I lived in Coastal Ecuador as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 2 years and 4 months from '88 to '90. I learned to cook on a 2-burner propane camp stove. I experienced many dishes that I’d never seen before in the States: Guinea...

and wine), San Lúcar de Barrameda (coastal city in Andalucía near Cádiz—great seafood), the quirky old part of Peñiscola and its beaches (and good rice dishes and mediterranean seafood), Teruel (in Zaragoza with its muslim...

, no matter how meticulous I was (kept EVERYTHING edible in the fridge, including the dog food), I still had roaches (and armadillos living under the house :) ). But now, back in a cold climate, we don’t have them. So, when...

The other thing too is that America is a really BIG country, with wildly different geography and climate all over. It is not surprising that this would result in a variety of cuisines, rather than just one style. America is...

The Lewis and Clarke expedition was only one example of contact with a series of tribal groups. Even In New England, your culture would have been influenced by many tribes who would have been different, not a single influence....

Clams that you dig for yourself may be a unique food for Washington (and similar coastal states), but are hardly typical. I’ve lived in the state 15 years and haven’t gathered clams yet. Admittedly,...

.e. asia? i’m thinking the cheese “line” has to do with the local terrain and climate, and suitability of the types of animals raised there (and religious taboos). we had a similar discussion about the...

just can’t make riesling the way the Germans do it. The very light sweetness was perfectly balanced by the acidity (which I think comes from the region’s colder climate). I finally understood the appeal of...

With all due respect, I disagree. If you browse these boards you will see some recommendations for excellent inexpensive to mid-level restaurants. To some extent it depends on what neighborhood you are in though. The urban and...

I live in coastal NC and so this is always a quiet time of the year. But I’m not sure if I’m being overly paranoid or if there are really no people dining out anymore. We try to dine out once a week, always at an...

The Scots, due to climate and soil. cooked mainly w/ oats and barley. Scottish oatmeal, hagus, barley cakes and of course Scotch whiskey. Not biscuits.