what would you order from our three-course taste of travel menu?
We were nominated/tagged by two fellow blogger pals, A New Life Wandering and Mrs Ayla’s Adventures for #atasteoftravel blogger competition. Although we are not eligible to win the prize and we are not entering this post into the competition, we thought it would still be fun to get involved in creating a three-course menu from the foods we have tried on our travels.
But we are choosing to put a “spin” on the menu – instead of one entree, main or dessert, we have decided to make it like a set menu: a choice of one of:
- three entrees
- three mains
- three desserts
Simply because we could decide on JUST one for each 🙂 – Apologies in advance that there are no vegetarian options.
So here goes the Wise Monkeys Abroad 3-course Travel Menu.
ENTREE
OPTION 1:
White Rose Dumplings from Hoi An, Vietnam
A steamed dumpling filled with shrimp bunched to look like a rose.
It is served with toasted garlic and sweet dipping sauce.
OPTION 2:
Sashimi Platter from Hakone, Japan
A selection of uncooked seafood includes tuna, prawn, squid, octopus, yellow tail .
Served with wasabi and shaved radish.
OPTION 3:
Cheese Fondue from Lucerne, Switzerland
An infusion of gruyère and emmental cheese in dry white whine.
Served in a casserole on top of a spirit lamp and a basket of bread.
MAIN:
OPTION 1:
Beef Stroganoff from St Petersburg, Russia
Sauteed beef in a mushroom, sour cream based sauce.
Served with a side of mash potatoes.
OPTION 2:
Seafood Paella from Leon, Spain
Aromatic rice cooked with seafood, chicken and vegetables over an open fire.
Served in the pan it is cooked in.
OPTION 3:
Pork Knuckle from Riga, Latvia
Slow-cooked pork knuckle.
Served with beans, fresh tomato salad and potato wedges.
DESSERT:
OPTION 1:
Chocolate Soup from Edinburgh, Scotland
A hot chocolate served in a bowl, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
OPTION 2:
Creme Brûlée from Carcassonne, France
Vanilla custard based layered underneath a hard caramel top.
OPTION 3:
Pistachio Baklava from Istanbul, Turkey
Chopped pistachios wrapped in filo pastry and held together with a sweet syrup.
What are you ordering?
Let us know in the comments.
wise monkeys abroad 
January 18, 2015 at 9:12 pm
All of them look delicious!
But dumplings for entree, beef stroganoff for the main course, and creme burulee (did I spell that right?) for dessert!
January 18, 2015 at 9:25 pm
They were ALL delicious 🙂 You have chosen wonderfully! The Creme Brûlée was the BEST we’ve ever had anywhere!
January 16, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Cheese fondue, Beef Stroganoff and Baklava today, thank you! But ask me on another day and my order will probably be different!
January 17, 2015 at 7:08 am
Hmmmm…. yum! Making us hungry as we can almost smell your order 🙂
So now that it is another day, have you changed your mind? 😉
January 16, 2015 at 8:46 am
I’ll have cheese fondue, beef stroganoff and crème brulee thanks! Do you deliver?
January 16, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Thanks for your order. We have passed it onto the chef and yes, we do deliver but only if the order is over $5000! 😉
January 16, 2015 at 6:52 am
That’s a tough question. I would probably pick the paella or the stroganoff. I’d have no problems try any – make that ALL – of the desserts.
January 16, 2015 at 10:00 pm
We don’t know if we would be able to pick one of each of the courses. We tried every one of them and every one was scrumptious. And all desserts are coming right up for you!! 😉
January 15, 2015 at 1:08 am
OMG!! I have such similar taste to you guys from the looks of things! I did this challenge too and found it so hard to pick but white rose dumplings from Vietnam were one of my favourite dishes out there and don’t even get me started on Baklava – I try not to be anywhere around it because once I eat one of those delicious treats, there’s no stopping me! So glad you decided to share your fun menu choices even if not entering the competition itself 🙂
January 15, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Thanks Shikha – when we finally meet up in person – we will have to catch up for dinner, we will enjoy the same foods 🙂
It was such a fun competition – although we sadly couldn’t enter, we still enjoyed thinking about a post from a different perspective!
January 13, 2015 at 2:08 pm
Hmm, I’ll take one of everything (well, except for the pork knuckle). Everything looks delicious! 🙂
January 14, 2015 at 10:47 pm
LOL – Glad you liked our choices Shelley 🙂 One of everything (except the pork knuckle) coming right up!!
January 13, 2015 at 12:30 am
OMG – all my favorite things! Dumplings, paella, and baklava all the way. I want it all now!
January 13, 2015 at 11:20 am
Oooh – yummy choices! You won’t be disappointed 😉
Have a wonderful week ahead!
January 12, 2015 at 6:12 pm
Wow! I would choose anything that doesn’t have seafood! More specifically, I would choose the fondue, the beef, and the chocolate soup! Yum!
January 13, 2015 at 6:27 am
Delicious choices! When we finished writing up the menu, we realised our choices were heavy on the seafood and also options lacking for vegetarians….
Thanks for your order!
January 12, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Have to agree with the Crazy Chinese Family: fondue, beef stroganoff, and of course, chocolate soup. Sounds delicious.
January 12, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Fabulous choice! And it’s coming right up for you Bev! Hope you don’t mind it all COLD by the time it gets to you 😉
Hope you had a lovely weekend.
January 12, 2015 at 4:57 pm
If it wasn’t cold when it got here, it would be soon afterwards. It has been below zero every night for the past week. Tonight it is warming up to freezing rain! Feel blessed to have the internet for company
January 13, 2015 at 6:28 am
Brrrrrrrr!!! That is COLD! We better not tell you what the temps here then. But actually today is overcast and rather gloomy for a summer’s day.
January 12, 2015 at 11:22 am
Fondue and baklava! And ideally a nice wine to go along with them 🙂
January 12, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Sounds like great choices! The entree is probably enough to fill anyone up, you probably don’t need a main 🙂 Thanks for your order.
January 12, 2015 at 5:21 am
Heading to Vietnam next month, spending a few days in Hoi An. Any recommendations, restaurants or otherwise? The white rose dumplings look fantastic!
January 12, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Hey there Alex, we were there only about 2 days – there was a tropical storm coming so we needed to get out before we got stranded due to flights being grounded. We stayed at the Life Heritage Resort which we believed has changed names now. We really loved it there – very luxurious. We also did a day trip to My Son from Hoi An which we really enjoyed.
With restaurants, we tend to not remember everywhere we go to eat because generally we eat wherever LOL. We wander the streets until we see somewhere that catches our eye. We weren’t brave enough though to try street food in Vietnam as we only had a short time there and didn’t want to spend it in the bathroom.
Have a great time! Don’t know how useful any of that information was but you will enjoy it no doubt 🙂
January 12, 2015 at 5:20 am
I like your style having 3 choices of each course! So hard to just pick 1 isn’t it?!
Oops sorry didn’t realise you’re not eligible for the competition but glad you took part anyway with those delicious sounding meals. Chocolate soup?! Can’t believe I didn’t try this when I was in Edinburgh!
January 12, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Helllllo Ayla. How was your weekend?
Glad you liked the three choices idea. Seeing as we weren’t eligible for the competition, we thought we would have some fun with the concept so thank you for tagging us 🙂
Just checked the shop that sold chocolate soup in Edinburgh… called “Chocolate Soup” (very adptly named) and it is closed now 😦 So you can’t even “duck” up for a weekend and try it out! Shucks.
By the way – Hope you win the competition 🙂
January 12, 2015 at 5:06 am
Too much yumminess – I can’t choose!! I know I’d go for the chocolate soup (chocolate always wins over everything)…but other than that I want it all!
January 12, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Well, we can tailor it to be a tasting menu for you! Our restaurant aims to please 🙂
PS fabulous choice with the chocolate soup – absolutely divine!
January 12, 2015 at 4:19 am
So fun! I’m glad you did this. I would order the fondue, the paella and the baklava :p!
January 12, 2015 at 8:54 am
We have had this on our radar to do for ages and just never got around to it! It was a lot of fun – thanks for the nomination!
PS – Mighty fine choices you have ordered too 🙂
January 12, 2015 at 1:48 am
yum – I’d pick the fondue (since I don’t eat shellfish), the stroganoff (as I am allergic to fresh pork), and the hot chocolate soup! Seriously, I’m hungry now…
January 12, 2015 at 8:53 am
When we were creating this menu, we did think of those with seafood allergies and that were vegetarian. The options were quite limiting for those dietary requirements! But in a real world restaurant, the chef would have alternatives, no doubt 😉
Thanks for your order!
January 12, 2015 at 1:22 am
I’ll have the sashimi platter, paella and creme brulee, please! (Seafood is my weakness).
January 12, 2015 at 8:52 am
Ooooh delightful choices! We would have to admit, that we would probably choose the exact same if this menu was in front of us and we HAD to only choose one of each 🙂 We still dream about the Creme Brûlée!
January 11, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Great choices. That Baklava looks awesome! 🙂
January 12, 2015 at 8:50 am
Man, when we were in Turkey, it was DIVINE to see Baklava in all those shop windows. And then to try them. No such thing as too sweet when it comes to baklava 😉
January 11, 2015 at 11:51 pm
White Rose, Seafood Paella,Pistachio Baklava!
January 12, 2015 at 8:50 am
Ahhhh- mighty fine choices, Sir! You won’t be disappointed 🙂
January 11, 2015 at 11:17 pm
I go with the cheese fondue, Stroganoff and then the chocolate soup 😛
January 12, 2015 at 8:49 am
Thanks for putting your order in 🙂 We will endeavour to get it to you as soon as possible!
January 11, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Sashimi, followed by paella and topped off with creme brûlée, please. A Hunter semillon with the sashimi, a Rioja withe the main and a botrytis semillon for dessert. To completely mix it up, how about served overlooking the Danube from the Fisherman’s bastion?
January 11, 2015 at 10:25 pm
No problem! We will do what we can to please our customers. So we will relocate the kitchen and chef and put in your order. Please call our maitre d’hotel to make your reservation 🙂
January 11, 2015 at 9:19 pm
I’ll have the White Rose dumplings, Beef Stroganoff and the Crème Brule, please.
January 11, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Wonderful choices 🙂 Matching wines to go with?
January 11, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Yes, please. What do you suggest?
January 11, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Yikes! We are not wine drinkers so will have to guess 😉
January 11, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Oh my goodness, that is so much food! Amazing! I’m definitely up for the fondue and the baklava!
January 11, 2015 at 9:06 pm
And for your main, madam? What will it be? 😉
January 11, 2015 at 9:11 pm
Could I possibly get a beef-less Stroganoff? Veggie 😉
I ate lots of great veggie food in Russia!
January 11, 2015 at 9:14 pm
Of course! The chef can make it vegetarian for you 🙂
January 11, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Spasiba!