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Favorite foods in Europe.

I am one of those people who live to eat and being a traveler helps feed the need (sorry for the pun)! What is your favorite city/town in Europe to get a great meal or dessert?

Posted by
571 posts

I still have no idea how I managed in Italy to eat three meals a day, everyday, including dinners consisting of a pasta plate, a meat plate, a vegetable side dish, a post-dinner salad, a dessert, a full carafe (or two!) of local wine per person, a bottle of fizzy water, and on several occasions with the cheerful restaurant manager a sample or two of grappa or limoncello, and yet not gain wait or feel ill the next morning. There must be some sort of magic in the air in that wonderful place. Though, of course, walking all those hills certainly helped! Meals in Venice and especially Siena still stick with me almost ten years later.

Posted by
81 posts

a crepe Grand Marnier from a street vendor in Paris.
a Muensterwurst at the market in Freiburg im Breisgau.
any meal at the Haerke brewery restaurang in Peine.
Pizza almost anywhere in Italy.
Flammkuchen or Tarte Flambee in the Alsace.
and an Obstler or Grappa after dinner anywhere!

Posted by
818 posts

Perogis in Warsaw
Bitter Ballen in the Netherlands
favorite restaurant was Sacramento in Lisbon
loved all the sandwiches I had in France - club sandwich at Tribeca on Ruse Cler
yummy pizza in Krakow

Obviously - nothing fancy but good stuff

Posted by
524 posts

I am a kindrid spirit!

1 - Carbonara! As soon as my feet hit ground in Europe...I am on the hunt for the perfect Carbonara. It is a near impossibility in the States probably due to the fear of undercooked eggs. That and using bacon instead of honest to goodness Panceta. Obviously Italy is the mother land for this - but I have probably ordered it in every country and had some goooood eatin!

2 - CHEESE in France! Stinky gooey goodness.

3 - PASTRIES in France! Crossaints with jam that made my eyes roll to the back of my head. But also crepes and cakes and cookies.

4 - Schnitzel and Sturm. Best I ever had was at Figmullers in Vienna.

5 - Weiners. I had a very memorable sausage with a fantastic mustard on a side alley in Rothenburg.

6 - Coffee. I did not understand coffee at all until I had been to Italy. Specifically an Espresso on the rooftop cafe of the Capital Museum.

7 - best meal I ever had was Monkfish and Risotto in Avignon, France. Runnerup would be the fried calamari in the Old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

8 - Chicken Liver pate in Tuscany.

And probably more...but I gotta run now!

Posted by
1976 posts

Gelato is very good not only in Italy but in every other European country, it seems. But the best ice cream I've ever had, anywhere, was at this little brasserie next to Notre Dame in Paris: chocolate ice cream with rum and chocolate flakes mixed in...AWESOME!

Posted by
2030 posts

Duck confit and creme brulee, cafe creme & lots of wine -- in Paris.

Prosecco, gelato, mortadella & pizza in Italy (not all at the same time).

Posted by
269 posts

pastel di natas in Lisbon, particularly at the pastry shop in Belem.

coconut gelato in Palma right near Cafe Forno; every other kind of gelato anywhere in Italy!

Croquetas with ham and cheese or chicken in Spain (particularly Barcelona/Madrid), plus anything with jamon iberico de bellota.

Czech version of goulash and dumplings -- heavy, but delicious.

Cheese and onion perogis at milk bars in Krakow.

Too much more to list, but that's a good start. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find something to eat :)

Posted by
3428 posts

Aviemore Scotland- the resturant at the Caringorm Hotel. Roasted Chicken served with roasted and mashed potatoes, vegetables, skirlie (oats and onions sauted together- sounds horrible,looks like stuffing and tasted marvelous), and kilted soldier (link sauage wrapped in bacon and fried). Or roast lamb with real gravy, roasted potates and onions, vegetables.

Posted by
9404 posts

A good pain au chocolat fresh out of the oven anywhere in France. Heaven.

Posted by
1035 posts

Indian food in London; pesto in the Cinque Terre; street food in Paris.

Posted by
313 posts

I have to say, most of my favorite memories of Europe have something to do with food.

I don't think I've had anything in France that wasn't great, so here are the highlights:

Paris: Fish in cream sauce; Perigord: Duck and fresh salads; Dinan: the very best pastries we ran across in France and great seafood. Of course, espresso and pastries everywhere.

Bath: The freshest mussels I've ever had

Italy: Breakfasts of perfect espresso, pastry, and the fresh-squeezed blood orange juice; Gelato everywhere (favorite may be close to the harbor in Vernazza or in Siena); also great seafood pasta in Vernazza; great sandwiches.

Okay -- time to go back!

Posted by
12040 posts

I'll nominate a street food that doesn't get much press- the fries and peanut satay combo seemingly available only in the Netherlands. Forget ketchup, forget mayo, go with this if you see it offered.

An amazingly rich desert available in many grocery stores in NW Europe are Magnum white chocolate ice cream bars. I'm sure the secret recipe involves an unholy amount of butter fat, but dear God are these tasty!

Posted by
1357 posts

We had the best food in Belgium. Filets with yummy sauces and a big bowl of fries. And the beer and chocolate are to die for.

Posted by
211 posts

Copenhagen/Denmark - Vanilla flavoured "Cheesy" yogurt. I bought this at lidle and it is the best tasting yogurt I've ever had

Madrid/Spain - had the best cheesecake of my life in Madrid. Also love their chocolate con churros and sangria!

Belgium - frites and Kriek beer

Italy - margarita pizza, Barolo and other full bodied red wines, gelato!!! limonchello, pasta

Germany - white wines

France - crossiants, pain au chocolat, tarte au chocolat, Angelina's hot chocolate, macarons, crepes, cider, monacos, beaujoulis wines, caneles, baguettes, normandy style butter, chocolate mousse, creme brule, sole meuniere, mussels Normandy, bread of any type, french cigarette cookies, mache, creme brule

Can you tell I have a sweet tooth? I have a deep love for all French sweets...

Posted by
8934 posts

I am a huge fan of Frankfurts national dish, Gruene Sosse or Green Sauce. I eat this almost every time we go to a German restaurant. The rest of the time, I either order a Schnitzel with green peppercorn sauce or something that uses Pfifferlinge mushrooms. These would be called Chanterelle in English. I love to eat these and make sauces with them at home.

The big dumplings made out of potatoes are great, as well as the dumplings made out of bread cubes. Add a good sauce, some roast duck breast and some red sour cabbage, and that would probably be high on my list for favorites.

hm, for dessert, perhaps a Black Forest Cherry cake, or a strawberry Flammkuchen.

Posted by
81 posts

mmmmmmmmmmmmm Kartoffelpuffer mit/ohne Apfelsosse, Dampfnudeln (Hausgemacht) und Kaiserschmarren!

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Posted by
44 posts

This thread is awesome.. I'm taking notes of things to try for my trip!

Posted by
791 posts

Doner kebabs. Especially after a long night at the pub.

Posted by
11507 posts

Mussels in curry sauce,, yummy.Had this in Paris.

Cheeses,, all yummy, sticky and gooey ones even better!Applys to most Europeon countries.

I too like the White Chocalate cover Raspberry Cheesecake Magnum Bars( Paris) ,, evil but worth it.

Posted by
132 posts

In Venice, there was this pasta with mushrooms... I think they used fresh porcinis. In Rome it was the Pasta with bacon, red onions and balsamic... In Brugge it was chicken cooked in butter. And the pan deglazed with a rich brown beer...

You folks are making me hungry.

And the chocolates, and cheese, and bread, just about everywhere. And the lemoncello....

It's still there in my memories. As much as what we saw.

And the wine in France and Italy. The beer in Belgium....

Posted by
873 posts

This thread is making 8 weeks away (aka when my Euro trip starts) seem like forever!!

Posted by
171 posts

Well, I have to put in a good word for pizza, anywhere in Europe. With a light and crispy crust, a fresh, simple sauce, not over-loaded with cheese or anything else, it's just a simple fresh meal available everywhere. I also love apple strudel anywhere in Austria, home made with fresh apples, and last but not least, the white wines of the Moselle region, with a cheese plate...oh, and beer, I love German beer. Sampling the local brew is an important part of visiting any region of Germany.

Posted by
27 posts

I'm not a huge beer drinker to begin with but I just can't have American beer after tasting Lowenbrau!

Posted by
251 posts

Denmark- smogesbord with Norguld akvavit and Carl Special beer(Carlsberg). In France: croissants and pain au chocolat, red wine and cheese,
duck confit and liver pate. Ah yes I remember it well!(apologizies to Maurice Chevalier)

Posted by
8934 posts

In Christenfeld, Denmark, where we got married, we had the best fish I have ever eaten. Called Butter fish, it was so delicious, have been on the search for it ever since.

In Greece, in the little village we were staying in for a month, we ate at their only restaurant almost every night, that served small, whole calamaris. Not those rubbery rings that pass for calamaris in many places, these were tender and tasted so good with lots of fresh lemon on them

Posted by
102 posts

French Onion Soup in Paris, Versailles, or Chartres OR
a Calzone in Florence near the Medici Chapel

Posted by
1035 posts

"A bunch of us just had the best pizza discussion today. Italy? Germany? Nope - NY/NJ."

As a native NYer, I have to say, truer words were never spoken.

Posted by
110 posts

We were just in Rome and Venice and enjoyed everything we ate. Pizza in Rome and Venice was outstanding. Spaghetti Carbonara in Rome was my favorite. House wine everywhere was excellent.

Posted by
2193 posts

Indeed, Frau Velich’s scrumptious cakes at Hotel Hauser are incredible…sehr gut! I’ve probably enjoyed tapas in Spain for fun meals more than any other cuisine while travelling. Overall, however, Italy has the best food IMO, especially the fresh seafood and pasta combinations in the vicinity of the Cinque Terre. France has great food, but I’ll give the nod to Italy. Iceland has some “interesting” food, especially if you know locals who can whip up something traditional and authentic (halved sheep head anyone?). I almost forgot Sacher-Torte in Vienna…very good treat. Someone mentioned churros in Madrid…I didn’t care for them, but it’s hard to beat a good café con leche. Yemas in Spain are yummy!

Posted by
27 posts

There's just something special about sourkraut (spelling?) in Munich.

Posted by
9099 posts

"A bunch of us just had the best pizza discussion today. Italy? Germany? Nope - NY/NJ.
As a native NYer, I have to say, truer words were never spoken.

Ahem! Until I started traveling "full-time" I always took NY pizza for granted. Having traveled across the US and the world, I can declare that NY does have the best Pizza....sorry Italy. To be exact the best pizza is actaully in Albany:

http://www.sovranapizza.com/

Posted by
12040 posts

"A bunch of us just had the best pizza discussion today. Italy? Germany? Nope - NY/NJ." The same style extends down to Philadelphia. Best pizza in the world for me is Mack and Manco along the southern Jersey Shore (I hate how that obnoxious MTV show, set on the north Jersey Shore, has sullen the name of this wonderful region...)

Oh, and for Europe, forgot to mention the currywurst...

Posted by
4406 posts

Ah...Anything on the menu at Hotel Hauser in St Goar, Germany on the Rhine - fantastic German food of all kinds.

Anything at Augustiner Monastery/Brewery in Salzburg, Austria. I know, I know - broken record LOL! (please take up a collection for me so I can go back !!!)

A very simple meal of any kind in Italy - basic pizza, pasta, tomato and mozzarella, etc.

In Paris, a baguette, some cheeses, maybe a quiche, and some wine in any park. Then, maybe luck upon a Nutella crepe vendor...

And the '_______' beer bar in Bruges, Belgium. Some bread and cheese, and as many beers as I can possibly handle. No, I'm not telling. It's mine, ALL MINE! You can have any of the many others in town ;-)

Posted by
4406 posts

Oh, no, Michael in Des Moines -- I've never even made it to the Frau's scrumptious cakes :-(

Posted by
36 posts

I go to grocery stores and buy food to eat on the run while in Europe - usually. I love the bread and cheeses, chocolates, and granola/cereal bars, yogurt,
fruits, that sort of thing. I try to avoid fast food
or dining in pricey eateries, as I am very much a budget traveller. However, I did have some delicious frites from a vendor in Amsterdam (right in front of Centraal Station), and had some extremely tasty silver dollar pancakes at a place near the Anne Frank Huis. Other nibbles I had that were pretty good? A grilled beef sub in Avignon (also had some Crepes there that were yummy); a ham-n-cheese panino with a Bellini in Venice (not to mention the gelati, which I loved far more than the food, which was a bit too starchy for my tastes); and duck in orange sauce at a restaurant in Lyon - I also had quail in grape sauce in the same city, and it's tastier than it sounds - not sweet at all.