Experiencing
the local way of hanging out anywhere in the world is not only the best way to
enjoy but it’s also a cultural glimpse into the drinking and social scene of
any culture.
LIMING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
‘Lime’
is not just a garnish to your rum and cola here, but refers to an spur-of-the-moment
‘chilling out’ session. The country’s kinship for ‘liming’, is basically
hanging with friends, food, music and rum or beer. The expression comes from
the notion of having nothing to do except squeeze limes.
Locals love to invite
friends to chill out with where each person brings their preferred rum and just
chill or lime. For locals, the after-work, Friday-night lime is one of the most
standard aims to visit a rum shop. Whether you and your friends ease on one of
Tobago’s white sandy beaches or enjoy with food and drinks in Port of Spain in
Trinidad you are liming true local style.
COFFEE CULTURE IN MELBOURNE
Melbourne
is tantamount with coffee. Every district is inevitably oozing with cafes.
Behind uncluttered décor and beneath industrial lighting that looks like it’s
been enlightened straight from the good old 1950’s apron-clad baristas tier
their trade and serve up magic, pour-overs and cold brews.For every cafe or
hole-in-the-wall coffee shop hidden down an alley there is a que of eager
customers waiting for their single-origin, Ethiopian, fittingly obtained
caffeine fix. The roots are as humble as anywhere else, and the demand for
well-made coffee from small, free cafes is growing day by day and is a world
of delight, as cafes source new beans from glamorous locations and experiment
with fresh and unusual coffee-based beverages.
THE ALL AMERICAN BACKYARD BBQ PARTIES
A
typical American backyard barbecue goes something like this: grill meat, eat
meat, and repeat and get into a food coma. The menu is usually classic and
unfussy including Hamburgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob. There are usually
two tables one for dining and one for food and drinks and everyone serve
themselves and the food is placed where the action is. The home bar is replete
with glasses, bottle openers, napkins and of course the drinks.
CHILLING AT AN IZAKAYA IN TOKYO
Traditional
Izakaya is a Japanese tavern that offers food that savours good with Japanese
beer ‘Asahi’ being most popular. Sample this; delicious petite plates of food, relaxing
from a sombre day at work, and fun mingling with friends! Finding an Izakaya is easy in Tokyo and can be
everything from a small little dive that’s dim and smoky with a limited bar
seats, to an enormous bar with plenty of seating. They open their doors early
evening, outfitting mainly to office goers who head straight to an Izakaya post
work for a few drinks, pre-dinner snacks, and a casual relaxing time with friends.
Hence you would find most guests still wearing business suits. They love their
yakitori and gyoza. Best Izakaya bars
are underneath the railroad tracks, near Shinjuku, and within Ameya-Yokocho
market.
TAPAS IN BARCELONA
 |
| Hanging out with celebrity chef Ferran Adria at a tapas bar in Barcelona |
Neither
quite an appetizer not a full meal, the tapa is all about socializing whether
that encompasses ordering a procession of little dishes to share over refreshing
chilled wine or cider and an extended conversation or maybe just on a pub
crawl. The whole idea of tapas is envisioned to lubricate the helms for an
evening of chatter, sparkle and amity with friends. The best tapas are often
served standing in a crowded and smoky bar. The server helps find a small table
or a space on the bar top where one places the food. One is likely to be
standing in a teeming space all night, but this is chunk of the fun. Interestingly
the bar staff work out the bill by counting the toothpicks on the plate!
my story first published in HT City
