Thursday, September 8, 2016

Around the World in 80 Plates

I traveled the world in search of the best food on a modest budget from April 2015 to September 2016. Out of 26 countries in just over 500 days, these were the best and most memorable in order of the country visited on the trip:

Hawaii, United States
White fish, capers, sweet Maui onion, and creme fraiche on toast - Kimo's (Maui)
South Korea
Fried chicken with pickled radish
The Philippines
Halo-Halo: creamy shaved ice, beans, ice cream, gelatin, etc 


Skewer of pickle, sausage, cheese, and marshmallow


Balut: fertilized duck egg with salt and vinegar


Bangus Sisig: milkfish sauteed with onion, chiles, and calamansi


Laing: taro leaves in coconut milk with chiles


Lechon: roast pig on a bamboo spit


Pork Sisig: pork ears and face sauteed with onion, chile and calamansi


Pulled pork belly sandwich with slaw and fried egg & Chocolate Hills Porter - Refinery (Manila)


Suman Moron: rice flour and coconut sweet with chocolate


Grilled quail eggs wrapped in bacon yakitori - Tambai (Manila)


Tortang Talong: eggplant fried with egg, onion and peppers

Grilled mussels with butter and cheese


Singapore
Hokkien Mee: stir-fry of noodles, egg, pork, prawns, and squid


Kobe beef roll with imported sake


Laksa: spicy rice noodle soup with coconut, fish, and fried tofu
 Malaysia
Roti Pisang: fresh buttery flatbread with bananas


Curry Mee: spicy curry soup with noodles, sambal, egg, chicken, fish balls, potato, and green beans


Roti Cannai: fresh flakey flatbread served with chicken, dahl, and fish sauces - Nagasari Curry House (Kuala Lumpur)


 Nepal
Chicken sizzler with buttery gravy over rice


Mo-Mos: dumplings that can be found with a variety of fillings and sauces


Stuffed chicken with butter, garlic, and potato puree


Dal Baht: steamed rice and lentil soup, often accompanied by a curry and a vegetable

Peanuts with cucumber, tomato, onion, green chile, and parsley - The Lemon Tree (Pokhara)


India
 
Set menu of samples of too many foods to list; just go there and eat!


Fresh watermelon seasoned with salt and black pepper



Murgh Hazavi Kabob: marinated chicken with yogurt, cilantro and mint - The Nawabi (Bangalore)

 Vietnam
Bun Cha: grilled pork and white rice noodle soup with fresh herbs


Thanh Long (or "dragon fruit") by itself or in a smoothie


Morning glory sauteed with garlic and chiles


Nem Cua Be: crab, pork, and vegetable spring rolls


Nem Ran: fried spring rolls with pork, shrimp and mushroom


Pho: beef and linguine noodle soup with fresh basil and bean sprouts


Pineapple Chicken: sweet and sour fried chicken, pineapple, onion, tomato, and chiles


White Rose Dumplings: rice paper, ground shrimp, and toasted garlic - Morning Glory (Hoi An)
 
Stuffed Squid with pork, shrimp, and wood-ear mushrooms - Morning Glory (Hoi An)

 
Scallops with peanut sauce


Thailand
Chinatown spicy seafood soup


Seafood Curry


"Maine Lobster Salad" with frozen red curry - Sra Bua (Bangkok)


Nut cake with salted ice cream and frozen icing crumbles - Sra Bua (Bangkok)


Lotus root chip with horseradish cream - Sra Bua (Bangkok)
France
Duck confit with fried potatoes


Eggs Benedict - Laduree (Paris)
Morocco
Monkfish, squid, and spinach stew - Le Saveur du Poisson (Tangier)
Chicken tagine with potatoes, green beans, and olives - Restaurant Al Mamoun (Casablanca)
 Spain
Croquetas: bechamel fritters, usually ham or chicken


Tapas y Jerez: Sherry wine with small bar snacks


Fabada Asturiana: traditional fava bean stew with pork and blood sausage


Patatas Bravas: fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and alioli


Baked imported provolone with tomato, olive oil, black pepper, and oregano - Casa Gonzales (Madrid)


Pulpo a la Gallega: boiled octopus and potatoes with sea salt and paprika

 Portugal
Surf and Turf Sandwich: pork belly confit, shrimp and sweet potato bread) - A Cevicheria (Lisbon)


Carne de Porco a Alentejana: clams and pork with garlic, parsley and fried potatoes


Quejo de Azeitao (sheep milk cheese) with peanuts and Vinho Verde - Lisbon Winery (Lisbon)

 Ireland
Irish Breakfast at Sr. Maura's home in Roscommon

United Kingdom
Banoffee Pie: bananas, cream, and toffee


English Breakfast


The Monster Dog: bockwurst, chilli, melted cheese with craft beer - Draft House Tower Bridge (London)


Scallops in butter - Old Port Bar (Port Askaig, Islay)

Italy
Cacio e Pepe: spaghetti, black pepper, Pecorino Romano cheese


Polpette: Chicken meatballs with parsley sauce and arugula - Ristorante L'Arcangelo (Rome)


Pizza con i fiori di zucca: Roman white pizza with squash blossoms and anchovies


Pizza alla Napoletana - Roman pizza with tomatoes, olive oil, and anchovies


Cannolo: pastry with whipped sweet ricotta filling - Dulcis (Milan)


Fresh mozzarella filled with gorgonzola - Corti Abbadesse (Milan)


Potato gnocchi with tomato, cream, and parsley - Il Latini (Florence)


Scallopini Balsamico: veal in balsamic reduction - Ristorante Bucaneve (Pievepelago)


Pastry with white and dark chocolate filling and cappucino

 
Bigoli con crema di fagioli e pancetta croccante - Osteria Ai Scarponi (Padua)

 Hungary
Paprikas Csirke: braised chicken in paprika with noodles - Seasons Bistro (Budapest)


Fried Camembert in breadcrumbs with blueberry sauce - Pozsonyi Kisvendeglo (Budapest)


Roast veal in gravy with fried potatoes


Sausage stew with peppers and onions
 Turkey
Kebab platter with pide, charred tomatoes and yogurt


Tavuc Gogsu: creamy chicken breast pudding with cinnamon and ice cream

Manti: lamb dumplings with sumac, yogurt, and red pepper sauce

 Japan
Takoyaki: battered octopus balls with ginger, green onion, and bonito flakes


Ramen: wheat noodles in broth with pork and miso


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