Mongolia is not a country renowned for being vegetarian-friendly. Because of the traditional nomadic lifestyle, as well as the harsh climate, growing vegetables hasn’t formed part of the local way of life.
People joke that in Mongolia you eat meat, more meat, with a side order of meat on top of that. So Intrepid’s Laura Carroll was pleasantly surprised to find that, at least in Ulaanbaatar, it’s possible to be vegetarian without too much trouble…
“In the city, there are actually three purely vegetarian restaurants. Ananda Cafe supports the Lotus Children’s Centre and local teens gain work experience by serving up tasty vegetarian dishes on a menu that changes every day. It’s a good place to go, knowing that in addition to enjoying a good meal you’re also supporting a good cause.
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Sabah’s ultimate taste-bud sensation is the famous hinava tongii. A combination of Spanish mackerel, chilli, ginger and shallots in lime juice, with grated bambangan seed. This indigenous variety of mango is the secret ingredient, and Intrepid Express reader Gay Everitt lifts the lid on more local delights in Borneo…
“The bustling markets of the capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, are crammed into acres of waterfront warehouses bursting with exotic foods and artefacts, all competing for space in the dimly-lit, but thankfully cool, interior. Street hawkers from nearby villages pursue you on the fringes and families watch with amusement from the decks of their fishing barges tied to the wharf.
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Can you remember the first time you got a taste for travel and tucked in to an unrecognisable plate of food that turned out to be delicious? Intrepid’s Tina Gerets wasn’t sure how her younger brother would cope, but trying something new was all part of the adventure in Morocco…
“I wondered how travelling with my teenage brother would turn out. I eat almost everything or am at least willing to give it a try, but he’s a bit of picky eater. Well, he loved the food! His favourite was tajine, a slow-cook stew that is widely available. Whether it was tajine of lamb or chicken or something else, it didn’t matter, when tajine was mentioned his face lit up.
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Why did the chicken cross the road? Who knows? But if that chicken was in Vietnam, then Intrepid’s Tracey Wajda has the local know-how that might be a clue…
“In Hanoi’s tiny Ly Van Phuc Street they serve up the most succulent barbecued chicken you’ll ever enjoy. Every one of the dozen or so restaurants in this street has a coal barbecue out front, on which racks of chicken thighs and wings, pork spare ribs, sweet potatoes and bread is being roasted and constantly brushed with honey and spicy sauces.
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What could be sweeter than Italy, when the roses are in bloom and the weather is warm? And as Intrepid traveller John Kirk attests, don’t put your Italy trip on ice, because a wonderful gastronomic adventure also awaits…
“Italy offers many tantalising treats, but none so sweet and addictive as its gelato in summer. I pretty much did a gelato tour of Italy with Intrepid’s La Dolce Vita, having at least one, but more often two cones (cono) or cups (coppa) each day.
Within an hour of checking into my hotel in Rome, I was standing at the amazing Trevi Fountain trying to decide which of the many gelateria surrounding the fountain would provide my first taste of real Italian iced confection. I joined the queue in the Gelateria di San Crispino, not knowing at the time that it has reputedly the best gelato in Italy. What a way to start my adventure!
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Intrepid’s Laura Carroll knows that sometimes the most unexpected moments are the most memorable, especially in Morocco…
“On a trip through the High Atlas Mountains, heavy rainfall and flooding prevented my group from making our planned mountain trek. After a bit of boredom, we came to an ingenious solution. Apple crumble!
We’d all been missing food from home, and here we were in one of the premier apple-growing regions of Morocco. With this idea in mind we set off to buy flour, sugar, spices and apples with which to occupy our evening.
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Sitting on the Great Wall of China sipping Great Wall wine seems a very suitable celebration, even though China is not known for the quality of its western-style wines. More famous are the Chinese-style wines, such as the strong Mao Tai, and there is also a local rice wine renowned for having a bite to it, as Express reader Jennifer Rodger discovered…
“I am a most adventurous traveller and am willing to try almost anything, so when the opportunity arose to try Snake Wine on a recent trip to China it was too hard to refuse.
It is a combination of alcohol and fermented snakes that have been slit and gutted and left to ferment in the alcohol for a ‘period of time’. There is an ancient Chinese belief that to drink this wine will give you good energy and it will promote wellness and good strength.
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Intrepid’s Danielle Watts has an extra spring in her step. The sun is shining and her breakfast of freshly baked croissants tastes delicious. The reason for all of this excitement… she is headed to one of the most famous, picturesque and revered wine regions not only in France, but throughout the world, Burgundy…
“Walking through the townships, looking at all the wonderful little shops, appreciating the old world charm and observing the locals is a fantastic way to spend the morning. However, the wine aficionado in me is eager to get in there and try some of the best wine in the world.
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Morocco is a mouthwatering destination where the flavours of Europe and the Arab world combine. Here distinctive dishes celebrate cultural traditions and as Howard Jack discovered, even a medieval method of cooking is still on most Moroccan menus…
“We had just spent 15 days on Intrepid’s Colours of Morocco trip, thoroughly enjoying the sights, the people and the food. Nearly every evening meal included a choice of various tajines - beef, lamb or fish. After two weeks you could say we were tajined out.
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