FOOOOOD!

[K.Pecas]

While in Europe, I would like to experience the food as well as drinks known to each country or city because I love to eat... and well, drink! Don't just say beer either, please suggest a particular brew if you can, please! If you can list the cities in the countries you ate and drank in, please write that in too. Thanks!

We will be visiting:

• England
  
• Ireland
  
• Scotland
  
• Italy
  
• Greece
  
• Poland
  
• Spain
  
• Portugal
  
• Switzerland
  
• Austria
  
• Romania
  
• Bulgaria
  
• Hungary
  

[madamtrashheap]

K.Pecas (aka ooosunxshineooo...much easier to type your new moniker!), here's a Post from a few months ago discussing this very topic: pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=CCadvice&thread=3891&page=1

To fill in the blanks for the other places:

England - a Full English Breakfast, Walkers Cheese & Onion crisps (potato chips), there are different types of beer to try depending on the region you're in so these are just a few suggestions: Carling, Old Speckled Hen, Newcastle Brown Ale ("Newkie Brown"), Boddingtons, John Smith's (I'm not up on my Welsh beers, perhaps Crystal has a recommendation!)

Ireland - soda bread, potato farls (breakfast), mussels and oysters in Galway, Colcannon (warming dish of potato and cabbage with garlic), Guinness (it really does taste better in Ireland), Kilkenny (in Kilkenny!), Beamish Red (for something different), Harp,

Scotland - Haggis (the spiced Haggis with potato skins is popular with non-locals), deep fried Mars Bar (a Glaswegian specialty - I'm serious!), single malt Whiskys (try to do a Whisky Trail tour), Irn Bru (for hangovers only, it's an acquired taste!), for something different and a treat try to find Belhaven Wee Heavy or Belhaven 90 (McEwans beer is Scottish but not very popular for taste).

Italy - where to start!!! Spaghetti Cabonara in Rome (siad to have been invented there), Bistecca Fiorentina in Florence, Bigoli in Salsa in Venice (make sure you like anchovies!), Pesto in Liguria/Cinque Terre, Limoncello in Sorrento(or anywhere along the Amalfi Coast), Gelati everywhere, olives, pasta, wines (Tuscans like Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino or Vernacchia; Pinot Grigio and Soave from the Veneto/Alto Adige; Frascati from Rome; Barolo in the north/Lombardy...), coffee (don't be a "coffee loser" and order a "latte" thinking it's a Caffe Latte - latte is Italian for milk and that's all you'll get!).

Greece - spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie), giros, moussaka, wine (Retsina is everywhere but tastes better mixed with 7Up or Sprite, so try Athiri or Assyrtiko varieties), Ouzo

Poland - Zupa ogórkowa (hot sour cucumber soup), Kotlet schabowy (breaded pork cutlet), Placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), Kopytka (type of dumplings), Bigos (pork stew), Golabki (stuffed cabbage rolls), Zubrowka (Bison Grass vodka - potent but good!)

Portugal - bacalhau (salt cod - cooked in many different ways), feijoada (bean stew), francesinha (massive sandwich from Porto region), cozido (a winter stew with different meats and vegetables), sardines (the fresh kind, not the canned variety!), Vihno Verde ("green wine" but can actually be white, red or rose - is light and refreshing).

Switzerland - fondue! (cheese or oil are the original ones, but you can now find chocolate), raclette (melted cheese with potatoes), Rösti (shredded fried potato, each region has its specialty), beers include Eichhof, Appenzeller Weizen (wheat beer, best in Summer) and Feldschlössen, wines such as Chasselas and Riesling-Sylvaner are unique but many other varieties (white and red - incl. Gamay) are grown in the country.

Romania - mãmãliga (a type of mash, true peasant food), ciorba (soup - different types; eg ciorbã de periºoare is soup of meatballs), iahnie (bean stew), sarmale (stuffed cabbage), wine (Romania produces more than you think - try Feteascã, Grasã and Tamâioasã as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay from the country), Bere - beer (Ursus, Timiºoreana is a traditional style of beer), Rachiu (fruit brandy, like Raiki)

Bulgaria - Kebapche (grilled meat rolls), kavarma (meat and vegetable casserole), sarmi (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves), Bop chorba (bean soup), Tarator (cold cucumber soup), Wine (Aligoté, Pamid, Mavrud and Gamza are interesting varieties found in Bulgaria), Beer (Zagorka, Astika and Shumensko pivo), Rakia (another version of Raiki - potent distilled spirit/liquor)

The question you've asked requires a very detailed answer (I've tried!) as there are so many recommendations for each country, let alone the fact that there are regional specialties in each country. Italy, for example, has 20 or so regions that each have their own special dishes and then each town within that region has it's own traditional cuisine! My list is by no means exhaustive, and hopefully others will offer their recommendations. Perhaps do a little further research on the traditional foods of each place/city you're visiting, and along with the recommendations from this Board you'll find all sorts of things to whet your palate!

[herrbert]

adding:

[/li][li]Spain - Tapas, tapas, tapas !!! choose whatever you like. 2-3 portions, equals about a meal for 1 person. Besides that have Churros for second breakfast (around 10-11 am) or have chocolate churros after a night on the town. (Also I need to say that there are very good Indian restaurants in Madrid, at the c/Lavapies, Anarkoli, has a great vergetarian menu for 2, for 20 euros incl a drink, I know it's not typical for Spain, but great food if you are travelling, and need to keep an eye on a budget.), In the same neighborhood, there is a bar, that has African patatoes on their (small) menu, which are amongst the best things I've eaten, I really need to write down the address next time!!)

[/li][li]Austria - besides the schnitzel I mentioned in the other post, I need to add Kaiserschmarrn to that list as well. They are not that difficult to prepare (I makes them at home as well), so where you eat them should make not such a diffence. Austrians also make very good cakes and desserts. The Sachertorte is a (pardon "Der'') classic amongst all, but a good Apfelstrüdel or Topfenkuchen in a nice coffeeshop, at 4 in the afternoon will make happy aswell.

[/li][li]Hungary - Gulash soup, lovely.


Can't help you on the beers, as I don't like beer at all.

[madamtrashheap]

Jun 30, 2008 16:46:17 GMT -5 herrbert said:

[/li][li]Spain -
[/li][li]Austria -
[/li][li]Hungary - [/quote] Check the link above herrbert, we've covered these places with our previous answers (clearly we love food so much we have to mention it again! ;D)

[K.Pecas]

Thanks you so much Madam! That list was very thurough! Do you have any favorite food or drink from any place? Also, thank you Herrbert! I am so glad you told me about an indian resturant. Indian is my FAVORITE food. I will miss it on our trip because we want to get a taste of the local cuisine, but I think we can take one night off for some curry!

[crystal]

I have the asnwer to your problem regarding Indian food. The Chicken Tikka Masala curry was invented in England so technically allowed on your foodie mission.

Have to disagree MTH not Walkers cheese and onion but XL Cheese Crisps an absolute institution. But wierdly only available in Northern England. Big thumbs up to Irn Bru though.

I live in Northern England from my region you can add -
Cumberland sausage (but it has to be from Cumbria or it's just not right - so there!) a thick coil of herbed sausage.
Lancashire Hot Pot - potatoes, black pudding and meat stew type thing.
Shepherds pie - lamb mince with a mashed potatoe topping.
Fish, chips and mushy peas - always smell nice than they taste but a good chippy is worth it's weight (the kids I work with also would reccomend chips, cheese and gravy but thats not for me!).

Regarding beers (Real Ale) in the UK check out CAMRA website. I'll look for the link for you. I'm a scotch bitter gal but must admit if I was visiting and wanting a taste of England it's not the most cultured!

edit to change awful spellings

[crystal]

Hello again
The CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) site is not that helpful to the casual drinker. They seem pretty full on. This site may be a little better.
www.beermad.org.uk/links/pubguides

And as requested MTH these are some welsh ales. I haven't any recommendation as I haven't tried any.
www.plasseybrewery.co.uk/brews.html

[madamtrashheap]

Jul 1, 2008 16:24:46 GMT -5 crystal said:

And as requested MTH these are some welsh ales. I haven't any recommendation as I haven't tried any.
www.plasseybrewery.co.uk/brews.html

Thanks Crystal! For some reason I had it in my head that you had some Welsh knowledge - clearly my head isn't with it! (I know you live "up north" - good call on the Hot Pot too!). Yeah, XL Cheese Crisps are pretty good, but there's nothing like a pint and a packet of C&O! Crisp war!!!

[K.Pecas]

Oh man. I think after eating so much great stuff, I'm not going to want to come home!

[Eagle]

K.Pecas, it's going to be hard to top the suggestions you've received already!!! A few thoughts on food items:

> England - I really like the "full English Breakfast" (or Irish or Scottish as the case may be) but I draw the line at Black Pudding!!! Some of the English breakfasts that I had in the north (North Yorkshire / Catterick, etc.) included a piece of deep fried bread, which I quite enjoyed but I didn't find this in the south (London) on my last visit.

> Ireland - in addition to Guinness and Beamish Stout, you might also try Murphy's. I believe the latter two are brewed in County Cork? Again, I won't touch the "Klonacilty Pudding", which is similar to the English Black Pudding.

> Italy - just about everything in Italy is great - I love Spaghetti Carbonara, anything with Pesto and of course the Vino and Coffee! However, I "draw the line" at Cavallo (horse meat). One point to mention, most Italians don't drink Cappucino after about 10:00. If you order "coffee", you'll get a shot of Espresso, and there are NO free refills. Every cup is freshly made, and they charge for these. If you want a "normal" coffee, ask for "Cafe Americano", which is basically an Espresso with hot water added.

> Switzerland - I really like Rosti, but it's really filling! I didn't try the Cheese Fondue on my last visit to Gimmelwald, however the owner of the Hotel said that it's best to have some wine with Fondue to prevent stomach upset. There's probably some truth to that, as some other tourists had Fondue one night, and they weren't feeling too good the next morning.

Cheers!

[WillTravel]

Wow, MTH, that is a great list.

Lots of other interesting posts here too. I know I've missed a lot!

[herrbert]

Jun 30, 2008 19:08:27 GMT -5 madamtrashheap said:

Jun 30, 2008 16:46:17 GMT -5 herrbert said:

[/li][li]Spain -
[/li][li]Austria -
[/li][li]Hungary - [/quote] Check the link above herrbert, we've covered these places with our previous answers (clearly we love food so much we have to mention it again! ;D)[/quote]

I took a look at my previous answer in that topic, but felt it was a little bit short, so I added some other favourites.

Travelling and Food: a Royal combination.

[herrbert]

Jun 30, 2008 22:48:05 GMT -5 K.Pecas said:

I am so glad you told me about an indian resturant. Indian is my FAVORITE food. I will miss it on our trip because we want to get a taste of the local cuisine, but I think we can take one night off for some curry!

If you like to go there, you can walk. From Sol (center of Madrid) it is about 15 minutes, if you are going by Metro. take a the metro till station: Lavapiés, walk uphill towards the little square. The calle de Lavapies, is the street on the left (there are 3 streets, if you cross the square) going even further up hill. The Restaurant is on the left, after maybe 2 minutes. The menu is in English, and the staff also speaks English.

You can also take the metro till Tirso de Molina, walk towards the eastern end of the square, and there you will find the calle de Lavapies (turn right - downhill), and the restaurant will be on the right, after 3-4 minutes.

P.S. Don't thank me. I need to give credit to my friend who lives on this street.

[crystal]

Jul 1, 2008 17:53:31 GMT -5 madamtrashheap said:

Yeah, XL Cheese Crisps are pretty good, but there's nothing like a pint and a packet of C&O! Crisp war!!!

In my town we have a pickled egg inside a packet of XL to accompany our pint - classy or what!!!!