Culinary Slut

08/03/2026

Rotisserie fired, whole duck is one of a number of local favourites that should be on your “must try” list when visiting Tam Coc, Vietnam.

Numerous restos along Tam Coc’s busy main street fire up their wood and charcoal-fired rotisseries every day in preparation for the evening rush on this succulent treat.

While we’ve not had a bad version of this iconic dish in Tam Coc, the best we’ve had (so far) is at Chef Hien Restaurant. The juicy duck is permeated with delicious spices, and the skin is seared to crispy perfection.

One of the best things about the duck here: they are so busy that the cooked duck never sits around drying out. It goes straight from the spit to be chopped and served to ravenous diners. Just amazing!

Oh, and the sides are worth mentioning. Their banana flower salad is really good, and they make a decent stir fried veggie noodle.

But in the end, let’s be honest. You’re here for the duck - ‘cause it’s fabulous!

📍 Ninh Hải, Hoa Lư District, Ninh Bình
💰350,000đ

04/03/2026

A woman with stories to tell. How we wish we could sit with her over a big pot of tea and hear them all. She’s probably forgotten us already, but we won’t forget her.

The night before a full moon, along the river in Hội An’s old quarter, the city turns off its street lights. Brautoful lanterna fill the night with colour. It’s meant to deepen your connection to the moon. In practice, it feels a little more like a carnival. Maybe somewhere people are thoughtfully appreciating the lunar light, but here it’s mostly hustle. But if you drift far enough from the crowds, there’s something a little whimsical in the air.

On the ground amidst the crowd are older women selling floating candle lanterns. You place one in the water and make a wish. We couldn’t bring ourselves to add to the plastic floating downstream, so we offered her some money in exchange for a photo. She laughed, pleased. And what a laugh.

This memorable encounter reminded us that the whimsy is best evoked by true human connection.

📍 Hà Nội, Vietnam | Tết Trung Thu 🌕

03/02/2026

Snowed in in Canada? Come warm your heart by meeting actual Santa’s reindeer—plus a little dose of travel weirdness and winter magic. Even if you'll never go, it's a fun read! ❄️

Visit North Pole, Alaska and the Antler Academy to learn about the reindeer that live close by Santa's house and workshop. Fun & educational.

30/12/2025

Photo Essay: Delicious breakfast adventures

One of the things we adore about SE Asia is that breakfast options cover a much wider range than in North America or Europe. And there are so many healthy options to choose from here.

Of course, a strong cup of Khmer coffee is a must, no matter what you choose for breakfast. This dark roast coffee tends to be slightly more bitter than the coffees we’re accustomed to at home, but that’s offset by lovely chocolate notes and the addition of milk and sugar.

And, in case you think we only eat healthy breakfasts, we’ve included a couple decadent, sweet treats in the photo set to prove that we’re not always responsible first thing in the morning!

1. Khmer Coffee
2. Smoothie Bowl
3. Light Breakfast with Fruit Bowl
4. Nhom Bangkea Kroch Tlung (Pomelo Salad with Shrimp)
5. Kuy Tev ((Cambodian Noodle Soup with Vegetables & Rice Noodles)
6. Nhom Swai (Green Mango Salad with Shrimp & Green Beans)
7. Tueh Mahek (Kampot Style Noodle Soup with Fish)
8. Plea Sach Ko Banlea Chamruh (Ceviche Beef Salad with Vegetables)
9. Crepe with Nutella & Bananas
10. Chek Chien (Deep Fried Bananas with Honey)

09/08/2025

We are seeking help from the community: does anyone know of accommodation in Pasul Mestecăniş for the night of August 15?

We have tried both Luceafărul Guest House and Bordeiul Gligilor (at Landmark 78). Neither have any room that evening.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions! 🙏🏻

31/07/2025

Hello. Does anyone have a recommendation for a local host for two nights room & meals in Putna? We will be arriving August 8 and setting out on our hike on August 10.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations! 🙏🏻

15/07/2025

We found this marvel on Salt Spring Island: a tree standing on tiptoe, its roots exposed like spider legs. At first it looks odd—as if the ground has vanished beneath it. But this is one of the miracles of the wild.

This tree began life on a fallen giant—a “nurse log”—a decomposing trunk that offered nutrients, moisture, and elevation above the forest floor. Over the decades, the log disintegrated. And what’s left? A living monument to the past: roots arching over empty space, still shaped by the past.

You’ll see this all over the temperate rainforests of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It’s a reminder of how life here layers itself—old feeding new, growth feeding decay. Death has a role to play.

If you see one, take a moment to pause and meditate on the wonders of time.

📍Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

🌟 Other awesome accounts: .canada

20/02/2025

A base of perfectly ripe mango, followed with a layer of sticky rice that lends a silky, chewy texture, is paired with a scoop of mango and sea salt ice cream. The second scoop is made from coconut milk, offering a rich, creamy base. All this crienrr with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream add. A crispy rice cake provides a satisfying crunch, and the crown jewel is an edible peaflower blossom offers an elegant, floral finishing touch.

This dessert is a modern take on traditional mango sticky rice. It beautifully illustrates how cultural cuisine evolves when it encounters international influences. We love witnessing this culinary transformation, where cherished traditions are reimagined. It celebrates the rich heritage of the original dish while embracing global creativity, resulting in a dessert that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

🧑‍🍳

📍21 Prapokklao Road, Old City, Chiang Mai

💰198 THB for two ($8.30 CAD)

14/02/2025

Toronto may be facing a classic, hardcore winter—but even in its raw chill, there’s a certain beauty. Having spent five years in Saskatoon, where winters truly test you, we’ve learned to appreciate the magic in every frostbitten moment. Here’s the South Saskatchewan River, gracefully shrouded in fog. A nearby power plant releases warm, clean water into the river; when this v***r meets the crisp air, it creates stunning condensation and coats the surrounding plants in hoarfrost. (For those unfamiliar, hoarfrost is a delicate layer of ice crystals that forms when water v***r freezes on cold surfaces.)

That being said, we’ll still be snow birds for the foreseeable future! 😋

📍Saskatoon, Canada