Have wheels, will travel: the best food trucks to cater your party

So, the guest list is done and you've booked the band, but what are your party-goers going to eat? There are a growing herd of meals on wheels dishing up tasty bites at parties, weddings and festivals around the country.

Ferdia MagLochlainn is the spud enthusiast behind Home Fries (www.homefries.ie) , a favourite of festival and wedding organisers since 2012. This vintage van serves crispy fried spuds with toppings from a classic patatas bravas to chipotle sauce to the classic chipper curry sauce.

"The van is old and can't go very fast," says MagLochlainn fondly, "but we'll travel nationwide for the right party". They love to do weddings, birthdays and house-warmings, as long as there is enough space for the van and enough people to feed.

LaLa Poutine (www.lalapoutine.ie) is another potato-based food truck, this time serving up the Canadian delicacy of poutine: a righteously good mix of chips, gravy and cheese curds. It might not sound, or to be honest look, very appealing but LaLa Poutine are doing everything right with this comfort food dish. They have their very own farm supplier creating the cheese curds especially for them.

Secret recipe

"It's a secret recipe and the farmer is secret, too," laughs their founder and chef Fred Peretti, when I try get the cheesy details.

Naoise Donelan is the pizza chef behind the wheel of The Pizza Truck, a Citroën H Van parked midweek in Greystones, serving French-style pizza with Emmental cheese. He took over The Pizza Truck from his aunt Emma Gray and her husband Giles Gaillot when they left the seaside to open Gaillot et Gray in Dublin 8. When he's not parked in Greystones, Donelan takes the Citroën to parties in south Dublin and Wicklow. (pizzatruckgreystones@gmail.com).

For Neapolitan-style pizza parties inside and outside, Zero Zero Pizza (www.zerozeropizza.ie) is your gang. They have two wood-fired pizza ovens which they've taken by trailer around the country. "As long as your party is near a motorway, we can get there," says their chief pizzaiolo Conall Doorley, who runs Zero Zero Pizza with his wife Alexandra Walsh and business partner Ronan Crinion.

If it's sandwiches you're after, The Gourmet Kitchen's flame-grilled dry-aged steak sandwich is hard to beat. Chef and owner Liam Prenderville refurbished a retired ambulance for their food truck, which serves three cheese philly steak sandwiches, Asian beef brisket and chargrilled chicken ciabattas all around the country. "We're hoping to do more private parties in the next year," says Prenderville. So hit them up.

While not strictly a food truck, Sarah McNally and Liadain Kaminska have been gaining fans at festivals with their stall The Market Kitchen (www.themarketkitchen.org). Usually found in Temple Bar Food Market in Dublin, these two have perfected the art of the creative toastie. People are still talking about their pickled fennel sandwich with smoked drumlin cheese and mustard béchamel which appeared on the festival circuit this summer. This pair will travel with toasties in tow. "We really enjoy working with people on projects," McNally tells me, "and getting to cook in wild and wonderful spots".

Say Fish van owner Dave Harper with a fan. His van travels around the country serving some of delicious fish and chips

If it's fish you're after, say no more than Say Fish. Among the most delicious fish and chips in the country, this classy chipper van has fish enthusiast Dave Harper at the helm. I ask him if he travels around the country with his van. "Do I what? Just the other week I was in the RDS doing an event, and then I pegged it over to Westport to do a wedding, and then back to the RDS. We go up and down the length and breadth of the country. We've been on rooftops. Rooftops!"

Traditional

Their fish and chips stand out from the crowd with their golden fried hue and emphasis on sustainability. You can go traditional with their classic haddock or try something a little different with their Cajun-spiced pollock and their panko-crusted prawns. Their seaweed salted chips are so good.

If you're looking for the perfect mix of smart casual, look no further than Julia's Lobster Truck (www.facebook.com/juliaslobstertruck). Based in the Burren, head honcho Julia Hemingway cooks up lobsters caught by fisherman Gerry Sweeney in New Quay, near Kinvara, while her mussels and oysters are supplied by The Redbank Food Company. Her turquoise food truck makes a perfect backdrop for her petite brioche buns slathered in hot molten butter and stuffed with sweet lobster.

And finally, something sweet. Adare Farm Ice-Cream will take their cart beyond Limerick for the right occasion. This luxury homemade ice-cream is made from the fresh milk and cream from the farm's pedigree Frisian dairy herd. The cart comes with a choice of six flavours of ice-cream and will come to your party for up to two hours. Plenty of time to keep your guests happy. www.adarefarm.ie

Source: Have wheels, will travel: the best food trucks to cater your party

From Fun-Loving to Inspired by Travel, 8 Espresso Drinks for Many Whims

Happy National Coffee Day! We partnered with De'Longhi to share 8 ways to doll up your espresso drinks, no matter what your whim.

"No cream or sugar, please." is the sentiment I often cling to when ordering any kind of espresso drink. While I'm not above a light and sweet gas station coffee on the road, you could say I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to drinking it at home.

A quick little shot of something warm: Livorno punch from Italy. Photo by Emily Dryden

But, lately, I've been testing the waters with espresso drinks, either while visiting new places in the U.S. or abroad, or mad scientist-ing in the kitchen to find combinations of flavors that don't go crazy with the sugar. (Well, I try at least.) Take a little inspiration from below for your own coffee time—whether it's solo or for a party:

Illustration by Rachel Sender

Start with pulling a couple espresso shots and get to mixing! Then consult the chart above for what you've got a hankering for, and follow the guidelines below.

Fun lovin'

This is something I like to call Carnival Coffee, inspired by a local restaurant that really does coffee drinks right. Here's how to do it: Pick out a tall, nicely shaped glass that will make you feel fancy. Pull two shots (or two ounces) of espresso and dump them in the glass over ice. Grab the best dang cream soda you can find and fill nearly to the brim. Dollop on a tower of whipped cream on top, and then sprinkle with sea salt. Stick a spoon in there, too.

Cozy

Horchata lattes are very fashionable right now, so much so that even big chains are serving them these days. And for good reason: The beloved rice-based beverage has been a staple across Mexico and Central America for, well, forever, and it's inexpensive, made mostly of pantry ingredients, and can easily be served vegan. Warm up the blended base, add a few shots of espresso, and top it with steamed coconut milk and cinnamon. Skip the warming and steaming for an iced version and it'll be just as good.

From your travels

Espresso and lemonade, mingling together in a glass? It's true, and it's good. Seemingly Scandinavian in origin, this concoction has fans across the globe; there's just something about how it synthesizes into a caramel-y, citrusy beverage that doesn't taste quite like anything else out there. Different coffee shops make it their own way, but the easiest way to do it would be a few ounces of espresso over ice topped with simple lemonade.

Wake-up call

There's something about the combination of spiced tea, espresso, and steamed milk that seems like it should be a cozy contender, but it somehow is the perk-up that makes even the coldest morning brighter. All you need is some freshly-made espresso and a little chai concentrate or homemade syrup steamed with your preferred milk. You could even use this recipe and skip the bourbon.

Boozy Fun lovin'

There's a smattering of evidence around here that suggests I have an unhealthy obsession with amaro (examples here, here, AND here). Inspired by the bitter and sweet notes in both espresso and Cynar (an Italian bitter liqueur made with artichokes), plus my adoration for bourbon, I stirred up this cocktail that somehow synthesizes all of those flavors into a rich, chocolatey-tasting cocktail, with sweet vermouth and orange bitters rounding out the edges.

Makes 1 drink

1 1/2 ounces bourbon

1 ounce Cynar, an Italian bitter liqueur

1 ounce (1 shot) espresso

1/2 ounce sweet vermouth

A few dashes Regan's orange bitters

Go to Recipe  Cozy

I love a good fizz—a creamy, shaken cocktail made with egg white—and I also really enjoy High West's Campfire whiskey. I wanted to marry the two in a smoky, frothy, coffee-laden drink that had notes of citrus and herbs, so here's where we are. I started with a "dry shake" to prep the egg white—that's when you shake the egg white by itself, then added in the Campfire whiskey (infused with rosemary smoke!) before shaking the whole thing with ice.

Makes 1 to 2 drinks, depending on the glass

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Peel of three lemons (save the lemons to juice)

2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary

1/2 egg white

2 ounces whiskey, preferably High West Campfire

1 ounce espresso

1/2 ounce lemon juice

3/4 ounce lemon simple syrup

Go to Recipe  From your travels

How do Italians drink espresso? Quickly, no idle time. The screamin' strong Livorno Punch—born in the port town of Livorno on the west coast of Tuscany—is no different. Of the drink, our Italian correspondent Emiko Davies says:

Think of this warm drink as a variation of a caffè corretto (an espresso "corrected" with a shot of liquor) or even of a hot toddy that substitutes tea for strong coffee. It's drunk fast, while still hot and even before the sugar has had time to dissolve properly. Not for the faint-hearted.

Wake-up call

Just as coffee lemonade has crept into coffee bars Stateside, so has the coffee tonic, which is simply what the name nods to: Topping off cold coffee or espresso with ice and tonic water. Infinitely adjustable in ratio, the combination also takes to many boozy additions, too, like a shot of orange liqueur.

Happy National Coffee Day! We partnered with De'Longhi to share 8 ways to doll up your espresso drinks, no matter what your whim.

Tags: delonghi, national coffee day

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Source: From Fun-Loving to Inspired by Travel, 8 Espresso Drinks for Many Whims

4 common gut problems you face when you travel—and how to fix them

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Three days into a dream vacation, and your GI tract has turned against you. What gives? It's not bad timing; it's travel that's to blame, says Dawn Blatner, RDN, author of The Superfood Swap. "Stomach issues tend to happen any time we're out of our routine," she says. Which, unfortunately, means your yoga retreat and backpacking adventure are prime targets for an intestinal temper tantrum.

But rather than spend the rest of your vacay holed up in your hotel bathroom, you can get your GI tract back on track and go see the sights—without forgoing the local flavor.

Keep reading for the quick fixes you need for the most common traveler tummy woes.

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Photo: Stocksy/Bonninstudio If you can't go…swap that pina colada for a water bottle and a walk

Sipping frozen slushies by the pool or grapes at the vineyard is fine (in moderation!), as long as you're still drinking enough water. If not, you could wind up dehydrated (and…cue the constipation). "Almost everyone gets dehydrated when they travel," says Blatner, both because frilly drinks just seem more fun than downing plain water and because we're not in our usual water-drinking routine (like making three trips to the water cooler to break up the afternoon at work).

Quick fix: If doubling down on your water intake doesn't get things moving, try going for a walk. Exercise—even low-impact activities, like yoga and walking—stimulates the gut, which means food has less time to sit in the large intestine, where water gets reabsorbed back into the body, drying out your waste. Gross, but true!

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Photo: Tatjana Ristanic If you have traveler's trots…focus on fiber

Americans aren't used to the waterborne bacteria in other countries, so if you're traveling abroad and diarrhea strikes, a glass of tap water may be the culprit. "But Turista or Traveler's Diarrhea is really only a condition we get abroad," says Blatner. "So if it strikes closer to home, it means you're probably eating too much fat and not enough fiber." A mega-dose of fat (like having queso fundido instead of your usual quinoa salad for lunch) speeds food through the large intestine, so there's less time for water to get reabsorbed and your stool stays watery. But fiber slows gastric motility, and will help slow the trots.

Quick fix: Soluble fiber should be your new BFF throughout the day, but Blatner recommends it especially at breakfast, when your options are probably more basic (and less tempting) anyway. Berries and avocados are both surprisingly high in fiber, and they pair well with fiber-rich oatmeal and whole wheat bread. And for some over-the-counter relief, reach for Imodium or its generic equivalent. "Some people have a more sensitive stomach than others, and you can take Imodium for a really long time without worry," says Yuri Saito, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic.

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Photo: Studio Firma If you have bikini bloat…try the "plus one" rule

Okay, you probably haven't gained 10 pounds within days of stepping off the plane, but the combination of overindulging and dietary changes can be a one-two punch for your waistline. Salty and dairy-rich foods can increase gas and water retention, says Blatner, while feasting with abandon can just make you feel gross. "When we're on vacation, we tend to throw our usual routine out the window and go for it all," she says.

Quick fix: If you're lactose intolerant, know that your enzymes won't change just because you crossed time zones or zip codes. Stick to your usual dairy avoidance regimen (or pack the Beano, says Dr. Saito, which has enzymes that break down dairy in the digestive tract so it won't cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea). And to help rein yourself in without feeling like you're missing out, employ a "plus one" mentality. "At the start of the meal, ask yourself what you want to add to your entree: a drink, an appetizer, or a dessert," says Blatner. Noshing on all three will have you loosening your belt by the car ride home, but if you pick just one, you can let loose without feeling like a blimp afterward.

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Photo: Stocksy/Javier Pardina If you're hangry about your options…make a plan!

Maybe you're looking forward to a six-state road trip, but dread the idea of living on fast food for a week. Or you're headed to Italy but worry you'll chase a non-stop carb-fest with a serving of balloon-sized bloat (and more gelato). You could dig your heels into denial and hope that the perfect, healthy choice materializes—but you're probably setting yourself up for frustration. "Some of the worst choices we make are when we're starving and don't have our go-to options available," says Blatner.

Quick fix: Before you hit the road or the airport, hit the grocery store for some portable snacks. Roast chickpeas, almonds, and low-sodium jerky all get Blatner's seal of approval—and if you pair those protein-rich eats with a piece of produce, you'll be satiated for a few hours at least (and can avoid the hotel vending machines entirely). Also, carve out the time to research healthy(ish) eating options. "Your game plan may not be perfect, but planning even one meal a day gives you the freedom to make more important decisions during your adventures," she says. In other words, less time fretting over where to eat—more time savoring each bite.

And did you know, you actually can find nutritious foods at the gas station? Plus, here's what nutritionists always snack on.

Source: 4 common gut problems you face when you travel—and how to fix them

Air France’s millennial-geared sister airline Joon will offer virtual reality headsets and organic food

This summer, Air France announced the launch of its sister airline, Joon. Described as a company "designed to meet the expectations of a new generation of travellers," more details have been shared of what flying with the company specifically geared towards millennials will be like.

The airline will offer virtual reality headsets and organic food options. Image by LeoPatrizi

Starting from 1 December 2017, the airline will operate a number of different European routes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport starting from €39. Cities serviced will include Barcelona (which has 51 weekly flights scheduled), Berlin (51 weekly flights scheduled) and Lisbon (28 weekly flights scheduled). Summer 2018 will the airline operating flights to Brazil and Seychelles.

Joon's mission statement has described the airline as a fashion brand, a rooftop bar, an entertainment channel and a personal assistant, and the airline has seemingly made a special effort to appeal to younger flyers, offering virtual reality headsets to business class customers on long-haul flights, a range of organic food and drink options that includes high-energy fruit juices, and in-flight streaming designed to be compatible with personal smartphones, tablets and laptops. The airline's "fashion designer" title comes from the uniforms worn by the 140 flight attendants that make up the company's crew. The uniforms have been made from recycled fabrics and plastic bottles, and have been designed to look like "electric blue chic sportswear".

"We started with our target customers segment, the millennials, to create this new brand that means something to them. Our brief was simple: to find a name to illustrate a positive state of mind," said Caroline Fontaine, VP Brand at Air France. Joon also announced that it has partnered with a number of companies in an effort to deliver diverse experiences to customers, including Paper Plane, which will allow people's friends and families to raise pooled sums of money for trips to different destinations that can be booked through the Joon website.

Source: Air France's millennial-geared sister airline Joon will offer virtual reality headsets and organic food

Jamaica Featured in Global Guide to Street Food by Travel News Website

According to the street food experts at TravelPuls.com, some of the best can be found in Kingston, Jamaica's Coronation Market. The market has been called the "stomach of Jamaica" as visitors can sample the region's tasty jerk chicken and peppered shrimp there.

TravelPluse.com, a top travel news site, has provided a guide for globe-trotting foodies who want to feast on the best authentic street on offer. A new interactive tool, "The Best Street Food Across the Globe" from JohnSlots puts the spotlight on the top street food markets in the world, lists them by location, their opening and closing times, the types of food available, and the names of the region's most iconic dishes. Searches can be filtered by continent or type of food, and TravelPulse.com also offers information about over 24 iconic street food markets around the world and over 80 dishes that travelers can add to a bucket list of cuisine to try..

Other top street food locations listed by TravelPulse include the Borough Market in London, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and the Wangfujing Snack Street in Beijing, China. These markets offer a unique combination of styles and flavors, such as the deep-fried scorpions on sticks available in Beijing. The Albert Cuypstraat in Amsterdam is also a must-try for its local "patat fries." In South America, travelers to Lima, Peru should visit the Mercado de Surquillo, where they can partake of cerviche, a dish featuring raw fish marinated in citrus juices and served with onions, chili, and seasoning. In Chile, TravelPulse recommends the authentic abalone found in Santiago's Mercado Central. For lovers of exotic food, the best snail soups can be found at the Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakesh, Morocco, which combines snails, seasoning, and broth.

TravelPulse.com, which covers travel news from airlines and cruise ships to destinations and travel tips, is the most visited travel trade website in the world. It includes as many as 70 news items every day, along with an on-demand original video show daily and the latest deals in travel.

Photo Source: november_and_one

Source: Jamaica Featured in Global Guide to Street Food by Travel News Website

Dramatic ocean vistas, melancholic Fado, fab food, make Portugal one hot spot

VILAMOURA, Portugal -- The singer's voice rose and fell like ocean waves, leaving aperitif-sipping guests transfixed in the marble-clad lobby lounge of Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort.

Regardless of whether they understood Portuguese, Raquel Peters' melodies required no translation. The lyrics to Fado songs were better understood accompanied by her delicate hand, head and body movements.

Popular in pubs, cafes, restaurants and concert halls in the capital of Lisbon, where the genre originated about two centuries ago, the soulful music is expressive beyond words.

Filled with melancholy, it mostly evolved among the urban poor including gypsies, with laments for fishermen away at sea for long periods, of dock workers, and traders. The heart-felt expressions of loss and redemption are loosely explained as "saudade," a word for which there is no exact English equivalent, but is close to longing.

"Fado means fate, and it's an ancient musical style," the singer later told me. "It's difficult to know how and when Fado started, because it has been influenced by other musical styles and rhythms, mostly from Africa and from what the slaves sang."

Initially shunned by the upper classes, "a few years later, some members of the royalty started singing it. From that moment on, Fado became an important symbol of Portugal's identity," Peters, 33, said.

In November 2011, Fado was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

A Red Cross psychologist by day, Peters has been performing for 20 years, including in Brazil, Cape Verde, France and Spain.

She is the first member of an amateur group from Faro -- capital of the Algarve region -- to perform at the resort, where regular Fado evenings were recently introduced, said Nadim Awad, the property's Montreal-raised food and beverage director.

"Fado is my passion, and my favourite way to express my feelings and emotions," Peters said.

The singer was accompanied by Velentim Filipe -- president of the Associacao de Fado do Algarve -- who played an oval Lisbon-style Fado guitar, and classical guitarist To Correia.

After the lovely Fado singer bid farewell to the appreciative audience, it was time for dinner with my group at the resort, which was recently acquired by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas.

The first European property for the Bangkok, Thailand-based firm -- which has 156 luxury retreats in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and near the Indian Ocean -- the five star Anantara Vilamoura was re-opened April 1 after almost $1 million in renovations.

Situated near the Atlantic Ocean and neat rows of attractive modern condos, the sprawling property has indoor and outdoor pools, a 24-hour spa, complimentary yoga, pilates or tai-chi, tennis courts, shops, shuttle service, a children's play club, an herb garden, a sandy beach and the Oceanico Victoria golf course designed by golf great Arnold Palmer.

Many guests are European and it's especially popular with golfers from Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Dining options include EMO restaurant, which serves local cuisine and stocks more than 350 wines from Portugal and around the world; Ria restaurant, specializing in local seafood; and the all-day Victoria restaurant.

Many of the 280 guest rooms and suites overlook one of the four outdoor swimming pools -- one adults-only, with cabanas and Champagne service.

Over dinner, which began with a prawn-bisque infused with pine, chili and broccoli, the resort's GM, Tamir Kobrin said EMO is "the only restaurant in Portugal with three sommeliers. When we created the EMO restaurant, it was really based around wine."

The excellent meal continued with Black Angus beef from Ireland, potatoes, sliced ham and dime-sized mushrooms, followed by an orange-and-lemon-crusted custard and vanilla ice cream.

Antonio Lopes -- who was voted Portugal's top sommelier in 2014 -- said the new generation of Portuguese wine-makers "trained in California, New Zealand and Italy."

As a special treat, sub-chef Luis Cristina took our group to a block-long Arabian-style market hall in the nearby town of Loule. Opened in 1908 on the narrow downtown streets, and lit with skylights, the compact market offers local fare -- baked goods, jams, honey, fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and fish, plus knitware, slippers and postcards.

Back at the resort with fresh prawns, clams, sea bream, black pork sausage, crusty artisan bread, cheese and vegetables in hand, Cristina and his staff recruited several from our group of travel writers to help prepare lunch -- something guests can also do at the Victoria Restaurant.

One of the writers, Vogue magazine contributor Lindsay Lambert Day, calls the Algarve a "must-visit" destination, equal in beauty to better-known neighbouring Mediterranean mainstays such as Majorca and St.-Tropez.

The Algarve has "glittering new resorts popping up along the coastline, a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants, and a delicious type of wine you won't find anywhere else," she wrote.

With almost half-a-million residents in southern Portugal, the 5,000-sq-km region has almost 10 million visitors annually, including some 7 million foreign tourists.

South of the Tagus valley to the Iberian Peninsula beside the Atlantic, it has seafood, oranges, figs, olives and almonds along with other produce. There are also pottery-and ceramics-makers, 150 ocean beaches, marinas, 40 top golf courses, Roman ruins, casinos, plus resorts with spas, and traditional guesthouses.

Managed by Minor Hotels Group, Anantara Vilamoura is priced from 176 euros per night (about $260) for a deluxe double room, including breakfast. A pricier Presidential Suite has its own terrace, living room and jacuzzi, and accommodates four people.

We toured an associated hotel -- Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort -- after a scenic drive through several villages and past farms, vineyards, stone walls, flowering bushes and tree-covered hills.

With renovations costing $13 million begun last November, the Tivoli Carvoeiro overlooks a breathtaking oceanside cove in the town of Carvoeiro.

Its guest rooms have been enlarged, manager Carlos Santos said. There are also six conference rooms, outdoor pools and cabanas overlooking the ocean, a new chef and a diving instruction centre.

A sidetrip to Cabrita Wines, near Silves, provided a worthwhile taste-testing of owner Jose Manuel Cabrita's latest white and rose blended Quinta da Vinha wines.

Other ventures included visits to several fabulous ocean-side beaches, where local adults and children relaxed on lounge chairs under shady umbrellas, in between dips into sand-caressing waves and occasional surf.

MORE INFORMATION

-- For info and reservations at Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, contact vilamoura.anantara.com.

-- For Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort, see minorhotels.com/en/tivoli/tivoli-carvoeiro.

New flights tap into Portugal's soaring popularity

Portugal's popularity with tourists is soaring. Now, the country's national airline has almost doubled the number of free stopover days for passengers travelling to Lisbon and Porto.

Instead of three days, ticket-holders planning to continue on to five other TAP Portugal domestic destinations -- or to other destinations in Europe, the U.K. and Africa -- can enjoy the country's capital and second-largest city for five days without extra flight fees.

Associated programs offer special hotel prices, complimentary Portuguese wine in restaurants, and other free offers including museum visits and dolphin-watching on the River Sado.

With the peak summer travel season now behind us, the stopover offer coincides with a significant reduction in fares for Toronto to Lisbon non-stop flights.

At press time, a round-trip economy class flight from Toronto to Lisbon in late September was about $635, including taxes.

Fares for December flights will increase slightly, then go down again in January -- with the best prices on bookings made three months in advance. (Note: Fares

fluctuate with dates and days travelled, so check the website for current prices.)

Three flights per week during the winter, and five flights per week during the summer are scheduled from Pearson International.

The formerly nationally owned airline has undergone major changes in recent years, when just under a half-interest was acquired by private investors with Atlantic Gateway.

Led by David Neeleman, co-founder of WestJet Airlines Ltd., and founder of JetBlue and Azul of Brazil, with businessman Humberto Pedrosa, the company now manages TAP Air Portugal.

The airline used to concentrate on booking expatriate Portuguese passengers, including a large number in Toronto and other Canadian cities.

Since Atlantic assumed operational control, more than 50 new aircraft were purchased from Airbus Group SE, advertising was increased, and promotions are now designed to attract a wider range of travellers. Other changes include a new master chef cuisine starting in September.

TAP's resumption of service is "an exciting addition for Toronto Pearson," Scott Collier, the airport's customer relations v-p, said during a brief ceremony after the first plane arrived from Lisbon in June.

Collier called the European coastal country one of the biggest destinations for tourists from Canada and the northeastern U.S.

TAP also flies to Lisbon from Newark, New York, Boston and Miami. It is considering resuming flights from Montreal.

With 86 destinations worldwide, the airline reported passenger growth of 21% in July, with 1.4 million on board -- 247,525 more than in July 2016.

flight details

-- See flytap.com/en-ca, call 1-800-221-7370 or contact a travel agent. There are regular flights between Lisbon and Faro.

-- Ian Robertson 

Source: Dramatic ocean vistas, melancholic Fado, fab food, make Portugal one hot spot

Umbria: fast cars, slow food and St Francis in Italy’s green heart

A hilly patchwork of yellow and green Umbrian fields unfolds on both sides of the road as I zip around hairpin turns in my little red Fiat, feeling every bit the racing car driver. Of course, this being Italy, what I think is death-defying speed isn't fast enough for drivers coming up behind me.

They barely hesitate, passing me on blind curves on the otherwise nearly deserted road. It is a bit unnerving, but during a week of hopping between Umbria's hill towns, I relax my grip on the steering wheel and find that getting there is half the fun.

On my way to the village of Todi on the first night, I keep pulling over for the scenery. Between serpentine roads and stops to take pictures, it takes me nearly an hour to travel 17km to the village from the stone farmhouse where I'm staying.

Umbria is a landlocked agricultural region known as the green heart of Italy. A drought earlier this year has left many hillsides tan instead of green – drooping sunflowers with browning leaves are a common sight – but it's still one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen.

What you can buy for the price of a Hong Kong flat: an Italian castle, a Sydney apartment with harbour view or a Dublin townhouse

Once I arrive in Todi, I park and take a free funicular to the top of a mini plateau. The smell of wood smoke lures me from the Piazza del Popolo to the literal edge of town, the cliff-top Ristorante Umbria, for a bite and a view of the sun dropping behind distant mountains.

In the twilight, a cluster of travertine-block buildings just off the piazza look like a medieval theme park, but the town's winding cobblestone alleys are alive with the sounds of children's singsong chatter and people doing housework. A news programme blaring from an unseen TV brings me back to modern times.

These signs of real life in Umbria's ancient towns are ever present, but never fail to surprise me. In Foligno, young couples with prams are part of a crowd listening to a free concert in the main piazza. In Gualdo Cattaneo, the town's millennials take over a cylindrical fortress on weekend nights to run a co-op bar with 360-degree views of the valley. Only in Perugia town were locals harder to find, but that was due to a jazz festival drawing thousands of visitors.

Irreplaceable: art experts fear the worst after earthquake damages historic Italian buildings

Bartenders, tour guides and hotel workers say visitor numbers have dipped since the earthquakes shook central Italy last year. But even before that, Umbria was less busy than some other regions. The area is sometimes compared to Tuscany, with food and wine as abundant as the vistas, but without the crowds. That's partly because it's not served by high-speed trains. I flew to Rome and drove two hours to get there.

By the end of my week, I learn how to handle the Fiat – slam it into first gear to shoot up those hills rather than crawl. I use the move to get around a brave cyclist on my approach to Assisi, whose arid stone buildings are camouflaged from a distance by beige hillsides. Like a desert lizard, up close the town's brick facades and streets are speckled with a range of sand-to-brown blinds, flecked with pink limestone.

Assisi has been a pilgrimage site since St Francis went into the fields to preach his message of love. He renounced his wealth there 800 years ago in the main Piazza del Comune. I watch the local kids walk through the piazza from the steps of a Roman temple to the goddess Minerva to her statue. The temple's Corinthian columns have been preserved, but the interior is gilded baroque, thanks to a 17th century renovation that turned the temple into a small church. Off to the side, African nuns in powder blue habits take selfies in front of a statue of St Clare, a 13th-century acolyte of St Francis who was born and lived in Assisi.

The best things to do on a Taipei layover, from stinky tofu and tea to ships and shopping

A pink and tan basilica honours Francis on a promontory overlooking the valley. Ecclesiastical music floats from shops along Via San Francesco, which leads pilgrims to the basilica. Monks in black dressing gowns and rope belts wander the grounds of a monastery. Inside the cavernous church, frescoes tell the story of how Francis rejuvenated the church by focusing on common folk.

The message resonates and leaves me with a sense of peace. I try holding on to that feeling during the long drive to back to the airport in Rome, but I can't help getting a thrill out of one last windy ride.

Getting there

Cathay Pacific offers direct flights from Hong Kong to Rome. Visitors can take a regional train from Rome to Assisi. It takes 2½ to three hours. If you rent a car, it's little more than 160km from Rome to Assisi.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Fast cars and slow food in the green heart of Italy

Source: Umbria: fast cars, slow food and St Francis in Italy's green heart

5 African countries to travel to by road

People travel every day to other West African countries such as Togo, Ghana, Liberia, either by public buses or private cars.

You too can do it either with friends or alone. All you need are your Nigerian passport, Yellow card and wads of cash!

Below are some countries you can go to by road

1. Mali

Explore the the landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres.

Board a vehicle from Togo heading to Mali or go Northern Ghana and board a bus.

2. Ghana

Ghana is so beautiful, especially when you travel by road. Arm yourself with your passport, yellow card and the Cedis before travelling.

You can get a bus from Jibowu or Maza maza heading to Accra or Weija.

Mauritania

3. Senegal

Go to Senegal through Cotounu, Bukina Faso then Mali or just take a direct bus from Cotounu.

Bare in mind that Cotounu to Burkina Faso is 23 hrs bus ride, Burkina Faso to Mali (Bomako) is another 27hrs.

Finally, Bamako to Dakar will take 26 hrs. Bus departs from Cotounu every evening between 4pm-6pm.

4. Mauritania

From Bamako (Mali) take a big bus to Nouakchott, run by Sonef which costs US$65 and would take you 31hrs (including a wait at the border of 4 hours).

From Nouakchott, catch a minibus to Nouadhibou (US$20, about 6 hours.)

5. Morocco

Take a shared car to Dakhla from Mauritania (US$46, 8 hours, including a couple of hours hanging around at the border.)

Take in the sights of the countryside from the minibus.

Source: 5 African countries to travel to by road

8 travel-friendly (but so yummy) snack recipes that you can throw in your carry-on

Traveling is super stressful, and we know the last thing you want to think about is having to cook or bake before you jet off to your destination. But here's the thing: You're going to need to eat sooner or later, and that's where these easy-yet-yummy snack recipes come in to play.

But these tasty snack recipes will ensure that you're never left stranded due to flight delays or car issues without a yummy, travel-friendly snack in tow.

These snacks can be made in advance and will help cure any case of travel hanger you're working with, which is basically what we all need during those stressful moments on-the-go.

Hot for Food

These incredible choconut date balls from Hot for Food feature only six ingredients and literally only involve throwing them all into a food processor, rolling the crumbs into snack-size balls, and refrigerating to harden 'em up. Then, when you're ready to head out, you've got a delicious coconut-y snack in the palm of your hands.

Foodie Crush

Sure, you could toss a few store-bought granola bars into your bag, but aren't you kinda sick of eating those day in and day out? When you're traveling especially, you might want to try out different snacks, like these chewy almond butter power bars from Foodie Crush. They've got the texture of a cereal bar, so you'll want to eat them in the morning, but they're also super sweet, so they're also perfect as a decadent mini-dessert. Plus, with unique flavors like dried fruits, almond butter, and honey, your seatmate will be begging you to try one (that is, if you're up for sharing).

Food Doodles

We're all for any snack recipes that don't even require turning on the oven, and these one bowl, all-natural, no-bake energy bites from Food Doodles deliciously fit the bill. These bites call for honey, rolled oats, and vanilla — and you can literally add in anything else you want. Pick a nut butter of your choosing, add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, and seeds, and shredded coconut — the possibilities are endless, and all you have to do is combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and roll them into bite-sized balls. Then, refrigerate, and when you're grabbing the last suitcase, pop 'em in your carry-on. You'll be so glad you did.

Smitten Kitchen

These chocolate chunk granola bars from Smitten Kitchen are so much better than store-bought, and as an added bonus, they're also dairy-, gluten- and nut-free, so you can truly share them with any travel companions without fear…if you don't eat them all first.

Something Swanky

This white chocolate churro Chex Mix from Something Swanky is slightly cheating because it requires buying Chex Mix from the store, but trust us: adding a little melted white chocolate and sprinkled cinnamon to your run of the mill snack mix amps it up to levels of tasty you never knew existed. Plus, you can put this one together in five minutes tops, and after some time spent in the fridge, you've got the perfect road trip snack that everyone in your car will covet.

Naturally Ella

Fair warning: These baked banana chips from Naturally Ella are a bit challenging. There's a very delicate balance between undercooking bananas (can you say mush overload?) and burning them, but if you keep a close eye on them, you can be rewarded with a healthy, delicious sweet treat that won't turn brown and get smushed along with all of your important travel documents. Say "buh-bye" to sad, bruised bananas and "hello" to crispy baked banana chips.

Love and Lemons

These pistachio oat squares from Love and Lemons look seriously gourmet but are deceptively easy to whip up, and with pistachios, olive oil, rolled oats, and shredded coconut, they'll give you all the healthy fats, protein, and sweetness you need to get you through the worst traffic snafus…and yes, that includes those endless security lines and getting stuck behind a tour group of 30 people. You can thank us later.

Fo Reals Life

What about when you've got a snack attack but you're not in the mood for something sweet? Enter these oven-baked potato chips from Fo Reals Life, which can be served with any kind of dip or dressing, but taste just as yummy when you're on-the-go and craving something salty. Just slice your potatoes, soak them (this helps them get extra crispy in the oven), dry thoroughly, and bake for about a half hour, flipping halfway through. You can season them any way you like, and you can control how much salt you throw on, so you know they're much healthier than the chips that the flight attendant just walked by with. Incredible.

Source: 8 travel-friendly (but so yummy) snack recipes that you can throw in your carry-on

REVEALED: The best plane food around the globe according to worlds top chefs

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The best plane food has been revealed by the worlds top chefs

Plane food can often be bland and tasteless, no matter what is being served or what class it is.

However, with no other options, many travellers resign themselves to the food with no other options.

However, some the world's best chefs have revealed which airlines they think offer the best food.

Booking a flight with any of these airlines will mean much better meal options.

Related articles

The Qantas lounge in Sydney has a proper kitchen that is manned by his personal staff

Heston Blumenthal

English chef Heston Blumenthal believes that Qantas Airlines is the best food, albeit in first class.

He told the Telegraph Travel: "Australian Michelin-starred chef Neil Perry has created a brilliant menu. 

"The Qantas lounge in Sydney has a proper kitchen that is manned by his personal staff."

US chef and BBC TV presenter Ken Hom disagreed, believing that an Asian airline offered much better choices.

He stated: "The food on Thai Airways flights tend to be very good, especially if it's Asian food, which I think works great for an airline."

Airline food: First Class vs Economy Thu, February 11, 2016

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Singapore Airlines, First Class

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The best food according to Heston Blumenthal is on Qantas Airlines in first class

However, two chefs agreed that Japanese All Nippon Airlines have the most appetising meals in the air.

Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck, who serves many celebrities at the White House Governors Ball, and French chef Alain Ducasse both agreed.

Puck revealed: "My favourite plane journey ever was from Tokyo to Los Angeles on All Nippon Airlines with the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

"I said to him, 'You bring the sushi and I will bring the champagne' and sure enough, when I came into the lounge, Nobu was delving into a plate of sushi already."

Ducasse, whilst agreeing, stated: "I am not a fan of airline food, apart from that served on All Nippon Airways, which is very good from Tokyo to the US."

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But the best food according to two other chefs is on All Nippon Airlines, a Japanese fleet

One chef has previously revealed why he never eats plane food, no matter which airline.

Notorious British chef Gordon Ramsay told Refinery29: "There's no f****** way I eat on planes.

"I worked for airlines for ten years, so I know where this food's been and where it goes, and how long it took before it got on board."

This is despite racking up a whopping 3.4 million air miles in his lifetime.

Related articles
Source: REVEALED: The best plane food around the globe according to worlds top chefs

Why Air Travel Accessibility Should Matter to Everyone

It is not hard to notice that air travel has become more stressful in the last few years. Between long security lines, confiscated water bottles and impounded tweezers, everyone's patience seems to be running thin. On top of this, our family has the added stressor of traveling with a child who has food allergies. We don't just worry about missing the plane or forgetting to pack certain belongings; we worry about what other passengers on the plane are eating and if we will have enough life-saving epinephrine at 35,000 feet to counter a possible fatal anaphylactic attack.

I've noticed a lot of resentfulness out there towards those who need extra help with flying. There are grumblings of "special assistance," holding up planes, and just frustration in general toward any group who needs extra measures. Whether you have a disability or not, travel can be difficult, and when we take measures to help one group, we will inevitably help ourselves. Let me explain.

In October of 2014, I gave a presentation about "Food Allergies and Travel" at the Universal Access in Airports conference in Chicago, sponsored by Open Doors Organization. Open Doors sponsors this conference to bring together representatives from aviation and the disability community in order to learn, share and discuss best practices.

My panel consisted of a representative from the blind, deaf, and wheelchair user communities who shared their experiences. One story that comes to mind is of the passenger who was deaf and did not know her gate was changed because it was verbally announced before it was posted, and she saw everyone running elsewhere to catch this plane. She panicked because she did not know if something terrible had occurred nearby, since everyone had suddenly moved away. Although the gate agent was aware she was deaf, no one bothered to inform her of the situation, which led to a very stressful situation for the traveler. I realized at that moment how incredibly challenging travel could be for these groups of people. Now when I travel, I take notice of things like grade changes in the corridors of the airport that would make it hard to navigate in a wheelchair — something I never would have noticed before. I have become aware and thus more empathetic.

This is where it gets interesting — why should you care? As we age, we will all naturally have changes in our abilities. Some of us will lose vision, or find walking more challenging, or become hard of hearing. In addition, we may have parents or loved ones diagnosed with diseases ranging from Alzheimer's, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cataracts, or diabetes. We may develop life-threatening food allergies, as a new study shows over 50 percent of people with potentially harmful food allergies have developed them as adults.

When we support change that widens ramps, opens doors, assists those with vision or hearing challenges, or helps protect those who may have life-threatening food allergies, we may someday be assisting our parents, our children or even ourselves. We all win when we look out for one another.

How would you feel if it was your parent, your child, your loved one or yourself that wanted to travel safely, but needed special assistance? Would you tell them to suck it up, wing it, or even worse, not travel at all and be homebound because there aren't adequate safeguards in place? We need to put ourselves in other people's shoes more often and realize that when we support them now, we might be ultimately supporting ourselves later.

Learn more at The No Nut Traveler.

We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.

Thinkstock photo by Alxey Pfnerov.

Source: Why Air Travel Accessibility Should Matter to Everyone

Will Food Make People Fall in Love With Hartford?

The scene in Connecticut's beleaguered capital is heating up, and it's changing the way people talk about the city

These days, there's very little good news coming out of Hartford. That's nothing new, actually—Connecticut's capital city has for years been stuck in a downward spiral, watching wealthy suburbs and more fashionable cities bleed its tax base dry, leaving behind a growing pile of economic and social problems. 

Barely a year goes by, it seems, without another major news story about Hartford, filled with dire data and ominous predictions—we're almost at the point where it's impossible to find anyone who will say anything nice about the centuries-old city, once-upon-a-time home to a parade of American luminaries like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain. Hartford has not gained population since the 1950s and is home to a dwindling number of the major corporations that once gave the city its cache. Surely, this must be one of the last places you would ever want to visit?

And then you go there.

On a recent Saturday night, inside the gleaming new Harlan Brasserie, the action was practically spilling out of the doors and on to Asylum Street, one of downtown's main thoroughfares. Brightly lit and smartly appointed, the restaurant opened to positive reviews, serves good, fun, French-American fare (foie gras meatballs, short rib pot au feu), pours a great drink and is a very pleasant place to spend a weekend evening. The brasserie occupies the ground floor of The Goodwin, a historic hotel and apartment building, known for its distinctive terra cotta exterior—the hotel was recently stripped down, reimagined and relaunched recently as the city's first genuinely exciting hotel opening in perhaps a generation, maybe more. In Hartford and its suburbs, it seems as if you're never far from someone talking down about Hartford, but this is one of those places that seems to make everybody—temporarily, at least—forget what it is they've been so disappointed over, for all these y ears now. 

The Harlan is not the only place in town that appears to be having this effect on people now, drawing them to someplace they may not have considered frequenting after dark, or on their weekends. A block and a half from scruffy Park Street in the Frog Hollow neighborhood, fronting a meticulously restored industrial complex much older than some states, Firebox has become a destination for its accessible farm-to-table menu and a terrific weekend brunch. It's just one part of the package at Billings Forge, an exemplary, community-backed (and focused) enterprise operating a casual café, a garden, a year-round farmers market and a job-training program, along with beautiful residences.  

The scenario seems to be repeating, over and over again, all over town, right now—down Park Street and underneath the overpass where I-84 ferries travelers through town, barely forcing them to even contemplate its existence, Hog River Brewing's lively taproom is more West Coast Nouveau than antiquated New England city, an industrial space with wooden picnic tables and counters filled with happy drinkers, sampling the brewery's saison, red ale, its proper kölsch and much more. Thursdays, there's live music, weekends, there are very good food trucks camped out, right outside the door. It's a formula that's winning over fans, some of whom might not have previously considered dropping disposable income and spending their free time in the city. On and on it goes, these days—good barbecue at Bear's, inventive pizzas and drinks at The Blind Pig; if you think whatever you're looking for couldn't possibly be in Hartford yet, look harder—it just might be here, or coming soon.   < /p>

Better still, these newer offerings aren't exactly stepping into a void—what you'll soon learn about Hartford, once you get to know a little bit more about it,, is that the recent arrivals are joining a decades old scene in a city with a long tradition of dining out. Downtown, power spots like Max Downtown (which has spent the last few months renovating, to appeal to a younger crowd) have been a thing for ages; Hartford's South End, traditionally the city's Little Italy, retains a handful of its original institutions—the perfect day of eating here might begin with pastries and coffee at the century-old Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery, continue with chicken parm sandwiches at the vintage-y La Rosa Marketplace, and end in dinner at the crowd-pleasing, old-school Carbone's. Then there are the newer offerings from the more recent immigrants to Hartford—Tangiers, a market just around the way from Mark Twain's old home, serves up terrific, cheap, Middle Eastern eats, while back on Park Street, El Mercado is a great one-stop for lunch, with different vendors serving up a variety of Latin American foods.  

If a new generation of locals and travelers end up falling in love with Hartford and giving the city a newfound popularity, it wouldn't be the first time a city with an image problem has unwittingly enlisted its food scene to help improve the local brand. This is a story that has been repeated, time and again, not only across the United States, but around the world, aided by the dramatic changes in recent years to the way we eat and talk about (and obsess over) food.

More than a few former dead zones have quickly been transformed into the newest must-sees—for the most striking example, perhaps, we can look to Detroit. After decades of what was perceived to be unstoppable decline by many, the city managed to pull itself out of the bailout-era doghouse and flip the script—almost by accident, it should be noted—when young entrepreneurs opened a slew of exciting, new restaurants that managed to attract suburbanites into areas of the Motor City they might not have seen in years, to park their cars on streets they previously might have preferred not to drive down, to go inside, to soak up the vibe, to leave feeling really warmly toward a place they'd probably been trained from birth to dislike, or, at the very least, feel bad about.

Like any city where money seems to have been running toward the exits for generations, there will be plenty of heavy lifting in Hartford's near future. Insurance giant Aetna recently announced they'll be vacating their their long-time home on Farmington Avenue and moving to New York City, where the company feels it can attract more talent—it's just another body blow to a town that in places feels as if it cannot take much more.

Compound this sort of bad news, never in short supply, with the fact that Hartford's growing food scene faces stiff competition from its own, affluent suburbs—just fifteen minutes from the city center, the pleasant, walkable downtown of West Hartford is already crammed full of restaurants and cafes,; there's a food truck park coming soon—and it becomes almost painfully clear: The road ahead will be difficult, just like always. Still, as neighborhoods and cities that have traveled down this path before can attest, even in the face of what would appear to be insurmountable odds, sometimes all it takes is a spark. 

Source: Will Food Make People Fall in Love With Hartford?

Travel through time with SM Supermalls and Timex

Until October 31, you can purchase iconic watches, enjoy free watch services and on ground activities at participating SM malls

Published 7:09 AM, September 17, 2017

Updated 3:27 PM, September 17, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – A watch is more than just an accessory that tells time – it's a statement piece that complements different lifestyles.

If you're in the market for an iconic timepiece for yourself or for your loved ones, you're in luck – you just might find your dream watch at the Timex Time Travel Road Show, happening at participating SM malls from September 1 until October 31.

"SM Supermalls explores time through its exciting collaboration with Timex, in its commitment also to bring global brands to Filipino families," said Jose Roberto Fernando, SM City Manila Mall Manager.

Customers can enjoy huge discounts on watches – up to 70% off – and choose from a wide selection of global brands alongside Timex, such as Ingersoll, Nixon, Police Watches, Titan, and more.

CLASSIC TIMEPIECE. Check out available watches to suit every lifestyle at the time-travel themed exhibit which runs from September 1 to October 31. All photos by Leanne Jazul/Rappler

Timex's Brand Ambassador (center) with (L-R) Ma. Cristina Cruz (Retail Operations Manager, NIC); Ms. Melissa Lucas (Marketing Director, NIC); Mr. Avinash Uttamchandani (General Manager, NIC), and Mr. Jose Roberto Enrique Fernando (Mall Manager, SM City Manila)

PARTNERS IN TIME. SM City Manila Mall Manager Jose Roberto Fernando welcomes Newtrends International Corp. (NIC) General Manager Avi Uttamchandani to SM. Newtrends International Corp. is the exclusive distributor of world-renowned watch brands and the retail operator of Timex and Watch Republic Shops nationwide.

To make your visit worth your time, you can also enjoy other activities and perks while checking out the exhibits.

Mallgoers can get a free barber's cut courtesy of vintage-centric Ingersoll, X-Box Kinect game challenges from surf-and-skate-inspired Nixon, a mugshot photo booth and fan meet and greet from MMA specialists Mark "Mugen" Striegl and Filipino Eduard "Landslide" Folayang presented by Police Watches, Cosplay demos by color-inspired Ice Watches, plus other fun games from Timex and Titan watches.

ON GROUND ACTIVITIES. Take a look at the interactive exhibit and enjoy everything they have to offer.

FREE WATCH CLEANING. Free maintenance services on watches are also offered to mall goers.

Want more? Join their online contests for a chance to win a free watch. Simply take a photo of yourself in the exhibit showing each brand corner and post it on Facebook. Police, Timex, Ice and Ingersoll are giving away their iconic watches to the lucky winners.

WIN A NEW WATCH. Post a selfie and get a chance to win a free watch!

Other perks include free watch services such as watch personalization, cleaning and diagnostics and free battery replacement (upon watch purchase) valid for two years.

Catch the Timex Time Travel Road Show on the following dates:

September 1 to 6 in SM East Ortigas

September 4 to 9 in SM San Lazaro

September 9 to 13 in SM Manila

September 11 to 14 in SM Marikina

September 16 to 20 in SM Dasmarinas

September 22 to 27 in SM Sta. Mesa

September 23 to 27 in SM Fairview

September 29 to Oct 4 in SM Southmall and SM Taytay

October 6 to 11 in SM Novaliches

October 7 to 11 in SM Marilao

October 13 to 17 in SM Clark

October 13 to 18 at SM BF Paranaque

October 19 to 23 in SM Pampanga

October 20 to 25 in SM Bacoor

October 23 to 25 at SM Mall of Asia

October 25 to 27 at SM Bicutan

October 27 to 31 at SM Sucat.

Take this opportunity to find the perfect watch that will last you a lifetime. Visit www.smsupermalls for more details and other fun events, or just head to participating SM malls and see for yourself. – Rappler.com

Source: Travel through time with SM Supermalls and Timex

Travel notes: Pooch-friendly holidays in B.C.; fall festivals to watch

Some wineries in B.C. are now allowing pets on the property for people visit tasting rooms. Eric Risberg / AP

Most dog owners would prefer not to leave their pooch behind when they hit the road for a trip, and there's no reason to if your holiday sights are set on British Columbia.

True, many hotels and inns allow dogs, but what if you've got plans for a round of golf, shopping or touring wineries?

Here are five places where you don't have to make a decision to leave the dog in the car or alone in a hotel room.

Dog-friendly tee time: Your furry buddy is welcome — well-behaved and on a leash, of course — to join you while you play golf at Predator Ridge in Vernon on Sundays after 4 p.m. Grab a cart and hit the links with your pup; there is no added fee and you can play nine or 18 holes. The best part about having your dog along is they won't judge when you make a less than stellar shot.

Posh pups: Two Vancouver hotels — Opus Vancouver and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver — will gladly pamper your dog for the day. While you're out having fun in the city, the Fairmont offers pooches a suite of royal treatments, including an hour-long "pup-arazzi" photo session, a visit to the nearby off-leash park for some exercise and a menu that includes prime rib bone. At the Opus, tuckered out doggies can get an hour-long canine massage.

Welcoming wineries — While you're sampling the delicious Rosés or Cab Sauvs, your pup can relax by your side at several wineries that are happy to see you and your fur baby. See Ya Later Ranch, Okanagan Crush Pad, Road 13 all welcome dogs in the tasting rooms or they can just chill under the shade of a tree.

Nita Lake Lodge is moments from Whistler Mountain.

Nita Lake Lodge base camp for ski, snowshoe, Fat bike holiday

Whistler: It may seem way too early to start thinking about a winter ski, bike or snowshoe escape, but it could save you some cash. Nita Lake Lodge at Whistler is offering discounts on accommodations, depending how long you stay. If you book by Nov. 15, you get 10 per cent off the best rate for a three-night stay, 20 per cent on a four- or five-night stay, 25 per cent on a six- to 11-night stay, and 35 per cent on 12 nights or more.

Also included in the deal are free snowshoes and complimentary use of a Fat bike (helmets and locks included) on the Whistler Valley Trails, which connect Creekside to Whistler Village and passes through the property. The lodge is set on a pretty glacier-fed lake, has a spa and the newly renovated cosy Cure Lounge and Aura Restaurant will warm you up at the end of a busy day. Details on this and other deals at nitalakelodge.com.

Best of the fall festivals in the west

Lethbridge Oktoberfest, Sept. 29-30: Lethbridge really knows how to roll out the barrel and the welcome mat for its fourth annual Lethbridge Oktoberfest. The main Munich-style event happens in Galt Gardens, transformed into one big downtown beer garden. It also features two locally made beers from the Theoretically Brewing Co., and dozens more German-style brews. Authentic German food — think big pretzels, bratwurst and schnitzel — plus live music from local band the Polka-holics and Medicine Hat's Alpen Schatz makes for a fun weekend. After-parties are held at the Telegraph Tap House around the corner from the beer gardens. Details on the event Facebook page.

Queen of the Peak surf competition in Tofino attracts surfers from all over North America.

Queen of the Peak, Sept. 29-Oct. 1: The early days of storm-watching season are one of the best times for surfing off Vancouver Island's west coast — and also to watch the pros expertly carve a barrel. Head to Tofino for Queen of the Peak, an all-women's surf competition, featuring long and short board surfers from all over North America. The competition is sponsored by Shelter Restaurant and Surf Sister surf school, which is ready to give lessons to non-pros, too, and last year the event attracted 100 surfers. Though surfing may be the main event, there are many other activities happening around town, including yoga, movie premieres and as always plenty of opportunities to soak up the sea air on the local beaches and trails. Details at   https://www.queenofthepeak.com/

— Compiled by Lisa Monforton

 

Source: Travel notes: Pooch-friendly holidays in B.C.; fall festivals to watch

Here's when Bube's Brewery will appear on the Travel Channel

Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy will soon be in the spotlight.

The Lancaster County restaurant will be featured Oct. 8 on the Travel Channel's "Food Paradise." Crews from the show taped the segment in July.

"Food Paradise" focuses on the "best places to find various cuisines at food locations across America," with each episode featuring a certain type of restaurant.

The episode about Bube's Brewery will pay homage to Halloween and will showcase the Catacomb restaurant's "Dinner with the Count" with costumed patrons and staff.

In the show, owner Sam Allen will make a cameo as the Count. Bube's chef David Nutter will prepare two popular dishes, while bartender Mike Landis will pour two signature cocktails - the Flaming Alien Brain Hemorrhage and the Raspberry Monster Mule. 

Bube's is significant for its Catacombs Restaurant, located several stories below the surface of the street in aging cellars of Bube's Brewery. The cellar is indicative of the Mount Joy area where there are hundreds of limestone caverns that were ideal for storing beer in pre-refrigerator days. 

The restaurant is believed to be haunted. In 2012, "Ghost Hunters" visited Bube's for three days for a segment. 

Source: Here's when Bube's Brewery will appear on the Travel Channel

Let’s Stop Calling Eataly's Huge New Park ‘Disneyland for Food’

According to the CEO of FICO, one of the organizations behind the park, it doesn't really capture what's going to happen there.

FICO Eataly World will be many things when it opens on November 15 in Bologna, Italy. It will be a market, a food hall, a school, a museum. One thing it will not be is an amusement park. Lots of coverage of the world's largest agri-food park, as its creators call it, has used phrasing like "Disneyland for food." The comparison has been made by many people in the last few weeks alone and in fact, even retweeted by Eataly World itself. But FICO CEO Tiziana Primori doesn't think that quite captures the mission or the spirit of the 20+ acres dedicated to the sustainable practices and the production of Italian food. "It's not wrong," Primori tells me through an interpreter, it's just incomplete. "FICO Eataly World is a place where people can learn—learn something more about the wonders of Italian biodiversity and where you can learn by doing."

It's not that Primori and her team at FICO, an organization dedicated to Italian food education and sustainability, don't want people to enjoy their time at Eataly World, they do. But Primori thinks that the fun should have some focus. "Education must be fun, but when you have fun you have to learn something more." Rather than a theme park, she thinks of it more as "the university of food and flavor."

It's easy to dismiss the amusement park analogy as just some sort of Internet shorthand for "a big, happy place mobbed by tourists." But Disney also conjures ideas of a playground where costumed performers mug and dance or, perhaps in the case of Eataly World, of people playing farmer or pizzaolo. After speaking with Primori though, the differences between her park and other major tourist attractions seem to be purpose and authenticity. The people who will staff Eataly World will be, first and foremost, accomplished farmers or culinary professionals. "Every day visitors can choose from 30 courses led by excellent Italian producers who have spent their entire lives making Italian food," she says. And they will be there everyday, in 40 working factories and farms and 40 more kitchens, not so much to entertain the masses, but to teach them (and feed them along the way).

For some people getting to watch and work with old school pasta makers or sheep farmers or bakers really is their version of the Happiest Place on Earth. But it's OK to let a place like Eataly World stand on its own as the massive home of some excellent Italian food and some robust Italian history.

FICO Eataly World will open, with free admission, to the public on November 15. For more information check out their website.

Source: Let's Stop Calling Eataly's Huge New Park 'Disneyland for Food'

World Food Travel Association Introduced to Greek Market

Home > Events > Event News > World Food Travel Association Introduced to Greek Market

By Nikos Krinis

Aiming to move toward closer ties with Europe, the World Food Travel Association (WFTA) on Tuesday held an event in Athens and informed Greek travel professionals on the benefits and opportunities of joining food and drink with travel and hospitality.

Based in the United States, the WFTA is the world's leading authority on food tourism and currently counts thousands of registered members from all over the world.

WFTA's goal is to unite the food & beverage and travel & hospitality industries in order to create connections and more opportunities for food tourism – ultimately leading to economic growth and increased traveler satisfaction.

WFTA representatives in Greece, Maria Athanasopoulou, owner of Respond on Demand and Chrysa Krassa of Top Tourism, presented the association to an audience of Greek travel agents, hoteliers and food bloggers at the ETOILE by Les Chefs culinary and hotel studies school in Athens.

"The World Food Travel Association is an organization that can help those involved in gastronomy to gain insight and become members of a global network of professionals and businesses dealing with the same sector," Athanasopoulou said during the presentation.

According to WFTA Executive Director Eric Wolf, food and beverage experiences are some of the most important and memorable influences that a business and destination can have on inbound visitors.

"No matter if people are coming for holiday, for work, a conference, or to visit friends and family, you should look at every inbound visitor as a potential ambassador for your business or destination," Wolf advises tourism professionals.

'Word of mouth' marketing

"When you count all the visitors to your business or destination each year, this can amount to thousands of ambassadors who experience what you have to offer, each and every year. That's a lot of 'word of mouth' marketing you cannot afford to ignore," he said, adding that 91 percent of travelers participate in a unique or memorable food or drink experience other than dining out, according to WFTA's 2016 Food Tra vel Monitor Research.

During the presentation in Athens, attendees were introduced to the benefits of joining the association, which include access to research and consulting tools to help destination marketers and business owners to make sound decisions on the promotion of food tourism.

On the sidelines of the event, WFTA's representatives Athanasopoulou and Krassa told the Greek Travel Pages (GTP) that their goal is to promote to Greece every good idea they meet abroad and believe could help boost Greek tourism in its various forms. Athanasopoulou and Krassa serve on the WFTA's Board of Advisors.

"We thought it would be very useful to present the WFTA to anyone that is interested in food tourism," Athanasopoulou said, adding that a similar presentation has also taken place in Thessaloniki.

"In recent years, Greek Gastronomy has become more and more demanding, so we have to find a variety of ways to develop it, and introducing the WFTA to the Greek market is in that direction," she said.

For more information on the World Food Travel Association (WFTA), press here.

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Source: World Food Travel Association Introduced to Greek Market

Who needs a cruise to eat well? Food festival comes to San Diego's port

If you're a cruiser who likes to sail out of San Diego, check out its Taste of the Port event planned for Sept. 21.

The Thursday evening food festival will offer dishes from waterfront restaurants and promises food, drinks and great views of the seaport and harbor.

Hosted by the Port of San Diego, the event will emphasize sustainable cooking using locally sourced ingredients and fresh fish.

In addition to offering food and drink, there will be live entertainment and a cooking competition featuring San Diego chefs, who will face off in a contest to be named the Green Chef of the Bay.

Competitors will include Roy Hendrickson, executive chef of Kona Kai Resort & Spa, and Jay Payne, chef de cuisine at Sally's Fish House & Bar.

A dozen port restaurants and 10 breweries, wineries and beverage companies will participate. Among them are Jimmy's Famous American Tavern, Sushi Tadokoro, Greek Islands Cafe and Coronado Brewing Co. In addition, local fishermen will demonstrate how to filet fish and shuck oysters.

TIckets cost $55 for general admission from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and $70 for VIP from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego.

Info: Taste of the Port

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravel

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Source: Who needs a cruise to eat well? Food festival comes to San Diego's port

Beyond Cajun: Baton Rouge's New Food Scene

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a food ethos all its own. Its culinary scene has simmered slowly over time from a mélange of cultures that pepper the landscape with a surprising variety of cuisines. You can always find the classically fried shrimp po'boy and Creole dishes, but these, by no means, define this city. Today's Baton Rouge includes food seasoned with unique spice and herb combinations, flavorful meats, innovative pop-ups, delectable desserts, and fantastic food festivals.

Source: Beyond Cajun: Baton Rouge's New Food Scene

MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Travel food chain SSP earns a decent crust as consumer appetite grows

Despite economic uncertainty, Brexit and the soaring euro, it seems British holidaymakers carry on regardless. Ryanair last week revealed a 10 per cent rise in August passenger numbers, and easyJet was not far behind. Other low-cost airlines and travel firms also experienced good growth.

Our dedication to travel augurs well for SSP, which runs eateries, bars and food shops in airports and train stations around the world. 

The company floated at 210p a share in 2014 and Midas tipped the stock in October 2015, by which time the price had already risen to 303p.

SSP operates in 35 countries across Asia, the Middle East, America and much of Europe. The company's brands include Upper Crust, Ritazza and James Martin Kitchen

Some brokers felt there was little mileage left in the stock, but the business has consistently beaten expectations and the shares have continued to rise.

Today, they are 525p and should rise still further, benefiting from robust market conditions and the highly focused stewardship of chief executive Kate Swann.

SSP operates in 35 countries across Asia, the Middle East, America and much of Europe. The company's brands include Upper Crust, Ritazza and James Martin Kitchen. 

It also runs airport and rail outlets for the likes of Starbucks, Burger King and Marks & Spencer, and it has developed a number of local concepts to suit regional tastes, such as herring in Finnish cafes or noodles in Chinese coffee shops.

In 2015, 40 per cent of group turnover came from the UK. Today that has fallen to about 35 per cent. 

Not that UK sales have fallen, but rather because the rest of the group has grown even faster, particularly in the US and Asia. 

SSP is the second largest food and drinks operator in the American travel sector and is gaining market share fast, winning contracts in important cities such as New York, Chicago and Phoenix, Arizona.

The company is also making healthy progress in the Asia-Pacific region, operating in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. 

It recently began working in India too, where it is expanding at pace.

Over the next two decades, the number of people travelling by air is expected to almost double, with more than 7.2 billion a year taking a plane by 2037.

Economic growth in Asia is the principal reason behind the surge in demand, as local populations use their newfound wealth to take to the skies.

But Swann is not just relying on air traffic predictions to fuel growth. She is also determined to make SSP as efficient as possible, often using technology to keep costs low and deliver value to customers.

At Burger King, for example, punters can order food on a keypad and top up drinks via an automatic dispenser, reducing the need for staff at the counter.

And across the business, state-of-the-art equipment is used to chop, slice, grate and pour food and drink, so fewer assistants are needed in the kitchen. The company is not cutting back on staff, as it is growing substantially – it is just improving productivity.

SSP's financial year ends on September 30 and brokers expect turnover to rise 15 per cent to £2.3 billion, with profits surging almost 30 per cent to about £140 million. 

A dividend of 6.5p is pencilled in, compared with 5.4p last year. Over time, the dividend should show solid growth.

Midas verdict: SSP is a well-run business in an expanding sector. Existing investors should continue to hold. New investors may also fancy snapping up a few shares for the long term. 

Traded on: Main Market Ticker: SSPG Contact: foodtravelexperts.com or 020 7543 3300

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Source: MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Travel food chain SSP earns a decent crust as consumer appetite grows