In the spirit of the Olympic games, we’ve compiled the following list of some of our favorite “short eats” – meals for travelers on the go – and awarded medals to those that rank in the top three.

We were in our usual rush.  With only one day in Kandy, the small mountain city at the base of Sri Lanka’s tea country, we had ambitions to cover a lot of ground: a visit to the area’s most heralded tea plantation two hours away, a tour of the Buddhist temple here which houses Sri Lanka’s most famous relic, the Buddha’s tooth, and some exploration of the busy streets of downtown Kandy, that swirl around the oddly-located local prison (or “free hotel” as our cab driver calls it) in the town center.

Sadly, as is sometimes the case with determined travelers, we neglected to allot any time for perhaps the most important and yet occasionally overlooked aspect of traveling: eating. Lucky for us, Sri Lanka is home to a phenomenon called “short eats,” their answer to the American burger and fries off the rack. Sri Lanka’s short eats shops, a nice compliment to the country’s already terrific formal sit-down restaurants, usually feature an assortment of stuffed pastries such as the patty, a triangular dumpling filled with curried potatoes, vegetables or fish. Also available are baked sweetbread buns sprinkled with sugar, a remnant from Portuguese colonization. (more…)

Sunday in England means football…of the British variety. We headed to a local pub to catch London’s bitter rivals Chelsea and Arsenal square off in a heated match. While we were at it we got to taste the UK’s most famous culinary export: fish and chips. The entire experience was…delightful. Check out the photos here…

To say we merely like açai would be an understatement: we’re addicted to it. This cool treat, unique only to Brazil comes from a fruit from palms in the Amazon, and tastes so good, we had to see how it was made. Get your fix in today’s photo gallery.

Despite looming clowds, we took a bus northward along the coast until we reached Pedra do Sal beach in the neighborhood of Itapuã. The ocean beaches to the north of the city have fewer people and bigger waves, which is exactly what we were looking for. We also found a stand selling a traditional Bahian delicacy. Come see Itapuã by clicking here…

Walking around Buenos Aires, you can barely go a couple blocks without seeing someone drinking mate, and so for this quiet day, we too, take a sip. Get your cup in today’s photo gallery.

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On the streets of Buenos Aires, resting on his car’s passenger door, a cab driver takes a break from sipping on a metal straw and lazily asks, “Necesitan taxi?” A lack of an answer does not matter – in fact, you’d probably be troubling him if you did take him up on the offer. He’s drinking mate. With the trademark cup in hand, and the requisite thermos snug under his arm, all else that any mate drinker really needs is, well, more time.

It’s hard to go a couple street blocks, or venture past a park, and not see someone relaxingly sipping on mate – seemingly the South American drink of choice. Despite its ubiquity, a week into our stay in Buenos Aires, we had yet to partake in a round of drinking the earthy liquid. (more…)

Ok we’ll admit – the steady diet of tacos has gotten to us. During a layover in our 20-hour trek to Guatemala by bus, we were tempted, seduced and succumbed to the sight of Hong Kong restaurant. Salty, greasy and probably laced with MSG, the meal hit the spot as our last meal in Mexico. Get your dinner and fortune cookie with today’s photo gallery…

The relaxing town of Oaxaca, about 165 miles southeast of Puebla, has an eclectic mix of local culinary treats. With only two days to spend in this vibrant city, we went on a local food binge that filled our stomachs to the brim. From grasshoppers to chocolate to mezcal, give your taste buds a lickin’ with these photos…

Our decision to visit Oaxaca was not by coincidence; its reputation preceded it. I had grown up knowing only the name of this place thanks to a poster in my friend’s living room. I spent many a bleary-eyed morning, after a late night Sega Genisis filled sleepover, trying to imagine how to pronounce that first syllable—O-a…x? (”wah,” as it turns out)  More recently it was the teacher protests and subsequent shutdown of the city in 2006 that brought the town to my attention. And then I heard about the culinary treats that one might find on the quiet streets of this town. Since our arrival 24-hours ago, Thushan and I have spent as much time as possible eating, tasting, and sipping our way from one end of town to the other.
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