Through my life of travels, I’ve had some extraordinary meals.
That’s why the Celebrity Cruises #tasteoftravel blog challenge caught my eye.
Remember your most memorable entree, main and dessert of all time and record it in a blog post, referring four other bloggers to the challenge while you are at it.
After being nominated to participate in the challenge, I started to reflect on exactly what it is that has made my travel meals so memorable.
The location – Crisp snow fields, glorious sunsets, azure seas, vine clad hills. Location adds the non edible, essential setting for the meal. Memories of flavours can fade, but where you were, who you were with, and how it felt, will never leave you.
The people – connecting with other humans is one of the gems of travel. Language is no barrier when it comes to cuisine. I’ve found that when you attempt to use the language, nine times out of ten, it is received with warmth, and returned to you tenfold. Speaking to locals, eating where the locals eat, making connections. This is key to the travel dining experience. How you felt is often what you remember most clearly. Your travel companions are also a key part of the experience, be it your partner, your family, or friends, this creates unique atmosphere and background to the meal.
The food – the third piece of the puzzle is of course, the food. Is it all about the texture with delicate flavours? Does the look of it leap off the plate with its’ prettiness? Dazzle with colour? Make your mouth water with aroma? Sizzle, crackle or steam? The proof is in the tasting, and food is one of my greatest pleasures in life. Discovery of new fruits, vgetables, legumes, grains and nuts. Textures, techniques, and tastes. The important third plank to a memorable travel meal.
1. Entree of my #tasteoftravel
Chef Ito is over 80 years old, and is one of the most personable and gracious hosts I’ve ever experienced. You feel you are being welcomed into his home, in your own private tatami mat dining room, complete with flower arrangement to ponder. Itosho’s signature dish is his rice bubble tempura. Tempura is not usually one of my favourite dishes – I have an aversion to fried things – but this is unlike any other I’ve tried. Instead of a batter, tiny puffed rice bubbles are used to coat hand selected, perfectly sweet and crisp baby vegetables. There are two rectangles of tofu, a shitake mushroom, sweet potato, white potato, baby eggplant, and a tiny chilli pepper. It is served simply with salt to sprinkle. An outstanding example of innovation, simplicity, texture, and taste. No wonder Itosho’s has a Michelin Star. May we meet again, Chef Ito!
Tempura, Itosho, Azubu-Juban Tokyo, Japan
2. Main of my #tasteoftravel
My food discovery of 2014 was the newly re-launched Leonards Mill, on the historic old flour mill site near the slate-strewn Second Valley Beach, halfway between McLaren Vale and Kangaroo Island.
Having lured a husband and wife chef / patissier from the Lake House in Daylesford, Leonards Mill are now producing high end cuisine in a typically Fleurieu relaxed outdoor setting. A perfect complementary contrast.
Local, sustainable produce, including that from the kitchen garden, is used in this dish of earthy-sweet baby heirloom beets. They stand up in a forest floor of earthy, mushroomy pearl barley risotto, beetroot puree, cool tart clouds of goat cherve and crunch from walnuts and toasted crisped grains and seeds. It is beautiful to look at, full of interesting textures, and taste.
Leonards Mill, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
3. Dessert of my #tasteoftravel
This shiny, sexy little number is my most memorable dessert. A perfect cylinder of no less than 2 inches of glossy, dark, smooth ganache. Hidden in its’ centre is a secret core. Molten salted caramel oozes out as you reach the dessert’s heart. Perfectly balancing the ganache is a base of hazelnut toffee, taken to the point of adult bitterness, then smashed into tiny chards and formed into a contrasting, crunchy base.
Choc-Hazelnut Delice, Altar Bistro, Willunga (McLaren Vale), South Australia
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What have been your favourite eats of 2014?
I was referred by Lucy @ On The Luce travel blog.
UK bloggers can enter to win a seven-night European cruise and a £150 voucher to one of the Great British Chef’s restaurants.
The closing date for entries is 12 January 2015 and entries will be judged by two of the Great British Chefs and the Deputy Editor of Food and Travel Magazine. Their favourite menu will win. Good luck!
Click here to read more about the contest.
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