food blog

10 of our Favorite Meals from Around the Globe

It is no secret that when traveling to new places we are encountering new culinary delights. As part of the journey figuring out a new country we feel it is out duty to try their local cuisine. Now, not ever dish that dances across our taste buds is fantastic, but the ones that were make it all worth while. Here are some of the best local dishes we have tasted to date. 

1. Traditional Maldivian Lunch

While in the Maldives our guest house prepares a group lunch for all of the guests to share together. Our traditional Maldivian lunch consisted of rice, fried leaves of a local plant, tuna, onion, lime juice. You mash it all together with your fingers and eat by hand. It was packed full of flavor! 

2. Conveyor Belt Sushi in Japan

What do you get when you mix Sushi options with a twist of fun? Conveyor belt sushi! In 2013 we made out first trip to Japan and fell in love with all of the fresh sushi and sashimi restaurants, so much so, we knew we had to come back. While the best sashimi of our lives was not at a conveyor belt sushi place, some of the most fun was. So, of course, when we were back in Japan, we made it a point to grab a beer and feast on an array of sushi delights. 

3. Sri Lankan Curry Plate

Sri Lanka is an island nation off the coast of India and is full culture and spice. Almost every direction you look you will see the staple dish,  a curry plate. Pictured is one of our favorite plates we had from a hold in the wall mom and pop shop. It’s fried chicken, green bean curry, lentil curry, spicy gravy, rice, and vegetable filled pastries. Our taste buds were in heaven. Time to go explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.  

4. Fondue in Switzerland

Fondue is an essential meal to have when you are in the land of Gruyère cheese. Fribourger Fondue Stübli was a fantastic family run restaurant in Zürich, Switzerland. We dipped thick sliced of bread and potatoes in this Gruyère cheese blend fondue and it was amazing.

5. Pierogies in Poland

When we stepped off the bus in Krakow, Poland, the number one food that came to our mind was Pierogies! A pierogi is a semicircular dumpling filled with different sweet and savory goodies often found in many Eastern European countries. We decided to try a myriad of different types to make sure we got the proper understanding of the dish. 

6. Pad Thai 

Who knew Pad Thai could be so dynamic. We asked the owner of our hostel in Bangkok where do get the best Pad Thai and before we finished the question he gave us directions to a street vendor where is shore the best Pad Thai was in all of Thailand. He was not joking! Pad Thai is made with stir fried rice noodles mixed with egg, firm tofu, fish sauce, dried shrimp, shallots, garlic, red chili peppers, tamarind pulp, palm sugar, roasted peanuts, bean sprouts, and served with lime wedges. We also then topped it with chives and raw banana flower. Our taste buds were in heaven. Click here for more legit Thai street foods.

7. Eggplant Curry in the Maldives 

This was by far our #1 favorite meal since leaving on this journey! Delicious curries are a big part of the middle east and Asia but what makes the Maldivian curry a step above the rest is the fish curry powder only found in the Maldives. Our guest houses’ wife made her special recipe which uses the fish curry powder with eggplant in place of fish. The combination was unlike anything we have ever tasted and we would go back to the Maldives, not only for the beaches, but for this eggplant curry. 

8. South Korean Gangjeong Fired Chicken

Being from the Southern United States, we know fried chicken. Because of this, we were very excited to come to South Korea, another place in the world that knows fried chicken. Many times throughout South Korea we had Gangjeong, the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. This chicken is coated in potato starch and double fried to golden perfection. After which, the chicken is tossed in a sweet and spicy glaze and topped with sesame. The blend of the crispiness, sweet notes, and spicy zing is why this was one of our favorite meals.  

9. Hiroshima’s Okonomiyaki in Japan

Okonomiyaki is found all over Japan and each region put’s their own twist on it. Most notable styles are the Hirosima style with layers and yakisoba noodles and the Osaka style where everything is mixed together with the batter.  While traveling through Japan, we found that Hirosima’s version was, hands down, the winner! Okonomiyaki is the Japanese savory pancake and it is mouth watering. The Hiroshima style we had was layers of batter, yakisoba noddles, seafood (shrimp, scallop, and octopus), a mountain of cabbage, fried egg, okonomiyaki sauce and topped with shallots. You then eat it with a special spatula called hera. 

10. Meat and Potato Meal in the Czech Republic

We do not know exactly what we ate in Prague at this traditional food spot, but we do know it had our taste buds singing and stomach full! We know the potatoes were full of butter and garlic while the meats were salted and fried. Who could say know to comfort food like this? Not us, we dug right in and after we were done we were ready to explore Prague at night!

With months left on this journey we are so excited to taste our way through the world one bite at a time. Up next, we are looking forward to banh mi’s in Vietnam! 

We are two en route for more delicious meals from around the globe.

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Sweet Treats around the World

If there is one thing you should know about us, it’s we love something a little sweet. When we had a kitchen to call our own, one thing we loved to do was bake. Since we no longer have that, we thought we would feed our sweet tooth with things from places we visited. Feed your sweet tooth with these amazing treats from around the world!

Belgium Chocolate

When we think of world famous chocolates, we think of Belgium! When the opportunity arose in Antwerp, Belgium to visit a chocolatier and try out hand crafted chocolates, we jumped with joy. We are glad we did because they did not disappoint! 

Popsicles in Asia

While popsicles are not specifically tied to just one part of the world, we did find that some of the cutest ones were in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and Asia! Look how cute this panda pop was from the basement foodcourt in Bangkok’s Siam Paragon Mall. 

Swedish Princess Cake

We love a good piece of cake and we love marzipan, these two come together in Sweden’s Princess Cake. We were a little concerned when we saw that it was green, but decided to dive right in to a piece. The layers of sponge cake and cream topped with marzipan and powdered sugar were fit for a princess and a couple of queens. Click here to see the amazing underground art scene in Stockholm. 

Yogurt in Singapore

This was yogurt heaven! In Singapore we came across a yogurt place called Milk & Honey, specializing in artisan yogurts parfaits. Brad got the Matcha De Coco and it was mouth watering. Perfect treat for exploring Singapore day or night.

Czech Republic’s Trdelnik

One of the most common sweet treat we saw around Prague was the Trdelnik. Traditionally it is just the dough, grilled to the perfect golden brown over open coals with caramelized sugar on the exterior. However, Prague has many Trdelnik street vendors that have put their special twist on this treat. It was filled with ice cream and Nutella chocolate. Click here to see Prague at night!

Mango Sticky Rice Thai Street Food

Who knew mangos, rice, and condensed milk could taste so good? This sweet treat is a staple street food all around Thailand. It is so delicious in every bite. 

Churros Con Chocolate in Spain

Something sweet at breakfast is the best and Spain knows how to do it. Churros con chocolate is the breakfast that the entire nation loves. It’s so simple, and so delicious. Take a churro, dip it in chocolate, and enjoy it with a cup of coffee. Good morning! 

Belgium Waffles 

The second sweet from Belgium on our list is the waffle! We saw waffles of all kinds when traveling around Belgium.  We opted for the simple and traditional waffle with powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Simple divine. If you want a more over-the-top waffle, try one with fruits and chocolate on top.

Cheese Tarts through Asia

This is not your every-day cheese tart, it was made with matcha and love, it certainly was the best. The cheese tart is found all over Asia. It is a golden crust with perfectly baked cheese and filled with the creamiest cheese mousse. Melts right into your mouth.

Hong Kong Egg Waffles 

Another sweet and simple treat found across Asia and the egg waffle. It is basically a waffle baked in a special waffle iron that gives it the shape of little eggs. Generally it is baked with chocolate chips, cheese, or other little goodies to make it yummy. 

The Netherlands Stroopwafel

We may sound like a broken record but here is another type of waffle, however, this one is special. The Storopwafel is the delight of The Netherlands. It is two super thin waffles layers with a caramel-like syrup in the middle. 

Kaya Toast in Singapore 

Toast…yes, toast. Kaya toast is a popular breakfast in Malaysia and Singapore. Kaya is a special coconut jam (made with enough butter to make Paula Deen proud), spread between toast and served with a soft-boiled egg and a killer cup of coffee. 

Indonesian “Coffee” Drinks

We don’t know if we should classify this stuff as coffee or shakes, but we do know it was super delicious. Kopi Bali House in Bali, Indonesia made one of the best guilty-pleasure coffee drinks we have ever had. It was perfect after a hot day of exploring Ubud. Up next, seeing Tanah Lot at sunset!

Thai Rolled Ice Cream

Stir-fried ice cream or Thai rolled ice cream or whatever you want to call it, ice cream rolls were delicious. We first saw a youtube video of a street vendor making Thai-rolled ice cream, so of course when we saw a man making some with our own eyes, we treated ourself. Who would say no to a handmade ice cream dessert. After we indulged, we decided to have a fun night out on Koh Phi Phi Island.

We are two en route for more of the world’s sweet treats.

Thai Street Food, enough said!

Part of experiencing Thailand is eating the street food! Out of everywhere in the world we have visited and all the travelers we have had the honor to meet, everyone is in agreeance that Thai Street food is the best in the world. From hot and spicy to sweet and savory here is our picks for the best of the best in our Thai street food experience.

1. Tom Yum Goong Noodles

Tom Yum Noodle is a very popular dish in Thailand. With its intense flavor combination of sweet, sour and spicy it’s hard not to love.

2. Pad Thai

Probably the most well-known Thai dish, Pad Thai is a staple of Thai street food. It is a combination of stir fried noodles, fried egg, shrip, firm tofu, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, garlic, pepper, and red chilis poured over flat rice noodles. Often topped with fresh shallots, peanuts, sprouts and banana blossoms.

3. Chicken Stir-Fry in Oyster Sauce

This is a simple chicken and vegetable stir-fry tossed in oyster sauce and served with steamed rice. Anyone could make this is about 3 minutes which makes it the perfect on-the-go street food. 

4. Pineapple Fried Rice

Probably the second most well known Thai dish with expats. This dish is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Generally this dish is served in a pineapple half filled with rice, shrimp, pineapple, cashews, garlic, onion, red chilis, raisins, egg, and peas that have been tossed in soy or fish sauce. 

5. Khao Pad Gong

Khao pad gong is another simple street food dish. It’s a basic stir-fry with the addition of tomatoes, cucumber and coriander leaves. Ofter served with fresh shirmp you have to open yourself. 

6. Thai Basil Chicken

This is the dish to go for in order to feel the heat! It’s a simple mix of chicken, basil, shallots, garlic and fresh cut red chilis tossed in a fish sauce and served with steamed rice. The fresh cut red chilis are everything you want for a powerful punch of intensity.

7. Mango Sticky Rice

At first we didn’t know what we were going to get when we heard we had to try “Mango Stick Rice.” However, this Thai dessert is so delicious in every bite. It is fresh cut mangos eaten with sticky rice topped with coconut milk and sometimes rice crispy or toasted sesame seed.

8. Thai Rolled Ice Cream

Ever since we saw a video of someone making Thai tolled ice cream, we knew we had to find some!  It is milk with you choice of flavors and fillings stirred and chopped with metal spatulas on a frozen slab. It is then spread into a thin sheet and scrapped off into rolls and packed into a cup. It was then topped with whipped cream, more goodies, and sauce. Delicious! 

9. Coconut Ice Cream

This is exactly what it sounds like! It’s the perfect blend of cream and coconut ice cream served in a coconut half and drizzeled with chocolate sauce and coconuts. 

10. Pint of Chang Beer

No street food list would be completed without enjoying a golden pint of Chang beer. It’s cheap, good and cleaner than the water, so drink up! Cheers!

We are two en route for more enjoying more of the worlds best street food