Looking to expand your tastes? While four out of five Brits consider themselves “adventurous” when it comes to food, there’s such a wide world of culinary possibilities out there that you might not have tackled some of the best-known foods that are practically on your doorstep.
While you can make a lot of these dishes at home yourself, it’s of course always best to get it as authentically as possible for your first try. You could explore local restaurants run by people who’ve grown up in these cultures or even venture abroad to get to the source – plenty of tours in Europe have been organised for far more spurious reasons than discovering food, after all.
France
It’s hard to imagine starting anywhere else than with France, famous the world over for its culinary refinement. Most of us know our way around a baguette or croissant, of course, and the list of great French cheeses runs on and on. But have you tried some of the country’s more complete dishes?
If you’ve never had tartiflette to warm you up on a cold winter’s day, for example, you’ve been missing out. This traditional favourite is a baked delight made from potatoes, bacon lardons, onion, and Reblochon cheese, which never fails to hit the spot.
Meanwhile, boeuf bourguignon is a true national treasure. If you’re yet to tick off this red-wine-braised beef and vegetable stew from your food to-do list, treat yourself as soon as you can.
Spain
One of the great things about tapas is that you get the opportunity to try a variety of Spanish dishes at once, and there’s plenty to delight the palate here. Your entry point will likely be a bowl of patatas bravas or a Spanish omelette – simply called ‘tortilla’ – but, if you’re a meat eater, you should be willing to try anything with Spain’s legendary cured ham in it. And of course, there’s paella, the iconic saffron-infused rice dish made with all kinds of seafood across the country.
Italy
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Italian is the cuisine Brits are most likely to try to recreate at home after they return from a holiday. Now, pizza and pasta are a given, but one you might not have tried is arancini. These are delicious, balled-up fried treats made primarily of rice with all kinds of paired fillings from cheese to vegetables or even carbonara.
Greece
Sun-soaked beaches and incredible views aren’t the only reasons why tourists flock to Greece. You haven’t lived until you’ve had proper souvlaki from a street vendor, whether you get it on a skewer or wrapped in a pita. If you’re looking for a full Greek main course, though, you could treat yourself to a spanakopita, a traditional pie filled with spinach and feta cheese that’ll really hit the spot.
Where will your taste buds take you as you explore the iconic cuisines of Europ
