I went into my local liquor store looking for ingredients to make an Irish coffee and came across a wine tasting.
Puro Colombia: I tried this rum in Columbia. There was nothing distinct about the rum. It seemed okay if you wanted to make a rum and coke. The tour guide suggested against it and suggested other rums for me to buy. Since my guide is from Columbia and is a rum drinker, I took his advice. When I returned home and searched for the rum on the internet, there was very little to no information about the rum. However, I have to say that this rum shop was stocked and I walked away with a couple of good deals.
While in Colombia I decided to go with my tour guide’s advice. I bought Medellin 8 year cream and rum; Ron Medellin extra anejo 8 year rum and Ron Viejo de Caldas 8 year Carta de Oro rum. I also added Antioqueno to my list of purchases. I have always been curious about this liquor. Aguardiente: In Spanish, it means, a distilled liquor resembling brandy, especially as made in South America from sugar cane. In Colombia, aguardiente is an anise-flavored liquor made from sugar cane. It has a 24-29% alcohol content. Colombians usually drink it straight in shots. REAL: with soft aroma aniseed, enhanced with vanilla from American oak barrels where it rests. Delicate on the palate, delicious and warm flavor of spicy and sweet flashes. Aguardiente traditionally has some sweetness, as it is made from a base of sugar cane juice (similar to Rhum Agricole) but distilled to a lower proof to retain some of the sweetness. This version from Colombia, however, is sugar-free. It has a vodka-like profile and mostly enjoyed neat rather than used in cocktails. Nose: Toasty aromas of light toffee. Palate: Hints of chocolate, honey, and molasses. Finish: Soft, clean, and creamy finish.
Cuon: Asian fusion Restaurant in Medellin, Columbia
La Pampa Parilla Argentina in Medellin, Columbia
Pollos Llamarada: The best fried chicken spot in Medellin, Columbia
We Stayed in the town of Medellin. The people are so beautiful; friendly(even with my broken spanish); no issues with the exchange rate to pesos. Medellin is a wonderful place to visit!
Hot chocolate with cheese and pandebono (cheese bread)
One of the best meals at Restaurante Mondongo’s El Poblado.(Bandeja Paisa: Ground beef with rice, fried egg, chicharrón, baked potatoes, avocado, and plantains, Milanese fish with avocado; tartar sauce and bread
While in beautiful Florence there were several places where I stopped to eat (bruschetta; pasta with salmon and drank chianti wine). I was advised by my daughter to try a restaurant called Lobs. The food was absolutely amazing; lobster, prawns, octopus and broiled Branzino); the staff and manager were so polite; we were given several servings of Limoncello and then the staff had given us passes to a roof top bar where the view is breathtaking.
In Rome the day was spent visiting the Coliseum and finally sitting down for some food (lasagna and linguine with pesto sauce). This restaurant had one of the best linguine and pesto dishes I’ve ever tasted.
