Colonial Charm in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Pretty pastel buildings line cobblestone streets as cascades of bougainvillea adorn colonial churches. Tropical birds sing in the island breeze, while the scent of spicy mojo picón wafts through bustling restaurants during lunch hour.

In one direction lies the Atlantic, and in the other lies a lush volcanic landscape begging to be explored. A juxtaposition of pristine and well-worn, of old world charm and modern Spanish flair, the inviting old town of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria offers a glimpse into the beating heart of the Canary Islands.

After exploring Puerto de la Cruz and Costa Adeje in Tenerife, we hopped a ferry to our next and last stop in the Canary Islands: Vegueta, the charming old town of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Compared to Tenerife, the old town of Las Palmas was not swarming with hordes of tourists (and subsequent tourist traps). We were therefore able to discover a more authentic side to the Canaries, and dare I say, an even more delicious side.

With its vibrant colors and eye-catching colonial architecture, we quickly fell for Las Palmas. Using our adorable Airbnb as a home base, we leisurely wandered through Vegueta by day, and ate our weight in papas arrugadas drenched in mojo picón by night. Here we found a mecca of eateries on Calle Mendizábal, Vegueta's main foodie drag, including La Champiñoneria and La Hierba Luisa.

Though we made sure to pop into the Columbus Museum and the Santa Ana Cathedral, our sightseeing mostly consisted of aimless walks through the colorful streets, admiring the architecture and snapping photos of every darling detail.

Wanting to discover more of the island's volcanic landscape, we ventured to La Caldera de Bandama for what promised to be a beautiful hike. We hiked down to the bottom of the volcanic crater, enamored by the lush vegetation and breathtaking views. The steep climb back up nearly killed me, but I was rewarded at the top with a picnic and sublime views of the crater. 

Though growing up in the Pacific Northwest has spoiled me with countless gorgeous hikes, Gran Canaria's Caldera de Bandama was easily one of the most memorable hikes I've ever done.

That evening, we quickly consumed all of the the calories we had burnt off at La Caldera de Bandama with a feast of tapas and volcanic red wine at Mercado del Puerto. Although this modern market lies on the opposite side of town as Vegueta, it's well worth the trek. Its polished stalls offer a plethora of Canarian specialties, seafood dishes, traditional tapas and Spanish staples. 

While I wish it had been warm enough to venture to Gran Canaria's famed beaches and surreal sand dunes, I hope my newfound love for the Canary Islands will bring me back there again someday. Between the stunning landscapes, friendly locals and mouthwatering cuisine, I'll always have an excuse to return to Las Palmas.

My Las Palmas Picks:

Favorite Day Trip: Hiking in La Caldera de Bandama
Best Restaurants: La Champiñoneria, To Lo Dije Perez, La Hierba Luisa
Must Try Dishes: Papas arrugadas con mojo picón, grilled Canarian cheese
Favorite Activity: Exploring the old town of Vegueta
Best Museum: Casa de Colón

Eating My Way Through Copenhagen with FoodTours.Eu

Thanks to the revolutionary success of Noma and a recent nationwide focus on locally grown goods, Denmark is taking global gastronomy by storm. At the heart of this gastronomic metamorphosis is Copenhagen, a capital taking great strides to redefine Nordic cuisine.

On this bold quest to create their culinary identity, Denmark is ultimately fixated on what is grown on their own land, therefore pursuing complete sustainability. In turn, they've become the star of the new Nordic food revolution. Though Noma may have just lost its title of best restaurant in the world, its legacy has produced a ripple effect in all of Scandinavia.

In other words, there are some big things going on up north, and they're all exceptionally delicious.

Passionate about sharing Scandinavia's delectable successes, FoodTours.eu showcases the best of Nordic fare on their culinary walking tours. After their 4 hour Culinary Experience Tour in Copenhagen, I left with a deeper knowledge and appreciation for Danish cuisine and history - and not to mention, a delightfully full belly!

Our first stop on the tour was the slick and shiny Torvehallerne Market, a foodie mecca akin to Madrid's Mercado de San Miguel and San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace. We started off with some local apple wine and three different Danish cheeses, the show stealer being the Høgelund blue cheese which effortlessly melted in my mouth with every bite. 

Next, we tried mustard, strawberry jam, licorice, caramel and rhubarb juice from the Danish island of Bornholm. We washed it down with a fiery shot of Snaps, which is known in Scandinavia as a shot of hard liquor that is typically enjoyed alongside a meal. Much stronger than the Schnapps I enjoyed in my college days, this traditional Nordic libation positively jolted me awake. Although my days of taking shots before noon have long since passed (I'm looking at you, Greek Week), I couldn't say no to the opportunity to cheers and shout Skål! with my fellow foodies.

An assortment of Danish cheeses

Local apple wine

Mustard, jam, licorice, caramel and rhubarb juice from the island of Bornholm

Buzzing from the burn of the Snaps, we headed towards the University of Copenhagen's lush botanical gardens, where we taste tested a couple of local honeys. The sweet, floral flavors are still etched in my mind as some of the best honey I've ever tried. (In hindsight, I'm kicking myself for not bringing a jar home with me!)

Copenhagen's Botanical Gardens

Afterwards, we headed to my favorite stop of the tour: Aamanns Deli for traditional Danish smørrebrød, or open faced sandwiches. These little slices of heaven were arguably the best thing I ate in Copenhagen. Our tour guide was kind enough to bring gluten-free bread for me, so I got to indulge on the same delicacies as the other non-Celiacs in our group. 

Out of the four open faced sandwiches we devoured, the two superstars were the chicken salad smørrebrød with mustard, honey, celery, apple, crispy chicken skin and cress, as well as the beef smørrebrød with slices of grilled sirloin, chunky remoulade, horseradish, chervil and potato chips. That said, each sandwich we tried undoubtedly delighted my tastebuds.

Mouthwatering smørrebrød from Aamanns

Chicken salad with mustard, honey, celery, apple, crispy chicken skin and cress

Slices of grilled sirloin with chunky remoulade, horseradish, chervil and potato chips

After the smørrebrød from Aamanns completely revolutionized my idea of a sandwich, we strolled through Nørrebro towards our next destination, a brewery housed in an old metal factory. Danes are notorious for loving their beer, and this brewhouse is known for being one of the most eco-friendly breweries in town. Since no gluten-free beers were offered here, I sipped on a refreshing elderflower juice and took in the unique surroundings. 

Denmark is also well-known for its hot dogs, so naturally we had to try these famed treats next. We ventured to an organic hot dog stand near the Rundetårn, where I feasted upon an organic goat sausage with mashed potatoes and parsnips, mustard, ketchup and beetroots. Though I'm not usually a big hot dog fan, this one took my tastebuds by surprise. My favorite additions were the beets and parsnips, which added a memorable touch to an otherwise classic dish. 

An organic goat sausage with mashed potatoes and parsnips, mustard, ketchup and beetroots

Before our food comas fully hit, we polished off our culinary pilgrimage with some much needed dessert. We made our way towards an old candy factory founded in 1891, where we tested some of their most popular sweets. Not only was the candy divine, but the antiquated shop also made me feel as if I were stepping back in time. 

We eventually headed back to Torvehallerne Market for some flødeboller, a traditional chocolate covered marshmallow treat. The fluffy egg whites in the middle were as light as air, and the thin layer of marzipan at the bottom rounded out the creamy texture. It is said that the average Dane eats about 45 of these per year, and I really can't blame them!

An old candy factory in the heart of Copenhagen, home to some seriously tasty sweets

FoodTours.eu offers culinary walking tours in Copenhagen, Olso and Stockholm, each exploring the unique tastes of Scandinavian cuisine. The Copenhagen Culinary Experience Tour runs at 10:00 am every day except Sunday. The tour lasts about four hours and includes at least 8 different tastings. I genuinely recommend this tour to all food lovers and hungry travelers who are curious about Nordic cuisine!

FoodTours.eu graciously invited me on their Copenhagen Culinary Experience Tour, but as always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Have you ever tried Nordic cuisine?

Which city would you like to taste your way through next?

Paradise in Puerto de la Cruz

Jet black sand juxtaposed with icy blue waters. Fog lingering over lush emerald hills. Candy colored buildings illuminated against gray skies. Palm trees dancing in the cool breeze. While Puerto de la Cruz may not follow the traditional definition of "paradise", its unique charms assert it as just that.

Before we headed down to sunny Costa Adeje, our first stop in Tenerife was Puerto de la Cruz. Located on the northern half of the island, Puerto de la Cruz is generally much cooler and more tropical than its southern counterparts. We opted for one night in this colorful town in hopes of exploring the black sand beaches, hearing that it was generally more picturesque and authentic than Tenerife Touristlandia in the south.

The rumors were true, and we quickly learned that Puerto de la Cruz was brimming with character. Of the city's many notable features, I was most impressed by its eye-catching colonial architecture. The town was scattered with a kaleidoscope of vibrant buildings embellished with intricate wooden balconies, adding an invigorating contrast to the gloomy skies above.

Paired with dramatic stretches of volcanic beaches, striking lush scenery and the local cuisine's explosion of fresh flavors, the verdant oasis of Puerto de la Cruz was undoubtedly a feast for the senses.

We spent our 24 hours in Puerto de la Cruz wandering through the darling streets, shamelessly photographing every picturesque building we passed, frolicking through the black sand and feasting upon a lifetime's worth of papas arrugadas con mojo.

We also serendipitously stumbled upon a local wine festival, where we indulged on a mouthwatering array of Tenerife's best wines. As we enjoyed the live music and stellar views of the coast, we toasted to magical Tenerife (and our extraordinary luck) while we savored each glass.

When it came time to say hasta luego to our tropical oasis, I was sad to leave behind the quaint island charm of Puerto de la Cruz. Although I desperately needed to defrost in Costa Adeje, I could have easily spent more time soaking up northern Tenerife's natural grandeur and charisma.

Have you ever been to the Canary Islands?

Where's your favorite tropical escape?