Posts about History
Information on aspects of history in the cities covered by Context Travel.
Last weekend, Park Hyatt Macka Palace Istanbul Hotel hosted the Masters of Food and Wine event with the theme of “Byzantium and Food”. Context Travel culinary docent and renowned food writer, Aylin Oney Tan has worked together with Park Hyatt Istanbul’s creative chef Julien Piguet on designing the menu for a Byzantine inspired dinner.
Carefully selected ingredients based on research and historical evidence were brought together to create a  rich menu and an Imperial atmosphere at the Prime Restaurant of Park Hyatt Istanbul. Aylin’s explanations throughout the dinner, brought to life the flavors and traditions of Byzantine Empire accompanied by selected local wine made of local grape varieties to match the courses.
We asked Aylin and Julien about this unique Byzantium meal they put together:
CONTEXT :  Do we know any recipes from the extravagant tables of the Empires or the daily meals of locals  of Constantinople?
AYLIN : We do not have exact recipes, but we have an idea on what was eaten, and about most praised ingredients. We also know a great deal on health-food relation and seasonal products.
CONTEXT : How was your market tour? What ingredients are the living descendants of the Byzantine cuisine and can still be found in Istanbul?
JULIEN :Â It was a great experience for me. I went to the market before obviously, but for the first time I had somebody to explain me the history of those specific products, Aylin was a great teacher, and so this tour was really interesting and tasty.
AYLIN : It is really exciting to see that many traditions still survive in contemporary Istanbul cuisine. Green olives in brine, cured bonito, waxed fish eggs, examples are endless. Julien did a great job combining exquisite spices like saffron, humble food like chickpeas and seafood of Bosphorus creating sublime recipes.
CONTEXT : How did you decide on the courses preparing this menu?
AYLIN: I read a great deal about the period. Andrew Dalby’s book, “Flavours of Byzantium” was always at our hand. Purple is the color of Byzantine and we gave an importance to every detail with a touch of purple. Table setting had a touch of purple, salt cellars were of purple mussel shells, I was dressed in purple, there was a purple coloured ingredient in every single dish.
JULIEN :Aylin gave me the list of ingredients, the details and the history of the Byzantine Cuisine and then I created a menu, we exchanged ideas, she was correcting if certain products should not be included and finally I gave a personal touch to design the dishes in a bit modern style whlie keeping the correct taste and ingredients.
CONTEXT : How can you describe the whole experience?
JULIEN :Very interesting and exciting, waiting for the next dinner!
AYLIN : A very tasty way of understanding the history and continuity!
Posted by Ceylan Zere | This post has 4 comments
April 5th, 2012 under Food and Wine, History, Istanbul, Special Events.
Everyone has their favorite season for visiting New York City, but we think the early spring, when the trees and flowers are starting to bud and bloom, and before the heat sets in, is prime time for a weekend trip. If you already have a weekend booked, or are considering a last minute trip, here are some of our top activity picks you won’t want to miss.
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Posted by Carolyn | This post has 3 comments
March 15th, 2012 under Architecture, Art, Budget Conscious Travel, City Life, Culture, Family Travel, Food and Wine, History, Museums and Monuments, New York, Special Events, Uncategorized.
London is getting ready to celebrate the 60 years of The Queen’s reign.  While the actual coronation took place on June 2nd,  1953 (celebrations for that will take place next year), this summer we’ll celebrate the Queen’s coming to the throne in 1952.
The festivities will center around an extended weekend on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June. The Royal family will be engaged in year long events to celebrate the jubilee both in the UK and across the world. However, the main celebration will actually take place in London during the long June weekend . Read more »
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March 7th, 2012 under City Life, Culture, History, London, Special Events, Uncategorized.
On a small plot of land wedged between the southern end of the Bund and a densely packed neighborhood of ramshackle structures—a fantastic remnant of old Shanghai—dozens of construction workers run cranes, pour concrete, and shuttle wheelbarrows frenetically about as they erect yet another skyscraper. Read more »
Posted by Paul Bennett | This post has no comments
February 29th, 2012 under Architecture, City Life, History, Museums and Monuments, Shanghai, Uncategorized.
In this Olympic year London is commemorating one of its most famous inhabitants – and no, I don’t mean Charles Dickens. In July, to coincide with the Games, the British Museum is hosting a major exhibition, Shakespeare: Staging the World, looking at the life and times of England’s greatest dramatist; but before then the general celebration of all things Shakespearean kicks off with a play by Edward Bond at the Young Vic Theatre, near London’s Soutbank. Read more »
Posted by Petulia | This post has no comments
February 10th, 2012 under Books & Literature, History, London, Special Events.
On 17th January one hundred years ago, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and a small team of five naval and army officers and scientists reached the South Pole. The story is well known: how the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had won the race to the Pole to the bitter disappointment of the British expedition; how Scott and his party perished in cruel conditions on their way back to their base camp; the self-sacrifice of Captain Lawrence Oats; the rest of the group’s final days in a blizzard only 11 miles from the depot of provisions that would have saved them. Read more »
Posted by Kevin Childs | This post has no comments
January 16th, 2012 under History, London, Museums and Monuments, Special Events.
Every year, we do our best to create new interesting walks that will make visiting our cities more exciting for everyone. Working with our docents to create new itineraries is often the most exciting part of our job.
This year, we have launched a few walks that we are particularly proud of. Here is a shortlist of our favorites:
Philadelphia:Â Public Art in Philadelphia: From William Penn to Rocky Balboa Read more »
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December 29th, 2011 under Art, Context Travel, Edinburgh, History, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Venice.
Last week, the African American Meeting House, located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, reopened after a multimillion dollar historic restoration. The Meeting House is part of the Museum of African American History which has campuses both on Beacon Hill in Boston and on the island of Nantucket. The National Historic Landmark had be closed to the public for 6 years during the restoration.
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December 14th, 2011 under Boston, History, Museums and Monuments, Uncategorized.
Overlooking the verdant hills of the Cap de Creus, the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes calls the modern day pilgrim to a tranquil resting place high above the deep blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Roughly 100 miles north of Barcelona and less than an hour’s drive from the French border, the monastic complex with accompanying hermitage sites and castle is worth the detour from the France – Barcelona auto-route (or is an easy day trip from Barcelona, Figueres, or Perpignan). Read more »
Posted by Michelle Cheng | This post has no comments
September 28th, 2011 under Barcelona, Culture, Docent Essays, History.
Washington is a marvelous city to visit in the fall: the summer’s tourists have mostly departed, and the promise of cooler weather provides incentive for leisurely ambles along the Mall. No trip to the city would be complete, however, without stepping in to at least one of the Smithsonian’s outposts. Read more »
Posted by Katie W | This post has no comments
September 20th, 2011 under Art, Culture, History, Museums and Monuments, Uncategorized, Washington.
Last weekend, Park Hyatt Macka Palace Istanbul Hotel hosted the Masters of Food and Wine event with the theme of “Byzantium and Food”. Context Travel culinary docent and renowned food writer, Aylin Oney Tan has worked together with Park Hyatt Istanbul’s creative chef Julien Piguet on designing the menu for a Byzantine inspired dinner.
