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Escargot

Escargot is a snail dish that originated in Volubilis, Morroco.

Volubilis is an ancient, Roman town where Escargot dates back to. Unlike the modern stereotype, France was not always home to the snail appetizer. However, France does own Morroco. Volubilis is not a functioning town for tourists and citizens, it is simply a place to visit the architecture and see the panoramic view of an old Roman town. 

Escargot in White Wine

Spices:

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 pinch fresh thyme,
1 teaspoon chopped parsley.

salt and pepper to taste.

Liquids: 

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
50 ml. dry white wine

1 tablespoon butter (melted)

1 teaspoon lemon juice,

Protein: 

1 small can escargot, drained.

 1. Heat the Olive Oil and butter in a pan.

2. Sauté chopped garlic until soft, about 2-3 minutes. 

3. Add in escargot, lemon juice, parsley, and thyme. 

4. Sauté again until Escargot is warm throughout. 

5. Add white wine of preference. 

6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Garnish with Lemon wedges, a sprig of Parsley, or a preferred selection of shredded cheese.

Paella

Paella is a rice dish that originated in Valencia, Spain. 

Valencia is the third most populous city in Spain. It is a seaside city on the eastern coast. Valencia is known for its beaches and its nightlife and also as the birthplace of an international dish. Paella, main ingrediants:
Spices:
1 teaspoon cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder (to taste)
1 teaspoon paprika
3 garlic cloves, chopped
Vegetables:
2 red peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
16 ounces stewed tomatoes
1 can of peas
Liquids:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 can chicken broth
1 cup water
Protein:
1.5 lbs shrimp
1.5 lbs scallops
Garnish:
Lemon
And the ingredient that made it famous:
2 cups medium-grain rice 

1. Run a frying pan under warm water and pat dry. 
2. Add peppers, onion, garlic, to frying pan and cook on medium-heat for 10 minutes.
3. combine tomatoes, broth, and water in a stock pot and bring to a boil.
4. Add cilantro, chili powder, and paprika.
5. Then, stir in multi-grain rice.
6. Add contents of the frying pan into the stock pot along with the can of peas.
7. Cover tightly and reduce heat to simmer.
8. Cook until liquid is absorbed.
9. Add shrimp and scallops under the rice. Cook for 10 minutes uncovered (make sure the scallops are white and the shrimp is pink).
10. Garnish with lemon slices.

Let your tastebuds travel...

Foundation for Cocktails

Have you ever sat sipping a martini and thought to yourself: where was the first place a dirty martini was ever drank? Who thought up the Mojito? I hope these answers satisfy your thirst.

 the Mojito originated in Cuba

In the 19th century, African slaves worked in the Cuban sugar cane fields. They used sugar cane for sweetener. Mojito was named after "Mojo" a Cuban lime seasoning. The drink became famous by Earnest Hemingway. Ernest Hemingway made the bar "La Bodeguita del Medio," in Key West, Florida, famous by becoming one of the regulars. He wrote "My Mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita." This expression can be read on the wall of the bar today.

the Martini originated in San Francisco

In the early 1860s, it is said that the Martini evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez, served at the Occidental Hotel, in San Francisco. People frequented the place before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez. It gained in popularity when it was discovered James Bond frequented the beverage--shaken, not stirred--of course.

the Margarita originated in Mexico

The Margarita was invented in October 1941, at Hussong's Cantina. The bartender was Don Carlos Orozco. Don Carlos experimented with mixing new drinks. One day Margarita Henkel, the daughter of a German ambassador, came in and Carlos offered to name the drink he made after Margarita if she would be the first person to taste it. In 1953 Esquire Magazine named the Margarita "cocktail of the month."

The Cosmopolitan originated in Ohio.

The Cosmopolitan has "Sex and the City" and Provincetown, Massachusetts for its popularity. However, its origin was not in New England. John Cain came upon Cosmos being sold in Ohio and brought them to his string of bars in San Francisco.  The Cosmo was bounced around independently  by bars in the 1970s. In the 1980s John Caine moved them to a stronger market where their popularity grew from there. 

The Piña Colata originated in Puerto Rico

The Piña olata was created August 16, 1954 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the "Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber." Its creator was Ramón Marrero. The hotel management asked their bartender to make a new drink to impress the palates of its star-studded clients. Marrero accepted the challenge. After three months of blending, shaking and experimenting, the first Piña Colada was created. Rupert Homes' song "Escape" featured the line, "If you like Pina Colatas and getting caught in the rain." Established the drink to more then a destination travel beverage.

My Happy Place is...

is by a small pond with a fountain spitting water straight up. My happy place is the place I will be leaving in 31 days. Although, climbing towards the end of my senior year feels defeating and dragging. Everything has changed since I was a frightened freshman who didn't know the way to her dorm room. My happy place taught me how to be me and showed me a mirror so I couldn't figure her out on my own. I'm leaving in 31 days. My happy place sometimes feels like a sad one.

Now that I've shared my story. Comment and tell me about your happy place.

The Pros and Cons of Taking a Travel Tour Part 1

Limerick, Ireland

I've taken the eight hour plane ride to the United Kingdom once. I went on an Educational Tour with my college. My history professor told me and my friend Sarah about an Ireland, England, and Wales tour he would be taking in the Spring.  Fees: If you haven't taken a trip with EF tours there is a sign up fee of 90 dollars. Make sure to check that you will not want payment taking out in installments or you'll end up having to make a three hour phone all straightening it up.

The additional fees are insurance (about 1000) and the tour fee which ranges 2000-4000 (as I have seen). This is very reasonable for everything it includes.

Transportation: 

All transportation is included. This means no rushing to find a cab at the airport, no waiting for a bus to take you back to your hotel. We switched busses frequently. Tipping was included since I paid through my school (the students who paid out of pocket had to pay 100 for tipping). The buses were spacious and comfortable because we were not traveling with other tours. Transportation is o e of the best features of the tour. There is a microphone that your guide speaks through while your driver easily guide how passenger to places he knows like the back of his hand. The guide switches between telling stories and history of the places you pass through. They will often give frequent announcements to where you are and they do a lot to keep passengers excited about the trip.

Food:

Breakfast and most dinners. Since we were out all day, finding lunch out in the city was no problem. Breakfast was cold cereals and croissants. We were forbidden from touching the hot parts of the breakfast because that wasn't covered by EF tours. Dinners have sparse options. Two meal choices and two dessert choices might be served in the hotel. We had dinner this way three or four times. We had two meals in restaurants with no choice unless you are a vegetarian. Like, in London, we had fish and chips and profiteroles (cream puffs)

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Stratford, England. These are some photos from my EF Tour's trip May of 2011.