Taste This!

A Tale of Two Cheeses...How Yoga Enables Me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:45:00 +0000

I've been a yoga guide (teacher) here in Italy for the past three years. Jokingly in the class I tell all of the students I only practice yoga so I can eat more Italian food. This past month, we've been working on a sequence I call "Twist and Flow." A detoxifying vinyasa sequence, which I tell the class not only brings fresh blood and oxygen to our internal organs...but it also whittles away inches from our mid-section thus allowing us to eat more Mozzarella di Bufala. Three weeks ago a couple of my Italian students pulled me aside and began to rave about a cheese they claim is MUCH BETTER than my beloved Bufala.(Above) It's called Burrata. The expression on their face while describing this Italian delight from the Puglia region of Italy, was one of overwhelming delight. My class ends at 6:30pm and I was already hungry before they started talking of this creamy cheese from the heavens. They kept repeating..."It's just like Bufala, but better!" As the name would suggest, this cheese is made with butter. Well...I like Bufala...and I like butter...so this immediately became a "must find, must have" Italian food. I asked several of my Italian friends. They'd never seen the cheese in the Vento. Well...I found it! At the Camisano market, where I have been buying my cheese for the past three years. There it sat right next to the Bufula. The price was much higher than my beloved milk of buffalo cheese. As I stood in line, my mouth began to water. Were the two ladies in my class right...could there be a cheese that is better than what I have been coveting for the past three years?

When I cut into the Burrato, I could easily see the difference between the two cheeses. Burrato has a more pronounced crust than Bufula does. Also, you can quickly tell this cheese uses "butter." It almost looks as if someone stuffed bufula with even more delicious cheese. While cutting this wonderful piece of cheese, I noticed it was "sticky." What I mean is, it stuck to my fingers. Quickly, I began to smell the butter. I was ready to get this stuff in my belly and quick! I prepared a couple of plates, each with both Burrata and Bufula on them. I dressed them like I always do and then of course poured some wine. The Burrata lived up to it's "butter" taste. Although it was very creamy, it had a ton of texture too. It looked fantastic, smelled fantastic....BUT, I'm not converted. Not by a long shot! Don't get me wrong, the Burrata was very good, but no where close to as good as Bufula. I might have to put some of this cheese on a pizza to see how it tastes there. Here is a pic of my lunch.

Traditional Ethiopian Eats

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:05:00 +0000

This is what a typical Ethiopian dinner looks like. There are several types of spicy meats, or wat served on injera, a spongy bread. The bread also serves as your fork. In the middle of this meat lovers dish, there was also some spicy bean dish.

As you can see, I wasted little time before going all in. The food was perfectly seasoned and as you can tell by the video, the restaurant had incredible atmosphere. Combine those with some good beer (blog coming) and good company...and well....TIA!
(This Is Africa)

(Randy, Guy, and Randy diggin' in too!)

Welcome To The Home Of Coffee....Italy...err...I mean Ethiopia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:36:00 +0000

It is thought that the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant was first recognized in Yemen in Arabia and the south west of Ethiopia, and the cultivation of coffee expanded in the Arab world. So I think it is appropriate to start my Ethiopian Eat This! tour with the wonderful elixir of life...COFFEE!

For many, coffee is more than a daily drink, it's a; must have before this lazy ass rolls out of bed, or right of passage, or as is the case in Italy...meeting place. Well, I'm sure that is all true in Ethiopia too, however, since this is the "birthplace" it has a little more tradition than just the 37 years of history Mr. Coffee has in the states.

I had coffee at three different places during my stay in Ethiopia. I took the above video in the lobby of the Hilton, Add is Ababa. This lady roasts the bean right before you and then grounds it and prepares a ceremonial cup of coffee for you. The taste is a little bitter, but the smells of freshly roasted coffee makes up for that...plus it only costs roughly 30-cents.

The next place I went to was in the city...I mean...in the city. Addis Ababa has everything you would expect to see in a thriving African country; paved roads, western-looking buildings, banks, and shanty-towns. However, Ethiopia has something most African countries do not:
THEY'RE HOOKED ON THE BEAN OF LIFE YA'LL!

The first place I went to was Alem Buna. It was just a few minutes away from the hotel. As you can tell, at 6'2"...I was a giant in Ethiopia.

This is what Alem Buna is famous for...The Darko. It is much like the Italian Machiato, but with more coffee...and btw, the coffee is very intense and rich. To date this is the BEST CUP OF COFFEE I'VE EVER HAD!

This is Mohammed...one of the drivers!
This is Guy "Woody" Wood

The coffee bean transportation system has not changed much over the years. What has changed is just how much we pay for it. Now prepare yourselves...To the right you see a man sending coffee on donkeys. Clearly a very expensive mode of transportation. Above you see three men enjoying "Organic, Ethiopian Plantation coffee." Cost for all 3 coffees: $0.50
If you're a coffee drinker like me, then you MUST demand that all coffee be brought in on the back of an ass!

The last place Mohammed and I went to was called Tamoka. This place is also where the UNICEF friend I met on the plane and all of the tourists in the hotel suggested I go to buy coffee to bring home. Tamoka was little more gritty on the inside, but the smell of their beans was incredible. I was ready to once again be WOWED! Both places "hand-pumped" their espresso makers. The sounds and smells of this joint had my senses working overtime. The coffee was very good. Bold, dynamic and full. However, I prefered Alem Buna. I did buy my full-alloted amounts of whole bean and ground bean from both places.

Ethiopian Pepper Pot Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:16:00 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one of Ethiopian Pepper Pot Soup, is also worth a thousand smells. For those of you who don't know...I love peppers. I love spicy food, not HOT food. I knew I had to have this soup the moment I saw it on the menu. This is my take for this particular bowl of soup I purchased (five times) from the Hilton, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Imagine your mom's or maybe you grandma's famous vegetable soup. If you can't do that...then imagine the best vegetable soup you've ever had. Now think about the time you visited Germany or Hungary and had the best goulash you ever had. Combine those two tasteful memories, let them swirl about in your taste bud imagination for awhile. Finally...multiply that imaginative taste by four...and some peppers...and that is what this bowl of soup tasted like. I really enjoyed this was mad when ever my hosts took me places that didn't have this soup.

If you ever happen to be in Ethiopia...this is a must eat.

Drink This! Cheap Beers of Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:36:00 +0000

Over the past five months, I've traveled N.E.S.W. over the European and African landside. I've collected my fair share of beers. Cheap Beers! I've already posted a few of them, but now I will finish the beer...err, job off.

I will also spice up the blog series with a few nice beers too! Here is a great link on a fav of mine...not just a beer, also a meal!

Generic Light Beer...Croatian Style!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:27:00 +0000

As soon as I saw this beer in the store...I knew it was something special!

This was my second trip to Croatia. I really enjoyed my first visit to Split. I guess it's safe to say...I kind of fell in love with Croatia. The people are very nice, and they love to eat meat...lots of it! They also have several real good beers and wines.

This beer was by far the cheapest beer on the shelf. For one half liter, I spent a whopping...36 euro-cents. So for a little more than two 8oz cans of beer, I spent around 50 cents. I great deal for beer drinking on the cheap! The logo was what first caught my eye. It just seemed to be a generic logo. I was right. The red box the the white "M" in it is the stores generic brand. Pivo is Croatian for "beer" and Svetlo is Croatian for "light." So this is in fact...generic light beer. YUMMY!
You can tell by the picture this beer had a really nice pour. The head was thick and aromatic. The color golden-amber. I was really starting to get excited about my cheap Croatian beer. However...the excitment stopped dead in it's tracks as soon as I took a drink. The aromatic smells of the head were gone. There was suprisingly NO taste in this beer. It tasted like lightly flavored water. 4.0% flavored water.

Don't judge Croatian beers by this! They do make a fantastic beer. I guess you could call it the Bud of Croatia...Karlovacko. Very tasty. As for the rest of Croatian beers...??? Well I think this video best describes them:

Why Not Be Yourself For A Moment...Cheap Beer Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:37:00 +0000

I've decided to embark on a new gastronomic adventure...in beer! Everywhere you look there is some guy touting about the latest and greatest beer du jour! I admit...I do like to read about those beers and drink them too. However, after a year of living in Italy...away from many of such beers, I've decided I should do the opposite. What about those beers...no one drinks nor blogs about? What about those lack-luster beers? Well...they are everywhere here in Italy! Long gone is my huge selection of German, Belgian, and Czech beers. Everywhere I look...cheap beer from the "non-beer" making countries.

"Why not be yourself for a moment," is the catchphrase from what appears to be a pedestrian, middle-class, non-descript Swedish beer maker. This beer has been in production since 1965. I found my Norrlands Guld (7.2) at my favorite home away from home....IKEA, for 1 Euro. Roughly $1.35!

My eyes first were drawn to the word "DYNAMIT" on the very top of the can. I thought maybe this can was packed with explosive hops and barley. Then the three trout caught my attention. What advertisement agency told these guys..."Hey...put three fish on the can if your really want to sell a lot of this beer." Of course the magnificent Swedish landscape that rounds out the can puts me at ease. Will this beer have notes of fish, spring water, and dynamite?

Here is the review. I was completely ready for a crap beer that possibly might be made from left over IKEA meatballs. However, that was not the case. The beer is a whopping 7.2%, but it went down like a 3.2%. It has a delightful ashy and fruity taste. The head was thin and deflated only moments after the pour. Very little after taste. In all...a pretty good beer. I guess I will have to go back to IKEA and try it with those famous meatballs! The beer was almost as good as their advert campaign. Please enjoy the Swedish commercial!

Wild Mushroom and Riesling Stuffing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:42:00 +0000

This is one of my all-time favorite dishes. I never really liked stuffing before I started making this. (Sorry Mom! No likey-likey necks, gizzards, and hearts...) Besides...this stuffing calls for one cup of Riesling! The quick public math easily estimates there will be several glasses of wine left over to drink while you cook. BONUS. (Side note...Italians don't make very good Riesling. Lucky for us, the region that does make ok Riesling is right here. Other side note...going to Germany next week for a work trip, wil buy several bottles of Riesling...hope they last)

The next best thing about this stuffing is the bread and mushroom. It calls for peasent bread and wild mushrooms. Not sure what peasent bread is. I always buy a heavy bread and go for it. In Italy there a ton of differnt breads. Fresh! So, of course Shelly and I eat a little and use a little. She is a good taster. The wild mushrooms were also a blast finding. The local market where I found a mix. Never before have I found a mix of mushrooms. I've always had to buy differnt kinds. I'll let you know how it turns out this year.

The hardest part about cooking this Wild Mushroom and Riesling Stuffing...is well! Cooking it! It smells so good. Earthy, fresh, seasonal, Thanksgivingly YUMMY! The prepwork and pre-cooking take about an hour. (I have slow knife work!) During this time you're fighting your temptations...your urges...your plight in life.

OH Wait! There is one more cool thing about this stuffing! I always make too much...which means left-overs. Who is coming?

This is uncooked. The real picture comes later!

Roasted Turkey Stock

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:33:00 +0000

This is what I make every Thanksgiving. It is sooo super yummy. I use it for my turkey and stuffing. Then with the left over turkey I make a killer soup. You'll just have to make your way to Italy if you want to taste. If youplan to stop by, please call or e-mail first. Feel free to drool. Just clean up your mess.

OK Beer...Had Better!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Found another Belgium beer at the store. I'm a sucker for Abbey beers. I think it is so awesome monks make beer. In all actuality, I've spent a good bit of time thinking about this. Here's how the thought process goes. I believe in God...check. I believe in good beer...check. I look good in brown....check. Making beer for the lord has to be the best gig in town. Right? :)

Here is my take on Affligem Blond 1074: It poured very nicely, fantastic head, aromatic smells, and a bold color. However, when the beer reached the back of my mouth, the taste went a bit wonky. It still is a good beer and I would drink it again.

You should check out Affligem's website. Some wicked cool chanting monks. You can't visit the abbey, but you can visit the cultural center where you can also buy cheese and wine.

Yummy French Beer?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:40:00 +0000

Well, this trip to France made things really clear to me. I think I'm more French than Italian! Shelly and I chowed down on some great food during our stay. However, we did pick a crappy salami. I however, redemed this sloppy choice with the fantastic La Goudale beer. This 7.2% Blonde poured out with a creamy head. Their website says it is a recipe dating back to the middle ages. Translated: This beer is awesome! The problem...you probally won't be able to find it in the USA. According to the website:

Among the major distributors : Atac, Auchan, Carrefour, Casino, Champion, Cora, Géant, Intermarché, Leclerc, Match, Monoprix, Super U.

There are a few places in the states you can find it. Check out RateBeer to find a place near you.
This beer has intense malty flavors, with hints of some earthy undertones. The flavor fills your mouth and goes down smoothly. Beer Advocate gave this beer a solid "B." I give it a solid "A." If you ever find youselves in France...stop by an Auchan or Champion and pick some up. You can thank me later.

The ALL New "Two Great Tastes...That Taste Great Together!"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:43:00 +0000

You may or may not know my son only eats a limited diet. Shelly and I have joked about buying him a shirt with "I Love Carbs!" on it. Two of Ollie's favorite foods are French Fries, (who doesn't love them?) and Pizza. We had our fair share of fries in Germany. I'm a firm believer Germans make the best fries in the world. Now of course we live in Italy...where many would argue you can find the best pizzas in the world. Imagine the joy in my foodie heart when I discovered the unthinkable. Imagine the silent thought proccess of the possibility of this unthinkable possibility in Ollie's mind. By now I think you might be thinking what Ollie and I were thinking...Is there a new "TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER?"

OH YES! IT IS TRUE! WE HAVE FOUND THE FOODIE MECCA...at least Ollie's.

Notice how Ollie's amazement changes to uncertainty as he slowly maneuvers the first piece of what could do for his food enjoyment, what Einstein did for science. CHANGE THE WORLD! It wasn't long before he discovered the truth. FRENCH FRY PIZZA IS "THE NEW TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER!"

Maddy soon followed in this discovery. And while I can't prove this, (becuase the pictures were deleted by the very adults eating this pizza; which Ollie and I believe might also create world peace) many adults at the table either enjoyed this awesome pizza...or at least smelled it's heavenly aroma.

Yummy Italian!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:55:00 +0000

OK! So we've been in Italy for almost a year and I'm now just getting to my first Taste This! blog. Suffice to say I've had my fair share of: wine, risotto, bruschetta, pizza, parmigiano, mozzarella, speck, soppressa veneto, balsamic, and soups...which I will post about later.

My first blog begins now...

The other day I duped Shelly into a trip to a small shop in our town. It is very small and non-descript...with the exception of what appeared to be a large jug I've seen locals fill with wine. Lots and Lots of wine. I've been trying to get Shelly into one of these stores...called an Enoteca for awhile now. (FYI, you can also buy fresh milk this way too!) Today was my lucky day. We walked into the enoteca and it was decked out with old fashion radios, wine, olive oil, balsamic oils, and even some beer. (Of course I bought that too!) Along the side wall were four giant tanks. They kind of looked like old gas pumps. Then the mecca! The back wall had 40-50 taps. The tanks and taps all had different types of local/regional wines. YEP! This place is like Costco, except they only sell wine in bulk. Here's the kicker! IT IS SUPER GOOD & CHEAP! You pick the wine you like, and give the owner the vessel of you choice. No lie, someone brought in a water bottle and filled it up! You can buy as little as a water bottle up to 50 liters. We opted for the 5 liter option. (Roughly 1.3 gallons.) Of course the fun didn't stop there. We then had to buy bottles and lids...and as you can tell, drink a few glasses before we made the transfer to small 1 liter sized bottles. The price per liter for this wine is about $6. If were to buy this wine in a bottle at a regular store the price would be around $12. Shelly and I have been drinking this wine all weekend. It is sooo good in fact, I was suppose to go TDY for an overnight trip, but stayed home and drank this wine instead. Of course I had to get up super early the next morning for my news story coverage.

The fun in the store didn't stop there! The owner was very hip and happy to speak English to us. Our Italian is waay bad still. He told us he loves to drink and eat. Shelly and I thought to ourselves..."We Do TOO!" He said, he only likes to eat and drink the best, so that is why he has this store full of only the best. He brought us over to the olive oils. There were three different levels available. Light (leggero), Medium (medio), and Intense (intenso). Normally, we pay about $4-6 for a large bottle of olive oil. The oils here ranged from $15-50. Thankfully, there was a sample pack. We spent the majority of Sunday eating bread with these oils and drinking our new wine. It was a good Sunday!

There was also a nice selection of balsamic vinegars. Some aged up to 30-years. The owner was very nice to us and gave us two samples of 30-year vinegar. We've not tried it yet. We also bought a case of some Italian beer that has won several gold/silver medals in world-wide best beer contests. More to come on the beer!

Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:15:00 +0000

As soon as I get to Italy.