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Ivana De Domenico

Dr. Ivana De Domenico and Her Featured Writings

The Best Travel TV Programs

May 22, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

Ivana De Domenico- Best Travel TV Programs

If you can’t afford to get away for an exotic, luxury vacation this summer, then maybe watching one of these programs on tv and living vicariously through the host who gets paid to travel all around the world (wouldn’t that be the life?) is the next best thing. Of course, what you see, smell, taste, hear, and touch in person will always be superior to anything you can watch from your home through a screen, but you can’t go wrong with a good travel TV program to get some inspiration for your next trip! If you have some time on your hands and are wondering what to flip to next, try tuning into one of these entertaining shows!

Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmerman (2006-present, Travel Channel)

Would you consider yourself an adventurous eater or do you prefer to stick to the foods you know when you travel to a foreign country? Even if you’re someone who likes to sample the regional specialities, you probably haven’t even come close to the kind of extreme eating tv personality Andrew Zimmerman has done in his travels. In Bizarre Foods, Zimmerman travels the world to try the best regional eats, no matter how bizarre- this guy has eaten spiders!

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (2006-present, Food Network)

If you’re looking to watch some food that’s a little more appetizing being made, then tune in to watch the iconic spiky-haired, backwards sunglasses-wearing TV personality, Guy Fieri travel across America in his shiny red ‘67 Chevy Camaro convertible in search of the country’s greatest diners, drive-ins, and dives. You just may not want to watch this show while you’re hungry, because the delectable dishes Guy samples are sure to make an empty stomach grumble. Another good thing about this show is that Guy only travels to restaurants within the Unites States, and the show has been on the air for over a decade, so you’ll have hundreds to choose from if you want to venture to one!

Samantha Brown (1999- present, Travel Channel)

Television host Samantha Brown has been in the travel business since 1999, with various programs on the travel channel. She has been all around the world, from Europe to Asia to South America. Some of her programs include Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends and Travel Hacks, but whatever you end up watching, you can be sure to be entertained and learn something new, as Samantha fully immerses herself in the culture of wherever she travels.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005-2012, Travel Channel)

TV personality Anthony Bourdain is a chef, writer, and traveler. Bourdain pretty much lives for “carpe diem.” In his Emmy Award winning series, he travels the world in search of life’s truest experiences and surprises, learning something about the culture of wherever he travels. Although his original and perhaps more well-known series stopped making new episodes in 2012, Bourdain’s new show, Parts Unknown, which aired in 2013 and can be found on CNN, follows Bourdain as he explores political issues and indigenous food and culture around the world.

House Hunters International (2006-present, HGTV)

The popular HGTV series, House Hunters, went international in 2006, giving viewers to opportunity to learn about real estate markets all around the world. Even if you could never afford a vacation home in a foreign country and don’t have the means to start a new life abroad, you can live vicariously through these lucky homebuyers as they tour three homes with a realtor in search of their dream home.

 

10 Best Dishes From Around the World

November 9, 2016 by Ivana De Domenico

10 Best Dishes From Around the World

Who doesn’t love to travel? I was born in Italy, currently reside in the United States (Utah), and have visited England, China, Spain, Kenya, and Russia in my travels- to name a few. As an avid globetrotter, I aspire to be more than just a tourist. For me, a vacation isn’t complete without fully immersing myself in the culture. This means trying the national food specialities of whatever country I’m visiting, no matter how bizarre they may appear. You never know if you’ll like something unless you actually try it. In fact, some of my favorite foods were discovered through my travels.

If you’re visiting a foreign country for the first time, the food options can be a little overwhelming. The locals will all have their own opinions on their country’s best food, and it would definitely serve you well to ask around and try different things based on their recommendations, but here are my picks of 10 of the best dishes from 10 countries around the world to get you started:

  1. Kenya: ugali Ugali is a type of porridge typically consisting of cornmeal. It’s cooked in boiling water or milk to give it a dough-like consistency. Although it sounds simple, ugali is a very versatile dish and is extremely popular in Southern Africa and the Great Lakes region. It can be rolled into a ball and used as a scoop for meat and vegetable stews.

    ugali and cabbage

    ugali and cabbage

  2. Russia: borscht Borscht is a type of beet soup, made with some type of meat stock and other vegetables as well such as cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes.  If you don’t like beets, then you may want to skip this one, but personally, it’s one of my favorites. The soup has a slightly sour flavor and is usually served cold with a dollop of sour cream on top.
  3. England: yorkshire pudding You may have heard that what Brits call “pudding” is not the same dessert that Americans associate with pudding. In the UK, the word “pudding” typically denotes a dessert course but can be used to describe a sweet or savory dish. Yorkshire pudding is not a pudding at all in the American sense of the word; it’s a staple dish in England (part of the traditional British Sunday roast), made from a batter of eggs, flour, milk or water. It’s usually flavored with meat drippings, herbs, and seasonings, and served with beef and gravy.
  4. Spain: paella Paella, while popularized and available in most places, is a Spanish speciality. It’s a rice dish made with different kinds of meat, usually seafood (shrimp, mussels, clams, crab, or lobster) or sausage, and vegetables. It’s typically seasoned with saffron and garlic, and its name comes from the pan it’s traditionally cooked in. 

    rich-paella-887813_1920-min

    paella

  5. Italy: pizza Okay, okay, pizza may sound like a cop-out when there are so many delectable food options in Italy, but trust me on this: Italian pizza is not the same as other pizza. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and Italian pizza uses only the freshest ingredients like tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. If you’re feeling more adventurous, though, try tortellini en brodo, the ultimate Northern Italian comfort food. Instead of the traditional cream sauce, the tortellini are served in a homemade chicken broth.
  6. Canada: poutine If you thought french fries couldn’t get any better, think again. In this Canadian take on french fries, the fries are smothered in gravy and topped with cheese curds.
  7. Australia: pie floater What is a pie floater, you ask? It’s not actually a floating pie, but an Australian-style meat pie served in a bowl of pea soup. If you’re not feeling adventurous enough to try kangaroo meat, this savory dish should hit the spot.

    pie floater

    pie floater

  8. Scotland: haggis Haggis sounds disgusting but many people find it to be quite delicious. It’s a savory pudding containing sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, spices and salt. If you’re not a very adventurous eater, I could understand wanting to pass on this one, but haggis is the national dish of Scotland, so check it out if you want the true Scottish experience.
  9. China and Hong Kong: dim sum Because Asian food is so readily available in the United States, you may have tried dim sum before. Order it in Hong Kong or China, however, for an authentic experience. Dim sum are small bite-sized portions of food (like dumplings or steamed barbeque pork buns) traditionally served with tea.
  10. Germany: spaetzle Germany is known for its diverse array of food options, so you really can’t go wrong with a nice bratwurst or schnitzel, but If I could only recommend one thing, be sure to try the spaetzle. Spaetzle are traditional German egg noodles typically served as a side dish to a meat course, but they’re good enough to stand alone as well.

 

 

Ivana De Domenico

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