A morning in Córdoba...
This most recent trip to Spain, exploring the Andalucia region, reminded me of my insane Sicily adventure a few years back - a home base in a bigger city (i.e. Palermo in Sicily and in this case, Málaga) and then, scenic road trips to tiny UNESCO towns.
When you think of Granada, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the Alhambra palace, which is only natural considering it is the #1 tourist attraction in all of Spain. Having been to Spain a few times before this trip, but never in Andalucia, I was pretty stoked to finally get the full Alhambra experience.
This year's Spanish adventure takes me to the south to explore the sunny Andalucian region. My home base was in Málaga, a city known as the gateway to the Costa del Sol and the birthplace of Picasso. Originally settled by the Phoenicians (then, the Muslims and then, the Christians...), there is no doubt of Málaga's deep history but in recent years, the city has reinvented itself as the cultural hub of Southern Spain, thanks in large part to the opening of the stunning Centre Pompidou, the first outside of the Paris museum
To celebrate Pride month, I produced and directed a video series for Beautycon called Dare To Be Me - stories within the LGBTQ community about a moment that defined the decision to be brave and stand against expectations and norms set by friends, family and society. Here's one of the videos with La Demi (below). For more, check out Beautycon's facebook page.
If you've ever needed a reason why you should travel alone at least once in your lifetime, here's 6! Honestly, if you’re itching to go away but feel like you need to wait for someone to go with you first, you could be waiting forever. So, just book the ticket; you'll have the best time ever with the best person ever (i.e. YOURSELF).
When I first started interviewing music artists at MTV back in 2006, I kept a list of their names so that when I was old and grey, I'd be reminded that I once interviewed a band named Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, or The Pigeon Detectives (not even making those up, I swear). Anyway, I dug up said list, which didn't get updated too frequently towards the later years but still pretty funny and nostalgic to browse through nonetheless. I think there's over 300 names in there (including some in tv and film too).
Here it is in all it's glory:
MY FAVE: HAKKA-INDIAN CHILLI CHICKEN
7 Places In The World To Find Unique Chinese Food
There’s no better time and excuse to explore the world of Chinese food than during Chinese New Year’s. For me, holiday feasting has yet ceased and I will once again be falling into a deep festive food coma of Sweet Soy Fried Noodles, Chili Chicken, and deep-fried Pork & Shrimp Balls—dishes special to my Hakka-Indian roots. With over 50 million Chinese people living outside of China, there is a whole lot of kick-ass Chinese food being cooked up and enjoyed in pockets all around the world—here’s how places like Peru, Malaysia, and Jamaica will be celebrating Chinese New Year’s through their stomachs.
PERU
The Chinatown in Lima is the biggest in South America, but the presence of Chinese cuisine, or “chifa,” exists heavily throughout the country, resulting in a combination of Chinese and Peruvian techniques and flavors that has actually become the iconic food of Peru—like Arroz Chaufa (fried rice) and the Lomo Saltado (pictured), a stir-fry with fries, beef, onions, and tomatoes served with rice. Other notable dishes include: Tamarind Pork, Shrimp Toast, and Kam Lu Wantán (deep fried wontons with sweet and sour sauce).
CUBA
A large number of Chinese immigrants first arrived in Cuba in the 1850s to labor in the sugarcane fields and by the late 1870s, Cuba’s Chinatown, El Barrio Chino, spanned 44 blocks, creating the birth of Chinese-Cuban food. There’s a common love of pork between Chinese and Cubans, so expect dishes like Pork Chops with Black Bean Sauce and Roast Pork Loin with Five-Spice. Plantains and yucca are also featured in Chinese-Cuban cooking. Another dish of note is the Picadillo (pictured), a beef and tomato hash served with white rice.
MALAYSIA
The Chinese population is the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia and has a huge influence on the cuisine of the country. During Chinese New Year festivities in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, Yusheng, a dish consisting of strips of raw fish and shredded vegetables like daikon, carrots, red pepper and turnips, and a variety of sauces (plum, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil), is served for good luck. Other notable dishes include: Char Kway Teow (stir-fried rice noodles with bean sprouts, prawns, eggs, chives, and slices of preserved Chinese sausages) and Curry Mee or Laksa (spicy coconut curry noodle soup with tofu, prawns, cuttlefish, or chicken).
JAMAICA
The first wave of Chinese laborers in Jamaica began in 1854, and initially Chinese-Jamaican dishes were limited to dried and preserved ingredients due to long journeys for food imports and the intense heat of the climate—think long-lasting items like dried and salted fish and preserved mustard greens. Notable dishes include: Curry Lobster, Spiced Goat Stew with preserved lime, Jerk Chow Mein (jerk pork or chicken fried with vegetables and egg noodles), and Bangamary Ding (fried bangamary fish with cashews and vegetables).
INDIA
In 1778, Yang Tai Chow was the first recorded Chinese person to immigrate to India. By the 20th century, there was a Chinatown in Calcutta and the community of Chinese there, mainly Hakka, developed a distinctive cuisine using spicy ingredients such as chilies, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. Notable dishes include: Chili Chicken (fried chicken pieces sautéed with onions, chilies, ginger, and garlic), Salt & Pepper Prawns (fried prawns in salt, chilies, garlic, and green onions), Sweet Soy Fried Noodles sautéed with sliced bbq pork, bean sprouts, and shredded cabbage and carrots, and Stir-Fried Cumin Beef.
HAWAII
In the 19th century, over 50,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in Hawaii to work in the sugarcane fields, and introduced flavors and ingredients such as five-spice, tofu, soybeans, and rice. The Char Siu Bao (steamed bbq pork buns) became “Manapua” or “Mea ono pua’a” and increased in size with alternative stuffing’s like curry, sweet potato, or sweet bean. Manapuas became incredibly popular that they can even be found at local 7-eleven stores on the island today.
MEXICO
In the early 20th century, there were more Chinese than Mexicans in Mexicali, Mexico, and today, Chinese food is still the reigning cuisine there. The hybrid of Chinese and Mexican ingredients is anything but subtle—expect avocados in the fried rice and black bean sauce covering the Arrachera steak. Other notable dishes include: Salt & Pepper Fish (with bell peppers, chilies and onions) and Chilies Asados (fried yellow chilies in a lemon sauce with lots of salt).
As you know, I fell in love with Ibiza. My latest with W Dish is all about how the stunning white isle is so very much more than the molly-fuelled raves people think about when they hear the word, Ibiza.
I made it a mission to explore everything Ibiza is about other than the molly-fueled bikini bods clubbing under neon flashing lights image that many people think about when they hear the word “Ibiza,” and you know what? It wasn’t hard at all to discover that Ibiza is so very much more than that.
Located east of the Iberian Peninsula, Ibiza is the most south of the Balearic Islands and was declared World Heritage status by UNESCO based on its phenomenal natural and cultural features. Like it’s sister island, Mallorca, Ibiza experiences a glorious 300 days of sunshine, minimum, a year. Ibiza definitely has an air of the rich and famous with its frequent tide of movie and rock stars, models and local celebs rolling in on their bright white yachts, but the island’s choose your own adventure vibe is what really got me hooked. In Ibiza, anything goes.
Become a Hippy
Ibiza’s open mind and freedom to be who you are is such a welcoming spirit to enter into. My favorite thing on the whole trip was a visit to the Las Dalias Hippy Market. A loving nod to its hippy roots, Mercadillo Hippy takes places every Saturday on a beautiful garden space draped with exotic flowers and filled with artisans selling one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, handmade shoes, home decor, art works… you name it and it’s made and sold here. It’s a great opportunity to take a piece of the “ad-lib” fashion (from the Latin word “ad libitum” meaning “at one’s pleasure”) that was born here (think white long flowy cotton dresses). What really won me over was not just the quality of the products sold; the friendliness of the artists and all the little details like the local bands playing live music, the cute outdoor restaurant in the centre of the dreamy vine garden and the fun Soul Bar with rotating DJs, made it more than just a regular market but rather, an incredibly memorable experience. I dare you not to make a new friend or two at the Las Dalias Hippy Market.
Escape to the Countryside
When you leave the tourist trail, you’ll discover the alluring countryside that’s unknown to a lot of visitors to Ibiza. I stayed at the agritourism haven, Can Lluc, in a cozy villa surrounded by fragrant carob and olive trees, and a charming siesta sanctuary in my front yard complete with a rainbow hammock. An easy bike ride down nearby Buscastell—the one grocery store, one bar and one school town—passing by ancient farmhouses and almond and orange groves is pure serenity and quaint-ness at it’s finest.
Take Comfort in a Slower Pace
It’s totally not hard to succumb to the calm and easygoing energy of Ibiza. Es Puig de Missa is a beaut built on a hilltop in Santa Eulària and is the perfect spot to escape the crowds. You can visit the pretty white church tower at the top, which dates back to the 16th century and offers spectacular views overlooking the entire town. Of course, there was a romantic wedding being set-up there when I visited, adding even more to the romcom-like allure. It really is unreal how clean and picturesque every corner is – for a second, I thought about pulling an Under The Tuscan Sun and buying a sweet little house on the hill.
Shopping Therapy by the Beach
With the white sands and crystal clear waters of the over 56 beaches in Ibiza, chances are you’ll be hitting a beach or ten during your time on the island. Being the clothes hound that I am, I discovered that shopping and beaching go hand in hand. Two of my favorite shops in Ibiza, Treasure Chest at Experimental Beach with fabulous local designers and the impossibly chic shop (in a straw hut!) in the parking lot at Playa Es Cavallet’s El Chiringuito, made sure there was no time lost between sun, sand and “I’ll take this in a small, por favor.”
More Than Just Food
Eating is a joy in Ibiza and is as delightful and carefree as its people. Just as you don’t need to stray far from the beach to get your shopping fix, the same goes for the fresh paella, crispy calamari and flaò (a sweet tart made of goat and sheep’s milk) offered at beachside restaurants like El Carmen in Cala d’Hort beach, which is uber-delicious and a prime spot for babe-watching. On dry land, I absolutely fell in love with Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, a lovely town with a pedestrian-only center sprinkled with adorable boutiques and restaurants, including Bar Costa where you can sit on little woven stools on the terrace slowly indulging in jamòn sandwiches and San Miguel beer as the warm Balearic sun kisses your skin.
Relic in a Natural Wonder
Ses Salines Natural Park is a UNESCO Item of World Heritage and a magnificent sight to see. Situated between southern Ibiza and northern Formentera (which is a 20 minute ferry ride away and very well worth the daytrip for its pristine secluded beaches), the park also includes the sea channel that separates both islands and contains 178 species of rare plants and 210 species of birds (including gorgeous pink flamingos!). Salines, meaning salt in Spanish, has a deep history in Ibiza and for two months in the autumn, the salt flats at the park become opaque enough, creating a perfectly mirrored image of this natural wonder.
MORE ON IBIZA:
IBIZA HIGHLIGHTS: PART 1
IBIZA HIGHLIGHTS: PART 2
IBIZA HIGHLIGHTS: CAN LLUC
Recently, a press trip to Mallorca and Ibiza included a stopover for a few days in Madrid - a city that I love and haven't been back to since 2009. I love Madrid not only because it's full of history, talent and fantastic eats but especially because it reunites me with my former roommates from that one summer many moons ago in London.
As I start to write this Ibiza recap, now back in Canadian temps and just seconds from hearing about a "snow squall" warning, I ask myself, "Was self-inflicted emotional torture on the to do list today?!" It's so hard to have experienced the gorgeous and carefree island of Ibiza and not wish you had stayed much longer (or never left!).
Here's Part 1 of some of my favorite moments in stunning Ibiza: