Tag: Unique foods

  • Hungarian Paprika Soup – Wow!

    I recently returned from an incredible 15 Viking River cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. Budapest was probably my favorite place we visited. While there, we visited the Great Market Hall where I stocked up on a variety of paprika products including paprika paste.

    Today was the day – I finally felt alert enough, after battling severe jetlag from a nine-hour time difference, to attempt making homemade soup.

    The result was an amazing soup with so much flavor that my family gave me a standing ovation.

    Ingredients:

    3 tablespoons avocado oil

    1 large onion finely chopped

    3 smashed cloves garlic

    4 peeled carrots – diced

    3 stalks celery – diced

    1 red bell pepper – diced

    2 tablespoons paprika paste

    1 12 ounce can tomato paste

    1 cup red wine

    2 cups vegetable stock

    3 bratwurst sausage links

    1 cup shredded green cabbage

    salt and pepper to taste

    2 cups diced potatoes

    First, sauté the garlic, onion, carrots and celery in the avocado oil. Add in the diced red bell pepper. Add in the paprika (preferably in paste form).

    After five minutes, add in the tomato paste, wine and vegetable stock.

    In a separate pan cook the sausage links until partially cooked. Cut into pieces and then add into the soup. Add in the shredded cabbage and salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer for 20 minutes at medium heat.

    Finally, add in the cut up potatoes pieces. Let the soup continue to cook at a low temperature for another 20 to 30 minutes. I dislike overcooked potatoes so I always add them in last.

    This is a great soup to make the day before and then reheat the next day. It gets better overnight.

  • 15 Days of Viking River Cruise Desserts!

    15 Days of Viking River Cruise Desserts!

    While all of the food was wonderful on the Viking River Cruise, the desserts were legendary. A variety of desserts were offered at both lunch and dinner. Most days, my husband and I opted to pass on desserts at lunch but it was tough because they were really good.

    My favorite was the apple strudel that was part of a special afternoon cooking demonstration executed by the ship’s head chef – Chef Chester.

    I enjoyed the food so much that I purchased the Viking River Cruise cookbook which is sold onboard the company’s ships for 20 Euros.

  • Amsterdam Tradition Versus Evolution

    This was my second visit to Amsterdam and it was even better than the first time. On my first visit, I winged it on my own. This time, we went on a two-day extension of our Viking River cruise . Our ship docked in Amsterdam and we immediately went on a 2 and 1/2 half-hour walking tour of the city.

    We lucked out with our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable regarding the architecture styles of Amsterdam. Some of the highlights he showed us included the famous Skinny Bridge (which I remember from the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever), Rembrandt’s Square (where there are a ton of interesting restaurants as well as a plethora of pot cafes – strong aromas!) and the school where Anne and Margot Frank, as well as many other Jewish children, were segregated during WWII. Throughout our excursion, he made a point of showing us elaborate architectural details that other guides might ignore. Plus, he showed us an assortment of residential neighborhoods so that we really got a feel of how the locals live. Some of the building communities even have their own mini neighborhood libraries. Like many other cities, Amsterdam real estate is very expensive. Our guide showed us several very unimpressive house boats that recently sold for $1.5 million Euros. As the Realtors in California like to say – location, location!

    We really enjoyed the local food, too. Amsterdam is a very damp city and cold during the winter months. I can see why the Dutch enjoy so much fried food. We loved the Olieballen served warm with powdered sugar and a drizzle of Nutella. We first tried the Bitterballen on our taste of Amsterdam tour. We liked this dish so much that we ordered it, again, at the Rijksmuseum’s cafe. The balls are a mixture of beef, beef stock, flour and seasoning covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried. Traditionally, you dip them in mustard.French fries are really popular and the city has numerous fast- food outlets selling them hot with mayonnaise slathered over them. Since neither of us really likes mayonnaise, we passed. That said, tons of the locals were buying them.

    One of our favorite experiences was dinner at a Greek restaurant near our hotel. The Viking concierge recommended it and she was so right. My husband and I both thought it was the best Greek food we have ever eaten. The restaurant was owned by a Greek couple and the wife cooked everything from scratch.

    While my husband John and I both have many more places we wish to visit, we can easily visualize another trip to Amsterdam in our future. Next time, we want to visit Amsterdam during tulip season.

  • Exploring Cologne Germany

    I wasn’t sure what to expect from Cologne Germany. First, the city experienced 95% destruction during WWII. Fortunately, the cathedral was the first of its kind – built with steel reinforcement so most of it survived. Overall, the city is a mixture of old and new. Some of the modern architecture is spectacular but other buildings, such as city hall, are really ugly and depressing.

    Our tour guide explained that Cologne is more about a certain attitude. The locals appreciate being social and enjoying life much more than the more serious Berliners. Cologne natives, apparently, talk to everyone and are less reserved than other Germans. Consequently, bars in Cologne are much more likely to be filled with people chatting versus loud music drowning everyone out. At night, I did notice a few bars aimed at a younger crowd with blaring music.

    The city seemed very safe. Our evening tour guide, for our pub crawl, confirmed my impression of Cologne. It is also a very walkable city with lots to explore as you walk. I actually got in almost 17,000 steps in one day of touring Cologne.

    The city has a Lindt Chocolate Museum that is worth visiting. We found the gift shop to be almost overwhelming. My husband and I saw items that we never see at home in the U.S.

    We did take a brief break from the city to visit the hunting lodge and Bruhl Palace. Both were impressive. When Bonn was the capital of West Germany, the government used the palace to entertain top visiting dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth and Ronald Reagan. Both structures are impressive. Interestingly, both interiors incorporate the most beautiful Dutch blue and white tiles on the walls.

    If given the opportunity, I would like to return to Cologne to spend a few more days. Our tour guide noted that the London Times describes the Cologne Christmas Markets as the best in the country. I see a December trip in my future!

  • Wertheim Is Much More Than a Quaint German Town

    I loved all the genuinely old buildings of Wertheim but I also enjoyed seeing the local townspeople shop and interact with each other. We were lucky to be there for a Wednesday morning Market when several specialty merchants were there to sell produce, meats, seafood and other products such as olives. Business was brisk. The weather was nice so lots of locals sat in the outdoor cafes enjoying coffees and pastries, too. Prices at the local clothing shops were reasonable so many of our fellow travelers on the Baldur enjoyed shopping.

    Besides taking an overview tour of the city, we enjoyed a second tour which went into the Jewish atrocities during WWII. Our tour guide took us to specific buildings and had photos from the Nazi era showing Nazis removing Jews from their homes as well as Nazi soldiers standing guard in front of Jewish-owned businesses to prevent sales.

    We ended our visit to Wertheim with a visit to the oldest bakery in town and bought several pastries. We sat outside and spit a a chocolate and almond type of cake that I have never seen before. It was delicious and not too sweet. We shared a linzer torte later that was also fantastic. I am glad that I am averaging between 12,000 and 14,000 steps per day; I am hoping that it will help me burn off some calories.

  • Bamberg – Stepping Back In Time

    Founded in the 11th century, Bamberg is the most picturesque town in Germany with medieval architecture. It managed to escape the Allied bombs during WWII so it really is like stepping back in time. It is a small town with approximately 80,000 people. The university and tourism essentially support the town. There are a nice variety of stores and restaurants but, interestingly, there is only one tourism store that sells post cards and other typical tourist items.

    It is famous for its smoked beer. Once we heard it described as beer infused with an ashtray, my husband and I opted to pass on sampling this delicacy. Among those on our ship who did, most were not too enthusiastic. Beer, in general, became popular in Germany out of necessity. The local waters were polluted and made the people ill. Beer was a safe and cheap beverage that did not make one sick. The wealthier opted for the more expensive wine as their beverage of choice.

    The outer area used to be called Little Italy or Venice due to the multi-level homes that are on the canal. The fishermen used to reside in these homes – it was considered the poorest part of Bamberg. The bottom level frequently flooded so most fishermen used it for boat parking. These days, the homes go on the market infrequently but when they do…they sell for well over $2,000,000.

  • Regensburg – Home of the Oldest Fast-Food Joint

    The minute we approached Regensburg, I knew I was in for a great experience. Luckily, Regensburg escaped bombing during WW II and most of the old buildings survived. For example, the Stone Bridge dates back to the 12th Century. My only disappointment was a certain amount of graffiti. This is not exclusive to Regensburg. We have spotted quite a bit of it in Vienna and Passau, too.

    The cathedral is especially meaningful as it is the former home of the late Pope Benedict XVI. The cathedral has been under constant renovation with scaffolding surrounding the exterior for decades. Apparently, for the Pope’s visit to the cathedral the town temporarily removed the scaffolding for one week in 2006.

    The highlight of the day was our visit to the Sausage Kitchen. The place has been in business for 900 years and, on average, the restaurant sells 6,000 sausages a day. We both ordered sausage sandwiches on rolls with sweet sauerkraut and the Sausage Kitchen’s amazing sweet mustard. We both agreed that it was the best version of this combination we’ve ever eaten. I was really excited to find bottles of this mustard for sale at a nearby store.

  • Apple Strudel Viking Style

    I just attended my first Viking River cruise cooking demonstration. The chef and his assistant chef taught us to make apple strudel from scratch! Based on what I saw, I think I can do this at home.

    Naturally, the staff served us Mozart coffee while we waited for the demonstration to begin.

    The two big takeaways from our chef:

    1. Use vinegar when combining the dry ingredients to make the dough elastic.
    2. Place a cloth towel underneath the dough to keep it from sticking to the counter or other surface.

    The best part was enjoying freshly baked apple strudel which the staff served with a delicious vanilla sauce.

  • From Automotive Repairs to Killer Tacos

    Today, while checking out Frogtown in Los Angeles, we stopped for lunch at Salazar. What a gem this place is.

    Originally, this site was home to an automotive repair shop called Salazar. The restaurant opened in 2016. It’s an outdoor Mexican BBQ restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere . Even the salsa is made from scratch – starting with grilled tomatoes. The tacos were outstanding. The al pastor ones come with small pieces of grilled pineapple and a slight taste of heat.

    Dessert options are limited but fantastic. The tres leche cake was probably the best version I have ever eaten. It even came with tiny bits of fresh peach. Our friend ordered the flan with blueberries; it looked exquisite.

    It was a hot summer afternoon and we had a long drive home. Hence, we skipped ordering cocktails. However, the drink menu was impressive. The place does a great business and the staff is friendly and efficient. Our waiter was an actor from Argentina who shared great stories and made us feel so welcomed. Mexican food is plentiful in California but Salazar’s is special; both the food and atmosphere really stand out.

    My only complaint is the parking. Frogtown is an older community with narrow streets and limited parking. We found street parking about half a block away on a busy street near the 5 on-ramp. Exiting was definitely an entertaining experience.

    Salazar – An Amazing Restaurant in Frogtown.
  • Best Crab Dip Ever – Forget the Mayo & Sour Cream

    Recently, my husband I tried the warm crab dip at The Prado restaurant in San Diego. Our waiter recommended it and he was spot on with his suggestion. The combination of flavors was fantastic.

    Unlike other similar dips which combine sour cream or cream cheese with mayonnaise, this dip has a base of mascarpone cheese. Based on the menu, I knew the key ingredients but had to guess a few items as well. The crab dip I replicated at home is a masterpiece. My husband was in awe.

    Ingredients are as follows:

    Mascarpone cheese, small tub of crab claw meat, 2 cups fresh spinach, 1 poblano chili pepper, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/3 cup sherry & 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

    The key thing is to melt the mascarpone at a very low temperature on the stove. If you melt the mascarpone at too high of a temperature, you will cause the cheese to separate. This dip is great warm and does not to be scalding hot.

    Step 1 – Roast the poblano chili. I cooked mine for 10 minutes ub the air fryer at 400.

    Step 2 – Saute the fresh spinach in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil and a light sprinkle of salt and black pepper.

    Step 3 – Start melting the mascarpone in a sauce pan. Add in the wilted spinach and roasted poblano chile (dice first). Add in Worcestershire sauce and sherry. Constantly stir the mixture as the Mascarpone softens. Add in the Parmesan and Dijon mustard. Keep stiring and add in the crab meat, too. Keep stirring. The dip will be warm but not scalding hot.

    I served the dip in a bowl with a basket of toasted French bread that I cut up into smaller pieces. Prior to toasting the bread in the broiler, on low, I spread both sides of my halved bread with light coating of garlic and herb compound butter.

    This dip can also be made in advance and reheated. I had leftover dip which I stored in a glass container and reheated two days later.