Tastiest Travels #4

Fourth installment of Tastiest Travels! I am really glad it has been able to get this far. If you're interested in submitting something to the series please send an email over to communicationisdifficult@gmail.com with the subject "Tastiest Travels" and I'll send you the details!

Today we have some great food entries from seriously all over the world! Enjoy the tastes!

Xam

xamjulliarde.blogspot.com

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Spicy Lemon Scampi

Where you can get it: Makati, Philippines @ Café Mary Grace

Budget

The first time I dined at Café Mary Grace was with my mom, after a little bit of shopping spree with her. I have always loved eating pasta; it is my comfort food, I cook it all the time when I’m alone and hungry at home, and eating pasta never gets old for me. So, when we ate at Café Mary Grace, I knew I had to try this. Smeared generously with lemon juice, topped with prawns and lightly sprinkled with some spice, I definitely enjoyed the Spicy Lemon Scampi! What I love even more about this was that its portioning was neither too large, nor too small, for a hungry stomach. It gives you that satisfied feeling yet leaving you wanting for more. 

Samurai Sushi

Where you can get it: Dubai, United Arab Emirates @ Sumo Restaurant

Upscale

Just a couple of months back, I traveled to Dubai to renew my residence visa. I have always been a fan of Sumo Restaurant so, one day, I decided to try their New & Hot Samurai. It is shrimp tempura and crabstick roll that is topped lightly with salmon, avocado, cream cheese and mayo. It has the perfect fusion of crunchiness and softness, spiciness and sweetness. Even with a small appetite like mine, one order of Samurai was not enough. I ordered 3 and one order was about 6 pieces! Until now, every time I travel back to Dubai, I still order Samurai. It is just so good; it feels like falling in love with your longtime beau over and over again, but way better.

Chocolate Crepe

Where you can get it: Paris, France

Budget

It was late in the evening, my friends and I were exhausted from walking around the city, and good food was what we needed. We strolled around our hotel area, looking for the best food we can try. After a few minutes, we found a little crêperie restaurant nearby. Putting my few basic French phrases to good use, I ordered one crêpe with hot chocolate melting from the inside, coffee ice cream on the top and heavy vanilla whipped cream on the sides. Perfect balance of hotness and coldness, equal rhythm of sweetness and bitterness, I thought I was in heaven! Truly, France is the home of the best crêpes. 

Gemma of Gemoirs

http://gemoirs.tv

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Falafel Hommus Tahina & Salad with Pitta

Where you can get it: Bangkok, Thailand @ Ethos

Budget (500 baht/$13) 

Struggling to find a vegetarian option in Thailand, I was recommended to try vegan and vegetarian restaurant in the Khao San area of Bangkok. Multiple people whom I had spoke with praised their food and I was really excited to try it! One evening after working in Nakhon Pathom, a colleague and myself ventured into Bangkok so I could eventually experience this much talked about cuisine for myself. I don't know if everyone had gotten my hopes too high or my tastebuds had changed during my stay in Thailand but I wasn't blown away by the food. It wasn't bad food, the humous was actually really good - I can sometimes struggle to find the perfect humous and it was nice to have some non-spicy and vegetarian food at last. I was so excited to eat here, I probably overindulged by following my meal with a chocolate pancake and multiple fruit shakes and Kombucha tea, leaving Bangkok feeling absolutely stuffed! The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, there were low tables and cushions to sit cross-legged on the floor and soft lighting, creating a middle-eastern dining experience. My bill seems somewhat expensive for Thailand, but the restaurant is located in a touristic area of Bangkok and I saw no Thai people dining at the time I visited Ethos

Chicken Stew

Where you can get it: Bangkok, Thailand @ Cafè La Vela Steak and Coffee

Budget (64 baht ~$1.70)

I discovered this cute little cafe nestled beneath the U Delight 2 tower in the Bang Sue area of Bangkok. After arriving late in the evening to the area for work, I wanted to find somewhere close by to eat and I ended up at this place. I wasn't expecting both convenience and yummy cuisine but I was pleasantly surprised! Consequently I keep returning to this clean and calm little place every time I am working in the area and I try to order something new each time. However the menu is in Thai, so I have to just point at the limited amount of pictures on the menu but I haven't yet struggled to order from their delicious drinks and dessert list.

Honey Toast with Fruit and Ice Cream

Where you can get it: Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand @ Green Mountain Coffee

Budget (60 baht ~$1.50)

Directly opposite the Nakprasith school gates, myself and fellow teachers would flock to this place for refreshing iced beverages every lunch time. After enduring one too many questionable school dinners, I decided to order some honey toast after witnessing the alluring imagery of the sweet treats on offer. The portion sizes are huge and I would strongly advise you to learn from my mistake and share. At the time, you will be enjoying the warm, soft toast, drizzled in honey or chocolate syrup, contrasting with the refreshing, chilled and quickly melting ice cream, to notice the full and sickly feeling you are about to experience. In this case you can definitely have too much of a good thing! But this place is great and the "lovely coffee lady" is so sweet - sometimes she would give me free drinks and snacks from the vendor next door. The only thing I would change is the plastic cutlery, cutting through the toast can prove quite difficult and would often result in me getting sticky hands (and face) as I devoured this scrumptious sweet treat!

Garlic Pepper Chicken with Rice

Where you can get it: Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand @ Aroy

Budget (100 baht ~$2.75)

I figured it would be rude not to include a Thai meal, or even a Thai restaurant considering my entire post consists of food in and around Bangkok. It’s hard to know the name of a restaurant when it’s written in Thai and the majority of places I do eat Thai food in Thailand are from street food vendors. However this one restaurant, located by my apartment in Sam Phran (just opposite the Malee factory) in Nakhon Pathom province, became my favourite sit down restaurant in Thailand. It makes such a difference when the server can speak English and the menus are translated to English and this is one of the main reasons I loved this place. The food was also very tasty and although I set out to try everything on the menu, I tended to alternate between garlic and pepper chicken and cashew chicken, just because I knew I would enjoy my meal. I could never work out how my bill was calculated as it varied because they would charge everything separately (rice came separate and they would always bring me a bottle of water without me ordering one) but my bill generally came to around 100 – 120 baht. Although a couple of quid sounds ridiculously cheap for a meal, this became expensive to me after eating street food for 25 baht per meal, though the portion sizes here were somewhat bigger and I could sit at a table and access their wifi.

The entries this week were fantastic! I am starving after just having finished my own lunch. Thailand is now a top spot I want to get to for food, as Gemma's entries are all fantastic. And Xam's crepe picture has me questioning my dislike of crepes. Thanks again girls for your great submissions! Stay tuned next week 

Tastiest Travels #3

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for looking at some tasty foods other travel bloggers have had on their adventures! You can read the previous two entries here: number one and number two.

If you'd like to submit something to this series, please send an email to communicationisdifficult@gmail.com with the subject "Tastiest Travels" and I will get back to you with all of the details that I need! 

This week has a great variety of things, so there is sure to be something that catches your eye! Enjoy!

Laura Lynch

http://www.savoredjourneys.com

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Leche de Tigre

Where you can get it: Lima, Peru

Budget

Leche de Tigre is the citrus juice that's leftover from curing the raw fish for ceviche. It's a delicious mix of lime juice, onion, spicy chilies and fish juice. You don't want that incredible juice to go to waste, so it's served as its own dish - mostly as an appetizer in a tall glass with a couple of prawns thrown in. I fell in love with Leche de Tigre when a Peruvian friend of mine took me to a hole in the wall Peruvian restaurant to try it. It is a flavor bomb that will alight your tastebuds in the best possible way, and it's super spicy, with just a hint of fish flavor. There's nothing else like it. If you like ceviche, you'll love Leche de Tigre. I couldn't get enough of it while I was in Peru and I've even tried to make it a couple of times at home.

Pulpo ala Gallega

Where you can get it: Madrid, Spain

Can be upscale or budget

I never really liked octopus much before I went to Spain. We had Pulpo ala Gallega at one of the restaurants featured in the Adventurous Appetites tour in Madrid and I instantly changed my mind about octopus. When cooked properly, as they tend to do in Spain, the octopus is delicious, tender and mouthwatering. Turns out it's not really all that difficult to make at home. You just need to follow a good recipe and serve it with the best, top quality olive oil.

Poutine

Where you can get it: Canada @ Granville Island Brewery

Budget

I know most people have already heard of poutine, but it's truly one of my favorite things to eat in the whole world. Last time we were in Vancouver, we had what has now become the benchmark for all future poutine at Granville Island Brewery on Granville Island. I've had so many dishes of poutine - some are served with shredded cheese instead of curds, some have a watery, weak gravy, some have soggy fries - so when I had this plate of poutine I was incredibly happy to find that all of its components were perfect. Irresistible!

Soumya Nambiar

http://www.travelbooksfood.com

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Zanzibar Mix

Where you can get it: Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania @ Kisutu school canteen

Budget

This is more associated with nostalgia. I grew up in Tanzania, Africa and growing up, there was this mess outside our school which used to serve Zanzibar mix. It is basically a soup with potatoes, chutney and Bhajias and is inspired by the cuisines of India and Tanzania (two countries very close to my heart). It has been years since I had this and you get this only in Tanzania. But the taste still lingers on. Hopefully one day soon, I will be able to have this again.

Lasagna

Where you can get it: Italy

Budget

This is a no brainer. I love Italian food and among all the pastas, lasagnas feature in the top of my list. You give me Lasagna anytime of the day and I would eat it up in a jiffy. I think this is one of the reasons that I fell in love with Italy.

Chocolate Cupcake

Where you can get it: Westmont, Chicago, IL USA

Budget

Last month I was in the US, traveling. I was staying in a quiet suburb, Westmont with my cousin. If I had to go to Chicago alone, I had to take a Metra train there. My cousin dropped me at the train station and then when we got there, we realized that the next train was an hour away. I asked my cousin to leave and then I decided to wander around the place. I found a cute pastry shop there and I had one of the best cupcakes I have had till date.

That does it for this week's Tastiest Travels! Big thanks to Laura and Soumya for the great submissions! Hope you all enjoyed reading about it. I need to get myself to Canada to eat that poutine ASAP, I know that much!

Vegetable Potato Hash Recipe

Now for something completely different! I really enjoy cooking. I didn't always enjoy cooking, but I learned to enjoy it. I, like every other human, get hungry. And when I get hungry I want to eat. I don't want to eat fake processed nonsense. I don't want to eat food from a freezer. I don't want to get take out and throw my money down the toilet on food I can make at home. I also don't want to hate myself after making something gross. Though, believe me, in the early days of learning to cook there were many nights of "goodness I really don't want to eat this but I made it and I'm hungry and I have done this to myself."

This week my mom was baking a chicken, it was actually a Perdue Oven Ready Chicken Roast and it was delicious. They aren't paying me to say this at all (but if they want to, heeeey! I love chicken!) it honestly was just much better than I expected it to be. Something about cooking chicken in a plastic bag just seemed wrong to me at first.

I was tasked with the job of making a side for the chicken, and I wanted potatoes. But not mashed potatoes. So I made a potato hash. I would make this rather frequently in Japan, it was cheap and easy and I would usually cook it with ground beef for an entire meal. Sometimes I would sprinkle some cumin and paprika on it for some taco-taste goodness. You can really add any thing to it, it's such a versatile great dish.

The cast of players is as follows:

We have about 1.5-2lbs of potatoes, two smallish carrots, two stalks of celery, half a sweet onion, half a green bell pepper, some garlic, herbs de provence, extra virgin olive oil, and some butter. Also better lighting than what is in my parents' kitchen if you're taking pictures. I need to fix this for the future.

First thing you want to do is shove all the ingredients up the cutting board you just took a picture of and begin cutting up that onion. I go for quarter to half inch pieces. I also don't cut onions like every chef tells you to because my personal method is easier to me. Oh well. I'm no Iron Chef.

Put the onion in about a table spoon of butter and three table spoons of olive oil that have been heating up on med-high heat.

Begin cutting up your vey nicely washed potatoes. I used gold potatoes but any potato will work really. I just like the skin of these guys the best.

Debate if you've chosen to go with too many potatoes, and after a push from your mother add the last two. The veggies and potatoes actually loose a lot of water mass in the cooking process so you'll end up with less than you think.

Add the potatoes to the pan with the onions and sprinkle on some salt and pepper before stirring it around. I just feel like the potatoes need the seasoning more than the onions.

Cut up your celery. You can see my garbage bowl in the background, a tip I got from the hours and hours of cooking shows I watched as a teenager growing up. I never cooked, I just liked watching them. But seriously garbage bowls make clean up so easily.

Add the celery. I don't mix them up right away because I don't want them to overcook and get mushy while I cut up the carrots.

So I cute up the carrots and add them, then I go ahead and mix them all up.

Then I cut up the bell pepper. You don't want to add too much because it's such a strong taste, just enough to get that bitterness to offset the sweetness of the carrots.

Next is the garlic. I love garlic and I add loads of it in everything I cook. This is why my food tastes good. Because of garlic. Others may not like a lot of garlic. Add as much garlic as you like, I don't care!

Ignore your mother when she complains about the amount of garlic you're about to put into the food.

Add the garlic to the nicely cooking veggies. If the oil has been mostly absorbed you can add more so that it doesn't burn and stick.

Add the herbs de provence because it's easier than adding in each spice individually. And it goes well with chicken. You can replace these spices with anything you want, really. Also add more salt and pepper here.

Once the potatoes start to get very brown you are done. Should take about 5 minutes on med-high heat. Stir it around so that it cooks evenly. I added some of the chicken grease because why not?

And there you have it! Some lovely hashed potatoes. 

Full Recipe

3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 sweet onion 

1.5-2 pounds potatoes (gold works best)

2 small carrots

2 stalks celery

1/2 green bell pepper

6 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon herbs de provence

salt and pepper to taste

1. heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat

2. chop onion into quarter or half inch pieces and add to the oil

3. chop potatoes into half inch pieces and add to onions, sprinkle with salt and pepper, mix

4. slice celery, add to potatoes and onions but don't mix in

5. cut carrots into quarter inch pieces and add to potatoes, mix

6. cut up green bell pepper into tiny pieces, add to potatoes and mix in

7. finely dice garlic and add to potatoes

8. add herbs and sprinkle with salt and pepper

9. cook for five minutes over med-high heat, stirring frequently, until potatoes begin to brown

Tastiest Travels #2

It's Wednesday and that means I get to share some more tasty travels. If this is your first time seeing a this post (it's only the second so I wouldn't be surprised) you can view the first one here! In short, every Wednesday I will feature two different bloggers and their three favorite foods that they've eaten while traveling the world. Who doesn't love food, especially good food?

This week I have foods from Asia, Europe, and the US of A! Even the first upscale dishes for those of you who live to pamper yourself!

Shandos Cleaver

http://travelnuity.com

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Sacher-Torte

Where you can find it: Vienna, Austria @ Hotel Sacher Wien

Upscale

How can a chocoholic go to Vienna and not partake of the original Sacher-Torte cake, a cake so famous it has its own day?  Originally invented at the Hotel Sacher back in the 1800s, the Sacher Torte has since been the subject of legal battles over the “copyright”.  At the Hotel Sacher, just behind the Vienna Opera House, having a slice for afternoon is a fancy affair.  Firstly, you may need to queue, before checking in your coat (at a cost), then ordering in the splendidly opulent café rooms.  The price is similarly opulent.  Now that I’ve had the “original”, I’ve meant to since with the many equally wonderful copies at cafés all around the world.

Ricepaper Rolls

Where you can find it: Hoi An, Vietnam @ Red Bridge Cooking School

Budget

On my first ever trip to Vietnam, my boyfriend and I were travelling on a budget from the North to the South.  About halfway through the trip we stopped in Hoi An, the site of the Red Bridge Cooking School, recommended by a friend who had recently visited Vietnam.  While it didn’t cost that much (about $12 USD at the time), it was a splurge on our trip, and it was a treat to spend the afternoon in the more luxurious surrounds of the restaurant on the riverbanks.  While I had probably already eaten rice paper rolls on the trip, it was there that I learnt to make them, and have made them regularly at home since (although without making the rice paper rounds from scratch!).

Black Risotto

Where you can find it: Dubrovnik, Croatia @ LADY PI-PI

Mid-range

Whilst walking around the walls of Dubrovnik, my boyfriend and I spotted an lovely looking restaurant with outdoor terraces, that would be wonderful to lunch at in the late Spring sunshine.  It was a bit tricky finding the exact location when back in the alleyways down below, but we finally found Lady Pi-pi, with its rather frank fountain (after whom the restaurant is named) in front of it.  I jumped at the chance to try black risotto for the first time, a Croatian specialty, made similarly to regular risotto, but with the ink of cuttlefish or squid added, along with the meat, to turn the entire dish black.  I love a good risotto and it was delicious, especially alongside a glass of local Croatian white wine, although it is a must to visit the bathroom afterwards to clean your teeth that end up turning equally black!

Majesta Zea

www.thereandbackwithsnacks.com

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Creole Cream Cheesecake

Where you can find it: New Orleans, Louisiana @ Commander's Palace

Upscale

I know this seems like a such a safe and basic answer. But allow me to defend myself. For starters, I love cheesecake. It’s my favorite type of cake if I can be honest! However, it’s difficult to find one that isn’t bland and also isn’t so sweet that you become a diabetic on the spot. So the one from Commander’s Palace in the Garden District of New Orleans is the best one I have ever had. They said it was made in a traditional Creole way with slightly different creams and you can taste the difference. It was so rich and flavorful without being too heavy. Every bite was magical and I haven’t been back to New Orleans in almost two years, but I still drool just thinking about that cheesecake!

Filipino BBQ

Where you can find it: Manila, Philippines

Street Food

Filipino BBQ triggers a soft spot in my heart for growing up in the Philippines. It’s so authentic Filipino and there must be something in my blood that calls out to it! Even if I can just smell it, I get excited and want some immediately. The mixture of the meats, bbq sauce and smoke is a delicious scent that’s hard to pass up. The selection of meats is definitely different from the typical American bbq, but fear not! Everything is excellent and taste a hundred times better than it looks. You can be as safe (regular pork and pork fat) or brave (pork blood and intestines) as you want. I personally love the pork and liver the most. It also helps that you can buy about five sticks for the cost of about $1.50.

Chocolate Terrarium

Where you can find it: Las Vegas, Nevada @ Rose.Rabbit.Lie.

Upscale

I love dessert. This is the ultimate chocolate lovers dessert. There is dark chocolate cake and brownie mixed with a milk chocolate fudge sauce that gives the appearance of dirt and is served with edible flowers as a garnish and decoration. How cool is that? Yes, this dish is exceptional in taste, but the real reason I love it is because of the presentation. It’s so unique and fun and is something that I haven’t seen anywhere else as of yet. It’s large enough to feed four to six people, but the chocolate isn’t overwhelming and I believe in my heart of hearts, the next time I order this item, I am going to finish it solo.

This entry was full of some of the most amazing looking desserts I have ever seen and now my sweet-tooth is nagging me a bit. Thanks again to Shandos and Majesty for submitting things to my series! Be sure to check out their blogs and follow them on social media!

Next week I will have two new bloggers to feature, so be sure to check back! If you'd like to be featured yourself, please send an email over to communuicationisdifficult@gmail.com with the subject "Tastiest Travels" and I'll send you all the info you need to submit!

My First Two Weeks of Food in America

Tomorrow marks two weeks since I got back in America after living overseas for four years. It has definitely been an adjustment being back in America, especially since I now have access to all of the foods that I longed for on a regular basis back in Japan. In my first week in Japan I ate a piece of pizza all but one of the days. Though already there are foods I miss from my second-home-Country and I've made a trip down to one of the Asian markets in town to get some goodies.

Before I left Japan I told my parents that I wanted a Papa John's pizza waiting for me. Papa Johns isn't even my favorite delivery pizza I just hadn't had it in years and had a craving. The sausage is unbeatable in my opinion and I ate on that large pizza (and some of the meat lovers my parents got for themselves) nearly every day for the next week. Also their cheesy bread was fantastic.

For my second night back we headed out to a newly opened local sports restaurant called Friendly Confines. It was a sort of overwhelming experience for me (and prompted this entry) , and the wait staff was less than stellar. The restaurant seems to be going for a young college vibe, but has really just ended up hiring a bunch of cute young girls who appear to lack the proper training. The burger was very "meh" as well. Nothing special. Unlikely to go back.

After a few days of home cooked meals we had plans to meet up with family friends at this Italian restaurant over near Disney and Universal Studios, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza. The pizza claims to be "well-done" but it is really about 30 seconds from being burned beyond eatability. 

The toppings themselves were great, and if you got a less blackened slice it tasted great! We also ordered some side dishes and they were completely phenomenal! The meatballs were some of the best I have ever had and the marinara sauce was fantastic. The big dollop of ricotta was a perfect compliment. Not to mention it just looked beautiful.

We also ordered their chicken wings, which were a great light herby taste and perfect after being cooked in the coal oven. Their beer list is also great, featuring a nice variety of craft brews that I am still trying to wrap my head around after years of the one-note Japanese lagers.

The following day I made my way out to Chipotle for the first time. With my new eating habits I was able to enjoy something other than their tacos, and I can now say that I really do understand the love the place gets. I always enjoyed my barebones chicken tacos back in college, but getting a bowl loaded down with everything is even better.

Orlando has a few Asian markets. There is a rather large Vietnamese population due to the Air Force base that was here prior to Disney World. I drove way out down Colonial Dr. to visit the Eastside Asian Market. It had a nice selection of snacks and even a few surprising finds. Now I have what I need to make a few of my favorite Japanese dishes. They were also cheaper than I expected them to be!

Yesterday I met Suzy of The Kawaii Planet for brunch over at Dexter's. I actually met her years ago when she was dating a good friend of mine who lives in Sapporo! It's such a small world that she is now living in Orlando, my hometown, when she herself is from the Czech Republic! My uncle actually had his art on display at Dexter's years back so it was nice to return to the small, busy restaurant. Even though it was busy we didn't have to wait long for a table, and the food was amazing. My eggs Benedict were to die for, and Suzy's salad was beautiful.

That about sums up my first couple of weeks of American food! There are still so many things I want to eat and I am discovering things I didn't even know I missed on an almost daily basis! Hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll catch you next time!

Tastiest Travels #1

A few days before I left for Japan I asked some fellow travel bloggers if they wouldn't mind helping me out with this idea I had for a collaborative post. I got a great response for my idea and have had a number of fantastic submissions. So many, in fact, that I am comfortable making this a series. I'll feature two different bloggers a week and share with you the things they have shared with me!

The topic of the posts is food. Since moving to Japan my love of food and cooking and eating has grown. I am more adventurous with my diet and I have grown to appreciate the natural tastes of food. When I traveled to Vietnam my favorite thing was the food, and I even went on a food tour that was one of the best experiences of my life. So I asked the bloggers to share with me the three best things they've eaten while traveling! Hope this provides some great insight if you find yourself in any of these places.

Marisa Martin

www.thetravelingstorygirl.com

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Pescado del rio

Where you can find it: Mindo, Ecuador

Budget (~$10)

·         Deep in the rain forest of Ecuador, a small town called Mindo offers a unique eating experience. For just $10 you can catch a fish from the river and have it cooked for you! Catching the fish was surprisingly easy and you can watch it be prepared right in front of you. If you prefer, you have the option to take the fresh fish and prepare it yourself. It is a very fun way to eat fresh fish just like a local! The fish was very good and had a delicious taste to it. The herbs used to season it were kept secret but they added the perfect flavor!

Wiener Schnitzel with Fries

Where you can find it: Heidelburg, Germany

Budget (~$10)

·         I remember this meal especially fondly because it was the first real meal I had eaten in almost two days. I came across the restaurant on the main Hauptstrasse of Heidelberg, Germany, while searching for the school I would be studying at. I never found the school, but I did find this delightful meal! The meat was cooked to perfection and wasn’t too dry or too rare. Even though I didn’t order my schnitzel with sauce on it, my meal was scrumptious! I can hardly wait to return to Heidelberg so I can stuff my face full of this Weiner Schnitzel!

The-Best-Pasta-I-Have-Ever-Eaten

Where you can find it: Fussen, Germany

Budget

·         After spending all day hiking around Neuschwanstein castle, the only thing I wanted to do was get back to my hotel room and sleep. Unfortunately, we were among the last people to leave the castle and missed our train back to Munich. I was with my parents, so the three of us had roughly an hour before the next train came along. We were starving so we began to hurriedly walk the streets of Fussen in search of food. The only problem was it was during the World Cup and Germany was currently in the process of slaughtering Portugal (4-0). We finally stumbled upon a pizza shop where we could get something to go. The owner was so nice and jovial that he made sure to get our orders out as soon as possible. I found it so ironic because the owner was Turkish, serving Italian food in Germany. I thought it was funny anyways. The three of us took a picture with him and hurried back to the train station. We didn’t try the pasta until we were on the train, but it was the best pasta that I had ever eaten. Nothing I’ve had since has even begun to compare.

Hadas Aharon

http://www.thefashionmatters.com/

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Shakshuka

Where you can find it: Israel/Tunisia

Specific Restaurant: Dr. Shakshuka

Budget

As an Israeli, I grew up eating Shakshuka for breakfast almost every weekend. Therefore, as an expat, the flavor of Shakshuka always reminds me of home. Originally from Tunisia, Shakshuka was introduced to Israel by Tunisian Jews during the fifties. Ever since then Shakshuka became one of the most popular Israeli dishes. The spices that are being added to the dish vary, depending on the cooker, which makes each Shakshuka unique. The famous Israeli restaurant “Dr. Shakshuka” took the dish even farther and they are serving it with a wide variety of additions such as meat, cheese and vegetables. The best way to eat shakshuka is to dip a piece of bread in it.

Salty Frech Crepe

Where you can find it: France

Budget

As someone who lived in France for a year, I saw a “creperie” (restaurants that serve crepes) in every corner. Naturally, I couldn’t go on without trying the salty French crepes. When I first ordered the salty crepe I was a bit concerned since it seemed odd to me to eat a crepe that is not sweet. However, I was pleasantly surprise as to how tasty it was and how natural it felt. Therefore, it is no wonder why French crepes are one of the most popular dishes in the country. In France, you can order your crepe with basically anything- all types of meat, cheeses, eggs, vegetables or sea food; whatever you can think of. 

Pastel de Nata

Where you can find it: Portugal

Specific restaurant: Pasteis de Belem

Budget

Pastel de Nata is a Portuguese egg tart pastry. I first tried it in Belem, Lisbon. I was stunned how delicious this pastry is, and therefore it is a must-try for everyone who visits Lisbon. The most well-known place to eat this pastry at is “Pasteis de Belem”. The restaurant has a rich history of making delicious pastries; it will provide you with an excellent traditional experience. While you’re at Belem, which is a short distance from Lisbon city center (accessible via train), you should also visit other tourist attractions including the magnificent Tower of Belem and the Hieronymites Monastery

Thanks again to Marisa and Hadas for the great submissions! Definitely writing a few new dishes to my list of foods to try while traveling. That last egg tart looks especially tasty to me!

If you'd like to submit something for the series, please send an email over to communicationisdifficult@gmail.com with the subject "Tastiest Travels" and I'll get back to you as soon as I can with details!

Check back next week where we will feature some foods from Austria, Vietnam, Croatia, the Philippines and the US! 

Picture Post: Last Days in Sapporo, Japan

My last couple weeks I tried to carry my camera around with me as much as I could and take pictures of the last days I had in the city. Here are the things I did before I left. And ate. Mainly what I ate.

I ate buta-don (pork over rice) at this tiny little shop across from the Central Ward office. This one is actually my friend's, mine was covered in cheese. I recommend no cheese.

I walked around at nice a bit to enjoy all the lights. My neighborhood, I miss you Susukino! Though I don't miss dodging all the vomit piles at 6am.

Had a final trip to the beer garden by Sapporo station on a random Wednesday with a friend.

On the way to get food we ended up walking past this big display in Odori park, probably for Obon.

And we ended up at Rad Brothers, a bar near my place that has one of the more entertaining bathrooms. Surprise long nights out are always the best ones.

That following Friday I went to Mugi Shu Tei with some friends. Mugi Shu means "beer" in Japanese, kinda like how "Nihon Shu" means sake to us.

The walls are completely covered in all of these old beer cans.

I started off my last week in Japan with my favorite Sapporo food, soup curry. This one has coconut milk curry. And pork. And all the veggies. You can find it at Soup Curry Samurai.

For my last dinner with my close friends I ended up getting yakiniku.

Then I made a final trip to Nakajima Park on my last day in Japan.

Where I met a friend for a final Sapporo Classic.

And that night I had more soup curry at a tiny restaurant with my best friend who was letting me crash on her couch.

And at the airport the next day I had my final meal in Japan, kitsune udon with some tempura veggies.