From butler to city farmer and his own vegan restaurant in Cape Town

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,zuid-afrika

From butler to city farmer and his own vegan restaurant in Cape Town

For ten years Elisha Madzivadondo works as a butler when he gives up the safety of a steady job to grow sprouts and micro vegetables. “I loved my job, but my dream is to make people eat healthy and tasty food.” Behind the counter in his tiny restaurant in Cape Town, the enterprising Zimbabwean creates the most delicious dishes. As I enjoy very creative and super-healthy sushi rolls, he talks about his impressive journey from being a butler to becoming a city farmer and eventually the opening of his own vegan restaurant in Cape Town.

Jealous neighbours

Elisha is from Zimbabwe. When he grew up, meat was a luxury, but as a young boy, Elisha didn’t want to have anything to do with it. “My body resisted it. I just couldn’t eat meat. No way!” He laughs out loud at the thought. “My brothers thought I was weird.” Elisha was working the land by hand on an early age. “I wanted to eat vegetables. Lots of vegetables. So I started to grow my own food. My mother was happy. Every day she would get fresh food from the garden. All the neighbours were jealous of us!”

From butler to city farmer

During his training as a butler, Elisha learned to cook professionally. He holds his hands by his face to depict blinders: “We only learned to make the standard dishes. We didn’t cook healthy or creative. I wanted to experiment with flavours and unusual products, such as sprouts, but they wouldn’t let me.” In 2013, Elisha quits his well-paid job as a butler in one of Cape Town’s most chic districts and starts his own city farm. There he grows sprouts and micro vegetables.

Not always easy

Give up your job to pursue your dreams? His brothers don’t understand what he’s doing. “Of course, it was sometimes difficult. I went from a well-paid job to an unpaid job. I lost friendships because people didn’t understand my decision.” Elisha shakes his head when he hears his own words. “We all eat so unhealthily. And the vegetables we eat are covered in toxic pesticides. That has to change and someone has to take the first step.”

At last his own vegan restaurant in Cape Town

And that’s how it started: with the vegetables, sprouts and micro vegetables from his own vegetable garden, Elisha and his wife Abigail create the most delicious dishes that they sell at food markets in Cape Town and the surrounding area. But then something happens that Elisha, in his wildest dreams, did not dare to hope for. “In Stellenbosch, Cape Town, on farms and in the city; in every market, there was always the same man who came to eat with us.” The person who loves Elisha’s food so much turns out to be a general practitioner. The doctor is so impressed by the food that he offers Elisha a space in his doctor’s office to open a small restaurant. “He moved the reception, built a wall and now I have my own shop right here: The Sunshine Food Sprouting Co“, the entrepreneur says proudly.

Explosion of flavours

“Did you know that a handful of broccoli micro-vegetables have as much nutritional value as mature broccoli?” Elisha puts a plate of sushi, filled with micro vegetables and sprouts, in front of me. “There’s a lot of broccoli in your meal tonight.” The salty taste of the seaweed leaves, the crunchy and fresh sprouts, the soft humus, the firm, black beans: at the first bite I’m convinced. This is absolutely amazing! As I enjoy the explosion of flavours in my mouth, I read about the nutritional values of all these products on the forms and flyers that are on the counter.

Good and healthy!

Vitamin B12, B6, C, folic acid, iron and huge amounts of protein; everything I need for a healthy and strong body Elisha serves in one dish. Suddenly I understand why that doctor gave up space in his practice for Elisha’s restaurant. Now he can eat this good and healthy food every day. What about Elisha? His mission is far from over. He’s still around on all the markets in and around Cape Town. “The people who come to eat in my restaurant know where to find me. But I also want the rest of the world to taste and feel what good and healthy food can do to your body.”

Tasting Elisha’s delicious food too?

Unfortunately, Elisha is not planning to open a branch in Europe or the US in the near future. But if you are ever in South Africa, you should have dinner with Elisha and Abigail at their vegan restaurant in Cape Town. You can find The Sunshine Food Sprouting Co. on the Three Anchor Bay, near the Waterfront. It’s a bright yellow place next to a large doctor’s office. You can’t miss it. And while you’re at it, say hello to Elisha from us. Enjoy your meal!

Book a room close to this vegan restaurant in Cape Town

If you would like to stay at a very nice, small scale place in Cape Town, we have a great recommendation! We stayed at Antrim Villa. With just a couple of comfortable rooms, a small garden (including a pool) and a nice communal area it’s already a great place to stay. But the best thing is: it’s just a 5-minute walk from The Sunshine Food Sprouting Co. Enjoy!

Tasty, local food and vegan travelling

Since I decided not to eat fish and meat anymore, I’ve travelled to 33 countries. The last 6 I visited as a vegan. I’ve always loved tasting delicious new dishes all over the world. I still think discovering the local cuisine is one of the best aspects of travelling. In the big cities, you can always find a vegetarian restaurant, but usually, they serve a lot of western dishes. But I like to get to know the local cuisine! Okay, I also understand that I have to stay away from the fried guinea pig (Peru) and the Peking duck (China). But fortunately, there are also a lot of traditional dishes that – sometimes with a little adjustment – can be made into a delicious vegan meal.

1. Memorize the right words

You may be surprised, but the English word ‘vegetarian’ does not mean the same thing everywhere. In India, they immediately know that you don’t eat anything that comes from animals, but in Vietnam, they think that vegetarians can still eat meat broth. There are no pieces of meat in it right? Just saying ‘I am vegetarian’ will not do the trick. So it’s time to use your language skills. Using some mooing or oinking sounds, you can generally mimic animals very well. It’s especially important that you learn to say the word ‘without’ in the local language. Knowing a few words makes a world of difference. Not only because you can express yourself better, but also because the cook really appreciates that and lovingly puts in a little extra effort for you.

2. Know the local dishes

Make sure you have an idea of the local cuisine in advance. If you know that in Indonesia they like to eat nasi goreng with chicken and egg and you know the ingredients, you can make your own suggestions to make your meal vegan. While reading about it, you might as well discover traditional dishes that are vegan already. Like the heavenly Indian dosa.

Want to know more about the Indian dosa? Patrick wrote an ode to his favourite dish.

3. Be flexible and understanding

It’s up to you to decide how strict you want to be and what you do and don’t eat. Still, my tip is to be a bit flexible and above all understanding towards the locals when travelling. The phenomenon of ‘veganism’ has no meaning in many countries. In poor areas, people don’t always have the luxury to choose what they eat. It is, therefore, possible that they do not understand your lifestyle at all or think you are joking. When I was served a special feast (even after we had talked a lot about the fact that I don’t eat animals) with the nomads in Iran, I decided to make an exception for once out of respect for the family.

4. Vegan travelling: allergic or religious?

There are those moments when you know you’re really not understood. You’ve just explained that you don’t eat eggs and yet the cook proposes to use only a very small amount of egg. Or milk? Surely yoghurt? Yup, been there, done that. At those moments there’s only one thing you can do: lie. Tell the chef that you are terribly allergic to eggs and he will personally make sure that not a single egg comes close to your dish. Or tell him that for religious reasons you don’t eat animal products. Sometimes that’s the only way to be taken seriously.

5. To be on the safe side, take snacks with you

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My experience is that it can be a challenge to eat vegan food, especially on the road. During that long bus ride, you stop at a simple and grubby roadside restaurant with only one dish on the menu: meat. Well, meat with white rice on the side probably. Unless you’re happy with a plate of white rice, I would advise you to always keep a few snacks at the bottom of your bag. Just to be on the safe side.

6. Vegan travelling: Read the ingredients

As a vegan traveller, you can’t go wrong with (dried) fruit and nuts. But do you ever feel like having some junk food? Then pay extra attention to ingredients. To my surprise, I found out that manufacturers do not always use the same ingredients for the same products. For example, some Pringles in western countries are suitable for vegans, but in Asia, they suddenly contain milk powder. Palm oil is no longer used in the Oreo biscuits in Europe, but it is still used in Asia. And what about peanuts fried in fish oil? Brrr…

7. Bring enough supplements

If you take B12 supplements just like we do, I advise you to take a large supply of them with you when you travel for a longer period of time. Except in Thailand and Malaysia, we haven’t found any suitable B12 supplements. And really, we’ve asked in a lot of pharmacies.

8. Cook for yourself

If you’ve been travelling a lot and for a long time, like us, then it’s nice to have the opportunity to cook for yourself from time to time. Especially for breakfast, an apartment with its own kitchen is a godsend. We just buy a loaf of bread and some toppings and we can start the day without any hassle. And as a vegan traveller, you also learn a lot about the local cuisine. And you can put that into practise right away! Win-win.

9. Sleep in a homestay

The first few times we slept in a homestay I was a little worried about our diet. How would the host family react to our difficult eating wishes? Funny enough, we have had some great food at homestays. The lady of the house decides for herself what she cooks and is not dependent on a menu. It’s therefore much easier to be creative and to adapt to traditional dishes. Oh men, I often think to the food we were served at Mister Binh’s in Vietnam. Don’t forget to mention in advance what you do and don’t eat. That way, you’ll be sure that the family will not slaughter a chicken for you before you arrive.

10. Help other vegans on their way

If you’ve eaten something vegan, be sure to leave a review on Google and/or on Tripadvisor. Make sure to mention what you have eaten and whether it was vegan or vegetarian. This way it’s easier for other vegans to find restaurants that can meet their needs. If everyone does that, it will be easier for you in the end as well.

11. Hallelujah for the Happy Cow app

Hallelujah for the Happy Cow app. If you don’t know the app yet, it’s time to install it. In the beginning, the app was free, but now you have to pay a small amount. Trust me, it’s worth it. With Happy Cow, you can find all the vegetarian and vegan restaurants in your area. If you can’t find anything, then perhaps there are ‘ordinary’ restaurants that have good vegan options. My experience is that many restaurants in the app have a more western menu, but now and then there are local gems among them that for whatever reason have decided not to use meat anymore. Through the app, we found a restaurant in Phnom Phen that once specialised in dog meat, but out of guilt was fed up with it. Now they only serve fantastic vegan Cambodian delicacies. A feast for every vegan on the road!

12. Use the Vegan Passport app

What are we supposed to do without our phone? This is another app that makes vegan travelling a lot easier. In the Vegan Passport, there are detailed descriptions of what veganism means and what you don’t want to eat in all the languages of the world. All you have to do is let the staff of the restaurant read them. Handy! And if you don’t like the technology, you can order the paper version here.

13. Don’t be too strict on yourself

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Even if you take all these tips to heart, sometimes things go wrong. Maybe, at the last bite of your Vietnamese spring roll, you’ll find out that there was some egg in it. Bummer. Nothing can be done now. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have accidentally eaten something non-vegan. You can’t do more than your best and if you start torturing yourself at every mistake, it takes away the fun and vegan travelling becomes a punishment.

14. Don’t forget your meal request on the plane

Oh and, uh… Beginner’s mistake! Don’t forget to indicate when booking your flight that you are eating vegan. If you don’t have that option, you know enough: bring your own food. That’s secretly much better too!

As a vegan traveller, you might have some cool and handy tips that should be added to this list? Share it in the comments!

Howay the Herbivores

If you wan’t to learn more about exploring the world as a vegan traveller, check out Howay the Herbivores. Our Geordie friends Ellen and Craig show you that being vegan while travelling is not that hard. You will not starve, we promise.

Did you enjoy ‘Vegetarian or vegan traveller?’ Read these stories too:

1. The best vegetarian and vegan places in Canggu, Bali!
2. Off the beaten track in Laos: eco-trekking in Nam Ha National Park
3. 10 reasons why you should stay at Bali Eco Stay
4. How to make a positive impact while travelling
5. How to filter tap water while travelling? We test and compare 4 options

9 August 2019
2 Comments

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,Indonesia

The best vegetarian and vegan places in Canggu, Bali!

Look no further! This is the place to find a complete overview of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Canggu. In the popular coastal town on Bali, we eat the most surprising meat substitutes, creamy cakes without dairy and we discover what is possible without animal products. I will tell you what my favourite vegan dishes are and how much money you’ll spend on these fantastic meals. It’s not difficult being a vegetarian or vegan in Bali. Hurry and visit all these amazing places in Canggu!

Vegetarian and vegan in Bali!

In April 2018 Patrick and I decided that we want to eat 100% vegan from that day forward. And that’s not always easy when you rarely cook your own meal. In tourist places, veggie and vegan are well-known terms. Outside those places, it’s sometimes difficult to explain. And we are those kinds of people that prefer to visit the most undiscovered places (for example Bangladesh, Sumba, East Timor). On Bali, you don’t have to wear woollen socks in sandals to call yourself a vegan. In Canggu, not eating meat is commonplace. So finding vegan places in Canggu is not very hard. Let’s start!

Plant Cartel – 100% vegan

This is the kind of cartel we have been waiting for! In this hip restaurant you’ll find all the fast food favourites you thought you would never eat again: cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and chickenwings, it’s all possible. Healthy? Not really. Tasty? Hell yeah! Plant Cartel look like an American diner. It’s not a place to fine-dine with friends. But fastfood is not meant for that anyway.

Favorite dish: popcorn chick’n. These are small, deep-fried chicken pieces, made of jackfruit. If you usually like the real once as well, don’t worry! It’s hard to tell the difference ;).
Price: € 2.40 for a portion of popcorn chick’n. The double cheeseburger costs € 3,60.
Least favorite thing: the portions are quite small.

Samadi Kitchen Lab

Samadi Kitchen Lab complies with all Bali clichés. It’s not only a vegetarian and organic restaurant. It’s also a yoga centre and a spa and health centre at the same time. Is that a bad thing? Not at all! After an exhausting yoga session, it’s great to be able to immediately join for a healthy breakfast. I can’t think of a better way to start my day. Every Sunday there is a cosy farmers market with organic vegetables, fruit, natural soaps and sustainable souvenirs. We even bought coral-friendly sunscreen at this market.

Favorite dish: the Indian breakfast. Although the dosa is nothing like the famous crepes we ate in India, the spicy pancake is surprisingly delicious.
Price: the Indian breakfast costs € 3.30. For a fresh, chilled coconut you pay € 1.20.
Least favorite thing: A yoga outfit is the unofficial dresscode.

I Am Vegan Babe – 100% vegan

This is without a doubt the very best restaurant for a vegan in Bali. No, wait. The best in the world. Seriously, I never found any meatless restaurant that was better than this one. And I’ve travelled to 48 countries. If we had not intended to fly as little as possible, I would book a return ticket to Bali right away.

At I Am Vegan Babe you will find everything our carnivorous fellow man wants to eat. How about a club sandwich with a fried egg and turkey fillet? Or a creamy chocolate cake with whipped cream? I really don’t understand how they imitate flavours and structures so well. So I just enjoy it. I Am Vegan Babe is only open for breakfast and lunch.

Favorite dish: I can’t choose between the club sandwich with vegan chicken, turkey, egg and mayonnaise and the Bali poke bowl with fried fake shrimps.
Price: the Bali poke bowl and the club sandwich cost € 5.70. A cup of coffee costs € 1,50. Fortunately you get large portions and after lunch with a pastry you can skip dinner.
Least favorite thing: the food is quite expensive for Indonesian standards.

Give Café – 100% vegan

My second favorite restraurant in Canggu, after I Am Vegan Babe, is Give Café. It’s a social enterprise and the profit is distributed each month to 3 charities that support people, animals and the environment. As if that wasn’t enough, the food is fantastic too! You’ll find sandwiches, burgers, pancakes and all kinds of local delicacies. Don’t be fooled by the name: the chicken satay is completely vegan. Outside the menu you can fill a plate with dishes from the Indonesian buffet.

Favorite dish: the nasi campur is fantastic. For lunch, my favourite is the breaky bruchetta, a sandwich with avocado, tomato and balsamic.
Price: the breaky bruschetta costs € 3.90. For the nasi campur you decide how many dishes you serve. For 6 dishes you pay € 3.50. A cappuccino with soy milk costs € 2,-.
Least favorite thing: there are not so many seats.

The Shady Shack

If I Am Vegan Babe is closed, move one door to the left and take a seat at The Shady Shack. Looking out over a small rice field, you can sit comfortably in your own little booth. You can choose salads, burgers, wraps, soups and fresh smoothies. Most dishes are vegan.

Favorite dish: the pulled jackfruit burger is a real treat.
Price: the Shady lasagna costs € 5.70. For a special beer you pay € 2.40.
Least favorite thing: when it’s busy (and that’s the case usually), the food takes a long time to arrive.

Roti Daal Canggu

To our great surprise there are hardly any Indian restaurants to be found in Canggu. That’s strange when you consider that Bali is a Hindu island. Fortunately, the only real Indian restaurant in Canggu is completely vegetarian. At Roti Daal Canggu the cook prepares a selection of delicious Indian curries and snacks every day. You can create your own thali with 4, 5 or – for the big eater – 6 different dishes with rice.

Favorite dish: the chef decides what is on the menu.
Price: a thali with 4 curries, rice and chutney costs € 7.20.
Least favorite thing: the dishes are adapted to western spicy levels: they do not serve spicy curries here. You can ask for sambal, but it’s also mild.

Oma Jamu – 100% vegan

Grandmothers are the greatest stay at home chefs. We all know that. And the same goes for Oma Jamu. In the small restaurant you can choose from the menu, or you pick your meal from the extensive buffet. The dishes are not only cheap and incredibly tasty, but also healthy. So don’t worry if you have a little too much food once in a while. Oma Jamu is also a mini shop with organic vegetables and fruit and natural care products.

Favorite dish: pick all the goodies from the buffet. You have a lot of choice and everything is equally delicious.
Price: € 2.40 when you choose 5 dishes from the buffet.
Least favorite thing: one hour before closing time you can no longer order from the menu.

Warung Pande – 100% vegan

A warung is a small restaurant in Indonesia, where they sell local dishes such as nasi goreng and baked banana. This hidden gem is the only vegan warung in Canggu. In Warung Pande you eat like a local: cheap, simple and tasty. You can choose between a few dishes or a so-called nasi campur. That is like a single Indian rice table. Warung Pande is the cheapest restaurant in this list but definitely one of our favourite vegan places in Canggu.

Favorite dish: nasi campur is a plate full of small dishes, such as marinated tempeh, various vegetables and a large spoonful of peanut sauce. Jummie!
Price: a well filled plate full of small dishes costs € 1.80.
Least favorite thing: the warung closes when the food is finished. If you’re too late you’re standing in front of a closed door.

Café Organic

The bright interior with stylish furniture reminds of the good life on the Greek coast. The big difference is that there are no gyros and grilled fish on the menu. In the vegetarian Café Organic you eat dishes from all over the world. From English fish and chips and eastern tabouleh to French cakes and Mexican burritos. You can also try one of the many smoothies.

Favorite dish: the fish and chips is an original take on the traditional English dish and it’s surprisingly tasty. Although the fish doesn’t really taste like fish.
Price: for the fish and chips you pay € 3.90. A fresh fruit juice costs € 2.40.
Least favorite thing: when it’s busy it can take a long time before you get served.

La Baracca

La Baracca is the only non vegetarian restaurant on this list, but one that should not be missed. Here they serve real Italian pizzas with – you won’t believe it – vegan cheese! Say what? And there is also plenty of choice for vegans. Pastas, pizzas and even a vegan pizza calzone.

Favorite dish: pizza vegetariana with vegan cheese.
Price: € 5.10 for the vegan pizza. A glass of wine costs € 3,50. A beer is € 2,-.
Least favorite thing: the meat section on the menu 😉

Did I miss any vegan places in Canggu? Please let me know in the comments!

Filter tap water anywhere in the world!

Did you know you don’t have to buy single-use plastic bottles while travelling as a vegan in Bali? We haven’t used any single-use plastic bottles and have been on the road for years. How? By filtering tap water and water from natural sources with our own water filters. One of our favourite bottles is the Water-to-Go filter bottle. This great and handy filter friend can be yours soon and if you order it and use our discount code, you will get 15% off your order. So go and visit their website and enter ADED15 at checkout!

Read all about our experiences with several different bottles and systems in this blog.

Did you enjoy reading about being vegan in Bali? Read more!

1. These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Iran
2. Enjoying French pizzas at a sustainable resort on Sumba, Indonesia
3. 10 reasons why you should stay at Bali Eco Stay
4. How to filter tap water while travelling? We test and compare 4 options
5. 10 tips on how to reduce your holiday carbon emissions

15 March 2019
No Comments

The best activity in Luang Prabang: grow your own rice in 14 steps!

ByPatrick

Food & Drinks,Laos

The best activity in Luang Prabang: grow your own rice in 14 steps!

Daisy is laughing loudly at the end of the ricefield, while I try not to fall face first into the mud. With every step I take, I sink deeper into the ground. My hands firmly hold onto the handles of the heavy wooden plough. A 500-kilo water buffalo called Suzanne is pulling the strings of this nature walk. She is so much in control that there is nothing left for me to do than follow her and experience how heavy the life of a rice farmer really is. Daisy and I are guests at The Living Land Company. Today, at an amazing Rice Experience, we learn all about the production of the most valuable ingredient of Asia: rice. This is without a doubt the best activity in Luang Prabang.

The white gold of Asia

We have booked an activity at the Backstreet Academy that we will remember for a long time to come. In the months that follow, we think back at each dinner to how much work there is in the rice that’s on our plate. Rice connects the largest continent on earth. From India to China and from Vietnam to Indonesia, this “white gold” is always on the menu.

Cooperation and a sense of community

The Living Land Company is a social enterprise founded in 2005. Local farmers decide to work together to use their land more efficiently. From now on they will work together on an organic vegetable garden and the rice plantations. Part of the proceeds of vegetables, fruit and rice is used in the restaurant that is part of the project. To make it even more beautiful, the farmers invite visitors from all over the world to experience what it takes to grow rice. And that – we discover – is still quite a job!

A fun and responsible experience

The company has now grown into a business with a major social impact. The profit is used to support poor families when they have to go to the hospital or cannot pay school fees. English lessons are offered on the farm. Students from the local agricultural training centre are welcome to do an internship. And they support infrastructure and employment projects. They do this by selling locally produced products, among other things. In other words, a company with a heart for its surroundings.

The best activity in Luang Prabang

During the Rice Experience, you will go through the 14 steps of rice production in a smooth and interactive way. Together with Ulani, who accompanies us all day, we will learn how rice is grown. Of course, we also have to roll up our sleeves ourselves. We stomp through the mud, beat rice grains around, separate the rice from the sheets by sie and are allowed to taste the result at the end. We definetely think this is the best activity in Luang Prabang.

Rice to the occasion in Luang Prabang

1. Selecting the best seeds

There is a small pile of seeds waiting for us when we arrive at the first step. Ulani tells us that we can choose the best seeds. There should be no cracked or black sheets left behind. These seeds (rice grains that are still in their skin) are planted in the mud. These will eventually become new rice plants.

2. Planting the seeds in the mud

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When we arrive at one of the small rice fields we immediately see that the moment has come: we get into the mud. We bury the seeds by hand. Within a few days, the first plants will emerge from the ground.

3. Working with Suzanne

After that, the rice field must be prepared to replant the young plants. This still happens at The Living Land Company with a loyal, hardworking companion called Suzanne. With heavy steps, I try to keep up with the water buffalo, which pulls hard on the plough. This is not easy, I can tell you that!

4. Replant young plants

When Suzanne and I are ready it is time to replant the young rice plants we sewed earlier to the ploughed land. We all get a bush in our hands and are sent back into the mud. To grow well, the rice plants need space. That’s why they are being replanted. We have to give them about 30 cm of space on all sides.

5. Water management

This step is repeated and checked over and over again. Keeping the paddies moist or even flooded is essential for rice production. Paddies are rice fields filled with water that are laid out like stairs against the hills. For centuries, self-dug ditches have formed a complicated irrigation system that provides every paddie with sufficient water.

6. Harvesting the rice

After 3 to 4 months it’s time to harvest the mature rice plants. Ulani takes us to the next field where big plants are waiting for us. He gives us a sickle. “Take the rice plant firmly and cut it as low as possible”, says Ulani. That is more difficult than it seems!

7. Release the rice seeds from the plant

The large, cut plants are baled to the first processing site. Here we beat the rice plants hard against a large plank. The rice grains are still in their jacket, but fall (together with the greens from the plant) onto a bamboo mat.

8. Waving to separate the rice and the grass

In order to collect the rice as cleanly as possible, a fan is used to separate the grass from the rice. The dry blades of grass are lighter and are thus blown off the mat. The seeds that remain are ready to lose their skin and to be transformed into the rice grains as we know them.

9. Carrying the seeds to the workshop

This seems to be a part that doesn’t count as a separate step. After all, we have only harvested a few plants. But a real rice farmer cuts hundreds of plants from the fields every day. Lifting the rice is quite a hard task when that’s the case.

10. Breaking the seed so that the rice comes loose

Finally, the time has come to free the real grains of rice from their skins. With our feet, we operate a wooden beam that works like a seesaw, with at the end a sturdy wooden bowl. The rice seeds are inside the bowl. The end of the beam firmly hits the seeds, causing them to break. The rice is finally free!

11. Separate the seed sheets from the rice grains

Most types of rice are eaten without husk and skin. That is why we use a large sieve to separate the grains from the sheets. A sweet smiling lady has mastered the technique much better than we do. Without spilling, she sifts a large quantity of rice in seconds. But when we try it, we only have a small amount of rice left, after a minute of sieving. The rest has fallen to the ground. A little extra practice is clearly needed. Fun fact: rice wine is made from the seed sheets!

12. Grinding of broken rice grains into rice flour

This step doesn’t apply to all rice that is harvested. Only broken grains of rice, which can no longer be sold, are used to make rice flour. Crackers, biscuits and even pancakes are made from these and sold to visitors of the farm.

13. Cooking the rice

The last step, before it’s time to taste, is obvious. We cook the rice. The rice we have harvested today is called sticky rice. Large white grains that stick together. That makes eating with your hands a lot easier. Oh and by the way, the rice is cooked just a little bit different than we are used to. Take a look at the picture!

14. Enjoy the rice!

This would never be the best activity in Luang Prabang if we wouldn’t be allowed to taste our own harvested rice. At lunch, this moment has finally arrived. Of course we don’t just eat the white sticky grains. In the accompanying restaurant, we are served various colourful dishes. With rice crackers, delicious organic vegetables from there own garden, curries and soup. All complemented with the basis of every Asian meal: rice. Enjoy!

Would you like to do what we did?

We book many of our activities in Asia through the Backstreet Academy. With this company, the local population, culture and ancient traditions are the most important aspects. Would you like to learn everything about rice production, just like we did? Book the best activity in Luang Prabang here: the Rice Experience at The Living Land Company.

We also did a workshop on how to make Tibetan momos in Pokhara, trough the Backstreet Academy. We learned how to make tempeh in Indonesia. And we were taken along by student Bisma during a food tour in Kathmandu. the Backstreet Academy offers activities in 10 countries in Asia: Nepal, Laos, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Enough places to choose from!

Accomodation tip: green and soothing Sa Sa Lao

Just outside the centre, on the other side of the Nam Khan River, is Sa Sa Lao. In this tropical ecolodge you sleep in a traditional bungalow, in the middle of the jungle. The private rooms are quite large and have a private bathroom. You can also sleep for a few euros in a shared room. On the terrace along the river, you can enjoy the view in a hammock. At Sa Sa Lao you can follow a cooking workshop. Barbecues are also regularly organised. The friendly staff can help you book bus rides and activities. Sa Sa Lao is located about 10 minutes by bike from the centre. You can rent a bike for 2 euros per day.

Accomodation tip: Thip Villa Guest House

Do you prefer to stay more in the centre of Luang Prabang? In the middle of the centre and on the banks of the Mekong lies Thip Villa Mekong Riverside. The beautiful, spacious rooms of this hotel have a comfortable bed and a modern bathroom. The location of the hotel is perfect. But what we especially liked was the great service of the friendly staff. There English is very good and they are always ready to help you book activities and bus rides. Highly recommended!

Did you enjoy this article? Then you also like these!

1. How To Get To Chi Phat: The Special Ecovillage in Cambodia
2. Ecotourism in Cambodia: into the jungle of Chi Phat guided by former poachers
3. A step by step guide to visit the Taj Mahal without other tourists
4. How to make a positive impact while travelling
5. These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Iran

15 January 2019
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How to make tempeh! We found the best workshop in Indonesia + video

ByPatrick

Food & Drinks,Foodtalk,Indonesia,Leftover recipes

How to make tempeh! We found the best workshop in Indonesia + video

In Europe, many home cooks know tempeh as a substitute for meat. The taste and structure depend on the way it is prepared. In Indonesia, it’s a different story. The people here know what to do with tempeh! The delicacy that’s made of soybeans is a traditional ingredient and is not on the menu to replace something. It’s just delicious! The question that I often ask myself is: how do you make tempeh? During a super fun workshop in Yogyakarta, Daisy and I learn how to make it from scratch. Also, take a look at the short video that I made! As a bonus, you also get a nice tempeh recipe.

What’s tempeh?

Tempeh is made from soybeans and is a source of protein and dietary fibre. The firm structure makes it a good replacement for meat, but it’s also delicious as a snack or as a side dish. You can bake tempeh in soy sauce, deep-fry it with some salt and use it in your nasi goreng for a delicious bite. Or you make it a tasty side dish! You can find the recipe for Indonesian tempeh at the end of this blog.

Learn how to make tempeh with the Backstreet Academy

Daisy and I take on the challenge in Yoghyakarta: we are going to make tempeh ourselves. In two hours we learn everything about the process, the craftsmanship and the origin of this versatile ingredient. The tempeh workshop is offered by the Backstreet Academy. At the Backstreet Acadamy, you will find activities, homestays and lots of other fun things to do. You’re always accompanied by local hosts or hostesses. From archery or tempeh in Yoghyakarta to a city tour in Mumbai. Offering activities in 40 cities throughout Asia, there is plenty to discover through this platform.

Video: How to make tempeh

Are you ready for the video? Click on play below and find out how to make traditional Indonesian tempeh in 10 steps!

Recipe for ‘tempeh geprek’

Now that you know how to make tempeh, it’s also useful to know how to turn the result into a culinary masterpiece. That is why I add a quick and easy recipe for ‘tempeh geprek’. It’s nothing but mashed tempeh with spicy sambal, but with an Indonesian touch. Delicious! With this recipe, you will have enough for a tasty side dish and you will definitely impress your friends!

What do you need?

Vegetable oil for frying
8 thin sliced tempeh slices
bowl of water with a pinch of salt and mashed garlic
4 cloves of garlic
4 small shallots
2 chilli peppers (the more, the spicier)

Let’s cook!

Heat oil in a small wok. Make sure it’s enough so you can deep-fry the tempeh. Make sure the oil is hot, then turn down the heat. Cut the tempeh into slices and immerse them in the salt water before you carefully put them in the oil. Beware, the oil can start splashing a bit. Turn the slices every now and then. Remove the tempeh from the oil when they are golden brown.

Peel the onion and the garlic. Cut the onion, garlic and chilli into small pieces. Don’t cut them to small, because you will crush them in the mortar later. Use the already hot oil of the tempeh and first put in the onion and the garlic. Add the chilli after one minute. Let the whole thing fry for about a minute and a half. Then scoop them out of the pan.

Break or cut the hot tempeh into pieces and place them in a large mortar. Add the fried garlic, onion and chilli and mix and mix everything nicely. Don’t smash the tempeh completely, but make sure you still have something to chew on. Enjoy your meal!

Find more inspiring stories on All Day Every Daisy

1. Ecolodge: Discovering the treasures of Inle Lake, Myanmar
2. Myanmar: 12 top things to do in Yangon
3. This is how we travel the world without buying plastic bottles of water
4. Green travels made easy: the ultimate guide to sustainable traveling
5. Rajastan: hospitality, peace and an incredible story in India

8 November 2018
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These are the weirdest eating habits in Asia

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,Foodtalk

These are the weirdest eating habits in Asia

There is a lot to write about when you are travelling. Especially when it comes to food. After all, we eat 3 times a day. More than enough moments to get used to the craziest eating habits and strange local dishes. Eating with our hands has become quite normal, eating sounds like smacking and slurping are no longer dirty to us, we can take spicy food quite well and we haven’t used a knife for months. These are the weirdest eating habits in Asia!

Eating with your hands

Rice with curry is best eaten with your hands. At least, that is what the Indians and Sri Lankans think. And I’m only talking about your right hand. Your left hand is unclean; you use it for other things when you visit the smallest room of the house. Now you immediately know why they never have any toilet paper available in these countries…

It’s sometimes said that the food tastes better if you eat it with your hands. You use an extra sense besides smelling and tasting. You feel the food. Eating with your hands without making a mess of the table and you own clothes requires some practice, but once you succeed it is actually quite fun.

Chopsticks and spoons

You would rather have clean fingers while eating? In many Asian countries, people eat with chopsticks. It might not feel like one of the weirdest eating habits in Asia, but it does take some practice. When I was served a bowl of noodle soup with chopsticks for the first time, I didn’t know what to do. But when I glanced at another table, I saw how to do it. You hover over the bowl and lift the noodles out of the soup, using the sticks in your right hand. Then you slowly slurp them into your mouth. Not too fast, because then you have a chance that the hot strings will splash into your face. With a spoon in your left hand, get some soup into the mix so you can rinse the food away.

Eating habits in Asia: Only rice

A while ago it was immensely popular in the Netherlands: a low-carb diet. Without potatoes, rice and pasta the kilos seem to run away from you. And so you would expect the opposite to happen if you eat rice three times a day. You will become very fat. Well, that’s not the case. All those Asians here stay very skinny and yet they eat rice at least 3 times a day. When we wanted to treat our guide in Nepal to something else than always rice, rice, rice he thanked us kindly. “Why would you want to eat something else”, he wondered in complete surprise. He clearly didn’t recognize this as one of the weirdest eating habits in Asia.

Hot tea

If you have ever been to Asia, you must have experienced it: that moment when the food is so spicy that you think you’re spitting fire. The only thing you want is ice-cold coca-cola, lots of water and a large glass of milk. Funny enough, the Asians extinguish the heat quite differently. They do that with hot tea. That is why in some countries, such as Myanmar, there is always a thermos bottle filled with tea on the table.

Never spicy enough

Speaking of spicy. In this continent, food is never spicy enough. With a flaming hot curry in India, you get some chilli peppers served as a side dish. You can chew on them. Would you rather have it a little milder? Fortunately, in most countries, they know that those poor tourists will start sweating heavily from that hot food. A simple “no spicy” is more than enough to get an edible dish.

Rotten eggs and other weird dishes

In Thailand, they love rotten eggs. Well, rotten? That’s what they look like. The black coloured eggs have been inlaid for months in a mixture of clay, ash and salt. This changes the egg white into a black pudding and the egg yolk into a blue-grey ball. If you think this is one of the weirdest eating habits in Asia, you should know that in Cambodia they love deep fried tarantulas; in China, they eat fried silkworm; in Myanmar, grasshoppers with chilli sauce are a delicacy; in Vietnam, they like ant larvae and in India, they throw frog legs on the barbecue.

Slurping and smacking

Alright, for me this must be among the top of the list of weirdest eating habits in Asia. People who can’t stand it when other people make a lot of sounds while eating, better remove Asia from their bucket list. In this continent smacking, slurping and burping are signs that you’re really enjoying the food. So don’t be surprised if a small, innocent looking grandma burps in a way you have never heard before, while at the dinner table. If you don’t slurp and smack enough, the hostess may wonder if you really like it. So throw all your table manners overboard and head on to Asia! By the way, in Thailand, they can’t really appreciate all the slurping and smacking. Just so you know.

Sharing is caring

In most Asian countries it’s customary to share food with each other. You will rarely see people ordering their own meals and keeping everything to themselves. When Asians go out to eat, they order all kinds of dishes that they put in the middle of the table. So everyone can taste a little bit of everything. That’s why the tables in Asia are often round instead of square. This makes it much easier to reach everything and chat with each other at the same time. I really like this habit.

Eating habits in Asia: Starter, main, dessert

In most Asian countries they don’t know the concept of starters, main courses and desserts at all. Even if the menu says ‘starter‘ and ‘main‘, that doesn’t mean that you actually get the dishes in that order. In most restaurants, you get the food in the order in which the chef finishes the dishes. Not surprisingly, considering that in many countries they prefer to have all the different dishes on the table at the same time in order to share them. For example, think of the Indonesian rice table.

Had enough?

“Finish your dinner, otherwise you’ll go to bed without a dessert! I can still hear my mother shouting this warning, while I reluctantly try to finish the last couple of Brussels Sprouts. In the Netherlands you finish your plate, otherwise, you’re rude. In some countries, like India, it’s exactly the other way around. If you finish your plate completely, it means you haven’t had enough yet. Chances are that the hostess will fill your plate up with a big pile of rice and curry again. Just for you! If you are really full, then it’s better to leave a little bit on your plate and politely thank her for the wonderful dinner.

Eating habits in Asia: Leftovers

In Asia, leftovers rarely end up in the bin. The next day you can easily make something nice out of them. We once had dinner with a family in a remote village in Laos. The next morning we got the food of the night before for breakfast. And yes, also our packed lunches were filled with leftovers. Of course, we immediately adopted this habit and don’t mind eating vegetable leftovers on bread the next day. That also saves money! This might not fit in with the weirdest eating habits in Asia actually. I really love it! This should be the standard in every country.

Check out this blog on how to avoid food waste while travelling!

Having dinner without a knife

I already imagine that you are looking for a knife at the dinner table. No, they didn’t forget to give you one. In Asia they hardly ever use knives to eat with. Knives are weapons and they should not be on the table. They eat with sticks, forks and spoons. The dishes are therefore served in bite-sized pieces. So there is nothing to cut anyway.

Did you enjoy reading about eating habits in Asia? Read these!

1. The best activity in Luang Prabang: grow your own rice in 14 steps!
2. 10 tips on how to reduce your holiday carbon emissions
3. How to make tempeh! We found the best workshop in Indonesia + video!
4. 15 items you should never keep in the fridge
5. How to make Nepali momos yourself!

9 July 2018
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These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Iran

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,Iran

These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Iran

In restaurants in Iran, you will find dozens of types of kebabs, stews, chicken in sweet sauces and even more kebabs. Iran is not an easy country for vegetarians. Vegans even have a harder time. Even the white rice is flavoured with a large spoonful of goat butter. As a vegetarian*, I take up the challenge to eat delicious food without fish and meat during our journey through Iran. And that turns out to be a lot harder than I thought.

A life without meat

The vegetarian phenomenon is not yet very big in Iran. On a large square in the centre of Tehran, there are dozens of stalls with kebabs and hamburgers. The only stall that has the words ‘healthy’ and ‘vegetable’ is abandoned. Even after extensive questioning about the how and why of my meatless existence, the family where we stay still serves chicken and lamb. And so I eat white rice with yoghurt. During a two day visit to a nomad family, they even slaughter a chicken for their special guest. Which is me. Read that story here.

Smoked eggplant

On my third day in Iran, I discover a dish that I will often eat from that moment on: smoked eggplant. Or ‘mirza ghasemi’ in Farsi. The smoked eggplant is pureed together with tomatoes and a lot of garlic. At the last minute, when the puree is still hot, an egg is stirred through the mix. Delicious! This is a saviour for vegetarians in need and it can be found at most restaurants in Iran as an appetizer. With some bread and rice, it’s more than enough for dinner. But in the end, I don’t like to eat toasted eggplant for three weeks. So I went looking for the hidden gems that do serve meatless meals. Let me list them for you.

Esfahan

Grandma’s Table

After days of white rice and smoked eggplant, I feel very happy when opening the menu in Grandma’s Table. Ten dishes of which no less than five are vegetarian. I can’t decide. After long consideration and weighing, I choose the Sabzijat: a well-spiced vegetable stew. As a side dish, we also take the homemade dolma’s with raisins. Yummie! And we get a dessert on the house in exchange for a photo on Instagram. Deal! Can Grandma please travel with us?! It’s definitely one of my favourite restaurants in Iran.

You can find Grandma’s Table on Hakim Street

Shiraz

Quvam Café Restaurant

Roodaki Street is without a doubt one of the hippest streets in Iran. We find coffee bars with baristas with curled moustaches, beautifully decorated cafés and Shiraz’s best restaurant: Quvam Café Restaurant. It turns out that we are not the only tourists looking for a menu without the word ‘kebab’. There is not one local insight. This is definitely one of the more touristy restaurants in Iran. Well, we have been among the local people all day long. And for a nice vegetarian meal, I’m happy to sit surrounded by tourists. I choose the Kookoo Sabzi, a kind of omelette filled with spinach and walnuts.

Soofi 1

If you prefer to be among the locals, Soofi 1 is the best place to eat. The traditional restaurant has been around for decades and is a household name among locals. This is the place where the Iranian families go when they have something to celebrate. With live music every evening, the restaurant is a great place to clap and sing during dinner. There is nothing on the menu for vegetarians. But there is an extensive salad bar, where you can fill your plate unlimited for a few euros.

It’s a little bit outside of our budget – we decide it’s allowed tonight – but we take a seat on one of the chic sofa beds in restaurant Haft Khan. The gigantic complex has four restaurants on four floors. We choose a la carte because they have a special menu for vegetarians. The vegetarian sizzler with soy is great. Good to know; one portion is big enough for two people.

You can find Quvam Café Restaurant on Roodaki Street
You can find Soofi 1 on Sattar Khan St.
You can find Haft Khan at the 17th Alley, Quran Jadid Blvd

Yazd

Orient Hotel

In Yazd, it’s a lot easier for vegetarians to eat properly. The city is very touristy and that means that there are more restaurants that adjust the menu to the taste of the tourists. The first evening we find a nice place on the attractive roof terrace of the Orient Hotel. We soon notice that this hotel is a favourite with international travel agencies since every seat is occupied by groups of tourists. We take a seat in the back, where we have a lovely view over the roofs of the old city centre. I order the vegetarian version of the traditional dish fesenjan. The delicious stew is made with eggplant and zucchini instead of chicken.

Karbala Falafel

The street right behind the Amar Chaqmag Complex is also called the ‘Arabic street’. You will find a lot of falafel shops. The best falafel according to the locals can be found at a restaurant in Iran called Karbala Falafel, at the beginning of the street on the left. Karbala Falafel is run by Iraqis who know very well how to prepare a delicious falafel. For less than 1 euro I can fill my own flatbread with six fresh pieces of falafel and all the other goodies that fit into it. I could eat here every day.

Yazd Art House Café

Café Honar is indicated for tourists as Yazd Art House Café. This cosy restaurant is actually completely vegetarian. Halleluja! They don’t offer a lot of different choices, but what they serve is super tasty. The lentil soup has been voted the tastiest dish in all of Iran. It’s for that reason that we came back to this restaurant a second time.

You can find Orient Hotel on Masjed-e-Jaameeh Mosque Street, 6th Alley
You can find Karbala Falafel on Salman-e Farsi
You can find Café Honar on the Sahra

Kashan

Eshan Historical Guesthouse

In Kashan we eat in our own hotel; Eshan Historical Guesthouse. We can choose from two vegetarian dishes and that’s nice, because we stay here for two nights.

The man with the lentil soup

Another must-visit is a small place, hidden in the busy bazaar of the city. It takes some time and effort to find “the man with the lentil soup” His restaurant has no name and only one table with a wooden bench. He only serves a hearty lentil soup, but it’s tasty!

Eshan Historical Guesthouse is located opposite of Agh Bozorg Moskee
You can find the man with the lentil soup at the bazar, close to the school and mosque of the Imam. You can ask people there and they will help you find it.

Teheran

Artist Forum Vegetarian Restaurant

In Tehran we mainly eat at people’s homes, so, unfortunately, I don’t have that many good tips. On the other hand, the city is big and hip enough to find a nice vegetarian restaurant without any problems. One afternoon we sit down on the terrace of Artist Forum Vegetarian Restaurant in Honarmandan Park. It turns out to be a quiet oasis in the hustle and bustle of the city. The menu is so extensive that it’s hard to choose. From vegetarian burgers and pizzas to traditional soups and puff pastries and freshly squeezed juices.

Artist Forum Vegetarian Restaurant is located in the Honarmandan Park

Do you need more restaurans in Iran? Get yourself a Lonely Planet

The Lonely Planet Guidebook of Iran helped us out many times when we were travelling and looking for restaurants in Iran. But it also holds hotels and many ideas for places to visit. Click the link or the banner to find out more!

Did you enjoy reading about restaurants in Iran? Keep reading:

1. Rajasthan: hospitality, peace and an incredible story in India
2. How to make a positive impact while traveling
3. Myanmar: 12 top things to do in Yangon (Rangoon)
4. 21 surprising things you don’t know about Bangladesh as a holiday destination
5. Why we choose to travel around the world without flying

*I’m vegan now. Back in Iran, I still used dairy products such as cheese and butter and we did eat egg.

19 September 2017
2 Comments

6 green and hip places to visit in Rotterdam

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,South-Holland,Sustainability

6 green and hip places to visit in Rotterdam

Today I’ve listed my favourite places to visit in Rotterdam for you. Here you can eat exceptional stroopwafels (the famous Dutch syrup waffles), drink dangerously good coffee and a chance to experience first hand what needs to be done to eat chicken meat. The similarity between these 6 hip places? They all contribute to a better world. That’s a win-win when visiting these green and hip places in Rotterdam.

Hip places to visit in Rotterdam

1. Heilige Boontjes (Sacred beans)

The tough bearded men at the coffee shop on the Eendrachtsplein do not really look sacred. Heilige Boontjes is a trendy coffee shop where ex-criminals get the chance to gain work experience and eventually get a real job. Nice fact; the building used to be a police station. The bad quality coffee that crooks were offered during the interrogation has made way for delicious, sustainable coffee. The beans are organically produced and contribute to a better life for the coffee farmers. With Heilige Boontjes you are assured of a cup of coffee that has a good story behind it.

2. Op Het Dak (On The Roof)

In the middle of the busy city of Rotterdam lies a large field of vegetables, fruit and honey bees. Where? On the roof of the Schieblock. The old office building wasn’t used for years and is now a breeding ground for creative entrepreneurs and green initiatives. The high-rise vegetable garden is the first in the Netherlands and has a small restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal. In the kitchen of Op Het Dak they of course work with whatever the garden on the roof supplies, but also with products from local entrepreneurs. Not only can you have a great lunch here, you also come here for the view over the roof garden and the center of Rotterdam.

3. Stroop (Syrup)

Stroopwafels boring? Not at Stroop Rotterdam. Here the old Dutch waffles are freshly baked and originally filled. How about a stroopwafel with bacon? Or with sea salt or rather with fresh lemon? But Stroop Rotterdam is more than just a café with fresh waffles. The restaurant is a living room where you can play games all afternoon. The locals regularly organise activities and workshops. But there are also free film nights and exhibitions. Stroop is a meeting place for residents and offers a platform where they can present their products and initiatives. And you can enjoy that while enjoying a special syrup waffle. That’s a win-win I would say. Oh, and everything you see (or sit on) at Stroop is for sale!

4. Gare du Nord

While sitting at a pink chair at a narrow, wooden table I stare out of the window. In this train, the landscape doesn’t rush past me, but I look out over a cheerful vegetable garden in the middle of a Rotterdam district. Restaurant Gare du Nord is located in a discarded German wagon from the 90s. That in itself is quite special. But the menu of this restaurant is just original as the location. Here they only cook with plants. So that’s a vegan menu! No old-style vegan cooking with just tofu and raw carrots. No, here you eat fusilli with mushroom and truffle sauce, tofu with red wine sauce and a salad of grilled nectarine and figs. They make this with organic wine only of course!

5. Uit Je Eigen Stad (From Your Own City)

Eating what the city has to offer. That’s the motto of From Your Own City. Just outside the centre of Rotterdam is an old harbour shed that has been transformed into a vibrant city farm. Local people can grow food in the gigantic vegetable garden. Some of the products are used in the restaurant of Uit Je Eigen Stad, the rest can be found every weekend at the city market.

Uit Je Eigen Stad is not only a special place to eat. You can regularly participate in fun workshops and events. This way you can – of course – learn how to grow food. Moreover, you can also learn to slaughter a chicken yourself “in a humane way” (if that’s even possible)! For meat eaters, it’s important to learn where their chicken is coming from I guess. I think that everyone who eats meat should do it once. For children, there is also a garden where they can pick their own food and they can find their own eggs lying around the chickens. A nice place to spend the whole afternoon and one of the better places to visit in Rotterdam

6. Spirit

I wrote a whole blog about restaurant Spirit before. In this vegetarian buffet restaurant, you scoop up what you want to eat and calculate the weight of your plate. So you never get too much food and less is thrown away. Spirit also works with 100% organic products. And everything here is so delicious that even the biggest carnivore here converts to vegetarian for one evening without any resistance.

Foto: Jan Bijl

Take a Europtrip by train!

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1. 7 things you probably didn’t know about Utrecht
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3. 7 Tips for Your Holiday on Texel
4. Travel without plastic with the Water-to-Go filter bottle!
5. 10 tips on how to reduce you holiday carbon emissions

25 October 2016
No Comments

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,Spain

The ultimate guide to visiting Valencia

When green leaves turn orange and a scarf is not a fashion statement but a necessity, it’s time we go and find the sun. I’m certainly not looking forward to winter. I always feel a little down when the last months of the year are at our doorstep and wonder how I will survive the cold and the rain again. Two weeks ago I finally found the answer: a city trip to Valencia in autumn is the best way to prepare for the dark days. This is the ultimate guide to visiting Valencia.

Valencia, the city where paella was born and the siesta is a fiesta. This place has everything you need for a few days of sunshine:

Turia Citypark

Once upon a time, there was a long river that cut the Spanish coastal city in two. Well, ‘once upon a time’. It wasn’t that long ago. After the deadly flood of 1957 – the water rose to five meters – the river was drained forever. Plans to build a motorway sparked (fortunately) a lot of protests. The residents of Valencia wanted something green! What a great idea! It was finally realized in 1986. Seven kilometres of green happiness that takes you all the way from the west to the east of the city.

A Valencian who tells you that he walks his dog in the river is not crazy. The residents still call the park the river. So I keep my feet dry when I take a relaxed walk through the lively river. With the sound of children playing in the background, I’m touched when I see an old couple who lovingly sit on a bench and visibly enjoy the playful youth. Giggling girls take selfies in the grass, while sporty ones pass by in yellow jackets. This park is so versatile and colourful that even a lost tourist feels at home here.

Where? North of the City centre.
How? Around 20 bridges cross over the park. Next to these bridges you can find stairs that lead you down to the park.
Price? Free!

The old city centre

Enter the city through one of the lush city gates, like knights and ladies did four hundred years ago. Then choose to get lost in the maze of cosy streets. Are you going left or right? It doesn’t matter. The streets are connected by atmospheric squares with terraces and fountains that form oases of Spanish cosiness in the old city. The perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink or a fresh cup of coffee.

Sniffing culture? The old buildings take you on a journey through time. Visit the eight hundred year old cathedral or learn about the trade passion of the Spaniards in the Silkmarket. The business centre was build in 1482 and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is therefore well maintained.

Where? The old heart of Valencia is surrounded by the river and the two biggest roads.
How? Taka a walk or rent a bike. Start your journey at the Mercado Central. This market is the most central poin in town and all the interessting places are easily reachable by foot.
Price? Tickets for the museums cost around € 2,-.

The City of Arts and Science

This futuristic park is a great contrast to the old town. The modern buildings look like spaceships that have landed temporarily on the edge of the city. Not everyone is equally happy with this flashy complex. I hear many Valencians complain about corruption and excessive costs, while there is a lot of unemployment and poverty. But now that it is there, it can’t hurt to be amazed by this special building.

There is plenty to do in the complexes. If you get the chance, visit a performance in the beautiful opera house. Or watch a film on a screen of nine hundred square meters in the IMAX theatre. In one of the buildings, you will find the largest sea aquarium in Europe. I skipped it because I think that big fish should not be in small tanks. The Science Museum, on the other hand, is a paradise for families with young children and good for a few hours of entertainment.

Where? At the edge of the city.
How? If you walk trough the citypark all the way to the east then you will find The City of Arts and Science. You can also take a bus from the city centre.
Price? Watching a 3D film is about € 9,-; the sciencemuseum is € 8,-; the aquarium is most expensive and costs € 27,50. On weekends you can get a tour trough the opera house for € 8,-.

The Beach

For a refreshing dip in the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea, you don’t have to look far. Valencia is located on the beach and that makes this city even more incredible. Even if it is really busy, you will still have enough space. Valencia’s vast beach is wide enough for everyone.

It strikes me that there are no screaming billboards along the boulevard. It’s busy here, but not full. Many of the cute houses on the beach are still inhabited. Some of them have been transformed into a small restaurant with a cosy terrace. So leave the urban life behind and enjoy the peace and quiet and the warm Spanish autumn sun.

Where? East of Valencia you will find the 8 beaches. El Cabanyal is the most popular.
How? At the centraly located Plaza del Ayuntamiento, next to city hall, you can get bus 19 to El Cabanyal
Price? The bus costs € 1,50 one way. The beach is free of course!

Food and drinks: ultimate guide for visiting Valencia

In the middle of Valencia’s historic centre, you will find the Mercado Central. The huge covered market has more than 400 stalls and is the place where the people of Valencia do their shopping. The fresh products are beautifully displayed, you will be hungry instantly when you visit this place. Here you drink fresh fruit juice and buy some delicious local products to take to the beach.

Especially in the trendy Carmen district you will find many nice restaurants and bars. Keep in mind that many of these restaurants are closed between 16.00 and 20.00 hours. That’s the time for the siesta. Around 9 pm the city comes back to life and sometimes you can get a table until deep into the night. For more tips read my blog about the five best vegetarian restaurants in Valencia .

Where? Mercado Central is located at the Plaza Ciudad de Brujas. Carmen is a neighborhoud in the north of Valencia.
How? By foot.
Price? The less touristy places are cheaper. For just a couple of euro’s, you can order a main course.

Accomodation: ultimate guide for visiting Valencia

During my stay in Valencia, I enjoyed Bed & Breakfast Zalamera.

Have fun in Valencia! I hope this ultimate guide for visiting Valencia helps you find the best spots!

Did you enjoy this ultimate guide for visiting Valencia? Keep reading!

1. 7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Utrecht
2. 10 ultimate tips for safe hitchhiking in Europe
3. Visiting the ruins of Anuradhapura by bicycle. This is how it works
4. Hitchhiking trough Europe: These are the best stories
5. The best activity in Luang Prabang: grow your own rice in 14 steps!

24 November 2015
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10 easy ways to help your supermarket reduce their food waste

ByDaisy

Food & Drinks,Foodtalk,Tips & Trics

10 easy ways to help your supermarket reduce their food waste

There’s no doubt about it: supermarkets waste a lot of food. Out-of-date products, broken and ripped packaging, mouldy fruit… and that’s just the start. There are dozens of reasons why our favourite foods end up in the trash. The retail industry still has a long way to go when it comes to avoiding food waste. However, all is not lost… did you know there’s a lot you can do to help supermarkets reduce their food waste? Here are 10 easy ways to help your supermarket reduce their food waste.

Don’t: look for the perfect date

Sometimes I see people dive into the refrigerators to get the product at the back with the longest shelf life. Don’t! This will only result in the products with the shortest expiry date being discarded because they’re not sold on time. Instead, buy products with the shortest shelf lives and use them as soon as possible.

Do: fungus fetish

Every now and then, there’s a tray of grapes with one mouldy grape. When the supermarket employee sees this, the chances are the product will be taken and discarded, regardless of the other grapes in the package being perfectly fine. What a waste! When I realised this, I decided from then on to always look for that tray with the one mouldy grape and buy it. As soon as I get home, I pick out the rotten grape, rinse the others with cold water and pat myself on the back for being a grape-saviour before I eat them. This tip also applies to products like strawberries, berries, tangerines and cherry tomatoes.

Do: buy five, pay six

Okay, I admit this doesn’t sound too attractive. Why would you buy five pieces of something and pay for six? Well, for the sake of being a true food rescuer! Let me ask you: how often do you come across a box of eggs and one of them has a broken shell? Now, try to imagine all of those boxes going straight in the bin whenever someone finds out there’s a single broken egg inside. Yes, that includes all the eggs that are perfectly fine too. Whenever I get a box of eggs, even if one’s broken, I still take them. At the checkout, I explain why I choose to take this box and not exchange it for another one. Often, they couldn’t care less, but every now and then I get the entire box for free – that certainly makes up for all the broken eggs I paid for but didn’t get to enjoy!

Do: broken bread

In the Netherlands, we’ve got this thing we call ‘bread for breaking’. These are small buns that are stuck together, so you can pull your own little piece when they’re being served, but this is not what I’m getting at here. I’m talking about broken bread. You know those pre-baked breads and baguettes you get in supermarkets? There’s always a bunch of them that will never be sold just because they’re broken in two. Think about it; what is the first thing you do after you take the bread from the oven? You cut it, right? So why not buy broken bread next time? It still tastes the same, and often it’s discounted too – win-win!

Do: choose the damaged items

Sometimes, pre-packaged foods with damaged packaging end up for sale. But most of the time, they just end up in the bin. Whenever I see a damaged or dented package of a product I need, I always choose to take that one. After all, the taste isn’t going to be affected and often the product is discounted.

Do: ugly is beautiful

Don’t judge a fruit or vegetable by its cover. The shape doesn’t say anything about the flavour. In fact, when I grow cucumbers myself, they’re never as perfectly shaped as you would get them in the supermarket, but my crooked cucumbers actually taste much better!
If you’re lucky, your supermarket is already selling wonky veggies and imperfect fruits. If they do offer these products, buy them! You need to show your supermarket that you love imperfect products. If supermarkets see that their customers don’t care about shape, but only about the flavour, they will keep selling them. If your market doesn’t sell them already, ask why all the cucumbers are straight and the bell peppers the same size. Ask them what happened to the crooked ones. Every time I come across a carrot with two legs, it makes my day!

Don’t: request the unknown

Some supermarkets are happy to add products to their product range if you simply ask them to. Wait! Don’t get too excited about requesting that exotic bread fruit juice you liked so much during your last holiday in Jamaica. The problem with these kinds of requests is that they’re too specific and you’re likely to be the only one buying them. That, of course, means that the stock that is left over will most likely expire.
At my local supermarket I was very surprised to suddenly find big packages of fresh tamarind. I was wondering who would buy those, since from my experience most people don’t even know what it is. A few weeks later, all the boxes were still there, until that one day they were all gone. Someone must really love tamarind, or the products expired and were binned.

Do: buy orphaned bananas

Orphaned bananas are those that are torn from the bunch and left all by themselves. Nobody wants them, and nobody cares. As crazy as it might sounds, but I always collect all the lonely bananas and buy them instead of a whole bunch. Usually, the single bananas get left behind, turn brown and end up in that notorious waste bin.

Do: love discounts

A lot of shops sell products that are about to reach their expiry dates with big discounts. So why not look for those discounted veggies first, and then decide what to eat tonight. Who doesn’t love a discount, right?

Do: tell them what you think

Big supermarket chains will only change their policy when their customers force them to do so. Write them an email, send a message on Facebook, or talk to your local supermarket manager about what you think is important. Ask them what they are doing to prevent food waste now, and then make some suggestions for future improvements. If enough people share their concerns, they will feel like they need to make a positive change.

Reduce the food waste in your kitchen

In the Netherlands, I’m known as the Queen of leftovers. I wrote a cookbook called ‘Lekker koken met restjes’. Since this is in Dutch and chances are that you are not, please check out the Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food by my English writing colleague Dana Gunders. Stop wasting food ánd money! 🙂

Find more inspiring stories on All Day Every Daisy

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3. 6 shocking facts you need to know before you go hiking in Nepal
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1 November 2015
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