Sampling the Culinary Delights of Morocco
The North African country of Morocco is best known for its wonderful cities – Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat and more – its welcoming locals and spectacular terrain, which encompasses everything from sandy deserts to high mountains. However, its cuisine has also made a major impact on world culture with some native dishes including couscous and the ubiquitous pita bread now eaten in all corners of the globe. Food is a big deal in Morocco and the country has a long and proud tradition of creating unique dishes that are the equal of those anywhere else in the world.
The main meal of the day is eaten at midday in Morocco, except during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan when it takes place in the evening. Certain religious and cultural customs that are common elsewhere in the Islamic world also apply in Morocco, most notably that neither pork nor alcohol should be consumed. Most meals begin with a selection of hot and cold salads followed by a tagine, a slow-cooked stew. Wealthier families will often then enjoy a lamb or chicken dish served with couscous and vegetables. Bread is eaten in large quantities and is used as a utensil to scoop up food and absorb rich sauces. Mint tea is another staple of the Moroccan diet and is usually drunk after a meal to cleanse the palette. Read more…
Richie Ward: 3 out of 5 people visit the website before visiting the restaurant
A couple of days ago, Travel Tweaks introduced startup BistroSquare.com that offered the tools needed by restaurants, caterers, bakeries and other small businesses in the food service segment to easily build effective websites. We had an interesting conversation with BistroSquare co-founder Richie Ward about what restaurants need to be doing online, how to better address local customers and hungry travelers and the food service business in general.
As a courtesy to Travel Tweaks readers, Richie is also offering you a special coupon code, TRAVELTWEAKS, that will get you a 25% recurring discount on all BistroSquare services. Tune in and find out what interesting details Richie Shared with us!
Travel Tweaks: Your family has been in the restaurant business for quite a while, why do you think restaurants are still reluctant to build and manage their own websites?
Richie Ward: I think there is still a common misconception out there that you need to hire an expensive web designer and pay thousands of dollars to build an attractive website for your independent restaurant. In addition, with the social media age upon us, having a website can entail having a blog and a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. Before starting the development on BistroSquare a year ago, my business partner Andrew and I talked to various independent restaurant owners who simply found the whole process overwhemling — not only do they have to learn how to build a website, but they have to learn how to blog, link to a Twitter account and so on. That was the inspiration for the BistroSquare concept: integrate all the tools an independent restaurant owner will need to build a quality website, add a blog if they wish, and integrate the whole experience with a social media component, but it had to be easy, fun, and affordable. Read more…
BistroSquare Gets Small Restaurants Online
Building a website requires either time to get someone trained to do it or money to pay a web design and development agency to do it. And when you’re a small restaurant or some other type of small food business, the funds and time are in no way overwhelming. New startup BistroSquare, founded by Richie Ward and Andrew Kurz, aims to help small restaurants, bakeries, caterers and other small players in the food services industry get online easily and fast. They currently target US small businesses in this market segment, which are estimated at over 300,000. Read more…
Five Must See Cafes in Europe
When planning a trip to any European destination, you’ll have many things on your list to see and do. There are iconic monuments, famous museums, and popular shopping districts to visit. For many travelers, a visit to local cafes is always apart of the itinerary. Whether it’s your first time to Europe, or you just want to see the best any city has to offer, check out these cafes for both the ambiance and the coffee. These are the five most beautiful cafes Europe has to offer.
1) Caffe Florian, in Venice, Italy
This cafe stands as a living museum to 18th century decor, and has an atmosphere of utter luxury. There are frescoes and baroque details, decor that really sets the mood you look for in a cafe. It’s so popular, in fact, it is famed as being the hang out of many writers and artists; once you see it for yourself, you’ll know why. As with everything in Venice, this cafe offers a romantic, warm atmosphere you’re sure to love, even though the prices may be discouraging. Read more…
Top Three Travel Destinations for Foodies
People travel for many different reasons, and for various occasions. Though some don’t need a special occasion, or a typical reason such as sun bathing to take a holiday. For a select few, the prime motivation for traveling the world is to experience the diverse tastes of the local cuisine. If you enjoy the finer things in life, there are a few travel destinations you have to visit. Each one offers it’s own unique taste, traditional dishes, and exciting culture.
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Italy
Italy is by far one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, and for a wide variety of reasons. Some come for the beaches, some come for the history, while others come just for the food. Italian food is a favorite for many, but until you’ve had straight from it’s origins, you haven’t tasted true Italian food. Read more…
Tokyo, Michelin’s Global Center of Gourmet Dining
If you did not have enough reasons to travel to Tokyo and enjoy a unique vacation in this landmark Asian city, here’s a delicious one to add to your list: Tokyo is once again Michelin’s poster child for gourmet dining. This year the Michelin guide awarded it more stars than any other city, and it’s not a first, it’s the fourth year in a row when Tokyo is recognized as gourmet dining center of the world.
Tokyo restaurants received more top awards than last year, 14 of them being given the coveted three-star rating, which Michelin defines as “exceptional cuisine, worth a journey,” of which twelve serve Japanese cuisine and two specialize in French cooking. The new ratings were published in the latest edition the Michelin restaurant guide for Japan’s capital, launched on Wednesday. Read more…
Looking for a place where to get away from the heat?
It’s extrmely hot in Bucharest. Somewhere around 40 degrees Celsius. It rained a bit, but the positive effect was short lived. So I started looking for places to run away from the heat, at least temporarily. And I am proud to say I found the perfect solution!
What do you think of when hearing Absolut Icebar? Nothing sounds chillier to me! A tiny bar with a constant temperature of -5°C where everything is made of ice – the bar, the chairs, the entire room, even the glasses you drink Absolut cocktails from! And not just any ice, but natural frozen Swedish Torne River ice! Usually part of a complex, together with a hotel and restaurant, Absolut Icebar welcomes a limited number of bar goers for only 20 minutes at a time. It is too cold to stay longer, on one hand, and there are lots of people that want to get in on the other. The friendly staff will prodive warm coats to you, to make sure you don’t catch a cold or freeze while visiting them 
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