Flavacation

Explore delicious eateries from around the world!

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Riads, Lamb and Ice Cold Waters— a trip to Morocco

                      Pictured above: our hotel, Le Riad Jardin D’Abdou

Riads, Lamb, and Waters - a Trip to Morocco

 In March, 2016, I visited Marrakech and Casablanca, Morocco with a group of friends from University. North Africa is a short flight from Dublin, and we touched down on a very gray Moroccan evening, and promptly hailed a cab to our hotel, the Riad Le Jardin D’Abdou.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we were blown away by the beauty of the Moroccan riads. A riad, is an enclosed structure, which has a central, open-air courtyard in it, typically with a small pool of water and tables to dine at. Given the manic nature of Marrakech, we quickly discovered that our Riad was our sanctuary from the insanity of the open air markets and craziness that ensued when traveling the streets of the city.

            The Medina (the central market area of Marrakech) in the evenings

We arrived at the riad—which was unmarked, and knocked on the door. A small door opened, and we were asked our booking details. Upon confirmation, a larger door, of the main door, opened and we stepped into a beautiful African oasis, which was dimly lit, and featured palm trees and friendly staff. The walls and arches of the architecturally magnificent interior of the riad, were covered in artful, blue and white mosaic tiles, and I was captivated by the beauty of the building’s interior. To this day, I still would like to own a Moroccan riad—hopefully in my retirement.

 We were ushered to our room, and we set up our belongings, then went downstairs to the riad restaurant for an incredible meal of lamb and chicken tajines (the native Moroccan dish, which involves cooking spiced meat and vegetables in clay pots).

                       A traditional Moroccan Lamb and Vegetable Tajine

The meal was fantastic—albeit a bit overpriced for Moroccan standards at about 20 Euro, we enjoyed it thoroughly, and after a long day of travel, it was incredible to finally relax and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

 We quickly found that Morocco would not be a “session holiday”. It was very pricey to obtain alcohol in the country, and we came to a conclusion, that if we were going to do this trip economically, it wouldn’t be possible to party.

 However, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Marrakech with my friends and have vowed to see the city again in the future. The incredible insanity of the open air markets, and the beauty of the medina are what ultimately stood out to me. Our excursion through the Sahara desert to Casablanca, was also an amazing trip, and we sampled the seafood there and also visited one of the largest mosques in the world—and, the only, surviving catholic church in the country, reminiscent of the country’s origins.

            The boys featured outside the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Overall, I loved visiting both Marrakech and Casablanca, and can’t wait to travel back again with my family someday.

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Steak and Frites En Paris

                                     The banks of the Sienne

Steak and Frites in Paris

In 2008, while still in secondary school, I traveled to Paris with my family. My Dad is an airline pilot, and had been on numerous layovers in the city while jumping around Europe, so he was excited to show us around.

 The architectural beauty of the city blew me away. The old and the new mixed together almost seamlessly, exuding the powerful message of French creativity and individuality that we all know and love around the world.

                                             L’Arc De Triomphe

Walking around the banks of Seinne, I still remember the sounds, smells and sights vividly today. Endless pigeons circled the sky, and artists dotted the parameter of the banks, both sitting stationary, painting the scenes in a realist fashion, as well as hawking their works from small roadside carts.

 We visited the Louvre and saw famous works, such as the Mona Lisa and a variety of paintings by impressionist and post impressionist artists, including Manet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and Van Gogh, but I have to say, my favorite part about the French culture was the food.

Le Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe - a famous Eduard Manet panting

One night, we took a recommendation from the owner of the condo we were renting regarding one of the city’s most delicious steak and French fries restaurants. I still remember the meal today—11 years later, as one of the most incredible dishes I have ever tasted while abroad.

 We arrived at the restaurant (Le Relais de L’Entrecôte) and all ordered the standard plate of Filet Mignon and French Fries (Frites, en Français). The steaks, cooked medium, to perfection, were fantastic, but I remember the incredible sauce that covered the dish the most vividly. The steak and fries were covered with a green, slightly bitter and a bit balsamic-tasting sauce, which went very well with the meal, and complimented the taste of the steak fantastically. The waiter later told us that the steaks were also soaked in blood for thirty days before being served—leave it to the French to come up with something like that.

                                             The steak and Frites

After tasting some wine, we ventured back to our hotel, but for some reason that meal has always stuck with me, despite having had so many more fantastic meals while there.

 Le Tour Eiffel was an incredible experience, and we visited many of the tourist attractions as well, such as the Arc De Triomphe, but one thing that will forever stick in my mind from the trip, wandering the streets of Paris, was that so many people were sporting “Obama ‘08” t-shirts. It was a time of enormous change in the world, and after two terms of George W. Bush as president, even the French people wanted a more liberal, congenial and diplomatic change to the United States foreign policy. Those two things will forever reside in the accessible recesses of my mind: Steak and Frites with green sauce, and French People rocking “Obama ‘09” t-shirts. I don’t have a picture - I wish I did. So here are the two titans pictured together.

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Feeling a Sweet Sensation in Lagos

The last time I was in Lagos, Nigeria, I took a trip to Sweet Sensation. Sweet Sensation is an authentic Nigerian indegenous brand of restaurant that serves authentic Nigerian indigenous cuisine. This restaurant has some sentimental significance for me; It’s where I had my very first birthday. Sweet Sensation is primarily based in Lagos state; one of the 36 states in Nigeria with the city of Lagos being the most populous city in Nigeria. The owner chose to stay in Lagos for the most part because she owns each individual Sweet Sensation branch; It is not a franchise business, so she wanted to maintain the quality of service at each branch by ensuring operations are not expanded too far. 

Courtesy to customers is given highest attention by all staff at Sweet Sensation. Everything is centered around providing customers with a memorable and enjoyable experience from the moment you enter the vicinity. Each Sweet Sensation branch is designed to have ample parking space. The car and bus are main modes of transport in Nigeria so they have to cater for all there customers. On entering the restaurant you will see that each Sweet Sensation branch is uniquely designed on the exterior and interior. The motivation behind the design is to attract all age groups and particularly children.They were the first restaurant in Nigeria to introduce play areas with toys for children to spend time in after they finished eating.

Speaking of food! People love to eat and eat well in Nigeria. You cannot host an occasion in Nigeria without serving food. Having said that, Sweet Sensation hosts a wide array of Nigerian cuisine. From yam and egg, swallow (This is a group of foods that you are supposed to swallow and not chew when eating. Some examples include garri, ebba, pounded yam, pounded rice...Oh yes, you heard that right.) and sweet potato to your staple rice, stew, fish, plantain, moin-moin (made with beans) and more. Sweet Sensation have you covered.

They also have a signature dish called farmhouse pottage. It’s lime-green in colour and is a Sweet Sensation trade secret. They are the only ones in Nigeria who produce this dish. They also serve yam pottage which is orange in colour and well known throughout Nigeria.

When you are placing your order in Sweet Sensation, you wait in line then point at the foods you would like in your meal and the server will dish them for you on your tray then you can pay by cash or card. Sweet Sensation was the first restaurant in Nigeria to introduce trays for customer convenience and to speed up order processing. They also have a unique cooking style. For example, when they are cooking yam and egg, they don’t cook the yam and egg separately. They cook them together so the egg sticks to the yam. Delicious!

They serve nice big portions so you can eat well. The food is quite filling. You will literally taste the value for money. They also serve pastries like meat pie, and cake on special order at all branches and do delivery as well. In fact, people order food for delivery from Sweet Sensation just so they can get their special takeaway pack. They also have halls for social occasions like birthday parties that people can rent out.

Sweet Sensation is a special restaurant in Nigeria that many Nigerians grew up with and know well. If you want to try Nigerian cuisine, eat a filling meal and get a taste for the culture through the food then this is the place to be. I hope you enjoy your customer experience here too and that it is a memorable and sweet sensation!

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Best Restaurant in Cancún

Restaurante Mextreme: A Lively, Delicious, and Affordable Place to Eat

Similarly, to you, when I thought about and ultimately traveled to Cancún, Mexico, I was attracted to the array of beautiful beaches, the lively nightlife of clubs and bars, and the other seemingly endless list of tourist attractions. From the Underwater Museum to the Ruins at Tulum, Cancún has something for everyone! But what about the food and restaurants in Cancún?

While the tropical-vacation hot-spot, has an incredible selection of delicious and affordable restaurants, do not waste your time wandering and trying to find a good place to eat. Go directly to the best restaurant in Cancún – Restaurante Mextreme! It is conveniently located in la zona hotelera, a short walking distance from most of the resorts, beaches, clubs, and stores in Cancún. Coinciding with the vacation spirit, Mextreme is a very casual, yet spirited atmosphere. You have the option to either sit inside or outdoors, there’s always live music playing, and there are decorations hanging everywhere, creating a very welcoming and friendly environment. Also, not to mention, the servers provide entertainment through balancing several drinks on his/her head, while also cracking jokes with customers. In addition to the great entertainment, the servers also provide exquisite service. They are checking-in with the table frequently and catering to every consumer need with speed and precision, making it the best place to eat.

As for when I visited Mextreme, my friends and I decided to sit outside for dinner, enjoying the wonderful Cancún evening. We first ordered a round of margaritas for the five of us, all of which were delivered to us balanced on the head of our server, Carlos. Speaking on behalf of the group consensus, these were the best margaritas we have ever tasted. I truly wished that my glass would never end. It was the perfect blend of sweet and sour with the natural bite of the tequila, leaving me craving for more. Similarly, to our drinks, Mextreme prepares the best food in Cancún. They offer mouth-watering plates, so delicious they could appear in your dreams.

After the drink request, my table ordered chips and guac to start the meal. I am certain that none of us have ever tasted better or fresher guacamole before in our lives. The server, Carlos, prepared the guac in front of us! At the table side, we saw him craft the magnificent dip out of raw ingredients in a matter of minutes. The whole process was captivating and made the appetizer taste that much better.

When looking at the dinner options, Mextreme has a wide variety of plate options that each root to traditional Mexican food. Although a difficult choice, I ended up ordering the chicken enchiladas for my dinner meal. The enchiladas were cooked to perfection. They were both drizzled on and stuffed with savory sauces and cheese, while the chicken was excellent with flavor, moisture, and zest. My friends also ordered some of the delicious traditional Mexican cuisine, such as the fajitas and Sopa Maya. To no surprise, their reviews and feelings about the food were similar to mine – Mextreme is the best restaurant and offers the best food in Cancún. 

After tasting a variety of plates at many different restaurants in Cancún, none could compare to the incredible, Mextreme. The wonderful eatery is an affordable restaurant (ranging from around $8-$20), with very large portions, leaving everyone stuffed and more than satisfied. Mextreme is not a place you “should” eat but rather a restaurant you NEED to experience. I am confident in saying that Mextreme is not only the best restaurant in Cancún, but it is one of the best places to eat in the entire world. There is not a doubt in my mind that I will be eating here again, soon. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you there?

- Ben Robinson

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Spanish feeling in Ronda

The taste of Spain

Ronda in Andalusia is a small city in the south of Spain in the province Malaga. It is surrounded by a breath-taking view of the panorama of Ronda Mountains. Ronda is one of the cities in the south of Spain where you get a real feeling of Spanish lifestyle, culture and food. When I came here in summer 2018, there was no place in Andalusia, where I could relax so much and enjoy the sweetness of live in Spain with traditional food and wine and enjoy the view of outstanding sunsets from an altitude of 750 meters (2,460 ft). Ronda is the pearl of Spain where you can dive into the carefree nature of south Spanish culture, all for a very good value of money.

So why should you take the next flight to Sevilla or Malaga and drive to Ronda?

There are many reasons, this region offers a lot of places to go, but I will mention a few points as to why to go there:

Traditional Spanish food

 Arabic cuisine, because of its history

 Even a vast array of vegetarian and vegan cuisine

 Hiking paradise (not in summer)

 Relaxing vibe with a glorious view

Main sights!

As you can see, Ronda was built on a plateau over the river Guadalevin which runs straight through the city and the canyon is incorporated into the city seamlessly, creating a unique sight. Due to that this, houses are built very close to the 120-metre sheer drop, not for the faint hearted! The river divides Ronda in two parts which are connected by the bridge Puente Nuevo. Puente Nuevo is the main attraction in Ronda, because it shows the real beauty of this city.

This is also where I would recommend the best restaurant in Ronda. It provides you with an unbelievable panorama and even more importantly, delicious food! It doesn´t matter, if you are vegetarian, vegan or a meat lover you will all be happy here. With a traditional Spanish kitchen, you can taste Spain in Ronda.

The restaurant is called Restaurant Albacara, which is in the Hotel Monteliero and offers traditional Spanish and Arabic cuisine and sometimes a fusion of the two. The view and the food make your stay unforgettable, I swear.

My first dish was Iberian Pork filled with confit mushrooms. The next dish was Duck confit with peach sauce and orange shavings and for dessert I ate a chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream. All the dishes were absolutely delicious, but the best was the main course, the combination of the ingrediencies and the flavours still creates an explosion in my mouth when I cast my mind back. We drank a regional red wine, which you can only buy in Ronda. The wine was called Chinchilla Doble Doce and was a perfect complement to the dishes and I wish I could buy it here. Sadly, I don´t have any pictures of the food but you can check it out here. To sum it up, the evening was breath-taking with the sunset and unforgettable in terms of taste, when you go to Ronda, save a bit of money and indulge your sense with food and the relaxed Spanish feeling. Also, Albacara is in the Michelin Guide, which is even more impressive that it is not over-priced, and you will not regret it! I rate Albacara earns a 9.5/10, because this evening will be forever in my mind, but minus 0.5 because the price is a bit expensive for a student, but still worth it.

The best way to experience the small city is by walking through it and exploring all the tiny alleyways which provide a lot of surprises and magnificent views over the city. The risk to get lost is pretty low, because the main plaza is on the top of the plateau.

                                            -Ronda traditional Spain-

On the second day we made a different choice and went to a typical tapas bar, its name is Toro Tapas and was class. For a tapas restaurant I give you the clear advice to taste as many things as you can. For Toro Tapas I can clearly say that the service, the tapas and the wines were perfect. You don´t get as a good view or as fancy dishes as in Albacara, but you get an authentic Spanish experience for a good value for money. The menus clearly advertise what is for vegetarians or vegans and the waiters are helping you if you need some advice. All in all, perfect for a traditional Spanish night! Overall, I give Toro Tapas 8/10, because there was no possibility to eat al fresco. Check the website here.

There is one important and last question. How do you get to Ronda?

There are two possibilities to get to Ronda. It is best if you fly to Sevilla International Airport, because most of the flights are going to Sevilla, the capital city of Andalusia. This is the cheaper option but not as flexible is taking the train. It takes you around 5 hours and costs you just around 27€ (via thetrainline) and you can enjoy beautiful views over the superb landscape of Andalusia.

The second option is more expensive, but more flexible in terms of driving around and discovering more of the surroundings of Spain. The easiest way of hiring a car is via europecar or sixt or just check it out there are lots of companies which would love to give you a car, but you have to be 21-23 years to be allowed to hire a car. If you successfully hired a car you will need around 2,5 hours to get to Ronda. However, on some parts of the motorway you have to pay a toll, but mostly they are not much higher than 2-5€.

If you want to have more information about Ronda itself, just drop a message and ask me about it. I really would like to answer all your questions! So, get your culinary adventure started and come to Ronda!

-Thomas.T

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Seattle’s Must Eat Vietnamese

Reckless Noodles: A Seattle Visitor’s Must Eat Asian Cuisine 

If you know me at all you know that I love food. Sometimes I feel like my life revolves around it, and not in a bad way. That being said I knew that studying abroad for 4 months was going to bring me to new cities, new people and new food. To say that I was excited is an understatement.

Along with all the adventures I am having and will continue to have abroad, I am also attending class. Currently I am enrolled in a Digital Marketing course and for this module we are required to create a blog. Guess what topic I chose? Yes, I am talking about food. And more specifically I am going to talk about Seattle’s best Vietnamese restaurant, Reckless Noodles.

Seattle is well known for its food, from fresh seafood to chicken teriyaki to its multitude of coffee shops. With so many restaurants to choose from I had a hard time narrowing it down to just one. In the end, I have chosen to write about this restaurant that stole my heart when it opened one year ago. Since then I’ve gone every chance I’ve had.

This hidden Seattle Vietnamese gem is located on Jackson Street, and offers a tiki, cool-guy vibe. The owners are incredibly friendly and their love of innovative food shows through in their quirky menu options. The cuisine is very different than any other cheap Seattle noodle place I’ve ever tried.

The first time I went we started with the Caramelized Pork Fresh Roll and oh my gosh that's when I knew it was love. My family and I were literally fighting over the last roll in all its juicy, spicy glory. We had to order another right away.

For the main event we went with the Shrimp Curry Vermicelli Bowl, the Reckless Pastrami Fried Rice and the Hokkien Wok Noodle. I have a particular affinity for curry, and so I have to say the shrimp bowl was my favorite dish. It was the perfect mix of spices, veggies, noodles and shellfish. Also, this item was the cheapest large bite so it offers a great option to student travelers visiting Seattle on a budget. (It is also gluten free and has a vegetarian tofu option!)

Next was the Reckless Fried Rice, complete with coconut rice, pastrami, egg and chili jam. The pastrami made the rice dish different than any I had tasted before and it was absolutely delicious. Finishing off the main meal was the Hokkien Wok Noodle. This dish offered thick noodles in a sambal (read spicy) broth. The pork shoulder was cooked perfectly and I honestly had no complaints.

Although Seattle has a booming food scene, Reckless Noodles stands out as a must eat. Portraying Seattle Vietnamese cuisine in a new light, Reckless offers fun, vibrant dishes that go above and beyond the normal pho scene and play with new ingredients like pastrami and curry vermicelli. In all honestly this is a place I would come back to for their cheap noodles and happy hour deals - the caramelized pork roll is only $4! All in all I’m a fan of Reckless Noodles on Jackson and it is most definitely a must eat while in Seattle. Check out the website here and if you visit let me know what you think :) https://www.recklessnoodles.com/

-Audrey Stocker

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Filets in Bucharest

In November 2015, I visited Bucharest, Romania with a group of friends from University. Although I was blown away by the incredible hospitality exhorted by the Romanian people—everything from tips on how to navigate the city, to best attractions and bars to get a drink at, the thing that really amazed me was the incredible selection of world-class restaurants and ethnic food.

                                          Sightseeing in the city center

While touring the city, my friends and I sampled everything from Indian cuisine to Japanese-fusion, but the restaurant that really blew me away in terms of selection of dishes (as well as fair prices and locally-sourced ingredients), was situated in the hotel we stayed at; The Arc De Triomph.

                 The Arc De Triomphe Hotel, pictured in all its glory.

The hotel boasts an array of quiet and well-priced rooms, styled in Parisian décor, and is located close to the main city center, which made it an ideal spot to base our weekend tourist trip to the famous city.

Walking into the restaurant, with its classical, white marble flooring and gregarious staff who greeted us with traditional congenial Romanian hospitality, I was expecting big things.

While I gazed around at the ornate chandeliers lining the ceiling and took a first glance at the menu, our waiter guided us through the nights’ specials and indicated that the sea food platter was highly acclaimed as one of their most delicious dishes. My friend Ryan opted for the platter, while I decided on a locally-sourced cut of Filet Mignon, accompanied by a glass of Martini Bianco served over ice.

                  Martini Bianco on the rocks with a filet and seafood platter

The filet was an impressive cut for the price I paid (roughly the equivalent of 15 Euro in Romania’s home-currency of Lei), and was cooked medium as requested. I also sampled some of the squid that accompanied my friend’s seafood platter and tried some caviar on small, artisan crackers as a side. Needless to say, it was delicious.

The meal was fantastic (overall an 8.5/10 for value, and a 9/10 for taste and service), and we ended up going back to the restaurant later in the weekend. 

I would highly recommend Romania for a value-filled, weekend getaway, and have plans to return before I graduate from university in May of this year.

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