Salty, spicy, sour, sweet. These are the four essential flavors of Thai cuisine, I was told at Blue Elephant Restaurant and Cooking School in Phuket, Thailand. During a 4-hour class, I chopped, smelled, smashed, sauteed,…
Travel
South Africa’s Culinary History through Cooking, Consumption, and Language
Thanks to the Culinary Historians of New York (CHNY), we received a Scholar’s Grant to research about South African food. The capstone was a presentation we gave on June 9, 2022, for the society. Here…
Northern Vietnam: Hanoi and Halong Bay
We ventured to northern Vietnam, starting and ending at Hanoi with an overnight stay at Halong Bay. The second largest city in Vietnam, its capital bustles with horns-honking narrow streets with vendors selling buttons, toys,…
Winelands, South Africa
Each wine estate has a unique wine and ambience. You’ll be guaranteed good food and beautiful views along the way!
Cape Peninsula, South Africa
Cape Peninsula is a spectacular mountainous sliver south of Cape Town, South Africa. The drive to the tip is one of the most scenic routes of South Africa leading to Cape of Good Hope. The…
Cape Town, South Africa
I moved to South Africa! I received a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Stellenbosch University for two years, 2021-2023. Stellenbosch University is in the Western Cape province, an hour drive east of Cape Town. I toured Cape…
Hurricanes, Cancun, 2020
Cancun had only been affected by two hurricanes since 2005. Yet, during the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, six of the hurricanes became major hurricanes, making it the most active season on record. During October, I…
Food and Culture of Mexico
Living in Cancun and Playa del Carmen for 6 months, August 2020 to February 2021, has been a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the culture and life of Mexico. The local produce and markets are colorful…
Tulum, Mexico
Just an hour south of The Royal Haciendas resort, where I (Kelsi) was staying, Tulum made for a great day trip that was rich in Mexican culture and history.