Two chicken filets. Two strips of bacon. Two slices of cheese. The “Colonel’s Sauce.”
540 calories. 32g of fat. 1380mg of sodium.
I take on the Double Down.
Food & Drink
Icelandic Bread Eating Challenge
This wasn’t an eating contest so much as it was a quest to see just how big my mouth truly is. Bónus is an Icelandic supermarket chain and home to some of the thickest-cut bread I have ever seen. How many pieces can I fit in my mouth hole? Watch and find out. [Note: some language in the video is NSFW]
Travel Tip #61: Find Local Food Specialists
Whether it’s the street vendor serving this best Pho in Saigon, the restaurant in Osaka whipping up the best okonomiyaki or a delightful farm in Upstate New York churning out the best apple cider donuts, it pays to seek out specialists who make…well…the best something.
Have you sought out a specialist to fix you a place’s best? Share your bests in the comments below.
Travel Tip #345: Eat Chili
Whether you’re in a cabin on a winter getaway, camping in the woods or road tripping through the American Southwest, chili is a staple food. Cook a batch yourself if you can. If you don’t have the facilities or the wherewithal to whip up a steaming pot of goodness, find a place that specializes in it. The more they tout their “secret recipe” the better. And if their signage includes an anthropomorphic animal wearing a bib while holding a knife and fork, you’re golden.
What do you put in your chili? I’m a cheese and Fritos man, myself. Rice is nice. Crackers are decent. Have any suggestions? Leave ‘em in the comments. And if you’ve found a sweet chili spot in your travels, spill the beans in the comments, too!
Travel Tip #176: Try a Russian Drop Bomb
If you find yourself in Goomeri, Queensland, Australia, do be sure to order a round of Russian Drop Bombs (aka Goomeri Blue Bombs) at Joe’s Grand Hotel.
Travel Tip #11: Order Chocolate Cake From Room Service
Photo by Flickr user octal.
Normally I avoid hotels. I tend to rent apartments, crash with friends or even grab a room at a hostel. And I would advise you to do the same. But if you do find yourself in a hotel, take advantage of it. Room service may be expensive, but it’s food…delivered to your room…on a cart with wheels. One minute you’re in your room with no chocolate cake. The next…there’s chocolate cake!
It’s a scientific fact that chocolate cake simply tastes better when eaten in a hotel room. Preferably while in bed. Get crumbs everywhere. Wipe your mouth on the sheets. Savor every bite while watching a horrendous movie that you can’t identify because hotel televisions don’t display program titles. You’d never sit around watching that Ben Affleck abortion at home. Then again, you probably wouldn’t eat a $12 piece of chocolate cake at home either. But you’re in a hotel. And there’s room service. And I’ll be damned if that isn’t some good chocolate cake.
If you know what the hell movie you’re watching, please do let me know.
Travel Tip #67: Eat Local Junk Food
If you’re like me, you treat your body like a temple. But travel is about stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing other cultures. And that includes enjoying the snack foods of the places that you visit. Sure, we all fancy ourselves foodies of the highest order, but everyone needs low brow snacks in their lives. There are few better ways to experience the local palate than to consume their junk food.
The French are known for haute cuisine, but they also enjoy pairing their wines with chorizo-flavored potato chips (I recommend a single-serving box). And who hasn’t eaten a Cheeto and thought, “I sure wish this also tasted like bacon?” Well, the Australians remedied that predicament.
So the next time you find yourself in a foreign land, eschew eating at a fancy restaurant or having your host family cook for you. Instead, find the local corner store and ask for their finest fried pork product. You’ll be glad you did.
26 Japanese Beverages
I found an album in iPhoto this morning that I realized I never posted on Flickr. It contains 26 photos of beverages that I purchased exclusively from vending machines in Japan during a ten-day trip in May 2008. I had intended to make a giant poster featuring every photo. Then I realized that a poster of cans and bottles is not terribly exciting. Also, I’m too old to hang posters in my apartment. But I’m not averse to posting the photos online for the public good. Some of my most vivid memories of Japan are the tastes and textures of those beverages. I don’t miss the giant gelatinous cubes in this thing, though.
Check out the whole gallery here.
