OCTOBERFEST IN MUNICH

PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL FIGUEROA

TRADITIONAL DANCE OF SPAIN

PUBLISHED BY JOSEFINA PÉREZ

INDIA

• TRADITIONAL COSTUME

A saree or sari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent. A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length, that is draped over the body in various styles. These include: Sambalpuri Saree from East, Mysore silk and Ilkal of Karnataka and, Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu from South, Paithani from West and Banarasi from North among others. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff.

An Achkan or a Sherwani is a long coat / jacket that usually sports exposed buttons through the length of the jacket. The length is usually just below the knees and the jacket ends just below the knee. The jacket has a Nehru collar, which is a collar that stands up. The Achkan is worn with tight fitting pants or trousers called churidars.

• TRADITIONAL FOOD

Biryani

An aromatic rice dish cooked with several spices, notably saffron, and a protein (typically chicken or mutton) that’s been marinated.

Momos

A variation on the traditional dimsum, native to the North Eastern states that border Nepal (where the dish originated), eaten with a fiery red chutney.

• Tourist Place

Lake Palace

The Lake Palace in Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur was built as a royal summer palace in the 18th century. Today it is a luxury 5 Star hotel, operating under the “Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces”. The Lake Palace hotel operates a boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace on the east bank of Lake Pichola.

Harmandir Sahib

The Harmandir Sahib, better known as the Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Amritsar, and the most important religious place to the Sikhs. Construction of the temple was begun by Guru Ramdas ji. in the 16th century. In the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh the upper floors of the temple were covered with gold. 

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal in Agra is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1632 and 1653 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife. Called “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity” it is one of the masterpieces of Mughal architecture, and one of the great tourist attractions in India. 

Written by Samuel Figueroa.

SPAIN

• Traditional Costume

The national costume of Spain is generally considered the Andalusian-style dress, which is referred to as the flamenco. Traditional Spanish fashion during the 16th century combined heavy fabrics with decorative styles influenced by the Moorish occupation of the peninsula.

The traditional outfit for women included rigid hoop skirts called Farthingales and clothing decorated with gold and silver thread to contrast the sober design. For men, clothing included an inverted-bell-shaped hat as well as loose breeches known as Venetians.

• Traditional Food

Tortilla Espaniola:

A great starter or meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, no doubt you'll come across a Spanish potato omelette during your time in Spain. Like croquetas, you can find them in almost any barand to varying degrees of quality and flavour. The best ones are from slow-cooked potato in olive oil, which make a soft centre once egg is added to create an omelette cake; even tastier when onions are added to the slow-frying process for a sweet underlying flavour.

Paella:

This rice-based Valencian dish is well known internationally, and comes in many variations that equally vie for attention. The traditional version is a mixture of chicken or rabbit (or both), white and green beans and other vegetables, but mixed seafood is also common, where you will find an array of seafood suprises among the flavoursome rice – calamari, mussels, clams, prawns, scampi or fish, for example.

• Tourist Place:

Palacio Real

The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain although it is only used for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace was built between 1738 to 1755 and King Carlos III took up residence in the palace in 1764.

Ibiza

Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain. The island is one of the most popular party destinations in all of Europe. During summer, the island’s population doubles as tourists flock to Ibiza to enjoy the night clubs, beach bars and restaurants.

Alhambra

Part fortress, part palace and part garden the Alhambra is situated on a plateau overlooking the city of Granada in southern Spain. The palace was constructed in the 14th century by the Nasrid sultans. The Alhambra is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and many visitors come to Granada just to see the Alhambra.

Written by Josefina Pérez

CHILE

• TRADITIONAL COSTUME 

The traditional dress of the Chilean women is normally the pollera skirt which is usually made with long colorful fabric gathered at the waist along with numerous underskirt garments. They also wear blouse with ruffles and big jewelry on their chests.

The traditional outfits of the Chileans living in the southern territories are similar to gauchos of Argentina. These dresses are normally worn by huasos andhuasas. The accessories of the outfit might include knee-high leather boots embellished with silver spurs, riding trousers, a tailored shirt tied with the waist, hanging sash, colorful poncho along with big flat-topped hat.

• TRADITIONAL FOOD

Curanto: The preparation of the Curanto is very special because they require at least 4 people, there is to dig a hole in the ground, select the seafood, Chapalele, potatoes, vegetables, meat, fish, pork sausage, etc. and bury the preparation sealed in sheets of pangue or nalca for several hours.

Paila marina: It is prepared with clams, choritos, machas, picorocos, piures, etc. white wine, spices and fish broth.

Empanada de pino: A patty is a thin crust of bread, dough gulch or puff pastry filled with a salt Preparation or sweet and cooked in the oven or fried.

• Tourist Place:

Cerro San Cristobal:

Cerro San Cristóbal is a hill in northern Santiago with a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. At the peak, there is a church and a 22 meter (72 feet) statue of the Virgin Mary. The summit can be reached by cable car or a long hike. Cerro San Cristóbal houses the Parque Metropolitano, Santiago’s largest public park. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools.

Chiloe Churches

The Chiloe archipelago is an isolated group of islands, best known for a number of unique churches that boast a particular architectural style called Chilota. This style is a very unique combination of aboriginal and European Jesuit influence, and was reflected in more than a hundred wooden churches in these islands that were created in the seventeenth century.

Easter Island

One of the most isolated islands on Earth, Easter Island is located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Officially a territory of Chile, it lies thousands of miles off the coast roughly halfway to Tahiti. The island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people centuries ago. 

Written by Josefina Pérez

GERMANY

• TRADITIONAL CLOTHES:

German traditional clothing is one of the well-known dressing styles around the world. German traditional clothing styles differ on the basis of geographic area. In Bavaria, lederhosen and dirndl, but in the Black Forest there´s also kind of "Tracht" considered as German cloths. But the most popular is dirndls and dirndl-style dresses.

Altdeutsche Tracht - Altdeutsche Tracht, is considered as the national dress of Germany. Tracht was announced by the peasants, farmers and the mountainous people of .It is a puffed and reduced sleeve, wide open collars, fitted long cut skirts.

Tracht

• FOOD:

Apfelstrudel

Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) is a delicious pastry filled with apples flavoured with sugar, cinnamon, raisins and breadcrumbs – and has been popular since the 18th century. The pastry is wrapped round and round the filling building up many layers, and then baked. It’s served warm in slices sprinkled with powdered or icing sugar.

Kartoffelpuffer

These are shallow pan-fried pancakes made from grated or ground potatoes mixed with flour, egg, onion and seasoning. You can enjoy them either salty as a side dish to a main course of meat or fish, or sweet with apple sauce, blueberries, sugar and cinnamon. Look out for them in outdoor markets in the winter.

Brezel

Brezel are soft, white pretzels, made from flour water and yeast and sprinkled with salt (and sometimes different seeds), and great to eat as a side dish or snack – or with a beer. They’re in every bakery and on street stands, sold plain, sliced and buttered (butterbrezel) or with slices of cold meats or cheese.

• Tourist Place:

Frauenkirche

Located in Dresden, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church that was completely destroyed during WWII. The church reconstructed using original plans from the 1720s and reopened in 2005. Since its reopening, the Frauenkirche has been a hugely popular tourist attraction in Dresden. In 2009 the church was visited by President Barack Obama.

Octoberfest:

The Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest Volksfest in the world with over 6 million visitors annually. Despite the name, the Oktoberfest starts at the end of September until the first weekend in October. An important part of Bavarian culture, the festival has been held since 1810.

Written by Samuel Figueroa.

Mexican Food

Mexican Food
When we speak of tacos, lovers of the kitchen we believe in that wonderful country called Mexico.

With a cuisine that will delight the palates of the entire world, Mexican food has managed to earn a place within the world cuisine.
That is why I invite you to dare to know the various dishes that the Aztec country offers us.

Chilaquiles

• This popular traditional breakfast dish features lightly fried corn tortillas cut into quarters and topped with green or red salsa (the red is slightly spicier). Scrambled or fried eggs and pulled chicken are usually added on top, as well as cheese and cream. Chilaquiles are often served with a healthy dose of frijoles (refried beans).

Elote

• You’ll find someone selling elote, the Mexican name for corn on the cob, on nearly every city street corner in Mexico. The corn is traditionally boiled and served either on a stick (to be eaten like an ice-cream) or in cups, the kernels having been cut off the cob. Salt, chilli powder, lime, butter, cheese mayonnaise and sour cream are then added in abundance.

Tamales

• Tamales were first developed for the Aztec, Mayan and Inca tribes who needed nourishing food on the go to take into battle. Pockets of corn dough are stuffed with either a sweet or savoury filling, wrapped in banana leaves or cornhusks and steamed. Fillings vary from meats and cheeses to fruits, vegetables, chillies and mole.

Tacos al pastor

• This historic dish is one of the most popular varieties of tacos, with origins dating back to the 1920s and 30s and the arrival of Lebanese and Syrian immigrants to Mexico. To create tacos al pastor (meaning ‘in the style of the shepherd’), thin strips of pork are sliced off a spit, placed on a corn tortilla and served with onions, coriander leaves and pineapple.

With these exquisite dishes I leave you invited to dare to prepare one of these fabulous dishes, I am sure you will not regret of cooking and try one of these delicacies.

Written by Marcela González

Italian Food

One of my favorite countries is Italy, my paternal grandparents are of that beautiful country, I have always felt a strong connection with the Italian culture, since small always my grandfather told me beautiful stories about his childhood in Italy. 

However, there is something that everyone recognizes and is his extraordinary gastronomy, I have the luck that from small my abuelita I always cook some of the typical Italian dishes. 

I invite you to marvel at the Italian gastronomy.  

Bruschetta

Country bread sliced and topped with different toppings - the evergreen tomato-basil and an inventive mushroom-garlic. The classic Italian starter!

                                             

Pasta Carbonara

This simple Roman pasta dish derives its name from 'carbone' meaning coal. It was a pasta popular with the coal miners. The original recipe calls for guanciale, which is pig's cheek, but since its not easily available, the chef has used bacon instead.

                                          

                                         

 Margherita Pizza

Fancy a pipping hot pizza, fresh out of the oven. One of the most loved Italian dishes, here's the recipe of 'Pizza Margherita.'

You have to try some of these exquisite dishes, Italian gastronomy waiting for you.

Written by Victoria Figueroa