My Top 10 Favourite Foreign Dishes

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best things about travelling is the food. When I arrive somewhere new, I immediately want to head out and sample the local cuisine, be that street food whilst exploring or indulging in an evening dinner to end a busy day. Having been trapped in England for almost two years now, I have been daydreaming about some of the very special dishes that I have had over the years; the seafood, the cheese, the ice cream! Jack and I sat down this week and wrote a list of our top 10 favourite foreign dishes that we’ve been lucky enough to sample over the years. Here’s what we came up with..

10) Apple Strudel & Spätzle

In 2018, Jack and I ventured on the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg, Austria. We saw all of the sites including the Von Trapp House, Mirabell Palace and Gardens, and the rolling hills and valleys of the Austrian countryside. We also went to Mondsee, the small town that is home to the historic Mondsee Abbey where the final wedding scene is filmed.

Whilst in town, we were able to tuck into some authentic Austrian Apple Strudel, complete with accompanying custard and cream. The dish was one of the best desserts that I have ever eaten. Best of all, I ate it whilst I enjoying the sights of the surrounding historical town.

When we got back to Salzburg, we continued our tour of Austrian cuisine. We indulged in some Spätzle, which consists of egg noodles loaded with cheese and fried onions (yum!). Some great dishes to end our day exploring and certainly some of our favourite dishes to cook at home!

9) All American Burgers

It wouldn’t be a trip to the USA without a proper burger! In 2018 we also went to Las Vegas, the party capital of the world. On our first morning exploring the strip, we decided to head to the Bellagio Hotel to grab some lunch. On the menu was a range of American Treats, but we of course had to try our first American burger.

Pushing past the extortionate price (Vegas is expensive!) we both ordered the Bellagio Burger. This meaty delicacy came with bacon, cheese, a special sauce and some lettuce/ tomatoes. The burger itself was nothing special (I have had better ones in some local pubs!). However, the surrounding Vegas scenery really did make the meal memorable and was the most American I’ve ever felt. An American burger is worthy edition to my top 10 favourite foreign dishes.

8) Breakfast in Paradise

In 2019, Jack and I went to Thailand, stopping for a few days in the Northern Capital of Chiang Mai. Whilst we were there, we stayed at the Shangri La Hotel, famed for its luxurious amenities and atmosphere. Now, breakfast in the hotel is one of the highlights of any trip, especially when it’s a buffet.

I’ve experienced many a good buffet in my lifetime, ranging from luxury 5 star hotels in London to Pizza Hut. Nothing comes close to the buffets of Thai Hotels. The Shangri La had everything you could ever want; full English, Continental, Pancakes, 20 different jams, Danishes. The lot. I actually think we took the mick a little bit and had about four large plates each every day.

Then, when we solemnly left and went to Khao Lak, we thought that the breakfasts just couldn’t compete. We were wrong. The Devasom met the Shangri La full-on and did just as good a job. In any case, I would head back to either in a heartbeat.

7) Mexican Food in a Place that isn’t Mexico

As I just said, in 2019 Jack and I went to Thailand. If you’ve read my blog before, you’ll know that we got engaged in Bangkok (for more detail, read my engagement post). We decided to go for a celebratory meal once we had become engaged and thought we’d stay in our hotel.

In previous nights we had experienced the Italian and the Thai, however we noticed that there was a Mexican place just beneath us. Naturally, we thought that an evening of nachos, chimichangas and margaritas would be the perfect way to celebrate our engagement. How right we were. As well as the romantic atmosphere, the food was excellent too and was an end to a very special evening.

I know that this might be cheating slightly in my top 10 favourite foreign dishes post, but it was just too good to leave out.

6) One Year Later

In 2017, Jack and I went to Fuerteventura for our first holiday as a couple. Over a fortnight we experienced many amazing Spanish dishes including a fabulous feast on the beach on lunchtime and a Tapas dish to celebrate Jack’s grandmother’s birthday.

We also had our first anniversary whilst we were there and decided to go to El Horno, a famous little restaurant in the village where we stayed. For starters, we had a Canarian tapas, before we moved onto our main dishes of seafood. The food was simply wonderful and the quality of the ingredients was very clear.

When this was combined with the relaxed Spanish atmosphere and a few bottles of the local red wine, it meant for a romantic evening where we could really enjoy each other’s company.

5) Italiana in Polska

Poland has some amazing deals when it comes to food. When we stayed in Krakow we thought we’d push the boat out and head to a Michelin-Starred restaurant within the city centre. La Campagna is a small restaurant that is made up of a rustic restaurant and a botanical garden, both of which offer unique dining experiences.

We feasted on a three-course meal, with duck being the star of the show, and then washed it down with a silky red wine. For this amazing dining experience, it only set us back £50… Yes, you read that right and I can genuinely say that, in terms of quality, this is some of the best food I’ve ever eaten.

4) Polski in Polska

Continuing with the Polish food, on our interrail adventure in 2019 we overnighted in Katowice, a small mining city in the South of the country. I mainly associate this city with a gigantic thunderstorm that lead to us being trapped beneath a doorway for over an hour, but before this we went to a small little restaurant, named Tatiana in the old town. It was quiet and rustic and was the epitome of a more traditional Poland.

We ordered some delicious cheese and onion pierogi for our main course, with some accompanying olive bread and dips. We then went for a selection of sorbets to cleanse our palate after our high-impact dishes. You may be wondering why this is so high up on the list and, truthfully, I think it is because of how authentic and simple it was. The food was gorgeous and tasted incredible and again cost a fraction of the price of something similar in the UK.

3) Greek Food in New York

This one is actually from before Jack and I were together (sorry, Jack!) and features a delightful Greek restaurant that I found in New York, Molyvos. Whilst there were of course great examples of American food in the Big Apple, such as pizza and hot dogs, I have a particular soft-spot for Greek cuisine.

2) Italiana in Italia

Pizza in Italy is a match made in heaven. Forget your Domino’s or Pizza Hut, this is the real deal. My family and I have often travelled to Padua, just a stone-throw away from Venice. My parents have often spoken about this small Pizzeria on the main church square, tucked away from all the hustle and bustle of the town centre.

Whilst we were in Padua, it was only right that we experience some authentic Italian pizza and a good one at that. For a fraction of the price of a similar pizza in the UK, we feasted on some Italian goodness. I went for a classic pepporoni, whereas Jack opted for the Quattro Fromagi. At home when we try to replicate our Italian feast we obviously use the most authentic ingredients possible. Fresh mozzarella and basil is a must and we love making our pizza bases from scratch.

In terms of the sauce, again only the finest ingredients will do. For the crust (because dipping is a must!) we stumbled upon an amazing balsamic vinegar from Giuseppe Giusti; the world’s oldest producers of it. The taste is sensational and you can really taste the difference between this and the supermarket stuff. Plus, you get some exceptionally cute jars with each set.

Truthfully, if Jack had it his way, this would win his top 10 favourite foreign dishes. However, as I am the author, there is an obvious winner…

1) An Engagement Meal to Remember

We now go back to 2019 and to the Devasom Hotel, our final destination in Thailand. We had decided from the beginning that we were going to have a spectacular meal here on the beach and booked it as soon as we arrived. There was an issue however as in Khao Lak, whilst it is sunny and hot during the day, it is stormy and wet every night and evening. This lead to our meal being pushed into the hotel tower base, which still was a romantic setting.

We also received a bespoke menu featuring an incredible seafood starter, a fillet steak and then, to top it off, an exceedingly chocolatey dessert. We also had a cocktail each and shared a bottle of wine, meaning that we were also rather merry when we finally walked down to the beach to release our fire lantern. I’m not sure we’ll ever top this special engagement meal and it is the obvious winner of my top 10 favourite foreign dishes.

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.