March 2013
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February 2013
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Regional Distinctions of Turkish Cuisine
Eastern Turkey and Anatolia is known for having robust and a kind of “pungent and complex” spiciness foods. Molasses, un-ripened grape juice, dried fruits, loquats, beans, and yogurt are ingredients characteristic of the region. A particular dish of this Turkish region is slowly grilled young lamb cooked in a dirt pit.
The Western, Mediterranean-bordered areas of Turkey embody a great deal of...
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Delighting in Turkish Cuisine
This country’s cuisine truly is quite a (Turkish) delight! I know you’re chuckling…admit it. So punny, right? In case you were wondering, Turkish delights are candy confections, often rose or lemon flavored, and sometimes having mix-ins of dates or pistachio nuts. If there’s one exposure to Turkish delights for Westerners, it’s probably from the book/film, Chronicles...
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Week 11: Turkey
Quoting Adele’s Skyfall lyrics, this week’s focus on Turkey is certainly “where worlds collide” (this theme song of the latest James Bond film’s opening scene is in Istanbul as well - could not be more fitting!).
The modern-day state of Turkey has a long, fascinating, and rich history. Nevertheless, let’s look back in history for a bit. Originally the Turks...
January 2013
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Rio Carnival
Brazil is home to the wildly rambunctious and largest carnival in the world in Rio de Janeiro. The four-day long festivities begin 40 days before Easter during the hottest month of February in Brazil. It is a celebration ending in time for Ash Wednesday, saying farewell to bodily pleasures and excesses. It is representative of Brazilian culture: vivaciously full of life, dance, singing,...
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Regional Cuisines of Brazil
Amazonas
The least-known and most difficult for foreign reproduction of food in Brazil comes from the Amazon region, where the food is closest to its indigenous roots. This region includes the states of Pará, Roraima, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, and Amazonas. The cuisine utilizes local leaves and herbs, corn and cassava, and fresh local fish, especially the pirarucú, or “bacalhau of the Amazon” (and...
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Week 10: Brazil
Tudo bem? After a semester-long hiatus, World Yums is coming back with va va voom in the form of some Brasil love! Brazil – images of tropical rain forests a long coast of endless beaches, brilliant and vivid colors, and a mix of peoples and foods come to mind. Just say the word Rio and it exudes pure exotic vivacity and adventure.
The largest country in Latin America, Brazil is sizable to the...
August 2012
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Ice Age Trees
Here’s a fun fact! According to Science Magazine, coniferous trees like the Norwegian spruce tree, Picea abies, lived during the Ice Age: that’s at least 20,000 years ago!
For more details, click here for the full article.
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Peaceful Scandinavia
Besides the fierce fighting and invasions by the warrior Vikings around 800 AD, the three countries that make up Scandinavia are known for being more peaceful countries in the modern age. The Vikings later settled in what are now the United Kingdom, other Nordic countries, and other parts of Europe, such as France.
In modern times, Scandinavia has been very neutral and peaceful compared with...
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Week 9: Scandinavia
This week, World Yums is going to travel to a world region rather than an individual country: Scandinavia! This area of the northern part of Europe embodies the countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Sometimes the term “Nordic countries” is used to describe a larger area based on historic connections, encompassing not just Scandinavia but also Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands.
This...
July 2012
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Greek Cuisine
Greek cuisine is that of a Mediterranean diet, or Cretan diet. It is characterized by many fresh ingredients. Many small dishes, or meze, are eaten with different kinds of dips, seafood, olives, cheese, and more. Signature ingredients include olive oil, garlic, onion, and herbs like oregano and mint. Meat dishes have some sweet spices like cinnamon or cloves, similar to the cuisine of Morocco...
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Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is considered to be the origins of Western civilization, with Athenian democracy, major philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, the literary work of Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey, political thinkers, and cultural staples of drama in the forms of tragedy and comedy. Some breathtaking architectural sites include the amphitheater of Epidaurus, the Parthenon atop the...
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Week 8: Greece
Perfect for summer is some Mediterranean flair - by way of Greece! Greece is a Western European country politically, but in the south of Europe situated close to the historically Near East region, and right on the Mediterranean Sea. Greece possesses a rich culture and history, making it all the more exciting to learn about how its cuisine has been shaped by its peninsular location and long-time...
June 2012
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Songkran & Loy Krathong Festivals
Festivals bear significant importance in Thai life. These festivals come from agricultural, religious, secular, and political origins. One of the most famous and greatest Thai festivals is Songkran. Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year on April 13 and continues celebrations for a total of three days. The meaning of the word “Songkran” is “move” or “change place”, and this fitting name marks...
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Thai Performing Arts Culture
Classical Dance
Two famous types of classical Thai dance are the Khon mask dance and the Lakhon style of dance. Both are based on Thai literature. Both dances involve basically the same costumes, but the style and rhythm of each is unique.
The Khon style of dance is high-energy, dynamic, and stylized acting-like dancing. Each gesture, sound, and action is symbolic of the tone and character role,...
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The Flavors of Thailand
Food and entertainment are almost always intertwined in Thailand. Eating is considered fun, or sanuk, in groups, and the more the merrier.
The Thai meal consists of a number of small dishes shared by a group of family or friends. Typical meals for four people entail two or three appetizers, a salad served with drinks but before the entree, and rice with a soup, a curry, two main dishes, and fruit...
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Week 7: Thailand
World Yums heads to Southeast Asia for the vibrant, bold-flavored cuisine of Thailand. Halfway between India and China, it’s no wonder that Thailand has such a remarkable blend of strong Asian flavors. Thailand is the central country of Southeast Asia. Burma (Myanmar) sits to the west, Laos to the north, Cambodia to the east, and Malaysia to the south.
The Thai people originally emigrated...
May 2012
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Southwestern Germany: Spotlight on a Few Historic...
Swabia:
Swabia, Baden’s neighbor, is famous for two major exports: the spätzle, an in-between dumpling and pasta that is homey and lumpy shaped, as well as the Mercedes car.
In terms of cuisine, Swabia is divided into “soup-Swabians” and “spätzle-Swabians”. Flour is the main ingredient in traditional Swabian cooking, as compared to Baden’s cream use and...
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Southwestern Germany: Spotlight on a Few Historic...
Baden:
Baden is seen as a peaceful, beautiful, Black Forest corner of southwestern Germany, almost like a miniature Switzerland. It was called “little model country”, or Musterlände. As if this weren’t perfect enough, Baden is also home to the finest food in all of Germany!
The esteemed author of whose cookbook I have been referring to extensively for German cuisine, Horst...
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Southwestern Germany: Spotlight on a Few Historic...
A traditional and historical region of Germany includes Hesse, Baden, and Swabia, located in Germany’s Southwest. This is the area where the Cherry Cobbler, or Kirschenmichel recipe originated. Let’s look at some of the culture and cuisine of these regions!
Hesse:
Hessians are famous in America perhaps for conscripting their fierce, well-trained soldiers to aid England in fighting...
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Vogtland
Germany is divided into many culinary regions. One area in which the potato dumpling recipe is from, which will be posted soon, is from Vogtland, or Vogtlandkreis. It is a historic area that today encompasses parts of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia.
This area is a green, meadow and forest filled area. There are many water reservoirs and trails that draw tourists to the area. It has a bit of...
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Week 6: Germany
Welcome back! Or should I say, welcome back to myself in returning to the blog’s project. Now that I’ve settled in back home from school, I am jumping right back into World Yums. It’s been a full year. And this week, World Yums is going to Germany. Jumping around to places very much different than the previous destination is much more exciting :)
Most parts of German Germany’s...
May 2011
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