Thursday, June 30, 2011

Safe not Sorry - Traveler´s Diarrhea!

“Hors de Combat” meaning "outside the fight," is used to refer to soldiers who are incapable of performing their duty.

When the above definition is applied to international travel notorious for provoking Gastrointestinal (GI) Distress “Hors de Combat” takes on a whole new meaning. Widespread tummy rattling experienced on-the-road has triggered a long list of euphemisms like “Delhi Belly”, “Montezuma’s Revenge”, “Cairo Two-Step” and presently being I’m in Cuzco, Peru with a travel companion who is “Hors de Combat” one could add “Andean Agony” to the list.

If you don’t know much about “Holiday Tummy,” remember symptoms are, oh, too recognizable. Indicators may include diarrhea, dehydration, nausea and perhaps even vomiting. Most people who experience symptoms do so shortly after being exposed to contaminated water or foods.

Fortunately treatment is straight forward, as well. First rule is let your system rest. Eat little until you feel better again. Dehydration is the single greatest threat, so rehydrate! Frequently take small sips of bottled or boiled water. If possible drink oral re-hydration salts, also, electrolyte loaded sport drinks will help balance your body. Once you begin to normalize, sip something light like clear broth to restart your system.

Resume eating solids by taking bland foods, such as salty crackers, plain rice or bananas, which commonly help to slow episodes (no oils, no dairy and absolutely nothing fried). After the diarrhea has subsided, you may continue eating your normal diet.

If you attend to the advice above, an attack will be more inconvenience than hospital stay. In order to avoid it all together know that bottled water and eating hot, steaming foods are the first line of defense. Additionally, remember raw veggies are not your friends (peel all fruit). Some hard-core trekkers suggest that travelers who eat the local yogurt and drink sparkling water suffer fewer incidents. Others swear by pink bismuth tablets taken prophylactically and the curative powers of flat, room temperature Coca-Cola. No confirmation there. However, with these safeguards in mind, book a ticket to anywhere. Enjoy your planet. Bon Voyage! Happy Trails! And we’ll see you over a glass of sparkling water some place exotic being anything other than “Hors de Combat!”

Mick Huerta is not a medical doctor but decades of international travel have sharpened his knowledge of this complaint. For more information see your physician or local health department and ask about Gastrointestinal (GI) Distress.

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Travel, Culture, Food & Wines
mickhuerta@gmail.com



Sunday, June 26, 2011

We Demand Respect! Gay Pride Parade - La Paz, Bolivia

In a country where anything outside the norm is met with derision, Bolivia´s 2011 Gay Pride Parade running right through the center of La Paz went off more like a community event. Entire families were out, small children sat curbside to get an eye full of the rainbow flags & costumes while Bolivians of all stripes jumped into the parade route to get their  photo taken with their favorite Drag-Queen! With a background of rockets, everyone simply loved the transvestites outfitted in traditional Cholita garb (pictured above)! As an expression of solidarity with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community; the occasion was fun, festive and rather tame in comparison with the wild celebratory parades of Amsterdam & Rio de Janeiro! But amidst the smiles and applause there was no other place this crowd wanted to be. Billboards, stickers, posters and the banners on many floats proclaimed this year’s theme of “Like you… We demand respect.” And last night they got it! However on this brillant sunshiny morning after last night's wonderfully successful event, the struggle for respect continues.

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2011. All Rights Reserved. mickhuerta@gmail.com 
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wines!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Persia´s 1001 Nights Brightens Cochabamba





All fotos by Mick Huerta © 2011. Clique on foto to enlarge it.



Just entering the Persian style interior smacks of what’s to come. The colors, the eclectic mix of objects old and new conjure an atmosphere that speaks of ancient sensibilities. Don´t think of Arab dishes! This is the Persian kitchen clarified the gracious host/owner Kazem Almasian. The traditional offering of Persian mains, appetizers and desserts is extensive. Yet this list was simplified and easily manageable for the uninitiated. Looking over the menu, I thought to try the Falafel which I believe to be the measure of any restaurant of this sort. It came to the table wrapped in FRESH Pita bread handmade in-house daily. On the palate I detected mint, parsley and cilantro producing a lively and bright flavor. Delightful. A restaurant that has a firm grasp of the classics readily hints to many more good things to come. Fulfilling promises next up was Jhujhe Kabab (see foto above) which is the most popular dish in Iran/Persia. The marinated ground chicken cooked on a skewer gave off the perfume of lime juice and mince of onion. Fresh green herbs are used for balance and complexity and this plate provided a sumptuous way to savour Old Persia right here in Bolivia.

Impressively, this is the place that Kazem built. He did all the tile work, carpentry, drew, painted and even constructed the clay gas-fire oven to make the delicious Pita! Truly a renaissance man of many talents! Kabab Las Mil y Una Noches is an example of the “mom & pop” places I seek out all over the world. But it takes a special person “far from home” to open a restaurant cum cultural center. Armed with vision and family recipes something wonderful is given the new community. And the people of Cochabamba are genuinely fortunate to have such a splendid eatery at ready access. Being on the night of my visit the tables where full of French, Germans, Aussies and locals, I think it´s good for all the rest of us, too!


Restaurante Kabab Las Mil y Una Noches (1001 Nights)
Av. Potosí esquina Portales, al lado del Centro Cultural Patiño Nº 1392
Cochabamba - Bolivia
Tel: +591-72740694, +591-71700619

© Mick Huerta 2011
All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Sip into Something More Comfortable!













A Fish Fumet and a Mushroom Fumet are base to many of my signature international soups. In La Paz I use Sabalo, a South American river fish found principally in Argentina, Bolivia & Paraguay. Five fish heads cost about USD$1.00, filet cuts just a bit more. And mushrooms that once had made a seasonal appearance in the local markets are now dried and are available all year round. Rather inexpensively at that. With these two fumets, it´s so easy to do so much so quickly!

Case en pointe, today I used the fish fumet for a simple bouillabaisse with saffron. Being I can´t seem to locate fennel in the Andes, I replaced the bulb with star anise to approximate the desired effect (oddly no bottle of Pernod close at hand either). I self-indulgently spiked the mixture with a splash of La Concepcion’s “Vinos Reserva Chardonnay Reserva 2009.” And we wickedly drank the remainder and opened a second. Who´s to say that at "dinner for two" you can´t sip your way into something more comfortable?

© Mick Huerta 2011
All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com