Greetings virtual travelers! I don’t know about you but staying at home with the family has made mealtime very consistent in our house. We eat dinner together these days which in the past wasn’t something we were able to do regularly with everyone on different schedules. I guess you’d call it a silver lining. Last week, we celebrated a milestone birthday for my son, and it was a bittersweet but memorable experience. However, I was able to make a nice meal complete with a birthday cake, and I felt grateful that my local grocery store was reasonably well stocked so I could make that happen for him. Another silver lining.
With a combination of missing travel, normal life and daily meal prep on my mind, I decided to research some home-based culinary resources, and I pass them onto you in this newsletter. I’ll share more of these inspiring resources on social media as I come across them, so be sure to follow along on HGTC FB and HGTC Insta. Also, keep an eye on those channels for a surprise giveaway coming soon!
IGTV (Instagram videos) has some fantastic, free cooking classes hosted by chefs. Conde Nast Traveler recommends a few in this article: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/free-online-cooking-classes-hosted-by-chefs. Love Italian food? Forbes focuses on Italian chefs in their article: https://tinyurl.com/qwf4a8v. Or check out Thrillist’s list of online cooking classes: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-online-cooking-classes.
If a more interactive experience appeals to you, check out The Chef & The Dish https://www.thechefandthedish.com/ where you can Skype a chef in your kitchen for a virtual cooking lesson. They just launched a series called, “What’s in your fridge?” where you are matched with a surprise chef from somewhere in the world. After a virtual walkthrough of your refrigerator and pantry, the chef will teach you how to make a dish from what’s on hand.
Gourmet cooking your thing? Here’s a free online gourmet cookbook compliments of Uniworld River Cruises (T+L’s #1 award-winning river cruise line in 2019) https://bit.ly/3aQoOE4. If you’re unfamiliar with Uniworld, it’s a luxury river cruise experience like no other. Granted, the cruise industry is taking a bruising right now, but I highly recommend adding a river cruise to your travel bucket list, because it’s a very special trip and rather unique experience (more on that topic later this year). It’s more like a small, boutique hotel that floats you through your itinerary and nothing like a traditional cruise ship.
If you’re into cocktails before dinner, the five-star Langham Hotel in London is offering complimentary cocktail-making classes. The hotel’s IGTV features the staff making favorite drinks at their Artesian Virtual Bar. After watching, I’ve decided to have a drink this fabulous hotel next time I’m in London!
Back to practicalities and ideas you can use now, below is global inspiration for 10 meals with mass appeal using widely found ingredients. Recipes are easy to google:
France: Crepes – savory and sweet!
Italy: Margherita Pizza on the Grill
Greece: Oregano Chicken with Greek salad
Switzerland: Fondue – Cheese and Chocolate
Mexico: Huevos Rancheros
Argentina: Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
India: Meatball curry with Homemade Naan
Asia: Stir Fry Vegetables with Fried rice
Alaska: Dill Butter Salmon* with Asparagus
New Orleans: Jambalaya
Don’t stop dreaming – when the world opens again, I’ll be here to help you plan your long-awaited and well-deserved vacation.
Hidden Gem Tip: I was thinking about the importance of tourism to the state of Alaska this week as it heavily on the cruise industry; top lines have canceled their 2020 cruises, and it breaks my heart (I spent two weeks in Alaska last July, and it was an absolutely incredible experience). This situation inspired me to order some wild-caught, sustainable salmon* from The Wild Alaskan Company. It arrives tomorrow, and I’m very excited! If you’d like to order and receive $25 off, I can forward a coupon to you.
Wishing you and your family continued good health,
Susan
