#1 SEAFOOD PAELLA
WHERE?:
Valencia, Spain
WHAT IS IT?:
It's a Valencian rice dish with seafood, vegetables and spices, including saffron.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Freshly-made, ice-cold sangria.
FACTS:
In some circles, it is mistakenly thought that paella has its origins in Moorish servants creating rice dishes from royal leftovers to take home to their families. As a result, it is also mistakenly thought that the word paella evolved from the Arabic word for leftovers: 'baqiyah'.
The truth is that the origins of the dish are unclear, but paella was not invented until the mid-19th century when the Moors had left Spain. Linguists also suggest that the word paella is more likely to have come from the pan the dish is cooked in.
WHILST IN VALENCIA:
If you're there in mid-March or late-August, catch one of the major festivals that take place in, or near, Valencia.
Las Fallas (March) is a unique festival involving fire (Las Fallas is Spanish for The Fires).
La Tomatina (August), in nearby Bunol, features the world famous tomato fight.
Of course, if you're not around at those times, you can still take in Valencia's under-rated beaches.
La Tomatina (August), in nearby Bunol, features the world famous tomato fight.
Of course, if you're not around at those times, you can still take in Valencia's under-rated beaches.
#2 GOULASH
WHERE?:
Budapest, Hungary
WHAT IS IT?:
A meat and vegetable stew, seasoned with spices - notably, paprika.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Dreher Classic has been Hungary's favourite beer for over 150 years.
FACTS:
Goulash was originally made and eaten by Magyar shepherds whilst out tending their flock. The name goulash comes from the Magyar word 'gulyas' which means herdsman.
Magyar is the official name of the Hungarian language and a term used to describe ethnically Hungarian people.
Magyar is the official name of the Hungarian language and a term used to describe ethnically Hungarian people.
WHILST IN BUDAPEST:
As a spa city that was once part of the Ottoman empire, Budapest has many traditional and not-so-traditional baths.
You can experience baths reminiscent of a hammam (a Turkish bath) without travelling all the way to Istanbul or you can choose to be pampered in more contemporary fashion at some of the more modern facilities.
As a spa city that was once part of the Ottoman empire, Budapest has many traditional and not-so-traditional baths.
You can experience baths reminiscent of a hammam (a Turkish bath) without travelling all the way to Istanbul or you can choose to be pampered in more contemporary fashion at some of the more modern facilities.
#3 RAGU ALLA BOLOGNESE
WHERE?:
Bologna, Italy
WHAT IS IT?:
Pasta (namely tagliatelle) with a Bolognese meat sauce.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Lambrusco - a red Italian wine native to the Emilia-Romagna region, of which Bologna is the capital.
FACTS:
Whilst most Italian chefs would preach that their cooking is an art, the inventor of Bolognese sauce - Pellegrino Artusi - saw it more as a science and wrote a book called "La scienza in cucina e l'arte di mangiare bene" (The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well).
When ordering this dish in Bologna, it is usually just referred to as ragu.
When ordering this dish in Bologna, it is usually just referred to as ragu.
WHILST IN BOLOGNA:
Eat!! Italian's pride themselves on their cuisine and Bologna is the food capital of Italy.
As well as giving its name to Bolognese sauce (more commonly associated with spaghetti outside of Italy), the city also gives its name to the original Bologna sausage (also known as 'Baloney' elsewhere).
As well as giving its name to Bolognese sauce (more commonly associated with spaghetti outside of Italy), the city also gives its name to the original Bologna sausage (also known as 'Baloney' elsewhere).
#4 HAGGIS
WHERE?:
Edinburgh, Scotland
WHAT IS IT?
A savoury pudding of offal cooked in a sheep's stomach with oatmeal, onion and various spices. It's usually served with turnip and/or potatoes.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Scotch whisky - the national drink of Scotland.
FACTS:
Scottish pranksters once made up the myth that a 'haggis' is a small animal who has shorter legs on one side of its body so that it can easily traverse the Scottish highlands without losing balance.
A survey once revealed that one third of all American visitors to Scotland believed the 'haggis' to be an animal.
WHILST IN EDINBURGH:
Edinburgh Castle is one of Europe's great castles, whilst the Royal Mile, stretching from the castle down to Holyrood Abbey, is one of the UK's most famous roads.
Edinburgh also hosts many great festivals, such as the Edinburgh Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Military Tattoo and Hogmanay (New Year's Eve).
#5 SQUID STUFFED WITH FETA AND TOMATOES
WHERE?:
Mykonos, Greece
WHAT IS IT?:
A whole grilled squid, stuffed with genuine Greek feta and vine-ripened tomatoes.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
An ice-cold Mythos - Greece's #1 beer.
FACTS:
Once upon a time, Mykonos was poor and survived on the efforts of its fishing industry.
Now, of course, tourism has taken over as the primary source of income and the island is thriving.
Despite that, Mykonos has retained its relationship with the fruits of the sea.
WHILST IN MYKONOS:
Party!! Enjoy Mykonos' famous party scene and recover on its beaches and in its refreshing Mediterranean waters.
#6 CUISSES DE GRENOUILLES
WHERE?:
Lyon, France
WHAT IS IT?:
Fried frogs legs in garlic and various herbs and spices.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
A white 'Vin du Bugey' - wine from the Bugey in the Ain département of France where frogs legs are most popular.
FACTS:
Whilst the English use the ethnic slur 'Frog' when referring to French people, because of their taste for this dish, the French return fire by calling the English 'Le Rosbif', due to Anglo tastes for roast beef.
It continues a tradition of nicknaming peoples after foods, with Germans labelled 'Krauts' due to their fondness for sauerkraut.
WHILST IN LYON:
Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. So whilst 'cuisses de grenouilles' are a must whilst in Lyon, attempting other dishes such as escargot and ratatouille should also be on the visitor's agenda.
Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. So whilst 'cuisses de grenouilles' are a must whilst in Lyon, attempting other dishes such as escargot and ratatouille should also be on the visitor's agenda.
#7 SCHWEINSHAXE
WHERE?:
Munich, Germany
WHAT IS IT?:
It's a "pork knuckle", often served with sauerkraut (boiled cabbage) and potatoes.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Any one of Bavaria's fine beers. Erdinger, Paulaner, Augustiner and Löwenbräu all come highly recommended.
FACTS:
Schweinshaxe is a popular food item at Munich's famous Oktoberfest. 69,293 pork knuckles were sold at the 2010 event alongside 7.1 million litres of beer.
Despite the name, Oktoberfest takes place mostly in late September and only stretches into the very beginning of October.
WHILST IN MUNICH:
Naturally, if you're there at the right time, Oktoberfest is a must. If your visit to Munich is outside of the festival dates, you can always visit a Bavarian beer hall for a taste of what you are missing.
Away from beer, the Englischer Garten is one of the best park's in Europe, complete with it's very own surfing wave and nudist area!
#8 MOULES FRITES
WHERE?:
Bruges, Belgium
WHAT IS IT?
Mussels and fries.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Leffe Blonde - a native Belgian beer and one of the world's best.
FACTS:
Moules Frites literally translates from French as 'Mussels Fries'.
As the the main two languages in Belgium are French and Dutch, you may see this dish offered as Mosselen Friet in Dutch-speaking Flanders, the northern part of the country.
WHILST IN BRUGES:
In the film "In Bruges", Brendan Gleason's character, Ken, says: "Bruges is the best preserved medieval town in Belgium".
Another character describes it as "a magical [expletive] fairy-tale".
Both descriptions are on the mark - Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Due also to its compact old town, it's the perfect city to wander around and get lost in.
#9 WIENER SCHNITZEL
WHERE?:
Vienna, Austria
WHAT IS IT?:
Crumed veal steak, usually served with vegetables.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Ottakringer - a local Viennese beer.
FACTS:
Whilst traditionally made with veal, these days sometimes pork is used instead.
This dish has inspired many similar around the world, including other schnitzel variants (i.e. chicken), Milanesa dishes in Italy and Latin-America and Chicken Parmigiana (Australia).
WHILST IN VIENNA:
Vienna is a cultural hub of Europe with many galleries, museums, theatres and concert halls.
Whilst born in Salzburg, Mozart spent the majority of his life living in Vienna. As a result, there are many sites in the Austrian capital to get a Mozart "fix".
#10 ENGLISH BREAKFAST
WHERE?:
London, United Kingdom
WHAT IS IT?:
Sausage, egg, back pudding, baked beans, hash browns, tomato and mushroom.
WASH IT DOWN WITH:
Tea - the English love to put the kettle on!
FACTS:
One of the ingredients in the English Breakfast is black pudding - a sausage made of congealed blood. Don't let that put you off though, as it tastes far better than it sounds!
An Irish Breakfast varies from the English version by also including white pudding. This is a sausage made from pork, oatmeal, bread and suet (animal kidney fat).
WHILE YOU'RE IN LONDON:
You are never short of options in London, but a brush with royalty is on most people's agendas.
A visit to Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey (where Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles and Princess Diana before them, were married) will fulfil that requirement.
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