Ben Starr

The Ultimate Food Geek

Tag: Brazil

  • Field Trip: The Olive Garden

    My partner is Brazilian, and we have a fairly constant stream of friends and relatives from Brazil through our house year-round.  It’s a delight, and I especially love the gifts of honey, guava jam, cachaca (Brazilian rum), and other treats that keep my pantry fairly well stocked.  My season of MasterChef just finished airing in…

  • New Year’s Traditions

    I’ve been very fortunate to have traveled broadly in the last 14 years, and I’ve spent quite a few New Year’s Eves abroad. I’ve spent it in Thailand, where everyone sprays everyone else with water…you have to leave your cell phone and personal electronics at home, because, as a Westerner, you get DRENCHED with buckets…

  • Brasil, part 1

    Greetings from Brasil!  (Yes, you’re accustomed to Brasil being spelled with a “z” which is common in the U.S.  Each time you see it spelled here, though, it’s with an “s” so I’ve always used it that way.) Christian and I arrived here yesterday.  We’re down here for his cousin Pi’s wedding.  Right after landing…

  • Brasil, part 2

    Greetings from busy Sao Paulo!  (Apologies for spelling it Sao Paolo yesterday…”Paolo” is the Italian spelling, and Christian’s family were Italian immigrants to Brasil.) I learned that my first email has been bouncing around Brasil, and was even used in an English class, so that puts pressure on me to make certain I’m writing properly. …

  • Brasil, part 3

    I know, I know…I promised photos today, but they are all on Christian’s computer and haven’t been edited yet, so you’ll just have to wait a little longer. Today was a fabulous day!  We slept in because we were so exhausted.  Waking up at 10am, the maid, Lucia, had breakfast ready  for us.  She came…

  • Weird Christmases

    Christmas seems to get more and more distant the older I get. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have children. Or perhaps Christmas in America IS, indeed, changing. More frantic. Less time to prepare, but a stronger, unspoken obligation to prepare, and a heavy guilt trip if you don’t. There’s a distinct voice in my head…