Belgium
You may have been including a waffle as a side of your Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity for years, but a traditional Belgium waffle is more akin to a food truck treat. Served with fresh fruit, whipped cream or chocolate, a Belgium waffle can be eaten on the go without a fork or sticky syrup.England
Whether you’re an Anglophile who loves Shakespeare or you are merely using your time in England as a point of departure for your transatlantic cruise, please do not leave the country without trying its famous fish and chips. You may have brown-bagged it on fish stick day when you were in elementary school, but fish and chips in England will help you reimagine this delicious pub food. Served with salt and vinegar to add tang to the crunch, fish and chips in their native country will help you forgive their American misinterpretation.Germany
Not traditionally known for its fine food, Germany is actually a great place to get a hearty meal. The Germans make some excellent sausage including bratwurst and blutwurst. Pair a couple of those with a chewy pretzel and a half-liter of hefeweizen and you may just reexamine why German food has gotten such a bad rap.Italy
Neapolitan pizza, most authentically found in Naples, is regulated by the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. Its aim is to “promote and protect in Italy and worldwide the true Neapolitan pizza.” Much like wines in various regions of France, only pizza made in a special way can claim to be Neapolitan. If you can experience pizza in Italy, you should not pass it up.France
Yes, there is a McDonalds on the Champs-Élysées in the middle of Paris, but just because it exists, does not mean that’s where you should go to experience French food. There are so many facets to French cuisine, it’s difficult to know where to start. You may choose to bypass the traditional escargot, but that will still leave you plenty of options. Steak frites, for example, is simply steak and French fries, and yet, it tastes deliciously different with its Cognac-infused cream sauce. In addition, don’t forget to grab a few croissants from the local patisserie to make you realize what you’ve been missing with the pop-in-the-oven variety you’re used to.Portugal
Portuguese egg tarts or pastéis de nata, were created in the 1700s by Catholic monks looking for something to do with mountains of leftover egg yolks. (The egg whites were needed for starching vestments.) With this lovely Portuguese dessert, you are the beneficiary of laundry day practices of over 300 years ago.Spain
Tapas bars were all the rage in the United States for a while, and for good reason. The small plates were just the perfect way to experience the best of Spanish food. If you’re in Spain, you can’t go wrong with tapas such as croquettes, patatas bravas and pan con tomate. If you don’t like one dish, there are several more to choose from. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, however, consider ordering paella made of rice, vegetables and seafood or other meat. It’s a one-dish meal that satisfies with every flavorful mouthful.Eating abroad is an adventure. You will finally get to experience favorite foods in their native settings, which makes the dining experience so much richer. At the same time, eating out gives you the opportunity to try foods you’ve only heard of, or perhaps never heard of. Expect to be introduced to some new favorites on your trip.
