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Top 5 European foodie experiences

If you’re planning a trip to Europe, and authentic food is your vice, then you’ll want to read this. Because there’s nothing quite like an endless supply of mind-blowing fare against a European backdrop, is there?

If you’re planning a trip to Europe, and authentic food is your vice, then you’ll want to read this. Because there’s nothing quite like an endless supply of mind-blowing fare against a European backdrop, is there?

And since food is such a huge part of travelling, you’ll want to ensure your culinary experiences are memorable for all the right reasons.

 

1. Liguria, Italy

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Farinata, Photo Credit: savoringeverybite

Fellini said that life is a combination of magic and pasta, though I think he forgot to mention the glorious farinata, a curious chickpea flour tart seasoned with rosemary, pepper and seasalt.

Farinata is just one of the many specialties that must be sampled should you find yourself on a Ligurian shore. The food in Liguria is dramatic, just like the scenery. Set on a Mediterranean coastline, its seaside villages hug rugged cliffs, and the roads to its hilltowns are dotted with towering pines.

If you want amazing seafood, this is the place to go, and if you’re a fan of pesto, you’re in luck, because this is where it was born; same goes for the humble foccacia.

 

2. Madrid, Spain

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Head to Malasaña for tasty food in Madrid. Photo Credit: Naked Madrid

In the streets and lanes of Madrid, it’s difficult to see signs of hardship and economic misery. Maybe the lowered rents and high unemployment rates have spurred a youthful gastronomic movement that is more than the expected tapas and sangria.

Madrid’s streets are buzzing with cafes, bars and restaurants. Think you can only get a decent flat white in Australia? Nope, they exist in Madrid too, and so do Australian-style breakfasts of smashed avo on crusty sourdough. Head to Malasaña and you’ll find a host of interesting establishments, pastelerías and bars catering to your every desire.

 

3. The Douro Valley, Portugal

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Try the tarte de amendoa when in Portugal. Photo Credit: boasnoticias.pt

Once a year, the almond trees punctuating the Douro Valley come into flower. Apparently a Portuguese king planted them to appease his homesick Nordic queen; from a distance, the white flowers look like snow. Lucky for us, what followed was the creation of the tarte de amendoa, a dense, sticky almond tart, native to the Douro that is matched perfectly with an espresso.

In this region of Portugal you’ll find quaint towns, olive groves and UNESCO protected vineyards. The olive oils are tasty, the wines rich, and the food inventive; try alheira, a smokey sausage made of bread and white meat, and you’ll understand. And as the birthplace of port, you’re truly rolling with the big guns.

 

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Stroopwafels

Believe it or not, there’s more to Dutch food than bitterballen and stroopwafels. Amsterdam is a melting-pot of cultural diversity, and with this comes an intriguing, dynamic food scene.

Besides the many Indonesian restaurants you’ll find along each canal, another former Dutch colony has made its mark: Suriname. Surinamese food is a mixture of Indonesian, Chinese and Indian influences, combined with a dash of indigenous South American cuisine.

Moksi meti is recommended, and roti is obligatory. Bojo, a traditional cake made out of cassava, coconut and raisins is a good start for those with a sweet tooth.

 

5. Lyon, France

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Lyonnais food

Forget the Cote d’Azur and head straight to the culinary heartland of Lyon. This beautiful, gritty city is known as the heartland of gastronomy, and for good reason: enter the land of bouchon. Diners sit at communal tables, are assigned a cheeky waiter, feast on rich, meat-oriented dishes, and wash it all down with a glass of beaujolais.

Lyonnais fodder is traditional and daring, and if you lend yourself completely to an authentic bouchon experience, you’ll leave as a changed, happier, and possibly fatter person. A word of warning, when it comes to bouchon, not one part of the animal is wasted.

What’s your favourite European dish?