When traveling it is important to keep a budget. Some experiences are quite expensive, but chances are the trip will be a once in a lifetime excursion so might as well make the most of it. Money for museums, tours, etc. is necessary but by no means skimp out on eating! I cringe when I hear of travelers who saved money by eating bread and cheese or hitting inexpensive food chains. Local cuisine should be treated as a cultural attraction in and of itself. Budget accordingly. Mealtime can be the best time. I am no foodie, but I do enjoy a good local meal, and when traveling I try to be adventurous. You never know what delicious dish will be made up of an ingredient you never thought to eat, or items you never thought to put together. That’s the important thing about travel, the cultural exchange proves that everyone has something to contribute to this world, and to your taste buds. Below is my Top 10+ List of things I would never have discovered & enjoyed at home.
- Horsemeat (Iceland, Antwerp, Switzerland)- Don’t scowl, it’s delicious. Lean with a nice nutty flavor. My favorite meat. Mouthwatering as an entrée and even as lunchmeat in a sandwich.
- Black Pudding (Ireland, Catalunya)- Don’t ask what it is, just eat it at breakfast. Nice delicious smoky flavor goes great with eggs.
- Smorrebrod or Open Faced Sandwiches (Denmark)- Sandwich is not exactly the term I would use, as the one piece of hearty bread just acts like a plate for heapings of a variety of goodness: Shrimp, lamb, fish, anything really.
- Reindeer Dog (Bergen, Norway)- Much longer and tastier than the traditional hot dog. Healthier too. Nordics sure like their “dogs”
- Cicchetti (Venice)- Small inexpensive plates of local foods, similar to Andalusian tapas but more rustic. You can get seafood, meat, olives, any local ingredients. Grab a few and get a nice sampling of traditional Venetian cuisine while you still can. It’s sadly a dying art. Giudecca is a hot spot. Drink with a local wine.
- Pinchos (San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona)- This Basque invention is kind of a cross between tapas and smorrebrods. Bread is the plate and the food is held together by a toothpick. Drink with local wine.
- Burek (Slovenia)- Phyllo Dough stuffed with sheeps cheese and either meat, spinach, apples, or sauerkraut. Great for breakfast or lunch.
- Goedda (Cincinatti)- Grain and pork in a kind of loose sausage and fried. Yum yum! Some people compare it to Scrapple. Ignore those people.
- Wild Boar Shin (Venice, Germany)- Pork on steroids, and oh so tender. Falls right of the bone. Gives horsemeat a run for its money as my favorite meat.
- Paski Sir or Pag Cheese (Croatia)- Delicious and rare mild sheeps cheese with a slightly herbal flavor. Served with olive oil dribbled on it. You can taste the terroir of Pag Island. Awesome appetizer. Great with white wine.
10B. Rabbit (Portugal, Catalunya)- I really couldn’t conclude this list without the mention of Rabbit. While quite popular in Portugal, in Catalunya it really shined. Fried or grilled, it is very lean and very delicious.