The Up-to-date potato variety has been popular in South African kitchens for generations due to its unique properties. This variety is often chosen when a potato is needed that can fully absorb sauce in curry or give soup a soft and comforting texture instead of a dense and waxy one.
This potato is known by home cooks as a 'gravy-soaker'. It is valued for its crumbly texture and high starch content. During cooking, it becomes tender and airy, absorbing the rich aromas of curries, stews, and broths, rather than maintaining its perfect shape.
Up-to-date potatoes belong to the category of floury potatoes. These varieties are characterized by lower moisture content and higher starch content compared to waxy varieties. Consequently, they break down more easily when boiled and develop a light, fluffy consistency. This makes them ideal for dishes where the potato should become part of the sauce or broth, rather than remaining firm and separate.
Up-to-date potatoes are excellent for mashed potatoes. Suitable dishes include curry, stew, leek and potato soup, baked potatoes, and chips. However, they are less suitable for potato salads, where a firmer texture is preferred.
Unlike some varieties that remain whole and firm regardless of cooking time, Up-to-date potatoes behave oppositely. Their crumbly structure allows them to absorb broth, curry sauce, tomato sauce, and juices from meat dishes. For example, in lamb or beef stew, the pieces of potato soften at the edges and soak up the flavor of the entire dish. In curry, it becomes tender and creamy, helping to naturally thicken the sauce. This quality is why many South Africans call it a 'gravy-soaker.'
In South Africa, potatoes are classified into three main groups, knowledge of which can significantly influence the cooking process. Waxy varieties include cultivars such as Mondial, Fabuka, and BP13. They have high moisture content and low starch content; when boiled, they retain their shape, making them ideal for potato salads. However, they are not the best choice for mashed potatoes, as they yield a softer, 'slap-chip' result when fried.
Semi-waxy varieties include BP1, VDP, Fianna, Valor, and Sifra (Bianca). These are versatile options that have a slightly crumbly texture but still hold their shape reasonably well during cooking. They can be found widely in South African supermarkets and are suitable for boiling, frying, and baking.
The floury category includes Caren, Darius, Avalanche, and Up-to-date potatoes. Due to their high starch content, these varieties do not hold their shape well when boiled. Instead, they become soft and airy, making them ideal for curries, stews, soups, mash, and chips.
One of the best ways to use Up-to-date potatoes is to make a creamy soup. The potato breaks down beautifully, giving the soup thickness without the need for a large amount of cream. Ingredients required include leeks, unsalted butter, minced garlic, salt, dried parsley, dried thyme, black pepper, Up-to-date potatoes, low-fat chicken or vegetable broth, cream (optional), and cornstarch (optional).
The preparation begins by removing the dark green parts and root ends of the leeks, then thinly slicing the white parts and thoroughly washing them in water. In a large pot, the butter is melted, after which the leeks are sautéed for about five minutes until softened. Garlic, salt, parsley, thyme, and pepper are added, and everything is cooked for one minute. Then the potatoes and broth are added to the soup. The soup is brought to a boil, then the heat is reduced, covered, and simmered for 10–15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Depending on the desired smoothness, the entire soup or part of it is blended with an immersion blender. If cream and cornstarch are used, they are mixed first, added to the soup, and cooked for a few more minutes until lightly thickened.
According to a new survey commissioned by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), nearly three-quarters of residents in the United Arab Emirates recommend lesser-known attractions in Abu Dhabi to friends and family. Personal recommendations proved more significant for discovering the emirate's hidden gems than social media.
The study revealed that 73 percent of residents are willing to share recommendations for places they consider hidden gems. Moreover, half of Abu Dhabi residents were able to name such a place instantly, which is the highest rate among residents across all UAE.
The survey also hinted at the tendency of many residents to keep these locations secret: about 64 percent stated they would prefer to enjoy these places in solitude rather than posting them on social media.
Food held a special place in residents' recommendations, as almost a third of spontaneous answers concerned local cafes and restaurants. Among the most popular hidden gems of the emirate is Art House Café, which nearly 78 percent of visitors named as such.
Second place was taken by Al Ain Archaeological Park (58.1 percent), followed by Jebel Hafeet camping (52.8 percent) and the Emirates National Museum of Automotive in Ad Dhafra (52.4 percent). The top 10 also included the Artisan House, Eastern Mangroves Promenade, Cultural Foundation, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Date Market, and Nowhere Café.
The survey also examined the criteria by which residents define a hidden gem. The most important factor was a calm and peaceful atmosphere, noted by 22 percent of respondents. This was followed by the overall level of impression and food quality (19 percent), while 12 percent valued the cultural or historical significance of the site.
The study's findings emphasized that Al Ain is one of the most attractive destinations in the emirate for visiting lesser-known places, as Al Ain Archaeological Park and Jebel Hafeet camping were included in the list of most highly rated places.
The district administration reported that reconstruction work has started on a section of Kartatal Street in the Chilanzar district of Tashkent. This project is aimed at creating a modern public space focused on tourism development.
The Governor of the Chilanzar District, Saidkakhhor Kholkhujaev, personally inspected the progress of construction and repair activities. During the visit, special attention was paid to the quality of the work being performed, as well as compliance with urban planning norms and the new design code.
According to the district administration, the main objective of this project is to form a comfortable urban environment for both the residents of the capital and the city's guests.
Uzbekistan is becoming a new destination for international tourists as the demand for trip searches to the country increased by a record 64% between May 2025 and April 2026. This data is presented in the report 'Travel Insights 2026: Focus on Europe,' prepared by Amadeus in collaboration with UN Tourism. This growth was the highest among all surveyed destinations.
Neighboring Tajikistan showed the same increase in search demand—64%. The report notes a growing interest in Central and Eastern European regions, which the authors also include Central Asian countries in. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan showed the strongest demand growth, surpassing established markets such as Switzerland and Sweden (each showing a 36% growth), Denmark (34%), Ireland (33%), Belgium (32%), and Norway (31%).
According to the report, the increasing diversity of new destinations indicates that travelers are increasingly seeking new experiences beyond traditional tourist spots. This opens opportunities for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to enhance their status by developing unique marketing campaigns and compelling storytelling.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Sheikha Al Nawais stated: 'More and more travelers are striving to discover new places outside of well-known and heavily photographed tourist attractions. The greatest success belongs to those destinations that are bold enough to make themselves known today before the rest of the world finds out.'
The European tourism sector continued to demonstrate resilience and growth in the second quarter of 2026. According to Amadeus Travel Intelligence, passenger traffic to Europe increased by 2.3% compared to the same period last year (May 2025 – April 2026). Meanwhile, hotel occupancy grew by 2%, and the average daily rate (ADR) increased by 7%.
The UN Tourism Global Tourism Barometer reported that international arrivals to Europe grew by 4% in the first quarter of 2026, following a 5% growth in 2025. Overall growth in Central and Eastern Europe was 6%, while Southern Mediterranean Europe and Northern Europe each showed a growth of 4%, and Western Europe showed a growth of 2%.
Javier Campo, Vice President of Commercial for Europe at Amadeus Hospitality, noted: 'Despite some uncertainty in European travel due to the macroeconomic situation, demand on the continent remains resilient. We see a clear opportunity to attract Japanese travelers, who lead both in search volume and booking growth in Europe, and there is also growing interest in lesser-known destinations.'
In addition to traditional leaders of European tourism, booking data indicates growing demand for destinations offering unique experiences and a more balanced season. Czechia demonstrated the fastest booking growth among leading European markets, increasing by 9%, and Iceland by 7%.
The report indicates that these figures reflect strong interest in both cultural city breaks and nature travel in Northern and Central Europe.
Japan has become the fastest-growing source market for travel to Europe. A 62% increase in search queries from Japan translated into a 12% increase in bookings, which is 10 percentage points higher than Denmark, which ranked second in booking growth. Booking growth from Japan was observed across all sub-regions of Europe: 28% in Central and Eastern Europe, 14% in Southern Mediterranean Europe, 10% in Western Europe, and 8% in Northern Europe.
According to the report, this trend creates significant opportunities for tourism organizations, DMOs, and airlines, ranging from more targeted marketing campaigns to strategic partnerships for route development.
Travelers aged 46 to 65 account for about 30% of total tourism demand in Europe, making them the largest customer segment. According to the Amadeus Travel Dreams report, this age group is increasingly seeking authentic local experiences, cultural immersion, wellness, and a deeper connection with the places they visit.
This trend is also noticeable in the hotel sector. The average daily rate in Europe remained close to $215 USD over the last 12 months, peaking at $249 USD in June 2025. France recorded the highest rates among major markets, reaching $441 USD in June and $391 USD in July.
Hotel occupancy across Europe was maintained at 73% or higher from May to October 2025, reaching nearly 80% in September.
Nearly half of all bookings, about 48%, are made more than a month before the intended arrival date, highlighting the effectiveness of early marketing and pricing strategies. Hotel occupancy for September 2026 has already reached 25%, compared to 22% the previous year, which is an early sign of stable tourist demand before the start of the next high season.
The 'Travel Insights 2026: Focus on Europe' report is based on data from Amadeus Destination Gateway, which combines historical and forecast information on hotels, air travel, and traveler demographics.
