I had heard Mary Murphy reference the Hot Tamale Train several times on SYTYCD (I am not proud, but I sometimes watch it…), but must admit that I didn’t know what a Tamale actually was until I visited Solly’s Hot Tamales in Vicksburg Mississippi.

Now I know that a Tamale is a traditional dish from Central America made out of a corn-based dough that can be filled with basically anything and then steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper (which you don’t eat). So now you know too!

Solly’s Hot Tamales come with a long history and the recipe dates back to 1939 when the Cuba native Henry Solly started his business from a pushcart. His tamales soon became very popular and he opened a storefront where he sold tamales until it was his time to leave this earth. Before he passed he offered his business to his friend May Belle whose family still runs the business and serves Tamales according to Solly’s old recepie.

Walking into the store you can feel that it is somewhat of an institution and it is nice to see that so much of the tradition and Solly’s heritage have been kept alive. Stop by if you are in Vicksburg!

1921 S Washington St.
Vicksburg, Mississippi

At the Barn they are passionate about coffee and their mission is to serve the best coffee beans that they can possibly find. You can read more about their coffee guidelines on their website and if you are in Berlin you should definitely stop by and try a cup.

www.thebarn.de

Auguststrasse 58, Berlin

Lovely little garden café and bed & breakfast in the little village of Åsa on the west coast of Sweden.

Frea Gård, Näsbergsvägen 22, Åsa

www.freadal.se

A postcard from Marina del Cantone… After spending a couple of days in Sorrento and visiting Capri we wanted to see more of what the Amalfi coast had to offer, so we rented a car and followed the beautiful coastline towards Positano. Around lunch time we took a little detour from the main road and ended up in Marina del Cantone, which is basically a tiny pebble beach and a couple of restaurants. Beautiful, timeless and genuine!

Varberg is a sleepy little summer town along the southern part of the Swedish West Coast. It’s known for being a health resort, a hot spot for Swedish surfers and an inspirational historic site with a fortress that was used to defend Sweden against the Danes (nowadays it’s open to everyone that wants to have a look and also used as a concert arena).

My recommendation would be to visit Varberg on a market day in summer time and have look at what the local farmers have to offer at the town square, check out a few of the antique stores and then head down towards the sea and catch a glimpse of the beautiful Moorish style cold bath house (in the pic above) before taking a stroll around the fortress feeling the the history in every stone and admiring the view. Right about now you will probably be feeling hungry and then I would recommend a stop at Hus 13 located by the fortress entrance coming from the bath house side. Vin & Skafferi Hus13 serves lovely dishes based on local ingredients paired with wines from an excellent wine list.

www.hus13.se

C/O Berlin is a cultural institution dedicated to presenting the medium of photography located in a beautiful old building on the corner of Tucholskystrasse and Oranienburger Strasse. C/O Berlin is open daily from 11 AM to 8 PM so go in and have a look if you are in the area.

www.co-berlin.info

Beale st in Memphis is not really a recommendation. It’s a circus, and why wouldn’t you want to see the circus if it’s in town.

Creative cooking served in a stylish living room setting in the heart of Stockholm. Loved the cabbage covered fish with grated egg yolk. Try it!

Kommendörsgatan 16, Stockholm, Sweden

www.restaurangvolt.se

For me traveling is very much about food and flavours and I really want to taste every place that I visit. Cape Cod, Massachusetts was no different and a few of the must haves were the Lobster with melted butter and mash, the Seafood Chowder and anything with Cranberries (in this case a wonderful vinaigrette).

The Oslo opera house is a stunning glass and concrete building and if you are interested in architecture (or opera) it is definitely worth a visit.

www.operaen.no

Sometimes you don’t have to go far or do something extravagant; you just have to do something different and break the pattern…

Oliv is one of my favorite cafés in Berlin and it’s conveniently located on the corner of Münzstrasse and Almstadtstrasse in close proximity to the good shopping in the area. The atmosphere is relaxed and it’s the kind of place where you can take your time and just watch the day pass by. The interior as well as the food is simple yet qualitative. The space is minimalistic with details of concrete and raw wood, but the ambiance is still warm and has a natural vibe that goes well with the eco-focus on the menu.

Olive is open from 8:30 (9:30/10:00 during the weekend) until 19:00 (18:00 Sundays) so you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. Check it out!

www.oliv-cafe.de

Münzstrasse 8, 10178 Berlin