Saturday, 18 April 2009

• Cross Continent Cravings

  Have you ever had a meal or beverage while on vacation that was truly memorable? Have you tried to recreate this palate pleaser at home only to find it just couldn't live up to the real thing? I have been lucky enough to have had some really fantastic eating while abroad though have been frustrated by my efforts at home to relive these dining experience.
  
  One of my favorite vacation snacks that sticks out in my mind is a quaint little sandwich shop in Sevilla, Spain, aptly named "100 Little Sandwiches." Its menu featured, what else, but a variety of one hundred little sandwiches served on petite baguettes. My favorite sandwich was the cream cheese and smoked salmon, which no New York bagel with Lox could ever stand up to. I've tried my hand at this appetizer using Philadelphia Cream Cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh bread, but without the cute Spanish waiter and my table outside near the Guadalquivir river, it just wasn't the same.                                                                                                            
  

   
  
  
  

  Other tasty destination delights include Tim Tams, a desert favorite in Australia. These chocolate malted covered cookies go great with a fresh cup of coffee, even better dipped into the coffee, softening the tasty crumbly cookie hidden inside and melting the middle chocolate filling.
  

  
  

  
  

  Another annoying eating abroad instance I just could not get used to was the condiment restriction in Australia. You had to pay for ketchup! I love my condiments and was willing to spend the extra dollars to get some for my chips! And while visiting a friend who lived in Spain, I also had to become accustomed to their love of hot dogs. Spaniards, when cooking at home, use hot dogs in every dish: hot dog soup, Spanish tortillas (which are like potato omelets) with two hot dogs served on top for garnish, hot dogs with rice, hot dogs with eggs.
  

  The U.S. has some great local meals as well—nothing compares to New York pizza (unless you’re from Chicago), a cheese steak on South Street in Philadelphia, some wings from Gator’s Dockside, Tampa, Florida, or the burritos from Anna’s Taqueria in Bean Town.

  What are your favorite local or abroad favorites that just can’t be had anywhere else?

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