What’s your favourite cuisine? It can be hard to choose with so many choices worldwide. Every country and culture has their own cuisine that reflects their traditions and history. Food is an integral part of culture. Here are some top dishes that you should definitely try if you ever find yourself abroad.
Some say Italy has some of the best comfort food. From cheesy pizzas to savoury pasta dishes, they've pleased crowds and taste buds. In fact, these iconic dishes have been devoured by hungry folks around the globe for centuries. Pizza and pasta are so versatile that many variations and adaptations have been made.
Some pasta dishes are tomato based and some are made with lemon zest; both can really hit the spot. Professional chefs have given the dishes exquisite twists that reflect their specialities. Others have perfected their own unique homemade versions. If pizza and pasta are your favourite foods, then head over to Italy and visit one of their renowned eateries.
Escargot is a delicacy in France and those that have tried it say it has a very unique taste and texture that is different from other foods. This dish is usually cooked with butter, garlic, and herbs. Escargot can be a very healthy dish as it is high in protein but low in fat. If you’re trying escargot in a restaurant, you will be given an escargot fork. This utensil is made especially for the consumption of snails. Use the fork to pierce the meat in the shell and give it a good twist. Now you can enjoy this delicacy.
If you ever find yourself in Spain, make sure to try some empanadas. Empanadas are a flaky pastry filled with a savoury filling. What's inside the pastry varies, but some common fillings include chicken, beef, and pork. This pastry is very popular, because it is easy to eat with just your hands and there is such a wide range of fillings.
Greece is also famous for a pastry called spanakopita or spinach pie. It is a flaky pie filled with spinach, feta, and seasonings. Spanakopita is commonly eaten as an appetizer or as a snack. It is hard to track how long the spinach pie has been around for, but some people believe it to date back 400 years.
Pho is a very popular dish from Vietnam and it has established itself as the country's national dish. It is a dish that can be cooked at home, found along street stalls and different eateries across the country. This well-liked dish contains rice noodles in a broth with meat and herbs, with some broths being cooked for at least six hours! The aromatic broth is made from combining beef bones, some spices, and flank steak. Some people prefer to use chicken bones to create the broth instead.
Pho can be served with different toppings, including bean sprouts, cilantro, and different sauces. The culmination of these ingredients produces a mouth-watering and savoury bowl of pho. If you're starving you can order a salad roll to eat alongside your pho. This salad roll is usually made with prawns, pork, vermicelli, and bean sprouts all wrapped in rice paper.
There are many dishes to try if you visit Thailand and many of them pack fresh and vivid flavours. Tom Yum is a hot and sour soup with a bold taste. It is usually made with shrimp, but it can be made with pork or chicken as well. Some other key ingredients include lemongrass and chilies. Another well-known and must-try dish in Thailand is Pad Thai. It is a stir-fried noodle dish that can include chilies, bean sprouts, and roasted peanuts.
It may be tempting to praise and recommend our favourite cuisines and lambaste the bad. It’s important to remember that one way to authentically experience culture is by trying the food. So keeping an open mind and being respectful of what other cultures have to offer is all part of the experience.
If you’re interested in gastronomy or if you want to try all these different foods, then it's time to venture out and try something new. You may accidentally stumble upon some unexpected new favourite dishes.