How to Host an Olive Oil Tasting...

Yep. You read it right. This isn't about wine, or cheese, or even chocolate - this is about olive oil. Perhaps you've always loved the idea of a tasting party, but find yourself intimidated by wine or cheese? Or maybe you've been there, done that and are looking for a new edible adventure? We'll, get yourself a loaf of fresh bread and a few bottles of good olive and have yourself a party!

Olive oil has played an important role in food production for thousands of years, but though it may be an ancient ingredient, it's no longer a specialty one: you can find it in almost any kitchen, and anyone who's watched the Food Network a few times can tell you the difference between 'pure' oil and 'extra virgin' (if you're not sure, you can brush up here). Still, it might surprise you to learn that olive oil isn't just for cooking - it even has its own tasting culture! Oils from different sources have different flavors, which are compared and appreciated much like cheese or wine (for a detailed look at the tasting process, go here - ours won't be quite so rigorous!)

Oils are often described as 'fruity' or 'peppery,' some are sweet, white others are spicy.  Extra virgin oil should have a strong flavor, while blended or refined oils may be bland or even almost flavorless. It's a myth that the depth of color corresponds to a depth of flavor. That being said, oils can be almost any shade from pale straw yellow to bottle (or olive!) green, and they will lose flavor the longer they're kept, even if the color doesn't change. For dipping, you should buy the freshest oils you can find - and stick to cold pressed extra virgin.

So what do you need to host a tasting party? Well your spread can be as simple or elaborate as you like, but here are the basics:

Travel Tips: Sleep Cheap in Europe (Part III)

Welcome to the third, final, and slightly belated segment of my Sleep Cheap in Europe series!  Perhaps this installment should be called 'Sleep Super Cheap in Europe' since it's dedicated to those of you who are keen to save as many pennies as possible on the road (while not depriving yourself of unique, fun and diverse local experiences, of course).  In Part I, I discussed youth hostels - how to find them, how to book them, and what to expect when you arrive.  Part II took us slightly higher up the accommodation spectrum with a look at pensions and bed-and-breakfasts, and today I present our most budget-friendly option - camping!

A view from our campsite in Bled, Slovenia

Lonely Planet's Best Countries for the Hungry Traveler

Fresh peppers in a Croatian market

Right before our move, I received Lonely Planet's March e-newsletter and was excited to see 'The World's Best Countries For Food' as their featured article.  Just glancing at the list made me incredibly hungry, and somewhat regretful that I've only visited a handful of countries that made the cut; of the ten listed (Thailand, Greece, China, France, Spain, Mexico, Italy, India, Japan, Indonesia & Malaysia), I've visited only four (France, Spain, Mexico and Italy).  There are some that sound extremely appealing - I love Americanized Thai food and have tasted some delicious Greek food, albeit outside Greece - but I'll have to reserve my judgment until I've had the chance to try them firsthand.

Of course, I do have a few favorites from my own travels and am always interested in hearing the recommendations of others.  While I don't generally pick my destinations solely on the basis of their food, I'll admit that it does play a part! So, how does my list stack up against Lonely Planet's? Well, here it is for your perusal: