We were recently asked what is the best meal we have had during our travels and it got us thinking. Now we do love our French cheese and of course the Italians make the best pizza but is it the best meal we have ever had. We didn’t seem to think so. In no particular order these are our top 10 foods we have had on our travels and we think you’ll be surprised.
Hand dived scallops in Scotland
Scottish cuisine may be well known for Haggis, neeps and tatties and the ability to deep fry just about anything but it has even more to offer. During our North Coast 500 road trip a 516 mile route across Scotland’s northern coast line we stopped at Ullapool. Locally famed for its sea food we had to stop at The Seafood Shack for their hand dived scallops caught fresh everyday. Seared with butter and chorizo with a side salad and rice, washed down with a gin and tonic. Hands down the best scallops we have ever had!
Pide in Turkey
Turkey is another country with much to offer from its cuisine from Mezze to Turkish style Kebabs and one of our favourites Manti. However none of these have made the list above Pide. This simple dish is a popular street food throughout turkey and what makes it even better is the accessibility and affordability. Fundamentally Pide is similar to wood fired Pizza but unique in its own style. Boat shaped bread topped with a variety of different fillings, such as spinach, cheese or potato being among our favourites. Some call it Turkish Pizza.. no wonder we enjoyed it so much.
Muckalica in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Though Muckalica is traditionally a Serbian dish we tried it when we were in Bosnia. Just outside Sarajevo we met with a friend we made on our travels and went to Basta Stojcevac restaurant and tried a multitude of dishes one of which was Muckalica. Using leftover bbq meat for that smoky flavour and cooked in a richly reduced tomato and red pepper sauce it was the perfect balance of smoky, savoury and sweet. We enjoyed this so much we have replicated it in the van many times.
Doina’s Sarma in Romania
Sarma can be found all around the balkan counties and with slightly different recipes but the best we had was home made in Romania. We were lucky enough to have been introduced to a friend of a friend who invited us into their family home. Balkan people are naturally very hospitable so it wasn’t long before we made another trip to visit them, this is when Doina made us her Sarma. There was whole feast of traditional food provided but the Sarma was especially good. Minced meat wrapped in softened cabbage leaves and braised in a pan may sound basic but it’s far from it. A skilful blend of herbs and spices spill out of the juicy parcels with every bite.
Spanish Tapas
If you know us at all you know Spain sits very close to our hearts, especially given Will spent his childhood there. But we are not biased when we say tapas is some of the best food we have ever had. A few of our favourites include: Gambas Pil Pil; fresh juicy prawns cooked in sizzling garlic and chilli oil, though recipes can very throughout the regions. Albondigas; Spanish style meat balls cooked in a rich tomato sauce, recipes can also vary between regions. And of course Tortilla; layers of potato and caramelised onion encased in egg. All washed down with a great Spanish wine in the late afternoon sun on the patio of a traditional taberna, yes please!
Anja’s Rouladen in Germany
When visiting family in Germany it is always a highlight to visit our sister-in-laws parents who welcome us like old friends and with one of Anja’s culinary delights. Though we must admit every time she cooks for us the food is outstanding, this particular dish is one of our favourites making it onto the top 10 food list and one we can’t wait to replicate. Beef rolled with bacon mustard and vegetables braised in a rich gravy served with potatoes. This hearty German dish is perfect on those cold wintery days.
King crab in Argentina
Though Argentina is all about Asado (grilled meat/ BBQ) if you venture far south to Ushuaia everything changes. Here the speciality is King Crab, every restaurant in town offers a taste. It is pricey no matter the season so we did just get one to share but oh my is it delicious. Will in particular was taken by surprise as he has a long history of disliking the little creatures. But these crustaceans aren’t so little and can grow to a mighty size. The crab is steamed until perfectly cooked, the meat is tender and has a savoury sweetness to it. It’s served with bread rolls and aioli to mop up all the juice.
Cheese Fondue in Switzerland
Of course cheese had to make it in here somewhere and what better way than melted in a pot for dipping. Fondu is also about the experience, we were up in the Swiss mountains in September for my birthday at a small restaurant called Fondue Pinte de Pierre-a-Bot overlooking lake Neuchatel with the Swiss Alps far in the distance. All wrapped up we sat outside on the balcony with a pot of melted cheese in front of us. A mix of Swiss cheeses Gruyere and Emmental melted with white wine and seasonings and served with bread and cured meat to dip. *chefs kiss*. If you are a cheese lover, this is a must.
The Best Burger in New Zealand
Have you ever had a burger so good that you thought about it for the rest of your life? Well we have. Right in Christchurch city centre we found Smash Place a large funky bus with a spacious courtyard. What made the burger so good? It was big and juicy, cooked to medium as requested; the ingredients were high quality and the flavours were an excellent balance of rich, subtle and sweet. To this day we still compare any burger to this one. The burger was so good we didn’t actually take a picture of it before we inhaled it so take a look at the courtyard instead!
That’s it from our top 10 foods from around the world, of course we have tried and enjoyed many other delights, which made this list challenging to make but we hope you enjoyed it. Which one did you like the sound of the most?
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