12Nov 2021 by Adriana Petkov

The World Cheese Awards, the Oscars in Cheese

01Jul 2020 by Adriana Petkov

Paella, Por Favor – Foodie Tips in Valencia

Travel

Paella. The rice dish made famous by Spain, by Valencia specifically. You heard me right, Barcelona and Madrid, the unique bomba rice is grown and hand-picked only in this part of the world, adding a unique grainy texture, yet full of flavour. The Valencianos take great pride in making this labour intensive culinary delight over a slow-burning fire and nothing will upset them more than seeing slices of chorizo in the mix or you squeezing lemon on to it. But what makes a paella a quintessential paella? Conspiracy theories are rife on this and have torn many a friendship apart, ranging from the type of rice you use to the stock (and the water in the stock) to the sacred trilogy of ingredients always being snails, rabbit, and vegetables. It's…

08Sep 2019 by Adriana Petkov

The Secret Side of Sicily

Travel

Mention the destination "Sicily" and you'll get tips on the best viewing point of Mt Etna, a wisecrack about the Godfather or plainly get asked: "is it safe?". Stereotypes and misconceptions aside, the ball being kicked by the boot that is Italy is worthy of your time. So, here's what I recommend you do... simply go!!! Palermo The ancient capital of Palermo is the main entry point by plane. It's located 45 minutes away from the centre of Palermo and is well connected with an affordable airport shuttle bus that runs daily for 7 Euros. Palermo is known to most historians as the most conquered city in the world. It seems that countless powerful cultures have held positions in this area stretching out for thousands of years. Romans, Greeks, Arabs,…

13Jun 2018 by Adriana Petkov

Oman – The World’s Best Kept Secret

Travel

The Sultanate of Oman is a nation on the Arabian Peninsula blessed with warm weather year-round, friendly locals and a myriad of gorgeous natural landscapes from desert dunes, rugged mountain peaks, a verdant oasis and azure blue sea. In an era of turbulence in the neighbouring Middle-East and even further afield, Oman is serenely beautiful and peaceful. Many attribute the region's stability and prosperity to its leader: Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said who has been in power since 1970. If you expect Muscat, the capital of Oman, to be similar to Dubai (which is just a 30min plane ride away) - you will be disappointed as the laconic, ancient port town is more akin to Disney's version of Arabia with pastel coloured minarets, prettily lit up palaces and forts. Popular…

20Mar 2018 by Adriana Petkov

Beyond Patagonia in Chile

Travel

Welcome to the land of weons, people who add in “po” at the end of every word and throw your school taught Spanish out the window. Chilenismo is best drank sober, a tough challenge considering you have touched down in a long and narrow nation rich in grapes used in wine and dare I say it, the national drink pisco. Chile is a South American country occupying land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, and Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Its 756,096.3km2 worth of territory is topographically unique and rich in minerals (Chile is the world’s number 2 producer of lithium) with a very varied natural climate.…

20Nov 2017 by Adriana Petkov

Short + Sweet at The Seymour Theatre with Adam Szudrich & Phillip John