Vlarson

Mexico City -- Mexican dishes are known for their bold flavor combinations, from complex mole sauces that incorporate ingredients as diverse as chilies and dark chocolate to the multiple different food items and seasonings that go into an authentic pozole. But an equally key element in Mexican food culture is that most basic of flavorings: salt. From savory dishes to fruit and candy to alcoholic beverages, Mexicans have a taste for – and a habit of – pairing salt with almost everything. Read more

Barcelona -- At Culinary Backstreets, we are all about seeking out backstreets eating at venues serving authentic cuisine and frequented mainly by locals – an approach that usually leads both to delicious food and to prices that won’t break the bank. But how about underground dining, where even locals themselves aren’t always in on the secret? Read more

Istanbul -- Being big fans of simit – the sesame-encrusted bread ring that’s one of Turkey’s most popular street foods – we’ve looked on with delight over the last few years as the humble snack has made its way from Istanbul to the other metropolis with a 212 area code: Manhattan. First, longstanding Istanbul baklava maker Güllüoğlu opened a branch in Midtown East and began selling freshly baked simit under the moniker “Turkish bagel.” Read more