Author - Chris

Eating on a Budget in Munich

October 7, 2013

Munich is a city that is known for its bright and colourful culture and the extremely famous Oktoberfest, which happens to be the largest beer festival in the world. Locals love the city as much as tourists admire it for its happy and hippie air. The city is dotted with quaint cafes, shops, restaurants and bars, each having something unique to offer to its visitor. Not to mention there are plenty of places to stay, in which HostelBookers can help you out. However, eating on a budget is not that difficult here either. The following are some recommended places based on your budget:

Low Budget

Alter Simpl – “Simplicissimus” is one of the most popular satirical weekly German magazines and that is where this restaurant gets its name from. It has been in Munich since 1903 when it used to be the favorite haunt of artists, writers and comedians. Now, it serves good beer till 3 am and amazing food until 2 a.m. Do try the bacon cheeseburger with scrumptious french-fries and their roast pork. Their Munich Schnitzel is the recommended filler.
Address: Türkenstr. 57, Maxvorstadt, Munich, 80799

Andechser am Dom – If you are in Munich and fail to visit this place, your trip would be incomplete. The floor, which is made from old stone and the beautiful vaulted frescoed ceiling gives this place the ambience of something magical and mysterious, almost spiritual. The food is boldly Bavarian and you should give the blood sausages with potatoes an honest shot. The roast duck is pretty great as well. Wash it all down with their impressive Andech beer selection.
Address: Weinstr. 7a, City Centre, Munich, 80333

Moderate Budget

Brasserie OskarMaria – Except for New York, Munich has the most number of publishing houses in the entire world. Set in the front of a renaissance style schoolhouse called “Literaturhaus,” this brasserie gets its name from Oskar Maria Graf who was a famous Munich writer. The atmosphere is light and spacious because of the windows in plate glass and the high ceiling. The menu has an eclectic range of dishes and some perfect delicacies, which include their Lobster Risotto, Fish Burger, Beef Stroganoff and Beef Tartare. Do sip a cappuccino on their sprawling terrace.
Address: Salvatorpl. 1, City Centre, Munich, 80333

Hundskugel – This is Munich’s smallest and oldest tavern and dates back to almost 1440. The place is always jam-packed with people and chances are that you might have to squeeze in to make some room for others. However, the ambience is homely and warm in the tiny dining room with a few tables. Everything on their menu is great and everything is recommended from their list of honest Bavarian delights.
Address: Hotterstr. 18, City Centre, Munich, 80331

Premium Budget

Dukatz – If you are in the mind to escape the tourist spots and the hustle and bustle that comes with them, this could be the perfect place for you. Dukatz has a well-stocked bar and a mouth-watering menu, which is not for the weak hearted. For starters, have their mussels with rocket and orange, and if you are in the mood for some exquisite Bavarian entrecote, go for their special main dish with cherry tomatoes (glazed) and young spinach. If you are someone who looks at the fish menu closely, theirs changes daily.
Address: Schäfflerhof (Fünf Höfe), Maffeistr. 3a, City Centre, Munich, 80333

Gandl – This relaxed and comfortable restaurant is also a great Italian specialty shop where you can get various staples from coffee to vinegar. They bring out their best on the ever popular Saturday buffet breakfast. Because of their popularity, sometimes seating is cramped, but they make up for it with their excellent service and warmth. The cuisine is Mediterranean influenced, and they’re the perfect spot for dinner. If you need to grab a pastry for lunch, this is the place.
Address: St.-Anna-Pl. 1, Lehel, Munich, 80538

Be a little adventurous and do give a shot to the Bavarian food because it is truly delicious. Bad food can ruin a trip, but one great meal can make it amazing.

Aztec Soup: Bring A Taste Of Mexico To Your Home

October 3, 2013

Chris

All Things Food

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Mexico is known for a lot of things: sunny beaches, incredible sights, and delicious cuisine. The last one is something that usually leaves a lasting impression. If you have travelled to Mexico, you know that there are lots and lots of old-fashioned restaurants with dishes that they serve are full of flavours and fantastic aromas. From pork dishes to chicken cuisines and even vegetarian treats, there definitely something that will meet your dietary needs and your taste.

It is a good thing that you do not have to travel too far to have a taste of Mexico. This is because you can bring its unique taste and aroma to your home. How? Simple. With Mexico soup recipes.

One of the most famous soups that said country offers is the sopa azteca or Aztec soup. It varies from one region to another and its flavorings are used in different ways—but one thing is true—this tomato-based recipe is richly flavored and will definitely satisfy anybody’s taste buds.

Cooking this Mexican dish is easy. Here’s how:

Ingredients:

· 1 1/4 lbs grilled chicken breasts that are cut into cubes

· 6 to 8 cups of chicken broth

· 1 avocado that is cut into 4 parts

· 3 cloves of garlic

· 2 tablespoons of canola or vegetable oil

· 1 can diced tomatoes

· 1 ½ cups asadero cheese

· 4 cups tortilla chips

· 1 white onion (thinly sliced)

· 1 dried or toasted pasilla chilli pepper

· 1 lemon

· ½ cup sour cream

· 1 teaspoon of salt

Directions

Put the tomatoes and the chilli in a blender and mix until everything is properly combined. Afterwards, heat the cooking oil in a soup pot and then sauté the onion as well as the garlic until they become golden brown.

Take the soup pot off the heat and then take the onion as well as the garlic with the use of an ordinary spoon. Crush them against the side of the pot and try to squeeze out the excess oil. Add the onion and the garlic in the blender and refine until the mixture becomes smooth.

Put the mixture back to the soup pot and heat for 10 minutes; remember to stir the mixture throughout the process. Add the chicken broth and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the salt and voila, your aztec soup is ready to serve.

The aztec soup is served throughout Mexico, everywhere from high-class diners to basic food stalls serve this sumptuous dish. This is because it has a very unique taste that is present in many high-end soup recipes. The good thing about it is you can add your own personal touch to achieve the kind of blend that will satisfy your taste buds.

Maybe Travel isn’t your Thing

October 3, 2013

Chris

Travel Talk

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In cool circles it always considered a fashionable thing to discuss ones love of travel. People’s ears perk up when the talk turns to a wonderful trip to Paris or about a safari in Nigeria. With that said though, maybe traveling just isn’t your thing. Maybe being in the city you are from and staying in a routine suits you better? In this article we are going to discuss a few tell tale signs for a person out on the road that show that perhaps travel just isn’t their thing.

Although this would be a cool place to live…

Obsessively wondering about Home

Okay, anybody on the road may take a moment to wonder what is going on back home, but the reality is that the excitement of what is going on right where you are is A) probably more exciting, and B) where your focus should be. Sometimes you meet people traveling that spend all their time away trying to get to social media so they can talk to people back home. If you are one of these people who cares more about people you will see again in a week, rather than the moments that are once in a life time abroad perhaps travel just isn’t your thing.

Anger towards things that are different

Walking down the streets of European cities sometimes you will here foreigners talking loudly about how every thing there is SO weird and not at all like it is back home. Naturally, the locals, whom if they are less than 40 usually understand English, think to themselves why doesn’t this person head on home then? It is natural to notice differences in customs and rules, but the joy of travel is trying to understand these differences and find them interesting. Not using them to prove to yourself, and those around you, that your home is the best. If you find yourself seeing things as weird and really second rate to back home, and this is a dominant theme in your thoughts, perhaps travel isn’t for you…

Difficulty connecting to people of different cultures

The final sign is a person that just cannot bring themselves to connect to people from other countries. Rather than seeing that a person’s differences are intriguing and alluring they are scared by them and because of that wall off from connecting or even trying to connect. This type of person is too hardwired in their culture’s customs and the group dynamic of their friendship networks back home and just can’t break past them. If that is you, perhaps travel just isn’t your thing.

From the Cave to the Kitchen

October 1, 2013

Chris

All Things Food

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For me, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a home cooked meal – even ahead of a night out in some of most fabulous cities in Europe. Yes, eating out is delicious but I find the daily act of preparing and creating a dish immensely rewarding, particularly if it’s for someone else. I’m a savory sort and love to mash my potatoes and grill my chicken. My food might be simple, but it’s wholesome and made with love.

Up until recently, I rarely gave a second thought to the single most important tool in my kitchen: my oven. Just like many of the technologies we take for granted, I use my oven every single day but never stop to imagine what life would be like without it.

Thanks to this neat interactive infographic from Leisure, I can now safely say that without the oven, human life would be pretty barbaric. According to historians, the discovery of controlled heat and cooked food put our ancestors at the top of the food chain – making us the sentient species we are today.

But how could a good cooked meal have such a massive impact on civilization? Take a look at the infographic to learn more.

Biggest Festivals around the World for Gourmet Travellers

September 27, 2013

Chris

Travel Tips

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Many travellers plan their holidays around an event or festival. Food festivals are becoming more and more popular with gourmet travellers and there is a virtual feast of opportunities for the holidaying foodie.

You can check out some of these scrumptious food festivals right here. For more in depth help in planning the perfect gourmet holiday talk to a travel professional who has already done the research: Travel Associates have over 15 years of rich travel experience you can draw from.

Truffle Festival: Italy

The truffle festival is somewhat of a speciality event. Each October truffle lovers arrive to celebrate the opening of white truffle season. You can hit the Truffle Market to buy truffle and for those with expensive tastes there is the chance to purchase the rarest of truffles at a trifling $2,000 US a kilo.

Galway Oyster Festival: Galway, Ireland

This is one of the oldest food festivals in the world, harking back to 1954. Set on the wild west coast of Ireland it is a festival for serious oyster fans. The World Oyster Opening Championships is fought out each year.

Garlic Festival: Isle of Wight

If garlic is your thing this festival is a must for you. It features all things garlic, from garlic ice-cream, to garlic beer and garlic fudge. This festival raises money for 65 charities and is set in summer on the beautiful Isle of Wight.

Savour: Singapore

This is a new food festival where festival-goers get to enjoy a plethora of Singaporean cuisine. This event features an indoor gourmet auditorium, a massive 5,000 square metre gourmet market and an al fresco Gourmet Village. 100 of the world’s best restaurants vie for attention at this event. Prices are fabulous with tickets starting from just $40.

La Tomatina: Spain

This festival dates back to the 1940’s and is world famous as the largest tomato fight on the planet. Excess tomatoes are thrown through the streets by around 30,000 participants!

Maine Lobster Festival: Rockland, United States

This festival has been running for 60 years and is still one the world’s most popular food festivals. Literally thousands of lobsters are boiled in the world’s largest steamer to feed the hungry crowds. Contestants compete for the Crustacean Cup as they race across lobster crates in the Great International Lobster Crate Race.

Hokitika Wild Food Festival: New Zealand

This wild event takes place on New Zealand’s south island. It is an event for the bravest of foodies. Some of the fare you can expect to sample at this event include sheep’s testicles (mountain oysters), chocolate covered huhu grubs and magpie pies. For the more discerning foodie there is delicious home-cured bacon and rhubarb wine to be enjoyed.

The Crave Sydney International Food Festival: Sydney, Australia

Each October is foodie month in Sydney and the Crave Festival draws international chefs along with visitors wanting to sample some of the best Australian fine dining. Combine some seriously fabulous food with Sydney’s tunning harbour views and you have a winning combination for visitors.

So foodies, why not consider a gourmet festival holiday?