Food guide for first-time travelers to Osaka

Osaka is the largest city in West Japan. Here there are lots of dishes that few Japanese people living outside of Osaka know exist. But even in the food-loving country of Japan, Osaka is still known as one of the ultimate food destinations – a city with passionate food lovers and an abundance of things to eat.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a pancake-like dish popular in various styles across Japan. In Osaka, shredded cabbage and a whole range of other ingredients such as squid, prawn, octopus or meat are mixed into a flour-based batter and cooked before eaten with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori) and dried bonito (katsuobushi). In some restaurants, okonomiyaki is prepared by the customers on a hot plate at their table.

Negiyaki

Similar to okonomiyaki, negiyaki is a savory pancake-style food. Negi, or Japanese leek, is a popular ingredient in Japan both raw and cooked. Negiyaki features tons of sliced green onion cooked into it, and is often also topped with freshly diced onion, as well as soy sauce or okonomiyaki sauce. While okonomiyaki is a popular food all over Kansai, negiyaki is a style of mixed pancake native to Osaka.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki is the main street food associated with Osaka. This tasty treat is a fried round mixture of batter, octopus, ginger, and usually some vegetables and spices. The best place to sample takoyaki is at one of the food stalls along the Dotonbori, but this dish can be found all over the city. Many locals even have special takoyaki-making grills at home.

Ramen 

Osaka is a ramen kind of town. The hearty, meaty and plebian nature of the dish is a natural fit for rough and ready Osaka. You’ll find ramen restaurants in every Osaka urban hub, but they’re most numerous in Minami and the Tennoji Area.

Read more: What is the difference between Ramen, Tsukemen and Soba?

Kushi-Katsu

The fried food to beat all fried foods, kushi-katsu is another classic Osaka dish. “Kushi” means skewer and “katsu” is derived from “cutlet,” and the name means all kinds of goodies stuck on a stick, dipped in batter and deep fried. As you might imagine, this is drinking food (only someone half drunk would eat this stuff without feeling guilty), so you’ll find kushi-katsu restaurants primarily in drinking areas and entertainment districts.

Taiko-Manju

Taiko-manju is a type of Japanese baked sweet. It's made from a batter of flour, eggs, and sugar baked in a drum shaped steel or copper mold with steamed bean paste in the middle. Taiko means drum, and as you can imagine, the name comes from the drum-like shape. In other regions of Japan, they’re called “Ohban-yaki” or “Kaiten-yaki” or ”Imagawa-yaki”. One of the Osaka's most famous Taiko-manju shops is the "Gozasouro".

Butaman

These soft buns are made by fermenting a flour and water-based batter that is then stuffed with fillings and steamed.  Fillings normally include pork and onion, with some shops also adding finely chopped vegetables such as takenoko (bamboo shoots) or dried shiitake mushrooms.

Read more: Explore various dumplings around Asia

Kitsune Udon

Kitsune udon is a simple dish of udon (thick wheat noodles) served in a hot soup with a piece of deep fried tofu (aburaage). Kitsune means "fox" in Japanese, and the dish is thus named because fried tofu is believed to be a fox's favorite.

Doteyaki

Kansai is historically the “cattle country” of Japan, as evidenced by the number of top beef brands in close proximity, including Kobe beef from Hyogo prefecture, Omi beef from Shiga prefecture, and Matsutaka beef from Mie prefecture in the nearby Chubu region. As a result, beef is an important ingredient in Kansai cuisine and especially in Osaka. One famous beef dish from Osaka is doteyaki, or beef tendon simmered in miso and mirin rice wine. It’s a popular side dish to enjoy in kushikatsu restaurants.

Source Internet

Top markets in Nha Trang, Vietnam

Nha Trang is no different from other cities of Vietnam that has got a great selection of local markets for travelers to explore and try their luck at bargaining. Here is some info on Nha Trang’s best markets.

Dam Market

Dam Market (Cho Dam) is the largest and most popular one of all. With three floors full of stalls and boutique shops to explore, Dam Market is a bit of an overwhelming experience, but nevertheless a must-do. It is part tourist souvenir market and part local market. You will find all sorts of merch, from clothes, shoes and bags to tourist trinkets, art, designer knockoffs, electronics, dried and packaged foods and food stalls. The dried seafood section is worth your time, because you will find some of Nha Trang’s most famous local specialties such as dried shrimp, squid and cuttlefish.

Since this is a very popular destination for most tourists, prices may be a little inflated when quoted to you. Get your bargaining skills ready. However, do try not to haggle too much. Remember that a dollar to us may be worth a meal to the locals. To avoid tourists and get a more local experience, visit early in the morning. Early hours are when Nha Trang’s residents go shopping. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid the midday heat.

Xom Moi Market

For a more raw, local experience, head to Xoi Moi Market (Cho Xom Moi). Locals come here to shop for their groceries, household equipment and whatever else they need in their everyday life. Xom Moi Market is situated a little further away from the center of the city, so you’re gonna have to wake up a little early to get there around 7 a.m. which is when the market comes to life. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast here from the array of Vietnamese dishes the vendors sell in their stalls. These include pho, the de-facto national dish of Vietnam, and a local specialty called ‘bun ca’, a fish soup with rice vermicelli and fish balls. Don’t forget to buy some delicious fruits such as mangosteen (seasonal), milkfruit, rambutan and mango. If you do not like the smell of durian, you should probably avoid the food section or just hold your nose as you walk past.

Vinh Hai Market

While other markets are great if you enjoy being surrounded by locals going about their day, Vinh Hai Market (Cho Vinh Hai) serves those who prefer to steer clear of the crowds. Vinh Hai Market is not only smaller, but it is also more local than the other two mentioned above. Perhaps you may even be the sole foreigner around. Don’t be afraid if curious locals come up and talk to you. Since the market is not touristy, you won’t find as much merch as you might you find in typical tourist markets, like souvenirs or fake branded items. You will get the real authentic stuff, and for a much cheaper price.

Nha Trang Night Market

Of course, as with any other city in Vietnam, Nha Trang has a night market. What’s a little odd though is that it opens at 9 a.m., however it is most lively after the sun goes down. If during the day you were busy exploring all the beach that Nha Trang has to offer, and forgot to do some shopping, then the night market will be your chance. Like Dam Market, souvenirs, cheap clothes and all kinds of novelty items are sold in the stalls that line up and down the street. The night market will certainly be a great walk after a filling seafood dinner on the way to your next venue – possibly a pub to spend the night away.

See more: A day trip in Vinpearl Land, Nha Trang

Source: Internet

The most spectacular dining locations in the Maldives

The restaurants and destination dining experiences available in the Maldives are beyond compare, taking you from the serenity of a beach at sunset to the lush greenery of the jungle to the glittering turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Feast your way around the world’s most romantic archipelago with these 7 spectacular dining locations where delicious gourmet meals come served in stylish, surreal surroundings.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi

Sometimes a romantic dinner by the ocean is all you need to escape reality for a while and just be in the moment. And when this happens to be a multi-course gourmet feast accompanied by the sea breeze and chilled champagne at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, then the moment is as perfect as it can be.

Muraka at Mirihi Island Resort

Dinners on Muraka’s over-water decked terrace come with sublime sunsets and a soundtrack of lapping waves. There are only eight tables, but the delicious food is worth fighting for a seat. Specialties include Maldivian lobster and Angus beef, all paired with carefully selected international wines.

Olive at Kandolhu

Olive, the laid-back open-air restaurant at Kandolhu, serves tantalizing Mediterranean cuisine on a breezy circular deck with panoramic views of the dazzling blue ocean.

Sunset Pool Café at Hideaway Beach Resort

True to its name, the Sunset Pool Café at Hideaway invites patrons to sample a fusion of Asian and European cuisines in a stunning alfresco poolside setting. Come sunset, the view over the glistening infinity pool blending seamlessly into the mesmerizing ocean gets even better.

Ocean Pavilion at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

Nestled in the heart of a shimmering lagoon, the Ocean Pavilion at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa makes for a fabulous Maldives dining location. Built out of antique wood, this thatch-roofed over-water structure is the place to be for sunset cocktails and intimate, atmospheric dinners with a view.

Gourmet Picnic at Niyama

Enhance your Maldivian vacation with a private gourmet picnic at Niyama. The experience comes complete with dreamy lantern lights, dazzling ocean views, and a private chef who will take care of everything.

Nooma Dinner at Baros Maldives

Make your tropical holiday in the Maldives one to remember with a romantic dinner cruise for two in a traditional, wooden sailing dhoni. Nooma Dinner, one of Baros Maldives’s most unique epicurean experiences, offers you the opportunity to feast on gourmet specialties and delicious cocktails while sailing into the sunset.'

Read more: How to eat like a local in Maldives

Source Internet