When we travel, we set out to ‘experience the place’ that is our destination. And experiencing a place involves immersing oneself in the culture and lifestyle prevalent there. This includes dressing like the locals, participating in their carnivals, appreciating the sights, and eating the food – this is, in fact, one of the most important aspects.
A good way to etch your visit to a place in your memory is to taste the best of its cuisine. You’d be surprised at the power of your taste buds’ savory memory recesses. Here are 7 remarkable street foods you must try out on your next European tour:
1 Magherita Pizza
Eating pizza when visiting Italy may seem cliché but considering the fact that it is now a universal food with different modifications and variants, a visit to Italy is an opportunity to consume original pizza from its source. And which sort of pizza is more Italian than the Magherita pizza? It is one of the two pizza variants that are regarded as originally Italian (the other is the Marinara pizza). This pizza also has a peculiar backstory. It is said to have been created in honor of Queen Margherita back in the 19th Century. The garnishing condiments are also symbolic of the colors of the Italian flag – basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes represent green, white, and red respectively.
So, when next you are touring the wonderful country of Italy, stop by a street vendor’s stall to get your Margherita pizza before hopping on a high speed train from Florence to Rome.
2 Austrian Wurstel
This wonderful street delicacy is also known as the ‘Vienna sausage’. It is essentially a thin parboiled sausage made with pork and beef and cased in sheep’s intestine before being smoked on low heat. It is seasoned with spices like pepper and paprika and other legally permitted additives. Despite being based on pig meat, this street food is one of the most hygienic you’ll ever consume as the smoking process is natural, clean, and healthy.
The Wurstel is one street food you will not like to miss out on. Save space in your belly for a few to munch on while on a high speed train from Prague to Vienna.
3 Swiss Pretzel (Brezel)
For a long time, Switzerland has been known for neutrality but no one ever foresaw this attribute seeping into its cuisine. Have you ever imagined a neutral pretzel? Well, it exists and it is called a brezel in Switzerland. The bread-like snack is quite large, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and balanced with salt sprinkles. The neutrality is reflected in the non-adherence of Swiss brezels to the far sides of the traditional pretzel spectrum. They are even made into sandwiches filled with butter, cheese, or salami.
When next you are touring the Alps, make an effort to stop taking sides for once and try out a Swiss pretzel. No conflicts can ensue from that!
4 Czech Trdelnik
This sumptuous delicacy is more like grilled or roasted cake with two levels of enhancement 一it is filled on the inside with pasty fillings like Nutella and whipped cream while the outside is dusted with a delectable mix of sugar, spice, and nuts. A trip to Czech Republic is incomplete without a taste of the legendary trdelnik.
5 Greek Souvlaki
This food is prime among delicacies including skewered meat. The grilled meat may be pork, beef, lamb, or chicken and it is usually served in a pita bread wrap with onions and tomatoes.
An alternative is serving it in a dish with French fries accompanying it. Either way, you take your souvlaki, and you are sure to relish it.
6 Patatas Bravas
Tapas are rich snacks and appetizers native to Spain. The patatas bravas is a foremost tapas dish. Literally translating to ‘spicy potatoes’, it consists of fried white potatoes (usually cubed-shaped) served with a spicy sauce consisting of onions, vinegar, paprika, garlic, and tomatoes.
This dish is one every ‘brave’ traveler in Spain will love to eat at any given opportunity. It is an ingenious way to give your taste buds a ‘pat’.
7 Belgian Waffles
Just like eating pizza in Italy, eating waffles in Belgium is a rare opportunity to eat a renowned dish from its place of origin. The waffles are crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. They go along with a range of toppings and fillings – from whipped cream, ice cream, and strawberries right up to exquisite Belgian chocolate.
Moreover, a benefit to waffles is the ease of eating them – they can be eaten on the go while you are occupied with viewing the enchanting Belgian sights.
The street foods listed above are special delicacies that everyone deserves to try out at least once in a lifetime. Don’t forget to add them to your list for your next European tour.
