All posts filed under: PLANETA

Tartufo Bianco d’Alba

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English: TARTUFO BIANCO D’ALBA – White Truffle There is serious sniffing by chefs and truffle aficionados at the Alba International White Truffle Fair in the Italian town of Alba, in Piedmont. This ‘diamond’ of the culinary world takes great expertise to find in the wild beneath the surface of the soil among the roots of certain species of trees. Traditional truffle hunting was done by female pigs drawn to the truffles due to a compound in the truffles that resembles a pheromone produced by boars. Truffle dogs, used today, have to be trained to detect truffles, but they are easier to control and less likely to eat the truffles they find. Ancient Romans believed truffles had divine powers and aphrodisiacal properties. The ancient Roman cookbook Apicius compiles truffle recipes from texts dating as far back as the 1st century. The winter white truffle of Alba has an intense aroma and is mostly used uncooked to best preserve the fragrance. These are very rare truffles that can only be hunted and harvested in the wild and …

Gobi

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English: GOBI DESERT Time stands still in the Khongoryn Els sand dunes. It’s an unforgettable experience climbing to the top of these giant sand dunes. The ‘singing sands’ whistle with the blowing wind. The wind shapes the dunes into elegant curved and sharp edges and patterns. The 360 degree view of the Gobi desert’s vastness makes us feel minuscule. The Bactrian camels have adapted to the fierce environment of Mongolia’s Gobi desert. They have a ‘coat’ that protects them in winter and falls away with the warmer climate in summer. Temperatures are extreme, ranging from −40 °C in winter to 40 °C in summer. Beyond the dunes the bare landscape is rocky with sparse vegetation and limited water sources. These majestic animals have an impressive adaptability to the most inhospitable environments of hight mountains and freezing steppes and deserts. They were essential for the Silk Road caravans that crossed Asia.   Português: DESERTO DO GOBI O tempo estagna nas dunas de Khongoryn Els. É uma experiência inesquecível escalar até ao topo destas dunas gigantes. A ‘areia cantante’ …

Sea Celebration / Festejo do Mar

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English: SEA CELEBRATION South Koreans are passionate about seafood. Their appreciation of what the sea offers is a serious and respected activity. The seafood markets are a great theatre of the traditions of handling the sensitive ‘fruits of the sea’ in a fine balance with modern technology. Sitting around a table sharing seafood with South Koreans is like opening a cultural window into this distinctive north Asian nation. The South Koreans are amongst the greatest aficionados of the sea ingredients. Fun loving and outgoing, they are also always ready to celebrate!   Português: FESTEJO DO MAR Os sul-coreanos adoram marisco e peixe e têm uma grande apreciação e respeito pelo que o mar oferece. Os mercados pesqueiros são um grande teatro das tradições de manuseamento dos sensíveis ‘frutos do mar’ com um uso refinado de novas tecnologias. Sentar à volta da mesa partilhando marisco com sul-coreanos é como abrir uma janela cultural desta nação do norte da Ásia. Os sul-coreanos são dos povos mais fascinados com os ingredientes do mar. Extrovertidos, festivos e amantes do …

Artisans Angkor

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English: ARTISANS ANGKOR Empowering people with their own means of raising their quality of life is a sustainable form of development. When an enterprise does that and also revives ancient crafts and skills it becomes a transformative process that dignifies local culture and contributes to a much more diversified and interesting ‘global village’. Learn and get inspired with Artisans Angkor. Stone sculptors, weavers, silk painters, woodcarvers, silversmiths… meeting these Cambodian artisans completes the full experience of a visit to Cambodia’s World Heritage Angkor complex. It’s Khmer culture alive in the 21st century. These Cambodian artisans prove that is possible to be ancient in a modern world. Check the photos below of our visit to their workshops.   Português: ARTISANS ANGKOR Potencializar pessoas com meios próprios para elevar a sua qualidade de vida é uma forma de desenvolvimento sustentável. Quando um empreendimento alcança esse resultado e ao mesmo tempo revitaliza competências artísticas e artesanais antigas torna-se num processo transformativo que contribui para uma ‘aldeia global’ muito mais diversificada e interessante. Aprenda e inspire-se com Artisans Angkor. …

Peking Duck / Pato à Pequim

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English: PEKING DUCK The Peking Duck takes careful preparation, cooking and handling. Traditionally is carved in front of the diners and served with steamed pancakes, spring onions, sweet bean sauce and cucumber sticks. The crispy flavoursome skin dipped in sugar and garlic sauce takes the experience to new heights and the succulent meat and fat is so tender that it feels like it melts in the mouth. In this Peking Duck specialty restaurant in Beijing, China, the traditional craft of preparing, cooking and serving this iconic dish started in 1864 during the Qing Dynasty. Like many things in China this operation is enormous, but heritage is not compromised with each stage carefully choreographed to recreate accurately the traditional way. Judging by the satiated faces and glances of adulation in the dining room, from a full house of local pekinese, this is the way Peking Duck is meant to be.   Português: PATO À PEQUIM O Pato à Pequim requer um processo cuidadoso de preparação, cozedura e manejo. É tradicionalmente trinchado em frente dos clientes e …

Bretagne

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English: BRETAGNE (Brittany) During the dark ages migrants from Ireland, Wales and southern England brought Breton, a Celtic language, into Brittany in the northwest of France. With the language came other influences still noticeable today in the architecture, people and cuisine. The history of Brittany goes further into the past with megalith sites dating as far back as 4500 BC. Vikings and other ‘visitors’ motivated the construction of fortresses and towns protected by strong walls made of granite. In these towns beautiful gothic cathedrals point high into the sky. Breton traders pioneered fishing expeditions to Newfoundland as early as the 16th century. Fresh fish and seafood are central to the Breton culinary heritage. It’s a memorable experience the savouring of mussels and oysters inside the walls of Saint-Malo. Brittany gave the world sweet filled crêpes and savoury filled Breton galettes made with buckwheat. A quintessential Breton experience in Brittany. Kouign Amann (Photo 1) is a delicious Breton speciality pastry that in its authentic recipe is made with multiple layers of alternating dough, butter and sugar …

Kangding Kids / Crianças de Kangding

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English: Han Chinese and Tibetan kids in an end of school celebration in the town of Kangding, in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The youth of two ancient and distinct cultures and peoples in the crossroads of Old Tibet and China’s Sichuan province. Português: Crianças Han Chinesas e Tibetanas numa celebração do fim do ano letivo na cidade de Kangding, na Região Autônoma Tibetana de Garzê. A juventude de duas culturas e povos milenares distintos, no cruzamento do Velho Tibete e da província Chinesa de Sichuan.