Fasolada is a white bean or fava bean soup that dates back to the Ancient Greeks and which is popular in both Greece and Cyprus. In fact, fasolada is often referred to as the national dish of Greece.

There are variants all throughout the region, including an Italian one called pasta e fagioli. The Portuguese feijoada is also a variant of fasolada. There are variants throughout the Levant, including an Arab version called fasoulia.

Fasolada is traditionally made without meat, which makes it an important dish for Lent. Aside from the beans, other vegetables that can be included are celery and onion. It will also have a tomato base.

It is typically made with olive oil, or it may be added to the bowl at the table.

Fasolada is thought to have originated with a soup made to celebrate the Greek god Apollo. The name comes from the word faso, which means bean.

Ingredients:
1 lb dried white beans
1 large yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 sticks celery, strings removed and sliced
3 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped (or a 15oz can peeled tomatoes)
2 tbsp tomato paste
5 tbsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
Handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Drain the beans and place in a large saucepan.

Cover with cold water and bring to a boil, skimming off any froth with a slotted spoon.

Add all the other ingredients except the seasonings, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until tender.

Allow to cool slightly, season with salt and pepper, and ladle into bowls.

Serves 6 to 8

If you’ve never tried it please make sure to ask for it when you travel to Cyprus ...

Next to Warsaw did you know Chicago has the highest Polish population in the world?

Scratch a Chicagoan, and you may very well find a Polish connection. Polish Americans are everywhere. The city often proclaims itself as Poland’s second city, with only Warsaw containing a larger Polish population.

The first wave of Polish immigration to Chicago was in the 1860s. Since then, Chicago has long been home to one of the largest Polish populations outside of Europe.
Polish Americans have not only helped shape the city; they’ve also helped influence the political development of Poland itself.

Ultimately, the mere fact that Chicagoans still brag about it proves that the city’s Polish heritage remains close to their hearts.

On the other hand in Warsaw the Old Town, entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List and it’s where the city’s heart has been beating for centuries. However, when you cross the Vistula River and look at the Old Town from a distance, you are struck by how unusual the panorama of the city is – skyscrapers rise above the red roofs of the Old Town.

Historical buildings blend in harmoniously with modern architecture, and the city surprises us by revealing its second face… ...

Street Art & Graffiti – in the Mont Royal neighbourhood – Montreal has created an amazing street art culture over the years.

Hundreds of pool noodles invaded an abandoned alley in Quebec City, Canada as part of Delirious Frites, an architectural installation created by Les Astronautes.

The piece creates a total environment that throws passers-by into a completely different world. The large number of pool noodles generates a colourful atmosphere reminiscent of summer that also has something uncanny, organic and lifelike, almost like vines in a jungle.

The intervention takes advantage of the anonymity and the narrowness of the site. The contrast with the historical surroundings attracts people to discover this forgotten space in the city.

The name Delirious frites comes directly from the pool noodles used for the installation, which are called “frites de piscine” or “pool French fries” in French. ...