How to celebrate Cinco de Mayo – eat!
It’s been 150 years since the Battle of Puebla and, like any great David vs. Goliath story, it’s time to celebrate. Cinco de Mayo recognizes the triumph of the Mexican militia’s 1862 victory over the French army during the Franco-Mexican War. Although Puebla is the main party hub, May 5th is an opportunity for communities across North America to celebrate everything Mexican– from mariachi music to pinatas. There’s no better way to celebrate than to tuck into one of the traditional dishes of Puebla. Here’s what to eat on Cinco de Mayo: 1)...
Read MoreMeal of the Gods in Tikal, Guatemala
Most people go to Tikal to soak up the atmosphere and history of one of the world’s largest Mayan archeological sites. I went for a plate of chicken. In all fairness, it wasn’t an ordinary chicken dinner, but Subanik, a ceremonial Kaqchiquel Maya dish that relies on wild turkey, ancho and guaque chiles to impart its unique flavour. Although we’d been going to Guatemala for decades, we’d never once visited the mighty ruins. They were a 7 hour drive from San Vicente which meant it might as well have been in Winnipeg, as our family rarely leaves the village. There...
Read MorePilgrimage for perogies, Paska and pork hocks
In Ukraine, the spring rituals of my ancestors included decorating eggs with artistic designs, taking Easter bread to be blessed by the priest and an unusual dance in which young maidens were doused with water by village swains. I was keen to revive all three traditions but could only manage to convince Javier to participate in one. So, earlier in the week I contacted Natalie’s Kitchen, a Ukrainian catering company located in The Huculuk Centre in Etobicoke and placed an order for Paska, the round-shaped Easter bread my mother used to make. She’d bake it in coffee cans and...
Read More5 unforgettable experiences on Day of the Dead in Guatemala
1) Explore a Kite Festival: Guatemalans believe the barrier between the realms of the living and the dead is at its most porous on Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and the All Saints Day (Día de los Santos), so it’s an auspicious time to communicate with family ancestors by attaching messages to barriletes (kites) and letting the wind carry the messages up to the heavens. The best places to see these ceremonial kites are the barriletes fiestas held on November 1st in the central highlands near Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango. 2) Eat a Special Breakfast: Day of the Dead...
Read MoreThe Ultimate Toolkit for Culinary Adventurers
I never knew Bob Blumer, the superstar host of the Food Network’s The Surreal Gourmet and I had much in common (except for my secret musings that he’d have made a good love match for my travel writing friend Wandering Carol ), until I found out that he often travels with a bottle of Tabasco hot sauce. It’s on my packing list too. For me, the best culinary adventures are all about discovery. Whether it’s a bottle of Waupoos apple cider from Prince Edward County, a spicy noodle dish at the night market in Kuala Lumpur or a luscious first-press olive oil in Spain...
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Amazing Instagram photo by @sethstafford of Oahu's Sean Moody taking on the Mexican Pipeline
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Mercado Global's innovative approach to fighting poverty and empowering indigenous women in Guatemala’s highlands connects their artisan cooperatives to sales opportunities in the U.S. on an unprecedented scale.
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Beautiful Semuc Champey in Guatemala
In 2003, I left the corporate world to try my hand at travel writing. Now, I travel the world, writing about people, places and cuisine. My writing has appeared in over 100 publications and anthologies. 
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