Articles Written By: JB & Renée Macatulad

This author has written 484 articles

UNITED KINGDOM: What is the True Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala? (Recipe)

Europe / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Aug 23, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Chicken tikka masala is a heavenly dish made with boneless chunks of roasted marinated chicken swimming in a delicious creamy curry. Though it's clearly an Indian-influenced dish, its exact origins are unknown.

Agra Day Tour: Visit the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri on a Private Tour from Delhi

The word "breathtaking" is often used to describe picturesque places and scenery, but rarely is it meant in a literal sense. At the Taj Mahal, I literally felt my breath leave my body when I walked through the south gate and laid eyes on this majestically beautiful building for the very first time.

HONG KONG: Dim Sum, Evolve or Die?

Asia / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Aug 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine. It can be found in different forms throughout the country, though it's most closely associated with Hong Kong and Guangdong Province – ie Cantonese cuisine.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Kolkata (Calcutta), India (2019)

INDIA / Kolkata / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 22, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Kolkata is a city of revolutionaries and intellectuals. It's regarded as the cultural capital of India, having spawned generations of artists, poets, writers, film producers, and Nobel Prize winners.

HONG KONG: The Best Char Siu in the Universe

Asia / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Aug 11, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Char siu refers to barbecued pork and is the most popular type of siu mei in Cantonese cuisine. The term char siu literally means "fork roasted" and refers to the traditional method of skewering seasoned boneless pork with long forks and cooking it over an open fire.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Hong Kong (2019)

HONG KONG / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Whether you're into shopping, food, fashion, or nightlife, I hope our Hong Kong travel guide can help you plan your trip. As you'll quickly learn when you step foot in this city, Hong Kong has it all.

Hong Kong Food Guide: 19 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Hong Kong

FOOD GUIDES / HONG KONG / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 19, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Hong Kong is a gastronomic city in every way, offering a range of experiences from fine dining to street food, a lot of it at a very high level.

Hong Kong Food Tour: Eat Your Way Through Kowloon with A Chef’s Tour

HONG KONG / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 18, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

This Hong Kong food tour takes you to key spots in Kowloon like Mongkok and Sham Shui Po to give you the most authentic examples of Cantonese cuisine. There are no touristy stops on this tour. Each place has a long history and many of them are known only to locals.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Phuket, Thailand (2019)

Phuket / THAILAND / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Aug 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Phuket refers to both the province and the island in southern Thailand. It's the country's second smallest province but it's biggest island, home to beautiful white sand beaches along its southern and western coast and a spattering of smaller islands just off the mainland.

Phuket Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Phuket, Thailand

FOOD GUIDES / Phuket / THAILAND / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Aug 4, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Phuket was once a port of call, routinely seeing traders from China, India, Malaysia, Persia, Arabia, Indonesia, and Portugal. Each of these traders brought with them spices, recipes, and cooking techniques that helped shape Phuket's cuisine.

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Athens, Greece (2019)

Athens / GREECE / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Jul 27, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Athens is the capital of Greece and its largest city. It's one of the world's oldest cities with a recorded history spanning over 3,400 years. Home to Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, it was a center for philosophy and the arts, and was a powerful city-state whose rise to prominence was tied to the development of the Port of Piraeus.

INDONESIA: Soto and National Identity. Don’t Call Me Sop!

Asia / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Last Updated: Aug 3, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Soto is a traditional Indonesian soup made with different types of meat and vegetables. It's consumed throughout Indonesia in many forms, its myriad variations named after the region where it's from or the primary ingredient used.

GREECE: Souvlaki vs. Gyros, so What’s the Difference?

Europe / NATIONAL DISH QUEST Last Updated: Aug 7, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

A souvlaki is a popular Greek food consisting of grilled pieces of meat served with vegetables, tzatziki, and pita. A gyros is a popular Greek food consisting of grilled pieces of meat served with vegetables, tzatziki, and pita. So what's the difference??

The First-Timer’s Travel Guide to Santorini, Greece (2019)

GREECE / Santorini / TRAVEL GUIDES / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jul 27, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

It's no secret. Santorini is stunning. It's considered by many to be one of (if not) the most beautiful islands in the world, which is why it receives an estimated two million visitors annually.

Santorini in Photos: 60 Pictures of the Most Beautiful Island in the World

GREECE / Santorini / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jul 22, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Is Santorini the most beautiful island in the world? Many people seem to think so. Famous for its cycladic houses and stunning caldera views, it has to be one of the most visually striking islands in the world.

Santorini Food Guide: 9 Must-Eat Restaurants in Santorini, Greece

FOOD GUIDES / GREECE / Santorini / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jul 23, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Tourism is the primary industry in Santorini. This picture-perfect island in the Aegean Sea receives an estimated two million visitors annually. With so many tourists enjoying its caldera views year after year, hundred of restaurants have sprung up across the island offering a wide variety of fare from seafood to Greek to Asian and Italian.

Ammoudi Fish Tavern: One of the Best Waterfront Restaurants in Amoudi Bay (Oia), Santorini

GREECE / Santorini / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jul 27, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Framed between volcanic red rocks and the Aegean Sea, Amoudi Bay is a tiny fishing port located about 300 steps below the town of Oia. In spite of its remote location, it's become one of the island's worst kept secrets, often cited as being one of the best places to enjoy great seafood while watching Santorini's spectacular sunset.