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May 20, 2020

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About Me

I am Cristina - a Lisbon based Romanian writer in love with Victorian novels, comfort food and foreign lands.

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Help this girl out and comment what city do you ne

Help this girl out and comment what city do you need restaurant recommendations for! 💬

So far, on the blog you can find my favourite restaurants from cities like Barcelona, Paris, Edinburgh or Amsterdam. And in my latest blog post you’ll find my favourite restaurants in Bangkok, like this gorgeous hidden cake shop & clothes store that hides behind these old doors - Rawvaela Café and @kihon_clothing_design .

But I have a lot of material from my travels and want to give you more recommendations! So tell me what you want next - Sibiu, Florence, Hanoi, some place I haven’t even though of?

#BangkokEats #ThaiFoodie #BangkokBites #FoodAdventure #RestaurantHopping #TastyThai #EatBangkok #FoodiesParadise #BangkokDining #FlavorsOfThailand #StreetFoodFinds #YumInMyTum #FoodHeaven #LocalEats #ThaiCuisine #BangkokFoodDiary #FoodieFinds #DeliciousDishes #FoodTravel #Foodgasm #GourmetInBangkok #CulinaryJourney #Mouthwatering #TasteOfBangkok #FoodPhotography #DineInBangkok #AsianFlavors #FoodieAdventures #SavorBangkok #InstaFoodies

On our first evening in Bangkok I was utterly over

On our first evening in Bangkok I was utterly overwhelmed by how bright and loud it was. This overwhelming feeling turned out to just intensify over the next couple of days. From the aforementioned sounds and lights, to smells in markets and sheer options of where to divert your attention at or even what to eat. In a city equally famous for its street food as it Is for its Michelin Guide restaurants, where do you even begin? In my latest blog post on choiceofmagic.com I am trying to help you a little bit by sharing with you my favourite places for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Bangkok. 🍛🍜🍲

#BangkokEats #ThaiFoodie #BangkokBites #FoodAdventure #RestaurantHopping #TastyThai #EatBangkok #FoodiesParadise #BangkokDining #FlavorsOfThailand #StreetFoodFinds #YumInMyTum #FoodHeaven #LocalEats #ThaiCuisine #BangkokFoodDiary #FoodieFinds #DeliciousDishes #FoodTravel #Foodgasm #GourmetInBangkok #CulinaryJourney #Mouthwatering #TasteOfBangkok #FoodPhotography #DineInBangkok #AsianFlavors #FoodieAdventures #SavorBangkok #InstaFoodies

Save for the best cheap seafood restaurant on 📍

Save for the best cheap seafood restaurant on 📍An Bang beach in Hoi An, Vietnam.

📍Tree Coconut Restaurant - three seafood dishes + a soda + three beers + two cocktails cost us 23€ AND we got complimentary free sunbeds + umbrella and fruit on the beach as part of the package. 🦀⛱️🦑

#seafood #hoian #anbangbeach #beachfood #hoianrestaurant #hoiandining #vietnam #southeastasia #asia #foodietravels#choiceofmagic #FoodieLife #FoodGasm #FoodPhotography #FoodieGram #DeliciousDishes
#nextbestfoodie #TasteOfVietnam
#FoodPassion #FoodLove #YummyInMyTummy
#InstaFoodie #FoodBlogger #Foodstagram
#Gourmet #FoodHeaven #FoodIsArt #FoodieLife #FlavorfulEats #FoodGoals #FoodiesOfInstagram

Picture this. 📸 You’re in the center of busy

Picture this. 📸 You’re in the center of busy Hanoi and you decide to sit down at a local restaurant with a small table, on tiny plastic chairs (much like the ones you sat on as a child). You order a barbecue. Different meats marinated beforehand, are brought to you raw at the table along with zucchini, tomato, okra and enoki mushroom. To be fried in a tinfoil covered plate over a small charcoal grill. The tinfoil is buttered and quickly heats up. You start grilling. You’re drinking a Hanoi beer or a Bia Saigon. You’re far away from home, but if you close your eyes you realise how quintessentially universal barbecue is, and how despite these partially exotic veggies, you’ll be able to perfectly convey the experience to your dad once you’re back home. Life is good. ✨

#barbecue #bbq #vietnamesebarbecue #vietnamesebbq #vietnam #hanoi #southeastasia #asia #foodietravels#choiceofmagic #FoodieLife #FoodGasm #FoodPhotography #FoodieGram #DeliciousDishes
#nextbestfoodie #TasteOfVietnam
#FoodPassion #FoodLove #YummyInMyTummy #FoodForTheSoul
#InstaFoodie #FoodBlogger #Foodstagram
#Gourmet #FoodHeaven #FoodIsArt #FoodieLife #FlavorfulEats #FoodGoals #FoodiesOfInstagram

No makeup & no shoes. Just a bael fruit tea in the

No makeup & no shoes. Just a bael fruit tea in the middle of a rice field, in the middle of nowhere in Laos. ☕️

#choiceoftravel #choiceofmagic #travelblog #travelblogger #laos #luangprabang #asia #southeastasia #ricefield #tea #tealover #teatime #fruittea #magicallaos #hiddengems #lao #travelgram #instatravel #travelphotography #travelling #traveltheworld #travelingram

Our Thai food adventures have come to an end as we

Our Thai food adventures have come to an end as we crossed into Laos, our next destination. But I just had to wrap this up by posting some pictures of my favourite meals in Thailand. (proper blog post on the topic to follow once we get back to Europe).

So here goes:

1. Pad See Ew.
2. Khao Soi
3. Nam Ngiao
4. Massaman Curry
5. Holy Basil Stir Fry
6. Pineapple Chicken
7. Pork Satay
8. Cashew Chicken
9. Som Tum Khao Pod
10. Pad Thai

#Thailand #thaifood #foodietravels #padthai #padseeew #padkraoao #kaosoi #stirfry #choiceofmagic #FoodieLife #FoodGasm #FoodPhotography #FoodieGram #DeliciousDishes
#nextbestfoodie #TasteOfThailand
#FoodPassion #FoodLove #YummyInMyTummy #FoodForTheSoul
#InstaFoodie #FoodBlogger #Foodstagram
#Gourmet #FoodHeaven #FoodIsArt #FoodieLife #FlavorfulEats #FoodGoals #FoodiesOfInstagram

Did you know ⁉️ The pink eggs you see in pict

Did you know ⁉️

The pink eggs you see in picture number seven are a Thai variation of a century egg or thousand year old egg – an Asian tradition that involved preserving the egg for several weeks or months using a process that combines clay, ash, salt, quicklime and rice hulls.

All pictures are from the markets of Thailand and showcase food we’ve been discovering over the last two weeks we’ve spent here. 🥘🍛🍲

#thaifood #thaimarket #thailand #bangkok #chiangmai #chiangrai #nightmarket #asia #asianfood #foodiesinThailand #choiceofmagic #foodporn #foodphotography #foodstagram #foodshot #travelandeat #asian #seafood #curry #freshingredients #asianmarket #portugal #portuguese #romanian #nextbestfoodie #foodblog #foodblogger #lisbon

Comporta restaurant recommendations. 🍳 This we

Comporta restaurant recommendations. 🍳

This weekend we went camping on the coast, and anticipating some meals cooked by the tent, we spoiled ourselves with brunch in Comporta first. I thought that would make for a good opportunity to share with you some of our favourite restaurants in the city so here goes.

Favourite places for brunch:

Almo - @almocomporta
Espumantaria Gomes - @gomes.espumantaria.jardim

Favourite place for lunch/dinner:

São João - no Insta
Quinta da Comporta - @quintadacomporta

For great wine:

Herdade da Comporta - @herdadedacomporta

Next on my list:

Cavalariça - @cavalaricagrupo

Have I left any other local gems out?

#choiceofmagic #choiceoffood #ComportaEats #ComportaFoodie #ComportaCuisine #ComportaRestaurants #FoodInComporta #ComportaDining #ComportaFlavors#ComportaFoodScene #ComportaGastronomy #ComportaTastes #ComportaFoodExploration #DeliciousComporta #TasteofComporta #EatWellComporta #ComportaFoodDiscoveries #ComportaFoodLovers #FoodieParadiseComporta #ComportaFoodCulture #ComportaEateries #ComportaFoodExperience #FoodFestivalComporta #ComportaFoodieGuide #ComportaRestoHopping #LocalCuisineComporta #ComportaFoodInsider #comporta #portugal #alentejo

Puttanesca, but make it baked, and with rice. I wi

Puttanesca, but make it baked, and with rice. I wish I could take credit for such a brilliant idea, but it was @ottolenghi who first did this with an orzo puttanesca. I just took his recipe, tweaked it a little bit - replacing some ingredients and changing the measures of the others. What came out is a dish I repeat over and over again, either for Sunday’s meal planning or for dinner parties. Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients (serves four) 250g basmati rice 350g of tuna 80g black olives (or Kalamata for the original recipe) a finely chopped onion six crushed garlic cloves two tbsp capers a large tomato sliced a tbsp tomato paste 400g of tinned tomatoes 50g parmesan 60 ml olive oil half a tsp chilli flakes half of a preserved lemon, thinly sliced

Instructions
1. Add three tablespoons of olive oil to a large iron cast skillet or pot and fry the finely chopped onion for 8 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and fry for one more minute. 2. Add the capers, half of the preserved lemon thinly sliced, 50g of the olives, the tuna, the tomato paste, the tinned tomatoes, the rice, 450ml of water, a tsp of salt and one of pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid or aluminium foil and bake at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. 3. Remove from the oven, add the sliced tomato plus the parmesan on top and bake for another 15 minutes. 4. Let it sit for 10 minutes while you top it with the remaining olives and preserved lemon. If you have some fresh basil leaves, add those on top along with the remaining olive oil.

#choiceofmagic #PuttanescaLovers #FoodieLife #ItalianFood #FoodGasm
#RecipeOfTheDay #FoodPhotography
#HomeCooking #FoodInspiration #FoodieGram #DeliciousDishes
#nextbestfoodie #TasteOfItaly
#FoodPassion #FoodLove #YummyInMyTummy #FoodForTheSoul
#InstaFoodie #FoodBlogger #ItalianCuisine #Foodstagram
#Gourmet #FoodHeaven #FoodIsArt #FoodieLife #FlavorfulEats #FoodGoals
#HomeCookedMeal #FoodiesOfInstagram #Ottolenghi

This post is not just about yesterday’s dumpling

This post is not just about yesterday’s dumpling dinner party. It is about rituals versus routines. About cooking something special, or using that nice tablecloth that you use only for guests, this time for yourself, about lighting a candle for the table next to your dinner, or having brunch in bed on Sundays. It’s about the enhancements that turn a routine like having dinner into an actual ritual. Whether it’s with friends, your significant other, your family, or just by yourself. Don’t underestimate the value these rituals can have. Now go, get yourself that special dessert, and make tonight’s dinner special. 🧁 🥟 ✨

#choiceofmagic #DumplingDinnerParty #FriendsAndFood #RitualsAndTraditions #GatherAndCelebrate #FoodieFriends #DumplingLove #DinnerPartyVibes #FoodWithFriends #SharingIsCaring #CulinaryTraditions #FoodieGathering #CherishTheMoments #CommunityFeast #FoodAndFriendship #DumplingDelights #EatingTogether #PartyWithPurpose #SavorTheFlavors #RitualsOfTogetherness #FeastWithFriends #MakingMemories #TraditionsThatBind #JoyOfCooking #DumplingPartyFun #FellowshipAndFood #EmbracingRituals #TastyTraditions #FriendshipFeast #DumplingMagic

Extra, extra, read all about it! I am back in this

Extra, extra, read all about it! I am back in this feed this Monday with some big news: the @choiceofmagic Instagram account is gonna focus on its original niche - FOOD. Wholesome, home cooked or enjoyed out in restaurants around Lisbon and abroad. But because I do love travelling, and know many of you do too - I´ve created a space for you to go and enjoy TRAVEL content too - and that place is the @choiceoftravel Instagram account. The blog will continue combining both topics, with a pinch of books, but I felt Instagram was really penalising me for being too broad in this account so I hope this solution will work better. In the meantime, enjoy this last travel themed video of me walking the halls of the Vatican in February this year, and see you on @choiceoftravel.

#choiceoftravel #choiceofmagic #travelgram #wanderlust #explore #travelblog #travelblogger #instatravel #travelholic #traveltips #travelgoals #passportready #travelinspiration #travelguide #travelingram #igtravel #wanderlusting #getaway #exploretheworld #portugaltravel #portugueseblogger #roma #rome #italy #vatican #visititaly #foodblog #foodblogger

Behind me, the Giardini Segreti di Villa Borghese

Behind me, the Giardini Segreti di Villa Borghese in Rome. In front of me, my dear friend Steffi, whose birthday we celebrated in Rome this February. She’s now probably the only person who has had “Happy birthday” sang to her in the Sixtine Chapel, by the guards.

This post is just to say that my Roman trip was magical, completely lacked planning, and as such resulted in zero content for the blog aside from this post and a short reel that’s coming up soon. 🏛️

#rome #roma #roman #romanholiday #villaborghese #giardinisegreti #italy #italia #bellaitalia #visititaly #wanderlust #travel #instatravel #travelgram #romanian #streetstyle #travelblog #travelblogger #colour #magictravels #choiceofmagictravels #ootd #portuguese #romanian #architecture

Check Out My Latest Posts

Food I loved in Bangkok

September 18, 2023

Baked Basmati Rice Puttanesca

May 29, 2023

Food I Loved in Barcelona

February 21, 2023

What I am currently reading

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