Kosmos

Survive on bread and water and a prayer? As if! Created by men and women of the cloth, these culinary delights taste heavenly

Sweet temptation

Nuns bake traditional treats using the best ingredients. In Madrid, the small shop El Jardín del Convento sells biscuits, jams and honey from Spanish convents.

Peace meal

For those who prefer their treats savory and vegetarian, the temple kitchens in Korea serve up great food, but without any members of the onion family (garlic, shallots, leeks, chives et al), which the monks believe incite lust.

Liquid bread

In the 18th century, beer was brewed at around 350 German monasteries. The monks liked beer because it was filling and they were permitted to indulge during Lent. Today, there are only a scant dozen monastery breweries in the country.

The American psychedelic folk singer and supreme eccentric Devendra Banhart drew on his autobiography for his mellow pop album, Ma. Expect some whacky entertainment at his gigs in Germany next month: Berlin (1/24), Leipzig (1/26) and Cologne (1/29).

devendrabanhart.com