You Need Health Insurance

There are many different reasons you need to get the best health insurance possible and when you’re looking for family health insurance this is the place where you will want to do business. There’s really no reason to look at any other company than Insurance Care Direct when you’re looking to get the best in affordable health insurance.

It’s important to remember that this is the place that has been in business for years now and in that time they have perfected a system that will get you the health insurance quotes that you need so that you can get the policy that’s just right for you.

And the linchpin to their technique is the free quotes system. This is a fast and efficient way to get the health insurance quotes that you need without moving from the front of your computer.

All that’s necessary is that you fill out a simple online form to get started. After that, you’ll get all the health insurance quotes that you need and be able to sort through them to get to the health insurance policy that’s just right for you.

Medical Treatment in the EEC

I’ve received a growing number of emails from readers who are confused about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and hopefully this article will help deal with some, if not all of the confusion.

The health insurance card will provide you with free or discounted medical treatment within an EEC country. It is worth pointing out that receipt of the EHIC doesn’t necessarily mean free medical treatment in all EEC countries, so I strongly suggest that you visit the Department for Health country by country guide for information on your holiday destination.

It’s essential that you buy adequate travel insurance prior to travelling, so that medical treatment and other expenses will be covered to the amount in your travel insurance documentation.

It is also worth knowing that the UK has reciprocal healthcare arrangements with some other countries and territories outside of the EEC, which means you are entitled to urgent treatment either at reduced cost or free. Again the Department of Health have produced a country-by-country guide.

Let’s put an end to the rumours..

No – you don’t have to pay for the EHIC it’s completely free.
Yes – the E111 form is no longer useable
No – you don’t get free medical treatment in every EEC country
No – the EHIC doesn’t replace Travel Insurance

If you need any further information or guidance then I strongly suggest that you visit the Department of Health’s Travellers website because it is very informative, easy to read and understand.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Advice

All travellers visiting Countries within the EEC should have a valid E111 form BEFORE travelling – this will ensure that if you were taken ill abroad you would be covered for free or discount healthcare. From January the E111 form will be replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

For more information please read our E111 advice page and ensure that if you are travelling over Christmas and New Year that you have a valid E111 form and/or European Health Insurance Card.

Please note that this does not replace travel insurance – you must ensure that adequate insurance is taken out before you travel.

Tips for a healthy and Safe holiday

I spend all year working hard to save up for my annual holiday, and the last thing I want is for it to be blighted with health issues, especially since I’m in a different country, with doctors speaking another language and a varied standard of hospitals.

This is my guide to help you have a healthy and safe holiday.

Vaccinations and medication

Firstly, contact your doctor’s surgery and ask for advice on what vaccinations and medication they recommend you have before travelling. Make sure you do this in plenty of time prior to your departure because you do not want to be leaving it to the last minute.

Some vaccinations can have side effects – you might find you get a cold, sore throat or achy body, and you don’t want to be ill on your holiday. It’s also worth having a tetanus injection if you haven’t had one in the last ten years but make sure you always take the advice of your doctor before taking any medication.

European Health Insurance Card

Holders of a European Health Insurance Card will receive free or reduced health care during your visit to an EEA country or Switzerland. The EEA consists of the member states of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is also covered with some exceptions.

The card is free and replaces the old E111 form. You can apply online, or call the EHIC Applications Line on 0845 606 2030. I received my card within 4 days of completing the form online – make sure you have your national insurance number to hand.

Travel Insurance

It is essential that you buy adequate travel insurance before you travel and make sure that you are covered for medical expenses, delays and lost luggage. If you plan to participate in skiing, water sports and other adventure activities make sure that the insurance covers you for this.

Shop around because the price for a single trip can range from £4 to £30 from my own experience. More of us are taking expensive gadgets like iPod’s on holiday so total up the cost of replacing any items that you plan to take with you, and if lost would the insurance cover the cost to replace it.

Know before you Go

Researching your holiday destination is a good idea and could save you a lot of stress. First point of call should be the Foreign, Commonwealth Office website. Read the information on your destination and check any warnings and essential telephone numbers like the local British consulate.

Use Google Maps to find the nearest hospital, chemist, doctors from the hotel and print out the map with directions. Find an online version of the local English speaking newspaper and read the news so you know what’s going on and where to avoid. Read guides on Lonely Planet and WikiTravel.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot, or thrombus, that develops in deep veins such as those in the leg. These are most common in damaged veins, or in veins where blood flow in constricted. To avoid DVT make sure you get up from your seat occasionally and walk around to exercise your legs. Read my guide to Deep Vein Thrombosis for more information.

Do not store hand luggage in front of you as this will restrict you from moving your legs. Whilst sat in your seat try and run through some stretching exercises by moving your legs, arms and neck. Try not to stay in the same position for too long.

Coping with Jetlag

Jet lag is a condition that arises from crossing multiple time zones in a relatively short time and consequently disturbs your natural body clock or circadian rhythms. Try and get some sleep. Sleeping on-board will not only help to pass the time, but can help you feel refreshed upon arrival. Drink plenty of water.

Avoid sleeping pills at all costs. When you arrive, getting a quick nap will seem very attractive indeed – but resist this temptation. Go to bed at your normal bedtime (based on local time). This will force your body to adjust to any new time zones far quicker.

Protection from the Sun

The sun is at it’s hottest between 12noon and 3pm so it’s best advised to stay in shade and try to keep out of the sun as much as possible. It’s a good idea to wear a hat and cover up with loose clothing, wear sunglasses with UV filters to protect your eyes.

Make sure you protect children and babies from direct sunlight, apply SPF 25 (or higher) cover their head with a hat. Drink plenty of water to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration and avoid alcohol. If won’t have access to water for more than thirsty minutes, make sure you fill up a flask of water.

Awareness of others

It doesn’t matter if I am travelling alone or with friends I always make sure that I am aware of the people around me when walking around the streets at night. I try my best to get to know the local area and appear to know where I am heading rather than wandering around looking like a lost tourist.

I remember within 10 minutes of walking outside of my hotel in Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysian man approached me, welcomed me to the city, and asked if I would like to have a chat in a local coffee shop. I politely said no because I had read a news article about the increase of tourist robberies.

Useful Travel Health websites

BBC Travel Health
Health Advice for Travelers
Travel Health
Travel Turtle

Heatwave hits the UK

Wahoo! The hot weather is finally here. I love warm weather – you can’t beat sat in a park, or in the garden with a cold drink taking in some sunrays. It’s not often that we get warm weather here in the North of England, so you have to make the most of it.

It annoys me though when you hear people complaining about the nice weather – with some people you can’t win, and these are probably the same people that complain when it’s cold and it rains.

Since we are having a heatwave I thought I would leave a some tips to ensure that you keep yourself and your family healthy during the warm weather.

- Wear a hat and cover up with loose clothing.
- Sunglasses with UV filters will protect your eyes.
- Protect children and babies from direct sunlight.
- Cover children and babies with hats and long sleeves and apply SPF 25 (or higher)
- Babies under 12 months should be kept out of the sun.
- Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
- Drink plenty of water to balance the loss of body fluid through perspiration.
- Reguarly check on any elderly relatives to make sure that they are well.

There’s nothing worse then sat on a bus or train sweating like a pig, so buy a hand-held fan, or sweatband, or better still a spray bottle of water which is a great way to keep cool. Have fun but make sure you wear plenty of high factor sun cream!

On Travel-Rants – Travel-Rants Apology to DialAFlight

Travel-Rants Apology to DialAFlight. Travel-Rants offers an unreserved apology to DialAFlight in respect of a post published on this website during the past several months.

DialAFlight contacted us on several occasions pointing out that they believed this particular post (they were not objecting to any of the other handful of posts about them on Travel-Rants) was made by a competitor who had posted precisely the same post on any number of other websites.

Regrettably, Travel-Rants failed to make its normal range of enquiries in such situations. Had it done so, as it now has, it would have concluded that, whether the poster was indeed a competitor, or merely a misguided consumer, the commercial insinuations they were making against Dial a Flight went some way beyond reasonable ‘fair comment’, and DialAFlight had every right to feel they had been unfairly treated.

Just as importantly, when we finally undertook an investigation into the facts, we found that, tellingly, there was an absence of any other consumer comments on the Internet backing up the assertions of this one poster. Whenever there is a real consumer issue at stake, it is almost invariably the case that one post on the subject breeds a multitude, and that certainly failed to materialise in this case.

Indeed, our review demonstrated that DialAFlight, though of course having its own typical fair share of negative consumer comment on the Internet as almost every company of any size (DialAFlight is one of the largest travel companies in the UK), also has an unusually high degree of positive consumer comment and indeed praise, including on this very website. The breadth and depth of this positive opinion around the web was enough to suggest to us that such comments were made by bona fide consumers.

On this basis, we are very sorry that we allowed serious, and we now believe unfounded, allegations against DialAFlight to remain published on this site for so long. That is not what Travel-Rants is about, and we very much regret that DialAFlight has suffered as a result of this neglect.

Unfortunately, Travel-Rants neglected this issue for so long that DialAFlight felt compelled to launch a libel suit against us in the High Court, claiming the removal of the post and considerable damages. Since Travel-Rants has belatedly communicated with DialAFlight admitting its mistake and offering this apology.

DialAFlight have shown themselves magnanimous by waiving their legitimate and substantial entitlement to compensation; on the basis that they had no wish to unnecessarily penalise a website whose merits, as an enabler of fair consumer comment and critique, they generally recognise… as they have demonstrated by focussing only on the one offending post.

1.3 million Cal kids lack health insurance

The nation has 8.6 million children who lack public or private health insurance and 1.3 million of them are in California, Families USA, a Washington-based advocate for expanded health access, says in a report based on new census data.

California, the nation's most populous state, is just behind Texas in the numbered of medically uninsured children, Families USA says, and at 12.5 percent has the nation's 12th highest rate. Texas is No. 1 at 20.5 percent.

Families USA, confirming previous reports, says that 88.2 percent of uninsured children come from families with at least one working adult. Families without earned income usually qualify for one of the public medical plans such as Medi-Cal. It's been estimated that more than 6 million of the state's 38 million residents lack health insurance.

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tried and failed to gain legislative approval of a plan to cover virtually all of California's uninsured residents. The full Families USA report is available here.

Less Small Businesses Offering Health Insurance

EcommerceTimes.com reports that an annual survey has found that less small businesses are offering health insurance to workers. The study also found that health insurance costs have risen over 9% on average in 2005 and rose over 11% on average in 2004.

Released yesterday, the annual survey of employers' health benefits found that for the first time in nearly a decade, less than half of businesses with nine or fewer workers offer health insurance. Among those small firms, 47 percent provided coverage in 2005, down from 58 percent in 2002 and 53 percent in 1996.

"Small businesses have made the call that to stay alive, health care isn't something they can provide. I think it's a tragic calculation," said Peter Lee, president of Pacific Business Group on Health, which buys health insurance for large employers.

"The danger of that is that small business is the driver of the American economy," he said.

The survey also found that the cost of health insurance for working Americans grew by 9.2 percent this year, ending four consecutive years of double-digit increases but still far outpacing the rate of inflation. Premiums increased an average of 11.2 percent in 2004.

Clearly the high costs of health insurance is why less small businesses are offering coverage. The article also said the employers that do offer coverage are often opting for less attractive plans like health plans with higher deductibles.

New Bill Would Gut Women's Healthcare Coverage

The Media Cynic reports on the new HIMMAA bill that would allow health insurance companies to drop coverage for several women's health procedures and health needs. The Media Cynic says the bill will override state law protections that require health insurance companies to continue covering women's healthcare items and procedures including annual cervical cancer exams and contraception. The bill also requires women to go to a primary care doctor first and not directly to an ob/gyn. The Cynic explains why passing this bill would be a huge mistake.

The arrogance of these lawmakers is simply breathtaking. Women have fought for years for these protections, such as not being forced to change doctors mid-pregnancy just because her doctor is dropped from her insurance plan. If insurance doesn't cover screenings for routine cervical cancer exams, many women won't have them. Most women use their OB/GYN as their primary doctor, relying her to get the correct care and screenings for everything from cancer to osteoporosis: women will have to go to another gateway doctor first before they can get to their OB/GYN under most insurance plans. And the law is so broadly written that many more procedures won't be required to be covered.

The Senate should not pass this awful and unfair bill.

Public Health Insurance Would Be Too Good and We'd Like It Too Much

A common thread is emerging in the right wing response to healthcare reform. Its opponents aren't claiming that public healthcare will be bad. Rather, they are terrified that the new system will be so good that no citizen would buy expensive private insurance--or vote for politicians who wanted to take public insurance away.

The Obama team is sending clear signals that healthcare reform is a core economic issue, and the health insurance industry is becoming increasingly anxious by the future administration's determination to bring healthcare costs under control. Some Americans are seeing their healthcare premiums rising at four times the rate of inflation, if t ey have insurance at all. Healthcare reform is a pocketbook issue for all of us, according to the Obama team.

In tough economic times it might be tempting to postpone healthcare reforms, but Obama is adamant that delay would be a false economy.

In the American Prospect, Joanne Kenen and Sarah Axeen support claims about the high cost of doing nothing:

A recent report by the New America Foundation's health-policy program estimates that the cost of doing nothing about health care, including poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured, is well above $200 billion a year and rising. That's enough to cover the uninsured and still have some left over for other public-health needs.

If healthcare costs continue to rise at their current rates, it will cost $24,000/yr to insure a family of four by 2016, an 84% increase from today. At these rates, half of American households would have to spend at least 45% percent of their income to be insured.

In the Nation, Willa Thompson describes how a bicycle crash made her appreciate the connection between healthcare and politics. Thompson was 21 years old when she suffered major injuries after a collision with a truck. Luckily, she was covered by her parents' medical insurance until she turned 22. She later realized that if she had been just a few months older when the accident happened, she wouldn't have been able to pay for her medical care.

We all agree that something needs to be done. Let's briefly review the options that have been proposed so far. Obama wants to provide healthcare for all by requiring private insurance companies to cover everyone and creating a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurers. The second part of his plan is the public option that Republican opponents are so scared of.

The best airport in the world

The results of the World Airport Awards from Skytrax are out. Congratulations go to Incheon International Airport in Seoul which beat last year’s winner (Hong Kong International Airport) into second place. The top 10 were as follows:

1. Incheon International Airport
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. Singapore Changi
4. Zürich
5. München
6. Kansai
7. Kuala Lumpur
8. Amsterdam
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Auckland

What is your favourite airport in the world and why?

Keeping healthy while flying

The definition of a long haul flight is seven hours or more but for many people a shorter flight can prove just as uncomfortable. This guide will provide you with tips to help you keep healthy on your next flight, after all, you want to arrive at your destination relaxed.

Upgrade for comfort

The first thing to consider is your simple comfort level, if you can afford it, or if you have a medical condition or some other physical problem flying either premium economy or first class may be the solution that you are looking for. 

Flight exercises to keep mobile

The most likely health complaint you will have after flying will be simple aches, pains, and cramps. Not exactly, life threatening but best avoided if possible. One of the best solutions for these complaints is to move around the cabin whenever practical. 

When you unable to move around, try to do exercises whilst sat in your seat, curling and un-curling your toes, and constantly changing the position of your legs and simply stretching your back and arms. Move your legs in a walk motion to aid against deep vein thrombosis.

Drink plenty of water

The next minor threat is dehydration, the pressurised atmosphere within the aircraft causes high levels of dehydration even though you may not feel hot or even feel like you are sweating. The inside of an aircraft at altitude has 5% less humidity than that of a desert.

Drinking lots of regular water is the best solution; alcohol should definitely be avoided, as its dehydrating effects are far stronger at altitude. 

Tips for a sleepy flight

Another good way to shorten a long haul flight is to sleep, sleeping tablets that allow you an eight-hour rest will not only have the effect of shortening the journey but also assist in allowing you to arrive refreshed and relaxed.

There are a few more items you can pack to help; ear plugs and eye masks will help you sleep. And those inflatable collars that wrap around your neck can be highly effective in keeping you comfortable and allowing you to sleep.

Combating Deep Vein Thrombosis

A more serious health problem on flights is deep vein thrombosis. Not being able to move your legs around properly for long periods of time can cause problems with circulation and the results can be serious such as blood clots forming. Crossing your ankles should definitely be avoided.

There are special socks that are easy to say that will assist with circulation, but the easiest way to deal with it is to move around and exercise as mentioned earlier in this article. This problem is caused by lack of movement, so just keep your legs moving and you will not have a problem.

Dealing with Jetlag

The biggest draw back with long haul flights occurs after you land, jetlag. This is not an easy thing for many people to combat as your body struggles to deal with the midday sun when it thinks it is the middle of the night and you should be asleep.

Vitamins C is said to be highly effective in combating that general lethargic “jetlag” feeling. Again drink water and avoid alcohol, this will help combat jetlag effects. Sunshine gives your body vitamin D, which is effective against jetlag problems; in addition, it helps your body clock to be set more quickly.

Healthy flying resources

» Avoid getting sick from flying
» Deep Vein Thrombosis symptoms and advice
» Advice when flying with kids
» Coping with Jetlag
» Health advice for travellers

Fight the body clock 

Another way to fight jetlag is to stay awake, if the time back home to 3am and the time at your destination is 6pm your body clock will tell you to sleep. This should be avoided, right from the very first day no matter how tired you are stay up until the local bedtime. 

Going to bed at the correct local time will mean that you will wake up in the morning at the correct local time; this is because you have pushed yourself to stay awake all those additional hours.

Independent travel insurance advice

Before I start let me confirm that I’m not a qualified financial or travel insurance adviser, and don’t pretend to be, so the information in this article is written from my own experiences, and you should always speak to a qualified travel insurance broker or adviser before you buy.



Apart from covering items that may be stolen while you’re on holiday, including small amounts of cash; travel insurance offers many other important benefits. Policies usually include cover for medical expenses, useful if you fall ill or if you’re unfortunate enough to be attacked and injured. You must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. 

Cancellation cover

Travel policies also tend to include some basic “personal accident” cover, paying a set amount in the event of loss of sight, limbs or injury resulting in permanent disability or death. Another important element is cancellation cover. 

If you have to cancel your holiday because of injury, illness or a disaster at home such as a fire, this will pay for any holiday expense you cannot recover. You need to check carefully what is covered and what isn’t, read the small print too.

Check the validity

Make sure your policy is valid for the whole journey and includes medical and repatriation cover. Always take a photocopy of your policy, along with a note of any 24-hour emergency numbers. Take the time to read the small print because it is this area of the policy where you will find out exceptions and what you are not covered for.

Travel insurance restrictions

Like all insurance policies there are restrictions. Limits to the amounts that will be paid under different parts of the cover usually apply and you won’t be covered for dangerous activities, such as abseiling or scuba diving. 

A claim could be turned down if you don’t look after your belongings properly. For example, if someone steals your things off the beach while you’re taking a dip in the sea, the insurance company might decide that you have not taken “reasonable care” and refuse to pay up.

Fraud in Travel insurance

Insurance companies are also growing increasingly concerned about fraud, especially with travel insurance. If you claim for anything that has been stolen they’ll probably want evidence that you actually owned the item in the first place. Keep photos at home of personal belongings that you’ve taken with you. Some insurers even ask for receipts.

Check household insurance policy

Check to see if you already have cover under your home insurance for personal belongings while travelling abroad or away from home in the UK. It might not mean that you will get a lower premium (try asking though), but it’s worth knowing as the cover under your home contents may be better or may have a lower excess.

Scheduled airline failure insurance 

Keep a look out for insurance that include scheduled airline failure insurance (SAFI) so that if your flight will be covered should the airline go into administration. In this day and age it is a good idea to take out this additional insurance. 

European Health Insurance card

The European health insurance card will provided you with free or discounted health care in the EU and in some non-EU countries. You can apply for the card online. It is important to remember that having this card does not substitute travel insurance, and it is recommended as additional protection.

Benefits of credit cards abroad

Don’t forget the benefits of using your credit card to buy things abroad. Most include automatic insurance cover on items bought with your card for a short period of time, including things you buy overseas. Check with your card company. 

Finally, if you and/or your family travel often, ask your insurance company about an annual policy. You pay a premium each year and are then covered for all holidays in that period without needing to take out individual policies - although you may be limited to a certain number of trips.

ATV adventures in Mui Ne

Situated just 10 kilometers from the heart of Phan Thiet, one of the largest sand dunes of Mui Ne stretches over an area of 10-hectares with breathtaking views of the seascapes.


One of the best ways to get around the dunes, and by far the most fun, is to rent a four-wheel, all terrain vehicle (ATV).

Seeing a demand for a greater range of tourism services, Binh Thuan authorities have licensed the local Mico Company to offer rental services for the four-by-four vehicles.

Fitted with high-power engines, ATVs are specially designed to overcome challenging terrain and can handle a wider range of road surfaces than other vehicles. Great for adventure-lovers, ATVs offer a fun way to explore the sand dunes and make for an especially exhilarating way to travel along the beach.

One visitor named Van tried the activity for the first time last February when the company began offering the service, and said he found the ATVs thrilling.

“Me and my girlfriend tried it out,” said Van. “At first, it felt really difficult to control, but when you get used to it, what you gain is terrific. A little danger like this makes our vacation much more exciting,” Van added.

According to Mico Company, the cost of renting a four-wheeler depends on how long the drivers wish to use it. The company charges VND175,000 (US$9.84) for 10 minutes, VND350,000 ($19.70) for 30 minutes, and VND600,000 ($33.75) per hour. In the near future, Mico says it will begin offering other leisure activities such as camel rides.

For more information on renting an all-terrain vehicle in Mui Ne, contact the company at (062) 3 374 3511.

Tips for staying fit while you’re travelling

When you travel, it’s easy to get out of healthy routines that you usually manage to follow at home. Don’t get me wrong, you should enjoy yourself on holiday, but there are a few things you can do to try and minimise the damage to your waistline or your general fitness.



Don’t make holidays an excuse to eat junk
When you’re in a foreign country it’s easy to walk into the nearest fast food franchise just because you know what you’ll find and how to order it. Been there, done that. But there are two reasons not to – first, because it’s not that healthy, and second, it’s much more exciting to check out the local cuisine.

Get some exercise while seeing the sights
If you’re a runner, packing your jogging shoes and get up early a few mornings of your trip. Head out into the dawn on a job and you’ll see the city waking up or the animals strolling through the countryside. You’ll keep fit and see a new side of your destination.

Alternatively, skip a bus or train during the day and walk to your next sightseeing destination instead. Not only will it be good for you, at a walking pace you’re also more likely to discover some special restaurant, an interesting souvenir shop or a beautiful church or park you would have missed seeing from the underground.

For swimmers, pack your bathing costume not only for the hotel pool but for any interesting spa or hot spring that might show up.

Explore the markets for fresh fruit and veg
Down in southern Europe you’re likely to get a big variety of fresh fruit that somehow tastes better when you’re buying it in the country of origin. Or check out the local favourite vegetables in season.

Related posts

How not to come home broke from your holiday
Walking in the Yorkshire Dales
Specialised Travel Agencies Winning High Street War
Yahsu from Crete

Boycott WH Smith over travel guide books scandal

News this week that WH Smith has signed an exclusive deal with Penguin travel guides in their 460+ shops, including most airports and train stations has disgusted me. On the rare occasion I do purchase a guide book I want choice not restricted to a certain brand.



You will not be able to purchase guides from the likes of Frommer’s and Lonely Planet.

Last week I purchased an AA city guide to Venice from a WH Smith but I for one will be purchasing any future guide books prior to my arrival at the airport. My meagre purchase of the occasional guide book will not bring WH Smith to its feet, but I suspect I will not be the only person boycotting them.

Debate on the future of the guide book

You have to also think about the writers who write for smaller brands or are independent. The debate over the future of the travel guide book is one that has been discussed at length. If more outlets like WH Smith go down a similar route could this be the end of the travel guide book.

Money talks

I do not know why WH Smith have gone down this path, I suspect its because it’s a lucrative deal but for consumers it’s not right and it’ll only be a matter of time before we find out of if it’s the right decision. I am interested to read your comments on their decision.

Lang Co: pride of the central coast

Last month, Lang Co inspired the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club to make it the club’s 30th member. 


It’s the third Vietnamese bay to join the club, the other two being Ha Long and Nha Trang bays. Other new members this year are Pemba Bay in Mozambique and Cartagena Bay in Colombia.

Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province is where the club will hold its annual conference next year, according to general secretary Bruno Bodard.

To celebrate Lang Co’s club membership, the authorities of Thua Thien-Hue Province put on a gala of entertainment and ceremony on Saturday June 6. The event also kicked off a tourism festival called “Lang Co - The Legendary Beach.”


A magnificent view of Lang Co Bay, which has recently been recognized as one of 30 most beautiful bays in the world

Lang Co itself is a fishing village 60 kilometers north of Hue and 40 kilometers south of Da Nang, and lies between Phu Gia Pass to the north and Hai Van Pass to the south.

Tourists love the area and are flocking there in droves these days, as are the resort developers.

The huge lagoon by the village extends for eight kilometers inland and is lit up at night by thousands of lamps in the fishing boats lying at anchor. The scene has been immortalized in poetry and prose innumerable times.

Turquoise water, sweeping expanses of white sand, coconut trees, soft coral extending out for ten kilometers, and a backdrop of seemingly endless mountains characterize the area.

The best time to go swimming there is from April to late July, when the temperature averages 25 degrees Celsius and each month has 158 hours of sunshine.

Lang Co is rich in marine life with plenty of lobster, shrimp, crabs, mackerel and blood ark shell.

At night, local fishermen escort tour parties to the lagoon to catch gobies and to sup on bowls of rice porridge mixed with fresh seafood.

Economic potential

In one of the speeches at the event last Saturday, provincial Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Thien said that Thua Thien-Hue would build Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone into a modern center of international trading and tourism.

Above all the province is looking for investment in environmentally friendly projects, “human resources” and vocational training, Thien said.

Thanks to the 130-meter Chan May Pier and the tunnel under Hai Van Pass, it’s much easier for surrounding areas to trade with Lang Co nowadays, he said.

Vo Phi Hung of the Thua Thien-Hue Tourism Department said the province had to make the most of Lang Co’s natural beauty to draw more tourists to the area.

He also said it was vital to formulate long-term development strategies and stick to them.

For now the focus is on improving “tourism infrastructure” in the province, which is spending VND1.2 trillion (US$65 million) for this purpose.

Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone has already gained 32 licensed projects with a combined investment capital of almost $2 billion. Ten of the projects are foreign and account for 71 percent of the capital.

The standouts are Laguna Hue and Bai Chuoi beachside resorts, on which Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group and Cattigara have lavished $977 million.

As evidence of Lang Co’s growing popularity, the 300-odd guest rooms in the area accommodated more than 8,000 overnight visitors in the first five months of this year.

Private Medical Insurance - how to get the best deal

What is Private Medical Insurance?

Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is an insurance that covers the cost of treatment for a specified range of medical conditions, usually in private hospitals or private wards.

Such policies commonly cover what are known as acute conditions – that is an illness or disease that’s likely to respond to treatment and lead to a full recovery.

However, with over twenty policy providers in the market, all offering a range of policies, prices for PMI cover can vary widely. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of the ways that you can reduce the cost of your cover, while still enjoying the many benefits of PMI.

This article is written by Jackie Griffiths, a freelance journalist who writes health, medical, biological, and pharmaceutical articles for national and international journals, newsletters and web sites.

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Choosing your level of cover

The simplest way to reduce the cost of your private medical insurance is to reduce the conditions and procedures that your policy covers. For example:

• Some policies will allow you to select only heart and cancer cover, if these are the conditions that worry you most.
• You can reduce your cover to only include in-patient treatment and day case, and either pay for your out patient treatment or have this under the NHS
• You can take out a policy that gives you the option of NHS treatment if this is available quickly, or private treatment if it is not

Naturally, the more your policy covers, the more your premium will be.

Choosing policy options

Apart from the actual conditions covered, you can reduce the cost of your cover in other ways. For example:

• Agree to pay an excess - a set amount of each claim
• Reduce the number of hospitals available to you
• Reduce the flexibility available to you, such as the timing and location of treatment
• Exclude treatment overseas

Your insurer will provide a Key Facts document and full terms and conditions. Take the time to read these through carefully to make sure you know exactly what your policy covers. You will generally have a short ‘cooling off period’ in which you can change your mind if the policy is not right for you.

Other considerations

In such a competitive market, there are always incentives to tempt you to buy private medical insurance, and these can help you save even more on your policy. You should look out for:

• No claims discounts, which rewards you for keeping yourself healthy
• Introductory discounts available on the first year of your policy (though you should be aware of any long-term commitment in the small print)
• Discounts for direct debit payments
• Discounts for annual payments, or 0% interest on monthly or quarterly payment plans (monthly payments may cost you more if interest is added)
• Joint or family policies that offer savings for multiple people on the same policy
• Employee schemes provided through your work or through any trade associations you are a member of

Shopping around

The internet allows everyone to shop around for a better private medical insurance deal. You can visit the websites for each insurer, or use price comparison websites. Make sure you’re comparing like for like however, or you may not get the bargain you were expecting.

If you’re not confident about shopping around yourself, you can use an insurance broker to find you the best deal. They may have access to deals that you don’t, but they may also charge a fee for their services.

Alternatives

If you are most concerned about major illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease you could consider Critical Illness cover as an alternative to PMI. These policies pay out a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified range of conditions. You can use this money to pay for treatment, to make your life more comfortable, or to take away the stress of financial commitments while you’re ill.

Conclusion

The cost of Private Medical Cover will vary from person to person and from company to company. By applying the brief guidelines above you can get the best value policy for your own unique circumstances, making cover more cost-effective and more accessible than you might think, bringing you all the benefits you need at the minimum cost.

Food Calories

Food Calories

Cutting Food Calories - A Change In Lifestyle, A Change For The Better

What is the best way to lose weight? Cut food calories. What is the best way to cut food calories? Change the way you eat. Cut back on calories, maintain your weight, and keep yourself healthy with these simple little tips. Take the time to read these 35 tips and put them to work for you. Your body will thank you for it.

1. Milk might do a body good, but only if it’s low in fat. Drinking whole milk will do nothing to help you lose weight. If you have to drink milk, make it 1%, 2%, or maybe even non-fat milk.

2. Use your utensils to your benefit. Keep your portions under control by making use of small drinking glasses and small bowls.

3. Split a snack with a friend. Not only does this help you cut back on calories, but it also helps your friend do the same.

4. Use low food calorie alternatives during breakfast. Use a sugar substitute to flavor your morning coffee, and sugar-free jelly or jam for your toast or waffles.

5. Try a slice of turkey bacon or even Canadian bacon instead of the fattening alternative.

6. Love eggs? Fill your omelet with something other than cheese or meat. As an alternative try peppers, onions, or even a few mushrooms instead.

7. Use whole-wheat bread for your sandwiches.

8. Use fresh vegetables in your spaghetti instead of meat. Mushrooms, onions, zucchini and even peppers can prove to be healthier alternatives.

9. Keep the cheese out of your burger.

10. Use fat-free or low-fat condiments on your lunchtime meals.

11. Frozen foods are already proportioned. Eat one instead of a burger and avoid the overeating that usually takes place during lunch.

12. Eat fat-free, low-fat, or low-calories alternatives like sour cream, cheese, and cottage cheese during lunch.

13. Trim the fat from meats like chicken, beef, and pork before you cook them.

14. Eat less rice and pasta. Consider cutting back on these two culprits by half.

15. Season your vegetables with an alternative to butter. Lemon and herbs serve as a healthier alternative.

16. Eat your food slowly. Take your time and chew. This will keep you from overeating when you are actually no longer hungry.

17. Enjoy your dessert, but do so in small portions. Don’t deny yourself a treat after a meal, but consider cutting back on the portion that you do eat.

18. Eat your ice cream out of the cup and forget about the cone.

19. Eat apple or peach pies instead of pecan or cream pies.

20. Share or split a dessert with your friend, date, or significant other.

21. Get rid of the regular soda and substitute it with diet soda. Better yet, get rid of the soda altogether and drink water during your meals.

22. Pay attention to serving sizes in any drink. Sometimes, one can or one bottle actually contains more than one serving.

23. Try to resist super-sizing your meal. Usually, the portion you are given is exactly the portion you are supposed to eat.

24. Take advantage of the low-calorie nature of light beer. Today, just about every beer on tap at a local restaurant is also available in a lighter, low-calorie version.

25. Eat your snacks from a bowl instead of eating them directly from the bag. This will keep you from overeating while you snack.

26. If you love salsa, try dipping some vegetables into it instead of fried tortilla chips.

27. Drop the cookies and snack on a bit of fruit.

28. Enjoy a handful of mixed nuts.

29. Treat yourself to a chocolate bar. Just make sure it is the smaller, “fun size” bar and not the king size version.

30. Ask your server to remove the bread from your table once you have been seated.

31. As an appetizer, ask for a cup of soup instead of an entire bowl.

32. If given the option, choose vegetables as a side instead of rice, potatoes, or pasta.

33. Ask your server for a half portion of your meal. Most restaurants are happy to oblige.

34. Choose grilled instead of fried chicken.

35. Ask for your sauce or dressing on the side. Don’t drench your food in it.

36. Use low food calorie alternatives during breakfast. Use a sugar substitute to flavor your morning coffee, and sugar-free jelly or jam for your toast or waffles.

37. Be careful with sugar substitutes. Food Facts, for example, frequently cites sugar substitutes as one of their highly controversial ingredients, since they mostly consist of chemicals. Visit Food Facts for additional information about healthier alternatives.

38 . Breakfast meals are usually high in sugar, check the amount of sugar in your cereal and yogurt and opt for a better choice. Such as, plain yogurt with fruit or cereal with more than 5g of fiber.

The Truth Behind Negative Calorie Foods

Have you heard about “negative calorie foods”? Put simply, these are foods that require more work to digest than they have calories.

Before we dive into negative calorie foods, let’s take a quick refresher course on calories.

Ultimately, calories are energy, or fuel, for your body. You need calories to function. Not just to function properly, but to function – period. If you didn’t eat, you would die! Your body is continuously using or burning calories. Basic body functions like breathing and digesting food require energy (calories) to work, even when you’re asleep.

Now, back to negative calorie foods. These are mostly certain types of fruits and veggies that are usually very high in fiber and contain a low number of calories to begin with. As a result, the energy it requires for the body to break down these foods and absorb all the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, and then get the unused portion out of the body may be higher than the actual amount of calories in the food itself.

Everyone’s body is different so it’s tough to say exactly how many calories your body burns through digestion of these foods. Regardless, it’s so minimal that it should not be used as a weight loss plan! Eating only negative calorie foods can result in malnutrition. It is essential to have a proper diet and adequate exercise for weight loss success and good health in general.

Some examples of negative calorie foods are:

Asparagus
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Spinach
Mandarin oranges
Peaches
Clementines
Plums
Rhubarb
Guava
Honeydew

A good site to check out is the USDA’s Food Pyramid website. Under the MyPyramid Planner, you can enter your height, weight, age, gender and then a sample meal of what you would typically eat. The interactive tool will tell you if you are getting enough in the proper food categories according to the Food Pyramid.

Chocolate may reduce Blood Pressure better than Tea

Study suggested cocoa is better than tea in lowering blood cholesterol

Researchers from the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany reviewed a total of 10 trials published since 1966 that studied changes of blood pressure relative to cocoa or tea intake. Researchers found that intake of foods rich in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, while tea intake appeared to have no effect. They suggested a specific type of polyphenol, procyanids, found in cocoa products may be more active in heart disease prevention than flavonoids, the type of polyphenols usually found in tea. The results of this study were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in April 2007.

Editor's Note -Benefits of Chocolate?

In a more recent study published in Hypertension journal in August 2005, researchers from Italy found that dark chocolate may lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. The research also found that levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in these individuals dropped by 10 percent. It is important to note that this study also used a very small test group of only 20 subjects.

A few other studies also suggested that cocoa may have heart protective effects. In November 2001, researchers from Pennsylvania State University found that people with a diet high in polyphenol-rich cocoa powder and dark chocolate have slightly higher concentrations of HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) when compared with the control group. This study, however, only investigated the health effects of cocoa in 23 people.

It is good to know that chocolate contain ingredients beneficial to health. However, it does not necessarily mean you should eat more chocolate products. Most studies published so far were rather small in scale. In addition, chocolate bars and candies are often high in fat, sugar and calories. Moderation is always the key - having a decadent piece of chocolate once in a while is not going to harm your health. If you have a choice, choose dark chocolate for its higher antioxidant content! If you would like to include more foods with high levels of antioxidants, fruits & vegetables, as well as whole grains would be a better bet as they are low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber. For a sensible heart smart diet, emphasize fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish and choose skinless lean meats. Chocolate Recipe Substitution: When a recipe calls for chocolate, use dark chocolate (usually less sugar) or even better cocoa powder. To substitute 1 oz of unsweetened chocolate, use 3 Tbsp of dry cocoa + 2 Tbsp of sugar + 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil.

Whisk Wednesdays—Bisque de Homard (Lobster Bisque)

Bisque de Homard, or Lobster Bisque, is a once-in-a-lifetime soup. At $16 per bowl and $97 for a tureen, the word “soup” seems too simple and unworthy a description. Technically, it’s a bisque, but it needs a name deserving of its expense and grandeur. So you know what you’re getting into. So you’re prepared to savor every sip. So you’re prepared to slave in the kitchen for a whole day!

A bisque is a thick, creamy soup, traditionally made with seafood, such as lobster, crab, langoustine, shrimp, or crayfish. Unlike a chowder, it doesn’t contain any potatoes. Recipes for bisque in the 18th century included the ground shells of the seafood to thicken the soup. In this recipe, the shells are used to flavour the broth, but then strained out.

The lobster

“You’re not going to use live lobster, are you?” {dad}
“I don’t want to be here for the execution!” {sister}
“Isn’t that torture?” {nephew}
“Did they scream?” {mom}

First, the lobster. At $15.99 Canadian per pound {flown in from Nova Scotia to the prairies}, these two little innocent homards set me back $65. Boxed up and on ice, they came home with me twitching their antennae and looking uncomfortable.

After seeing what was in my cardboard box, my nephew looked at me curiously, possibly wondering if I’d decided to bring home a new pet. When I told him why there was a pot of water bubbling and boiling on the stove, he again looked at me with his big, blue eyes and said, “Isn’t that torture?” Oh, this wasn’t going to be easy. I took a deep breath, avoided the question, and picked up the smaller of the two, quickly squeezing it into the not-so-big stock pot and held the lid on tight (so it wouldn’t escape?!).

After a steam bath of only two minutes, it was bright pink and ready to be cracked, arched, pulled, separated, and unhinged all in an effort to get the meat from the exoskeleton! Here’s a picture of a lobster’s exoskeleton all neatly arranged. Mine didn’t look quite so neat after I was done with it. In fact, I had lobster juice in my hair, on my nose, and even on my big toe!

In the middle of this dismemberment, my daughter walked in and asked what I was doing. Not wanting to spoil her dinner by having her view the gross green goo from the stomach that I was trying to get rid of, I quickly said “Oh, nothing. Why don’t you go play outside.” I failed. She saw it, and she’ll probably never eat lobster!

Finally, the meat extraction was done. I pulled out my mom’s 37-year-old Weight Watchers scale & bowl with its crooked red indicator arrow hoping I would have ¾ of a pound of lobster meat. 5 ounces! That’s it. That’s all. I thought about sucking the meat out of the small legs, but decided to hope for the best from lobster #2. The second lobster didn’t fare much better, but I went ahead with the 12 ounces total that I got from these two beasts.

Watch a pro clean a lobster
Here’s a great video showing how to get the meat out of the lobster, one of the hardest parts of this recipe.

I found this placemat handy that my mom got when they visited Prince Edward Island and attended a Lobsterfest.

The cognac
After dealing with the lobster, you cook the aromatics (shallots, leek, carrot, tarragon, and parsley with some butter) along with the choice shells from the lobster for extra flavor. Next, you flambé the lot with 1 cup of Cognac!

According to the French, Cognac is made from eaux-de-vie, which literally means "waters of life". This strikes me as ironic after moments ago killing the lobster!

Cognac is a brandy named after the town of Cognac in France. At the local “liquor board store”, I was able to find Hennessey, which is a prominent French winery that specializes in making cognac. After pouring this liquid gold into the pot, I lit it on fire. Everyone quickly took pictures. We watched. We waited. I had to hold my dad back from plopping the lid on top to put the fire out. Finally, after 5 minutes, the fire finally died out!

If that wasn’t enough alcohol, you then add a bottle of white wine. Finish it off with some tomato paste, salt, pepper, cream, and water. And let it bubble away for awhile. After straining it, I had to add some water to bring it up to 6 cups. This seemed a shame, as I thought it would dilute the taste, but it didn’t.

The meatloaf
While the bisque bubbled and with the lobster meat extracted, I was ready to make the meatloaf…I mean “mousseline”. That has a much nicer ring to it, don’t you think?

A bit of a purée in the food processor, a dash of salt and pepper, a drizzle of foamy egg white, a touch of cream, and a sprinkle of chervil. {Chervil has been playing hard to get with me. I’ve looked in every grocery store I go to. Finally, in the small prairie city of Regina, Saskatchewan, I find a lonely bag of chervil on the shelf. “Doesn’t have much taste”, my sister says. She’s right! It looks pretty, though!}

I shaped the puréed meat into footballs, or "quenelles" as they're called, {easier to do with your fingers than the two-spoon method}, and poached them in some of the expensive broth {I would use water next time to save the broth for mouths rather than frying pans} with a buttered parchment paper circle as a lid. Ten minutes later, the lobster meatloaf was ready to garnish the bisque.

The thickener
Finally, to thicken the bisque, you use rice flour and butter to make a roux. {I don’t know why rice flour is used instead of all-purpose.} After slowly adding the broth to the roux, it simmers again to develop even more flavor.

To finish the bisque, you add a liaison of cream and eggs. This time, the cookbook says to bring it all to a boil AFTER adding the liaison. I did not want any curdling action since I'd spent all afternoon and so much money on this soup! I heated it to a suitable serving temperature, and bingo, presto….finally the bisque was done.

Like the Cream of Chicken Soup, this bisque wasn’t thick or viscous. It was creamy, though.

Recipe
You can find the recipe for Bisque de Langoustins (Langoustine Bisque) {I substituted lobster for langoustines} in the book Le Cordon Bleu at Home. To see how the rest of the Whisk Wednesdays group fared with this week's recipe, click here (or check out the sidebar) and then click on each blogger!

Tasting Notes

“This is the most expensive soup I’ve ever made!” {me}
“This is the best soup I’ve ever tasted.” {sister and mom}
“What a lot of dishes!” {dad}

This soup had a rich, creamy flavor that was smooth and pleasing to the palate. The quenelles that floated on top of the soup provided a different texture and satisfying bite of lobster meat.

A dollar for every sip. Was it worth it?

“A bargain at thrice the price~!” says my mom. {But she’s my mom.} Next time, I’ll use shrimp.

Next Week (August 6)
• Consommé Madrilène (Chilled Consommé with Red Peppers and Tomatoes) pages 267-268

Restaurant Notes—Play Food & Wine in Ottawa

This weekend, we went appetizer hopping in the Byward Market in the heart of Ottawa. The market is filled with restaurant gems, where the latest and most buzz-worthy is Play. Owned by the same restaurant savant as Beckta, Stephen Beckta has paired his love of wine with his love of food to come up with a unique dining experience.

At Play, a riff on Thomas Keller's small plates at The French Laundry and Spanish tapas, you order small portions from a charcuterie, savoury, cheese or sweet part of the menu. Along with each item is a recommended wine pairing. Each dish is delicately and expertly prepared by a staff of chefs in an open kitchen.

I ordered the trout / cornbread / cashew / green pea with Tocai Fruilano Terzetto, which was delicious with the toasted nuts and browned butter. But the star of the table was the potato leek soup / chervil / truffle oil with Vouvray Domaine Aubuisières, which the waiter said would be a great sipping wine on a weekend afternoon (and I agree!).

Last year I made a leek and potato soup that was tasty, but this version at Play was better. It had a delicate garlic flavor and was extremely smooth. I am tempted to re-make my soup this week if only to achieve the velvety texture they did at Play.

For my leek and potato soup recipe, click here. For a fun dining experience, go out and Play.

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Whisk Wednesdays—Longe de Porc aux Pruneaux (Roast Pork Loin with Prunes)

Pigs, prunes and potatoes. Not very inspiring. But Longe de Porc aux Pruneaux (Roast Pork Loin with Prunes) is tasty…if you like prunes.

First, you butterfly the pork so that you can shimmy all the prunes in the middle. Then you tie up (and curse while tying) the pork with butcher's twine to keep the prunes in place. After searing the pork with the carrots and onions, you roast it in the oven.

Meanwhile, you steep the prunes in Ceylon tea. {I bet you could steep them in all sorts of flavors such as star anise or cardamom.} Sounds crazy, but it's tasty…if you like prunes!

The key to this dish is the sweet and sour reduction called a gastrique. Basically, it's a caramelized sauce of vinegar and sugar. I think any meat tastes better with a sauce, and pork pairs nicely with something a little sweet balanced by the acidity of the vinegar.

After roasting the pork, set it aside and deglaze the pan with some water. Add the pan juices to the gastrique. Taste and season, et violà, you have a delicious roast pork loin with prunes…if you like prunes.

The second part of this course is the puréed potatoes (which should have been puréed celery root, but I forgot about that ingredient when I was at the grocery store and ended up using my baby potatoes which I just smashed, skin and all).

Recipe

Serves 6

For Roast Pork Loin with Prunes:
3-pound boneless pork loin roast, trimmed of excess fat
Salt and fresh ground pepper
1½ pounds prunes, pitted
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 carrot, chopped coarse
1 onion, chopped coarse
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried
1 bay leaf, crushed
2 cloves garlic
Large pinch Ceylon tea
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup vinegar
Small bunch watercress for garnish

For Creamed Celery Root (or Potato) Purée
1¼ pounds celery root (or potatoes)
Salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup crème fraîche or heavy cream (or sour cream)
Freshly ground pepper
You can find the recipe for Longe de Porc aux Pruneaux (Roast Pork Loin with Prunes) and Mousseline de Céleri Rave (Creamed Celery Root Purée) in the book Le Cordon Bleu at Home. To see how the rest of the Whisk Wednesdays group fared with their recipe, click here (or check out the sidebar) and then click on each blogger!

Tasting Notes
The light flavor of pork paired perfectly with the prunes hidden inside…if you like prunes, which I do! The sauce lightly drizzled on top added depth, moisture and sweetness to each bite.

I think next time introducing some apricot into the juice would bring an interesting color to the sauce that would complement the prunes and add some zing. In fact, I may also try combining chopped prunes and apricots to stuff the pork, for the same reasons.

Next Class
• Savarin aux Kiwis et aux Fraises (Rum Savarin with Kiwis and Strawberries) pages 409-410.

Bread Baker's Apprentice—Bagels

Bagels are a favorite in our house and Montreal-style bagels in particular are popular in Ottawa. I haven't eaten many New York-style bagels so I was keen to give them a try.

I was curious about what makes a Montreal-style bagel different from a New York-style bagel. The Montreal-style bagel is usually small, crunchy and sweet. It's made with malt and sugar rather than salt and is baked in a wood-fired oven. The New York bagel is more puffy, with a softer crust and a somewhat savory flavor since it uses salt instead of sugar. Also, unlike the typical Montreal bagel, it is baked in a standard oven.

Bagels have a long history going back possibly as far as ancient Egypt; however, popular myth places the invention of the bagel in Krakow shortly after the 1683 Battle of Vienna. As the story goes, a baker made a roll in the shape of the king's stirrup and called it a beugel (which is Austrian for "stirrup") as a thank you to King Sobieski who saved Austria from the Turks. Bagels were brought to North America in the early 1900s by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. They settled largely in Montreal and New York City leading to those cities developing the major bagel styles we eat today.

"The bagel [is] an unsweetened doughnut with rigor mortis."
—Beatrice and Ira Freeman, in "About Bagels", New York Times May 22, 1960

The recipe calls for a high-gluten flour, which is not readily available in Canadian stores, and I found out why: it turns out that all-purpose flour in Canada already is high-gluten! This makes our standard flour particularly good for breads and generally anything crusty…including bagels.

Recipe

Makes 12 bagels

For the Sponge:
1 teaspoon instant yeast
4 cups unbleached high-gluten or bread flour
2½ cups water at room temperature

For the Dough:
½ teaspoon instant yeast
3¾ cups unbleached high-gluten or bread flour
2¾ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons malt powder

To Finish:
1 tablespoon baking soda
Cornmeal or semolina flour for dusting
Sesame seeds, kosher salt
You can find the recipe for Bagels in the book The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread. To see how the rest of the BBA (Bread Baker's Apprentice) Challenge group fared with this week's recipe, click here and then click on each blogger!

Tasting Notes
These bagels tasted great, especially with a schmear of dill cream cheese. But I found the flavor a bit dull with a simple salted butter. Toasted was a different story: these bagels were excellent served toasted with butter. For sprinkles, I chose to use sea salt and sesame seeds. In hindsight, next time I would choose more neutral flavors that are suited to both savory and sweet cream cheeses (like pineapple cream cheese).

The recipe suggested boiling the bagels for 1 minute for a soft texture and 2 minutes for a chewier texture. So, I split the batch in half and tried it both ways. Honestly, I don't think I would have noticed the difference if I weren't looking for it, but if I had to pick I would probably choose the longer boiling time.

So, which is better? Montreal or New York-style? As much as I enjoyed the New York-style I think I'll have to go with Montreal. Now where to find a great Montreal-style bagel recipe...

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