BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

Belgium , a culinary masterpiece where food is at it's finest in Central Europe. Belgium where the land is fertile and the sea beckons, a country filled with mesmerizing cities and villages, lovely architecture, and cultural stimulation. And it's in Belgium where citizens and tourists alike flock to eating establishments to please their palates with beer, beef stew, fresh seafood, pommes frites, waffles and famous Belgium chocolate. Chocolate is synonymous with BELGIUM and for good reason because it tastes divine. One of the reasons why Belgium chocolate is the best in the world is because many of the chocolatiers are run by families who make it by hand using simple equipment and mixing the cocoa beans thinly for a smooth texture. A famous chocolatier name is Neuhaus. In 1857 Jean Neuhaus arrived in Brussels from Switzerland and opened a pharmacy at Galerie De la Reine. He covered his medicines with a layer of chocolate to make it easier to handle. Y...

My roots take me back to Ukraine where my parents are from but Detroit is where I was born. My birth language was Ukrainian and it's all I spoke until I was six years old. I was sent to Ukrainian language school in Detroit and took Ukrainian dance classes and learned how to cook Ukrainian food. It was only fitting that I visit Ukraine one day and the opportunity came back a few years ago when I was invited to teach English to students of all ages in Stryi, not far from the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. Spending over a month teaching three classes per day was extremely fulfilling. My students ranged in age from 4 years old to 70 and each of them left a thumbprint on my heart. These students studied diligently and together we mastered some difficult assignments. UKRAINE:                                                ...

July is the hottest month of the year in Italy. Gelato which tastes magnifico was invented in Italy and is enjoyed year round in Italy but especially in the summer months like July. Gelato which mean frozen in Italian is made of cream, milk, and sugar and flavored with fruit and nut purees. Italian gelato is rich in taste because it has less air and more flavoring than gelato made in other countries. In Italy by law, gelato must have at least 3.5% butterfat. Florence native Bernardo Buontalenti and Sicilian born Francesco Procopio are credited for their discovery of "gelato" and now it can be enjoyed all over Italy from Bologna to Sardinia. Gelaterie is a gelato shop. A gelato vendor is a gelatai. There are many flavors of gelato.....bacio, fragola, limone, stracciatella, and zabaione are a few. When in Italy.....eat lots of gelato. Buon Appetito!

Norway is a stunner. It's truly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Though expensive it's worthy of a visit for the fjords, mountains, sea, and endless nature at every corner. My first encounter with NORWAY was in the late 20th century. I was in my 20's and wanted a summer job in Europe. My dream came true when a farmer in Kristiansand invited me to spend three months taking  care of his farm retreat. What a farm it was. Lots of land full of cows, pigs, and sheep. There was a lake for fishing and swimming and furnished cabins scattered along the hilly terrain for visitors who rented the cabins for a relaxing vacation close to Kristiansand and the sea. I worked seven days a week that summer doing everything from milking cows to painting fences. My dear friends that summer were a brother and sister from Poland who worked on the farm and a local Norwegian girl who managed the office and rented out the cabins. I worked har...

I only made one short visit to Japan but in that short visit I was in awe of the culture and cuisine. The Japanese have one of the healthiest diets in the world. Not only is Japanese food healthy but it's very pleasing to the palate. Taking one hour out of the day to sit down and enjoy sushi with green tea is very soothing. There are multiple ways to enjoy eating sushi but a favorite is to sit at a sushi bar and observe a professional sushi chef prepare sushi with perfection.   Another option is to visit a Japanese restaurant with a conveyer belt and handpick plates of sushi and other Japanese specialities. You can enjoy sushi with a glass of sake or a pot of traditional Japanese tea. Hanaya Yohei is credited for inventing hand formed sushi. He started selling sushi around 1828 in Tokyo. What would the world be without sushi? The Japanese love their sushi and so do many other ethnic cultures. If you're craving something sweet you'll love Japanese ...

Swiss Chocolate                                                                                                                 Swiss Cog Rail It's only 41, 285 kilometers in size but every inch of Switzerland is filled with splendor. This small alpine country in central Europe is the land of Alps, banks, cows, chocolate, four languages and the magnificent Alps. Switzerland is one of the cleanest and safest countries in the world and although it's expensive a trip to Switzerland is worth the splurge. From first class hotels to family run pensions the Swiss are known for their hospitality and sophistication. Some Interesting Facts about Switzerland: The four national languages of Switzer...

Tea is now becoming the more favored beverage around the world and with great reason; tea has antioxidants, it's gentle on the throat, it can be enjoyed in a relaxing environment with friends, and family, and the choices of tea flavors are endless. My favorite? MASALA CHAI In India, masala chai is the national drink that is consumed by most Indians. The scents of cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger are alluring and they're the key spices that make "MASALA CHAI" so tasty. Yesterday my good Indian friend from Northern India invited me into the kitchen of her Indian cafe and made me some samosa's, saag panner, and a pot of Masala Chai.Although I've been making masala chai for months it wasa privilege to watch my Indian friend make a divine pot of tea that pleased my tastebuds so much that I consumed a few cups of this magical tea. If you want to spice up your life with with a tea that pleases the tastebuds, indulge in some MASALA CHAI and experience s...