 | Food is often woven into our travel memories - on the road your senses are heightened. A simple sandwich at a truck stop in Boise, Idaho can taste way better than the same thing made in your own kitchen. Imagine eating olives while the Tuscan sun glints through your lashes, warm pastry in Prague, or a salty pretzel from a street seller in Times Square. This month's Comet is all about the chow - so grab a napkin and dig in. Global Grub - we take your tastebuds on a tour through the good, the bad and the ugly | | 
 | A good meal can make or break a hard day's travel - here are some highlights, lowlights and downright freakylights you could find on your plate. » RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLEWalking into l'Elephant, a popular French restaurant in Luang Prabang, you're greeted by a framed picture of one of the restaurant's former guests, Mick Jagger. You may doubt whether Sir Mick sampled the local specialities of jaew bong or khai phaen, but his visit says a lot about this Laotian city's dining scene, which is certainly not limited to its French restaurants. In recent years, more and more people have discovered the local flavours of Luang Prabang, a phenomenon that has left a pleasant taste in the mouth of both visitors and locals. » NUEVA COCINA CUBANAFor legions of taste-deprived gastronomes, Cuban cuisine has always been something of an international joke. From the empty-shelf ration shops of Habana Vieja to the depressing ubiquity of soggy cheese-and-ham sandwiches that seem to serve as the country's only viable lunch option, it's a question of less feast, more famine. But while celebrity chefs might still be in short supply in many of Habana's uninspiring government-run restaurants, a whole new pot of tricks is brewing in the suburbs. More » » MEATY MEKONG
No matter what part of the world you come from, if you travel much in the Mekong region you are going to encounter food that might seem unusual. The fiercely omnivorous locals find nothing strange in eating insects, algae, offal or fish bladders. They'll feast on the flesh of dogs, they'll eat a crocodile, or they'll devour a dish of cock's testicles. | | back to top |  | 
| What is Mongolian food really like?
Bodog is not for the faint of heart. This authentic 'Mongolian barbeque' first involves pulling the innards out of the neck of a goat or marmot. The carcass is then stuffed full of scalding rocks and the neck cinched up with wire. The bloated animal is then thrown upon a fire (or blowtorched) to burn the fur off the outside while the meat is cooked from within. Like most things involving a blowtorch, preparing bodog is true men's work. Furthering the adventure, it's worth noting that the bubonic plague, or Black Death as it was known to medieval Europe, can be passed by handling marmot skins. There is less a chance of catching the disease between mid August and mid October. Other regional delicacies include kazy, the salted horsemeat sausages prepared by Kazakhs in Bayan-Ölgii aimag. Gobi people occasionally eat camel meat; the cut might be a bit gamey as it is the older camels that are usually killed for their meat. | | back to top |  | 
| Anyone with a taste for the culinary good life would find Florence a pretty unbeatable destination. Here's a lowdown on dining in Florence: Florentines don't just go to ristorantes (restaurants) to eat - although they may well do so if looking for a fine gourmet experience or to sample one of the handful of trendy new designer spots in town. An earthier, frequently cheaper and often family-run alternative is the trattoria, and another similar option is the osteria. The distinctions between such places have become blurred, as many ristorante owners use the name trattoria or osteria to convey a homely, down-to-earth style that may not always reflect what you find inside. Wine lovers should look out for the local enoteca. More » Need somewhere to sleep off that magnificent meal? Look at these tasty places in Florence: | Need rail passes to go with your Italian accommodation? Get 'em here » | back to top |  | 
| How much do you know about what's on your plate? It's good to be informed when it comes to food choices - why not weigh in on some of the food-related debates on the Thorn Tree forum's dedicated food branch. New Kid on the Blog Thorn Tree, our online travel forum, now highlights the cream of the traveller crop with a new Community News Blog. Log on for your daily fix of hot topics, rabble-rousers, traveller videos, Bluelist experiences, competitions, events and the scoop on exciting developments coming your way. Get on board and roll with us. Have Your Say What do you think makes a great Lonely Planet guidebook cover? This is a chance for you to have your say and be a part of creating our next edition guidebooks! Click here » | What else is being discussed on Thorn Tree? Make a Difference KOTO is a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training program that is changing the lives of street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. | back to top |  | 
|  | Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula
This month the Muslim world celebrates Ramadan. This year, Ramadan starts on 13 September and ends on 13 October with Eid al-Fitr. | RAMADAN in the ARABIAN PENINSULA Travelling during the region's religious festivals can be an interesting experience. During Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, visitors are more restricted (eating or drinking during the day must be kept hidden, and restaurants are often closed for the month). There's the chance, however, to try night-time culinary treats in the Ramadan tents attached to hotels. Public transport can be erratic, driving habits deteriorate and business hours are reduced but, as if to compensate, the nights involve great socialising and public congregation. Eid al-Fitr (Islamic feast) tends to be a family occasion but there's usually an opportunity to catch local dancing, singing and poetry recitals. More » | | back to top | 
 | Twenty names for "beef"
Argentinean beef is found all over the country. Each part of the animal is listed under its own name in the long menus. A popular budget restaurant for "beef and potatoe" meals is "El Desnivel", in the San Telmo area of Buenos Aires. Homemade pasta
A large number of Italian immigrants has made melt-in-your-mouth homemade pasta a common occurence all over Argentina. It comes served with a variety of tomato or cream sauces. Note that the pasta and sauce are usually priced separately on the menu. Smoked trout A specialty of San Martin de los Andes is smoked trout. Try it at restaurant "El Regional" where the food is divine, and where you can also buy local products such as homemade beer and pates. More » | | back to top | 
| If you arrive in Kuala Lumpur with a raging appetite, you're in for one of the sweetest dilemmas. Where to eat? What to taste first? Here are five KL must-eats to get you started. Kuala Lumpur (KL, in local parlance) presents quite a dilemma to the travelling food lover. Boasting a cuisine born of multiple ethnicities (Indian, Chinese, and Malay) and myriad cultural influences (Indonesian, Arab, Portugese) the question becomes not what to eat, but what to forgo? Even two weeks of three-squares-a-day noshing would leave many a gastronomic stone unturned. Still, a traveller's got to try. Brickfields breakfast Brickfields is KL's largest 'Little India' and just behind its traffic-choked Jalan Tun Sambanthan lies a quiet neighbourhood of housing flats and curbside eateries - ideal for a leisurely al fresco morning meal. More » |  Compass Competition We've got five copies of Hanoi & Halong Bay Encounter to give away. To win one, tell us where you would eat: Banh goi Jollof rice Kiełbasa Email your answers here by 30 September 2007. Free Rugby Guides! Download these free PDFs for maps to the stadiums, transport information, language, accommodation, sightseeing and the best restaurants each city has to offer. | back to top | Your privacy is important to us. Read our privacy policy to find out what we do and don't do with your personal details. If you no longer wish to hear from us please click here or contact us at Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 90 Maribyrnong Street Footscray VIC 3011 Australia / tel: + 61 3 8379 8000. copyright © 2007 Lonely Planet Publications | Locked Bag 1, Footscray, Victoria, Australia 3011 | |
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