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Category: Tastes

Oh, Honey!

Oh, Honey!

Want to skip straight to the recipe? Click here! Life is pretty bleak right now. As the weeks and months wear on, my hopes of visiting any European Christmas markets this December are fading away. I’ve already canceled two trips this summer: one to Mongolia and another to see relatives in South Africa. I’m spending my time in books, most recently reading Lafayette, John Adams, and On War. But my heart hurts for the loss of Christmas markets, particularly the…

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Eating Through Old Town: Tallinn, Estonia

Eating Through Old Town: Tallinn, Estonia

What is it about being in a foreign country that makes deciding where to eat so difficult? Not knowing the language, not knowing the customs, and not knowing the cuisine can be overwhelmingly intimidating. But finding an extraordinary restaurant can be the highlight of any trip. One of the great advantages of staying in an AirBnB is that the host almost always recommends restaurants. Sometimes those recommendations are off the mark, like our host in Paris who apparently thought people…

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Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival

Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival

My husband and I have been spending the week with my parents on Jekyll Island, Georgia. I adore this place for its outdoor activities (golf, tennis, biking) as well as its unspoiled coastline. It’s difficult to find a beach that isn’t peppered by Wings, Eagles, and high-rise condos, and I was thrilled to find this one. While a solid portion of our week was spent lamenting the weather, thanks to a nor’easter that wouldn’t move off the coast, the trip was…

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We Made Our Own Zima

We Made Our Own Zima

Things got a little ridiculous during the 90s rewind with Bourbon & Bordeaux, and for some strange reason, we kept referencing Zima. Maybe because it’s the drink of our youth. Or maybe because Zima can’t be found in the States anymore (but if you’re in Japan, you’re set). Or maybe Cassia and I just felt like having some cocktails. Despite every fiber of our adult beings telling us to stay away from drinks like Zima, we decided to make the…

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Chicken Schnitzel & Cheese Sauce

Chicken Schnitzel & Cheese Sauce

Dad called yesterday. He’s ready to go back to South Africa. Maybe he’s got the travel bug after my trip with Mom? Regardless, I started craving some South African treats and not just biltong or melktert. I was craving the ultimate comfort food: chicken schnitzel with cheese sauce, or as I like to call it, fried chicken covered in macaroni and cheese without the macaroni. And while you can get fried chicken in the States, there’s nothing quite like schnitzel…

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Melktert: The Way to My Father-in-Law’s Heart

Melktert: The Way to My Father-in-Law’s Heart

Melktert, or milk tart, is a custardy treat you’ll find all over South Africa. I fell in love with this little dessert on my first trip there in 2007, and (obviously) not being able to find it in the States, decided to learn to make it myself. This is a super simple recipe, especially if you cheat (like I do) and use pre-made shortbread crusts. Here’s what you’ll need: 4 cups milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 Tbsp butter 2…

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Biltong: Say It Like You Mean It

Biltong: Say It Like You Mean It

If you haven’t gathered by now, I’m married to a South African. And like any good South African, he loves his meats. See Exhibit A, the picture of my husband and his good friend Clinton at a Super Spar in Port Elizabeth. Notice the slogan behind them: “Meat: Say it like you mean it.” If you must know, there was a good deal of alcohol involved beforehand, which is why my husband’s lovely wife was taking pictures inside a grocery…

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