“There is no sincere love than the love of food”
Although the world is largely tuning into a global platform for food today, there will always be people willing to travel the world in search of the finest cuisines and their roots. From spicy to sweet to umami, the world of food never stops exploring and neither must you!
If you identify yourself as a food adventurer, check out this list of the finest cuisines from around the world.
JAPAN:
1) Sushi: Tried, tested, loved and experimented with by the entire world, did you know that sushi began as a method of preserving fish centuries ago?
2) Tempura: Another absolute Japanese favourite, this battered, fried wonder is as dear to Japan as sushi.
3) Sukiyaki: It is made with meat and vegetables and eaten with ‘warishita’, a soy sauce and sugar mixture. The dish and its way of eating usually changes according to the region.
4) Tonkatsu: A dish based on western pork cutlets, this fried piece of meat is usually eaten with a side of cold shredded cabbage or with rice.
5) Soba: A noodle dish made from buckwheat flour eaten with a mixture of soy sauce and sugar sauce, and toppings such as egg and tempura.
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AUSTRALIA:
1) Lamingtons: A square-shaped sponge dipped in chocolate and coated with desiccated coconut.
2) Pavlova: As a truly Australian after-dinner sweet, the pavlova’s crispy meringue crust, light fruit filling and whipped cream topping ensure it’s a family hit.
3) Meat pies: An original Australian meat pie must be hand-sized, filled with mincemeat and gravy, and topped with tomato sauce. A gourmet version with mashed potato and mushy peas is also popular.
4) Barramundi: Grilled, fried or seared skin-side first, it’s considered to be true Aussie meal.
5) Vegemite on Toast: While a lot of people find this Australian delight an absolute horror for their palate, vegemite on toast is great for breakfast, lunch or as an anytime snack.
FRANCE:
1) Soupe à l’oignon: It is a traditional French soup made of onions and beef stock; and usually served with croutons and melted cheese.
2) Flamiche: Did you know that Flamiche means ‘cake’ in Flemish? This dish originated in northern France, near the border with Belgium.
3) Beef bourguignon: The dish is a stew made of beef braised in red wine, beef broth and seasoned with garlic, pearl onions, fresh herbs and mushrooms.
4) Confit de canard: One of the finest French dishes, Confit de canard is specially prepared using a centuries-old preserve and slow-cooking process which can take upto 36 hours.
5) Tarte tatin: Essentially a mistake made by Stephanie Tatin when trying to make a traditional apple pie and then serving it upside-down to her guests, the recipe has lately been loved and tried by other parts of the world as well.
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SINGAPORE:
1) Laksa: A sensational combination of Chinese and Malay flavours in a single bowl, this dish is one of the first things you must try when you visit Singapore.
2) Bak Kut Teh: Interesting fact: Although the name literally translates to ‘pork bone tea’, there isn’t any tea involved in the dish. The tea is usually consumed after the meal to wash down the grease.
3) Hokkien Mee: A popular fried noodle hawker dish in Singapore, it is made up of rice noodles that are fried in a wok with egg, pieces of seafood and bean sprouts.
4) Char Kway Teow: These noodles with its smoky flavour are considered a national favourite of Malaysians. It usually includes flat wide rice noodles stir fried with an egg, a side of dark soy sauce, shrimp paste, a bit of chili, and often some Chinese sausage and blood cockles.
5) Chai Tow Kway: Another standard Singaporean dish, Chai Tow Kway is commonly referred to as carrot cake. One will find this at just about every hawker food centre throughout the city.
SPAIN:
1) Paella: Although Spain has a lot of rice dishes, Paella is by far one of the most popular and traditional dishes of Spain. It originated in the fields of a region called Valencia on the eastern coast of Spain.
2) Gazpacho: A perfect summer dish, this drink is made of ripe tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, bread, peppers, and cucumber.
3) Tortilla Española: A Spanish version of the omlette, it is made after slow frying potatoes and onions in olive oil and then mixing beaten eggs to it.
4) Pisto: Pisto is often considered Spain’s ratatouille. It’s a savoury mix of summer squash, onions, garlic and tomatoes usually cooked down until the squash falls apart and can be consumed cold or hot.
5) Churros con Chocolate: When traveling to Spain, and especially to Madrid, one of the first things you’d want to try is this sugar-sprinkled fried pastry.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, clear your calendar and embark on a journey so delicious you’d never want to come back!
