Traveling gives people a chance to explore and learn the culture, traditions, and history of a new place. One of the best ways to know more about a specific location is by trying out their local cuisines. Doing this will not only excite your taste buds but will also open your mind.
Think about the street foods in Bangkok or the savory delicacies of Italy the next time you shop at your favorite ladies’ clothing stores and boutiques. It will help you plan out your cultiure-matching outfits and prepare for every encounter with international foods, meeting locals, and learning something new at your destination.
Here are some of the best foods worth trying abroad:
Lobster Roll
This simple but expensive dish is very popular in the easternmost states in the U.S. It features succulent lobster meats lightly tossed with mayo and placed into a bun. The Maine Lobster roll is very common in the state, but it is obviously one of the most famous sandwiches in the U.S. One lobster roll costs around 12 to 15 dollars or more but considering all that meat that spills out from the bun, you know that it is worth every penny. Preparing this delectable sandwich will take a couple of hours to get all that from a lobster deconstruction spree.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Spring rolls come in all shapes and sizes in Asian cuisine, Vietnam has its own varieties too. The “nem nuong cuon” is a famous Vietnamese spring roll that uses grilled pork sausage. It is wrapped in translucent rice paper with daikon, carrot, lettuce, cucumber, and mint, then served with a savory secret sauce.
Another popular variety of this popular dish is the “goi cuon.” It has the same ingredients but with added shrimp. These two dishes are available in food cards and in almost all restaurants in Vietnam.
Poutine
If visiting Canada and there is only one dish that you should try, it should be Poutine. It is made from fresh-cut french fries, topped with gravy and cheese curds. The exact origins of this dish is not certain and a lot of restaurants in Quebec say that they created it. But there is no agreed consensus on how it came into the menu. What is known about the Poutine is that it was created in the late 1950s in the central Quebec area. It is now a staple Canadian dish and there are several variations of it now, including vegan varieties.
Ceviche
There is nothing more iconic and popular than the dish you’d find in Peru called Ceviche. It originates from the coastal areas of the country and it is a unique must-try cuisine when you are in the country. It uses the freshest raw white fish fillet, then it is marinated in spices and lime juice. The fish meat is cooked with lime juice without applying heat. There are other dishes in Latin American with the same concept as the ceviche, but this one in Peru probably is the most popular because of the quality of ingredients they use.
Jerk Chicken
This dish is one of Jamaica’s most famous and a favorite of everyone. It uses dry-rubbed chicken with herbs, spices, and scotch bonnet peppers. It is cooked slowly over hot coals then served spicy with a portion of rice and peas cooked in coconut milk. The side dish of rice and kidney beans makes it a really filling dish.
Spaghetti Carbonara
There is no better way to sample our authentic pasta dishes than having them there where they originated – Italy. One must-try is the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara which is originally from Rome. It uses raw egg yolk tossed on al dente spaghetti, then topped with pancetta and romano cheese. There are other versions of this dish using pork cheeks, olive oil, and parsley. It is a rich and decadent pasta that is a must-try when you are in Rome.
Saag Paneer
This Indian vegetarian dish is a favorite meal for both locals and tourists. It is made with spinach, spices, and paneer cheese served with rice and warm naan. Paneer is a versatile, non-melting cheese with the same consistency as tofu. It is a lacto-vegetarian ingredient and considered a major protein source for vegetarians.
Patatas Bravas
This spicy potato dish first came up as a bar snack in Madrid. It is composed of fried potatoes with a spicy roux. But Barcelona came up with adding fried tomato sauce and allioli with peppers. You can find this dish in a different variety depending on where you order them in Spain.
Gulyas
Gulyas or goulash is a dish that looks somewhere like a stew and soup. It has a rich, intense, and thick flavor for an afternoon meal during the winter season. It uses Hungarian paprika, beef, root vegetables, and pinched pasta. Served with plain white bread and wine.
Bungeo-ppang
If you love everything Korean, then a trip to Seoul must be on your bucket list. Once you’re there, make sure to get one of these Korean street pastries called bungeo-ppang. It is shaped like a fish with red bean paste as a filling. Other possible fillings include chocolate, cream, or pizza toppings!
Kobe Beef
Wagyu beef is a special kind of beef from native Japanese cows and is considered the best beef in the world. However, even among Japanese beef, Kobe beef is a standout. Done properly, it literally melts in your mouth, and is best served hot from the grill.
Gyro
This traditional Greek dish is made from lamb, pork, or chicken. It is cooked in a rotisserie, then served wrapped in a flatbread with onions, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce. It can also be made with veal or beef, spiced with paprika, garlic, oregano, pepper, dried parsley, and other spices.
Khachapuri
Khachapuri is made of leavened bread filled with cheese and shaped in various ways. The cheese used is the sulguni, which is a Georgian cheese variety. Eggs are also used as a filling. This bread is also very popular in other countries like Armenia and Russia.
Travel and food go well together. When traveling, always make time to sample out the local dishes in the area to know more about the culture and traditions of the place. Sometimes, food is just an afterthought when visiting a new place. But there are also other people that would plan out their travels in search of the best foods to try around the world.