text:
Helen Rowell, Deputy Chair at APRA
APRA questions Insurers' Risk Management
Self-assessments Required by November
by Wouter Klijn | July 20, 2021 Insurance, Risk and Regulation
Prudential regulator APRA has questioned the robustness of insurers' risk management frameworks, following unexpected business interruption claims stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has questioned the robustness of risk management practices among insurance companies, after they faced higher than expected claims resulting from lockdowns and other pandemic related restrictions.
The main source of claims stems from business interruption (BI) insurance, which APRA said included 'policy wordings that had not kept up-to-date with changing legislation'.
Insurance companies are now to file a self-assessment of their risk management practices by 30 November.
Several court cases have been filed around the definition of BI insurance and whether these policies cover the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent government actions.
It is estimated that the total liability of these policies could be as high as $10 billion in Australia, across a quarter of a million policies.
Insurers have argued that these types of insurances do not cover global events, including pandemics, but this has not been the view of courts.
Last year, the Insurance Council of Australia lost a test case in which it tried to clarify that members' policies did not cover pandemics.
The court ruled that changes in the Quarantine Act, which has since been replaced with the Biosecurity Act, mean pandemics are considered to be covered under the wording of the Act .
The Council appealed the decision but it was denied by the High Court last month.
"Although the legal disputes around BI cover for some COVID-19 claims have yet to be fully resolved, the fact that so many insurers were selling policies with outdated wording exposes clear deficiencies in risk management," APRA Deputy Chair Helen Rowell said in a letter to insurance companies.
"As well as examining the root causes of the BI problems, we are keen to identify whether similar hidden issues exist in other insurance products," she said.
Cyber risks have been identified as one particular area of concern as policies often explicitly include or exclude these risks, which makes this another potential area for unexpected claims, APRA said.
Investment Implications
The impact of the pandemic and the heightened claim level from BI insurance have also impacted the investment strategy and performance of insurance companies.
As the full force of the pandemic started to be realised, insurance companies instructed investment teams to liquidate risk assets during the months of March, April and May in an effort to strengthen capital positions.
Since this coincided with falls in equity markets, many insurance companies suffered significant losses.
Global insurance group QBE, which follows a calendar year as its financial year, stated in its 2020 annual report that the ultimate net cost of COVID-19 was estimated to be $785 million pre-tax.
"The onset of COVID-19 in early 2020 triggered widespread dislocation in social, economic and investment market conditions. In response, QBE executed a capital plan to raise … capital, and reduced risk by repositioning the investment portfolio and purchasing additional reinsurance," the company said in its annual report.
But despite the losses suffered in the beginning of the year, QBE ended the year with a small positive return as investment markets rebounded quickly.
"Investment market volatility heavily impacted investment returns during the first half of 2020. A strong second half recovery contributed to a 2020 investment return of 0.9 per cent, reflecting falling bond yields and the resilience of our real assets (property and infrastructure)," it said.
"The portfolio remains conservatively positioned with only 7 per cent in growth assets, comprising real assets, coupled with a small amount of gold and private equity," QBE said.
The company ultimately reported a full year statutory loss of $1,517 million, compared with a $550 million profit in 2019.
Overseas Experience
Australia is not the only country where the issue of BI insurance played out.
A similar test case took place in the United Kingdom and in January of this year, the UK Supreme Court handed down a decision that ruled all of the insuring clauses which were in issue were expected to provide cover to policyholders.
The insurers' appeals have so far been unsuccessful.
British insurance behemoth Lloyd's of London said in its annual report over the financial year to 31 December 2020 that it suffered an overall loss of £0.9 billion (AUD 1.7bn), caused by £3.4 billion (AUD 6.3bn) of major claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Lloyd's investment portfolio was less impacted. "2020 was an overall positive year for investments despite the losses incurred in the first quarter. Most equity markets generated a strong level of return for the calendar year, with large gains coming over the last three quarters of the year," it said.
Overall, the company's investments generated a return of 2.9 per cent on invested assets, compared to 4.8 per cent in 2019.
Future Fund on Infra and Pandemics FDI Eyes Chinese Bond Market


text:
Multimedia links
Jeffrey Melnick
https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2226761
Almost immediately after four hijacked planes crashed on 11 September 2011 conversations started about how the tragedy should be understood in the context of popular culture. Discussions about violence and popular culture also arose, seemingly fed not only by the basic truth that 11 September was a day of terrible carnage but also by the notion that the mode of attack was inextricablae from visual codes developed by Hollywood. During the first weeks after 9/11, numerous commentators insisted that Americans would be shaken out of their consumer habits and refuse to pay to see violent movies: it quickly became clear that music would play a special role as a cultural first responder on this new landscape.
Along with widely-circulated photographs and the New York Times series of impressionistic biographical life stories ("Portraits of Grief") popular song became the most widely-accepted "authentic" vehicle for commemorating American loss and expressing the grief and confusion that ensued after the attacks. For months and years after 9/11 popular musicians in the United States attempted to provide efficient articulations of American attitudes in the wake of the attacks. Two key television programs in the months following 9/11 capture the general outlines of the cultural industries' responses to the tragedy. On ...
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
layout: post
title: I Want to Want Something
tags: [money]
---

Having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting.

Or goes Spock in [Amok Time](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708416/characters/nm0000559).

The other day I was browsing the aisles at the local Lowe's. I already had in my hand what I came for - a few [steel sign holders](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-18-in-Steel-H-Bracket/3295380) for some yard signs for [my campaign](https://www.joe4huberheights.com/) - but I wanted something else. I wasn't sure what it was.

I don't really want anything. I pretty much have what I want. I have an awesome wife and two awesome kids. I mean, we have our good moments and not-so-good moments, but for the most part, I'm happy with what I have.

Our two vehicles - our [2014 Honda Odyssey](https://www.joehxblog.com/we-bought-a-van/) and our [2016 Honda Accord](https://www.joehxblog.com/we-bought-a-car/) - are fully paid off. And, for me, I don't want a shiny new car. For me, seeing how long I can keep a car and how many miles I can put on it before it falls apart is the thing. My last vehicle - a 2007 Chevy Cobalt I bought brand new - lasted me ten years.

We have some work we want to be done to our home - namely, a shut put in and the driveway repaved - so, I guess that could be something we want. But as I drifted from aisle to aisle at Lowe's searching for *something* - something fun, I guess - I thought of the phrase at the beginning of this post.

The phrase, yes, comes from Amok Time, the classic Star Trek episode. But in my mind, it comes from a poster I had in my room as a teenager back in the late 90s and early 2000s. The poster was, as you might imagine, a Star Trek poster. It had several dozen Star Trek quotes.

But I digress. The real point of this post is that I feel content. But despite that contentness, there's a desire to go through the journey of how I got where I am again.

I've done a few Google searches such as [things to make life easier](https://www.google.com/search?q=things+to+make+life+easier) but, as one might expect, it just brings up a list of Amazon affiliate sites trying to shill products. None of which will actually make life easier.

I think, for now, I'll just enjoy my family.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Everyone wants to make their job easier. Automated digital marketing tools, web development tools and search engine optimization kits can turn an arduous process into a trivial task.
Site quality is important — both for search engine optimization and for user readability. Grammarly double checks your work (or the work of your writers) to ensure that everything is grammatically correct and clear.
Microsoft has released a search engine optimization kit for Bing, Google and Yahoo. This free kit will review your website for changes that you can make for an easy SEO boost.
A keyword suggestion and exploration tool, Wordtracker offers a free trial for 7-days and a subscription service after that.
With keyword optimization, demographic tracking, site health analysis and ad integration, Google's Webmaster Tools are the one kit that you absolutely need. Google Webmaster Tools gives you unique insights into how Google sees your website.
Buffer is a simple scheduling application for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms. It makes it easy for you to manage your accounts with a clean and easy-to-use interface.
An all-in-one social media management tool, Hootsuite includes the ability to manage multiple platforms, schedule messages and tweets, analyze your social media traffic and even track mentions of your branding.
Sometimes it's less about the tools you use and how you use them. While the above digital marketing tool will certainly make your life easier, they're virtually useless without a complete understanding of modern marketing and SEO techniques.


These were the toys that won the hearts of '80s girls (and some boys) everywhere.
What made this so great: Jem was the complete '80s package; it was a cartoon series, with catchy songs and soap opera–style story lines (that were full of some real backwards logic). But really all the show served as was a 30-minute commercial for Jem dolls and their many accessories.
What made this so great: She-Ra: Princess of Power was a hugely successful cartoon spin-off of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The toy line differed in that it was really an action figure (She-Ra came complete with sword and shield) marketed toward girls.
What made this so great: This sub-line of Barbie dolls was an attempt to compete with the hugely popular Jem line. It included a tie-in direct-to-video movie titled Barbie and the Rockers: Out of This World.
What made this so great: Punky was the total "cool kid" every child wanted to be! Having this doll made you that much closer to achieving that status.
What made this so great: Like all great '80s toys, Rainbow Brite had a corresponding cartoon series. But much of her appeal was in her design: big, bold colors; yellow yarn hair; and a soft doll body, making her irresistible to preschool kids.
What made this so great: They were magical ponies! They were also appealing because they weren't dolls but you could still comb their hair and buy them lots of accessories.
Of course, their legacy lives on in the heart of Bronies and on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
What made this so great: Although this line was a bit more under the radar, Sylvanian Families had a huge following. Kids loved the appealing anthropomorphic designs of the figures and their detailed miniature world (lots of play sets and accessories).
What made this so great: Originally introduced in the late 1970s by American Greetings, Strawberry Shortcake was an unstoppable marketing machine.
She had every area of merchandise covered: cereal, vitamins, clothes, lunch boxes, and, of course, cartoon series. But most kids will remember her dolls and their main appeal: that each doll smelled like her particular name.
What made this so great: Sweet Secrets were a bit like Transformers for girls. They looked like jewelry pendants or compacts and would transform into dolls and play sets.
What made this so great: Arguably the most iconic of '80s toys were the Cabbage Patch Kids. Although they were originally marketed as gender neutral, girls were the primary owners of these dolls.


text:
Q: Can ASP.Net MVC 4's OAuthWebSecurity open a pop-up I'm trying to figure out how to use ASP.Net MVC 4's new OAuthWebSecurity functionality.  Is it possible when clicking on the facebook or twitter external login button to have the form post to a pop-up instead of refreshing the current page?  I've used oauth with Twitter and Facebook before using Javascript and the external authentication would happen in a pop-up.  After the results is returned asynchronously, the popup would close.  Can i do something similar to this using MVC 4's new OAuthWebSecurity functionality?  Thanks.

A: There are several aspects to solving this problem:

*

*Opening a popup to accommodate the authentication sequence.

*Closing the popup when the authentication is complete.

*Handling authentication failure.

*Updating the parent page to reflect the fact that the user is authenticated.

Here's how I implemented these requirements, using the MVC4 Internet Application template as a starting point:
To launch the authentication sequence in a popup (instead of redirecting to a new page) you need to modify _ExternalLoginListPartial.cshtml so that its form postback is targeted to a popup window that is launched by a JavaScript function:
@model ICollection<AuthenticationClientData>

@if (Model.Count == 0)
{

There are no external authentication services configured. See this article
        for details on setting up this ASP.NET application to support logging in via external services.

}
else
{
    <form id="login-launch" action="@Url.Action("ExternalLogin", "Account")" method="POST" target="login-popup" onsubmit="invokeLogin();">
        @Html.AntiForgeryToken()
        <fieldset id="socialLoginList">
            <input type="hidden" id="provider" name="provider" />
            <input type="hidden" name="returnUrl" value="@ViewBag.ReturnUrl"/>

                @foreach (var p in OAuthWebSecurity.RegisteredClientData)
                {
                    <button type="submit" onclick="$('#provider').attr('value', '@p.DisplayName'); $('#login-launch').submit();" title="Log in using @p.DisplayName">@p.DisplayName</button>
                }

        </fieldset>
    </form>
}

In its present state, this code correctly launches the popup and allows the authentication sequence to execute, but the popup remains open and, if a redirect URL was specified, the popup displays this page instead of redirecting the parent page to this URL.
To get the popup to close itself after a successful (or failed) authentication entails modifying the controller action method that handles the authentication callback, such that it returns a custom view containing JavaScript that dismisses the popup. As we'll see below, this mechanism can also be used to implement solutions to goals [3] and [4] above.
[AllowAnonymous]
public ActionResult ExternalLoginCallback(string returnUrl)
{
    var result = OAuthWebSecurity.VerifyAuthentication(Url.Action("ExternalLoginCallback", new { ReturnUrl = returnUrl }));

    if (!result.IsSuccessful)
    {
        return View("LoginResult", new LoginResultViewModel(false, Url.Action("ExternalLoginFailure")));
    }

    if (OAuthWebSecurity.Login(result.Provider, result.ProviderUserId, createPersistentCookie: false))
    {
        return View("LoginResult", new LoginResultViewModel(true, returnUrl));
    }

    OAuthWebSecurity.CreateOrUpdateAccount(result.Provider, result.ProviderUserId, result.UserName);
    return View("LoginResult", new LoginResultViewModel(true, returnUrl));
}

This action method is a simplified version of the ExternalLoginCallback() method that comes with the original project template. Unlike the original implementation, this simplified sample does not support allowing the user to define a personalized user name when a creating a new account, nor does it allow multiple OAuth or OpenID accounts to be associated with a single MVC user account. However, these capabilities are feasible by extending the above pattern to incorporate the more complex logic of the original template.
A key design feature of the above action method is that it always returns the same view, regardless of the outcome of the authentication attempt. This is necessary, because the returned view contains the JavaScript that closes the authentication popup and invokes any required consequential actions in the parent page. Therefore, if you modify the above pattern, you must ensure that every code path returns an instance of the LoginResult view, correctly populated according to the outcome of the authentication.
Here is the markup for the Loginresult view:
@model LoginResultViewModel
@{
    Layout = null;

    var success = Model.Success ? "true" : "false";
    var returnUrl = Model.ReturnUrl == null ? "null" : string.Format("'{0}'", Model.ReturnUrl);
}

<!DOCTYPE html>

The above view accepts a model of type LoginResultViewModel that reflects the outcome of the completed authentication attempt:
public class LoginResultViewModel
{
    public LoginResultViewModel(bool success, string returnUrl)
    {
        Success = success;
        ReturnUrl = returnUrl;
    }

    public bool Success { get; set; }
    public string ReturnUrl { get; set; }
}

With all of the above elements in place, it is possible to launch an authentication sequence that executes in a popup window that automatically closes itself when the sequence completes. If authentication was successful, the user will be logged-in at this point and if it was launched with a return URL (as would occur automatically if triggered by a request to an action method protected by an [Authorize] attribute), the parent page will be redirected to the originally requested URL.
However, if authentication was launched explicitly by the user (for example, by visiting the login page) the parent page will not redirect and may therefore require a partial-page update to reflect the fact that the user is now logged-in. In the MVC template sample, it is necessary to update the page to show the name of the user and a Logout button instead of the Login and Register buttons.
This can be accomplished by defining a JavaScript callback function in the layout view that is called by the JavaScript executed by the authentication popup:

The above JavaScript makes an AJAX call to a new action method that renders and returns the existing _LoginPartial view:
[HttpGet]
public ActionResult LoginPartial()
{
    if (Request.IsAjaxRequest())
    {
        return View("_LoginPartial");
    }

    return new EmptyResult();
}

One final modification is required to the original project template. The _LoginPartial view must be modified to render without a layout view:
@{
    Layout = null;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
A guide to Mediterranean cuisine
Take a culinary tour through the Med
The Mediterranean diet has long been hailed as one of the healthiest in the world. With an abundance of fresh ingredients such as olives and fish, and plenty of sunshine, the Mediterranean countries enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling pace of life. In this guide we take a look at Spanish, Italian and Greek cuisine and with the help of local experts, recommend what you should try on your next cruise holiday.
Traditional Spanish cuisine
Spain's sunny Mediterranean coast draws millions of visitors every year. Offering tourists the opportunity to bask in the sunshine with a crisp glass of wine and world-renowned seafood, it's easy to see why Spain tops the list for many as the ultimate foodie destination.
"Spain has a huge diversity of landscapes and climates," said Miguel Ullibarri of food travel agency, A Taste of Spain, "with a very large part of the country dedicated to farming, agriculture and fishing – Spain produces more olive oil and cured ham than any other country, and has the largest extension of vineyards in the world.
"From a culinary point of view, the traditional cuisine of Spain is particularly varied and rich, it takes advantage of the great local products and the cultural heritage from Arabs, Jews and the Americas. It's not by chance that in the past 15 years Spanish restaurants are ranked consistently as some of the world's best – San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than anywhere else. If this is not enough, Spaniards are welcoming people who love meeting people and sharing their time, food, wine and traditions with visitors."
When thinking of Spain, many will immediately think of tapas. The country's delicious cured meats such as Iberian ham and chorizo, coupled with seafood and spectacular wines, makes this part of the Mediterranean irresistible. Pablo Vasquez of Spain Food Sherpas, a food tour company in Malaga, said: "In our opinion, Spain is a wonderful foodie destination because of many reasons. We have the produce, being the vegetable garden of Europe, the biggest olive oil producer worldwide, home to quality products like the Iberian pig, cattle in the north of Spain, all types of seafood and our wines, red white, cava, sweet and sherry.
"Spain is very diverse. We have totally different products depending on the region you're visiting. And every village, even the smallest ones, have a speciality they claim to be the best in the world.
"The cultural and historic heritage our cuisine represents includes Arabian, Roman or Sephardic influence, and we have some of the most special treats like rice fields in Valencia, sugar cane plantations on the tropical coast of Malaga and Granada for Saffron."
Spain Food Sherpas shared their must-try dishes when visiting the ancient city of Malaga:
"Fried fish (especially white anchovies) and 'Espetos' (grilled sardines). These are best enjoyed at a chiringuito bar on the beach
Our cold cuts like bondiola or acorn and chestnut fed Iberian ham and goat cheeses of our local goat breed
Aloreñas olives – the only ones with a designation of origin in Spain
Malaga-style salad with potatoes, cod, onion, Aloreña olives and orange. An interesting mixture!
Ajoblanco – a cold almond soup with garlic. Very different, surprising and tasty
The sweet wine from Malaga cannot be missed – you can almost taste the sun in its sweet berries and wonderful fruity notes
Our seasonal produce in general – loquats and cherries in spring, heirloom tomatoes, figs and peaches in the summer, mangoes and cherimoyas in autumn and citrus fruits and purple carrots in winter – just to name some of them!
Porra Antequerana, similar to gazpacho
Pil-pil prawns, one of the most typical Andalusian treats
Take a food tour in Malaga
If you have just a day or two to spend in Malaga on your cruise holiday, it may be worth considering a food tour to sample the best of the local cuisine. Pablo said: "Spain Food Sherpas is a small, local company that was founded in 2013 in Malaga at the hands of a team of food lovers that wanted to reveal and share the hidden culinary and cultural treasures of the region.
"Our passion is stunning produce, grocery stores with lots of history behind them, talented chefs that create mouth-watering combinations (traditional and with a contemporary twist) and of course the food markets, that are our cornerstone.
"We believe that one of the most enjoyable aspects of travelling is the opportunity to taste local cuisine and discover new flavours and like this, get a little bit closer to what the real essence of a place is – its culture, history and way of being through food."
So, what can you expect on a tour with Spain Food Sherpas? Pablo said: "Our tours are about visiting places most people wouldn't necessarily find on their own, like off-the-beaten-track 'ultramarinos' and specialty stores. Another interesting aspect is that we offer dishes we know are tasty and representative of our region, but we also try to make our clients experience food they wouldn't have ordered by themselves.
"Creations that combine sweet and savoury notes, different textures or presentations of some of our 'classics' or simply a really good pairing of food and drinks that get your taste buds going."
Experiencing Malaga on a food tour also opens doors to meeting locals and discovering the true essence of the country. Pablo added: "Our clients will meet local people, learn about the history of the city and province and taste delicious food as they stroll through the old town.
"There is much to learn about all the produce our region has to offer and we're very happy when we can share this knowledge with them, so their stay in Malaga is hopefully even richer and more profound. We strive to give an insight of the local food and culture, exposing them to real local food and wine that the 'Malagueños' eat."
A culinary journey through Spain
For food tours and experiences in Barcelona, Catalonia, Andalusia, Galicia, the Basque Country and Central Spain, aptly named A Taste of Spain have got you covered. Specialising in designing and organising private culinary tours and activities for international foodie travellers, the agency launched in 1999 as the first tour operator of its kind.
Miguel Ullibarri of A Taste of Spain said: "On our food tours and activities participants get to know Spain and its culture through food and wine – not just enjoying great food, but meeting local farmers, producers and chefs, visiting food markets and learning how Spaniards cook and share time around food as an essential part of their social life."
As well as tours, A Taste of Spain also offers cooking experiences. Miguel added: "We also organise hands-on cooking classes in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Cadiz, Galicia and San Sebastian, as well as food workshops featuring Spanish products such as Iberico ham, olive oil and cheese."
With so many delicious meals to choose from, what should travellers prioritise on a cruise to Spain? Miguel said: "There are famous Spanish dishes and products such as paella, Spanish omelette, tapas, Iberico ham and sherry wines that shouldn't be missed, but sometimes it's not easy for visitors to get to enjoy their authentic versions, particularly in tourist areas. The list of regional specialities and dishes throughout our country is endless, Spain is a true paradise for foodie travellers.
"Also beyond what one eats, we believe that getting to enjoy food in the way locals do makes a huge difference – tasting tapas is a good example, the experience becomes truly special if one has the help of a local who knows the right places, the people behind the bar, each bar's specialities, the best time to go, how to order."
Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, so it's safe to say it's a pretty big deal. Its enormous variety of grapes (around 400) are harvested to create exceptional wines, with every region producing its own speciality.
In the rural landscape of Valencia, Vicente Gandia, a century-old winery, continues to produce exquisite Mediterranean wine. It was founded in 1885 and is currently managed by the fourth generation of the Gandia family. Considered to be the largest winery in Valencia, Vicente Gandia's wines are enjoyed in more than 90 countries on five continents.
"Our winery remains faithful to its founding values," said Paula Aguado of Vicente Gandia, "it contributes to the progress and welfare of society and is committed to quality and innovation without forgetting the wine tradition of our ancestors.
"Vicente Gandia controls the entire production process, from harvest to bottle labelling, allowing us to leave our own stamp on the wines we produce without stripping away the essence of their region.
"Valencia consists of four sub-zones (Alto Turia, Valentino. Clariano and Moscatel) with altitudes ranging from 250m to 1100m, this is a region with great wine variety that can offer both young wines, whites and roses with great freshness and aroma and modern and innovative reds."
The landscape plays a large role in the creation and development of Vicente Gandia's wines. Paula added: "The Mediterranean climate conditions of this area, with long hot summers and mild winters, result in high quality wines with Mediterranean character.
"We are equipped with all the technology for getting the most out of the land without damaging it; respecting it natural cycles, making best use of water, seeing each vine stock as something able to produce the multiple facets which, like a gemstone, some wines offer to delight all the senses."
Traditional Italian cuisine
There's no escaping it – Italy, Naples to be specific - is the home of pizza. Neapolitan pizzas were born in this beautiful ancient city and are now being made all over the world. But Naples has taken measures to protect the authenticity of its dish. The True Neapolitan Pizza Association was founded in 1984 to 'promote and protect in Italy and worldwide the true Neapolitan pizza'.
Food is taken very seriously in Italy. In June, the port city of Genoa granted special airport waivers for those who wish to take traditional Genovese pesto home on the plane. Luckily this isn't a problem on a cruise holiday.
Whether you're tucking into a few arancini (crispy stuffed rice balls with ragu, tomato and mozzarella) or osso buco alla Milanese (delicious veal shanks braised in white wine), Italy offers a world of spectacular tastes. Each region has taken popular national dishes to give it their own twist. Take risotto, for example. Originating in northern Italy, this mouth-watering meal has been altered across the country with a local twist. In Milan, it's made with beef stock, beef bone marrow, lard, cheese and saffron, while in Piedmont further north, it's made using red wine, sausage meat and Borlotti beans.
Italy's localised cuisine makes it a real adventure. Anyone setting off on their Azamara cruise can venture to the likes of Rome, Olbia and Florence on the ultimate food tour. Be sure to try authentic lasagne, prosciutto, ribollita (a traditional meal made with varying ingredients including white beans, meats and vegetables) and saltimbocca (slices of veal with prosciutto and herb leaves). Of course, for those with a sweet tooth, try a scoop of gelato, an indulgent tiramisu or torrone, a dessert made with honey, egg whites, toasted nuts and citrus zest.
Take a food tour in Florence and Rome
If you'd like to sample a bit of everything that Italy has to offer, why not take a food tour? Eating Italy Food Tours (part of Eating Europe), offer culinary journeys through Rome and Florence. Wibke Carter, organiser, said: "All of Eating Italy's food tours take people through off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods, giving them a taste of the best that each city has to offer. All the while, they're having fun and learning about the foodie traditions and history that locals know about, but most tourists never get the chance to experience.
"More than just a food tour, Eating Europe provides guests with a taste of daily life and an opportunity to feel part of the fabric of the community. Our food tours are generally 2-4 hours long and held in small groups of like-minded foodies and travellers."
Italian cuisine is popular across the globe, but in Italy, it's incredibly regional. Wibke added: "While the Neapolitans may be eating pizza, the Romans will be eating pasta carbonara, the Milanese risotto and the Florentines bean soup. The variations are endless!"
Take a look at Eating Italy's food map to help you choose a tour.
Traditional Greek cuisine
Dating back some 4,000 years, Greek cuisine is engrained in the local culture. The foundations of ancient Greek cuisine were based on wheat, olive oil and wine, with meat being fairly absent from the traditional diet and fish only being eaten occasionally. Today, the cuisine is much the same.
Vegetarian travellers can revel in many of Greece's traditional dishes, including vegetable moussaka, an aubergine-based dish with spices and cheese; spanakopita, a mouth-watering savoury pastry made with spinach and feta cheese; tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters) and kolokithokeftedes (courgette balls).
One of Greece's most famous dishes is dolmadakia, or dolma, which consists of stuffed grape vine leaves with rice and herbs. There's plenty of sweet food to enjoy too, including amygdalota, a delicious almond cookie; the more well-known baklava; and bougatsa, a sweet pie usually eaten at breakfast with creamy custard.
As with most Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil is an essential element of Greek cooking. Olive trees can be seen throughout the region and contribute to the overall flavour of the traditional dishes. However Greek cuisine uses more flavourings such as garlic, dill, bay leaves, oregano, mint, basil, thyme and fennel. The fresh and full taste of Greek food makes it perfect for enjoying in the sunshine. A traditional Greek salad or pastry, or a plate of crushed fava beans, are the perfect accompaniment to a glass of local wine or ouzo.
If you've ever dreamt of taking a cruise to Santorini, you may have seen photographs of octopus drying out along the coast. Hung out on a washing line, the octopus is left out to dry for a day in the sun, as it's the best way to tenderise them. They are then grilled over hot coals and are a must-try for seafood lovers. For some of the best grilled octopus in Santorini, visit Fratzeskos Fish Tavern and Ammoudi Fish Tavern.
If you're looking for Greece's most traditional tipple, ouzo certainly tops the list. This unique anise-flavoured liqueur is very popular and brought to locals from old distilleries, such as Barbayanni Ouzo, and newer producers. Ouzo is believed to have originated from tsipouro, a Greek brandy, which was allegedly flavoured with anise by monks. The beverage eventually became known as ouzo.
Ouzo is traditionally mixed with water, forming a cloudy, white appearance. It is usually only served with ice along with mezes, essentially the Greek version of tapas. If you're eager to sample some of Greece's freshest food including small fish, olives and feta cheese, ordering a meze is one of the best ways to do so.
A culinary journey through Athens
In Athens, Culinary Backstreets take visitors on guided food walks to "tell the story of a city through its food," according to its editor, Yigal Schleifer. He said: "We like to think of our work as serving as a culinary briefing that helps visitors and locals alike better understand a city's bigger stories (while also getting into some great food spots).
"Our food walk brings together Athens' ancient and modern history in one edible package. Greece has a long history culinary history – it could even be considered the birthplace of gastronomy, considering how much the ancient Greeks wrote about food – and our walk is a great way to dive into some of that background."
Culinary Backstreets say their tours help visitors to get an understanding of modern Athens, its local culture, and what makes the city "tick". Yigal added: "We like to support small, family-run businesses and backstreet eateries with a long and rich history – the kinds of places that help give a true sense of place."
When asked which dishes he'd recommend to those visiting Greece for the first time, Yigal said: "A very difficult question to answer – there is so much to recommend! It really depends which part of Greece and what time of year, since Greek cuisine varies so much by region and season. But there are many must-tries.
"Pies (sweet and savoury) are a huge part of Greek cuisine and each region has its own version. Grilled lamb or lamb chops are another dish that somehow just taste better in Greece. Dishes made with the traditional avogolemono (egg and lemon) sauce are also highly recommended.
"For dessert, there's Greek baklava prepared with honey, strained yoghurt with honey or spoon sweets and Galaktoboureko – a custard pie with a honey syrup. Of course, no visit to Greece would be complete without a taste of some of the country's exceptional wine!"
While every country across the Mediterranean has its own, unique cuisine, they all share common principles based on their bounty of natural ingredients. Wherever you decide to travel on your next cruise holiday, be sure to try the regional dishes for a true flavour of the area.
Image credits: Aires Almedia, Life-Of-Pix, Yeray Diaz Zbida, Spain Food Sherpas, Anna Fox, Cazz, Sodexo USA, Klearchos Kapoutsis, XavierAP, Charles Haynes, Jenny, Jill111
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