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Ruben Arribas

About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.

The 5 Most Popular French Dishes (and How to Make Them at Home)

French cuisine is world-renowned for its elegance, depth of flavor, and rich history. While some dishes are associated with fine dining, many of France’s most beloved recipes began as simple, regional meals that celebrated local ingredients. Over time, they became iconic symbols of the country’s culinary identity. From rustic stews simmered for hours to delicate …

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The Silkiest Dessert Ever: How to Make Homemade Panna Cotta Like an Italian Chef

Panna cotta, which means “cooked cream” in Italian, is one of the most elegant yet surprisingly simple desserts you can make at home. Known for its silky-smooth texture and delicate flavor, it’s a dish that embodies the beauty of Italian cooking: turning a handful of ingredients into something unforgettable. Traditionally made with cream, sugar, and …

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Why Italians Use This Sugar Alternative (And Why America Barely Mentions It)

Spend a week in Italy and you’ll watch desserts disappear without the sugar hangover. Gelato tastes round and not cloying, breakfast cakes are barely sweet, and that glossy drizzle over fruit isn’t maple or corn syrup—it’s something older. Here’s the open secret: Italians don’t rely on one industrial sweetener; they rotate grape must reductions, barley …

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The Pasta Sauce Trick Sicilian Nonnas Do for 8 Hours That American Jars Can’t Copy

And what it reveals about patience, layering, and why time—not tomato—is the real ingredient It starts before breakfast. In kitchens across Palermo, Agrigento, and Catania, grandmothers open the shutters, rinse basil from the garden, and set a pot on the stove. By the time the rest of the family smells garlic, the tomato sauce has …

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9 Things Italians Say That Americans Would Find Deeply Offensive

And why none of it is meant to be rude If you’re an American traveling or living in Italy, you’ll likely fall in love with the coffee, the architecture, the seaside towns, and the social atmosphere. But there’s something else you might notice—something that might sting before you realize it’s completely normal. Italians say things …

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Most Spaghetti Bolognese Recipes Are Wrong (This Is How Italians Do It)

Few dishes are as comforting and universally loved as Spaghetti Bolognese. While it’s often associated with quick weeknight meals or basic pasta nights, the authentic Italian version, known as Ragù alla Bolognese, is a slow-simmered, deeply flavorful meat sauce with roots in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy particularly Bologna. Rich, hearty, and layered with depth, …

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POV: You Finally Make Risotto the Way Italians Do

Our full recipe guide on how to make Risotto, one of the most popular dishes in Italy besides Spaghetti Bolognese. Creamy, comforting, and deeply flavorful, risotto is one of the most beloved dishes in Italian cuisine and one that’s often misunderstood. While it may seem like a fussy restaurant dish, authentic risotto is surprisingly simple …

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The French Christmas Tradition Americans Find Surprisingly Calm

It looks elegant from the outside, but the real reason it feels calm is boring and practical: the whole holiday is built around one long meal that does not require constant hustle. The first time you spend Christmas around French people, you notice what is missing. No frantic Christmas-morning logistics. No day-long “who’s driving where” …

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Why Porchetta Is Italy’s Ultimate Celebration Roast

Italian cuisine is known worldwide for its rich flavours, comforting dishes, and traditional cooking techniques that have been passed down for generations. Among the country’s most iconic dishes is porchetta, a savoury, herb-infused roasted pork that’s crispy on the outside and incredibly tender on the inside. In this recipe guide, you will learn how to …

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Why Americans Who Move for Work-Life Balance End Up Working More

You move for the long lunches and the quieter streets. Then you accidentally rebuild the same grind inside a prettier calendar. On paper, it’s perfect. You land in Europe, you start walking everywhere, you drink coffee in daylight, and suddenly life looks like it has space again. Friends back home say you sound calmer. Your …

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What Happened When I Ate by European Food Rules for 60 Days (Goodbye 43 Pounds)

This was not a cleanse or a stunt. I stopped buying Walmart food for sixty days and rebuilt my cart using European rules I learned living in Spain. Same budget, different stores, strict label checks, soup first at lunch, olive oil as the default, short-ingredient bread, fruit for dessert, ten minute walks after warm meals. …

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