Jenny Handley touched down in Prague for three days, and found the Czech cuisine hearty and wholesome enough to provide sustenance for the rest of her whistle-stop tour of Eastern Europe.Arriving at our spacious apartment in the heart of the Old Town, my 20-something travelling companions were delighted that it held court to a beer garden in the centre, while I, more vintage and circumspect, immediately thought of the late-night noise. I needn’t have worried as the locals in the Czech Republic capital are courteous and considerate, and outside revellers are sent inside before midnight. Looking down on the busy…

F&HE reader and contributor JENNY HANDLEY and her women’s investment club enjoyed a value-for-money gourmet tour of Vietnam. By Jenny Handley There are many ways of experiencing Vietnam – backpacking, on a bike, on a budget or in a boat. I opted to travel as part of a group of eight fabulous, funloving women. Our all-girl investment club called the Topless Ten (we play the share market with the aim of learning, and earning enough profit to travel together) decided that the beauty, beaches, culture, history and cuisine of Vietnam were perfect for our next trip. Vietnam is in a…

Koula, 94.7 presenter and F&HE blogger, is loving all things food-related in her travels through Turkey, Greece, Italy and Israel… Thursday 16 Aug We touched down in Istanbul shortly after 5am. 25 degrees celcius! At 5 am! After a terribly long and freezing Jozi winter, it was more than welcome. Cruised through passport control – no visas needed for South African citizens and so Turkey’s delightful assault on our senses began. With only a vague idea of what to expect, we were completely amazed just metres after leaving the airport. Gorgeous baskets of colourful flowers adorn streetlamps and the pavements…

Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining or pub grub, Dublin has an array of optionsThe St Patrick’s Day carnival celebrations in Dublin stretch over a long weekend (16 – 19 March) with a spectacular parade and events ranging from music, film, culture and family fun. Food and drink are the focus at any time of the year in a city with a warm, intimate heart. Most attractions are within walking distance around the centre or just a short ride away on frequent ‘hop on, hop off’ buses. In fact, starting a visit with a bus tour is a…

Ireland has a lot to offer foodies, from top produce and a newfound culinary confidence in traditional Irish cooking, to fine restaurants and hearty pub fareNIKKI WERNERA ham-hock soup is placed in front of me by what looks like the lead singer of an Indie rock band. He’s wearing a waistcoat (no shirt) anda porcine rubber mask. I’m the only patron in Cork eatery An Crúibín – Gaelic for Cork’s specialty dish of pig’s feet – and I’m starting to feel slightly uncomfortable. But Frank O’ Connell makes it his business to make people uncomfortable. “We try to be purveyors…

Zaza Motha eats her way through three African countries… The beauty of Africa can easily be missed. Its robust silence, besieged with images of deficiency, clutters options of experiencing this wonderland. But a one-on-one adventure through Botswana and Zimbabwe, connecting through Zambia, was a journey that flies against this conventional wisdom, exciting both the spirit and palate. We landed at Livingstone Airport in Zambia and crossed over into Botswana by ferry, where the tropical waters of the Zambezi meet the Chobe River. ALSO SEE: 5 Family Safari Lodges in South Africa for the ultimate adventure Botwana’s Ngoma Safari Lodge, situated…

Knysna’s Oyster Festival in July is the ideal time to get down to the Garden Route, visit old favourites and find out what’s new. Here are 15 dynamic reasons to visit Knysna…LISA VAN DER KNAAPThen and now… Once a sleepy fishing village that attracted a handful of holidaymakers, Knysna is now a bustling minimetropolis. Over the years it has seen a number of developments, most notably Thesen Island, a private estate encompassing 19 islands in the Knysna lagoon. Tourism, however, remains the predominant moneyspinner, which is why so many new restaurants and hotels have popped up and there’s so much…

Johannesburg is not just all work and no play. If you know where to look you’ll find sumptuous destinations for a break from the frenetic activity. Try these boutique hotels that are perfect for the gourmet traveller in the city of gold KIM HOEPFLThe prevailing wisdom is that there is nothing interesting for foreign guests to see and do in Johannesburg. Well, think again. We’ve rounded up three boutique hotels in Johannesburg’s immediate periphery, each offering something utterly unique in an environment of extreme comfort. Only an hour’s drive (or less) from the city centre, there is game to be…