caucasian and Chinese. The official language is English, however, it is a unique, creole dialect, called Patois.

Religion is an important part of life for Jamaicans. More than 80 percent are Christians, practicing all forms of Christianity. There are also Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Bahai religions represented. A very small percentage of the population is Rastafarian. According to the Rastafarian belief, the only true God is the late Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie and Ethiopia is the true holy land. Rastafarians are known for wearing their hair in dreadlocks, having beards and carrying bibles, as a sign of a pact with God. Rastafarians place great emphasis on spirituality, meditation and the individual. Ganja or the “herb’ is used in their religious rites.

As we look into the cuisine of Jamaica, we can see it is influenced by the island itself and its rich history. It is a smorgasbord of sorts, yet there are many local ingredients that the island nation has made their own. The island’s motto is “out of many, one people” and it could be said for the food as well. They are probably most known for their fiery, hot, scotch bonnet peppers that are the key ingredient to any good “jerk” dish. Although Jamaica is famous for their jerk chicken, it is saltfish with ackee, which is considered their national dish. Typically served for breakfast, this salted, cod fish is served with a most unusual fruit, called ackee. The fruit must be handled properly or it can be toxic. It is somewhat bland, yet has a sweetness that pairs beautifully with the saltfish. This is often combined with onions and peppers and served with callaloo, (a leafy bitter green) for a memorable meal. Plantains are often fried and served as a side dish.

Another popular item, is the Jamaican patty; a street food loved all over the island. It is much like an empanada or samosa, but seasoned with the distinct flavors of Jamaican cuisine. Curried goat is also an extremely well-liked dish and rice and pigeon peas are the mainstay of the Jamaican diet. The rice is simmered in fresh coconut milk for a sweet, tropical taste. In Jamaica, tropical fruits are abundant and one is often greeted at the airport with a glass of tropical fruit juice mixed with rum (another island specialty) while reggae music plays in the background. It’s a lovely way to be welcomed to Jamaica.

Allspice, is what ultimately embodies the flavor of Jamaica. There, it is known as pimento or Jamaican pepper. The pimento tree is indigenous to the Caribbean Islands. The wood from the tree is used to slowly cook their meats and fish to give them that distinctive Jamaican flavor. The fruit (or dried, unripe berry) evokes a blend of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Allspice has a unique and unforgettable flavor.

So let’s eat Jamaican style:

The Menu
Starter
Hot Pepper Shrimp

Main
Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Served with
Jamaican Coconut Rice

Garden Salad

Dessert
Key Lime Pie

We set the table in the colors of the Jamaican flag; black, green and yellow. We put reggae music on the stereo to set the Caribbean mood. We decorated with bananas and coffee beans; two of the most important agricultural products of the island nation. Orchids were also on display, as Jamaica is home to over 400 varieties.

Our first course was a hot pepper shrimp that was light and refreshing. It was served with fresh mango slices and red onion. This dish was plated cold and dressed with a jerk marinade that added the perfect amount of spicy heat to the dish. We enjoyed it with a hibiscus, iced tea.

For the main course, we prepared their famous jerk chicken. We loved this intensely flavored but oh so tender chicken and now completely understand why Jamaicans are known for this treasure. Served with the sweet, tropical flavor of the coconut rice with peas, it was superb. Jerk chicken is made in a couple of stages and requires making a base (or jerk) before the sauce is made, after which, the chicken is marinated in it overnight. While the chicken is grilled, it is also basted with the sauce, which is then placed as a condiment on the table. The base was what was used in the dressing for the appetizer course as well. (I love it when you can use a recipe for a number of different applications.) I can see many wonderful uses for the base called “jerk”.

The chicken and rice were accompanied by what is known as a garden salad but it contains cabbage and carrots, as opposed to the usual lettuce. This was a lovely complement, typically served with Thousand Island dressing.

For dessert, we enjoyed key lime pie, which had a ginger snap crust and was decorated like the Jamaican flag, using bananas and chocolate on the lime green pie. We savored the dessert with a rich cup of Jamaican coffee from the Blue Mountains. Some say it is the best coffee in the world. I am not enough of a coffee connoisseur to answer that question, but it was delicious!
As we say goodbye to Jamaica, I leave you with a verse from Bob Marley’s song called “One Love” His song was named “Song of the Millennium” by the BBC.

One love, one heart
Let’s get together and feel all right
Hear the children cryin (one love)
Hear the children cryin (one heart)
Sayin, “Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right”
Sayin “Let’s get together and feel all right.”

Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Iran means, “Land of the Aryans” in Persian. Located in the Middle East, Iran is one of the oldest, continuous civilizations on earth, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 BC. The people have called their country Iran for over a millennium, while Westerners referred to the country as Persia. In 1979, after “The Revolution,” the country officially became the “Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran is mainly a high plateau located between the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with nearly 30 percent of the border on the coast. Her neighbors are Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkmenistan to the north, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the east and Turkey and Iraq to the west. The central plateau is actually a tectonic plate where earthquakes are common. Surprisingly, the climate in Iran is one of extremes, from subpolar to subtropical, with temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. With mountain ranges surrounding the plateau, skiing is one of Iran’s best kept secrets. The arid interior is home to two deserts that dominate the eastern part of the country.

Iran’s rich history, starting with the Persian Empire, a major superpower, has included many conquerors and influences along the way. It was the Safavid Dynasty which established Shi’a Islam as the official religion of their empire in 1501; a major turning point in the history of Islam. Iran, from that point forward, was a monarchy ruled by a shah, or emperor, nearly without interruption, until the 1979 revolution.

The “Iranian Revolution” led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, transformed Iran from an absolute monarchy to an Islamic Republic. A new theocratic constitution was formed and Khomeini became the Supreme Leader. The ideology of the revolutionary government was populist, nationalist and Shi’a Islamic. Khomeini’s reign, until his death in 1989, had great impact around the world. The era was dominated early on by the Iran hostage crisis, when 52 American hostages were held for 444 days by Iranian students who labeled the US embassy personnel as a “Den of Spies.” The takeover was very popular in Iran and thousands regularly gathered in support of the hostage takers. It was at this time that Khomeini started referring to America as the “Great Satan.” Needless to say, this severely damaged relations with America, and Iran has suffered massive sanctions ever since. Industry was nationalized, laws and schools converted wholly to Islam, and Western influences were banned. This was also the time of the very costly and bloody war with Iraq. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives, including women and children. Saddam Hussein (Iraq’s dictator) unleashed chemical weapons on the people of Iran. This war left many scars on the people of Iran.

There have been recent developments between six world powers (including the US) and Iran in hopes of lifting sanctions, along with an agreement that limits Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon. This is a major breakthrough in foreign relations and may bring good growth opportunity to the citizens of Iran. Iran has a very young population, with over 80 percent of its estimated 81 million people, under the age of 40. Recent uprisings from the youth may be slowly reforming some of the government’s very strict policies.

Most of Iran’s population is Persian, however there are also ethnic Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, Lurs, Turkmen and Turkic tribes. The official language is Persian, or Farsi, but other languages are spoken based on the people’s ethnicity. The official religion is overwhelmingly Shi’a Muslim, with a very small minority of Sunni and others, such as Zoroastrian, Jewish and Christians.

Iran is home to 19 significant UNESCO world heritage sites, both pre and post Islam, with many additional places on the “tentative” list. From the Throne of Solomon to the Wonders of Persepolis, there is much to see and explore in Iran. Iran’s main export is oil but they are known for their beautiful Persian rugs and perhaps the finest caviar in the world. They are also exporters of fruits, nuts, cotton and saffron.

Iran used to be primarily a rural society, where nature was of the utmost importance. Even today, with fast growing urban centers, and even in the very populated capital city of Tehran, many Iranians try to bring the outdoors inside with intricate flower and animal motifs. Fresh flowers and fruit designs are part of every celebration. Iran is the only nation on earth that celebrates the New Year on the Spring Equinox and the only nation in the Middle East that uses the solar calendar.

In Iranian culture there is what is known as the inside and outside. The inside, or andarun, is the most private of space. It is where family members are most relaxed and are able to behave in a free manner. The outside, or biruni, is the public space, where social niceties must be observed. Almost all the architecture is designed with the principle of biruni in mind. Families create both spaces inside their homes and often one room or space can be quickly transformed as needed. Iranians are known for their incredible hospitality where they are prepared to entertain overnight guests at a moment’s notice.

Shopping is done at The Bazaar and at the head of every Bazaar is a mosque; a gathering place at the heart of the Islamic faith. The Bazaar is set up with like merchants in the same location and the Bazaar is where one can find anything you would need for everyday living. Friday all the shops are closed.

In Iran the most visible mark of the Islamic Republic is the dress. Women are required to wear a hijab, which means cover or curtain. They must cover their head, and neck with a head scarf, called a roo-sari and a formless, knee length coat, known as a roo-poosh, plus a long dress or a pair of pants. Modesty is key and at holy sites women are required to wear the chador, a full length swathe of black cloth designed to cover everything but their face from view. (Iran has a large number of women who get nose jobs, as the face is often times all that can be seen in public). Western wear may be worn underneath a chador or while at home in the private space. Men are prohibited from wearing shorts or tight jeans. Foreigners traveling to Iran should be mindful of this protocol while visiting there, as the penalties can be severe.

As we look into the cuisine of Iran, known throughout the world as Persian cuisine, we are in for a treat. Iranians have a healthy diet, with fresh fruits, greens and vegetables always the mainstay. Meat is generally a condiment, usually lamb, or chicken. Rice and whole grain un-leavened breads are staples. Pork is prohibited, as is alcohol, although local moonshine can be found in some communities. Black tea is ubiquitous and tea houses can be found all over the country. The influences are a combination of Greek, Indian, Azeri and Turk, yet the food has a flair all its own. Iranians believe that food is either hot or cold, not in temperature but rather the affect the food has on the body. It is a belief that originated in ancient times from the Zoroastrian religion. It is thought that food is a fuel which either weakens or strengthens the body. Some foods slow the digestive process and others speed it up; it is a balance between the two that is sought. The whole idea is to create a balance of neutrality. The result is delicious combinations of flavors and great nutrition.

So Let’s Eat Persian style

The Menu
Starter
Kaskhke Bedemjan (Eggplant Walnut Dip)

Soup
Ash-e-Reshteh (Persian Noodle Soup)

Served with Sabzi Khordan (Fresh Herbs and Vegetables)

Main
Fesenjan (Pomegranate Chicken)

Served with Javaher Polow (Jeweled Rice)

Dessert

Bastani Sonnati (Saffron Ice Cream with Pistachio Nuts)

We set our Persian rug on the floor with a shorbeh, or dining cloth, along with cushions to sit on. Although dining tables are not uncommon in modern Iran, it is often customary to sit on the floor cross-legged, to enjoy the family style meal. We decorated with pomegranates and nuts as well as a candle with the symbol of Faravahar, a religious cultural symbol from the Pahlavi Dynasty. Roses and tulips also adorned the setting, as they are both considered national flowers. Forks and spoons are used but only with the right hand, as the left is considered unclean; despite a handwashing ritual before the main meal.

In Iran there is something called “Taarof.” It is a system of politeness that includes both verbal and non-verbal communication. If you are offered something, like tea or a sweet, even if you want it, you should decline it until further insistence. If you are invited into a home for a meal, you are expected to decline awaiting further prompting but you should accept multiple helpings at mealtime. Iranians will also protest compliments in an attempt to always appear humble. You should leave a little food on your plate when you are done eating or they will assume you want more, even if you decline; remember, Taarof!

We began the meal with “Befarma’id” (which means Bon appetite in Farsi). Warm, naan bread was served to dip into the eggplant walnut dip, called Kaske Bedmjan, as the starter. Eggplant is considered the potato of Iran and the preparation with the walnuts and kashk (a cultured farmers cheese), made for a creamy, delicious dip. It was topped with caramelized onions and was simply divine.

Next was the Ash-e-Reshteh, a traditional noodle soup that is often served for New Years. It is customary in Iran to serve noodles before embarking on anything new. The soup, with many different types of legumes, is hearty and wonderful. Seasoned with turmeric and saffron, it makes for a beautiful presentation as well. Reshteh, is an egg noodle, found in Middle Eastern stores, somewhat similar to linguine. The soup is also topped with a little kashk; that wonderful, creamy, farmers cheese, yum!

For the main course we savored a dish called fesenjan. Although the national dish of Iran is considered to be chelow kabab (a dish consisting of steamed saffron, seasoned basmati rice and kabab, usually lamb, served with roasted tomatoes), this dish came in as a close second. Fesenjan, an amazing chicken dish, made with pomegranate molasses and walnuts, is a worthy dish to impress guests anytime. It is simply delicious.

This main course was served with Javaher polow, or jeweled rice, an absolutely beautiful dish that is equally tasty. The rice is seasoned with typical Iranian flavors such as saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and cumin then embellished with dried apricots, barberries, raisons, almonds, pistachios and yes, pomegranate. Sabzi Khordan, a condiment comprising fresh herbs and vegetables (found on every Iranian table), provided the perfect garnish. The herbs and vegetables change based on what is fresh and in season. Ours had radish, cucumber, dill, coriander, mint and parsley.

We loved it all!

For dessert, Iranians love sweets of all kind and ice cream, is no exception. It is usually served in-between two pieces of wafer. Ours was a delicious, saffron ice cream, served in a cone, topped with pistachios…. Divine!

Until next week,
Be salamat! (Have a nice journey)
Darlene

Indonesia gets her name from the words “Indus” (the name of India) and the Greek word “nesos,” which means, islands. The name was coined in the 18th century by James Richardson Logan who was a student of English ethnologist, George Earl and used Indonesia as a synonym for the Indian Archipelago. Indonesia is located in South East Asia. She is bound by Malaysia and the South China Sea to the northwest, Papua New Guinea to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the northeast and the Indian Ocean to the southwest.

Indonesia has been described as a gargantuan tree with many branches. She is the largest archipelago in the world. The country is made up entirely of islands, some 17,000 of them and they stretch over an area of 3,200 miles, from east to west. About 6000 of the islands are inhabited. Sumatra and Java are two of the largest Islands in the archipelago. Jakarta is the capital city, the largest city and located on the island of Java. The beautiful, tropical island of Bali is sometimes referred to as the tourist capital of Indonesia.

Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation on earth, with over 257 million people. Java holds the majority of the population, over 51 percent, and is the most populous island on earth. Indonesia is also home to the largest population of Muslims in the world, with 87 percent of the population practicing Muslim. The government only recognizes six religions, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism and Confucianism. Every citizen must officially declare their religion whether practicing or not and two individuals that want to marry must belong to the same religion or one must convert.

Indonesia has a rich and fascinating history. Each island has its own unique, cultural background. The majority of the population is made up of Austronesian people, who originally migrated to South East Asia from Taiwan around 2000 BC. They began pushing the indigenous people to the far eastern regions. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the Srivijaya Kingdom and the Majapahit Empire were basically world powers in trade and in bringing Hindu and Buddhist influences to the area. They also brought cultural influences from India, China, and mainland Southeast Asia. These dynasties left behind several grand, religious monuments such as Buddhist Sailendra’s Borobudur and Hindu Mataram’s Prambanan, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites today. Although Islamic influences began in the eighth and ninth centuries, it wasn’t until the 13th century when Marco Polo visited Northern Sumatra, where he found already established Islamic states. Other areas of Indonesia gradually adopted Islam and it became the dominant religion by the end of the 16th century.

It was around this time that Indonesia’s abundant resources, particularly spices, began to attract the attention of the Europeans, especially the Portuguese. Spices were as good as gold, as they were believed to cure everything from the plague to many other diseases. The Portuguese were followed by the English and the Dutch. It was eventually the Dutch who won and colonized the area. The Dutch East India Company, established a spice monopoly that lasted well into the 18th century. After the dissolution of the Dutch East India Company, the Dutch began cultivating sugar and coffee on the island of Java, providing three quarters of the world’s coffee supply. It is no coincidence that java is often used as a slang term for coffee. Speaking of coffee, today the Indonesians sell the most expensive coffee drink in the world, a drink called “kopi luwak”. A cat, called the Asian palm civet, consumes coffee berries and the enzymes in the civet’s stomach removes the bitterness from the coffee berry. Well, you can use your imagination on how the berries come out of the civet. These berries are sold for about $1000 per pound.

The Indonesians were anxious for independence, which came after the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, from 1942 until the end of WWII, in 1945. The Dutch were unable to defend the colony from the Japanese, as they were under German occupation. At the end of the war and within days of the Japanese surrender, the Indonesians declared their independence. The Netherlands did not agree and a four year struggle ensued. They finally gave Indonesia their sovereignty in December of 1949. For years, Independence was still a struggle for the Indonesian people. After much strife, they finally were able to hold free elections in 1999.

Today Indonesia is a huge melting pot of over 300 ethnic groups. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia but there are several hundred other local languages, like Javanese and Papuan. Most Indonesians speak their local language, as well as the official one. Indonesia’s climate is tropical, mostly hot and humid, as many of the islands lie right along the equator. They have two seasons, a wet and dry season but the temperatures do not vary much from season to season. They mainly stay in the low to mid 80’s year round. Cooler temperatures can be found at the higher elevations.

The Indonesian archipelago is one of the most geologically evolving and diverse countries in the world. Over 150 of Indonesia’s 17,000 plus islands are active volcanoes. The, over 400, volcanic mountains that dot the islands, have a huge impact on both the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The islands are stretched out between the two plates and the area remains extremely active. Indonesia experiences at least one earthquake per day and three or so lesser vibrations. The Mount Tambora eruption that occurred in 1815 on the island of Sumbawa, was the largest observed volcanic eruption in history. The 2004 earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 and created one of the world’s worst tsunamis ever. The epicenter was in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. In Indonesia alone, over 166,000 people died, over a half a million were displaced and 11 other countries were affected. On a personal note, when that tragedy occurred, I did not know much about Indonesia and I felt I needed to connect to the people and place. It was highly influential in why I started International Cuisine, to learn and understand more about the people and cultures populating our planet.

The flora and fauna of Indonesia is astounding, being the second most bio-diverse nation on earth. There are about 28,000 species of flowering plants, with 2500 orchid species, 6000 traditional, medicinal plants, 122 species of bamboo, 350 species of rattan and over 400 types of rare woods. Tropical rain forests in the region are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Along with the flora and fauna, there are animals and birds, reptiles and fish that are equally astonishing. One of the most famous reptiles, resides on one island in Indonesia, and is known as the komodo dragon. This is only place in the world where this huge creature is found. Komodo Island is another UNESCO World Heritage site.

As we look into the cuisine of this extremely diverse nation, it is easy to see the many different influences on their amazing food. The Europeans, Arabs, Indians, South East Asians and the Chinese all contributed. Being located along the spice trade and with the natural resources that abound, the combinations are endless. The foundation of any authentic Indonesian meal is rice called (nasi). Everything served with it is considered an accompaniment. Rice is grown in many areas throughout Indonesia, in the rich volcanic soil. Indonesian cuisine is a combination of flavors, usually hot, salty, sweet and sour, all at the same time, which makes Indonesian food one of the most vibrant cuisines of the world.

So let’s enjoy the flavors of Indonesia:

The Menu
Nasi Tumpeng
(Assorted dishes surround the cone shaped rice)

Bakwan Sayur (Vegetable Fritter)

Bakmi Goreng (Seafood Stir Fried Noodles)

Gado Gado (Vegetables with Peanut Sauce)

Beef Rendang (Braised Beef in Coconut Milk)

Achar (Pickled Vegetables)

Nasi Kuning (Yellow Rice)

Dessert
Dadar Gulung (Caramelized Coconut pancakes)

We set our low table with the colors of the Indonesian flag; red and white. We used banana leaves and bamboo mats to set the scene, along with orchids, coconut and candles, accented with a komodo dragon and the coat of arms. The platter, called Tumpeng, has a giant cone of rice in the middle of the platter. Tumpeng is served at many celebratory occasions. The cone represents the mountains. We sat on the floor and used only a spoon and fork, as would be customary in Indonesia. The rice was made with coconut milk and turmeric to give it a beautiful, yellow hue.

Surrounding the Nasi Kuning were many delicious dishes. We began with the Bakwan Sayur, which is basically tempura like, vegetable fritters that were served warm and crispy. We devoured them.

Next was the gado-gado. This dish is loved all over Indonesia, it literally means “mix, mix” so it can be made with any combination of vegetables (salad type ingredients, boiled, blanched and/or fresh) that you can imagine, but a few key ingredients are a must. The sweet and spicy peanut dressing is what makes this dish oh so delicious. Hardboiled egg, tempeh and potatoes are also commonly used in gado-gado. It would make a lovely light meal for any occasion.

We then enjoyed the seafood, stir fried, noodle dish called, Bakmi Goreng. This is an amazing dish full of robust flavor. The noodles are also a staple in their cuisine and one can imagine any number of uses for these delicious noodles. This dish had shrimp and squid as the seafood of choice and used a combination of hot chili sauce and sweet soy sauce, called Kecap. (Which, by the way, is how ketchup evidently got its name.) The sesame oil added a perfect essence and blended well with the mushrooms, onions and chives. The fried onions gave it a caramelized richness. Honestly, I have made this stir fry with all sorts of ingredients, multiple times, since our Indonesian meal. I am in love!

Next was the dish called beef rendang. Red meat is not eaten very often in Indonesia but reserved for special occasions. This traditional delicacy is made by slow cooking beef for hours in a rich, spiced, coconut sauce, until the beef has absorbed all the intricate flavors. It is cooked until perfectly tender and is a dish to be celebrated; simply outstanding.

All these dishes were served with a condiment/pickle called “achar”. These are vegetables, pickled with a hot and sour sauce and provide a lovely bite to accompany just about anything or even eaten all by themselves.
For dessert we savored dadar gulung. This is a caramelized coconut mixture, wrapped in a pancake, made with the flavoring of pandan leaves. It was a magical end to our Indonesian feast.

As we say goodbye to these amazing islands and flavors of Indonesia, I do so with renewed hope. Just this past week, on December 2nd, there was a terrorist attack in the United States. It happened in San Bernardino, California and the attack is believed to have been inspired by radicalized jihadists. As Indonesia has also suffered terrorist attacks by radicals, I was moved to see that the government released a film called, “Rahmat Islam Nusantara” (“The Divine Grace of East Indies Islam”.) It has been translated into English and Arabic for global distribution. In a nut shell, the film challenges and denounces the ISIS interpretation of the Quran, as factually wrong and perverse. This strong message, coming from the most enlightened form of Islam in the world and dating back more than 500 years, is highly significant. It promotes a spiritual interpretation of Islam that stresses non-violence, inclusiveness and acceptance of other religions. Amen!

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

It was Scandinavian sailors that discovered Iceland in the ninth century. It is believed that a Norse Viking named Floki, sailed to Iceland and named it such. The book of Settlements called, “Landnamabok”, was written in the twelfth century and contains information on the first four hundred settlers. Among the settlers the Scandinavians brought, were people of Irish and Norse descent. They went to Iceland in search of a better life but what they faced was a continuous struggle against Mother Nature. The land is made habitable only by the warm currents of the jet stream. Much of the folklore and myths surrounding Iceland were created during this early settlement time. The four guardians of the land are the eagle, the giant, the dragon and the bull, all of which are found on the coat of arms, the parliament building and their coins.

Iceland is an island, located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Norway, just south of the Arctic Circle. Some people say that Greenland should have been called Iceland and Iceland should have been called Greenland, just because of the way the lands look. Iceland is much greener than Greenland. Iceland is a volcanic island in one of the most active volcanic areas of the world. It is also one of the youngest islands and the latest to be inhabited by humans. The interior known as “The Highlands” are cold and uninhabitable, consisting of a plateau of sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers. Many glacier rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands where waterfalls abound. She is a land of contrasts and called, “The Land of Fire and Ice”. The island nation is sparsely populated with most of her 330,000 residents living in the capital city of Reykjavik, the northern most capital city in the world. The language they speak is Icelandic, which has not changed much through the centuries and is a symbol of national pride. It is probably closest to Old Norse, of all modern Scandinavian languages.

Iceland became independent on June 17, 1944, after 97 percent of the population voted overwhelmingly in favor of separating from Denmark. Iceland has the longest surviving parliament, known as “the Althingi” which was established in the year 930, when Iceland became a commonwealth. Iceland was also ruled for a time in the 1200s by Norway.

Icelanders are a very proud people and it seems that nearly all are related to each other. They have a unique way of naming people. They don’t use surnames, they are named as the dottir (daughter) or son of the father. For example, the daughter of Jon (whose first name is Anna) is called Anna Jonsdottir. The first name has to be in the Icelandic book of names or has to be approved. In the phonebook, the people are listed by their first name, with their occupation.

Due to Iceland’s geographical location, the winter may only have 4 hours of daylight and in the summertime, it is light 24 hours a day. Both seasons bring tourists, as the famous Northern Lights are best observed during the winter months, yet many festivals are held during the summertime. They even host the midnight, International golf tournaments during the summer months. Both seasons are also times to enjoy the many geothermal pools and geysers that are found across the country. One called the Blue Lagoon is a popular favorite.

Iceland ranks very high in many world categories. They are one of the most literate nations in the world and many speak English as well as Icelandic. They rank 13th in the world regarding environmental protection and they are incredibly green, with 85 percent of their power coming from sustainable sources and half of that, from geothermal power. They have universal health care, free education, low taxes and unemployment, and have hardly any crime. Even the police in Iceland do not carry guns. It is common to see small children and babies parked outside a café all bundled up for a nap, in a stroller, sleeping in the cool, crisp air, while the parents are inside visiting without a worry about abduction. They also have the second highest, life expectancy in the world. The world’s strongest man was from Iceland and they see more movies than any other nation on earth.

Most of the animals found in Iceland were brought there by early settlers, however there was one indigenous animal found on the island, the arctic fox. The animals you will see most commonly are sheep, which are everywhere, and the strikingly beautiful Icelandic ponies, who are famous for their ambling gaits called the tölt . There are no mosquitos in Iceland and no reptiles or amphibians. Iceland is home to about 300 species of birds and some 6000 plant species. One bird that you may find on an occasional Icelandic menu, is the beautiful puffin. The puffin’s heart is considered one of Iceland’s delicacies.

As we look into the cuisine of this island nation, it is fish and sheep that rule the diet. Iceland has little arable land and a very short growing season but they do grow potatoes and turnips. Most of the other produce is imported.

Fishing is the main industry in Iceland and delicious types of seafood can be found throughout the island. Iceland has been criticized for recently lifting a ban and allowing whaling to be legal again. Minke whale is another item you will find on their menu. Evidently, it is a real treat for those that can get past the fact that it is whale. I have heard it described as the best carpaccio you will ever eat.

Icelandic cuisine however, does not have the best reputation, as they do have some strange items for which they are known. These are typically served as part of a Porramatur, an Icelandic banquet, served at the midwinter festival known as a Porrablot. One is called hakari, a fermented dried shark that some say, if you don’t throw up when you smell it, you can probably handle eating it. A few other delicacies are from the sheep; like cooking the whole sheep head and then of course, serving the testicles.

There was prohibition in Iceland on beer (and all alcohol for a while) from back in 1915 and beer didn’t become available for sale until March 1, 1989, popularly known as Beer Day. “Viking” is Iceland’s most popular beer. Other alcohol is sold in state run stores. Their most famous drink is Brennivin, known as “Black Death”, made from fermented grain or potato mash and flavored with caraway. It is described as an aquavit, as the steeping of herbs in alcohol to create schnapps is a long held tradition in Scandinavian countries. They also are the largest per capita consumers of Coca-Cola.

So let’s eat an Icelandic meal:

The Menu
Starter
Lobster Soup (Humarsúpa)

Main
Cod with Egg and Butter Sauce (Þorskur með Eggja og Smjörsósu)

Served with
Caramel-Glazed Potatoes (Brúnaðar Kartöflur)

Roasted Asparagus and Fennel

Dessert
Skyr White chocolate Crème Brulee

served with Blueberry Schnapps

For this meal we were thrilled to enjoy it with my sister, Dale and her husband, Bo, who were on their way back home to Texas. Dale does not eat red meat, so the menu was perfect for her. We set the table with the colors of the Icelandic flag; blue represents the surrounding Atlantic Ocean and the pristine skies, red represents the fires of the nation’s volcanoes and white is for the snow and ice that cover much of the land. We adorned the table with beautiful, white petal flowers that looked like the mountain avens; Iceland’s national flower. We added staves, magical symbols that are believed to keep Icelanders safe from harm.

Our first course was a rich and delectable lobster and shrimp soup. To be honest, I had never made my own seafood stock before, it was really easy to do and the flavor it rendered was awesome. The base was similar to a lobster bisque and we garnished with fresh thyme. Bo said it was the best he ever had. This is a keeper for sure!

For the main course, we dined on a perfectly cooked, filet of cod. (as James Brown would say, “Good cod!”) Cod is a much loved fish in Iceland, they even fought cod wars with the United Kingdom, back in the 1970s, to protect their cod fishing grounds. Our fish was baked and then covered with an egg and butter sauce that was creamy and delicious. The fish was served with roasted asparagus and fennel, another lovely combination of flavors. And then there were the caramelized potatoes; seriously, sinful potatoes that were definitely loved by all.

For dessert, a skyr, white chocolate, crème brulee. Skyr, (pronounced skeer) is a type of creamy, smooth, low fat yogurt, popular all over Iceland. My husband simply said, this was the best crème brulee he has ever had, and we all agreed! Finally a toast, “Skal”, means cheers in Iceland which went with a shot of blueberry schnapps. This was the finish to our unbelievably delicious, Icelandic meal.

Honestly, Iceland will have to go down as one of our favorites. The food was outstanding and good meals are always enjoyed best in the company of friends and family.

This week I wanted to give you a little extra something and introduce you to my nephew, Eliot. He has such a beautiful perspective on life and is real free spirit. He works on Oahu, Hawaii as a life guard. He has traveled to many exotic places including Iceland and was willing to share some of his awesome pictures and experiences with us. He went on his own, in the dead of winter and had the time of his life. Please note that all of the beautiful photos in this post were provided by Eliot! Enjoy my interview with Eliot:

How did you decide on Iceland and how do you pick where your next trip is?

That's kind of a tough one. I think it usually starts with a photo in a magazine or an exotic backdrop in a movie or book that sparks my interest and imagination. I think we are all guilty of daydreaming of somewhere far off and exotic from time to time. From there I start reading guide books, researching maps and photos and it pretty much snowballs into an obsession with a place until I buy my plane ticket. Iceland was no different. I think it was the "Secret Life of Walter Mitty" that first put it on my radar, then those otherworldly, volcanic landscapes just started to call my name...

What does travel mean to you?

For me, travel is my reset button. Day to day routines at home can get mundane and stale at times (even in Hawaii). You get numb to your surroundings and things around you. Some days you don't even remember driving to work or eating lunch. Traveling opens up your senses like nothing else. New sights, people and experiences are everywhere. Even just grabbing breakfast can be an adventure in a new city. That's what travel means to me, a great opportunity to live in the moment, just the way we are meant to do.

What about travel makes you feel like you're getting a true cultural experience?

I think the best way to immerse yourself in a culture is food! Food is always the nucleus of any culture, it brings people together like nothing else. A good meal in a foreign place gives you a taste of the local traditions, language, taboos, religions and social hierarchy. Dinner in a foreign country is like cliff notes on the culture.

What camera equipment do you pack to get such beautiful shots?

I use a Canon T3i, not the most expensive or best camera but it's light and gets the job done. (Some say it's the Indian and not the arrow.) Other than that I pack a tripod, extra batteries and a remote shutter button for long exposures. The key is patience and a lot of luck. At one point, I was freezing and started doing jumping jacks at 2am, wearing every piece of clothing I packed to stay warm just to get a Northern lights shot. So let's factor in a little resilience too.

What will stay with you forever on that trip?

My trip around Iceland had so many moments I'll never forget. One that stands out is camping by an icy lagoon, towards the end of my trip. There was a floating dock on the edge of the water. It was late in the afternoon and I decided to post up on the dock for the sunset with a couple of "Viking" beers. I brought my sleeping bag to keep warm while the air cooled off and some of my favorite tunes as well. Every couple of minutes, a piece of ice would break off and gently rock the wood platform. It was hypnotic and so relaxing that I ended up falling asleep before the sun went down. I woke up at 10pm, slightly dazed on the dock and I couldn't believe my eyes. Earlier in the trip I had seen some northern lights but they were nothing compared to what I saw this night. Huge beams of green, purple and golden light swayed from one horizon, clear over my head to the next horizon. It was a powerful moment; to dream about something for years finally and have it displayed right in front of my eyes. The solar storm lasted until 3am and I loved every minute of it. I'll remember that night the rest of my life. That's why I travel.

You can find Eliot on Instagram at eliot_beebe. He always has beautiful photos and inspiring thoughts to share; you should definitely follow him.

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage to the New World, named this country “Honduras”, which is Spanish for “Depths”, referring to the deep waters off the northern coast. Honduras gained independence from Spain, along with her neighbors, in 1821. Located in the middle of Central America, her neighbors are Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. She also has a small border on the Pacific Ocean and a long border on the Caribbean Sea. This area, also known as the “mosquito coast”, is a long series of white, sandy beaches and freshwater lagoons. The Mosquitia (as it is called there) has one of the greatest tropical rain forests remaining in the world, along with pine woods (their national tree) and grasslands.

The Bay Islands lie off the northern coast, with the largest island being Roatan. These Islands were fought over by the English and the Spanish and a large number of English settled there. It is not uncommon to see blond hair, blue-eyed, locals on the islands. It was also an area home to the Garifuna people, Afro-Caribbean, “Bay Islanders,” who were brought from West Africa to work on the plantations and now reside mainly along the north coast.

It was the Mayans who inhabited the area before Columbus arrived and established large communities there. They later moved on to Mexico for reasons not completely understood. One prominent theory suggests a prolonged drought caused famine and unrest and eventually led to the dispersal of the Mayans. Copán is considered to be an important Mayan archaeological site and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Honduras.

Honduras, bordered by the Caribbean Sea, is subjected to occasional hurricanes. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch, a category five hurricane, devastated Honduras, killing over 5000 people and causing more than two billion dollars in damages.

The main ethnicity of the Hondurans is mestizo, a mix of Indian and European, along with other native Indians and the Garifuna. Spanish is the official language, although English is often spoken, as well as indigenous languages. The main religion is Roman Catholic.

Bananas, the main crop in Honduras, drew in large companies from North America. These corporations remain the largest land holders in the country. Unfortunately, they never took care of the people and infrastructure, as promised, in return for the land. This set up a kind of aristocracy for the wealthy few, while the majority of people in Honduras remain poor, with 65% living in poverty. Today the primary exports are bananas, coffee, pineapple, palm oil, timber, clothing and seafood. The United States is their main trading partner.

Honduras, with its beautiful islands, azure blue seas and rain forests could be a real draw for tourism. Diving and snorkeling are said to be among the best in the world, as the islands are surrounded by the world’s second largest, barrier reef. However, the crime rate is excessively high and Honduras is, unfortunately, referred to as the murder capital of the world. Drug smuggling and kidnappings are also big problems. Although they have made some strides to improve their reputation in the last few years, the country remains on nearly every country’s travel warning list. Tourism suffers tremendously due to this threat. It is not uncommon to see police and military soldiers with assault rifles walking the streets. They are there as protection but leave a very uneasy feeling for the average tourist. The current president, Hernandez, is working with the International Monetary Fund to ease their poor fiscal situation. He announced “The Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle”, a plan to work with Guatemala and El Salvador to reduce violence, stimulate economic growth, improve infrastructure and promote education over the next several years. All three countries suffer from the same ills and all should benefit from this alliance.

As we look into the cuisine of this nation, we see a fusion of indigenous Indian cuisine with Spanish, Caribbean and African influences. The Garifuna have a distinct, cuisine style with lots of fish stews and soups, many of which use coconut milk. The cuisine varies by region, with seafood being a prominent ingredient on the Bay Islands. Beef is a more popular choice on the mainland. The dishes are not spicy-hot, however they do use quite a few aromatic seasonings such as: cumin, anchiote, allspice and paprika, along with fresh herbs, like coriander and oregano. Rice and beans along with corn tortillas are by far the main, staple foods. Beans there are either black or red and used extensively. Sometimes corn tortillas and beans may be all that is consumed in a day.

An extremely popular breakfast food is called balaedas; a flour tortilla stuffed with beans, cheese, eggs and sometimes meat. Chimol or “pico de gallo” is found on nearly every Honduran table and is a condiment put on just about everything but especially on tamales, enchiladas and carne asada. It is also used like a salsa, to enjoy on a tortilla chips. Like their neighbor Guatemala, they make their tamales wrapped in banana leaves, as opposed to corn husks. Mondongo soup, made of tripe and other beef parts, is considered a legendary hangover cure.

So let’s eat Honduran style:

The Menu
Main
Plato Tipico (Typical Plate)

Consisting of
Carne Asada (Marinated Beef)

Frijoles Refritos (Refried Beans)

Chicharones (Pork Crackling)

Platanos Fritos (Fried Banana)

Served with Chimol (a Fresh Salsa Topping)

Served with
Horchata (a Rice Drink)

We set the table in a tropics motif. Our tropical fruit included bananas, plantains, pineapple and coconuts. A colorful parrot, representing their national bird, (which is actually a scarlet macaw) along with orchids, (their national flower), palm fronds and banana leaves added to our theme. Blue and white were the colors of choice, to represent the flag of Honduras. We put on some Punta music, created by the Garifuna people. It is a unique type of music, with the lyrics sung in Spanish, by only women. Punta music is thick with percussion, created by a drum beat made from hallowed out, native woods. The marimba is their most distinctive, percussion instrument. It is made of wooden bars attached to resonators, to amplify the sound, as they are struck with mallets.

We began our meal with “Salud”, that is “Cheers” in Spanish, as we toasted with our non-alcoholic beverage, called horchata. It is a drink made from rice and spices and was perfectly refreshing. Beer or rum would be a common, adult beverage choice in Honduras.

“Buen Provencho”, (enjoy your meal) invites guests to begin eating. The meal was served family style; all dishes provided at the same time. Considered to be the national dish, plato tipico (or typical plate) is found on almost every menu in the country. This is an extremely large plate of food that is both filling and delicious. The meat, called carneada, is beef that has been marinated in sour orange and spices and then barbecued. It is served with refried red beans. Fried plantains, made from ripe bananas, were a sweet and delicious accompaniment. The chicharones, or pork crackling (well what can I say), is pork belly, braised for a few hours and then fried in its own rendered pork fat. Chimol, a tomato, onion and pepper mixture was wonderful on the meat. This was also served with rice, a simple side salad of lettuce, tomato and onion along with some sour cream and of course, homemade, corn tortillas. This meal would also often be served with chorizo, a spicy sausage but I thought the chicharones were enough pork for the day.

There was no dessert with this meal; absolutely no room left for it. So instead we decided to crank up the Punta, get out the maracas and dance the night away.

As we say goodbye, I leave you with a few Honduran proverbs:
For great ills, great remedies.
Hunger has no law, it’s just hungry.
The truth is bitter and lies are sweet.
Every time one laughs a nail is removed from one’s coffin.

Until next time,
Hasta luego, (see you later)
Darlene

It was the peaceful, Taino Indians who inhabited the island of Haiti before the arrival of the Europeans. The name, Haiti, is derived from their native language and means “mountainous country”. Haiti is part of the island of Hispaniola, which is the second largest island in the Caribbean, after Cuba. Haiti resides in the western third of the island and shares its border with the Dominican Republic.

Hispaniola was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus and was the first island settled by the Spanish in the New World. The Taino Indians initially assisted the Spaniards but soon 90% of them died of European diseases, from which they had no immunity. The area became desolate. This made the island an ideal home for castaways and predominantly French colonist, fortune seekers, who became pirates and buccaneers. The French used these people in an unofficial war against the Spanish. In a treaty in 1697, Spain ceded the western third of the island to France to become Haiti. Slaves were brought in from Africa to work the many plantations.

In the late 1700s, this area was known as “The Jewel of the Antilles” and became the wealthiest colony in the world. In 1791, an uprising occurred as the African slaves, outnumbered the French by ten to one. This turned into a 13 year battle, fighting off the Spanish, French and English, who were also fighting one another for control of this rich colony. In 1804 the last European troops were defeated and driven from the island, making Haiti the first, independent, sovereign “black” country in the world. They declared independence on January 1, 1804 and it is celebrated in grand fashion each year.

Today the population of Haiti is 95 percent African descent and five percent mulatto or white. The official languages are French and Creole but few speak French today. Haiti is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and is now among the poorest in the western hemisphere. Voodoo ceremonial traditions are common, as Voodoo is practiced as a religion in Haiti, along with Catholicism and Protestantism.

The nation is made up of small farmers. Although only 30 percent of the mountainous land is arable, more than 40 percent is worked. Slash and burn agriculture, along with deforestation, has left the land susceptible to erosion, causing landslides and mudslides. The primary crops grown today are sugarcane, cocoa, coffee and mangoes. Imports come mainly from the United States and include many staple ingredients, like rice, beans and flour. Food is energy but energy is required to make food, which in Haiti, has historically come from coal and firewood. This too has contributed to the deforestation problem. However, there has been a recent push to get clean energy to the people, in the form of natural gas.

A tectonic fault line runs right through the heart of this island causing frequent and sometimes devastating earthquakes. The most recent major earthquake was in 2010, where in one day, 300,000 people died and over two million people were displaced. It additionally caused catastrophic damage to the already poor infrastructure. This tropical island also lies in the direct path of hurricanes. Despite these conditions and obstacles, the Haitians are a strong and resilient people.

The people are still waiting and hoping for an all important, non-corrupt, governmental leadership to emerge. The politics of this country were dominated for decades by the initially popular, but subsequently brutal, dictator known as, “Papa Doc” and then succeeded by his son, known as, “Baby Doc.” This family ruled the country from 1957 until 1991 with no regard for the people. Even though there have been elections and new leaders have come and gone, the Haitian people are tired of government corruption. A tell-tale sign of the frustration of the Haitian people was exhibited during the earthquake, when the people cheered as the Presidential palace collapsed. Now they just hope whoever comes next will look after their tourism, education, infrastructure and most importantly, the hard working people of Haiti.

Haiti received massive aid after the devastating earthquake in 2010. Unfortunately, it is believed that most of the funds were misused and there still remains much work left undone. Even the United Nations, who brought in relief workers to help, ended up causing more problems for Haiti by introducing the cholera outbreak. That said, there are reputable charity organizations still working diligently to help the Haitians. The actor, Sean Penn, has one such organization, called JPHRO, which appears to be doing excellent work in the country. He is committed to be there for the long haul. This is what he said about the people of Haiti, “You can feel the potential for growth and change, it is palpable. They simply need a chance.”

One of the buildings that has survived many challenges and is a testament to the people of Haiti is what is known as the Citadel Laferrière. This fortress that sits atop a hill, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built to keep the people safe from Napoleon’s army. The site was built by the Haitians; it has no foundation and they had no training to know how to construct it. The mortar was made from sand, lime, animal blood, sugar and molasses. Many workers died in the process of building the fortress, but they believed if they perished, they would go back to their homeland of Africa. The building is straight and strong and has survived all disasters since its completion in 1813. Getting to the Citadel is an adventure in itself. You board a colorfully painted tap-tap. (That’s what they call a bus in Haiti, which is the sound people make when they want to get off the bus.) But the bus can only make it so far up the steep hill and then a donkey takes you the rest of the way to the top. It is one of Haiti’s most important tourist attractions.

Haitians are known for their colorful artwork. They make it out of, just about anything. Children gather garbage on the streets and create art from it. Many will never make a dime from their masterpieces, however it is an escape and a way to express their feelings. Some of the art is made with doll parts, showing limbs missing, perhaps representing the horrors of the earthquake but more likely from living their life in poverty and feeling torn apart. Their art is most telling in what these people have endured.

The Haitians will use just about any reason to take to the streets and make music. Way back when, slaves used anything they could find to design musical instruments. Today is no different. They love many types of music and a hotel called the Grand Hotel Oloffson, is a place that highlights popular bands. Many of the bands became famous for their protest music against the many corrupt regimes. Compas, Hip hop, jazz, Haitian rock, twoubadou and meringue, are all popular genres. Rara, is a type of music that is festive and uplifting and unique to Haiti.

The Grand Hotel Oloffson, was the real-life inspiration for the fictional hotel, “Trianon” in Graham Greene’s famous novel, “The Comedians”. The hotel features an architectural style that has been fading away in their capital city of Port-au-Prince. It showcases large, wooden verandas and intricate, Gothic, gingerbread wood work. Somehow, it managed to survive the 2010 quake with very little damage, even though multiple structures surrounding it, were destroyed.

As we look into the cuisine of the island nation, it is clear that the main influence is Afro-Caribbean. There is also a Spanish influence, from her neighbor, the Dominican Republic, along with French influence, combined with a distinctive, Haitian flair. They like their food bold and spicy. It is believed that barbecue originated in Haiti, as the first mention of it comes from the word “barabicu”, from the native tongue of the Taino people.

A typical meal in Haiti would simply be rice and beans, sometimes topped with fish or meat. Sometimes it would be a bean puree poured over the rice. Stews and soups are also popular, made with cassava, yam or sweet potato. Pumpkin has a deep significance to the Haitians, since they were forbidden to eat pumpkin soup by the French. Now they call it Sunday soup and it is on every Haitian table on Independence Day. Cassava bread is a staple and a drink called akasan, made with cornmeal and spices, is beloved.

Rum is the most popular alcohol in Haiti and they make a mean, rum sour. There is a very old distillery that’s been in business since 1862, called Barbencourt. The rhum (spelled with an “h” to distinguish it from regular rum), is made with sugarcane juice, as opposed to a sugar byproduct. Nearly half of the all the barrels of rhum in Haiti were destroyed during the 2010 earthquake. As a sign of their resilience, they combined all they had left and bottled it all together to commemorate their 150th anniversary in a grand celebration. Considered to be one of the best rhums in the world, Barbencourt Rhum is a symbol of national pride for Haitians.

So let’s eat “Manje Ayisien” (which means “Haitian food” in Creole)

The Menu
Starter
Soupe Joumou (Pumpkin Soup)

Main
Griot (Fried Pork)

Served with
Riz et Pois Rouges (Red Beans and Rice)

Pikliz (Spicy Cabbage Slaw)

Dessert
Blancmange (Coconut Gelatin Dessert)

We set the table with colors of the Haitian flag; blue and red and surrounded it with gourds. Gourds were used as currency and are responsible for the name of their money in Haiti, called gourdes. We included several of their important crops, like coffee and sugarcane and for a little fun added the ‘Day of the Dead’ décor and a voodoo doll. Festive, Rara music played in the background. Before we began this meal, we bowed in thanks for our food, knowing that today, many Haitians are hungry and live in extreme poverty. This country is one of the reasons I started International Cuisine. This is a place where much work needs to be done but there’s a hope that good things will come to her people if given the chance.

We began the meal with pumpkin soup or Sunday soup, as it is called there. I chose this as a starter and made a lighter, vegetarian version (as normally the soup is made with meat.) The pumpkin, combined with coconut milk and vegetables, was both sweet and savory. Spaghetti noodles added some heartiness to this vegetarian soup. We respected the importance of this soup to the Haitians, since it had been denied to them, and rejoiced in their independence.

For the main course, we had a very popular dish, called griot, which could be considered the national dish. Griot is a marinated, pork dish that is braised until tender and finished by frying; a twice cooked pork that is spicy and amazing. It was served with another staple dish; red beans and rice. Red beans are consumed most every day in Haiti and this dish is a spicy one, tamed with coconut milk. Often times, this may be the only dish a Haitian would eat in an entire day.

Pikliz is a very spicy, cabbage slaw that is on every table; a condiment of sorts. It is simply always around. We loved the spicy slaw and can see why it is so popular.

For dessert, Blancmange was served, a beautiful, white coconut, flavored gelatin surrounded by fruit. This lovely cool and refreshing dessert was a great counterbalance to our very spicy meal.

As we say goodbye, we can only hope that more people will visit Haiti and get involved. If you can’t visit, donate to a charity that is really serving the needs of the people. Haitians desperately wait for a good leader; one that will take care of infrastructure, education and basic human needs. People who do come visit, sometimes never want to leave, as the people of Haiti are friendly and fun, despite their many hardships. Who knows, one may find a sunken ship or buried treasure, as it was the home of many buccaneers and pirates. What is certain is, you will eat delicious food and drink, enjoy delightful music and be treated with great hospitality.

I leave you with a few Haitian proverbs:
Bay piti pa chich (To give little is not being cheap)
Wont pi lou pase sake sel (Shame is heavier than a bag of salt)
Padon pa geri maleng (Sorry doesn’t heal the scars)
Malere pa bwode (The poor is not picky)

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene