As a girl who loves to eat (and isn’t afraid to share that love with the world), one of my favorite parts about traveling with Semester at Sea has been trying new foods in every country we’ve visited.
Though I could go on for days detailing all of the delicious dishes I’ve devoured so far on my journey, I figured I’d spare you and instead make a list of the five must-have meals I’ve enjoyed this semester. Each of these tasty treats comes from a different country, and if you ever have the chance to visit one of them, I suggest you seek out the food I’ve listed immediately.
Belgium: Fries
Though many people visit Belgium to try the delicious chocolates and waffles, the country’s best-kept secret is its fries. I sat down to a plate of perfectly sliced fries covered in cheese and meat at a local Antwerp restaurant and had no choice but to use a fork to eat them. Plus, the Belgians serve fries with a side of mayonnaise, making them all the more indulgent.
France: Croque Madame
A Croque Madame is a toasted ham and cheese sandwich served with a fried egg on top, and it is my favorite thing to order any time I go to a French restaurant in the U.S. Obviously one of my priorities when I visited Paris was to try an authentically French Croque Madame, and I was nowhere near disappointed. The sandwich was delicious, and eating it in a restaurant next to the Eiffel Tower wasn’t half bad either.
Spain: Croquettes
I’ve developed a slight obsession with croquettes since trying them for the first time in Spain. I’m pretty sure I ate them every day we spent in Barcelona, and the last thing I did before boarding the ship to leave Spain was find a restaurant that served croquettes and enjoy one final plate. These fried potato and meat-filled rolls are the perfect size for a quick snack, and if you love them as much as I do, a couple plates could serve as a full meal.
Morocco: Tajine
Tajine is a North African stew often made of beef, prunes and almonds (though there are plenty of variations on the ingredients). The dish is served in the clay pot it’s cooked in and accompanied by a side of bread or couscous. Tajine is easily the most unique food I’ve experienced so far, and I have to tell you, it’s really great. Order a glass of Morocco’s famous mint tea to go with it, and you’ll be set.
Ireland: Salmon bagel
This meal might be a little harder to come by than the others, but I promise it’s worth it. When I was in Ireland, I spent the night at a bed and breakfast in a small town called Mullingar. I woke up to a breakfast spread of freshly squeezed orange juice, warm home-cooked pastries and a bagel covered in Brie cheese and salmon. This was the first bagel I’d had since leaving home, and it was amazing. Though you may not be able to find this exact bagel from the exact B&B I stayed at, my suggestion to you is to get out of the city for a little bit, find a B&B in a charming rural town in Ireland and enjoy whatever food your host serves you, because it’s bound to be good.