Food and Drink Archives - Girls Guide to The World

January 15, 2018 by admin

Top 5 Things to Do When Preparing for a Diet

There are many reasons why you may be considering a better diet. Trying to lose weight and making the switch to a healthier eating habit are some of the more common reasons why different diets are very popular. It is also easier to go on a diet the right way now that you have so many resources at your fingertips.

Before going on a diet and starting your diet program, however, there are some preparations to be made. These preparations are primarily for ensuring the success of the diet program and keeping the side effects at a minimum. Here are the top five things you need to do when preparing for a diet.

Have a Plan

You can’t go on a diet without a proper plan. As mentioned earlier, it is always best to start with a goal in mind. What are you trying to achieve by going on a diet? Do you want to lose weight? Are you trying to cut down on your sugar intake?

The kind of diet you go on depends highly on the objectives you’re trying to achieve, which makes understanding the objectives that much more important. You can also set a more realistic time frame for yourself.

Review the Diet Program

The next preparation to make is a review of the diet program itself. Even when you are on a diet, your body still needs certain amounts of nutrients to function effectively. You can’t break certain limits to achieve your goals faster; when a diet program does this, it usually isn’t the best one to go on or it produces a lot of side effects.

Review Your Supplements

Aside from the food items you consume, you also want to review the supplements or medications that are part of the diet program. Not all diet programs include dietary supplements or medications, but it is not uncommon to use supplements to help meet the daily nutrient requirements of your body. This is particularly true with weight-loss programs.

Fortunately, the internet is once again on your side when it comes to reviewing supplements. You can access independent reviews from sites such as Side Effect Answers. You can also count on the reviews and testimonials of other users from various sources.

Adjust Your Exercise Routine

A good diet must be accompanied by a suitable exercise routine. If you’re not used to exercising regularly, now is the perfect time to start. There are plenty of exercise programs that match the kind of diet you will be trying.

If you already have an exercise regime, some adjustments may be needed. You are altering your food and nutrient intake – often substantially too – so you want to make sure you don’t end up burning more calories than you can afford to.

Commitment

Last but certainly not least, it is time to commit to yourself and build that spirit up. The only way you can meet your objectives and have a successful diet is being fully committed from the start. You already made the necessary preparations; all you need to do now is follow through with the program.

March 16, 2016 by admin

Come for the Wine, Stay for the Shopping

V Marketplace the Original Icon of Specialty Retail in California’s Wine Country

V Marketplace is Napa Valley’s most beautiful and inviting specialty retail complex located in the world renowned epicurean hamlet of Yountville, surrounded by lush picnic gardens, beautiful water features and meandering cobblestone.

One of the first wineries in the Napa Valley, Groezinger Winery was built in 1870 and continued operating as a winery until 1955. The three lovely old brick buildings located on what is now known as Vintage Estate were destined to be sold and torn down for the price of their bricks. A small group of visionaries purchased the 23 acre property and lovingly restored it as a home to specialty and craft retailers in 1968.

Forty-eight years later the tradition of retail excellence continues. Visitors will find a collection of unique specialty shops that include clothing for men, women and children of all ages, an inviting home and garden shop and gift shops that offer a range of items from the simple souvenir to locally made soaps and lotions to romantic bedding.

There are three distinctive art galleries that offer fine art, photography, sculptures, glass art, jewelry and more. Visitors will find one of the most complete wine cellars of the Napa Valley offering an inviting wine environment that will please novices and aficionados alike with a choice of a wine bar, a cozy lounge or sunny patio where guests can savor and experience the world of wine with expert advice from a knowledgeable staff. V Marketplace is home to Napa Valley’s original hot air balloon company which launches daily, weather permitting from the property.

Centered in the foodie mecca of Napa Valley, one will find while at V Marketplace various wine country eateries ranging from casual and easy going burgers and sandwiches, mouthwatering and extravagant hand-made chocolates and Emmy-award winning Chef Michael Chiarello’s fabulous, delicious and much touted rustic farm-to-table Italian cuisine restaurant Bottega.

V Marketplace also plays host to special events and entertainment scheduled year round.

V Marketplace is located just 1 hour northeast of San Francisco at 6525 Washington Street in Yountville – Napa Valley. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information call (707) 944-2451 or go to www.vmarketplace.com

March 3, 2015 by admin

Camping Cooking Ideas for Vegetarians

Camping is always a great way of reconnecting with nature and spending some quality time with friends and family. And since we all live in an age where we simply need to take some time off when it comes to the buzz of the city, camping is always more of a therapy than some people out there may be tempted to believe.

There are plenty of places where you can camp safely and there are definitely many tools and camping accessories you can pack with you while camping, but what do you do if you don’t want to stray from the healthy eating path even when you are out in the wild, camping?

How to Eat Healthy, Delicious Vegetarian Food while Camping

The answer to this may be much simpler than you would believe. While taking fresh meat with you and preparing it can be dangerous because meat can very easily get bad if it is not refrigerated properly. Furthermore, there may be people among those with whom you are camping that only enjoy vegetarian dishes.

One way to go around this would be by using Quorn chicken style pieces recipes that can be easily cooked around the campfire as well. For instance, you can cook some spaghetti with tomato sauces and faux chicken and you can just heat everything up when you get there. This recipe is especially good for your first night of camping because it will not require much time to be done. And after the entire trip, you will probably feel tired enough to not want to actually cook.

Camping (creative commons)

Furthermore, you can use faux chicken for your barbecues as well. It will be easier to maintain them and they will be ready in an instant. Furthermore, they can be extremely delicious, especially if you use the right seasoning with them.

Another type of food that is both healthy and meat-free and which can be cooked in the outdoors as well is chilli con carne. Just use the basic chilli con carne recipe and replace the meat with some faux chicken and you will get a delicious, easy to do and healthy meal for the entire family.

Camping in the mountains (creative commons)

Basically, almost any recipe that does not require much preparing and which can be broiled, simmered or grilled will work very well on a campfire as well. However, do make sure that you take all the necessary ingredients with you without burdening yourself too much. After all, camping should not necessarily be all about eating, but about having fun and about spending time with those who are close to you. Of course, camping cooking can turn into a really fun activity and both the kids and the adults will love it if you involve everyone in the process.

February 20, 2013 by admin

Japan’s Themed-Dining Bars

No trip to Japan is ever complete without having experienced the local watering hole. Japanese dining bar, or locally known as ‘izakaya’ is like the pub to the English. It is a drinking establishment that also serves food and a usual hang out joint for university students and office workers alike. There are various kinds of izakaya, ranging from chain stores like Doma to cosplay establishments where the waiters and waitresses play dress up such as the popular maid and butler cafes. At these cosplay establishments, customers are treated like masters and mistresses by the servers dressed as ‘maids’ or ‘butlers’. Some establishments also include a playtime where you can play games with your maid such as card games or enjoy a manicure from your maid. For a small fee, patrons can also rent costumes and dress up or join the servers in song and dance.

Apart from cosplay establishments, there are also themed izakaya establishments that have a diverse range of themes such as fantasy with Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit to Goth-inspired Vampire Café where you can dine in the coffin room or feast on chocolate skulls. Others take a more entertainment-based approach where the shop staff dressed as nurses, doctors and even prison guards and patrons are treated to a scary live show. For those who seek to dine in a jail cell, you will find abundant choices as each dining bar though bearing the same ‘jail’ theme is rather different. At some establishments, such as Lock Up in Shibuya, Tokyo you will be escorted to your cell by the prison guard and once you and your party are seated in the cell, the door of your cell will be locked (well, they pretend to lock it so not to worry as you can walk in and out freely). The atmosphere of the place purposely fashioned to exude eeriness and there will be a ‘performance time’ when they ‘release’ a prisoner who will scare the living daylights out of the patrons.

Another fairly similar establishment is Alcatraz ER, located in Dogenzaka, Shibuya. As the name suggests, this has the theme of the ER but the twis

t is that it is a prison mental hospital so be prepared to see ‘dead bodies’ in the glass floor and drinks that are served in syringes, tubes

and even a ‘human head’, accompanied by a lot of screaming (since you are after all dining in a mental hospital). The ‘nurses’ here are known for pulling down the pants of unsuspecting diners and injecting them with a huge syringe.

For those who seek a more traditional atmosphere, there is the famous Ninja Akasaka in Tokyo. This establishment boasts a lovely traditional setting of a traditional Japanese town with narrow and dark alleys, waterfalls and whistling wind. Servers dress up like ninjas who even perform magic tricks at the patrons’ tables as well as demonstrate their ‘ninja skills’ such as appearing and disappearing swiftly and silently. Ninja Akasaka has an impressive list of former diners from the former Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro to Steven Spielberg. The food presentation is amazing with ninja weapons such as swords and daggers being used coupled with elements of ‘magic’.

The choices of Japanese dining bars are plenty with the average Japanese frequents the normal, non-themed establishments, basically the chain establishments more often than the themed ones. The themed- dining bar thus not mainstream in the industry it is enjoying a growing popularity among the locals and well as tourists. Hence, make it a point to visit one the next time you visit Japan because the experience is something that you will never forget. For cheap flights to Tokyo and other cities in Japan simply search online.

January 4, 2013 by admin

Five of The Best Bars in Europe To Have a Hen Party

Barcelona by night

Hen parties are an essential part of any woman’s journey towards married life. What once was an evening spent in the local pub has now become an institution that sees groups of women travelling further afield to celebrate the Hen’s last night of freedom. In this post, we present some alternatives to the customary cocktail bars in London and feature some of the best bars across Europe to celebrate your Hen Night.

Dublin

The motorbike themed Thunder Road Café in Temple Bar, Dublin has all of the ingredients for the perfect Hen Night. As well as an award winning cocktail menu, delicious food, incredible décor it also has live DJs playing the best in party music every weekend. Offering great food, a party atmosphere and being slap bang in the heart of Dublin’s lively nightlife area makes this restaurant and bar a perfect choice for a lively Hen Party.

Prague

This popular gothic style cellar bar and club is a firm favourite for both stag and hen parties, Double Trouble Bar and Club offers all night dancing and drinking in a beautiful and historic venue. DJs play a mixture of dance tunes every single night and with drinks offered at reasonable prices, there is no better place to hold your Hen Night.

Prague by Vlastula (Flickr Creative Commons)

Brighton

For those that prefer to stay a little closer to home, Brighton is a favourite Hen Party destination and it’s not hard to see why, packed with sea front bars and clubs and only an hour by train from London. Near the beautiful and famous Brighton Pavillion, Al Duomo is the perfect place to start your Hen Night, both a bar and a pizzeria, this venue actively welcomes both Hen and Stag parties.

Amsterdam

Its size and location are just two of the reasons that Rain in Amsterdam makes for the perfect Hen Party destination. A vast space located smack bang in the centre of the city’s party district, Rain offers it all for partying hens. Usually more quiet at the start of the evening but getting slowly more full as revelers flock here to dance the night away. With a delicious menu, this is a venue that you can start your evening in with a meal and few drinks before the venue becomes more club-like as the hours pass.

Barcelona

This beautiful city has an abundance of great bars to choose from, not as obvious or as cheesy a destination as some of the cities we’ve already featured, Barcelona’s Sor Rita Cocktail bar offers something for the more sophisticated Hen. This kitsch and quirky bar has a range of interesting features including an impressive collection of Barbie dolls that can be found in compromising positions. But most important of all is the array of cocktails on offer and the lively atmosphere that can be found here.

August 29, 2012 by Cate

Seven Tantalising Reasons to Visit Brazil

Rio Carnival

Brazil has always had a great deal going for it in the travel destination department. Beaches, food, music, amazing scenery and a fantastic culture have put this South American country at the top of the list. However, all of that is about to get exponentially cooler in the next few years as Rio De Janeiro prepares to host a couple of little sporting events. Let’s explore some of the reasons why a visit to Brazil is something to be very, very excited about.

Carnival

Undoubtedly the most famous display of debauchery in the world, Carnival in Rio is held every year in the weeks leading up to Lent. Over 2 million people descend upon the streets of the city to take in the parades, the street carnivals, the food, and, of course, the alcohol. Beer consumed during Carnival is said to be 80% of the city’s annual total. If you’ve been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, why not really see what you’re made of and take on Carnival in Rio?

The FIFA World Cup

Between 12 June and 13 July, 2014, footballers from around the world will storm cities all over Brazil for the FIFA World Cup. Brazil has a lot to offer in the form of incredible stadiums, cities booming with activities and nightlife, and legions of dedicated fans who are ready to make this the best World Cup in history, especially given the fact that Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times.

The Amazon Rainforest

What is more of a “must see” than the Amazon rainforest? With over 60% of the area contained within its borders, Brazil is the perfect place to have an Amazon journey. So many opportunities for adventure are on offer here, from jungle trekking and river cruises, to more academic pursuits. Whatever your reason for visiting Brazil, it would be a crime to forgo a trip to the second longest river in the world and the incredible biodiversity that surrounds it. Who knows how much longer it will be there?

Sunset in the Amazon, Brazil

Favela Funk

Adopted from Miami by Rio DJs in the 1980’s and heavily popularized a decade later, funk carioca or favela funk is a huge music sensation in Brazil. Similar in culture to hip hop in other parts of the world, Brazilian funk was begun in the favela slums in Rio. Huge funk dance parties are held at clubs called bailes, and Rio’s funk DJs are among the most popular in the country. Today, it is a worldwide music phenomenon, but you can still only get that classic Brazilian baile funk vibe in Brazil.

The Food and Drink

With influences from Africa, Europe and its own South American neighbors, it’s no wonder at all that Brazilian food is so exotic and delicious. Staples like rice and beans go head to head with delicious meats grilled churasco style and virtually every imaginable type of seafood. Tropical fruits are available year round and Brazil produces some exceptional cheeses and a few very good wines. However, the drink of choice for Brazilians is the caipirinha, made with a sugar cane liquor called cachaça, a bit of crushed fruit, and crushed ice.

Dance

Nothing really says “Brazil” like the way they dance. With the samba easily being the most popular and the most well-known Brazilian dance style, it’s easy to see why Brazilian “escolas de samba” are the stars at every Carnaval. With roots in African dance, samba is a heavily costumed theatrical experience as well as a simple, impromptu jam found amongst the patrons at local bars and restaurants.

Exceptional Economics

Brazil has the 6th largest economy in the world, and with a growth rate of 4.4% per year, it is stronger than the economy of Great Britain. For this reason and many others, expats are flocking there in droves to escape the stagnant growth in the USA and Europe. Job growth is booming in the financial and technical sectors and the country is second only to the USA in the production of biofuel. Combine steady work opportunities with all of the rest that Brazil has to offer, and that equals a rollicking, vibrant South American hotspot that should have you very, very excited.