I love tea, but I’m usually not a fan of drinking cold or ice tea. However, a few years ago I stumbled upon Oishi Green Tea in Laos. One sip from the ice cold bottle, and I was hooked. It was the perfect thirst quencher for a sweltering hot day in the tropics. Ever since I’ve been guzzling down gallons of the Honey Lemon flavor (my favorite!) whenever I’m in South East Asia. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at finding it in the US or Europe…until last week. I went to an Asian grocery store in Vienna, and lo and behold – they had an entire shelf stocked full of Oishi Green Tea, including my beloved Honey Lemon flavor. Woohoo!! Oh, and if you think drinking tea is only for old ladies, check out the countless health benefits of tea.

Kore wa oishi des!

In 1898, Viennese Josef Manner I invented the Manner Original Neapolitaner Schnitte, or Manner Schnitte as it is known in Austria and well beyond. Five layers of thin, crisp wafers are filled with four layers of delicious hazelnut cream. Today, Manner Schnitten are also offered in other flavors, such as vanilla, lemon, or raspberry, but nothing comes close to the original hazelnut flavor.

Manner Schnitten are an Austrian icon, and many Austrians stuff their suit cases with packs of Manner Schnitten when traveling abroad, because one never knows… They do indeed come in handy when nothing edible can be found in far flung places. Plus, the little image of the Stephansdom (Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral) fondly reminds them of home. In other countries, babies are breast fed, in Austria they are raised on a diet of wafers and hazelnuts. Maybe that’s why they always end up beating the rest of the world in skiing competitions when they grow up… Who knows?

One thing’s for sure. They are the damn best hazelnut wafers in the world. And if you happen to be in Vienna or Munich, go check out the Manner Shops where you can not only fill up on all things sweet, but purchase cool Manner shirts, toy trucks, and the like. Manner mag man eben!

Recipe from an old issue of Living. Zucchini, chickpeas and soybeans get the royal treatment with a lemony dressing, fresh basil, and little bits of parmesan cheese. Delicious!

McDonald's official picture of Filet-o-Fish

Next time you feel the urge to stuff yourself with a breaded piece of particle board composite “fish” that’s dressed with tartar sauce and a slice of “real cheese”, and all squeezed in between two sheets of fluffy PVC, think again. Cause you’re about to commit a culinary crime equivalent to murder in the first degree.

The real Filet-o-Fish. Photo by Ryan/grubgrade

If the Filet-o-Fish’s actual appearance doesn’t offend you enough to run for the hills, then maybe this will.

Photo by Ryan/grubgrade

Still not turned off? Well, then…

Photo by Ryan/grubgrade

Bon appetit!