Food City Portraits
Explore the culinary landscape of global Alpha Cities through the delectable experiences of food aficionados.
Istanbul’s cuisine—with its remarkable blend of traditions from the Ottoman Empire, the Balkans, Greece, Kurdistan, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean...
Istanbul: Savoring Two Continents
When I first moved to Canada and made friends from various backgrounds, I noticed during our conversations about food that many of their dishes were similar to Turkish cuisine. We debated about the origins of Turkish food, pondering questions like whether kebab is truly Turkish or if its roots trace back to Greek traditions. Is börek a distinctively Turkish creation, or does it have Serbian origins? When...
Two decades ago, nobody saw the Madrid market movement coming ...
Madrid: Cradle of Gastro-Market Cuisine
In 2008, the phrase “echar la persiana” – literally, lower the blind, or close shop - came back into Madrid’s everyday conversation. Spending was shrinking and restaurant eating, which had become a way of life when democracy returned, fell dramatically. By the time economic depression began to lift six years later, over a thousand of the capital’s restaurants had lowered their clattering metal blinds for the last...
São Paulo is a country within a city. If there is a trend across Brazil, chances are it began here ...
São Paulo: Where Global has always been the Local
A mosaic of influences from far and wide, São Paulo’s, or Sampa’s (as the locals call it) culinary landscape is one of a kind. Here, international cuisines mingle with regional dishes, Brazilian ingredients and local habits to become an eccentric mélange.
Before we bite into the world class food scene of Sampa, let me build some credibility and introduce myself. I grew up in São Paulo and went...
Food has had a massive impact on shaping who I am today.
New Delhi: A Delhicious Fusion
The buzzing national capital of India is a long beloved food haven. Generations of foodies have not only continued to savour the traditional food from all across the country here but the city has given some fusion foods their much-deserved big break.
‘Food has had a massive impact on shaping who I am today‘
Belonging to a generation of self-proclaimed food enthusiasts, I am no different and often find...
Today, Berlin is kind of cool. From a Provincial backwater to the crucible of the East ...
My Berlin
Berlin today is a cosmopolitan metropolis, and that’s also reflected in the food on offer, from currywurst, pizza and döner kebab, injera and ramen noodles on the streets, to the creations of Michelin starred restaurants. But it wasn’t always like that, and the food I grew up with in the 1960s and ‘70s was something different altogether. Berlin today holds its own next to London, Paris, New...
NYC’s rich tapestry of tastes defies orderly organization ...
New York: How The City That Never Sleeps – Eats
Born in France to a French Argentinian mother and an American father, I grew up in NYC’s Upper West Side, a multi-cultural neighborhood that retained much of its historically Jewish demographic, and bordering on Harlem, which as of 2019 boasted 23,650 restaurants and bars.
Biting the Big Apple
But it wasn’t always so. At the end of the 1950s when my father returned to NYC from his Medical studies...
I have long been fascinated with the cheeses of Anatolia...
Divle, Turkey: “Sleeping Milk” in Anatolia
I have long been fascinated with the cheeses of Anatolia, even before I became aware of all the historical connections. But with one of them, I really fell in love. The object of my desire is a rather curious fellow, a sheep's cheese in a hairy goatskin, called Divle Tulum. When I met ‘him’, I had no idea of how large a family Turkish tulum cheeses are;...
San Francisco is at the origin of the Food 2.0 revolution in California ...
San Francisco: It’s Already Tomorrow
Veganism, vegetable proteins with a digital twist, cultural authenticity and a mix of culinary genres, the Millennial’s day in San Francisco oscillates between expansion outside of oneself and back to one’s inner self of values and choices.
At seven o'clock in the morning in the Hispanic neighbourhood of San Francisco Mission District, the sky is, as usual for a summer morning, very overcast. In spite of the strong...
L.A. has created a unique admixture of culinary cultures ...
Los Angeles: A Culinary Crucible of the World
Los Angeles is known for its fusion cuisine, which blends various culinary traditions and flavors. Due to its diverse population, L.A. has a unique mix of food cultures, ranging from Mexican, Asian, and Mediterranean to African, European, and South American. This diversity has led to a rich blend of flavors and techniques, resulting in dishes like Korean bulgogi tacos, sushi burritos, and falafel burgers ...
Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are!
We Will Always Have Paris !
As you step into a quaint café in Paris, you are immediately transported to a different time and place. The “garçons de café” (baristas) are dressed in classic black and white attire, complete with bowties and aprons. The decor is reminiscent of the 1920s, with antique furnishings, Art Nouveau vintage lamps, and old-fashioned artwork adorning the walls. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, perfect for a quiet...
