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Articles by Tariq Nasir
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by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor | Apr 28, 2024 | Florida, Real Travel, United States There are many destinations that say they have the best beaches. But only some can say it’s official. St. George island, off the gulf coast of Florida, has been enjoying that designation of “Best Beach in the U.S.” since the venerable Dr. Beach declared it... by Chef Tariq Nasir | Oct 21, 2019 | Africa/Middle East, International, Real Travel Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Luggage for Women Designed by Women
As the world’s only luggage firm started by women, Ebby Rane has tailored its line for the way women travel. That starts with the ethos “travel simply”––the firm only features carry-on bags, either valises or hard cases with rollers. “Our longer-term plans include an expansion of our line,” said Ebby Rane President Aynsley Wintrip Harris, adding that a few new items will be added this fall––light blue and black versions of its Valise line.
Eco-Friendly Coffee Summer Travel Gift
Chances are you have someone in your life who’s a serious coffee drinker. Wouldn’t it be nice to make them happy by introducing them to the newest trend in specialty coffee? For thoughtful gift ideas that check all the boxes, look no further than Steeped Coffee. The innovative startup is committed to premium coffee, convenience, and environmental stewardship in equal measure. So, when you introduce the coffee lovers in your life to Steeped, it’s a win-win for them and the planet.
I Tried Every Jar of Tahini I Could Find — These Are the 3 I’ll Buy Again
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Tahini is an ancient food that goes back at least as far as 3500 BC. Coming from areas of the world with ancient civilizations, tahini was mainly used as a source of oil. And most likely that oil was used to not only cook, but also to burn as a source of energy.
2022 Waves of Cultural Glamour by Top Middle Eastern Designers
After the many trials and tribulations, we’ve been facing since the pandemic, fashion continues to prove itself as a breath of fresh air within the scene. Middle Eastern culture has always been a source of inspiration in the global industry of fashion, and this year is no exception. From intricate runway looks and designs to more relaxed Instagram OOTDs, the fashion diaspora of 2022 is filled with bold colors, unique patterns, funky textures, and creative statement pieces.
The Ultimate Luxury Moussaka Recipe
Food is a language which is universally recognized. It doesn’t matter where in the world you’re from, your age, gender, creed, color, shape, or size, you’ll find that food is something you will all relate to in some form or another. One of the best things about food is the fact that as different cultures have different cuisines, you can find delicious dishes from all over the globe. You can’t, therefore, talk about delicious cuisine and not mention the Mediterranean.
4 Reasons to Visit Dubai in the New Year
Expo 2020 The Expo, sometimes referred to as the World’s Fair in the United States, is a global gathering of nations displaying their history, culture, innovation and future-looking plans to the rest of the world. It’s part science fair, part international festival, part United Nations and part Epcot Center. In short, it is fun for all ages, and it is one of the most educational experiences available in travel right now.
Earn Bonus Miles, Points and Perks for Fall and Winter Travel
2x or 3x points at IHG hotels If you want to see those points really multiply, consider registering for this bonus point offer before the end of the year. Starting with your second stay at an IHG property, you will earn double points and triple points on any subsequent stay of at least three nights going forward during the promotion period. This includes well-known hotels like the InterContinental Bahrain or the Nile River-facing InterContinental Cairo Semiramis.
Where to Find Pork-free Hotels Around the World
Whether it’s a personal choice or a religious preference, travelers are always looking to stay with a hotel that meets their own beliefs and way of life. For those that prefer not to eat pork or even dine in restaurants that serve it, there are many hotels that cater to their needs. While there are many hotels that offer pork-free or Halal items on the menu, these are just a handful of hotels around the world.
34 Exciting New Middle East Hotel Openings for 2020-2021
Around the Middle East, an exciting assortment of new hotels and resorts has recently opened, or will open, this year. That’s great news for travelers looking to plan their next adventure whenever they are ready to get back out there. While restrictions continue to slow the majority of long-haul travel around the globe, many travelers are setting their sights on the day when they can put their passport back to good use. Whenever that is for you, Middle Eastern hospitality is ready and waiting.
The Heart of an Arab Home is Its Kitchen
We don’t only love eating the food, but we also love being close to the preparation of what provides us with sustenance. In my household, I know that my kitchen is so much more than just the room that produces the food. It is, in fact, the place that acts as the gathering spot. The engine room for the entire house. It shows how much humans naturally gravitate towards being around food. Throughout time. kitchens were not always been used this way.
The Ancient and Enchanting World of Al-'Ula in Saudi Arabia
Considered an al fresco library for its 500 inscriptions, Jabal Ikmah fascinates with its preserved historical markings. Scripts from various cultures including Aramaic, Greek and Latin are visible showing just how important Al-‘Ula was as a crossroads for travel especially in the incense trade. This is all in addition to the stunning rock formations that make up the desert landscape, slightly reminiscent of Wadi Rum in Jordan.
Airlines and Hotels Launch Spring and Summer Travel Deals
This summer, many travelers are looking to get back out there safely following the availability of vaccines available to so many Americans for those that want one. Freedom for summer travel is not something we have felt in nearly two years. While not everyone is taking to the skies just yet, airlines are working hard to lure travelers back aboard with some exciting deals and amenities. Hotel companies are doing the same with engaging promotions to encourage travel.
3 Virtual Wellness Retreats You Can Do from the Comfort of Your Own Home
With many Americans prioritizing health and wellness due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for immunity-boosting therapies, online fitness workouts, mental wellbeing options, and connection is on the rise. Thanks to various mask mandates and the vaccination rollout, it looks like we may all be able to emerge from our socially distanced cocoons before long. In the meantime, spas and wellness practitioners are bringing the programming to you in the form of virtual retreats that you can do from home.
Six Bubble Hotels for Middle East Stargazing
Tired of traditional hotel rooms or having to pay extra for a room with a view? The growing trend of bubble hotels where guests sleep in circular tents that provide unimpeded views of the sky and surrounding area has made it to the Middle East. The concept is enjoying great success especially in places where surrounding nature is the main attraction.
3 Virtual Wellness Retreats You Can Do from the Comfort of Your Own Home
With many Americans prioritizing health and wellness due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for immunity-boosting therapies, online fitness workouts, mental wellbeing options, and connection is on the rise. Thanks to various mask mandates and the vaccination rollout, it looks like we may all be able to emerge from our socially distanced cocoons before long. In the meantime, spas and wellness practitioners are bringing the programming to you in the form of virtual retreats that you can do from home.
Will You be My Valentine, in Arabic?
As tradition calls for in the Arab world, the main course most often includes meat of some kind. I recommend you go for kafta. This ground, seasoned meat cooked on a skewer with grilled vegetables on the side is to die for. Rice or homemade pita bread will finish this dish off nicely. Finally, finish the evening with a rich, and moist flourless chocolate cake, accompanied by a scoop of your favorite ice cream. This dessert will convey good feelings onto anyone who is a chocolate fan.
Resorts and Spas Introduce New Resiliency Programming to Overcome A Year Plagued with Uncertainty.
Helping guests to weather the storms brought on by the social, health, economic, and political changes many are experiencing, Canyon Ranch Woodside (CA) is holding a retreat on April 8 – 12, 2021, called Resilience: From Stress & Anxiety to Strength & Renewal. Mindful wellness and personal growth expert Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D., will be on hand to explore the impacts of uncertainty while also showing you how to reclaim your sense of self and find meaning.
Five Steps for 2021 Travel Planning
The new year is often a time to begin summer travel plans, and for the most organized of us all, even holiday family plans. Like 2020, travel during 2021 will be extremely different than what we are used to, but with vaccinations for the Covid-19 pandemic underway around the world and easier access to pre- and post-travel testing, there is light appearing at the end of the (potentially long) tunnel. This means it’s time to start thinking of your next trip and when that might be.
Covid Tests are the Newest Amenity at Tropical Resorts
Meliá Hotels International Ten Meliá Hotels International properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic are now offering free COVID-19 antigen tests to guests staying at least three nights at their tropical resorts. This is expected to trigger increased demand for the Spanish brand’s properties since guests won’t have to venture far to be tested before their return flight.
Up Close with COVID-19 Hotel Protocols
Meliá Hotels International Ten Meliá Hotels International properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic are now offering free COVID-19 antigen tests to guests staying at least three nights at their tropical resorts. This is expected to trigger increased demand for the Spanish brand’s properties since guests won’t have to venture far to be tested before their return flight.
5 Middle Eastern Beauty and Fashion Influencers to Follow on Instagram
Although most beauty enthusiasts are familiar with French and K-beauty trends, many are now looking to the Middle East for inspiration, thanks to a host of popular and engaging influencers who are sharing their love of beauty, fashion, and makeup. Making a name for themselves with followers in the thousands and millions, these noteworthy women are collaborating with beauty and fashion brands as well as creating their own.
Working Remotely From Hotel
Marriott Day Pass, Stay Pass, and Play pass are Marriott’s answer to staying productive and relaxed during this strange time with its Work Anywhere offerings. Whether you are looking to get away and tackle an important work project that requires total concentration or de-stress from the pressures of a daunting news cycle, its participating hotels offer plenty of options.
11 New Skills You Can Learn with a Single Hotel Stay
Hotels are working hard to deliver an exclusive experience that sets it apart from the competition. What better way to do that than to offer the opportunity to learn a new skill while you’re there? Travel is about exploration and discovery, which is why adding to your roster of talents can make a trip feel so special. That sentiment is the same whether you choose to travel now or plan a future adventure.
How One Airline is Managing the Pandemic and Giving Back at the Same Time
The airline created limited edition amenity kits as well as an updated onboard and lounge menu. In business class, the collectible, Italian-designer Bric’s amenity kits featured pink-themed cases and amenities like socks and eye shades. Economy class passengers, too, received pink-themed amenity kits on ultra-long-haul flights during the month of October. Flights departing Doha featured menu items like pink guava and grape lemonade and various desserts showing the iconic breast cancer pink ribbon.
These Snazzy Airport Amenities Will Have You Dreaming of a Long Layover When You Return to Travel
Travel looks different these days, and until there is a vaccine to combat Covid-19, many people are staying home. But, that doesn’t slow wanderlust or interest in planning future travel and wondering what the experience will be like. Pre-pandemic, several airports around the world had transformed their facilities into more than a place to catch a flight. Movie theaters, swimming pools, art galleries, and shopping malls turned airports into destinations of their own.
Cool Beans: Legumes Usher in Autumn
As we turn the page on September a feeling overtakes us. With what feels like little warning there is a difference in the light, and the temperature as the new season takes hold. I feel the cooler freshness of the air informing me of the arrival of Autumn. The arrival invokes the spirit of Oscar Wilde whom eloquently pointed “all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” The sudden change is a welcome relief after what seemed like a long hot end to summer.
Stay Makeup Stay
Transfer-Proof Makeup Trend Powder on your t-shirt. Lipstick on your coffee cup. If life were still that simple. Mandated masks and face coverings have upended many of our daily rituals, not the least of which is how we wear makeup. Braving the world makeup-free was a viable option for a quick minute, but life goes on and masks now are, like it or not, a wardrobe staple. And just like the season or change in weather, so must our beauty paradigm.
12 Hotels Around the World that Could Double as Art Galleries
Travel is rewarding and educational, and that can come from the experiences you have while on the road as well as from where you stay. Whether you are sleeping like royalty in a palace or a more traditional hotel, there are lots of options in the marketplace. Aficionados of art and design, especially, can always seem to find something eclectic or preferable to suit their personal tastes.
Itching to Travel? There’s 10 Countries That Still Want U.S. Travelers
What do Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Maldives, Mexico, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey all have in common? They are all welcoming U.S. travelers without a quarantine period. For those who have six months of pent up cabin fever, this should be music to their ears. Keep in mind that the health advisory issued by the US State Department on March 31 still stands.
Coffee 101, Straight From the (Middle Eastern) Source
If you are a member of Generation X or an older Millennial, you probably came of age with the notion of “coffee as lifestyle” long before major coffee chains proliferated across U.S. cities and the world. On a low-key day, there was nothing cooler than studying or socializing in a cozy and eclectically decorated spot. However, many of these independently owned hangouts tended to embrace European-inspired coffee drinks and culture.
Café Society: Essential Yet Upgraded Middle Eastern Coffee Serving Pieces
Isn’t it amazing how the right serving, and décor pieces can transport you to exciting new places…or bring everything you loved about home to your living room, kitchen or patio? Morning coffee for most born and raised in a Middle Eastern culture is an essential daily ritual, as well as a customary courtesy when entertaining friends and family at your home any time of day.
The Olive Tree is Surely the Richest Gift of Heaven
There are few things humankind benefits from today that go all the way back to the beginning of time. It turns out the olive tree is one of those things. Cultivated before the written word, these trees have provided sustenance to humans for millennia. These slow growing hardwoods originated in Asia Minor, spreading from Iran, Palestine and Syria to the neighboring regions of the Mediterranean where they have been grown for generations.
Real Recipes Archives | Real Food Traveler
Real Food Traveler articles about recipe dishes from dinners to desserts, drinks, & more! Bacon Jam Recipes for Vegetables Real Shopping, Real Recipes, Main Dishes, Sides, StartersBy Courtney Drake-McDonoughJanuary 22, 2020 They had me at “bacon” and then again at “jam.” When the folks at TBJ Gourmet’s Bacon Jam contacted me, offering to let me try their product and share some recipes using it, I was more than happy to try.
Jordanian Roast Leg of Lamb Recipe
Relatively simple to prepare, yet complex in flavor, roast leg of lamb makes any dinner special, any time of year. Real Food Traveler contributor, Chef Tariq Nasir, offered up one of his favorite Jordanian dishes, his Roast Leg of Lamb recipe and we were very happy to accept and share it. Here, he gives us step-by-step instructions so we can make it at home. Chef Tariq’s recipe for lamb roast dinner. Photo courtesy Chef Tariq.
A Beginner's Guide to Wine in Jordan
Wine and Jordan are perhaps something you wouldn’t naturally put together. When you think of the beautiful country of Jordan, you will think of incredible landmarks such as Petra, the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum. Wineries in Jordan However, Jordan has a small yet growing wine industry that is starting to show its strengths. Jesus may have drunk wine from Jordan at the Last Supper. It is said that the wine Jesus was served during the Last Supper came from what is northern Jordan today.
Where to Eat in Amman Jordan
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thank goodness for three opportunities to experience the authentic cuisine of Amman, Jordan. If you find yourself there, take the advice of Chef Tariq Nasir joins RealFoodTraveler.com to tell us where to eat. If you only had 24 hours to spend in any one location I can guarantee you won’t find a better destination then Amman, Jordan. The sights, sounds, cuisine and overall atmosphere are far from the usual places you might visit.
The Best Places to Stay in Amman, Jordan
Amman is a vibrant, amazing, and ancient city to visit with something for almost everyone. If you are a history buff you can marvel at architecture like the Umayyad Palace on Citadel Hill located directly in the center of the old downtown. And for those of you who are less concerned with old buildings and more interested in entertainment and nightlife, there are trendy hangouts all over the city for you to enjoy. And you’ll be able to find the perfect place to stay in Amman.
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