Kategori: Pro Tips

5 Makanan Yang Harganya Sangat Mahal

5 Makanan Yang Harganya sangat mahal biasanya karena langka, dan berasal dari sumber yang sangat ekslusif. Harga mewah alias masakan kelas atas masih terus meningkat pada tahun 2023.

Bahkan, beberapa di antaranya bisa berharga ribuan atau bahkan jutaan dolar US. Berikut adalah nama-nama makanan termahal di dunia saat ini yang memiliki harga yang fantastis.

5 Makanan Termahal Di Dunia Dan Juga Viral 2023.

Berikut adalah daftar 5 makanan termahal dunia saat ini :

1. Caviar Almas (Kaviar Putih)

Saat ini Kaviar almas adalah makanan termahal di dunia 2023 yang harganya US$34.500 per kilogram atau sekitar Rp 531 juta kilogram (asumsi dollar Rp 15.400).

2. Daging Kobe Wagyu

Daging Kobe Adalah salah satu jenis daging sapi permium khusus yang berasal dari sapi Wagyu. Secara harfiah, wagyu berarti ” sapi Jepang”.

Daging sapi kobe harganya bisa US$ 76 atau Rp 1,17 juta satu ons dan bisa lebih mahal lagi ketika berada di restoran. Supaya daging bisa disebut sebagai Kobe, sapi tersebut harus dilahirkan, dibesarkan, hingga diproses di Prefektur Hyogo Jepang, Jepang Barat.

Makanan Termahal

 

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3. Bluefin Tuna (Tuna Sirip Biru)

Di Jepang, tuna sirip biru menjadi makanan pokok masakan sushi dan sashimi. Tuna ini punya rasa seperti mentega, kaya rasa, dan tekstur lembut.

Pada Januari 2023 di Tokyo, seekor bluefin tuna dengan berat 212 dijual lelang seharga US$ 273.000 atau Rp 4,2 miliar, setara dengan US$ 1.287 per kilo atau Rp 19,8 jutaan.

Sayangnya, adanya penangkapan ikan yang berlebihan di Samudera Atlantik, Pasifik, dan Hindia telah membuat tuna sirip biru kini menjadi spesies yang terancam punah.

4. Saffron

Merupakan rempah yang terbuat dari kepala putik bunga crocus saffron yang di keringkan. Saffron punya rasa dan aroma khas seperti perpaduan bunga, madu dan sedikit pahit.

Untuk jenis rempah, saffron punya harga jual fantastis yakni US$ 10-20 per gram atau Rp 154-308 ribu per gram. Biasanya ditanam di Iran dan telah menjadi bahan umum dalam masakan Spanyol, Iran, Maroko, dan India.

5. Italian White Alba Truffles

Makanan termahal kedua di dunia yaitu truffle alba putih Italia. Harganya bisa mencapai lebih dari US$ 250 atau Rp 3,8 juta satu ons.

Truffle alba menjadi makanan mahal, karena sangat langka, ia hanya tumbuh di wilayah Piedmont Italia dan hanya muncul selama beberapa bulan setiap tahun.

Truffle sendiri merupakan spora sejenis jamur bawah tanah yang bisa dimakan. Makanan ini punya rasa perpaduan antara sedikit rasa kayu ek dan bawang putih.

The Best Mexican Restaurants in London

The Best Mexican Restaurants in London

https://prescottmediacenter.org/ – London’s ever-growing Mexican food scene offers far more than platefuls of tortilla chips heaped with salsa, guacamole and jalapeños and smothered in gooey cheese. You’ll get incredible nachos if you want them, but there’s also quality quesadillas, tip-top tostadas and exemplary enchiladas on offer across town. You’ll find all these and more at London’s very best Mexican restaurants.

1. Kol

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Marylebone

A seasonal Mexican restaurant and the first permanent venture from ‘Nomadic chef’ Santiago Lastra, Kol was the highest placed UK joint in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2023 list. Not bad going. Inside this modern Marylebone restaurant you’ll find super seasonal British produce and ‘wild food’. You will, of course, have to book pretty far in advance to secure a hallowed table.

Photo: Breddos Tacos

2. Breddos Tacos

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Clerkenwell
  • price 2 of 4

Breddos keep things casual to suit what is ultimately still street food. A custom-made wood grill adds rustic charm. Tacos remain its strong suit, but try the seafood tostadas too, which team the crunch of tortilla shells with punchy cross-continental flavours.

3. Cavita

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Marylebone

Growing up between Mexico City and a small village in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, chef Adriana Cavita is at the helm, bringing with her an impressive resumé that includes stints at Mexico City’s much-lauded Pujol, often called the best restaurant in the city, and Spain’s mythical El Bulli by superstar chef Ferran Adrià. At Cavita, the vibe is decidedly more laidback. There’s more focus on winning over a local crowd with a damn good time than winning over critics and scoring Michelin stars, but the dishes are anything but simple.

4. El Pastor

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Borough
  • price 2 of 4

If you need cheering up, head down to this Mexican hideaway beneath the arches by Borough Market. Owned by the Hart brothers (of Barrafina fame), Pastor is a taco joint with pedigree and a rollicking fiesta vibe. Order the mighty Pastor pork taco, the DIY short rib or the gringa quesadillas with fresh salsas and a blast of loud Latin music.

5. Casa Pastor

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4

If tacos are your thing, look no further than Casa P, the newest addition to the El Pastor family. Punters can expect fresh tortillas made in house daily, plated up alongside a bevy of aguachiles and tostadas. You’ll find a selection of fillings to pile into your shells, from chipotle chicken (our fave) to baja fish (battered goujons, slaw and salsa) and veggie options.

6. Club Mexicana, Spitalfields

  • Restaurants
  • Vegan
  • Spitalfields
  • price 2 of 4

Fun, lively and totally vegan, this branch of Club Mexicana is the biggest yet. Enjoy chef and founder Meriel Armitage’s unique plant-based take on tacos, nachos and burritos – as well as a giant mirror ball and iconic frozen margs. Read our review of the Kingly Court location here.

7. Zapote

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Shoreditch
  • price 2 of 4

Zapote serves punchy meat and elegant seafood dishes from the mind of chef Yahir Gonzalez. It’s something he does extremely well, serving up duck quesadillas with a gooey smoked chipotle jelly, scallop ceviche, beef tartare taco with roasted bone marrow and charred octopus. The ‘save room for dessert’ trope is total a cliche, but at Zapote you would be a fool not to, especially if the pistachio doughnut with morello cherry jam is on.

8. Daddy Donkey

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Holborn
  • price 1 of 4

Billed as a ‘kick-ass Mexican grill’, one-time street stall Daddy Donkey has morphed into a permanent behemoth among Leather Lane’s cheap handbags, shoes and CDs. Try a naked burrito (sans tortilla) or the signature Daddy D with a choice of five fillings.

9. Del74

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Dalston
  • price 1 of 4

Del74’s Dalston outpost prides itself on its no-fuss Mexican fare that ‘keeps it simple, keeps it real’. It sports kitschy ’70s-inspired decor and the menu’s modest but appealing. Go for the tangy guacamole, which comes with a hearty helping of homemade tortilla chips, or try the cochinita pibil, a braised leg of pork topped with fresh avo and red pickled onions that’s a fiesta in your mouth.

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10. DF Tacos

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Brick Lane

DF stands for Mexico City’s Distrito Federal, but this affordable, mass-market pleaser couldn’t be more London – and fashion-conscious with it. All the trademarks are here: strikingly modern design, cheery staff and Mexican fast food with a hipster spin. Open tacos hit the spot, as do the pork pibil tortas – a trendy Mex riff on the burger.

11. Santo Remedio

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • London Bridge
  • price 2 of 4

Simply brilliant. Low-lit, inviting and spread over two floors, it seduces punters with easy-listening Latin grooves, flickering tea lights, and some inspired food – guacamole sprinkled with tiny grasshoppers, hibiscus flower quesadillas and enchiladas and 12-hour slow-cooked smoky beef tacos. There are punishing shots of mezcal too.

12. Taqueria

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Notting Hill

Taqueria has a charming indie feel with its bare wood floors, film posters, Latin soundtrack and unfussy food. Quesadillas are the big hits (try the version with home-cured chorizo), but there are also a few tostadas (including one with a classic ceviche twist) and the usual suspects on the side. Drink Mexican beer, mezcal and tequila, or stay sober with a cooling aguas frescas.

The Nutrition Source

The Nutrition Source

Nutrition and Immunity

During the flu season or times of illness, people often seek special foods or vitamin supplements that are believed to boost immunity. Vitamin C and foods like citrus fruits, chicken soup, and tea with honey are popular examples. Yet the design of our immune system is complex and influenced by an ideal balance of many factors, not just diet, and especially not by any one specific food or nutrient. However, a balanced diet consisting of a range of vitamins and minerals, combined with healthy lifestyle factors like adequate sleep and exercise and low stress, most effectively primes the body to fight infection and disease.

What Is Our Immune System?

On a daily basis, we are constantly exposed to potentially harmful microbes of all sorts. Our immune system, a network of intricate stages and pathways in the body, protects us against these harmful microbes as well as certain diseases. It recognizes foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites and takes immediate action. Humans possess two types of immunity: innate and adaptive.

Innate immunity is a first-line defense from pathogens that try to enter our bodies, achieved through protective barriers. These barriers include:

  • Skin that keeps out the majority of pathogens
  • Mucus that traps pathogens
  • Stomach acid that destroys pathogens
  • Enzymes in our sweat and tears that help create anti-bacterial compounds
  • Immune system cells that attack all foreign cells entering the body

Adaptive or acquired immunity is a system that learns to recognize a pathogen. It is regulated by cells and organs in our body like the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. When a foreign substance enters the body, these cells and organs create antibodies and lead to multiplication of immune cells (including different types of white blood cells) that are specific to that harmful substance and attack and destroy it. Our immune system then adapts by remembering the foreign substance so that if it enters again, these antibodies and cells are even more efficient and quick to destroy it.

Other conditions that trigger an immune response

Antigens are substances that the body labels as foreign and harmful, which triggers immune cell activity. Allergens are one type of antigen and include grass pollen, dust, food components, or pet hair. Antigens can cause a hyper-reactive response in which too many white cells are released. People’s sensitivity to antigens varies widely. For example, an allergy to mold triggers symptoms of wheezing and coughing in a sensitive individual but does not trigger a reaction in other people.

Inflammation is an important, normal step in the body’s innate immune response. When pathogens attack healthy cells and tissue, a type of immune cell called mast cells counterattack and release proteins called histamines, which cause inflammation. Inflammation may generate pain, swelling, and a release of fluids to help flush out the pathogens. The histamines also send signals to discharge even more white blood cells to fight pathogens. However, prolonged inflammation can lead to tissue damage and may overwhelm the immune system.

Autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes are partly hereditary and cause hypersensitivity in which immune cells attack and destroy healthy cells.

Immunodeficiency disorders can depress or completely disable the immune system, and may be genetic or acquired. Acquired forms are more common and include AIDS and cancers like leukemia and multiple myeloma. In these cases, the body’s defenses are so reduced that a person becomes highly susceptible to illness from invading pathogens or antigens.

What factors can depress our immune system?

  • Older age: As we age, our internal organs may become less efficient; immune-related organs like the thymus or bone marrow produce less immune cells needed to fight off infections. Aging is sometimes associated with micronutrient deficiencies, which may worsen a declining immune function.
  • Environmental toxins (smoke and other particles contributing to air pollution, excessive alcohol): These substances can impair or suppress the normal activity of immune cells.
  • Excess weight: Obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Fat tissue produces adipocytokines that can promote inflammatory processes. [1] Research is early, but obesity has also been identified as an independent risk factor for the influenza virus, possibly due to the impaired function of
  • T-cells, a type of white blood cell. [2]
    Poor diet: Malnutrition or a diet lacking in one or more nutrients can impair the production and activity of immune cells and antibodies.
  • Chronic diseases: Autoimmune and immunodeficiency disorders attack and potentially disable immune cells.
  • Chronic mental stress: Stress releases hormones like cortisol that suppresses inflammation (inflammation is initially needed to activate immune cells) and the action of white blood cells.
  • Lack of sleep and rest: Sleep is a time of restoration for the body, during which a type of cytokine is released that fights infection; too little sleep lowers the amount of these cytokines and other immune cells.

Does an Immune-Boosting Diet Exist?

Eating enough nutrients as part of a varied diet is required for the health and function of all cells, including immune cells. Certain dietary patterns may better prepare the body for microbial attacks and excess inflammation, but it is unlikely that individual foods offer special protection. Each stage of the body’s immune response relies on the presence of many micronutrients. Examples of nutrients that have been identified as critical for the growth and function of immune cells include vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein (including the amino acid glutamine). [3,4] They are found in a variety of plant and animal foods.

Diets that are limited in variety and lower in nutrients, such as consisting primarily of ultra-processed foods and lacking in minimally processed foods, can negatively affect a healthy immune system. It is also believed that a Western diet high in refined sugar and red meat and lowThe Microbiome in fruits and vegetables can promote disturbances in healthy intestinal microorganisms, resulting in chronic inflammation of the gut, and associated suppressed immunity. [5] The Nutrition Source

The microbiome is an internal metropolis of trillions of microorganisms or microbes that live in our bodies, mostly in the intestines. It is an area of intense and active research, as scientists are finding that the microbiome plays a key role in immune function. The gut is a major site of immune activity and the production of antimicrobial proteins. [6,7] The diet plays a large role in determining what kinds of microbes live in our intestines. A high-fiber plant-rich diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes appear to support the growth and maintenance of beneficial microbes. Certain helpful microbes break down fibers into short chain fatty acids, which have been shown to stimulate immune cell activity. These fibers are sometimes called prebiotics because they feed microbes. Therefore, a diet containing probiotic and prebiotic foods may be beneficial. Probiotic foods contain live helpful bacteria, and prebiotic foods contain fiber and oligosaccharides that feed and maintain healthy colonies of those bacteria.

  • Probiotic foods include kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, fermented vegetables, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, and miso.
  • Prebiotic foods include garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, bananas, and seaweed. However, a more general rule is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains for dietary prebiotics.

Do Vitamin or Herbal Supplements Help?

A deficiency of single nutrients can alter the body’s immune response. Animal studies have found that deficiencies in zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, D, and E can alter immune responses. [8] These nutrients help the immune system in several ways: working as an antioxidant to protect healthy cells, supporting growth and activity of immune cells, and producing antibodies. Epidemiological studies find that those who are poorly nourished are at greater risk of bacterial, viral, and other infections.

Eating a good quality diet, as depicted by the Healthy Eating Plate, can prevent deficiencies in these nutrients. However, there are certain populations and situations in which one cannot always eat a variety of nutritious foods, or who have increased nutrient needs. In these cases a vitamin and mineral supplement may help to fill nutritional gaps. Studies have shown that vitamin supplementation can improve immune responses in these groups. [8-10] Low-income households, pregnant and lactating women, infants and toddlers, and the critically ill are examples of groups at risk.

The elderly are a particularly high-risk group. The immune response generally declines with increasing age as the number and quality of immune cells decreases. This causes a higher risk of poorer outcomes if the elderly develop chronic or acute diseases. In addition, about one-third of elderly in industrialized countries have nutrient deficiencies. [8] Some reasons include a poorer appetite due to chronic diseases, depression, or loneliness; multiple medications that can interfere with nutrient absorption and appetite; malabsorption due to intestinal issues; and increased nutrient needs due to hypermetabolic states with acute or chronic conditions. Diet variety may also be limited due to budget constraints or lower interest in cooking for one person; poor dentition; mental impairment; or lack of transportation and community resources to obtain healthy food.

A general multivitamin/mineral supplement providing the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) may be used in these cases, unless otherwise directed by one’s physician. Megadose supplements (many times the RDA) do not appear justified, and can sometimes be harmful or even suppress the immune system (e.g., as with zinc). Remember that vitamin supplements should not be considered a substitute for a good diet because no supplements contain all the benefits of healthful foods.

Herbals

Several herbal supplements have been suggested to boost immune function. What does the research say?

  • Echinacea: Cell studies have shown that echinacea can destroy influenza viruses, but limited research in humans has been inconclusive in determining echinacea’s active components. Taking echinacea after catching a cold has not been shown to shorten its duration, but taking it while healthy may offer a small chance of protection from catching a cold. [11,12]
  • Garlic: The active ingredient in garlic, allicin sativum, is proposed to have antiviral and antimicrobial effects on the common cold, but high-quality clinical trials comparing garlic supplements to placebo are lacking. A Cochrane review identified only one trial of reasonable quality following 146 participants. Those taking the garlic supplement for 3 months had fewer occurrences of the common cold than those taking a placebo, but after contracting the cold virus, both groups had a similar duration of illness. [13] Note that these findings are from a single trial, which needs to be replicated.
  • Tea catechins: Cell studies have shown that tea catechins such as those found in green tea can prevent flu and some cold viruses from replicating and can increase immune activity. Human trials are still limited. Two randomized controlled trials found that green tea capsules produced less cold/flu symptoms or incidence of flu than a placebo; however both studies were funded or had author affiliations with tea industries. [14]

8 Steps to Help Support a Healthy Immune System

  1. Eat a balanced diet with whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of water. A Mediterranean Diet is one option that includes these types of foods.
  2. If a balanced diet is not readily accessible, taking a multivitamin containing the RDA for several nutrients may be used.
  3. Don’t smoke (or stop smoking if you do).
  4. Drink alcohol in moderation.
  5. Perform moderate regular exercise.
  6. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep nightly. Try to keep a sleep schedule, waking up and going to bed around the same time each day. Our body clock, or circadian rhythm, regulates feelings of sleepiness and wakefulness, so having a consistent sleep schedule maintains a balanced circadian rhythm so that we can enter deeper, more restful sleep.
  7. Aim to manage stress. This is easier said than done, but try to find some healthy strategies that work well for you and your lifestyle—whether that be exercise, meditation, a particular hobby, or talking to a trusted friend. Another tip is to practice regular, conscious breathing throughout the day and when feelings of stress arise. It doesn’t have to be long—even a few breaths can help. If you’d like some guidance, try this short mindful breathing exercise.
  8. Wash hands throughout the day: when coming in from outdoors, before and after preparing and eating food, after using the toilet, after coughing or blowing your nose.

Related

Diet Review: Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Irish Food: 12 Traditional Dishes to Look For in Ireland

Irish Food: 12 Traditional Dishes to Look For in Ireland

When reflecting on the most delicious and recognized cuisines from around the globe, Ireland is rarely, if ever, mentioned.

Ireland, of course, is most known for its majestically rugged landscape, fetching folk music, and mouth watering ales. But there is a world of delightful dishes that are part of the history and traditions of the Emerald Isle. Irish food is hearty and comforting, with a familiarity and humbleness to it that makes many dishes both charming and irresistibly delicious!

If you ever find yourself traversing through this breathlessly beautiful country, here are just twelve of the traditional Irish foods you will want to make certain you try before you leave!

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL IRISH FOOD?

Traditional Irish food is simple but hearty. Ireland is home to an abundance of locally grown produce and fresh fish and seafood caught from the surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Bread and potatoes form an important part of the Irish diet. Bread usually accompanies the main meal while potatoes have been an important part of Irish cuisine since the 18th century. It can be prepared in a number of ways and continues to feature prominently in many traditional Irish recipes.

Ireland is not rich in fruit but it does have a thriving meat and dairy industry. Its temperate climate allows pastures to grow grass for about ten months a year making it an ideal place to raise cattle, sheep, and pigs.

THE BEST TRADITIONAL IRISH DISHES

1. Irish Stew

Meat and potatoes are likely the two foods that come to mind when thinking of Ireland. And, nothing reflects the warmth and homegrown comfort like a good old hearty Irish stew.

Made with what most Irish would find in their pantry or growing in their garden all tossed into one single pot, Irish beef stew is a simple yet satisfying meal that’ll fill the belly and warm the soul. It’s one of those foods that can bring you back to another place and time with each spoonful.

With a base of root vegetables and beef, it’s the perfect dish to make in the dead of winter or on a cold and rainy spring day.

2. Irish Soda Bread

The number of variations on the recipe for Irish soda bread will likely match the number of families in Ireland. Starting off with the base recipe, added twists and ingredients have resulted in an endless variety of breads that vary from family to family and even between generations.

And, even though it’s bread, there’s no yeast in the recipe, and most recipes will traditionally call for golden raisins and dried cranberries. Other variations can include dashes of honey, sugar, bran, and even Guinness, just to name a few.

A mainstay on the Irish dinner table, you’ll find Irish soda bread best served straight out of the oven or day-old toasted with butter.

3. Colcannon and Champ

Potatoes once again take center stage, this time in their creamy mashed rendition alongside cabbage and spring onions. It’s a classic comfort food – creamy, buttery and plentiful. And, adding bacon to this traditional Irish dish only elevates it to the level of unavoidably irresistible.

How is this dish even better than your run of the mill mashed potato? How about a generous dollop of butter sat right in the middle, slowly melting its way down. Much like Irish Soda Bread, every family seems to have their own rendition of this Irish classic.

4. Shepherd’s Pie

Perhaps one of the most well known Irish dishes, Shepherd’s Pie is typically made with a layer of ground beef or lamb with vegetables and topped with creamy whipped mashed potatoes, then baked and browned to perfection.

It’s a hearty meal that originated in Scotland as a proper pie, complete with crust rather than potatoes. Once it landed in Ireland, however, they swapped out the pastry for potatoes that are inexpensive and plentiful throughout the country. And, to this day shepherd’s pie is most commonly recognized as being made with mashed potatoes and not pie crust.

It has also become a quite popular way of using up leftovers, as there is really no limit to what vegetables and meats can be combined to prepare the base.

5. Boxty

Once again potatoes make their stand, in yet another delicious rendition.

An amalgamation of raw grated potatoes and mashed potatoes, Boxty is a resourceful way of combining the potatoes already cooked with the potatoes waiting to be cooked. Mix both together into a patty, fry them up and top the potato pancake with a dollop of sour cream and a generous sprinkling of spring onions.

Traditionally, boxty is paired with bacon and fried eggs, but they can hold their own just fine when presented as a solo offering. Served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between; there’s never a wrong time of day to enjoy this Irish potato pancake!

6. Barmbrack

Barmbrack, commonly shortened to “brack”, is most often associated with Halloween but can be enjoyed any time throughout the year.

At Halloween, however, it’s baked with a little extra surprise in the form of trinkets and coins mixed into the dough. Be lucky enough to grab a slice with a coin, and you’re destined to find wealth in the year ahead; Find a ring, and you can start planning to walk down the aisle.

Made with juicy raisins or dried fruits, this sweet loaf is made even more delicious when it’s soaked in tea and whiskey. Enjoy a thick slice of this fortunetelling fruitcake with an afternoon tea.

7. Boiled Bacon and Cabbage

Admittedly, this dish sounds painfully bland and boring, however it’s one of the most popular favorites across the land.

The boiled bacon in this dish isn’t what most people on this side of the pond would recognize as bacon. Salted pork shoulder is the base of the dish, boiled with onions, carrots and herbs and finished off with cabbage for the last ten minutes of boiling.

Finished off with a delicate and creamy parsley sauce, it’s an unexpectedly delicious and traditionally Irish meal – and one that isn’t centered around potatoes and doesn’t even need to see a potato touch the plate.

8. Cured or Smoked Salmon

Cured or smoked salmon is the most popular way to enjoy this protein throughout Ireland. And, it can be found in any meal of the day, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Pair it with scrambled eggs in the morning, atop a salad for lunch or with boxty for dinner. It’s also great just on its own! As the most common type of fish served up in Ireland, salmon is a staple in Irish kitchens.

9. Black and White Pudding

Nope, don’t be deceived, this is not a dessert! But, it is a staple in Irish cuisine. This is actually a type of sausage that is given the name based on whether or not the sausage has been made with blood.

Black pudding – which actually has a purplish hue – is a type of blood sausage while it’s sidekick white pudding is simply made without the blood. Making its appearance more frequently than white pudding, black pudding is often served in a traditional Irish breakfast, both within Ireland and abroad.

10. Honey Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

Although potatoes are the most common root vegetable seen in Irish dishes, it doesn’t mean that other roots can’t make an appearance every now and again!

As a side dish, honey glazed carrots and parsnips go together with meat or fish and are quick, simple and such a yummy combination of sweet and savory. They add a bright pop of color to your plate and provide a healthy pairing alternative.

11. Dublin Coddle

Like shepherd’s pie, the Dublin coddle is a traditional Irish stew that makes use of the week’s leftovers. It’s a working-class Irish dish that gets its name from the gentle simmering or “coddling” of ingredients in a one-pot stew.

There’s no set recipe for coddle though it typically contains rashers (Irish bacon) and pork sausage slowly simmered for hours with potatoes, onions, carrots, and herbs. Often served with soda bread or Irish brown bread to mop up the juices, it’s an inexpensive and filling meal that’s especially popular in winter.

12. Full Irish Breakfast

Many people say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That sentiment clearly isn’t lost on the Irish with this hearty breakfast fit for a king!

Also known as an Irish fry or Ulster fry, a full Irish breakfast is a traditional cooked breakfast in Ireland that contains some or all of the following: rashers, black pudding, white pudding, pork sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, fried eggs, and leftover potatoes. It’s similar to a full English breakfast and is usually served with tea, orange juice, toast, butter, and marmalade.

An absolute feast of a meal, the full Irish breakfast was created for farm workers to fill them up and get them ready for a full day’s work. It was comprised of locally sourced produce and ingredients, all of which were cooked together with butter in a frying pan.

IRISH FOOD TOURS

Short of an Irish chef, no one knows traditional Irish food better than a local, so what better way to experience Irish cuisine than by going on a food tour? A food-obsessed Irish guide will take you to the city’s best restaurants and markets so all you have to do is follow and eat. Check out Get Your Guide for a list of Irish food tours in Dublin and other cities throughout Ireland.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON IRISH FOOD

Fill your plate with any of these irresistible dishes and your heart and soul will instantly be comforted and filled with warmth – and your belly will be filled with the heartiness of Irish tradition.

And, if you ever find yourself wandering across the Irish countryside, exploring the towns and taking in the sights, be sure to include trying at least a few of these traditional Irish foods as a part of your travel plans. It will add even more to your journey, and give you just another reason to fall in love with Ireland even more.

Canadian Food – What to Know and Eat

Canadian Food - What to Know and Eat

Canada is a massive country of diverse cultures, landscapes, languages and histories. Its identity is difficult to define, and the same can be said of its cuisine. In the words of former Canadian prime minister Joe Clark, “Canada has a cuisine of cuisines. Not a stew pot but a smorgasbord.” From the solitary trappers and oil-rig workers living in the country’s far north to the cosmopolitan residents of its big southern cities, every Canadian has his or her own relationship with the country and its food.

The diversity of Canadian cuisine was born from the same disparate influences that formed Canadian culture. The influence of indigenous Canadian cultures, known as First Nations, is still present in today’s food scene, alongside with that of the three major immigrant groups of the 17th and 18th centuries: English, Scottish and French. Add to the mix the subsequent waves of immigration in the 20th and 21st centuries, which brought South American, Asian and Middle Eastern ethnic traditions to Canada, and you start to get an idea of the different flavors acting on the Canadian culinary scene.

What do all these foods have in common, though? To start, they use available ingredients. A common trope in Canadian food is the use of recipes from abroad that have been tweaked to use local products, such as tourtière, a sort of French-originated meat pie that can be cooked with beef, pork or even fish. Illustrating the French influence, much of Canadian cuisine is rich and heavily spiced. It’s also often heavy in carbohydrates, such as bread and potatoes, as well as game meats, such as hare and venison. Unsurprisingly, due to the cold climate, it also features a wide array of soups and stews.

The Dining Experience in Canada

Dining in Canada can be anything you want it to be, from a hearty meal at a homey hotel far from civilization to a modern fusion experience at a swanky cosmopolitan restaurant. Because “Canadian food” is so hard to pin down, it’s best not to go chasing a single idea of what an authentic Canadian dining experience should be. Rather, enjoy your journey, seek out local establishments, and you’ll undoubtedly be happy with your Canadian culinary experience.

In Canada’s major cities, especially Vancouver and Quebec, you’ll find a variety of modern fine dining options. These cities are home to a thriving restaurant scene, and there’s a growing trend to feature locally sourced ingredients and recipes. Beyond fine dining, most of Canada’s major cities are home to thriving street food scenes. The exact genre of food on offer at each rolling establishment depends mostly on the local immigrant population, but you can be sure to find something tasty and cheap.

Outside major cities, many of Canada’s rural areas are now home to a variety of delicious dining experiences. This is thanks to the growing popularity of the farm-to-table movement. Today, in agricultural areas, you can find a meal as good as (or better than!) in the city—and it comes with the pride of supporting local and sustainable business. Of course, some Canadian regions are still metaphorical deserts—or tundras—when it comes to fine dining. There, your best bet is to visit one of Canada’s many homegrown chain restaurants and to indulge in some greasy goodness before your next plate of raw organic greens.

Typical Canadian Dishes

Canadian food varies so widely from region to region that it can be difficult to describe any dish as truly “Canadian.” However, there are some dishes and ingredients every traveler to Canada should try.

● Poutine

A classic French-Canadian delicacy, this dish is concentrated in French Canada but can be found across the country. Consisting of french fries topped with brown gravy and fresh cheese curds, poutine is famous both as a late-night indulgence and as a restorative morning treat. While it was created (and persists) as a fast food indulgence, many top-end Canadian restaurants today will offer their own spruced-up versions, garnishing the humble dish with duck confit, foie gras, sweet potato fries or even lobster.

● Maple Syrup

Maybe the quintessential Canadian delicacy, maple syrup is traditionally served with breakfast, alongside pancakes and bacon, but it can also be used as a sweetener in baked goods, candies or beverages. Canada produces over three-quarters of the world’s supply of this sweet syrup, and it celebrates its maple heritage every year with hundreds of festivals.

● Salmon

From Canada’s indigenous peoples to French Canadians to the Asian and South American immigrants of recent times, there’s hardly a culture in the country that doesn’t make use, in some way, of Canadian salmon. This fish is the backbone of Canadian cuisine, and you’ll find it prepared in a variety of ways: freshly baked, pan fried, smoked or even made into jerky.

● Canadian Chinese

Similar to US Chinese food, Canadian Chinese Food emerged with the arrival of a wave of Cantonese immigrants to the country in the 1800s. Today, it’s quintessential Canadian comfort food. It’s often served to go, and it’s available throughout the country.

Regional Foods and Specialties

Thanks to its massive size, most of Canada’s typical foods are only available in certain regions. Here are some of these regional dishes and where to find them.

● Caribou Stew

Native to the far north of the country, caribou stew is a classic of rural Canadian cooking. Caribou, or reindeer, is not farmed, only hunted, guaranteeing the meat you’re eating comes from a truly wild animal. Its availability can vary season to season, so sometimes you’ll find a similar stew made with moose or venison. The stew typically also includes potatoes, carrots, celery and onion. This makes for a hearty meal—if you can get your mind off Rudolph.

● Saskatoon Berry Jam

Available in the summer months, saskatoon berries are a delicious seasonal treat native to southern Canada. While they most closely resemble blueberries, they’re actually in the same family as apples, and they pack a tart, sweet flavor. From late June to early August, you can find this jam around Canada. If you’re lucky, you might also hit a festival to celebrate picking season.

● Ginger Beef

A famous Canadian-Chinese dish, this one originated in Calgary and is still a local favorite. Beef fried and candied in a sweet ginger sauce, it won’t win any health food awards, but it’s sure to satisfy your cravings.

● Montreal-Style Bagels

This distinctive variation of bagel comes from Montreal, and it differs from typical American bagels in a number of ways. It’s made in a wood-fired oven and, in contrast to sourdough bagels, is made with honey for a sweeter flavor. In some Montreal bagel shops, you can even watch them bake while you eat. Black seed (poppy) or white seed (sesame) are the two classic versions.

● Lobster Rolls

Originating along Canada’s Atlantic coast and available throughout Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, lobster rolls are a classic Canadian summertime snack. Made with lobster, mayonnaise, black pepper and lemon juice and served on anything from a hot dog bun to a pita pocket, Canadian lobster rolls are a delicacy you don’t want to miss.

● Flipper Pie

A traditional delicacy of eastern Canada, flipper pie is what it sounds like: a meat pie made from the flippers of hunted harp seals. It’s available primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador in April and May, which is when the annual seal hunt takes place. The flavor is most often compared to dark meat chicken or rabbit.

● Poutine Râpée

Distinct from classic poutine, this dish comes from Acadia, a culturally separate section of French Canada that has strong ties to Cajun culture. Poutine râpée consists of a potato dumpling stuffed with pork, and it’s traditionally served on Acadian holidays.

● Donair

The official food of Halifax, Nova Scotia, this variation on the classic doner kebab uses sweet donair sauce (condensed milk, vinegar and sugar) in lieu of the usual white sauce. Served mainly as street food and in pizza shops, this Middle Eastern delicacy has taken over Halifax. Give it a try.

Canadian Dining Terms: Glossary

While much of Canada is English speaking, here are a few words to help you out while dining in French Canada.

Words to Know on the Menu

● Beef: Le bœuf

● Chicken: Le poulet

● Veal: Le veau

● Fish: Le poisson

● Cocktail or pre-dinner drink: L’apéritif

● Appetizers: Les entrées

● Main courses: Les plats

Words to Know When Dining Out

● What do you recommend?: Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez?

● I’ll have…: Je vais prendre…

● Where is the bathroom?: Où sont les toilettes?

● The check: L’addition

● It was delicious.: C’était vraiment délicieux.

Tipping Etiquette

Like in the United States, it’s uncommon for restaurants in Canada to include service in the bill. A 15–20 percent tip is expected, but it depends, of course, on the service received.

Dining Etiquette

The Canadian dining experience is largely similar to that of the United States, though you might find some restaurants in French Canada that eat later, or on a more European schedule. Similarly, the workers at most Canadian establishments will not hesitate to bring you the bill once you appear to be done with your meal, but you might find some exceptions to this rule in French-speaking parts.

Want to Know More about Canada?

Read the full “Canada: Travel Guide Overview” here.