ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
The earthquake of September 2011 shut down New Zealand's production of its beloved Marmite, manufactured by Sanitarium Health Food Company in a Christchurch facility that was severely damaged. There was a collective despair when Marmite suddenly became scarce, Sanitarium going so far as to urge Kiwis to use it sparingly, even rationing it. That was... Continue Reading →
It sort of looks like a latté, except that the surface of the beverage is shinier rather than foamy. The flavor is strongly espresso-like, the milk seeming to play an almost minor role. This is New Zealand's flat white, which my wife who appreciates milky coffee drinks became enamored of when she first tasted it... Continue Reading →
New Zealand might be associated with the kiwi, but for my money, there are two that are much more appealing, more exotic even, than the fuzzy fruit. While both passionfruit and feijoa are not native to New Zealand, they both have adapted well to its climate and developed industries that make the island nation an... Continue Reading →
A cookie, or biscuit as it's called in New Zealand, that started out as a practical way for Down Under mothers and wives to send spoilage-resistant cookies to their sons and husbands on the front lines of World War I, is arguably the iconic cookie of New Zealand and Australia. My first taste of the... Continue Reading →
Air New Zealand has a Premium Economy (PE) class that the airline touted as a significant step forward in comfort and service for economy passengers when introduced in 2010. Is it worth the more-than-double fare over economy? On a flight between Los Angeles and Auckland, my wife and I upgraded to PE. I’ll explain how below.... Continue Reading →
Maybe it's because I'm noticing it more, but the Mexican entrée known as molcajete has been appearing on more menus. Aside from being a stone kitchen tool for grinding food products, it is also the name of a kind of preparation typically served in the bowl itself. I've said before, the best one I ever had... Continue Reading →
We arrived at LAX just before the noon hour. The cacophony and immensity of the airport easily dwarf those of Sea-Tac which we left a few hours before, the warm and sunny weather in Southern California being a fair exchange for Seattle's current spate of rainstorms and relative chill. My wife's sister and her good... Continue Reading →
Is it possible that Tamarind Tree is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle? One might be tempted to say so after patronizing it. And why is it that it doesn't come up in culinary conversations as much as, say, Green Leaf, which many do regard as without equal in these parts? One reason could be... Continue Reading →
Congee is a rice porridge served throughout most of Asia. Owing to its easy digestibility, it's usually given to people who aren't feeling well—chicken soup of the East, so to speak. It typically is made by adding a small amount of rice to plenty of water and cooked anywhere from half an hour to several hours,... Continue Reading →
The tendency for most of us is to keep produce in the bags or containers in which we bring them home from the market. I mean, who wants to fuss with fruits and vegetables when they're ready to be put away, right? Over the years, all I did was transfer produce from shopping bag to... Continue Reading →
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