Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Travel

Asparagus-mania in Germany

Who likes asparagus? (I do.)

If you like asparagus, you should go to Germany during the next two months. That’s because Germany has just entered Spargelzeit, otherwise known as asparagus season.

This is the first I’ve ever heard of this, which kind of surprises me. (I like to think I’m in-the-know when it comes to food customs around the world, especially in Central Europe.) As it turns out, every year at this time, when asparagus is in season, Germany eats and celebrates all things asparagus (which they call the king of vegetables).

In Berlin it starts with a ceremonial tasting at Brandenburg Gate. From there the asparagus festivities reach epic levels. There is plenty of eating of course—asparagus sausage, asparagus soup, ham with asparagus embedded in it, asparagus ice cream. But it goes beyond food. There are asparagus festivals. There are heated debates about the best ways to cook asparagus. At least one town crowns an annual Asparagus Queen (with crowns of asparagus).

And yes, it does mean that toilets around Germany have a special smell this time of year.

Photo: Spree2010 via Flickr

The McBaguette hits France

I have mixed feelings about this one, but mostly amusement. McDonald’s restaurants across France have just unveiled a new sandwich: the McBaguette.

If you ask me, the sandwich itself looks a little on the terrible side. (This coming from a person who believes a simple baguette with cheese is the greatest snack in the world.) The McBaguette is a baguette with two burgers on it side by side, plus lettuce and some French mustard. Sort of like a horizontal double cheeseburger with a baguette instead of a bun.

The McBaguette just went on sale on April 18 and will be around for six weeks. If it’s popular, it will probably return. Not surprisingly, it’s getting mixed reactions from the French. Some like the idea of injecting French culinary culture into the local McDonald’s menu. Others think the baguette itself is too soft. Others probably think the McBaguette is a sign of the apocalypse.

Anyone traveling to France in the next six weeks? Though I'd hate to suggest using up a Paris meal at McDonald’s (there are too many other delicious traditional options available), I must admit that I am curious about the McBaguette. I’d like to hear how it is.

Photo: msnbcmedia.msn.com

A new bug-eating trend in the Netherlands?

This may surprise you. It surprised me. It may also make you gag. (It didn't quite make me gag.)

I just read about a new cookbook that came out Tuesday in the Netherlands. Some Dutch people hope the book's release will mark the start of a new culinary trend in the country: eating insects. (Here’s a video too.)

The cookbook (title translated as “The Insect Cookbook”) is full of recipes and ideas for cooking with bugs. For instance, sprinkle worms on your chocolate muffins. Or add grasshoppers to your mushroom risotto.

There are all kinds of reasons to eat insects. You’ve probably heard them before. The main one is bugs are a good source of protein. The cookbook's creators also talk about the future—as population levels continue to grow and food sources become more scarce, insects could provide necessary nutrition. So we should start getting used to it now.

The people behind the cookbook hope that insect dishes will start appearing more often at restaurants around the Netherlands and in Dutch people’s homes.

Unfortunately, the cookbook itself is in Dutch, so unless you speak the language you may not be able to follow the recipes yourself. But if you’re going to Amsterdam, who knows, maybe you’ll see some insect dishes on the menu.

Photo: MICHAEL KOOREN/Reuters

Sometimes it smells on the plane

I thought this was pretty amusing, this article about stinky things on airplanes. Have you ever been on an airplane where something (or someone) smelled really bad?

It’s not often we're in such a confined space with so many other people for such long stretches of time. We're not usually so at the mercy of others people's smells. It does call for some level of consideration.

There have been times when I’ve wanted to pick up some McDonald’s or something just before a flight. But I always feel kind of weird and bad about making everyone smell my Big Mac. So I usually don’t do it.

That said, at least Big Macs smell pretty good (in my opinion). They certainly smell better than some of the offensive odors described in the article. Smelly feet, changing baby diapers, rowdy cheeses, people painting their fingernails. In one instance, a woman was told to stop painting her nails, and after sneaking into the bathroom to finish the job, she was eventually arrested (thanks to a foul-mouthed confrontation with a flight attendant).

The article offers helpful advice for being a courteous and non-smelly flier. Try to shower before your flight, go easy on the perfume and cologne, and in the hours before departure, try to avoid eating foods that might make you toot.

Photo: Bekathwia via Flickr (CC)

Fun with made-up travel words

This is funny, I wish I had thought of it. I just came across this list of 30 travel terms that don’t exist but should, from Lonely Planet.

Basically, the team at Lonely Planet has made up a bunch of travel-related words. As a writer, I love words. And as a traveler, I love travel. So this is right up my alley. As the intro paragraph on the page says, when we travel we run into all kinds of memorable, often indescribable situations and experiences. Sometimes words don’t do it justice. That’s the spirit behind Lonely Planet’s 30 made-up travel words. To try to fill in those gaps a little bit.

My personal favorites on the list:

afterglobe n.
The warm, fuzzy feeling one gets after a long immensely satisfying trip.

carbungle n.
Embarrassment caused by trying and failing to start, find reverse, or otherwise operate an unfamiliar automobile in a foreign country and having to ask someone for help.

trambunctious adj.
Overly excited by riding trains, funiculars, and other forms of public transport.

Good ones. I especially like 'afterglobe'. I just like the way the word sounds. And I like the feeling itself. I like the feeling of afterglobe.

Photo: Mark Z. via Flickr (CC)

A couple bright spots in cold Europe

Not sure if you’ve seen the news, but it’s been cold in Europe the past several days. Very cold. It’s actually really no laughing matter at all, as the brutal cold has caused a number of deaths and various other problems throughout the continent.

But I have come across two lighter items resulting from the otherwise bleak situation.

The Mannekin-Pis is having to hold in his pee. You may recall that the Mannekin-Pis in Brussels is one of my favorite statues in the world. Due to the extremely cold temperatures, they've had to turn off his stream to prevent freezing inside the statue's inner workings. Authorities say he will go back to peeing normally when the weather turns.

Farther east, in Ankara, Turkey, one guy is making the most of the unusual snowfall. Check out this video of him snowboarding through the city streets. It’s something you don’t see every day. (I don’t recommend trying this at home. Or in Turkey for that matter.)

Anyway, let's hope for a quick end to the cold snap. We all look forward to warm and sunny summer days in Europe.

Photo: kevsunblush via Flickr (CC)

Groundhog Day around the world?

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone.

Sorry to break the news, but Punxsutawney Phil—the most famous of all the Groundhog Day groundhogs—saw his shadow this morning. We have six more weeks of winter.

This got me wondering if there are any similar traditions in other countries around the world. Here’s what I found out:

Serbian Orthodox Christians have a very similar tradition to our Groundhog Day. On February 15, during the feast of Sretenje, they believe a bear will wake up from its winter sleep. If the groggy bear sees its shadow, it will get scared and go back to sleep for 40 more days, prolonging winter for several weeks.

In Portugal, February 2 is Candelária Day. On this day, according to legend, if the Candelária is smiling (in other words, if it’s sunny out), the winter will continue on, while if the Candelária is crying (it’s rainy), then winter is done. I couldn’t find any reports on this year’s results from today.

On June 27 in Germany, they celebrate Siebenschläfertag (Seven Sleepers Day). If it rains on this day, that means the whole summer is going to be rainy.

Finally, in the U.K., July 15 is known as St. Swithun's day. Legend says that if it rains on St. Swithun's day, it will continue raining for the next 40 days and nights.

Call me biased, but I like Groundhog Day the best.

Photo: SchultzLabs via Flickr (CC)

A year to honor food in Brussels

I don’t often write about Brussels in this blog (except when I want to talk about my favorite statue the Mannekin-Pis), but it turns out that 2012 is the year of Brusselicious. The year-long event aims to show the world that the Belgian capital is a true gourmet destination.

It all kicked off a couple days ago, when more than 600 Belgian chefs threw their chef’s hats up in the air at the same time (setting a world record actually). From there, the year will feature all kinds of events, everything from food-related films to a gastronomy festival to a five-star restaurant suspended in the sky from a giant crane.

Even though the Brusselicious organizers specifically say the point of the event is to show that Belgium food culture is about more than just Belgian waffles, I would like to focus on Belgian waffles. Because they’re delicious, and because they’re classic, and because there are a number of EF College Break trips that stop for lunch in Brussels on the way between Paris and Amsterdam. If you have time for one lunch in Brussels, I say get a waffle.

I also want to talk about Belgian french fries. French fries stalls in Europe are amazing. You get a paper cone full of these delicious fries, along with the dipping sauce of your choice. I’ve had them in Brussels, I’ve had them in Amsterdam. As part of Brusselicious this year, you can do a “fritkots” walk, which is like a pub crawl for awesome french fries. You go from stall to stall, eating the different fries. I would love to do this.

Anyway, if you find yourself in Brussels in 2012, be aware of the Brusselicious unfolding all around you. And enjoy a waffle (with some fries for dessert).

Photo: soloakewlstick via Flickr (CC)

Australia’s offbeat sporting events in 2012

One of the reasons to go to Australia is to experience all their funny unusual customs. (Other reasons to go to Australia are exotic animals and incredible beaches.)

Nowhere is the wacky Aussie sensibility more evident than in this entertaining list of the country’s top 2012 sporting events. I don’t think any EF College Break trips will actually be in the right place at the right time to go see these events in person, but that’s beside the point. The point is that the sports exist, and that the spirit behind them can be found all over Australia any time of year. And who knows, maybe you'll stumble upon a practice run.

I’ll let you read about the events for yourself, but here are my favorites:

1. Tunarama – Fishermen throw large fresh tunas as far as they can.

2. Cockroach World Championships – Cockroaches race around a circular track. They also compete in a steeplechase where they leap over a garden hose.

3. Wife-Carrying championships – Competitors race 200 meters through an obstacle course while carrying their wives. The champions (husband and wife) win the wife’s weight in beer.

If these events are just too quirky for you, you can always fall back on traditional Australian Football.

Photo: VRGuy via Flickr (CC)

Spanish village votes to stay Smurfy blue

I like this story. A small village near the Costa del Sol in southern Spain has just voted to keep all the buildings in town Smurf blue.

All 175 buildings in tiny Júzcar were painted sky blue for the filming of the Smurfs movie. Sony Pictures promised to paint the town back to normal after filming (normally the buildings are white), but the people of Júzcar have just voted overwhelmingly to keep it Smurfy blue.

I’d like to say it’s because the 221 residents of Júzcar love the Smurfs, but really it’s because they love the money they’re raking in from tourism. Before Sony and the Smurfs came in, the little village would get around 300 tourists a year wandering through. Since the town was Smurfed about six months ago, it has welcomed about 80,000 visitors. Obviously that’s great for the little town’s economy.

And it goes beyond the blue buildings. The town has gone Smurf-crazy. They have a Smurf moonlight fun run, Smurf painting competitions, Smurf trade fairs and Smurf-themed weddings. Somehow, the Smurf center of the universe is now in tiny Júzcar, Spain.

Photo: thesuiteworld.com