Egypt is known for many things – the birthplace of civilization, early forms of communication, inventing board games! – but sadly, culinary prowess is not among them. Bread, beans, rice, and meat abound. Koshari, a gut bomb of rice, lentils, and pasta, is considered by some to be its national dish… street food of the highest order, and not normally found … Read More
Reindeer and Lingonberries, but not a Meatball in Sight
Gothenburg, Sweden, is one of these Scandi towns on the cutting edge of New Nordic cuisine. Tasting menus abound, and Michelin stars are scattered about this coastal city like snowflakes. But for those of us without the time or the budget (and when working on deadline, who does have those things?) for a seven-course extravaganza of seaferns and pickled mussels … Read More
Snacks along the Railroad Tracks in Hungary
We all take comfort in food, and in the sharing of food. Perk up a sad day; Celebrate a happy one. Share a meal to show you care; Hand out some sweets to put a smile on someone’s face. It’s the Italian grandmother way of doing things: food equals love. It’s the easiest, basest way in which we interact. The … Read More
On a Greek Island, Catering to Tourists while Refugees Abound
It has been a tough year for Greece. Economic crises, political drama, and just as tourist season began — the one bright financial light for many islanders — a refugee problem of biblical proportions. Every day on the island of Lesvos, rubber rafts careen onto its shores, stuffed to the brim with refugees from Syria and Iraq. They board in … Read More
Food Under Financial Fire: Eatin’ in Athens
It’s a rare day when I find myself on the road for work with neither headscarf nor flak jacket — but reporting on the Greek financial crisis was an excellent change of pace. Light clothes, sandals, tap water I could drink, street food I could eat… all without fear of dysentery or gunshots. I had many excellent dishes in Athens, … Read More