Longan might not be as famous as mango, pineapple, or lychee, but this small tropical fruit is a delicious treat worth discovering. With its thin brown shell, translucent flesh, and naturally sweet flavor, longan is enjoyed throughout Asia, both as a refreshing snack and as an ingredient in traditional desserts and drinks. If you’ve never … Read more
Lychee is one of those fruits that may seem a bit scary at first but is actually quite easy to eat once you know how. Its tough, reddish-pink rind is covered by a juicy, translucent white flesh that tastes sweet and floral, similar to grapes, pears, and rosewater. Lychee is a delicious treat that is … Read more
Russian street food is a fascinating blend of traditional recipes, Soviet era favorites, and modern fast food from all over Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Russia has a lot of cheap and delicious food for the traveller on the move, from freshly baked pirozhki to sizzling shashlik, sweet doughnuts to refreshing kvass. From … Read more
Smetana is one of those simple dairy staples that quietly holds together a huge part of Eastern and Central European cooking. It is thick, tangy, creamy, and more flavorful than regular sour cream, and can be used to top dumplings, add to soups, fold into sauces, or serve with pancakes and potato dishes. The term … Read more
Latvian desserts are a delicious reflection of the country’s love for simple ingredients, seasonal produce, and comforting homemade flavors. From dark rye bread transformed into rich layered puddings to creamy cottage cheese treats, berry desserts, honey cakes, and old-fashioned milk sweets, Latvian sweets are often rustic rather than extravagant. Berries, dairy, rye bread, honey, and … Read more
While many Greek dips feature good cheese, olive oil, and a few simple ingredients, tirokafteri adds a little more attitude to the mix. It’s the kind of meze that can vanish rather quickly when warm bread is in the vicinity. The recipe is simple, but the cheese, peppers, and seasoning can make a big difference … Read more
There’s a drink in Serbia that seems to appear everywhere, yet its story is far more complicated than the clear little glass it arrives in. It can be homemade in a village still, aged for years in a wooden barrel, poured for a guest before they’ve even sat down, or brought out alongside a table … Read more
Estonian desserts are criminally underrated; rather than relying on elaborate decorations or mountains of frosting, many traditional sweets make clever use of simple ingredients such as curd cheese, rye bread, apples, berries, grains, and cream. Some are deeply rooted in Estonia’s rural food traditions, while others have become beloved homemade treats that feel distinctly Estonian. … Read more
Some Balkan dishes are not complicated and can become family classics. A simple pot of veal, vegetables, and a few familiar pantry items can become the perfect soup for a long lunch or a chilly evening, as in the case of Teleća čorba. It’s comforting, not too heavy, and easy to use for everyday cooking … Read more
Vietnamese drinks are every bit as interesting as the country’s food. There’s a surprising variety of drinking culture to explore, from strong coffee to sugarcane juice, fresh beer, rice spirits, herbal teas, and more and more inventive craft cocktails. Some beverages are very traditional, others are a reflection of the fast-growing modern food and cocktail … Read more