velvet | Culinary Journey

Instagram highlights of my #MeetSouthAfrica trip

I miss South Africa! I’ve been back home almost two weeks now but I can’t stop thinking of the amazing experiences I had when I was there. My ten-day trip started in Johannesberg in the Gauteng province. We then crossed the Northwest province before heading south to the Free State and KwaZulu Natal. The trip [...]

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One big happy Mercado

“Crisis? In Mercado de San Miguel, the crisis is far, far away”. I smiled. I knew exactly what she meant. I stood there, at the seafood tapas bar with my new friends, two Madrileñas. We clutched glasses of vino in our hands and we’d emptied two plates of spicy mussels. I looked around and she [...]

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The wines of Nova Scotia

“Wines of Nova Scotia?!?!… There’s a wine industry in Nova Scotia?” Those were my exact words when I was told about Nova Scotia’s numerous wineries. I was very surprised. However, as I explored the province, there were many factors that made the idea of a wine industry in Nova Scotia less surprising. One factor blew [...]

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How to make a caipirinha

Caipirinha! It’s Brazil’s national cocktail: a wicked mix of lime, sugar, cachaça (sugar cane liquor) and lots of ice. I remember my first trip to Brazil in 1998 when I went on a sailing trip near Rio de Janeiro. I was one of three foreigners on the boat and we had a blast, all thanks [...]

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Ten things to do in Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain and the country’s largest city, is one of my favourite European capitals. With its grand architecture, majestic palaces, stunning museums and broad tree-lined avenues, it ranks right up amongst Europe’s great capitals like Paris and Vienna, at least in my book. What distinguishes Madrid from the other European capitals is [...]

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Exploring Bo Kaap in Cape Town

The Bo Kaap neighbourhood in Cape Town is a historic enclave that graces the slopes of Signal Hill. The first thing anyone will notice about this neighbourhood are the gorgeous, brightly-coloured houses lining steep cobbled streets. The second thing: the faint scent of spices such as cardamom and cloves in the air. Bo Kaap is [...]

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What’s your travel style?

When I left my career in corporate and investment banking in 2008, my primary goal was to spend some time on ‘me’. I was tired and I felt somewhat out of touch with myself. I decided to embark on a five-month (predominantly) solo round-the-world trip. In a sense, I used that trip to grow; I [...]

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A passion for NOSH

For as long as she can remember, Judith Sakata has had just one dream: to one day be the proud owner of a restaurant. She went to night school to learn pastry-making when her kids were asleep, and worked at a bakery and later at a restaurant when the kids were at school. She earned [...]

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Culinary Journey: Samhoud Places in Amsterdam

What: Fine-dining at & Samhoud Places Where: Oosterdokskade 5, Amsterdam Notes: I still don’t quite get the name but Amsterdam’s latest fine-dining establishment, just a stone’s throw away from the Central Station and the Mövenpick Hotel, is already making waves in the city’s gastronomic scene. Headed by Chef Moshik, it’s clear that Samhoud Places has [...]

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The High Teas of London

Tea is the quintessential British meal, so much so that other languages don’t even have a word for it. And there can be few better places to enjoy a proper high tea than London, although you could perhaps make a case for Yorkshire or Cornwall. It can be as much a part of the experience [...]

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