Greek Salads are Great in Greece

Go figure, the Greeks got this down.  I’m a huge fan of Greek salads (sans olives).  Maybe it’s 'cause I grew up with tons of fresh tomatoes n cukes from the garden in the summertime?  Or, it’s probably the big chunks of feta cheese.  But, I could eat one of these every day...and, that’s exactly what I did for 8 days in Greece.  

Every restaurant has their own style.

Efcharis in Athens near the Monastiraki Metro station put a bunch of green bell peppers and pepperoncinis in there!  Pepperoncinis are really underrated.

Theofanis in Akrotiri deep fries the feta cheese patty.  And, they use orange bell peppers.  And, tons of capers.  I for one, am all for capers.    

Akro on Black Beach (In Akrotiri, not Perissa.  It’s the 3rd beach in the Red Beach, White Beach, Black Beach water taxi cruise) serves up a heaping pile of Greek salad goodness.  They also put plenty of bell peppers and capers in, but also arugula (LOVE IT) and toasted nut bread croutons.  

I am now having Greek salad withdrawals. 

Luckily, back in Belgrade they have this thing called the Shopska salad (Šopska salata).  It's kinda similar to the Greek salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, oil and LOTS OF SIRENE CHEESE.  

Zavicaj restaurant is pretty liberal with the cheese, and sparing with the onions.

Bajloni Bar & Beyond has a better handle on the ratio of cheese to salad.  

I think my big takeaway from this whole post is that I need to go back to Greece as soon as possible.  Specifically, the islands.  Because, this was my view from Akro on Black Beach when I ate my last Greek Salad:

Cusquenan Cuisine

Quinoa Salad, with Andean cheese!

One thing that stands out in Cusco Peru is the FOOD.  Seems like there’s a fierce culinary competition and every restaurant plays the game.  It’s probably because Cusco is a major tourist town, and they know that they have to cater to fickle, hungry American and European tourists who just got done with a 4 day hike?

Within 2 blocks of my hotel, there are 3-6 restaurants that are amazing!  Even the hotel restaurant, Siete y Siete offers some stunning dishes like the red quinoa salad (pictured above) with avocados, tomatoes, carrots, Andean cheese, etc.  

Quinoa is a big thing in Peru and Bolivia and I love it...except when they don't wash it well enough and I feel like I'm chewing on beach sand.  No bueno.  

One of my faves: La Boheme (or La Bo'M): a creperie that’s part of the Backpacker La Boheme Hostal.  I go here pretty much every other day and get crepes.  

The ‘La Rafas’ crepe is one of my faves: Blue Cheese, Local Cheese, Walnuts, Mesclun, Tomatoes and Olive Oil.  Their crepes are always perfectly crispy on the outside.  And I almost always get either the Refresco Del Dia, or Jugo Del Dia to go with it.  The Refrescos are usually made with tropical fruits like pineapples, papaya, maracuya, mango, etc.  Delicious and light!

La Rafa's

Quattro Queso con Huevo

Another favorite of mine: Juanito’s, a sandwich shop.  No big deal, right?  No, BIG, HUGE DEAL.  The Hawayan de Lechon sandwich, which is listed as a special, is easily the best pork sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.  Sliced, succulent pork and pineapple on a baguette, dripping with pork juice.  They serve it to you with your choice of about 8 different sauces.  I usually go with the pineapple sauce, and the aioli or, the chimichurri.  The bread is crispy, the juices are flowing and the flavors are bursting.  Outstanding!  

Oh and of course, I usually get it with an Inca Kola.  (Think of it like a Bubble Gum Mountain Dew!) 

I probably should mention that in Peru and other South American countries, they eat guinea pig, aka cuy.  It's high in protein, low in fat, they reproduce quickly and require little room to raise.  We did go out one night and I did try guinea pig.  (Sorry to anyone who has guinea pig pets, but "when in Cusco" as they say)  It doesn't really have much meat on it, and it requires work to get the meat out, kinda like eating crab.  To me, it's not worth it.  I'll stick to eating alpaca or llama.

One thing I will guarantee.  If you go to Cusco --- you are in for a scrumptious culinar-ay-cation!

Tacos Al Pastor Por Favor!

I love tacos.  (Main reason I moved to LA)  Al pastor 'til I die!  

Mi amigo (Jeremy) and I have a favorite taco truck in LA.  I miss her sweet trompo.  Córdoba does empanadas really well, but not really tacos.  Before I left for Buenos Aires, Jeremy researched and found: La Fábrica Del Taco.  

Turns out, it’s ~5 blocks from mi apartamento nuevo!  

Tuesday night, I went to check it out.  Hard to explain my glee!  2 pastor tacos, 1 chicken taco (Mistake) and a watermelon agua fresca.  (My favorite drink not named Sprite)  

They brought out their salsa arsenal.  The boring one, your typical salsa verde, and la salsa rojo.  I told Lucas behind the bar that I really like spice and then, they brought out the big gun!  Which was really not that spicy.  

Side note: Most people think all of South America likes spice, which is FALSE.  Mexico, and northern South America share the love, but central and southern Argentineans say, "No mas".  

The Al Pastor was delicious!  So, I ordered "Dos mas pastor".  :P

Lucas behind the bar then asked me if I preferred flour or corn tortillas.  I said corn, but "I'll try them next time".  

A few minutes later, he brought me 1 more pastor taco on a corn tortilla: en la casa.

6 tacos & 2 watermelon agua frescas down the gullet.  

One happy Americano!

One hour later, stomach not so happy.  

I don’t blame La Fábrica Del Taco.  I blame Córdoba for their lack of spice.  My digestive system was not ready for the 6 pack.  I'll probably stick to 5 next time.  

La Fábrica Del Taco, I’ll see you soon, mi amor!

Loungin' at Late

Córdoba is known for nightlife.  Countless cool clubs, restaurants, lounges, etc.  Tonight was my first night at “Late”.  #lovedit  

Late is a pretty big place, but the outdoor back patio is where it’s at.  So many places in Córdoba have phenomenal decor.  It’s effortless.  Yet, exceptional.  And I am so inspired by Argentinean musical taste.  Destroyer: Chinatown?  Brilliant.

Derryl, Danielle, Miranda, Brecht, Patrick, Anhton, Tom, Casey and I had a ton of hearty laughs, ate delicious dishes, played impromptu & inappropriate Pictionary, and stormed the stage and jammed to Michael Jackson.  We were undoubtedly the loudest table at the place. But I think they loved us.  (Nope)

When we were dancing, one guy usurped the DJ table when the DJ left for a minute and turned the music down.  “This is not America, here we throw oranges at this.”  Hmmm...I think he meant throw tomatoes, but I’m still not even sure if he didn’t like the song, or he didn’t like us dancing on stage?

Sorry, but you can’t put MJ on and expect us to NOT DANCE.  You can take the Americans out of America, but you can’t take America out of the Americans. 

Uploaded by Matt Sherwood on 2016-03-30.

Not to mention, we had an Aussie with us.  And a guy from Brussels.  Show some love for Brussels, amigo!

Soothing Sounds of Power Saws

It’s fascinating to experience the cultural differences in foreign countries.  

In Cordoba, restaurants don’t open for dinner until ~8:30pm and waiters & waitresses are incredibly lax about bringing the check, or even checking on you.  SO different from the US, where the main goal is to churn you out.

One difference I’ll never get used to is night construction...directly across the street.  The sound of an intermittent power saw from ~midnight to ~5am is not the type of white noise I need to Zzzz.  

I don’t mind the drunken revelers that oft pass by my place, singing and slurring.  Reminds me of the good ole days!  But, that power saw.  

Funny thing, is that NO ONE EVER YELLS at them.  If this were New York City, the string of obscenities would be entertaining enough to make me take out my ear plugs.  But, people just seem to accept it here.

I guess the show must go on.  Maybe these guys are working under a tight deadline.  (Doubt it)  Or maybe they just like working at night.  (Maybe?)  Or, they just want to get the job done as quick as possible?  (Hmmm)

If only the waiters and waitresses had that same drive.  :]

You just have to accept that things here are different!  Embrace the soothing sounds of power saws at 4am.  Plan for 2 hour meals.  And ask for the check a half hour before you want to go.