Been there, done that!

I am not posting any more about my kitchen travels, there are a million blogs out there about this exact thing. I would recommend this to everyone out there who loves to cook - it is a wonderful experience to try cooking new types of cuisines, and to spend time learning about the different cultures that exist in our world. 

To all you foodies out there, buon appetito!

al Jumhuriyya al Jazā'iriyya ad-Dīmuqrāţiyya ash Sha'biyya

All of a sudden, I've hopped continents.  I was just scouring one of my favourite international cuisine sites, thegutsygourmet.net, looking for a simple dish that was a bit different from what I have been making for the last few weeks.  So, here I am in Algeria!  Oh, what a colourful, storied country, this largest country on the African continent is definitely on my bucket list (if only because of its incredible ancient history).

The dish I encountered as the national dish of Algeria was Saffron & Raisin Couscous.  I had only made couscous a few times before, and was never terribly impressed with it, but I did really like this version.  To quote a line from an old show the kids used to watch, "couscous, the food that's so nice, they named it twice".  Well, that was indeed the case for this recipe.  Sadly, I can't find the Algerian African or Berber phrase equivalent for bon appetit.

I like the idea of making and eating foods that would more likely be eaten by the average citizen of the country I am "visiting".  Since we haven't had an opportunity to travel there, this is a way for the kids and I to experience  at least a taste of each country.

Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh

The People's Republic of Bangladesh is a small country, bordered by India & Myanmar/Burma.  While it shares some of the history and culture of India, there is frequently tension between the two countries.  Bangladesh is apparently the 8th most populated country in the world, & the most densely populated large country, impressive stats in the population arena!  The country is plagued by floods and frequent cyclones, unfortunately.  For my culinary trip here, I made a Chicken Korma, a dish which was clearly influenced by its North-East Indian and Middle Eastern neighbours.  It was a simple, tasty meal, we definitely enjoyed it!

Su Tripti

Bhārat Gaṇarājya

Indian cuisine is so very diverse, I couldn't really find a single national dish.  Rather, I found an incredible variety of dishes, as varied as the regions from which they originated.  I thoroughly enjoyed my research, the history and culture of the country is as colourful and fascinating as its cuisine.  I must say, I'll never be bored again - once I finish the initial world tour, I'll be able to go back to many of the countries and spend time exploring their regional cuisines!  I do love Indian cuisine, so it was difficult to decide what to make.  In the end, I made Chicken Biryani, a simple and delicious introductory taste to the country's cuisine.

Sukh bhojan!

Pyidaunzu Thanmăda Myăma Nainngandaw

We're back!!!  After a wonderful trip along the west coast of North America, we are back home and ready to explore the culinary world.  

Burma, or the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country that is home to a great deal of international controversy.  Apparently, it has the worst-performing health care system in the world, and it is plagued by reports of "consistent and systematic human rights violations".  While it may not be top on my list of countries to visit, that does not mean that its culinary identity isn't worth exploring.  It's a bit like the Olympics, where politics and sport are, for the most part, separated as much as possible.  So, the same idea holds true for me here, the political climate of the country won't be a factor in my culinary world tour (though it may be subject to comment, lol)!

So, for Burma/Myanmar, I made Mohinga, which is considered to be the national dish.  It is a fish soup, with rice noodles, and is absolutely delicious!  It is quite a simple dish to make, and it is so very tasty - I would definitely make it again.  But much to my consternation, I cannot find a Burmese equivalent to "bon appetit".  The closest phrase I could find means "I am hungry", which will just have to do!

Nga bite sa de!

Summer Vacation Hiatus

Well, I am off to enjoy some first-hand encounters with various regional North American cuisine, so I won't be doing my usual weekly culinary visits for a bit.  I'll be back in August!  Until then,

cin cin

Hanguk

Korea, a country divided.  Again, the country I chose is one which is torn apart by war.  This particular country has been divided in two, and continues to be the sight of much military strife.  My searches for information and pictures brought up disturbing images of soldiers and wounded civilians.  There is a huge cultural divide between North and South Korea, but when it comes to food, it appears that Kimchee is a unanimous choice, so it was clear that it had to be on our menu for tonight.  However, because the dish has to marinate for several days, I didn't make it myself.  I did manage to find a Korean grocer in the city, which apparently is well known amongt the Korean community for its homemade kimchee.  Along with the Kimchee, we had some Pulgogi, a beef dish, and the ubiquitous rice.  I also made a Chap Ch'ae, which is a chicken and noodle dish.  Sesame oil was used to season both of the meat dishes, and they were absolutely delicious as a result!

                   jal meogeosseumnida