Countries and their national dishes

‘Work Travel Save Repeat’ has been the mantra for the millennials. The new generation definitely realises and appreciates the importance of leisure for a sound mind and body. Exploring new countries, taking a break from work life to nourish personal life, learning new languages and cultures is the trend. Call us wanderlust or travel bugs, we got to stain our passports before wrinkles stain our beauty! A MAJOR part of travelling is food- trying new cuisines, indulging in fine wines, cheeses, desserts… it’s never ending. And who doesn’t like to eat! It’s a good idea to do a little study before you arrive at your destination. Just so you can plan your outings and dates. Here we have a list of most visited countries and what foods you must try when you visit.

The USA:

USA is the headquarters of fast food chains all over the world. When in the states, do not miss out on fried chicken, hamburgers, Chicago pizza pies, California wines, Maine lobsters, and Tex-mex cuisine and food trucks. Also, they have a serious collection of candy, chocolate bars and breakfast cereals. So definitely check those out.

Canada

Canada is a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities. You will find all different cuisines here. However, the food that truly is Canadian is maple syrup, nanaimo bars, Montreal bagels, Montreal smoked meat, Native American fry bread etc. If you are in the east end, do not forget to try PEI mussels and Nova Scotia lobsters. Certain provinces also legally serve moose meat. Feel adventurous? Try it!

Mexico

Some of the world’s hottest peppers come from this country. No wonder they have a collection of hot sauces. Famous for tacos, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, burritos, papusa, taquitos and… most important- Tequila! Ice creams, margaritas and other drinks will cool you down after all the spicy peppers.

Jamaica

Again some of the spiciest food you will ever try. Jamaican beef patties, goat curry and jerk chicken! You shall never be short on booze here.

Morocco:

Tagine is a clay pot which is used to cook a Tagine. Lamb tagine with ras-el-hanout, apricots, saffron and vegetables is a national dish of this country. Harissa is a hot spicy chili paste that can be added used as a condiment to increase the heat of a dish.

England:

For the longest time, Fish and chips was the most popular take-out food. However, times have changed and they say, the most flavourful Indian food comes from this country. Strange? Mulligatawny soup is as famous as New England Clam Chowder. Not a joke, definitely try butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. England also is known for some cheeses like stilton and aged cheddars and beer.

Spain:

Paella is the national dish of Spain which is a one pot rice dish made using Bomba rice, saffron, chorizo, seafood, chicken, tomatoes and fresh herbs. Spanish tomatoes are quite famous and so are some sauces and soups. Patatas bravas is a widely served tapas dish. Tapas style is small portions of food served to accompany alcoholic drinks. Spain is also known for its wines and cheeses like Manchego. Gazpacho is a cold soup that is a must try and Serrano ham, which is like prosciutto, but Spanish!

Italy:

Oh, where can we start about this country? Wines, cheeses, cured meats- they got it all! Breads, pizzas, pastas, seafood, or Prosecco! Alba is known for their white truffle mushrooms – some of the most expensive mushrooms in the world. Prosecco is a sparkling wine, similar to Champagne but made in Italy. Gelato is a rich creamy Italian ice cream that is available in a variety of flavours. Focaccia bread, minestrone soup, meatballs in Sicilian hot tomato sauce, Prosciutto, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, olives, tapenade and various pickled items that complete antipasti should be on your ‘to-eat’ list.

Greece:

Greece is a part of the Mediterranean belt. Sheep’s feta, goat’s feta, halloumi, mizithra etc are some of the cheeses that Greece is proud of. Olives, olive oil, pita, spanakopita, Saganaki, moussaka, gyro, souvlaki and grilled lamb dishes are the ones you need to try without any excuses.

Netherlands:

Netherlands, though does not have a rich culinary culture like Italy or France, is famous for its cheeses. Gouda, Edam or Old Amsterdam are some of the cheeses that you must try. Stroopwafels, krokets, and some cured meats also should be on your lists. During colonization, when the Dutch established their colonies in Indonesia, some Indonesian flavours travelled across the continent. Nasi goreng, bami goreng, krupuk, ketjap etc are the Indonesian foods that shouldn’t surprise you in Netherlands.

France:

France is the mother of western cuisine. It is the home to some great chefs like Escoffier, the father of modern French cuisine. French wines, pastries, breads, cheeses are out of the world. Black truffle mushrooms of Perigord, Cognac from Cognac region, red wines of Bordeaux… the list is endless. Coq au vin, cassoulet, bourguignon, bouillabaisse, roulade, confit, papillote, paupiette are some of the classic French techniques or dishes consisting of meats, poultry and fish. Soufflé, mousse, éclairs, madeleine, gateaux, parfaits, ganache, macarons, crêpes, crème brûlée, marjolaine, cream puffs/profiteroles, pot de crème etc are some of the French desserts and pastries. Chablis, merlot, Riesling, pinot noir, pinot grigio, chardonnay, cabernet blanc, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc etc. go hand in hand with everything mentioned above- meat, seafood, poultry, desserts, cheese, fruits etc.

Have you made your travel plans for the year? What is your next destination? In our next blog post, we will post the same for 10 more countries. If there is one you would like us to include, comment below and let us know. When you eat these foods in various countries, mention us in your insta stories, tag us in your posts and don’t forget to use the hashtag #metime.