Food and travel, the best partnership since, well, forever.
Meat Pie (Australia)
Widely considered to be the national dish, these tasty little pies, about the size of your hand, are stuffed with minced meat (beef and lamb are most common), gravy, spices, and other variations (mushrooms, onions, cheese, potatoes, little bits of heaven). If you ever find yourself at a rugby game, this should be your food of choice.
Poutine (Canada)
Anyone who has visited Canada returns to their home country craving poutine. If you like French fries, gravy and cheese, this is your dream come true. From restaurants to roadside stands, poutine is a staple among Canadians (it originated in Quebec). Fair warning: once you start eating, you won’t be able to stop until they are gone.
Bitterballen (The Netherlands)
Aside from being fun to say, bitterballen can be found in nearly every café and bar around The Netherlands. They are crunch coated little orbs filled with chopped beef, beef broth, flour, butter, herbs and spices. Order them with a beer, dip them in some mustard, and enjoy, but a word of caution – the outside may feel luke warm, but the inside is probably scalding hot!
Macarons (France)
Fluffy, light, deliciously sweet gifts from the French baking gods. These are so widely loved that they’re even sold at McDonald’s in Paris (there are better options, don’t go there). Enjoy these alone or with a cup of coffee. They offer a huge range of flavors, but the flower ones (violet, rose, etc.) really give you a feel for how light and elegant these confections are. It seems easy to stuff the entire thing in your mouth, but exhibit some self-control and enjoy it in smaller bites.
Bratwurst (Germany)
You cannot go to Germany and not try a bratwurst, pretty sure it’s in German law books (vegetarians are exempt). Typically, they are made of pork and veal, but the spices used can vary from region to region. They can be grilled, sautéed, boiled (usually in beer!), roasted, and more. Top them with mustard, grilled onions, pepers, or sauer kraut (if you want to be really traditional). Wash it down with a beer and you’re practically German!
Lamb & Eggplant Moussaka (Greece)
A layered dish (think lasagna) that is a pivotal meal in Greek cuisine. Sauteed eggplant, tomatos with onions, garlic, and spices (cinnamon, allspice, and pepper) , and minced lamb are layered, covered in Béchamel (white sauce) and baked. Be sure not to eat it while it’s extremely hot or the layers will slide around too much.
Goulash (Hungary)
Goulash can be served as a soup or stew of meat, noodles, vegetables, spices, and paprika (helping give it that red orange color). It’s become popular everywhere, but it all started in Hungary. There are many variations for it and they’re all delicious.
Corned Beef with Cabbage (Ireland)
Corned beef is literally salted beef. Popularized with naval fleets to help preserve meat longer and has since become a staple of Irish cuisine. You can now find corned beef in sandwiches and other variations, but if you stop by Ireland, you’ve got to try it. Order corned beef and cabbage with Guinness or Jameson to get an authentic Irish feel.
Pasta Bolognese (Italy)
Chances are you’ve had this dish, but there’s no better way to enjoy it and get a really authentic meal than in Italy. Usually an oil, celery, tomato and cheese sauce, but it also can be a meat based sauce (originated in Bologna). If you want to impress your Italian waiter, order it as “ragù alla Bolognese”.
Pierogi (Poland)
First off, it’s pronounced per-ohg-ee. TWhat was once considered a peasant food, these delicious little dumplings are now a staple of Polish cuisine. They’re typically stuffed with a variation of potatoes, sauerkraut, ground meat, and cheese… and they are always delicious.
Tortilla (Spain)
No, we aren’t talking about the flat, round, corn or flour disk that we use for quesadillas and wraps. Tortillas Española are a whole different and delicious ball game. They are basically Spanish potato omelets that are delicious plain, in bocadillo (sandwich) form, or with different ingredients added in. You can enjoy them with breakfast, lunch or dinner throughout Spain.
Köttbullar/Swedish Meatballs (Sweden)
What’s the difference between regular meatballs and Köttbullar? They’re Swedish! Swedish meatballs are smaller, usually served with cooked potatoes, brown gravy and lingonberry (giving them a sweeter taste).
Tom Kha Gai (Thailand)
Coconut milk, galangal (similar to ginger root), lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, chicken, and usually mushrooms, coriander leaves and fried chilies are combined to create this spicy Thai soup. This is a must when you visit Thailand!
Pho Bo/Beef Noodle Soup (Vietnam)
This stuff is so pho-king good! Not everyone gets to say they eat Pho in Vietnam. This noodle soup with broth, rice noodles (banh pho), herbs and meat is perfect any time. Be prepared though, it’s more filling that you think
Fish & Chips (London)
If you’ve got your eye on things that are battered and fried, get your hands on some fish and chips in London. Flaky fish paired with crisp chips (or fries if you’re from the U.S.) paired with a dash of malt vinegar will have you asking for more.
