Opening the Door to Porto
Portugal’s second-largest city has plenty to offer - including a slower pace, cooler temperatures and seemingly limitless dining and shopping options.
Read MoreFiltering by Tag: food
Ukraine: a foodie paradise
Looking for a quick foodie holiday? Ukraine is the undiscovered country that will cause your friends to say, “Come again? Where is that?” and look at your pictures with envy. The food is by turns inventive and inexpensive, creative and delicious.
Read MoreTop Tips for Staying Fit on Vacation
Whether you are journeying thousands of miles from home, or staying put in ‘stay-cation’ mode, our fitness and nutrition expert Yevgenia Baranska shares some indispensable tips.
Read MoreAn Alpine Star is Re-born in British Columbia’s Okanagan
Savvy traveller Mark Sissons travelled to Canada’s Okanagan region and discovered a ski resort that offers a myriad of winter activities, F&B options and fun.
Read MoreFocus on In-Flight Wellness Lifts Air New Zealand Even Higher
A pioneer in ultra-longhaul flights, Air New Zealand is aiming for new frontiers to make flying a healthier and more comfortable experience
Read MoreEnchanting Quebec City
Quebec City is an ancient turreted town on the icy banks of the St Lawrence River. Savvy Traveller Anabel Dean explores...
Read MoreStaying in Tip Top Shape on Vacation
Maintaining your fitness regime on vacation can be extremely challenging. Health and fitness coach Yevgenia Baranska parts with some savvy advice on how to stay in tip-top shape on the road.
Read MoreNice: A cultural clash of the finest kind
Nice - the perfect blend of French perfection and Italian chill! Travel writer Shannon Melnyk shares her gems from this beautiful, seaside resort.
Read MoreIn Beijing? Then it's Peking Duck!
One of our Savvy Angels hits the Chinese capital to search for the duck dish named after the city. Hard to find, but worth the journey!
Read MoreParis for Foodies
Well- known chefs like Julia Child and Disney Pixar star Ratatouille got their culinary training in Paris at some of the best restaurants and schools. But you don’t have to head to the most well known establishments in the city of lights to get the crème de la crème. Here are a couple of ideas to taste your way through one of the most renowned culinary cities in the world, that will satisfy taste buds, help you blend in with the locals, and take you down the road less traveled.
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Table for One
I do like traveling alone and I've never let a lack of a traveling companion stop me from grabbing my suitcase and heading for the airport. But sometimes, I have to admit, it do feel a little less than enthusiastic about being that girl alone at the table.
Read MoreChasing Value for Money in Miami
A destination for the international jet setter crowd, Miami Beach is struggling to deliver value for money these days. Find out why and where to enjoy good value.
Read MoreAn American Shopping Mall a Step Above The Rest
the Bal Harbour Shops is near Miami Beach. This is a chic, 450,000 square feet shopping paradise where the black card rules!
Read More1001 Arabian Nights - in Vancouver
In what we consider an ambitious move, our friends at the Shangri-La Vancouver have launched a one-month, hotel-wide promotion to highlight and celebrate all things Middle Eastern. Called 1001 Nights, the promotion brings authentic spa treatments from the Middle East, traditional live Arabic music, beverages and cuisine from Lebanon and a souk (market) to the lobby of the hotel.
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Kitchen Swapping
Those of us who are foodies can appreciate the difficulty acclimating to a friend's kitchen. Well, imagine the complex challenges of taking over an entire restaurant for the day and serving a multi-course meal to a group of critical food and travel writers, as well as paying guests. That's exactly what we witnessed last week as the management, chefs and front-of-house staff of Whistler's celebrated Bearfoot Bistro descended from the alpine heights to relatively balmy downtown Vancouver to take over MARKET by Jean-Georges
Read MoreA Touch of Turkey in Qatar
By Zehra Fattah
The Sharq Village & Spa (operated by Ritz-Carlton) had a great kick off for the Turkish food festival at its famous Al Livan restaurant .
Some of the delights at the opening the Turkish festival at the Sharq Village. Photo: Zehra Fattah
The Turkish Ambassador to Qatar, Hon. Ahmet Demirok and his family were guests of honour on this great occasion.
Politics, the relationship between the Arab countries and Turkey, and the increase in tourism in Turkey were among the many subjects that brought together a great group of attendees at this lovely gathering.
Renowned chefs, Erol Sen and Mehmet Akif Aksoy, are exclusively flown in to prepare special dishes - including ciğ köfte (lean minced meat kneaded with grinded wheat (ince bulgur), onion, tomato or red pepper paste and spices like cumin, paprika, pepper, mint, coriander, cinnamon), grilled lamb chops, lahmacun (a round, thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and minced vegetables and herbs including onions, tomatoes and parsley, then baked) and Turkish pizza.
The Sharq Village & Spa describes Turkish cuisine this way:
"Heavily influenced by classical Ottoman cooking, modern Turkish cuisine can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan flavors and techniques. It has, in turn, influenced those and other neighboring cuisines, including that of Western Europe.
Turkish cooking varies hugely from region to region: for instance, chefs along the Black Sea coastline use fish extensively, while the Southeast of the country is famous for its kebabs and dough-based desserts such as Baklava. In the West, where olive trees are abundant, the use of olive oil predominates, while the Marmara and Mediterranean regions are rich in vegetables, herbs and fish."
Says Savvy Angel, Zehra Fattah, who is being hosted by the Sharq Village & Spa: "The last time I had Turkish food this delicious it was prepared by my mother!"
A night filled with inspiring conversions, authentic Turkish cuisine in a setting which couldn't have been better for such an event.
The Turkish Food Festival runs until Nov. 1. See our review of Al Liwan by clicking here.
A desert item at the festival opening. Credit: Sharq Village & Spa
Top Bakeries in Paris
Tradition and innovation go hand in hand at Du Pain et des Idées, where visitors can choose old-fashioned specialties or new spins on classic favourites. Photo: Four Seasons
It’s not hard to find a great bakery in Paris. Every one of the 20 arrondissements has an endless assortment of boulangeries and pâtisseries where you can score perfectly chewy baguettes, flaky, butter-laden croissants, and window-perched eclairs, gateaux and tarts so intricate and beautiful they’ll stop you in your tracks and pull you inside. But not all bakeries are worth the voyage. Here’s a look at four of the best.
Read MoreParis for Foodies: Eating Your Way Through..On a Road Less Travelled
Photo: Olivia Michaels
Well- known chefs like Julia Child and Disney Pixar star Ratatouille got their culinary training in Paris at some of the best restaurants and schools. But you don’t have to head to the most well known establishments in the city of lights to get the crème de la crème. Here are some ideas to taste your way through one of the most renowned culinary cities in the world, that will satisfy taste buds, help you blend in with the locals, and take you down the road less traveled.
Read MoreSushi Networking: New Concept Being Exported Globally From South Africa
A unique idea generated in South Africa by Digital Media Specialist Marianna Boguslavsky, brought together a group of professionals from different business sectors, sharing not only an evening in a highly classy atmosphere but also many creative ideas to network and support each others business ventures.
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