Enjoy - Food & Travel

New direct flights from Bergen Airport June 2012

2012-05-24T08:00:00.000+02:00

Vágar Airport, Faeroy Islands. Photo: Arne List

Flights to Billund will resume and all year flights to Faerøy Islands. Those are the flight news from Bergen Airport June 2012

June 3rd: Atlantic Airways will start all-year flights Bergen - Vågar, Faeroy Islands

June 3rd 2012 Atlantic Airways will start direct flights every Monday and Wednesday from Bergen to Faeroy Islands. This schedule will last until October, when flights will go Bergen - Billund - Vågar.

June 10th: Sun-Air will fly Bergen-Billund after Cimber Sterling bankruptcy

Sun-Air/BA Dornier 328. Photo: Arsenikk

Sun-Air will resume flights from Bergen, Norway to Billund Denmark, June 10th. Billund is serving Southern Jutland including the city of Århus, Denmarks second largest city, and the Legoland theme park.

This service was run by Cimber Sterling until it declared bankruptcy May 2012. Sun-Air is flying in cooperation with British Airways between the two airports five times a week, i.e. all days except Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sun-Air will use a 32 seat Dornier 328 on the flights

Scheduled flights will be:

BA8261 from Billund (BLL) 1.20 PM arriving Bergen (BGO) 2.45 PM
Return flight BA8262 from Bergen (BGO) 3.10 PM arriving Billund (BLL) 4.35 PM

View MA 2012: All non-stop flights from Bergen Airport FleslandY in a larger map

Food on rails, food in the air

2012-05-23T08:00:00.031+02:00

Our table on board the train to Macchu Picchu

The days we coukd expect meals included in our air fare is definitely over in Europe. In Peru, however, you get meals on wings, as well as rails. It was not much, but it was included. Great stuff!!

Honey cereal, fruit salad and ham sandwich

Food on board PeruRail

On board the comfortable train on our way to Macchu Picchu we were seated around a table with a traditional table cloth.

My sister had traveled with the PeruRail four months earlier and told us that would be served a small meal as we were transported along the narrow valley leading down to the mythic Inka city.

On our way down to Macchu Picchu we were presented with a small meal, honey roasted cereal, a fruit salad with diced water melon.
There were no alcohol available. I decided to work on my altitude sickess, and chose a cup of coca tea, a remedy frequently used by the Inkas in order to endure the hardships in the Andes.

Salad and pasta - dinner on Peru Rail

As we returned from Macchu Picchu day had turned to dusk as we ventured back to Ollantaytambo and Cuzco.

This was reflected in our meal on board. As our first meal down was early in the morning, it looked like breakfast, and our evening meal looked like dinner.

I was offered a bottle of Cusquena, the local beer, but I said no, as I had enjoyed a few pints in Aguas Calientes, and I chose a glass of Inca Kola.

It was not a large meal, but it was warm, and large enough to get us back to Cuzco and our hotel.

Plastic wrapped ham 'n cheese sandwich and swiss roll

Snack on board Star Peru

It is a long time since we could get a free meal on a domestic or even an international flight in Europe. But on board Star Peru we got a small meal both ways.

A plastic packed (and a little dry) sandwich with cheese and ham and a cake, even that a little dry, but it was still a free meal.

No alcohol here either, but soft drinks, water and coffee and meal. I chose another Inka Kola.

On our flight from Lima to Cuzco - see story here

More travel food stories on Enjoy Food & Travel

Bento on Bus4You (December 11th 2009)
Meals on your way (September 5th 2008)
A story of lost glamour (August 13th 2007)
Icelandair - the food (February 25th 2007)

JULY 2012: Danish Air Transport direct Moss-Rygge to Copenhagen

2012-05-22T08:00:00.000+02:00

Danish Air Transport ATR 42-300 in Düsseldorf International Airport. Photo: by Tm

Under dog Danish Air Transport (DAT) is challenging Ryanair at Moss-Rygge Airport. In July it will start weekly flights to Copenhagen.

Flights will leave Moss-Rygge on Fridays 7.35 PM with return flight from Copenhagen on Sundays at 9.45 PM. Flight time will be 1 hour and 10 minutes with their ATR 42 air planes.

More stories on DAT here on Enjoy Food & Travel

DAT: Rygge Airport to Copenhagen next? (January 30th 2012)
Danish Air Transport starts non-stop flights Stavanger - Florø (January 9th 2012)
Danish Air Transport starts three new flights from Rygge Airport (October 11th 2011)
DAT starts direct flights Stavanger - Skien (February 24th 2011)

Vis MAY 2012: All non-stop flights from Rygge Air i et større kart

Oriental treasures of the Peabody Essex Museums

2012-05-21T08:00:00.000+02:00

This wine bowl was made between 1560 and 1620 in the city of Jingdezhen in China. The blue under glaze is made from cobalt oxide brought to China with merchants traveling east.

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem MA has an extra collection of artifacts, many of them from the Far East. Here are a few that I saw during my visit in October 2010.

This plate was made between 1522 and 1566 in the city of Jingdezhen in China for export to the Indian or Persian market. The Pomegranate tree in the middle of the plate is unusual, and it suggests it as made for a wealthy patron in the Middle East. It was gilded by Europeans in the 17th and 18th century.

This massive model of a Chinese vessel made from wood and solid silver was made by Wan Hing & Co silversmiths in Hong Kong late 19th century or early 20th century for export.

This extraordinary exclusive dressing table and mirror on stand was made in Guangzho (Canton) the mid 18th century in ivory, zitan and paktong in European style.

This elaborately decorated Hepplewhite style chair was made in India around 1770 from sandalwood, black lac, cane and ivory. The craftsmen in Vizagapatham that made this and similar pieces of furniture was widely renowned for their ivory craftwork.

The exquisite model of a lobster was made in ivory in the late 19th century

This portable shrine was made by Japanese apprentices of the Jesuit Monk and painter Giovanni Niccolo (1562-1626) in Nagasaki in Japan in 1597. In style it reflects 15th century Flamish art.

Location of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem

Vis New England, New York State and Washington DC on Enjoy Food & Travel 2006 - 2010 i et større kart

Rating Comfort Runway Hotel, Oslo Airport

2012-05-20T09:37:00.001+02:00

Comfort Hotel Runway - double bed

Back in March our flight to Peru departed at 6.30 AM in the morning. That is way we chose to book a hotel room at Oslo airport. The hotel that offered the best deal for a double room was Comfort Hotel Runway, located west of Norway's major airport. In spite of the marketing we found our Comfort Hotel Runway experience very disappointing.

Rating the Comfort Hotel Runway experience: BBBB- (3,63 points)

Location: BBB+
Service: BBB+
Room: BBB
Breakfast: BBBB
Facilities: BBBB-
Price: BBBB

Comfort Hotel Runway is located a 15 minute shuttle bus drive away from the terminal building. The shutte bus operates all hours except for a few hours when the terminal building is closed. You are, as the name suggests, by the western runway, but isolated windows shut nearly all the noise out.

Comfort Hotel Runway was opened in 2010. It offers 300 double rooms with sound proof windows. It has a FoodCourt serving sushi, wraps, or Mediterranean food as well as warm and cold beverages. The FoodCourt is open 24/7 offering breakfast for early birds, as us that were to depart early in the morning.

We were met by professional staff both in the reception and at breakfast, but after we had been given our keys and locked ourselves into our room we were quite surprised, and not in a positive manner.

The room at Comfort Hotel Runway was dark and very small and compact - too compact. It was dominated by a large (and rather uncomfortable bed). A small narrow window made sure very little light entered. The interior design was unpleasant.

I looked partly unfinished and the shabby finish was interrupted by spots of uncomfortably strong colours. The bathroom was modern, immaculately maintained but very small. All in all the double room and bathroom at Comfort Hotel Runway were uncomfortably small for two.
We helped ourselves to breakfast very early, and it included options for those that want eggs and bacon or thiose that wants a healthy start with fruit, cereal and yogurt. We chose a breakfast worthy of the long journey in front of us - cheese, cold cuts, scramled eggs and streaky bacon, coffe and juice.

Other facilitites at Comfort Hotel Runway are:

A well functioning free WiFi throughout the hotel
Fitness room with view to the runway
Airconditioning
Safe

We paid NOK 780 ($ 130,73 / € 102,27) for a double room, breakfast included in the price, cheap in a high cost country as Norway, but it was not nice to stay at Comfort Hotel Runway, so much so that I will not choose it again.

Address:
Comfort Hotel Runway
Hans Gaarders veg 27,
2060 Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Norway
Phone :+47 63 94 88 88
Faks:+47 63 94 88 89
E-mail: co.runway@choice.no
Hotel website (English)

More hotels at Oslo Airport:

Rating Park Inn Hotel Oslo Airport (August 11th 2011)
Cheap accommodation at Oslo Airport (May 25th 2010)
SAS Radisson Hotel Oslo Airport (February 25th 2009)

Tripadvisors reviewers were much more satisfied with Comfort Hotel Runway than I was:

Read review on tripadvisor here

Vis Hotels on Enjoy Food & Travel 2006-2012 i et større kart

St Louis Style Barbecue Spare Ribs by the BBQ Pit Boys

2012-05-17T20:00:00.002+02:00

I came over this delicious way to prepare spareribs from the deep south on YouTube. Here the BBQ Pit boys grill up some real delicious, and real tender, "low and slow" barbecue Spare Ribs with this easy to do St. Louis style Pork Ribs recipe. It looks really scrumptious.

Spareribs - easy Swedish grub

2012-05-17T10:00:00.000+02:00

Pre marinaded, prepared sparerib to be served fresh from the BBQ. Photo: MaxiMat website

Easy choice of grub for dinner after our Swedish excursion on Saturday. Spareribs ready to be served for just SEK 39,90 ($ 5,71 / € 4,44), a kilo, and I did as Oscar Wilde said; I can resist anything but temptation, and gave in!

But I was in fact disappointed when I discovered that the spareribs were ready to be served, as I like to give mine a long roast on low temperature for a moist and deliciously tender result. The ribs offered by Rib World were good, but not as delicious as if I had prepared them.

When going to Sweden you will get your ribs for a ridiculously low price, or a more correct price as this cut of meat is more bones than meat. Here in Norway they will charge you a staggering a three or four times price tag for spareribs, making it one of the most pricy cut of meats, if you take the amount of meat you pay for.

Ironically there is not much spareribs offered to Norwegian consumers as Norwegians love their full cut of rib of pork to prepare, especially for Christmas, and this cut of meat is exceptionally inexpensive. Strange really.

Back to my Swedish ribs. Tasty American style seasoning, with a sweet glaze, and tender - sticky, dripping, dirty, finger food, served with potato gratin. Yum, yum!! Two bottles of imported Samuel Adams Boston Lager underlined the American theme of the whole meal.

Other ribs here on Enjoy Food & Travel

New flights from Oslo Airport May 2012

2012-05-16T08:00:00.001+02:00

In Bratislava you can admire the Sigismund Gate, Bratislava. Photo: Lure

Bratislava and Stockholm-Bromma are two new destinations for travelers from Oslo Airport in May 2012.

June 2012 will be the start of the summer season with launch of numerous flights from Oslo Airport. If you are looking for new destinations in May, you will have to settle with flights to Bratislava and Stockholm.

Norwegian Air Shuttle will start flights to the Slovakian capital, while FlyBe Nordic will fly to Bromma, the second capital serving the Swedish capital.

View All non-stop flights from Oslo Airport 2012 in a larger map

Grocery shopping in Sweden

2012-05-13T10:42:00.003+02:00

The bridge that pass Iddefjorden marks the border between Norway and Sweden. Photo: Bård Halvorsen

I am, once again, blessed with a full refrigerator and freezer. This as I and my friend Terje went to Sweden to do some grocery shopping yesterday.

At Svinesund you pay in Swedish kroner. Photo: P S Burton

I believe that one successfactor for a fincially smart house hold is to do your main grocery shopping twice a month, just buying your odd carton of milk and bread when you've run out of it.

Yesterday, Saturday, I and Terje took the 1 hour 30 minute drive down to the gigantic Nordy centre at Svinesund, Sweden to buy our groceries before our national day coming up Thursday next week. During two hours I spent SEK 1 750 on food and wine, including a magnum bottle of sparkling wine. In addition to this I could use both Terje and kine quota to buy cigars to my friend Ketil.

That is 1 750 Swedish kroner that converts into 1 474 Norwegian kroner making the shopping experience even cheaper.

There is not much to save on ground beef. Photo: Rainer Zenz

- There are money to be saved, but buy smart

When passing the border to save money, it is important to be aware of what you will save money on.

You must count the fuel cost into your total cost of the trip, so you must concentrate on articles that are expensive in Norway to get a positive economic result.

Another important factor is the quality. If you can get a superior product compared to a similar product in Norway at much the same price it will count as well.

Even though food in Norway is relatively expensive compared to Sweden, prices have come down and there is food that you will save very little on as:

Ground beef: Has become much cheaper these last years, and the quality of the products are similar.
Chicken products as wings, drumsticks and ground chicken meeat is cheap in Norway if you know where to buy it, but chicken breast is cheaper in Sweden and definitely worth buying.
Pork: Is cheap in Norway

Duck is inexpensive in Sweden. Photo: Clara Wu

30-70 % cheaper in Sweden

If you calculate the price as well as the 15 % currency saving there is a lot to save on a lot of products.

Big savings you get on more expensive cuts of meat and meats with a low domestic production, as well as imported cured meats.

Compared to Norway you will save around:

70 % on duck breast
70 % on whole frozen duck
50 % on Italian and Spanish cured ham and sausages
50 % on sliced cold cuts
50 % on sliced and grated cheese
40 % on duck thighs
40 % on European cheese
30-40 % on sliced and diced bacon

Often you will have to buy large quantities. That is a great bargain for families as well as couples and singles, provided they have a freezer. Large quantities may be frozen down in large zip-lock bags or smaller for portions.

Check use by date when buying large packets. Photo: Tanzania

Keep in mind when buying in large quantities

Expiry date: Look at expiry date when buying large quantities. This is particularly important for small households. Large portions may be frozen down and used later, but do ensure that the product has not been frozen earlier.

BE SMART - Organize the products by expiry date in the refrigerator as groups with expiry date e.g. within the same month so you do not forget to use a product and have to chuck it in the bin.

Portions - frozen foods: I am single, and it important for me to buy quantities suitable for 3-4 dinners. Many packages have separate bits of meat so you can take out one by one very suitable for small households. When buying duck breasts, however, they are frozen in pairs and weigh up to 800 grams suitable for dinners for more than 4.

BE SMART - Defrost and prepare a large portions to re-freeze is a clever way to save money when seeing a very cheap product frozen in large portions.

Get to know Norwegian customs regulations

There are limits on how much groceries you may bring over the border: Norway is not a member of the European Union and regulations apply on import of wide tange of articles into Norway.

Norwegian customs concentrate on alcohol, tobacco and drug smugglers but there are limits on how much you may bring over the border. Be aware that excess amounts of alcohol asnd tobacco may be confiscated and you may even be fined.

There are, however, limits to how much you may bring of groceries back into Norway. Even though these rules are rarely enforced, large quantities of food may, in the case of a custom control, may be confiscated by customs staff.

When we returned yesterday there was a customs control, and we had to drive through the check point. We had no excess amount of what they were looking forward and we were not checked.

But do consult the Norwegian customs for more information on how much you may bring into the country.

Where to buy groceries on the Norwegian-Swedish border

Vis Shopping groceries over the border i et større kart

COMING UP: Heidelberg, Germany

2012-05-12T09:23:00.002+02:00

Vis Strasbourg and Heidelberg on Enjoy Food & Travel 2008-2012 i et større kart

Heidelberg in Germany is a romantic destination in the Rhine valley, located by the Neckar river. It is the home of University of Heidelberg, founded in 1386. It is one of Europe's oldest institutions. In fact, Heidelberg is the oldest university town of today's Germany, and it is the reason why I visit this city as Knut, one of my nephews is enrolled as a student there.

I am getting there by traveling from Oslo to Frankfurt am Main by plane. This time I have chosen Scandinavian Airlines to bring me there. For 1 655 NOK ($ 282 / € 218) I will travel non-stop to Frankfurt and will change plane at Copenhagen on my way back to Oslo.

I will travel from the airport to Heidelberg by train, entering at the airport. I will stay three nights at Hotel Bayrischer Hof, located on Bismarckplatz, by the 1.6 kilometre-long pedestrian zone and just one kilometre from Heidelberg’s main railway station. Hotel Bayrischer Hof is ranked as one of the best hotel in the city by tripadvisor.

So stay tuned for another intriguing destination in June here on Enjoy Food & Travel.

Food, flower & plant

2012-05-08T08:00:00.000+02:00

Jerusalem, root vegetable and plant closely related to the sunflower.

Funny enough, very few contemplate to plants seeds of grapes, oranges, or even bulbs or roots that they use in their cooking. The fact is, however, that most of them are easy to grow from seeds, stones or bulbs, as this large plant - a Jerusalem artichoke good in food, and decorative plant as well.

The yellow flower of a Jerusalem artichoke

Here is the proof - the Jerusalem artichoke is related to the sunflower. This plant and bright flower grew last summer at Sunnemo, where I have visited friends for years.

Pucasenca - an indigenous maize variety

Today I finally could plant an avocado stone that has been placed in a shot glass with water. A long root had finally cracked through the shell and I could pick it up and plant it in a small pot. Then I just have to wait for a leaf to appear.

I have earlier tried taro, but this year I tried to sow maize that I have bought in Peru. A wide variety of seeds marked and packed in plastic.

I planted indigenous maize with names as Pucasenca, Chuspi, Capuli, Oqqueto, Checche, and Quello.

The fascinating process to see the corn sprout just after a few days, turning into 5-10 inch green grass, and all of them sprouted.

Next week we are ready to plant the maize in our allotment, and if we are lucky, we may harvest Andean maize.

Intriguing. I'll keep you posted.

How to use a Jerusalem artichoke:

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with black truffles - see recipe here

Rating Norwegian Air Shuttle Oslo-Copenhagen -Oslo, February 2012

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000+02:00

Rating Norwegian Air Shuttle Oslo-Copenhagen-Oslo: BBBB (3,27 points)

Check-in: BBBB
Takeoff: BBB+
Hospitality BBBB
Service: BBBBB
Comfort BB+
Complementary drinks etc: B
Flying time: BBBBB
Arrival: BBB+
Check-out: BBB+
Duty-free goods: B
Price: BBB

Description of flight:

Smooth check-in on both flights, but more than 30 minute delay on return. This meant delayed baggage retrival on returning flight to Oslo Airport.

Fawlty information system on Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen combined with bad information from the air carrier created much frustration among embarking guests.

Good service, serving started immediately after the seat-belt signs had been switched off.

Very little space, practically no leg room and very small space to the seat in front of us, and the seats were narrow as well.

No extras at all is offered at Norwegian Air Shuttle flights. Liquor, wine beer, soft drinks as well as a selection of food is for sale at reasonable prices. We were not offered any duty free goods on board, most probably due to the short flight time.

Fløibanen, Bergen

2012-05-06T10:48:00.001+02:00

On my way up to Fløibanen

Fløibanen is, in my opinion, one of the best attractions Bergen has to offer. The carts of funicular will bring you 320 meters in 7 minutes, and when up you will have a superb view over the city.

One of the stations along Fløibanen

The beautiful view from Mount Fløien

The trip with Fløibanen is not for the faint hearted, as the carts have large windows, and it will get apparent for you how steep the 7 minute drive up will be when you leave the station.

Funny enough is each cart at Fløibanen named and individually painted. The Blåmann cart is blue, whilst Rødhette (Little Red Riding Hood in English) is red.

Since it opened in 1918 Fløibanen has become one of the most popular attractions in Bergen

I will recommend you to do as I, be seated in the rear end, as there you will have the best view on your way up.

You will also see that Fløibanen is not only an attraction, but also a part of the public transportation system, as there are fashionalble city quarters enjoying the wonderful view over the city along the funicular.

When up, you can admire the beautiful view over the city, as I did then and back in 2009 during a beautiful winter day.

New direct long-haul flights from Scandinavia winter 2013

2012-05-04T08:00:00.000+02:00

- Norwegian will launch non-stop flights to Bangkok and New York

Norwegian Air Shuttle will launch non-stop flights with brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts to Bangkok and New York March 2013. Tickets will be available from October/November 2012.

Director Bjørn Kjos in Norwegian Air Shuttle is, in spite of a possible strike among his pilots, optimistic on behalf of his company. So much so that he launch two long-haul flights from coming winter either Oslo or Stockholm to Bangkok and New York.

This move is made as Scandinavians love these two destinations and by launching these new Norwegian Air Shuttle join the competition with Scandinavian Airlines and Continental on transatlantic flights from Oslo that have proven to be a success for the two companies these last years.

Similarly Thai Airlines has operated non-stop flights from Oslo to Bangkok since 2009.

More stories from Bangkok and Thailand on Enjoy Food & Travel:

Traveling to Phuket, Thailand? Fly charter!! (December 13th 2009)
The contrasts of Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand (August 5th 2007)
The Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (July 29th 2007)
10 tips on how to enjoy Bangkok (July 17th 2007)

Gardening break

2012-05-02T21:22:00.000+02:00

Checche - a Peruvian corn variety

I don't believe it! I have been absent from my blog for a week. This as my muscles ache from gardening, and I am completely worn out every evening. But the work on our (Dagfinn Skoglund and mine) allotment is progressing, and soon I will plant out corn from the Andes. Cool!

I bought seeds along the roas close to the town of Pisca, an hour and a half drive away from Cuzco. All the seeds were vacuum packed and properly marked as this Checche corn, with blue spots. Five varieties of corn and five varieties of beans have sprouted in my window and are ready to face the nordic spring climate, not very unike the Norwegian summer climate.

I have to start working on Enjoy Food & Travel again, but I promise you that there will be amazing food stories from my garden allotment as I start to harvest our own grown vegetables.

So do not let me down. There will be daily stories soon once again here on Enjoy Food & Travel.

Italian toast

2012-04-27T08:00:00.000+02:00

Italian toast - a delicious, easy and lazy meal perfect after a day work

Post working day dinner means lazy food, and Italian toast is the simplest meal ever. Made from bread, pre made sauces, sliced ham, and grated cheese, it takes minutes to assemble.

To prepare two delicious Italian toasts you'll need:

Four slices of bread, toasted
6 tbsp of tomato sauce
4 thick slices of boiled ham
Grated cheese, as much or little you crave for
8 tbsp ready made bechamel

Two Italian toasts ready to be eaten

Pre heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit)

Place two slices of bread on an oiled baking tray. Use fine bread or whole grain as a healthier alternative.

Pour tomato sauce on the bread, place sliced ham over sauce and ad cheese as topping. I used Barilla sauce with ricotta and mozzarella, but any sauce will do.

My choice of sauce. Photo: Barilla.no

Place second slice of bread on top. Pour bechamel on top of toast, and add more cheese as topping.

You can make your own bechamel or use a pre made sauce. I chose Dolmio bechamel sauce for lasagna.

Place toast in the oven and bake until cheese is golden.

Serve immediately by itself or with a fresh salad.

More toasts and croques on Enjoy Food & Travel

Quick Croque Monsieur à la Kavli (October 10th 2010)
King crab on toast and a bottle of Moët (June 14th 2010)
Croque at Le Cirio in Brussels (February 5th 2010)

We declare: Enjoy Food & Travel has no commercial interests in products or brands

This post contains information on products or specific brands. Our staff will ensure our readers that we have no commercial interests in, or are paid to promote these or other products, brands, or labels.

Call of prayer from Koutoubia Mosque

2012-04-26T08:00:00.000+02:00

Here is a video encapsulating the magic of the call of prayer from Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, as heard from the gardens of the Koutoubia Gardens hotel.

Hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia is a five star hotel located just a stone's throw away from the Koutoubia Mosque and Djemaa el Fna Square. There we enjoyed a great meal on our last day of our stay in January 2011.

Hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia, Marrakech - read story here

The Koutoubia Mosque - Marrakech

2012-04-25T18:33:00.000+02:00

The minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque is 69 meters tall

If there is a trademark of Marrakech it has to be the Koutoubia Mosque. It is by far the oldest and largest mosque in the city dating back over 800 years.

The Koutoubia with the Atlas mountains in the background

It is funny to see the minarets in Marrakech, they all look alike. My idea is that most, if not all are modeled after the Koutoubia Mosque.

The Koutoubia has been the model of two famous buildings the famous Giralda tower of the cathedral in Seville and for the Hassan Tower of Rabat, and has influenced buildings further away. Some has even claimed that from Spain, the Koutoubia has influenced thousands of church towers in Spain and Eastern Europe. Intriguing.....

The Koutoubia was built in the 12th century, during the reign of Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur. You can see the beautiful minaret from all over the city, and the view from the Djemaa el Fna square is magnificent, with palms and other trees making a green line along the road down to the tower.

Koutoubia seen from Djemaa el Fnaa

It is a pity that we are not allowed to enter, as all are closed for us infidels. I would have loved to visit the Koutoubia, as all holy buildings are so important for the culture. We had to take stroll and watch the grandness of the minaret from the outside.

It is magic to experience the Koutoubia at night when the minaret is flooded in light, and at dawn at dusk when the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer. I do not know whether the muezzin at the Koutoubia has a priority, but as one starts the songe, all the others join in. Just then you are far from Europe.

More mosques here on Enjoy Food & Travel

Marrakech: Mosque of the Golden Apples (Mosque El Mansour) (January 29th 2012)
Ali Ben Youssef Mosque, Marrakech (November 25th 2011)
Ishak Pasa Mosque and hamam, Istanbul (December 9th 2010)
Istanbul - the marvellous Blue Mosque (July 26th 2010)
Bereketzade Medresesi Mosque, Istanbul (April 28th 2010)

Vis Marrakech on Enjoy Food & Travel 2010-2011 i et større kart

Lazy Sunday chicken

2012-04-24T08:00:00.016+02:00

Chicken seasoning and bag bought at Scituate Market

I always buy seasoning when I visit destinations outside Europe. Last fall I roamed through the shelves of Scituate Market looking for cooking flavours. I chose a few McCormick Bag'n Season, including this "Original Chicken". This Sunday I made a very lazy chicken for my friend Ketil.

Lazy Sunday chicken, what could be easier. My chicken was less lazy than it could be, as I chose to remove the carcass ending up with boneless drumsticks and breasts. To make it easier, you can easily cut out the breasts and drumsticks or just divide the chicken in two halves and roast them on the bone.

Lazy chicken with baked vegetables

If you do not have Bag'n Season (as most have not been doing the grocery in the US), just use a roasting bag and your favourite seasoning.

I cut open the bag, folded it out. As a bed for the lazy chicken I poured 1/2 kilo (1,1 lb) "lapskaus blanding", i.e. a mix frozen diced potatoes, carrots and leeks on the bottom of the roasting bag. This mix is used to make lapskaus a Norwegian meat and vegetable stew, but is delicious as baked or fried root vegetables.

The Bag'n Season also contained a bag of seasoning. I poured a little olive oil on the chicken to make the seasoning stick. Then I placed the chicken in the bag and sealed it. I made three incision in the bag. Then I placed the bag in a low oven (100 degrees Celsius / 215 degrees Fahrenheit), and baked for six hour.

The juices from the vegetables and chicken made the dish moist and delicious. In spite of the low effort in its preparation it was delicious and worthy a formal Sunday dinner.

More long roast recipes:

Succulent and tender deer roast (November 14th 2010)
Long roast pre-marinated beef tenderloin (February 27th 2010)
Long roast duck (December 14th 2009)
Long roast peppery pork for Easter (April 9th 2009)
Sunday dinner: Marinated long roast lamb with vegetables (July 8th 2007)

We declare: Enjoy Food & Travel has no commercial interests in products or brands

This blog post contains information on products or specific brands. Our staff will ensure our readers that we have no commercial interests in, or are paid to promote these or other products, brands, or labels.

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel, Cuzco - Peru

2012-04-22T08:00:00.000+02:00

Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel - exterior

I did not book our stay at the Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel in Cuzco at random. My sister stayed there last Christmas and loved this hotel and praised its generous breakfast included in the price. That made our choice easy.

Rating Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel, Cuzco Peru: BBBB (4,12 points)

Location: BBBB+
Service: BBBBB
Room: BBBBB
Breakfast: BBBB+
Facilities: BB+
Price: BBBB

Lower section of Saphi street, main square in background

The Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel enjoys a great location in central Cuzco, just a few blocks from the city's cathedral and historic center.

The colonial style building seem, as many others found in this city, to have an ancient Inca foundation. The base is made up from delicately carved stones.

The staff at the Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel was great, in spite of the fact that we did not speak Spanish, we were given great service, both at the reception and in the breakfast room.

Living space with quipu decoration and stone walls

We stayed in room 212, a suite with a spacious living room, bedroom and bathroom decorated in modern comtemporary style.

The living room has a small modern table and chairs, and a small leather sofa and coffee table, perfect to relax after a busy day. The back wall of the living room is made up by a massive rustic stone wall.

The adjoining white wall has a large quipu, an Inka document made with knots, and there is a small flat screen TV, one out of two in the suite.

The biggest double bed escapes the angle of my camera

The bedroom had the biggest bed I have ever seen, more than big enough for two people. It provided excellent comfort and had the most delicious white crisp bed linnen, and if you was during night you could cover yourself with the warmth of pure baby alpacca wool blankets.

In room 212 at Tierre Viva Saphi Hotel there was an open wardrobe providing storage not quite sufficient for two travelers, but close. There was also a safe to guard the essential passport and credit cards.

Bath room: washing area filled with our stuff

The beautiful bathroom had been renovated up to a high standard with new stone floor and tiled walls.

It had a bath tub, as well as a shower area and a generous space for a sink and storage for all that toiletries essential when traveling.

Courtyard with fountain

The room held a very high standard, was squreeky clean and held no maintenance issues whatsoever and a great bargain at less than € 80 per night.

Including in this unbeatable price was a buffet breakfast, including bread, cold cuts, cheese, as well as scrambled eggs and spicy sausages. The buffet was served in a charming old room with old beam roof.

As well as the rich nourishing ingredients there was cereals, yogurt, and fruit for the health conscious tourist. For those with a sweet tooth there was jam to balance the aromatic south american coffee.

Art work

The score for Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel is innfluenced by the fact that the hotel has very few facilities to offer the guests. There are no inhouse bar or restaurant, no leisure facilities.

The Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel has, however, so much more to offer. It is well maintained, clean and has a great atmosphere. The hotel is located around two courtyards with beautiful fountains decorated in beige and bright blue colours as a fresh contrast. Here there was additional seating - if it is warm enough. In March it was not very tempting, at least not during the evening.

Breakfast room

Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel is therefore, as the first here, awarded a special recommendation, with a few other hotels I have stayed - and loved earlier.

Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel is inexpensive, the room is excellent, and the service is very good. This weighs up the lack of quantifiable facilities.

So we give the Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel our special recommandations as an excellent and inexpensive place to stay in Cuzco, Peru.

Address:
Tierra Viva Hotel
Shaphi 766
Cuzco, Peru
Phone: (0)84 601317
Website: gold-hotel.com/cusco-saphi

Vis Peru March - April 2012 i et større kart

UPDATED: Hotel stories on Enjoy Food & Travel 2012

2012-04-20T08:00:00.000+02:00

Enclosed courtyard at Riad Libitibitho, Marrakech, Morocco

To make it easier for you, I have compiled all the hotels on Enjoy Food & Travel for the year 2012 on this page. Enjoy!

Rated hotels on Enjoy Food & Travel 2012

Copenhagen Admiral Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark (4,30 points)
Staying at this historic landmark hotel was an interesting experience, and you never saw such a room as we stayed in.
COMING: Hotel Terra Viva Saphi Cusco, Cusco Peru: BBBB (4,12 points)
COMING: Steens Hotel, Bergen Norway: BBBB (3,86 points)
COMING: Comfort Hotel Runway, Oslo Airport Norway: BBBB- (3,63 points)
Stella Maris Hotel, Hamburg Germany: BBBB- (3,56 points)
We chose Stella Maris Hotel after browsing through tripadvisor that ranked it as one of the better hotel in the North German metropolis. We found Stella Maris Hotel an agreeable place to stay in Hamburg.

Other hotel stories on Enjoy Food & Travel

Bårdshaug Manor, Orkanger Norway (January 20th 2012)
Bårdshaug manor was the home of the financier and estate owner Christian Thams.
COMING: Comfort Hotel Runway, Oslo Airport (February 24th 2012)
In March we are leaving for Peru. As our flight departs at 6.30 AM in the morning, we chose to book a hotel room at Oslo airport.
COMING: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel, Copenhagen Denmark (February 3rd 2012)
Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is a modern first class hotel in a 220 year old storage house, and has the Danish Royal Palace as its closest neighbour.
COMING: Steens Hotel, Bergen Norway (April 8th 2012)
Steens Hotel has been run by the Steen family for over 60 years and is located in a historic building in the old city centre.
COMING: Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel, Cuzco - Peru (March 21st 2012)
Our next hotel experience abroad will be the Tierra Viva Saphi Hotel in Cuzco, Peru.
Dalen Hotell, Tokke Telemark (January 20th 2012)Dalen Hotel in Telemark county is a fantastic wooden building in Dragon style built in 1894.
Elingaard Manor, Onsøy Norway (January 20th 2012)
Elingaard is located in the municipality of Onsøy in Østfold County.
Hald Pensjonat, Mandal Norway (January 20th 2012)
Hald Pensjonat is a complex made up by three houses built in the 18th century.
Haunted Hotels of Norway (January 20th 2012)
When somebody talk of haunted hotels, I always think of England. But even in Norway there is a considerable number of hotels said to be haunted. Here are a few hotels where something supernatural is going on.
Hotel Admiral, Copenhagen (February 3rd 2012)
The Admiral Hotel, Copenhagen overlooks the harbour front, facing the magnificent new opera house.
Hotel les Jardins de la Koutoubia, Marrakech (January 14th 2012)
Hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia is a five star hotel located just a stone's throw away from the Koutoubia Mosque and Djemaa el Fna Square.
Hotel Stella Maris - a presentation from Hoteloogle.com (February 18th 2012)
Being nestled in the city center provides tremendous convenience for this Hamburg accommodation.
Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse, Tunisia - review from Dagfinn Skoglund (January 7th 2012)
My good friend and Enjoy Food & Travel co-writer Dagfinn Sigridsson Skoglund stayed at Moevenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse in Tunisia in August 2011. For those of you considering staying there he left this review of the hotel on Tripadvisor.
Utstein Kloster, Rennesøy Norway (January 20th 2012)
Utstein Kloster is a 850 year old monestary located at Klosterøya outside Stavanger.

View Hotels on Enjoy Food & Travel 2006-2012 in a larger map

Rating Star Perú flight Lima-Cuzco-Lima

2012-04-19T08:00:00.000+02:00

March 29th 2012: Another Star Perú BAe 146-200 parked side by side our flight from Cuzco to Lima

As we booked our air fare between Lima and Cuzco, we could choose between two air carriers, TACA and Star Perú. We chose Star Perú. The main issue with our Star Perù experience was punctuality. If plane had left on time, or if we had learned the reasons for the three hour delay on our way to Cuzco, the score would have been much higher.

Flight information:

March 26th 2012: Star Perú flight: 1117 Departure Lima 9.30 AM. Arrival Cuzco 10.30 AM
March 29th 2012: Star Perú flight: 1182 Departure Cuzco 1.00 PM. Arrival Lima 2.00 PM
Wessel type: BAe 146-200

Rating Star Perú flight Lima-Cuzco-Lima BBBB- (3,6 points)

Check-in: BBB
Take-off: BBB
Hospitality: BBBBB
Service: BBBBB
Complementary: BBB
Comfort: BBB
Flying time: BBBBB
Arrival: BBB
Check-out: BBB
Duty-free goods: N/A
Price: BBB

Flying over the snow capped Andes

Punctuality is the main reason for the score of BBB+ for Star Perú. We arrived at Jorge Chevez International airport on Lima, checked in our suitcase and went to departure area.

We were to be at our gate 40 minute before take-off, and we were there to find total chaos, with no information if or when our plane to Cuzco were to leave. This went on for over two hours, before our plane landed and we could leave - very delayed indeed!

We were even served a small meal on our one-hour trip

Luckily we had no similar experience on our way back, lifting the average, but the late departure, arrival and lack of information moved Star Perú from 4,4 to 3,6, as the rest of the airline experience was not too bad, in fact much better than many European budget air carriers. Why?

The Star Perú staff was nice and smiling and provided good service. We even were served a small sandwich, a cake, coffee and a refreshing glass of Inka Cola during the one-hour trip.

The seating comfort was not particularly good, though, but it did not matter on such a short flight, but it will count in this rating. All in all, however, the flight experience was pleasant, and I have no problem recommending Star Perú.

Other similar stories on Enjoy Food & Travel

Andes - here we come (March 26th 2012)
Booking a domestic flight in Peru (March 5th 2012)

See 46 photos from the flight on Enjoy Food & Travels facebook site

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One-week Mediterranean escape for less than NOK 1000 from Norway right now

2012-04-17T16:00:00.003+02:00

Photo: One week at Rhodes is for sale just now by Tango7174

Checked the net right now, and you may certainly travel dead cheap to a Mediterranean destination within the coming month.

On Reisefeber.no you grab one week in Croatia, Greece, Rhodes, or Canary Islands for less than NOK 1000 per person, air fare and unspecified accommodation the coming 5 weeks. That is a serious bargain, so if you know where your passport is, and may take a week off without any trouble, this is the time to choose.

NEW: APRIL 2012 - Non-stop flights from Årø Airport, Molde Norway

2012-04-17T08:00:00.022+02:00

View NEW: Direct domestic and international flights from Årø Airport Molde in a larger map

On this map you find domestic and international direct flights operated by all airlines from Årø Airport, Molde Norway.

This map is based on information from the Airport official website. Errors may occur. Do consult airport website or airline for updated information.

Red marker means that flights has been cancelled or seasonal and not in operation. Green marker for planned services. Yellow marker means that flights are seasonal and in operation. Airplane marker means that service is in operation all year around.

Norwegian offers two non-stop flights from Europe to Molde

2012-04-16T19:13:00.001+02:00

Rica Seilet Hotel - a Molde landmark. Photo: Clemsfranz

Norwegian Air Shuttle offers more and more direct flights from Europe to Norwegian cities. Latest is non-stop flights from Molde to Berlin and Malaga from 2013.

Molde, the city of roses, is located on the rugged north west coastline of Norway. This region offers spectacular scenery, much weather, and a maritime, temperate climate, with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters.

From May 2013 Norwegian Air Shuttle may bring citizens of Molde to Kurfürstendamm, and Germans back to Molde, and from June to August 2013 citizen of Malaga, Spain, may explore the city of roses. One highlight is the Molde Jazz festival that takes place in July each year.