If you know me, you know I love to EAT. I’m not one to try things like eyeballs, gizzards, or random parts of animals (except grasshoppers in Mexico), but I am indulgent by nature, and something magical happens in my brain, and in my heart, when I have that “perfect bite.” So I’ve compiled a list of dishes I love from a few random places that I want to share with you, in case you happen to be heading there!
Australia
First, the PIES!! Aus is chock full of bakeries in every city or town, and I guarantee, you will find yourself wandering into one. The pies are cheap, easy to grab on the go, and so delicious you’ll probably have more than one daily. Meat pies, veggie pies, Shepherds Pie pies, and my favorite? The Sausage Roll. Sausage and veggies rolled into phyllo dough, baked, then dipped in Tomato Sauce makes for a ridiculously delicious treat. I bake my own version at home, which I learned from making them with my Aussie ex-boyfriend’s mum. They. Are. To. Die for.
Next up? The “Burger with the Lot.” The day I learned how to surf in Byron Bay, I spent hours in the waves - I was loving it! When I finally left the beach after about 5 hours, I was famished and headed straight to the burger joint. From bun to bun, this burger is filled with a hearty sized meat patty, slices of cheese, tomato, pineapple, beetroot (pickled beats), bacon, a runny fried egg, ketchup, mayonnaise, and of course, LOVE. It’s the best thing my little grommet heart could have asked for that day, and I love when I spot them on a menu here in the States.
Another to-die-for treat in Aus would have to be their version of Hot Chocolate. Now I don’t mean American style: a little chocolate with a lot of milk. The Aussie hot chocolate is pure melted chocolate goodness. And that’s it! Koko Black is one of my favorite shops for this indulgence, namely the location in the Strand Arcade. If you find yourself getting lost in the many alleyways like I love to do, make sure you warm up with a cup of hot Koko!
San Diego, CA
Do you like fish tacos? Look no further! Here you will find the best there are on the planet. And the best spot to get the best fish tacos, is in my old neighborhood, Ocean Beach, at South Beach. South Beach is right at the ocean end of Newport Ave in the heart of OB. They have a variety of tacos to choose from, and in my opinion, and perhaps my friends’ too, the Mahi tacos are BOMB. They are perfectly fried, tender, tasty, and their special sauce will make you swoon. Wash them down with a pint of Yellowtail, and Bob’s yer uncle!
Greece
The Mediterranean cuisine is a feast for your eyes and your belly. Fresh fish, cheese, everything phyllo and a plethora of vegetables thrown in. There are a dozen dishes I could write about, but Saganaki stands out, as it is both entertainment for the belly as well as the eyes. It’s fire. Literally! Saganaki is a block of Greek cheese, lightly fried, served to you on a plate while on fire, and the flame is put out with the squeeze of a lemon. Make sure you try this exhilarating treat while in Greece!
Cuba
Ah Cuba, where do I begin! The street food is my jam! We had ice cream cones for $.04, ham/cheese sandwiches for $.07, and a little pizza for roughly $.35!!! And all because we took ourselves off the beaten path to see how the locals did things. Sure, you can go to the fancy hotels, European restaurants and eat meals that will cost you a fortune, but when you venture into the neighborhoods, chat with the locals and eat what they eat, this is where you will find the best food. You can literally fill your belly up for under $1 if you do it right.
My favorite fruit on this planet is the Papaya, and it is literally everywhere in Cuba. The color, the texture, and the flavor all meet up for an incredible explosion of enjoyment in my mouth. That must be why in Cuba, they call Papaya “Fruta Bomba.” Yes, Cubanos, I couldn’t agree more, it’s the bomb fruit!
Thailand
Here, in this stunning and exotic Asian country, you will find everything has a heightened flavor. Mangoes. Fried rice. Pad Thai. Curry. Grilled eggs and corn on the beach. And my fave, Papaya Salad! Thailand is rampant with delicious food, and you will certainly find your favorite place to feast in any town you are in. Personally, I chose to try the Papaya Salad in every location I was, and enjoyed the subtle differences each place had to offer. Some were shrimpier, some green beanier, some spicier, some more vinegary and some sweeter, but all of them were extraordinarily tasty and packed with a perfect Thai spice punch. I took a cooking course in Koh Tao, and learned how to make it myself, amongst other Thai dishes, so this is one that if you’re lucky, I’ll make it for you in my own home, and you will love it. #promise
Mexico
No matter what you’ve heard, I will tell you, eat the damn street food! I’ve spent months in small and big towns all throughout Mexico, and the best meals were always the street food, where the locals eat, and tourists cannot be found. Find your favorite taco stand, eat the Elote, try new dishes on the side of the road, where Mexicans are eating, as often as you can. The more hole-in-the-wall the joint looks in Mexico, the better and more authentic the food, and the tastier the cerveza.
Amsterdam
This will be a quickie: the street fries! After visiting a cafe one might be a bit hungry, and it's fantastic to walk down the street and happen upon a window shop full of warm, freshly cooked large cut fries. Bonus? They're served with a healthy side of mayo. Delish!!
Bahamas
Not known for its cuisine, The Bahamas makes up by hosting some of the world’s most pristine beaches. I will write in depth about my love for the Bahamas another time, but since this post is about food, I’ll share a couple of my favorite spots on different cays to get the best local version of conch everything. Oh, it’s pronounced “konk”, and is known to be a natural aphrodisiac, so get it in ya!
Nassau: Ask anyone where to get the best conch salad in Nassau, and the answer will be “under the bridge.” Sounds a bit dodgy, I know. Under the Paradise Island bridge is a row of local vendors, all who make the dish on the spot and tweak it to stand out from their neighbor, so you get to try a few to discover your favorite. Conch Salad is the Bahamian version of ceviche, and a bit sweeter due to the natural sweetness of conch.
Also in Nassau - head to the Fish Fry. It’s a hopping area with numerous walk-up restaurants where you can find all things Bahamas: fried fish, fried conch, conch salad, and so on. It’s a must stop while in Nassau - to find it, just ask any local where the Fish Fry is!
Harbor Island: Queen Conch is the spot to get the best conch salad, hands down. You can’t miss it either. It’s a little shack right on the water on Bay Street, with a mountain of conch shells right behind it. The Kaliks are ice cold here as well.
Staniel Cay: Two things to try in Staniel Cay. First, you’ll want have the cracked conch at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, and better yet, wash it down with a Goombay Smash. Or two. Maybe three. But a fourth and you’ll be dancing right up on the bar. Take my word for it. Second thing is to head to Big Dog’s Bar for the local dish, Souse. Souse is a limey broth soup with veggies, you choose your meat, and it’s served with a Johnny Cake. The ambience here is always fun too. It’s a local’s spot and the Bahamian’s definitely know how to have a good time!
Italy
There are a million things I could list to eat in Italy. The pasta, the gelato, the everything here, is outstanding. I have so many fond memories of eating and drinking in Italy, one being when my sister and I had the best lasagna of our lives at a gelateria, because the employee's Nonna had made it at the shop! But here, I’m going to share the place to get the best porchetta sandwich in the world. Yes, the world. Dal Mastro Norcino di Dante Cilia, in Palestrina. 30 minutes outside of Rome lies this adorable town atop a hill with markets, little shops, cafes, and the best butcher around. We were 5 girls walking along a street and this handsome Italian walks out of the meat flap doorway putting both hands out and yells, “Buongiorno!” We were sold! We ventured into his shop, each ordered a sandwich filled with the local porchetta, cheese, and all the fixings, and when we took our first bite, we knew we had found a slice of heaven. I’m not a sandwich kind of gal, but this was next level, and I hope you get to Palestrina for many reasons, but experiencing this butcher shop will make your trip complete. And who knows, ladies, perhaps the handsome butcher is still there!
"Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's OK. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind." -Anthony Bourdain
Traveling opens our eyes to so many exciting things and I find when I open myself up to trying new dishes, in local cafes, meeting the local people, and possibly sharing a beer or a laugh with them, the world tends to feel that much more beautiful. So eat, drink, and be merry as much, and often, as possible.
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