guest post!—>holly w.

by Janetha on March 20, 2011

in meals

Happy Sunday Meals & Movers! Our favorite Janetha Bean can’t be here with you all today, and while I’m nowhere as near as cool as the new Mrs. Gallegos, I can say I’ve hung out with her AND snuggled with her. Doesn’t that make me cool by association? I like to think so. Anyways, my name is Holly, and I am the writer + rambler extraordinaire of The Healthy Everythingtarian – a blog about food, exercise and most of all, LIFE. Because at the end of the day, I am so grateful to be able to expend energy worrying about food, talking about food and enjoying eating {too much} food, for not everyone in the world has this luxury.

While we all share a mutual love for good, delicious food; I have to admit there is something that makes me even happier in life: traveling.

I love the adventure.

I love the exploration of new cultures.

I love the excitement of the unknown.

I love meeting people.

And I LOVE eating foreign cuisine.

So today, I thought I would bring you on a whirlwind, around-the-world tour of some of my favorite places I’ve had the amazing opportunity to travel to and the utterly delicious food I ate while there. I will warn you however, it may cause you to hop on the next flight out to some exotic locale, and I take no responsibility for the credit card flight purchases made as a result of this post.

Germany 2

I should probably warn you I didn’t eat a lot of food in Germany.

Instead, I drank a lot of my meals. While liquid lunches and dinners were aplenty, I did restrain from drinking at breakfast. I’m a strong woman, I know.

With a plethora of pilsners, lagers, hefeweizens and beers as my meal accompaniments, I indulged in lots of German specialties. And in case you were unaware, the land of my grandparents’ birth is well-known for heavy, thick and meaty dishes. In fact, I blame Germany for my five pound weight gain that August. There were plates of schnitzel + lentils in gravy (top left). There were daily desserts of the most flaky, buttery apple strudel with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (top right). There was my favorite German discovery, known as the schneebollen, which is essentially a big ball of fried dough dipped in chocolate (bottom left). And there was my favorite dish, the German version of macaroni & cheese known as cheese spaetzle, complete with crunchy onion rings on top (bottom right).

Germany

In other words, go to Germany.

I swear, those were the best five pounds I’ve ever gained in my life.

China 2


Can you tell what (or, ahem, who) doesn’t belong in this picture? I’ll give you a hint – she’s a curly-haired white girl in a bright purple top perusing a teeny tiny city market in the Yunnan province in southern China and attempting to "Ni hao!" everyone she meets.

China is by far one of the most interesting places I’ve ever traveled to. You never really realize just how big that country is until you are there, and the next province is a monstrous 48-hour overnight train ride away. It’s expansive. It’s historical. It’s fascinating. And it has some seriously amazing food. When I first arrived in China, I had no money to my name (my ATM card was not accepted at the local bank), and the nicest Chinese man bought my friend Lauren & I lunch at a roadside cafe. Nobody spoke English. Everybody stared at us. And I was so hungry, I probably would have eaten a horse. Luckily, the man did not order horse from the menu but instead the most deliciously spiced stir fry over rice I’ve ever tasted (top right).

China

The culinary deliciousness only continued from there.

I happily devoured the fluffy, stuffed balls of white dough conveniently located on every street corner (top left). Half the time, I had no idea exactly what was inside them (pork, soybean, savory, sweet?) but ate them with wild foodie abandon anyhow (bottom right). While almost every traditional dish in Asia is served with rice, it’s hard to get sick of this {gluten-free} grain when its black fried rice served in half a pineapple and served with freshly brewed green tea (bottom left).

I want to go back to China, if only for another fluffy white dough ball.

Canada 2


Last summer, I had the most amazing time hiking the Canadian Alps with Susan, whom you may know as the wonderfully talented trainer + author of The Great Balancing Act. Not only did we conquer some seriously impressive mountains, but we also conquered some seriously epic food. I believe I even impressed Susan with my man-like eating abilities. It’s not easy to do with people who love food as much as you do.

From bison burgers to ice cream to local brews to maple fudge (top left), we ate everything Canada had to offer. Let’s just say it was a good thing we were hiking + walking our butts off all day, and leave it at that.

Canada


Some of my favorite meals included the Alberta cheesesteak sandwich with garlic-encrusted fries in Calgary (top right), the Manitoba bison burger with sweet potato fries I dominated the day after a major hiking excursion (bottom left) and the refreshingly crisp Rickard’s white ale (bottom right). Oh you Rickard’s white ale! To this day, you are still one of the my top three favorite beers I’ve enjoyed rotting my liver for.

I could really use one right now, in fact.

Austin 2


Just last month, I met two of my very best friends in Austin, Texas for a girl’s weekend.

I pick my best friends carefully, you see. They must meet several requirements, the most important being (a) they must have healthy appetites (girls should never be ashamed of packing food down), and (b) willing to try new things. My best friends {obvs} go above and beyond meeting this basic criteria, but these two things are especially essential when traveling new places.

We would have never consumed the amazing basket of truffled waffle fries we downed in six minutes from an Austin food cart (top left).

Or, enjoyed South Congress Cafe and their amazing mango ginger mimosas and migas (top right).

Or, forced down some locally-made Amy’s ice cream (bottom left).

Or, most importantly, tried Freebird’s, a pimped out, much better version of Chipotle (bottom right).

Austin


And let’s be real, these are the important things in the life, no?

So, there you have it.

Four countries.

Four completely different types of cuisines.

Four amazing places to travel.

I’d really like to stay and chat some more, but I’m getting majorly hungry and want to know if Freebird’s will deliver to Wisconsin. I’m thinking a trans-state order will still be cheaper than a flight to Austin. I’ll let you know if that’s true.

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to AND the best thing you ate there? As I like to say, sharing is caring!

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katshealthcorner March 20, 2011 at 3:58 pm

I absolutely LOVE THIS!!! Especially the Texas one! :D

Also, thanks for doing Germany! It brings back so many memories from my childhood. :)

xoxo
Kathleen

Kelly March 20, 2011 at 4:00 pm

I live in Austin and I actually went to Texas A&M University in College Station where Freebrids was created by two aggie grads! WHOOP! And yes it is 10 bazillion times better than Chipotle!!

Cindy March 20, 2011 at 4:04 pm

I love reading about food in different countries! I just got back from Hong Kong and did a big huge food post on my blog…I re-read it every so often to re-live the deliciousness of the food there…crazy good! my favourite was the roast goose…yum!!!!!

Holly March 20, 2011 at 4:25 pm

janetha bean – praying & thinking about you + the family! i am so honored to guest post on your blog again. you truly are one of the best. love youuuuuuuu!

coffeeandthepaper March 20, 2011 at 4:32 pm

Holly, thanks for a fabu guest post. I am envious of your travel adventures but you inspire me that you CAN have these adventures!

I hope everything is okay lovely Miss Janetha. Thinking about you girl and sending you my love!

emily (a nutritionist eats) March 20, 2011 at 4:39 pm

Great post Holly. :)
Thinking about you Janetha – xoxo

Sana March 20, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Awesome guest post! I did not eat anything in Germany either…. too many carbsss!

Holly at Greek Yogurt and Apple Slices March 20, 2011 at 4:43 pm

I saw Holly W. & was like say whhhaaaa?! I didn’t do a guest post- lol! But,then I realized it was the other Holly W. :) too funny!
Loved the post & love all of the food!

lindsay March 20, 2011 at 4:43 pm

oh I’m in austin! Is that Joe’s? Love all the traveling!

Christin@purplebirdblog March 20, 2011 at 4:52 pm

I’m in Austin, but I much prefer Chipotle to Freebird’s. I like Freebird’s, but the crack rice at Chipotle keeps me coming back. ;)

Marci March 20, 2011 at 5:00 pm

Fun post to blend travel and different kinds of food. Still love your Austin pictures!

Katie March 20, 2011 at 5:11 pm

I love that pic of you In Austin on the bench, its a great pic and you just look so cute and happy as can be!

I loved having amazing sushi in costa rica , yummy food in the bahamas, Sandiego had the best sushi ever, and I also love Las Vegas and their amazing buffets!!!!!!!!

Great post holly!! love you!!!!

Andrea@WellnessNotes March 20, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Loved this post!!! You NEED your own travel show!!!

cleaneatingchelsey March 20, 2011 at 5:32 pm

I totally remember when you went on that trip to Canada last year! I loved reading about it.

Deb (SmoothieGirlEatsToo) March 20, 2011 at 5:39 pm

Ohhh, never been anywhere in China except Shanghai= need to change that, STAT! thanks for the trip around the world and for helping our girl in her time of need.

Hugs to JB and familia extraordinaire.

Pure2raw twins March 20, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Great post Holly!! I want to go with you on your next traveling adventure. I used to love try new things, but now I have to be careful due to my food allergies :( but I am still open-minded to new ingredients!

cbrady3 March 20, 2011 at 6:11 pm

Ireland. An Irish Coffee made strong by my Godfather served with homemade ice cream made by my Godmother. Take me thereee!

Margaret March 20, 2011 at 6:34 pm

Where in China were you? That picture looks straight out of Dali in Yunnan! I had some absolutely AMAZING meals down there!

For me, it’s all about Paris (though Dali is a close second…followed by Thailand). I love pain au chocolat, fresh baguettes, duck confit, soupe a l’oignon…I could go on!

Paige is Running Around Normal March 20, 2011 at 8:09 pm

I love your attitude, Holly :) Great stories!!

Janetha love – you are in my prayers – praying positivity reaches you and your situation stat!! xoxo

Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) March 20, 2011 at 9:00 pm

I love our house in Aruba. It’s my go to place, my place I go to to escape the world here and the pressures of life here. It’s my hideaway. Anytime Janetha or Holly want to come with me to my hideaway for a girls week/weekend, holla! I’ve got 3 bedrooms down there and a pullout couch.

Janetha…hope all is well.

Holly…loved the post.

Great tag team!!
:)

Kristen - Anywhere There's An Airport March 21, 2011 at 12:40 am

Great post Holly! The best place = Rome. Rome = the best pizza! I’m planning on beating Rome with Paris this weekend! :)

1970kikiproject March 21, 2011 at 3:09 am

wow, holly! you have travelled extensively ~ that is just wonderful. travelling when young is the way to ‘get educated’ about the world.
proud canadian here, so i am super excited that you included canada in your report! you tasted the best of the west, for sure. i recommend quebec city for a future trip: crepes, frog legs, poutine…quebec city is like a fine european city.
thanks for sharing!

J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) March 21, 2011 at 4:40 am

Awesome travel pics + eats! I love those huge German mugs. My dad used to have several of them. Brings back memories. :)

I haven’t done too much traveling *sob* but I still long to revisit Disney World again, LOL.

Salah March 21, 2011 at 6:47 am

Well, I* haven’t really traveled outside the US but my favorite place for food I’d have to say is here in Austin. I just moved here and no matter where you go the food is great

Mary March 21, 2011 at 7:53 am

I love that you counted Texas as another country (at least that’s how I read it…) and that you acknowledged that Freebirds is waaay better than Chipotle. I hope you tried some Shiner and Blue Bell when you were in Austin too. If not, you should consider coming back before it gets too hot.

Nicole C March 21, 2011 at 8:25 am

Travel holds my heart so this is exciting to read. I don’t get to travel as often as I’d like nor do I have the people to do it with so this let’s me live vicariously.

I’d have to say Ireland was my favorite place but I only remember once thing I ate there and it was divine. I should probably go back!

Little Bookworm March 21, 2011 at 8:27 am

Amazing post Holly! Hope everything is ok Janetha!

Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table March 21, 2011 at 10:27 am

My fav so far has been Italy. My favorite meal there was everything.

I LOVE the way you write. The end.

Freckled Foodie March 21, 2011 at 10:36 am

i’ve missed your posts lately, holly <3 :)

and i'm super jealous of your round the world adventures in food. my guy is in germany right now so i can totally picture him drinking his meals. he is a beer fanatic <3

xo.

sofia March 21, 2011 at 12:32 pm

what a fun wrap up! if only i were as bold as you in my travels, miss holly. one day…

Healthy Coconut March 21, 2011 at 1:54 pm

I really like this post. I love traveling too and as I wrote on my about me page, traveling feeds my soul.

I would say that I have a lot of favorite places, but the most interesting trip was a trip to Hong Kong a few years ago. We had the best food during that trip, eating by the road (literally, that’s where they set up tables for customers to eat) in the shopping district. The Chinese food was so tasty and it was also spicy and addicting.

Another one is a trip to Philippines, where I at Durian (the stinkiest food in the whole world). Even Andrew Zimmerman had to say no to this fruit.

LG March 21, 2011 at 2:42 pm

Ha ha ha – “Canadian Alps”!!! That’s hilarious! Here in Canada it’s the Canadian Rockies. :0) But thanks for the foodie shout out!!! We sure love us some beef! Especially in small-town Alberta, vegetarians are looked down upon. It’s like snubbing the food AND your neighbors’ livelihood. Us Calgarians welcome you back anytime…

ally March 24, 2011 at 5:50 am

Ah! Love this! Move over Samantha Brown….Holly is the ish! :0)

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