One of the best parts of exploring a new place is enjoying the foods and drinks most unique to that area! Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or a burger-plain-and-dry kind of person, there are delicious finds in every corner of the world. We’ve put together some tasty highlights for five of our most popular international destinations – Costa Rica, Israel, Italy, England, & Greece. Enjoy!
1. Costa Rica
Gallo Pinto | Costa Rican rice & beans dish that is typically served at breakfast alongside eggs, either scrambled or fried. With how popular this traditional dish is, you won’t have to look far to give it a try!
Chorreadas | Costa Rica’s version of pancakes. You may not have them served under a mountain of whipped cream & syrup, but these corn pancakes still have some sweetness to them, and can be enjoyed with sweet or savory toppings!
Tortilla con Queso | These are not your average taco tortillas! These delicious corn creations are filled with cheese and enjoyed any time of the day, including breakfast!
Plantains | With how common plantains are in Costa Rica, it’s no surprise that they are enjoyed in a variety of ways! “Platanos” are fried when the plantains are at their sweetest, creating a tasty treat and “patacones” are thick slices of plantains fried twice. No matter how you slice it, these are delicious!
Arroz con Leche | This rice pudding dish pops up in many Central and South American cultures & the recipe varies slightly depending where you are. In Costa Rican arroz con leche, you’ll likely find raisins & sprinkled cinnamon included!
Café Chorreado | Craving a cup of jo? Try some coffee Costa Rica style! It’s typically made in a chorreador, a manual coffee “machine” with a small base, often made of wood, and a pouch or bag that hangs above the coffee cup. Coffee grounds are placed in the bag, boiling water is poured over them, and fresh, authentic coffee drips into the cup below!
Salsa Lizano | Salsa lizano is to Costa Rica as ketchup is to The States – found on many restaurant tables & enjoyed on a variety of dishes! It is slightly sweet, slightly tangy, completely delicious!
2. Israel
Hummus & Pita | While you may have tried hummus with chips or veggies here in the states, there’s nothing quite like truly authentic hummus in Israel! It is likely that this snack will be served at almost every meal – take advantage of it, because grocery store hummus back home just doesn’t compare.
Falafel | Another staple of the diet in Israel is falafel, or mashed chick peas fried into small spheres or fritters. You will usually find falafel on a menu served either on their own or inside pita bread.
Shawarma | Thin slices of roasted meat served in sandwiches, most often (you guessed it!) on pita!
Israeli Salad | Consisting of diced tomato, onion, cucumber, and peppers, Israeli salad is served with just about every meal or dish. Some have even called it the most well-known dish of Israel!
Fish, Fish, & More Fish! | Sure, you’ve likely had fish many times in your life already, or maybe you don’t even like it. Either way, definitely order (or at least taste) fish in Israel! It is so fresh that it is like no fish you’ve had before.
3. Italy
Carbonara | Naturally, a list of recommendations for Italy would not be complete without a pasta dish! Carbonara originated in Rome and is made with egg, hard cheese, pancetta, & usually black pepper.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina | Known to us English-speakers as Steak Florentine, this dish is simply a quality cut of steak, usually Porterhouse, grilled over a wood fire.
Gelato | Whatever you do, make sure to save room for dessert while in Italy! You may have had gelato at home before but there’s nothing quite like the real thing! Grab a friend, grab a cone, & enjoy this delicious treat!
Pizza Margherita | Another Italian staple is, of course, pizza! Try pizza margherita, a simple recipe made with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil!
Pici al Ragu Di Cinghiale | (Pici with Wild Boar) What on earth is a pici? We’re glad you asked! Another Italian staple, pici is a thick, long, hand-rolled pasta that can be served many ways. Our recommendation is to try it with wild boar!
Hand-Made Ricotta Ravioli | One more pasta dish to round out our Italian recommendations! Ravioli is enjoyed all over the world, but give it a try in the place it originated – the authentic recipe will have ricotta filling!
4. England
Meat Pies | England is known for its baking, so their most popular dishes are bread-based. One such traditional dish is a meat pie, which can be large like the size of a traditional pie & served family style or smaller and personal-sized. The handheld version of a similar dish are the Cornish pasties. One thing they all have in common is, you guessed it, meat! Usually, these are filled with beef or sausage, as well as vegetables.
Scones | Keeping with the baking theme, scones are a must-have when you’re visiting the UK! Enjoy them with clotted cream, jam, or alongside a cup of tea! Speaking of tea…
Tea | It is no secret that the British are proud of their tea – & rightfully so, tea across the pond is particularly delicious! Snag a cup of tea & pair it with a treat like a scone or biscuit!
Fish & Chips | Breaking away from the baked goods for just a moment, we would be remiss not to mention this English go-to! Chips are just what they call fries, and the fish is fried in a batter to create this famous combo.
Victoria Sandwich Cake | This yummy British dessert is two layers of traditional sponge cake filled with buttercream & jam, often strawberry, and topped with a light dusting of powdered sugar, which is called icing sugar in England.
5. Greece
Gyros | If you see this on the menu, it may look like “guy-row” or “gee-row” but it is actually pronounced more like “yee-row!” Gyro meat is cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served on pita with veggies and tzatziki sauce.
Souvlaki | This dish is essentially a meat kabob, sometimes including vegetables, that is often enjoyed as a snack or fast food & eaten right from the skewer!
Moussaka | This dish is like the comfort food of Greece! Made with layers of eggplant and potato, moussaka is filled with meat & topped with a creamy béchamel sauce! It is said that this dish varies from family to family, as everyone has their own unique way of preparing it! Sounds like it might even be worth trying twice to compare!
Dolmades | This word actually describes a group of Greek dishes that are wrapped in grape leaves – in fact, you may have heard them simply called stuffed grape leaves! Most often, they are filled with a rice mixture, but sometimes include meat inside.
Baklava | Like we said, always be sure to leave room for dessert! Baklava is made from layers of filo pastry and filled with chopped nuts and often additional ingredients like cinnamon and sugar. All of this goodness is held together in syrup or honey!
Greek Coffee | Like so many places around the world, Greece has its own style of coffee that is definitely worth a try! Don’t be fooled though, this isn’t your sweet, vanilla latte from your local coffee shop back home! Greek coffee is very strong and most frequently served black!
No matter where you may be traveling, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to try new things! You never know, you may just stumble upon your new favorite food!
