Burkina Faso cuisine and other info

BURKINA FASO FOOD & DRINK

Burkinabé cuisine is typical for West Africa, with staple foods including sorghum, millet, rice, maize, nuts, potatoes and yams. Mutton, beef and fish are common ingredients while vegetables are recognizably European, with tomatoes, carrots, onions and spinach being fundamental to the country’s cuisine. In rural areas, meat is often replaced with fish or boiled eggs. Unexpectedly, Burkina Faso is known for its tasty local strawberries. A range of banana varieties play an important part in both savory and sweet dishes. Mangoes, papayas and coconuts (normally sold for their water rather than their flesh) are all ready available on the streets of even the smallest towns.

SPECIALITIES

Babendra – Stew of fish, fermented beans and cabbage or spinach.

Tô – Mashed sorghum or millet that is the traditional carbohydrate of all meals.

Rizgras: Rice cooked with meat, tomatoes and onions.

Brochettes – Meat cooked on a skewer.

Sauce Gombo – A sauce made from okra.

Pouletbicyclette – A grilled chicken dish popular across West Africa, served with carrots and potatoes.

Ragout d’lgname – Strew of vegetables and meat, frequently beef.

Dôla – Local beer made from pearl millet or sorghum wheat.

Gapalo- Drink of soured milk and millet grains.

Bissap – Drink made from bissap flowers.

TIPPING – Service is generally included in the bill (about 10 to 15%) although it is customary to tip taxi drivers, porters and hotel staff. Tipping is more expected in the better-class restaurants.

Drinking Age: 18

SHOPPING IN BURKINA FASO

Good markets exist in Bobo Dioulasso, Dori, Gorom-Gorom, Ouahigouya and Ouagadougou. Bargaining in the traditional marketplace is recommended. Purchases include wooden statuettes, bronze medals, masks, worked skins from the tannery in Ouagadougou, jewelry, fabrics, handwoven blankets and leather goods and crafts ranging from chess sets to ashtrays. The Grande Marche in Bobo Dioulasso is much smaller and less cramped market. Shopping Hours: Monday to Saturday: 0800-1200 and 1500-1800. Some shops may be open Sunday and there are daily markets in the main towns.

NIGHTLIFE IN BURKINA FASO

Nightlife is particularly good in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. There are several nightclubs in Ouagadougou, some with live music and several cinemas, both open-air and air-conditioned. Bobo Dioulasso has a lively street-café scene, good open-air bars and restaurants and a number of open-air and air-conditioned discos. The Wassa Club and Les Bambous are popular venues.

ABOUT BURKINA FASO

On the face of it you can see why Burkina Faso lacks mainstream appeal: A landlocked West African nation with rowdy neighbors, this country has a harsh climate, unforgiving geography and an infrastructure few would want to be at the mercy of. Set piece attractions are also lacking. Yet Burkina Faso remains an enthralling destination for intrepid travelers, thanks to its wonderful inhabitants and dramatic landscapes. As such, the country, though not frequently visited, is a fine place in which to immerse yourself in West African culture. Meaning “land of the honest people”, Burkina Faso proudly proclaims to be one of the friendliest countries in Africa – and visitors are sure of a warm welcome. Burkinabé, as the people of Burkina Faso are known, are the exact opposite of the harsh land that they inhabit – and it is these cordial and courteous people who make coming here such a joy.

Burkina Faso’s traditional cultures are best sampled in its two largest cities: The fabulously named capital, Ouagadougou (also known as “Ouaga”) and the second city of Bobo-Dioolasso (/simply referred to as “Bobo”). Both have large communities of artists, particularly Ouagadougou, which is famed for its music scene. The art and architecture of the capital are also worthy of attention, with several largescale sculptures enlivening the streets. Away from the cities, Burkina Faso’s four national parks harbor a surprising diversity of wildlife. If you can’t explore them all., then do make a beeline for Arli, which is home to a wide range of ecosystems and is an important habitat for West Africa’s last big cats and elephants. Hippos, monkeys and various exotic bird species also call this national park home. Burkina Faso might not suit firs time travelers, but for hardy adventurers this is a destination in which to veer off the tourist trail and discover the hidden gems of West Africa.

HISTORY OF BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso was once a part of the Great Mossi Empire, one of the strongest of ancient African kingdoms. The Mossi Empire was still in place when the whole region was annexed by the French in 1896. After a period as part of the colony of Upper Senegal-Niger, the territory was reorganized as the separate colony of Upper Volta in 1919. It was then carved up between Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and French Sudan (now Mali) in 1932, only to be reconstituted as an independent entity in 1947, as a French Overseas Territory. Internal self-government was granted in 1957, with full independence (as Upper Volta) following three years later. The early years of independence were largely dominated by the military, notably the regime of General Sangoule J. Lamizana, who ousted the civilian government of Maurice Yameogo in 1966 and ruled until 1980.

Lamizana was followed by another military government, followed in turn by a rebellion in 1983, which brought a group of young radical officers to power under the leadership of Thomas Sankara, who changed the country’s name to Burkina Faso the following year. The Sankara government laid down a new political direction for the country, which had previously pursued a capitalist scheme of economic development. Particular emphasis was put on the development of the rural economy. However, growing tensions within the ruling National Revolutionary Council came to a violent climax in October 1987, when Sankara was killed in a revolt led by his second-in-command, Captain Blaise Compaore. Under pressure from the international community and in particular France, a pluralist system of government was adopted in 1991. Elections in 1998 and 2000 returned Compaore and his party with substantial majorities but their integrity was undermined by opposition boycotts and allegations of fraud and malpractice. He was eventually overthrown by popular revolt in October 2014 after attempting to extend his 27-year rule. Since Compaore’s overthrow, the country is returning to democratic principles, despite a couple of further false starts, with the support of the African Union and regional body ECOWAS.

DID YOU KNOW?

Burkina Faso roughly translates as “land of the upright people.”

The country is home to 63 different ethnic groups.

Burkina Faso has one of the highest fertility rates on earth, with the population increasing five-fold since independence.

RELIGIOIN IN BURKINA FASO – More than 40% follow animist beliefs; 50% are Muslim and 10% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic).

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS IN BURKINA FASO

Women are always expected to dress modestly since this is a Muslim country. Within the urban areas, many French customs prevail. Dress should be casual and appropriate for hot weather (yet short skirts and shorts are best avoided0. Lounge suits for men and formal wear for women are required for evening entertainment. Burkina Faso is a fascinating country because of its diversity: Over 60 ethnic groups dwell in this country, proud to be Burkinabe and yet keen to preserve their own social and cultural idiosyncrasies. Outside the cities, little has changed for centuries and visitors should respect local customs and traditions.

LANGUAGE IN BURKINA FASO

The official language is French. Several other languages such as Mossi, Moore, Dioula, Peul, Fulfulde and Gourmantche are also spoken.

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Tropical. The dry season lasts from November to March and the rainy season from June to October. The best months are November to February when the Harmattan wind blows from the east producing dry and cool weather. However, if you have allergies, avoid December to February as the Harmattan turns Burkina Faso into a dust bowl. Rainfall is highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast. Avoid traveling in late March to May as the climate is too hot and dry to bear even for the locals.

REQUIRED CLOTHING – Lightweights and rainwear for the rainy season. Plenty of scarves and handkerchiefs are recommended during the months when the Harmattan blows.

African Cuisine

Benin Food & Drink

Benin’s cuisine is an exotic fusion of European and African flavors. Fish and shellfish are popular choices in the south, close to the country’s lagoons and Atlantic coast, while chicken comprises the most common protein in the drier north. No meal, whether it’s a quick snack from a street-side hawker or a full meal at one of Cotonou’s finest restaurants is complete without a rich sauce. Commonly tomato or peanut based, these sauces are the mainstay of Benin’s stews and fried foods. Though desserts are thin on the ground, there is a plethora of freshly-picked tropical fruits including mangoes, oranges and bananas. The small locally-grown pineapples, which can be skinned and chopped on the street for you are particularly fine.

SPECIALTIES

Aloko – Deep-fried plantain slices

Akpan – Fried corn dumplings served with a dipping sauce (common street food).

Smoked Fish – Fish smoked over an open fire.

Fufu and Garri – Paste formed from either yam or cassava tubers, respectively.

Moyo – A sauce served with fried fish, made from tomatoes, onions and peppers.

Ago Glain – Stew made from shellfish such as crab, tomatoes and chillies.

Peanut Soup – Made with peanuts, tomatoes and carrots and served with chicken.

Yovo Doko – Doughnuts, also called beignet.

Akkara – Fritters made from skinned black-eyed peas.

La Beninoise – Benin’s favorite lager.

Tipping: It is normal to tip 10% in hotels and restaurants.

Drinking Age: 18

Dubai Guide

Dubai Food Guide

It’s almost impossible not to eat well in Dubai, whatever your budget. If you’ve got cash to burn, the city offers a superb spread of top-quality restaurants (including an ever-increasing number of places run under the auspices of various international celebrity chefs, with gourmet food served up in some of its most magical locations. There are also plenty of good cheap eats to be had too, from cheap and cheerful curry houses to the plentiful shwarma stands and kebab cafes. Dubai is a particularly fine place to sample the many different types of Middle Eastern (A.K.A. “Lebanese”) cuisine, with restaurants across the city offering varying takes on the classic dishes of the region, usually featuring a big range of classic mezze and succulent grilled meats, sometimes with a good selection of shisha (waterpipes) on the side.

As you’d expect given Dubai’s cosmopolitan makeup, a huge variety of other international cuisines are also represented. Italian, Iranian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese are all popular and Indian food is particularly good, with inexpensive but often surprisingly excellent curry houses scattered all over the city center catering to Dubai’s largest subcontinental population. Note that only hotel restaurants and a very small number of mall-based establishments have alcohol licenses. You won’t find booze at independent restaurants and cafes.

Friday Brunch

The Dubai Friday Brunch is a highlight of the weekly social calendar among the city’s Western expat community – a bit like the British Sunday lunch, only with a lot more booze. Restaurants across the city open for brunch around noon, often with all-you-can-eat (and sometimes drink) offers which attract crowds of partying expats letting off steam at the end of the long working week. Check out Time Out Dubai (www.timeoutdubai.com) for the latest offers.

Drinking

You won’t got thirsty in Dubai and the huge number of drinking holes tucked away all over the city attests to the extraordinary degree to which this Muslim city has accommodated Western tastes. The best bars encapsulate Dubai at its most beguiling and opulent, whether your taste is for lounging on cushions in al fresco Arabian-themed venues or sipping champagne in cool, contemporary cocktail bars. Superlative views are often thrown in for good measure, whether from a perch atop one of the city’s tallest skyscrapers or at one of its many waterfront venues, some of which offer sweeping coastal or Creekside panoramas. Most larger hotels also have English-style pubs, with obligatory faux-wooden décor and banks of TVs showing the latest sporting events – a lot less stylish than the city’s bars, but usually a bit cheaper.

Not surprisingly, boozing in Dubai comes at a price, thanks to high government taxes. A pint of beer will usually set you back around 30-35dh in a pub (more in a bar, assuming draught beer’s available, which it often isn’t), a glass of wine around 40dh and a basic cocktail around 50dh. Costs in the city’s pubs can be cut (slightly) by looking out for happy hours and special promotions. Most bars open at 6 or 7pm and stay open till around 1-3am; pubs generally open around noon until 2an; some places stop serving alcohol between 2 and 4pm (although they may stay open for food and soft drinks). Most of the city’s more upmarket drinking holes accept reservations (phone numbers for relevant places are listed), although the more club-style DJ bars often require a minimum spend in return for booking you a table. Smarter bars usually have some kind of dress code – don’t be surprised if you get turned away if you rock up in shorts and T-shirt.

Although Dubai is extremely liberal (at least compared to the rest of the region) in its provision of alcohol, be aware that any form of public drunkenness is strongly frowned upon and may even get you arrested, particularly if accompanied by any form of lewd behavior, which can be taken to include even fairly innocuous acts like kissing in public. The city also has a zero-tolerance policy towards drinking and driving – worth remembering if you get behind the wheel on the morning after a heavy night, since even the faintest trace of alcohol in your system is likely to land you in jail.

Alcohol

Alcohol is only served in hotel restaurants, bars and pubs, along with a small number of mall-based restaurants. It’s not served in independent restaurants and isn’t available over the counter in any shop or supermarket in the city, although visitors are allowed to bring up to four liters of alcohol (or two 24-can cases of beer) with them duty-free when entering the country. The only exception of this is if you’re a resident expat in possession of an official liquor license, in which case you can buy alcohol from one of the city’s two authorized retailers. In addition, note that alcohol is not served anywhere until after sundown during Ramadan.

Ladies’ Night

Ladies’ nights are something of a Dubai institution. These are basically an attempt to drum up custom during the quieter midweek evenings – they’re usually held on Wednesday, Thursday or most commonly, Tuesday nights – with various places around the city offering all sorts of deals to women, ranging from a couple of free cocktails up to complimentary champagne all night. Just be aware that where ladies lead, would-be amorous blokes inevitably follow. Pick up a copy of Time Out Dubai for the latest listings.

Nightlife, Entertainment and the Arts

Like pretty much everywhere else in the Gulf, Dubai only really gets going in the cooler evening and nighttime hours. As dusk falls, the streets light up in a blaze of neon and the pavements begin to fill up with a cosmopolitan crowd of Emiratis, Arabs, Westerners, Indians and Filipinos. The city’s vibrant nightlife takes many forms. Western expats and tourists tend to make for the city’s restaurants, bars and clubs, while locals and expat Arabs can be found relaxing in the city’s myriad shisha cafes. Souks and shopping malls across the city fill up with crowds of consumers from all walks of Dubai society – most remain remarkably busy right up to when they close around midnight; bars and clubs meanwhile kick on until the small hours.

Dubai has a reasonably busy clubbing scene, driven by a mix of Western expats and tourists along with the city’s large expat Arab (particularly Lebanese) community. Music tends to be a fairly mainstream selection of house, hip-hop, and R&B (perhaps with a splash of Arabic pop), although a healthy number of visiting international DJs help keep things fresh. The emphasis at more upmarket places still tends to be on posing and pouting – expect to see lots of beautiful young things from Beirut or Bombay quaffing champagne and inspecting their makeup – although there’s more fashion-free and egalitarian clubbing to be had at places like Zinc and N’dulge  In terms of cultural diversions, there’s significantly less on offer. Dubai is widely derided as the city that culture forgot – and in many ways the stereotype is rich deserved. The city has five-star hotels, luxury spas, celebrity chefs and shopping malls aplenty, but only lacked even a single proper theatre (and a poor one at that). Even now, the city’s musical life is largely limited to Filipino cover bands and the occasional big-name visiting rock act.

Things are, however, changing – albeit slowly. Dubai now hosts a decent range of cultural festivals, including good film and jazz events, while the emergence of alternative venues like The Fridge and DUCTAC suggests that even Dubai is finally realizing the size of the hole in its own head. In addition, the long-awaited opening of the new Dubai Opera House will hopefully provide a massive shot in the arm for the city’s moribund performing arts scene. Where Dubai has scored a major success, however, is in establishing itself as the Gulf’s art capital, boasting a remarkable number of independent galleries, many set up by expats from around the Arab world and showcase a healthy spread of cutting-edge work by a range of international artists.

Clubs

Club venues come and go on an annual basis, so it’s worth checking the listings in Time Out Dubai or visiting www.platinumlist.net to find out what’s new and happening. Entrance charges generally vary depending on who’s playing; entrance is sometimes free (the earlier you arrive the better your chances, especially if you’re young, well dressed, attractive and most crucially-female); blokes can expect to pay 50-100dh. Unfortunately, quite a few places (including several high-profile venues) suffer from truly lousy service -with Neanderthal bouncers, officious waiters and pushy bartenders as standard. Note too that most places also have a couples-only policy (which may or may not be enforced depending on how busy they are) – in general it’s also worth dressing to impress or prepare to be turned away. Quite a few bars have regular live DJs and a club-like ambience later on at night, particularly if there’s a special event on.

Shisha Cafes

For an authentic Arabian alternative to the pub, club or bar, nothing beats a visit to one of Dubai’s shisha cafes. These are the places where local Emiratis and expat Arabs tend to head when they want to kick back, lounging around over endless cups of coffee while puffing away on a shisha (also known as a waterpipe), filling the air with aromatic clouds of perfumed smoke – far more fragrant your average smoke-filled pub. Many of Dubai’s restaurants also do a good line in shisha and the best places will have twenty or more varieties to choose from, with all sorts of fruit-scented flavors, plus a house special or two.

Cinema

Dubai is well equipped with a string of modern multiplexes serving up all the latest Hollywood blockbusters, plus a few Bollywood flicks and the occasional Arabic film – although screenings of alternative and arthouse cinema are rare outside the excellent Dubai International Film Festival. It’s worth bearing in mind that the authorities censor any scenes featuring nudity, sex, drugs and homosexuality, as well as anything of a sensitive religious or political nature. Tickets cost around 35-50dh, while some cinemas have also introduced so called “Gold” class screenings in their smaller auditoriums (tickets around 100dh) complete with luxurious reclining seats and personal table service.

Art Galleries

Art galleries have positively mushroomed over Dubai during the last few years, For comprehensive listings, check out www.artinthecity.co.uk, which also covers galleries in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The (unlikely) hub of the city’s art scene is undoubtedly the rundown industrial area of Al Quoz, off Sheikh Zayed Road, whose low rents have attracted a string of gallery owners from across the Arab world. There’s also a cluster of more upmarket galleries in the Gate Village at the DIFC. The city hosts two big annual arts festivals in mid-March, when Art Dubai and the SIKKA Art Festival hit town.

Argentina Food Guide

Argentina Food & Drink

Argentine food can be summed up by one word: Beef. And not just any beef, but the best in the world – succulent, cherry-red and healthy, meat raised on some of the greenest, most extensive pastures known to cattle. The Asado or barbecue, is an institution, every bit a part of the Argentine way of life as football, fast driving and tango.

Where to Eat

Apart from generic restaurantes (or restoranes), you will come across parillas (for steak and beef), marisquerias (for seafood), confiterias (cafes for coffee, cakes, snacks or simple meals), comedores (simple local canteens), pizzrias, bodegones (unpretentious restaurants that theoretically serve a house wine) and cantinas (neighborhood places often dishing up Italian food, such as homemade pasta). By South American standards the quality of restaurants is high and though by international standards they are not always cheap, they often represent good value. If you’re on a tight budget make lunch your main meal and take advantage of the menu de dia or menu ejectivo – usually set meals for about $60 – and in the evening try tenedor libre restaurants where you can eat much as you like for a set price at self-service buffets. Up your budget to $120 or so a head and you can dine A La Carte at most mid-range restaurants, wine included. Argentina also has a fair sprinkling of gourmet locales (restaurantes de autor) concentrated in, but by no means limited in Buenos Aires. In these your per-head bill will more be more like $200 or even more, though this still compares well with cities in other industrialized countries and you get fabulous food, wine, ambience and service. You should try and splash out at least once during your visit.

When to Eat

Breakfast is usually served up until around 10am and lunch from around noon until 3pm. Hardly any restaurant opens for dinner before 8pm and in the hotter months – and all year-round in Buenos Aires – few people turn up before 10 or even 11pm. Don’t be surprised to see people pouring into restaurants well after midnight: Argentines and Porteños in particular are night owls. If you think you’re going to be starving by 7pm, do like the locals and either have a hearty lunch or take merienda – tea and snacks – at a café or confiteria in the late afternoon.

What to Eat

While beef is the most prominent feature on many menus, it’s by no means the whole story. In general, you seldom have a bade meal in Argentina. That said, imagination, innovation and a sense of subtle flavor are sometimes lacking, with Argentines preferring to eat the wholesome but often bland dishes their immigrant forebearers cooked. At the other end of the spectrum, there is some very (some might say overly) inventive cordon bleu cooking being concocted by daring young chefs across the country. Fast food is extremely popular, but you can also snack on delicious local specialties such as empanadas or homemade pizza if you want to avoid the ubiquitous multinational chains.

Snacks

If you’re feeling peckish during the day there are plenty of minutas (snacks) to choose from. The lomito (as opposed to lamo – the name of the steak cut itself) is a nourishing sandwich filled with a juicy slice of steak, often made with pan árabe (pita bread); the chivito (originally Uruguayan) refers to a similar kind of sandwich made with a less tender cut, though it literally means “kid” or baby goat). Other street food includes the choripán, a local version of the hot dog made with natural meaty sausages (chorizos), while at cafes a popular snack is the tostado (or tostado mixto), a toasted cheese and ham sandwich, often daintily thin and sometimes (in the provinces) called a carlitos. Barrolucas are beef and cheese sandwiches, a local variant on the cheeseburger and very popular around Mendoza. Milanesas refers to breaded veal escalopes served in a sandwich, hamburger-style. Empanadas are small pastries with savory fillings, usually stuffed with beef, cheese and/or vegetables, although the fillings are as varied as the cook’s imagination.

Parrillas, Pizza and Pasta

Parrillas are simply barbecues (or the restaurants that employ them) where you can try the traditional Asado. Usually there’s a set menu (the Parrillada), though the establishments themselves vary enormously. At many, especially in the big cities, the décor is stylish, the staff laidback, the crockery delicate and the meat served tidily. Elsewhere, especially in smaller towns, parrillas are more basic and you’re likely to be served by burly, sweaty grill-men who spend all their time carving hunks of flesh and hurling them onto wooden platters. Portions in parrillas are generally very large, intending for sharing and accompaniments like fries or salad are ordered separately, again served on large platters to share.

Mass immigration from Italy since the middle of the nineteenth century has had a profound influence on Argentine food and drink – the abundance of fresh pasta (pasta casera) is just one example. The fillings tend to be a little unexciting (lots of cheese, including Ricotta, but seldom meat), the sauces are not exactly memorable (mostly tomato and onion) and the pasta itself cooked beyond al dente, yet it’s a reliable staple and rarely downright bad. Pizzas are very good on the whole, though the toppings tend to lack originality, especially away from the capital. One popular ingredient regularly used as a garnish may be unfamiliar to visitors: the palmito (palm heart), a sweet, crunchy vegetable resembling something between asparagus and celery. Argentine pizzas are nearly always of the thick-crust variety, wood-oven baked and very big, meant to be divided between a number of diners.

Regional Cuisine

Although you will find parrillas through Argentina, different regions have their own specialties too. Probably the most noteworthy regional cuisine is found in the Argentine Northeast, where as well as the juiciest empanadas, you can find humitas – steamed creamed sweetcorn, served in parcels made from corncob husks and locro, a substantial stew based on maize, with onions, beans and meat thrown in. Andean quinoa is a frequent ingredient in everything from soups to empanadas. Patagonia, meanwhile, is famed for its barbecued lamb, staked around the fire and jams made from local fruit such as calafote.

Other Cuisines

In addition to the Italian cooking available all over the country, Spanish restaurants serve tapas and familiar dishes such as paella, while specifically Basque restaurants are also fairly commonplace; these are often the places to head for fish or seafood. Chinese and, increasingly, Korean restaurants are found in many Argentine cities, but they rarely serve anything remotely like authentic Asian food and specialize in tenedor libre buffet diners. You can find excellent sushi and Peruvian food in Buenos Aires, where nearly every national cuisine from Armenian to Vietnamese via Mexican, Polish and Thai is also available, but such variety is rare in the provinces. Arab and Middle Eastern food, including specialties such as kebabs and kepe, seasoned ground raw meat, is far more widespread, as is German fare, such as sauerkraut (chucrut) and frankfurters, along with Central and Eastern European food, often served in choperias, or beer gardens. Welsh tearooms are a specialty of Patagonia.

Vegetarian Food

As a vegetarian in Argentina you shouldn’t have too many problems in the capital, the larger cities or the Patagonian resorts, all of which are relatively cosmopolitan. A number of restaurants completely dedicated to non-meat-eaters do exist and many places have a few good non-meat alternatives. The exceptions are the parrillas, though the sight and smell of entire animals roasting on the grill is unlikely to appeal to vegetarians anyway. In smaller provincial towns, however, vegetarian fare tends to be a lot simpler and you will likely have to adjust to a diet of pizza, pasta, empanadas and salads, with very little variety in the toppings and fillings. The good news is that these fillings are often options such as spinach, acelga (Swiss chard – similar to spinach, but slightly more bitter) and Ricotta. Other foods to keep an eye out for are fainá, a fairly bland but agreeable Genovese specialty made with chickpea dough and Milanese de soja (breaded soya “cutlets”) while milanesas of vegetables like berenjena (aubergine) and calabaza (pumpkin) are also quite popular.

Thailand Guide

Thailand Food & Drink

Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the country’s big culinary centers, boasting the cream of gourmet Thai restaurants and the best international cuisines. The rest of the country is by no means a gastronomic wasteland, however, and you can eat well and cheaply in even the smallest provincial towns, many of which offer the additional attraction of regional specialties. In fact you could eat more than adequately without ever entering a restaurant, as itinerant food vendors hawking hot and cold snacks materialize in even the most remote spots, as well as on trains and buses – and night markets often serve customers from dusk until dawn. Hygiene is a consideration when eating anywhere in Thailand, but being too cautious means you’ll end up spending a lot of money and missing out on some real local treats. Wean your stomach gently by avoiding excessive amounts of chilies and too much fresh fruit in the first few days.
You can be pretty sure that any noodle stall or curry shop that’s permanently packed with customers is a safe bet. Furthermore, because most Thai dishes can be cooked in under five minutes, you’ll rarely have to contend with stuff that’s been left to smoulder and stew. Foods that are generally considered high risk include salads, ice cream, shellfish and raw or undercooked meat, fish or eggs. If you’re really concerned about health standards you could stick to restaurants and food stalls displaying a “Clean Food Good Taste” sign, part of a food sanitation project set up by the Ministry of Public Health. TAT and the Ministry of the Interior. Most restaurants in Thailand are open every day for lunch and dinner; we’ve given full opening hours throughout the Guide. In a few of the country’s most expensive restaurants, mostly in Bangkok, a ten percent service charge and possibly even seven percent VAT may be added to your bill. For those interested in learning Thai cookery, short courses designed for visitors are held in Bangkok Chiang Mai and dozens of other tourist centers around the country.

Where to Eat

A lot of tourists eschew the huge range of Thai places to eat, despite their obvious attractions and opt instead for the much “safer” restaurants in guesthouses and hotels. Almost all tourist accommodation has a kitchen and while some are excellent, the vast majority serve up bland imitations of Western fare alongside equally pale versions of common Thai dishes. Having said that, it can be a relief to get your teeth into a processed-cheese sandwich after five days’ trekking in the jungle and guesthouses do serve comfortingly familiar Western breakfasts. Throughout the country most inexpensive Thai restaurants and cafes specialize in one general food type or preparation method, charging around B40-50 a dish – a “noodle shop”, for example, will do fried noodles and/or noodle soups, plus maybe a basic fried rice, but they won’t have curries or meat or fish dishes. Similarly, a restaurant displaying whole roast chickens and ducks in its window will offer these sliced, usually with chilies and sauces and served over rice, but their menu probably won’t extend to noodles or fish, while in “curry shops” your options are limited to the vats of curry stewing away in the hot cabinet.
To get a wider array of low-cost food, it’s sometimes best to head for the local night market (talaat yen), a term for the gatherings of open-air nighttime kitchens found in every town. Sometimes operating from 6pm to 6am, they are typically to be found on permanent patches close to the fruit and vegetable market or the bus station and as often as not they’re the best and most entertaining places to eat, not to mention the least expensive – after a lip-smacking feast of savory dishes, a fruit drink and a dessert you’ll come away no more than B150 poorer. A typical night market has maybe thirty-odd “specialist” pushcart kitchens (rot khen) jumbled together, each fronted by several sets of tables and stools. Noodle and fried-rice vendors always feature prominently, as do sweet stalls, heaped high with sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves or thick with bags of tiny sweetcorn pancakes hot from the griddle – and no night market is complete without its fruit-drink stall, offering banana shakes and freshly squeezed orange, lemon and tomato juices. In the best setups you’ll find a lot more besides: Curries, barbecued sweetcorn, satay sticks of pork and chicken, deep-fried insects, fresh pineapple, watermelon and mango and – if the town’s by a river or near the sea – heaps of fresh fish. Having decide what you want, you order from the cook (or the cook’s dogsbody) and sit down at the nearest table; there is no territorialism about night markets, so it’s normal to eat several dishes from separate stalls and rely on the nearest cook to sort out the bill.
Some large markets, particularly in Bangkok, have separate food court areas where you buy coupons first and select food and drink to their value at the stalls of your choice. This is also usually the modus operandi in the food courts found in department stores and shopping centers across the country. For a more relaxing ambience, Bangkok and the larger towns have a range of upmarket restaurants, some specializing in “royal” Thai cuisine, which is differentiated mainly by the quality of the ingredients, the complexity of preparation and the way the food is presented. Great care is taken over how individual dishes look: They are served in small portions and decorated with carved fruit and vegetables in a way that used to be the prerogative of royal cooks, but has now filtered down to the common folk The cost of such delights is not prohibitive, either – a meal in one of these places is unlikely to cost more than B500 per person. 

How to Eat

Thai food is eaten with a fork (left hand) and a spoon (right hand); there is no need for a knife as food is served in bite-sized chunks, which are forked onto the spoon and fed into the mouth. Cutlery is often delivered to the table wrapped in a perplexingly tiny pink napkin: Thais use this, not for their lap, but to give their fork, spoon and plate an extra wipe-down before they eat. Steamed rice (khao) is served with most meals and indeed the most commonly heard phrase for “to eat” is kin khao (literally, “eat rice”). Chopsticks are provided only for noodle dishes and Northeastern sticky rice are always eaten with the fingers of your right hand. Never eat with the fingers of your left hand, which is used for washing after going to the toilet.

So that complementary taste combinations can be enjoyed, the dishes in a Thai meal are served all at once, even the soup and shared communally. The more people, the more taste and texture sensations: If there are only two of you, it’s normal to order three dishes, plus your own individual plates of steamed rice, while three diners would order four dishes, and so on. Only put a serving of one dish on your rice plate each time and the only one or two spoonfuls. Bland food is anathema to Thais and restaurant tables everywhere come decked out with condiment sets featuring the four basic flavors (salty, sour, sweet and spicy): Usually fish sauce with chopped chilies; vinegar with chopped chilies; sugar and dried chilies – and often extra bowls of ground peanuts and a bottle of chili ketchup as well. Similarly, many individual Thai dishes are served with their own specific, usually spicy, condiment dip (nam Jim). If you do bite into a chili, the way to combat the searing heat is to take a mouthful of plain rice and/or beer: Swigging water just exacerbates the sensation.

What to Eat

Five fundamental tastes are identified in Thai cuisine – spiciness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness and sweetness – and diners aim to share a variety of dishes that impart a balance of these flavors, along with complementary textures. Lemon Grass, basil, coriander, galangal, chili, garlic, lime juice, coconut milk and fermented fish sauce are just some of the distinctive components that bring these tastes to life, A detailed food and drink glossary cane be found at the end of “Contexts”. 

Curries & Soups

Thai curries (kaeng) have a variety of curry pastes as their foundation: Elaborate blends of herbs, spices, garlic, shallots and chili peppers ground together with pestle and mortar. The use of some of these spices, as well as coconut cream, was imported from India long ago; curries that don’t use coconut cream are naturally less sweet and thinner, with the consistency of soups. While some curries, such as kaeng karii (mild and yellow) and kaeng matsaman (“Muslim curry”, with potatoes, peanuts and usually beef), still show their roots, others have been adapted into quintessentially Thai dishes, notably kaeng khiaw wan (sweet and green), kaeng phet (red and hot) and kaeng phanaeng (thick and savory, with peanuts). Kaeng sam generally contains fish and takes its distinctive sourness from the addition of tamarind or, in the northeast, okra leaves. Traditionally eaten during the cool season, kaeng liang uses up bland vegetables, but is made aromatic with hot peppercorns.

Eaten simultaneously with other dishes, not as a starter, Thai soup often have the tang of Lemon Grass, Kaffir Lime leaves and Galangal and are sometimes made extremely spicy with chilies. Two favorites are tom kha kai, a creamy chicken soup; and tom yam kung, a hot and sour prawn soup without coconut milk. Khao tom, a starchy rice soup that’s generally eaten for breakfast, meets the approval of few Westerners, except as a traditional hangover cure.

Salads

One of the lesser-known delights of Thai cuisine is the yam or salad, which imparts most of the fundamental flavors in an unusual and refreshing harmony. Yam come in many permutations – with noodles, meat, seafood or vegetables – but at the heart of every variety is a liberal squirt of lime juice and a fiery sprinkling of chilies. Salads to look out for include yam som oh (pomelo), yam hua plee (banana flowers) and yam plaa duk foo (fluffy deep-fried catfish).  

Wales Eating, Culture and Events

Where to Eat  

If you’re staying in a hotel, guesthouse, or B&B, a hearty cooked breakfast (generally served 8-9am) will usually be offered as part of the deal and may see you through the day. Evening meals are served from 6 to 10p, though in rural areas, especially early in the week, you may find it difficult to get served after 8:30pm. Cafes and tearooms (the terms are used pretty much interchangeably0 can be found absolutely everywhere and are generally the cheapest places to eat, providing hearty, cholesterol-laden breakfasts, a solid range of snacks and full meals for lunch (and occasionally, evening meals). Wales’ steady influx oaf New Agers has seen the cheap and usually vegetarian wholefood café become a standard feature of many mid-and west Welsh towns. Throughout the land, cafes and restaurants are also increasingly equipped with espresso machines, though barista competence levels are low.
Food in pubs varies as much as the establishments themselves. Competition has seen mediocre places sharpen up their act and many pubs now offer more imaginative dishes than microwaved lasagna and chips. Most serve food at lunchtime and in the evening (usually until 8:30 or 9pm) and in many towns, the local pub is the most economical place (and in smaller towns, sometimes the only place) to grab a filling evening meal. Relatively few Welsh hostelries have done the full gastropub conversion but the standards in some pubs can now be very high. Such places, along with bistros and restaurants sport menus which rely extensively on fresh local produce. They can often tell you which farm the beef came from and in coastal areas the chef may even know the fisherman.
The Cardiff Brewery Brains has recently been buying up pubs around the country and smartening them up (cheap food, good beer and comfortable surroundings), but often robbing them of much individuality in the process. People of all nationalities call Wales home and few towns of any size are without Indian or Chinese restaurants, though the likes of Japanese, French, Thai, American, Mexican and Belgian are limited to the more cosmopolitan centers. Our restaurant listings include a mix of high-quality and good-value establishments, but if you’re intent on a culinary pilgrimage, you’d do well to arm yourself with a copy of the annual Good Food Guide (Which? Publications), which includes detailed recommendations. Throughout this guide, we’ve supplied the phone number for all restaurants where you may need to book a table. In pubs and cafes you can expect to pay £6-10 for a main course, closer to £15 in good restaurants and around £20 in the very best places.

Drinking

As elsewhere in Britain, daytime cafes are not usually license to sell alcohol and though restaurants invariably are, pubs remain the center of social activity. The legal drinking age is 18, though an adult can order alcohol for someone aged 16 or 17 who is dining. Some places offer special family rooms for people with children and beer gardens where younger kids can run free.

CURIO HOTELS RESTAURANTS

CURIO HOTELS RESTAURANTS

THE ADMIRAL HOTEL MOBILE,

You don’t have to leave our Curio Collection hotel in Mobile, AL to dine in style. Our two onsite restaurants offer something for everyone, from tasty light bites to tempting evening meals. If you would prefer the convenience of dining in your guest room, we also offer morning and evening room service. Relax in our welcoming coffee/wine bar, where you can enjoy a quick snack or sample a delicious sharing platter.

CORNER 251 – Stop int our bar area with a unique, modern industrial feel. Choose homemade scones from our glass display and order the perfect cup of fresh-brewed coffee to help start your day. Choose something simple for breakfast or stop in for a handcrafted sandwich at lunchtime. Satisfy your appetite with savory small plates and tapas or enjoy our fantastic happy hour.

LAUNCH – UPSCALE URBAN – The family farmer is truly at the heart of Launch. We believe it is the right of all diners and food lovers to enjoy a good “meal away from home” that is fulfilling, delicious and honest, made with ingredients from high-quality sources. We strive to source the best products seasonally and regionally whenever possible and our meals are prepared with the utmost care and attention by our talented chefs and kitchen staff.

REDMONT HOTEL BIRMINGHAM – When you visit Curio properties, you can expect dining experiences as diverse and unique as the independent hotels that form the collection. Start the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious light bite; try innovative local favorites prepared with only the freshest ingredients, or simply relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge. From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks and everything in between, the options are endless our Curio properties are there to be discovered and enjoyed.

2101 CAFÉ – 2101 Café is located off of the lobby on the ground level. The café is accessible from the hotel or from Fifth Avenue North. Open daily from 6am-2pm, the café serves Revelator coffee and espresso. Revelator is roasted just blocks from the hotel. The café is all about local eats and treats – pastries, paninis and other quick grab items will made be onsite. Location: Birmingham, Alabama

HARVEST RESTAURANT & BAR – Harvest Restaurant is a fine-dining restaurant & bar located off the lobby on the ground level. The restaurant is accessible from the hotel only. Seating is available in the main dining room, private dining room, or on the patio. Location: Birmingham, Alabama

THE ROOF – Experience breathtaking views of the Birmingham skyline while enjoying our signature cocktails prepared and served by professional mixologists. Our famous rooftop lounge is an immensely popular space and available for event rental. Come enjoy the highest rooftop bar in the state! Location: Birmingham, Alabama

BOULDERS RESORT & SPA, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – Enjoy Southwestern and American cuisine at casual Palo Verde. The enticing dinner menu offers a range of signature Southwestern dishes. Head to The Grill Restaurant and Bar at the Clubhouse for commanding views of the golf course. Have a hearty breakfast before a round of golf or take a break midday for a sandwich. In the evening, enjoy dinner or have a drink at the bar. Sip a favorite cocktail at the Discovery Lounge. Spend a relaxing evening in front of the fireplace, listening to jazz and gazing at the vivid Arizona sunset. Spa indulgence continues with light and healthful dishes served at Spa Café. Sip an herbal tea or enjoy vegetarian or gluten-free dishes.

DISCOVERY LOUNGE – The Discovery Lounge offers a soothing experience with sharable dishes and contemporary cocktails that are perfect for an after dinner unwind or a gathering in the newly renovated and highly refined reception area with friends and family all while viewing the beautiful view from the floor to ceiling windows. Hours: Lunch Daily 11:00am-5:00pm, Dinner Daily 5:00pm-10:00pm Drink Service Daily 11:00am-11:00pm

GRILL RESTAURANT & BAR – Located in the Boulders Golf Clubhouse, the Grill Restaurant serves traditional American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring an exhibition kitchen, dark wood furnishings, a fireplace and newly renovated patio seating with grand views of the lush 18^th hole fairways. Hours: Grab & Go Breakfast Daily 9:00am-11:00am Lunch Daily 11:00am-5:00pm

PALO VERDE -PALO VERDE – The dining experience at the Palo Verde is sophisticated and comforting. Offering a unique Southwest flair cuisine and décor and offers breathtaking views of the Sonoran Desert overlooking the 6^th fairway of the award-winning South Course and the charming Duck Pond. Hours: Breakfast Daily 7:00am-11:00am Dinner Daily 5:00pm-10:00pm

SPA CAFÉ – The Spa Café offers contemporary dining with a healthy focus in a relaxed setting. The café menus are designed to deliver balanced, nutritious, spirit-satisfying meals made from the fresh ingredients of the surrounding Scottsdale and Carefree, Arizona areas. Enjoy breakfast and lunch, including selections to meet the special needs of vegetarians, vegans and those with food allergies such as lactose, gluten, or nuts. Food Served Daily: 7:30am to 3:00pm Drinks Served Daily 7:30am – 6:00pm

SPOTTED DONKEY CANTINA – The Spotted Donkey Cantina, at el Pedegral, is quickly earning a reputation as the place for Mexican cuisine in North Scottsdale. And with a tequila list boasting dozens if varieties (including our exclusive Herradura double-barrel Reposado Tequila), an innovative menu and a large outdoor patio with scenic desert vistas, it’s really no surprise. Hours: Lunch and Dinner Daily 11:30am-9:00pm Bar Service: Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-9:00pm Friday & Saturday 11:30am-10:00pm

BEACH VILLAGE AT THE DEL, CORONADO, CALIFORNIA – From upscale bistros overlooking the Pacific to al fresco fire pits with front row views of dazzling sunsets, drinks and dining at Beach Village at the Del are even more spectacular thanks to our legendary beachfront setting. Whether you’re savoring craft cocktails and casual bites at a poolside eatery, enjoying artisan pizza with California wines or indulging in an epicurean adventure, every dining experience at The Del comes with a generous serving of beachside ambiance and ocean views.

1500 OCEAN – Inspired by its beachfront setting, Hotel Del Coronado’s signature restaurant 1500 OCEAN spotlights the best in Coastal Cuisine with new menus from renowned Master Chef Patrick Ponsaty. With a resume of award-winning menus spanning countries to coastlines, Ponsaty sets a new era in fresh, unparalleled seaside dining at The Del. Start with a craft cocktail at the Sunset Bar overlooking the Pacific and then venture inside for inspired seasonal cuisine paired with exceptional wines. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:30pm -10:00pm Closed Sunday & Monday

BABCOCK & Story bar – Savor classic cocktails and casual bites at Babcock & Story Bar, a high-spirited, historic Coronado lounge named for the hotel’s visionary founders. Watch the game or catch some live music. Enjoy a coastal seafood platter or get adventurous with a house specialty like our Bourbon Maple Bacon Milkshake. Whatever your pleasure, this lively lounge serves up the Southern California vibe for lunch dinner and late night. Light Fare: 12:l00pm-10:00pm Cocktails: Monday-Thursday: 12:00pm-12:00am Friday: 12:00pm-1:00am Saturday: 10:00am-1:00am Sunday: 10:00am-12:00am

BREEZES – Located at Beach Village at the Del’s Main Pool, this casual poolside eatery serves refreshing craft cocktails and gourmet bites. It is the perfect place to relax while enjoying a margarita and nibbling on fresh Baja-inspired cuisine. Hours: Open Daily Drinks: 11:00am-6:00pm Food: 11:30am-5:00pm (Weather permitting)

CROWN ROOM BRUNCH – A true feast for the senses, the lavish Sunday Brunch in the Crown Room features a chilled seafood bar, regionally inspired dishes, international cuisine and carving stations. Guests also enjoy a gourmet Bloody Mary bar, made-to-order mimosas and a spectacular candy and dessert bar – complete with a design-your-own donut station. See what makes Sunday Brunch at The Del legendary. Hours: Sunday: 9:30am-1:00pm

ENO – ENO is an artisan pizzeria and wine bar in an energetic setting reminiscent of a neighborhood eatery, all served with generous helping of beachside ambiance and ocean views. Whether you’re a classic pepperoni lover or in the mood for artisanal arugula, goat cheese and roasted tomato, gather around the outdoor fire pit or dine indoors and enjoy a wood-fired pizza and craft beer or wine while watching a majestic Pacific sunset. Or choose from a boutique list of California and international wines, including a few gems found only at ENO. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5:00pm-9:00pm Friday: 5:00pm-10:00pm Saturday: 5:00pm-10:00pm Sunday: 5:00pm-9:00pm

SHEERWATER – Experience the warm ocean breeze and iconic California sunsets at our DELightful beachfront Coronado restaurant, Sheerwater. Enjoy fresh local seafood, savory smoked meats complete with housemade barbecue sauces and slaws, sandwiches and salads, plus an expansive breakfast buffet and a special kids’ menu. Breakfast Buffet: Daily: 7:00am-11:00am Lunch: 11:00am-3:00pm Dinner: Sunday-Monday: 5:00pm-10:00pm Tuesday-Friday: 5:00pm-9:00pm

SUN DECK BAR & GRILL – This beachfront eatery offers tropical drinks and gourmet Mexican fare from the grill in a casual outdoor atmosphere with Del Beach as your backdrop. Relax by the firepit, enjoy our famous Del Fish Tacos and sip a mojito or margarita while the sun slips into the Pacific. (Dinner available during the summer months). Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:30pm-10:00pm

WINDSOR BEACH CLUB – Enjoy Del Beach in style. Windsor Beach Club offers posh seating with full food and beverage service on the sparkling sands of Del Beach. This exclusive members-only area is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours: Open Daily from Memorial Day – Labor Day (Weather Permitting) Drinks: 11:00am-5:00pm Food: 11:30am-5:00pm

WINDSOR COTTAGE – Windsor Cottage is a private, members-only clubhouse overlooking Del Beach – the ultimate destination for beachfront cocktails, cuisine and socializing. Beach Village guests enjoy a daily complimentary continental-style breakfast. Hours: Breakfast: 7:00am-11:00am Dinner & Cocktails: 5:00pm-10:00pm

HOTEL LA JOLLA, LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

CUSP DINING AND DRINKS – At Cusp, our Executive Chef renders a Coastal Mediterranean menu featuring freshly caught and harvested ingredients to create an inventive menu that takes the palate on a taste-filled journey. Cusp’s menu consists of flavorful dishes with beautiful presentation, including seasonal produce, fresh grilled fish, house made pastas, local meats and rustic flatbreads. It’s all paired with an extensive wine list and artful cocktails to ensure a meal whose main ingredient is delight. Hours: Breakfast: Monday-Friday 7:00am-11:00am Weekend Brunch: 7:00am-2:00pm Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-5:00pm Weekend Lunch: 2:00pm-5:00pm Dinner: Served Daily 5:00pm-10:00pm Bar: Open Daily: 11:00am-10:00pm Happy Hour: Served Daily 4:00pm-6:00pm

THE MENUS – Experience impeccable service as you dine on inspired dishes made from fresh, local ingredients while gazing at the most amazing ocean views in San Diego. Your taste-filled journey begins with a selection of our shareable menu, including fresh grilled fish, local meats, homemade pastas and rustic flatbreads from our pizza oven. Pair your meal with an item off our expansive wine list or masterfully crafted cocktail from our famed bar.

PRIVATE AND GROUP DINING – Host private functions for up to 80 people in Cusp’s flexible space, perfect for rehearsal dinners, anniversaries, bridal showers and more. We offer full A/V capabilities and customized menus that fit your needs. Whether an intimate dinner or magnificent feast, the knowledgeable staff at CUSP will help you plan an unforgettable celebration. The unmatched view is oh the house!

EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AT CUSP – You are invited to Cusp’s weekend brunch service om Saturday and Sunday, served from 8:00am until 2:00pm. Toast the end of the day at our nightly Happy Hour featuring inventive craft cocktails and local craft beer. Cusp Bar hosts Live Music every Tuesday night at 6:00pm and on the last Thursday of every month, Cusp transforms into a Jazz Supper Club. Call us for information regarding the Jazz Night Lineup.

HIATUS – Visit our outdoor, eclectic poolside lounge for an afternoon or evening cocktail. Hours: 3pm-10pm, 7 days a week (Weather dependent).