Carrousel

I haven't traveled out of town since March, however these past two weekends have felt like a trip around the world. My city hosts a Carrousel of Nations where you can sample food, music, and entertainment from a variety of places.

Last week we started at the Greek Fest where we sat outside enjoying the beautiful weather while watching the children dance in their traditional outfits. I visited Greece in 2012 and was blown away by the beauty of both the country and the people. This brought back some great memories.

The ticket booth was manned by two older Greek men and they were extremely efficient at keeping the line moving in a quick, orderly manner. We sampled the cheese and spinach pies but the line for gyros and honey balls were too long.

The Brooks kids

After the crowds got to be too much, we made our way to the Bavarian Fest. I traveled here in 2014 and was lucky enough to be in Munich for Oktoberfest. At this festival, we had pretzels, schnitzel, and sausage. Of course we also had beer! We sat on the patio and watched the sunset. Musicians and dancers came outside to perform. I had to work at 7 the next morning so our carrouseling had to be cut short.














Paulaner beer reminded me of Oktobertfest. PROST!
The food was also delicious here.








This past Saturday, we visited the German Fest which coincided with the World Cup, Germany vs Sweden game. Again we had pretzels, sausage and schnitzel. We had a debate over which place made the best pretzels.  It was a tie!

Erdinger beer was on
tap and it went well
with the pretzels

The festival was busy and there was lots of dancing before the game started. My nephew Zach is a huge fan of soccer (football) and was excited to be a part of the crowd. Germany won 2-1! ⚽️⚽️⚽️🍺🍺🍺








Zach tapped out after the German fest but my sisters and I continued on. Our next stop was the Caribbean festival. We were pretty stuffed and just a little buzzed from the German fest. We rallied though as we wanted to try their jerk chicken.






It's been close to 9 years since I visited Jamaica. Our resort had a jerk hut on the beach and it was incredible. This was pretty good too. I ran into a couple friends here (Nicole and George) who travel to Jamaica almost every year. They didn't go this year so this was a good festival for them to visit.


By this point, we were full and definitely buzzed but felt we had room for one more festival.

The Scottish club was definitely worth the visit. We were entertained for hours with dance and music. Hearing the Border Cities Pipe Band play Amazing Grace almost brought me to tears. They are so incredible!

We had to try the fish and chips!

This young lad is a student
at the school my sister
teaches at. He did a great job!

It was so fun to "travel" to these villages the past couple of weekends. I feel so fortunate that I've been on many trips and have seen some wonderful places. For people who don't get the chance to travel, the Carrousel provided an opportunity to try new foods and experience different cultures. This event occurs every year and I try to go to a couple of the venues. Hopefully your town offers something similar so that for a few hours you can feel transported to a different place.

~MT

NOM NOM Part 2

HAPPY MEAL

6) AUSTRIA: If you like meat, you will enjoy Austrian cuisine. The country is so gorgeous, it's worth a visit and the food is just an added bonus. Austria is well known for its Weiner Schnitzel. Sweets are also a favourite here. Bakery and sweet shops are everywhere with gorgeous displays, tempting you as you walk past. Both the sights and smells are hard to pass up.

Weiner Schnitzel and Erdapfel Salat (potatoes)

7) JAMAICA: "Jerk" is a style of cooking in Jamaica (love the name). It's a spice rub applied to meat, usually chicken or pork and often served with rice. It's a bit spicy but chase it down with a Red Stripe beer and your palate will be soothed. There are numerous Jerk Huts along the beach. For a fair price you can enjoy a plate of this deliciously spiced meat.

8) GREECE: Another country that I could do a whole book on. They have the freshest food and it is rich in flavour.  A lot of the cooking is done with olive oil and nothing compares to that made in Greece. Olives, bread, cheese, and eggplant are just a few of the staples in their meals. Greece is a beautiful country with gorgeous islands (Santorini and Mykonos were my favourites). Food and drink are an integral part of their culture. Where else can you smash your plate on the floor and not get in trouble?

Stuffed tomatoes

Gyro

Baklava

9) VIETNAM: Probably considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Vietnamese combine fresh herbs, vegetables and oils in their dishes. They use a blend of salty, sweet, sour and spicy, creating a burst of flavour in every bite. Markets are full of fruits, vegetables, chickens, herbs and spices. Markets are also found along the famous Mekong River, where you can park your boat alongside and shop for your goods. The line up is certainly shorter than the average grocery store!

Floating market on the Mekong Delta

Goi Cuon- Spring Roll

10) SINGAPORE: Before traveling here, the only food I could associate with this country was Singapore Noodles ordered from my local Chinese restaurant. Although I loved eating them in Canada, I was in for a pleasant surprise when arriving in Singapore. Food is a strong part of their culture. You can find cuisine from almost any country; even Iron Chef Mario Batali has a restaurant here. Although Singapore hosts a number of excellent restaurants, the street food is also delicious. I sampled both roti and chicken satays from the vendors.

Roti Prata

While traveling through Southeast Asia, I noticed a lot of Western influence. In Beijing, I found Kenny Rogers Roasters (is that really chicken?) and both a McDonalds and Starbucks across from Tiananmen Square. I suppose when people travel to a far-off place, those golden arches are a beacon. But why waste the chance to try something a little out of your realm? Sample something fresh and local.

I put this to the test with the King of Fruits, the Durian. Getting past the smell was hard but I'm glad I tried it. I wouldn't have the opportunity to do that in my own country. The fruit smells so bad that it is banned from most public transit systems, and in some places, will result in a fine.

Sign posted at my guest house in Malaysia

If you get the opportunity to travel, ask a local where they would eat. Chances are that will be the best food you could find in that area. As Mario Batali always says...Bon Appetit!

~MT