Travel, Taste, and Transform Your Everyday
Holidays open doors to fresh cultures and new traditions. Let your journeys inspire unique recipes and habits that enrich your daily life and celebrations.
Scotch Egg is a Right Old Start
Afternoon tea (even if only for the tourists). Indian food. Cornish pasties. Steak and ale pies. Fish and chips.
The flavors of London can perhaps be perceived, at first, to be a little underwhelming or unassuming. But quite the contrary. London is a cross-section of culinary delights that really make this a foodie city, indeed. Eat yourself across this vast city and enjoy every second of it. Go low-key with street or market food, or go all out in one of London’s more than 70 Michelin Star restaurants.
Tapas en España
Anchovies & Olives
Tapas are a quintessential part of Spanish culture. These appetizers, or snacks, can be served hot (fried squid or patatas bravas) or cold (cheese or olives).
There are a few guesses to the origin of tapas. The one most familiar to me comes from the Andalusian region of Spain encompassing Granada, Seville and Jeredth de la Frontera, Córdova, Almeria and other areas in the south where people in taverns would cover their Sherry wine glasses with small pieces of bread between sips to keep the fruit flies away. The other theory is about innkeepers in pre-19th-Century Spain who would offer travelers a sampling of their offerings of the tapa, Spanish for pot cover.
Paris is for Pastries
Tu dois avoir un croissant -
You must have a croissant
If ever there were the perfect pastry, this is it. Croissants are hard to make but easy to love. Paris, or anywhere in Europe are amazing. I’ll say even some in the States. Chocolate, plain or with your favorite spread, it’s really hard to argue about this flaky delight.
While croissants are great, there are many more foods in Paris that can’t be ignored. Dare to try escargot or play it safe with comfort food from a place called Bouillon Pigalle. Beef bourguignon, steak and frites, or fuck confit. A true mouth-watering experience with every single bite.
German Food that Brings Comfort
Pretzels, brats, and currywurst
We tend to lean into brats and pretzels when thinking of typical German fare, but there’s more than meets the eye!
Schnitzel, currywurst, sauerbraten, sauerkraut, and apfelstrudel are great ways to celebrate German food as well.
When we visited our German exchange son, Kevin, in his hometown of Wiehl, his family made us an amazing spread of food for breakfast and dinners. What’s so cool is being able to enjoy the food of Kevin’s homeland with us - and then we shared some food from our homeland. Chili!
Italy’s Many Flavors
From Lombardy, to Tuscany, and beyond
The food is as varied and personal as the many regions and places of this country. Butter is the preference for cooking in the north with risotto being a popular dish, whereas central and southern Italy focus on other bold flavors, incorporating fresh seafood and lots of pasta with tomatoes.
It is hard not to love the cuisine here and the people who skillfully make it - with passion, heart and plenty of Italian pride and tradition.
British Fare
England, Scotland, and Wales make up Great Britain. Each with different tastes and ways of cooking.
History
British cuisine can be linked back to the Romans, Vikings, Normans and more. Americans have this wide influence to thank for many of the traditions that we have. Spices, cooking methods, and trading all played important parts in shaping the foods of the day centuries ago. That’s played a part in the food that is served in restaurants and pubs today, as well as our tables at home.
Modern Day
Today we find foods from around the world, from Indian (pictured above) to Chinese (think Chinatown), Italian, French, Thai and more. British cuisine is a combination of local and regional influence, the produce on hand historically and what many people across the globe contributed to Great Britain. We typically think of British food as being fish and chips and Yorkshire pudding. It may not be on the world’s list of favorites, but Great Britain is at the center of a foodie phenomenon.
What to Try
Our recent visit to London opened our eyes to the vast flavors here. I’d been once before - some 20 years ago. But I hadn’t realized all there was to offer. The traditional British breakfast is called a fry up. It’s made up of fried eggs, baked beans, black pudding, grilled tomatoes, hash, sausage, and bacon. There are many different ways to do a fry up, but it is one savory and filling breakfast!
While the British may not do afternoon tea daily, it seems to be a special thing to try. There are quite a few recipes that can be made for an afternoon tea. Try some sweet and savory scones, a few crustless sandwiches and a sweet confection or two.
I quite enjoyed the Sunday roast. I suppose I didn’t realize that the roast can be chicken and pork as well as beef! Growing up, Sunday roasts were always of the beef variety! I tried the combination of all three meats for my Sunday roast experience. I can say I was not disappointed.
London’s foodie scene isn’t complete without the Michelin-starred restaurants. There are dozens. Even if they aren’t starred, per se, there are quite a few that are recognized in the guide. The link above will take you to the London-area restaurants, stars and all, but it will also provide a listing of the restaurants that are recommended and those that have other distinctions like Bib Gourmand.
Spanish Fare
Tapas, food from the sea, markets, and elegant modern food.
German Fare
German food is home for many, whether in Germany or across the globe.
The New York Times has a wonderful selection of German foods that make up various regions of the country from the soft Bavarian style pretzels (pictured above) to schnitzel, potato kugel, strudel and other classic dishes.
Of course, we know that food from Germany is hearty, comforting and tasty. It focuses on meat, potatoes, and bread. Regional variations make certain dishes very distinctive, such as food from Bavaria that gives us the Oktoberfest vibe. Each area offers unique specialties.
Common elements include sausages, slow-cooked roasts, and dishes featuring cabbage, potatoes, and various types of bread.
Sausages
Bratwurst, Weisswurst, and Knackwurst. Bratwurst, in particular, is a very popular German sausage, often made from pork and seasoned with marjoram and other spices, and can be cooked in various ways.
Currywurst is a popular and iconic German fast-food dish consisting of grilled or pan-fried sausage (typically bratwurst) cut into pieces and smothered in a rich, tangy curry-spiced tomato sauce. It's a staple of German street food culture, particularly in Berlin where it's estimated that 70 million are consumed annually. Serve up with some crispy hot fries and dip them in mayo and the curry sauce!
Slow-Cooked Roasts and Grilled Meats
Sauerbraten is a pot roast marinated for days to tenderize the meat and develop deep flavor. Spiessbraten is a German-style barbecue pork. Our German family made this for us on a spit! So good!
Potatoes and Bread
Kartoffelsalat (or potato salad), Kartoffelpuffer (or potato pancakes), and Klöße or Knödel (dumplings) are popular.
Germany boasts a wide variety of breads, from dark, dense varieties to pretzel-like rolls.
Vegetables
Cabbage of course is integral. Cabbage, especially sauerkraut, is a prominent ingredient, often paired with meat. Carrots, turnips, and other seasonal vegetables are also used.
Regional Variations
- Bavaria: Known for hearty, meaty dishes and beer.
- Northern Germany: Seafood-based dishes are more common.
- Southern Germany: Known for Spätzle (egg noodles) and hearty stews.
Desserts
German desserts are known for their richness and variety.
- Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte): A classic layered chocolate cake with cherries and whipped cream.
- Strudel: Both savory and sweet strudels are popular, especially apple strudel.
- Other Baked Goods: Stollen, Nussecken, and Franzbrötchen are also popular.
Drinks
Beer is an integral part of German culture, with many local breweries and styles.
Wines are also popular, with the white Riesling and Gewürztraminer among popular selections.
Italian Fare
Is Italy all about pasta? Not necessarily, though it's home of the homemade pasta.
