As the Super Bowl fast approaches with its slew of entertaining commercials, a dazzling halftime show, and, most importantly, the year’s biggest excuse to eat junk food. Fried chips, a variety of salsas or dips, and the obligatory chicken wings are certain to pop in to so many gatherings. The airwaves buzz as morning television…
Month: January 2015
CD Ambassador/Guest blog: The mEAT Baron’s Tandoori Chicken, Curried Veggies, and Balsamic Grilled Romaine Hearts
A word from The CD: Today we welcome our first guest post by a Culinary Diplomat ambassador! I have harassed Doug (AKA the mEAT Baron), the author of this post, for several months to persuade him to serve as a (regular?) ambassador posting on this site. Doug is quite the authority on cooking global cuisine…
This winter, try nature’s cure-alls: Sea Buckthorn and Chaga from our northern neighbors
What do the fruit of a shrub that grows in frozen desert (tundra) and a hard, ugly black fungus that thrives on birch trees have in common? Aside from growing in northern latitudes, altitude, and their cold climates, both sea buckthorn and chaga are natural, homeopathic remedies well known throughout Russia and eastern Europe, and,…
Going vegetarian, vegan, or raw in the Baltic States (Yes, you can!)
This post is the final post in The Culinary Diplomat’s Baltic series. For more posts, please search using The Baltic States category. Surprisingly to an outsider, I found in the Baltic States an abundance of vegetarian and vegan products, as well as dishes, and restaurants dedicated to or catering to alternative dining preferences (vegetarian, vegan, raw, paleo, low-carbohydrate,…
Olde Hansa – Medieval times in Tallinn, Estonia
Every now and then, one finds a tourist spot that more than lives up to the hype. In this case, I was pleasantly surprised by the cuisine and ambience of Olde Hansa, perhaps Tallinn’s most well-known restaurant catering to tourists. I expected a heavy hand of kitsch and cheesiness, but my experience was more understated…
Stockpot Riga: The Latvian spirit of The Culinary Diplomat
There are moments when I’m reminded why I started this blog. Moments that inspire me to share the joys of food – from the exotic to seemingly mundane Americana – with everyone. The first experience – well, ok, let’s be honest; all four visits – made me positively giddy with excitement to be able to…
It’s all about beets in the Baltics – and beyond
Beets are by far my favorite root vegetable – and that’s even with stiff competition from sweet potatoes. It is one food trend in recent years that I will stand behind, yet I am one of those weirdos that has loved beets long before the beet salad became a given (next to Brussels sprouts and…
Ribe Restoran: Another Estonian restaurant gem in Tallinn
Ribe Restoran tied with Neh for my favorite restaurant in Estonia. Perhaps it was the unexpectedly posh, yet unpretentious atmosphere – a staff who welcomed us on our first Friday night visit without reservations and when every other nice option on Vene street was booked. Perhaps it was that first glass of a French sparkling…
Rustic mushroom soup: Bring home the flavors of Estonia
Soup is the quintessential winter food. Nothing can get rid of bone-chilling cold better than a hearty bowl of steaming soup. In the Baltics, where winter and darkness try to dampen the soul, I imagine soup is all but a necessity. At least in my experience there, I found no shortage of amazing soups –…
Neh: Amazing Scandinavian farm to table in Estonia
In Estonia, I never had a bad meal. Yet two restaurants stood out, tying for first place in my little, foodie heart. Both Neh and Ribe showcased refined versions of Baltic and Scandinavian cuisine that would make any pioneer of the “eat local” movement proud. My first experience with with Estonian cuisine almost immediately after…
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