Chances are if you’ve visited Orlando, Florida, home to theme park behemoths Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida and others, you’ve also been to Kissimmee, its sister city just to the south. The two cities meld into one another – and yet for families looking to break up their days in the theme parks with some natural sites you can only find in Central Florida, Kissimmee offers the the perfect starting point.
It’s hard to believe food trucks have only revved their foodie engines in the U.S. since 2008. In that relatively short window of time, they’ve become a culinary juggernaut. No longer a novelty in major metropolitan areas, food truck hubs are now common in mid- to small-size cities, too. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found the food truck industry generated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2017 and has been growing on average at a rate of 7.9% every year.
Indie video game designers discussing their craft. Hundreds of guitars strung together to form a sort of musical tornado emerging from the floor. High school art from a singer who helped create the grunge movement.
While I expected Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, would offer plenty of culture-defining finds, I was still surprised by the variety and thoughtfulness behind the exhibits.
“Do you have any questions about the menu?” asks Mario Kanaan, leaning slightly over the front of his Cedars Lebanese Kitchen food truck in Aloha, Oregon, a suburb of food truck central, Portland, “If you haven’t had the arnabeet, I definitely recommend it.”
At first glance, melon pan may seem a curiously misleading name – especially if you happen to choose a double chocolate melon pan (and you should – actually, order a few) or matcha melon pan.
Cookies. Carp. More cookies. A side of potato salad.
While many Christmas festivities in Czechia are similar to those in other parts of Europe, this nation of just under 11 million has some unusual – and noteworthy – holiday traditions all their own.
A little Czech history
Admittedly, Czechia, a country circled by Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria, is known more for its culture and history, than cuisine.
While Portlanders may not have invented donuts, they certainly seem to have perfected them. The so-called donut culture here is well fed – inspiring Portlanders to declare their favorites, and to slight those they deem inferior, to both their friends and the public alike.
Salivating over the various bakery finds – from oversized carrot-cake muffins heavy with icing and thick slices of flourless chocolate cake, I came across an intriguing find: vegan chocolate mouse. Packaged in a nondescript plastic cup with a gold "VEGAN" label, I thought at best it would satisfy my sweet tooth and at worst it would taste a bit like chocolate-imbued gritty pudding.
