Andrew - A simple guide to the foods in Europe that I’ve tried, Part II

This is a continuation of my previous guide to foods that I’ve tried in Europe, featuring foods that I think are a little more appealing to eat this time around.

Eastern Europe, former territories of the Ottoman Empire - Börek

A pastry found all across former Ottoman territories and within Turkey itself. I personally bought it every evening in Dubrovnik, Croatia for a late night snack. It’s made with a thin, pasty dough known as phyllo and often filled with feta cheese and/or mince meat, but can include many other fillings as well.

This one had personal significance for me while I was traveling in former Yugoslavia because my grandmother makes Börek for the family sometimes, and I wanted to see the differences in taste and preparation in the old country. Needless to say, Grandma’s Börek tasted much better.

Recommendation: Definitely give it a try if you are in Eastern Europe and are looking for a tasty, filling meal.

Brussels, also found all over Europe - Rabbit

A delicacy found all across Europe, this was not a dish that I ordered myself, but my friend was nice enough to let me try it when we were eating out in Brussels, Belgium. It was, to my surprise, white meat when cooked and it tasted very much like chicken, but perhaps a bit more on the ‘gamey’ and chewy side. Much of the taste was masked by the thick sauce. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much meat to be found in this dish, according to my friend a majority of the Rabbit was bone.

Recommendation: Give it a try if you want something a little more unusual but still tasty. However, don’t expect a large, filling meal.

Switzerland and Belgium – Chocolates

I’ve left the best for last, Swiss and Belgian chocolate right from their source countries. As any chocoholic would know, Switzerland and Belgian are the capitals for good tasting chocolate. They taste very different, with Belgian chocolate being much richer, and sometimes overwhelming, compared to the milder and softer Swiss chocolate.

I personally prefer Swiss chocolate, as it is much milder and I was able to eat more of it without feeling too bloated. One piece of Belgian chocolate, on the other hand, could give me an almost caffeine-like energy boost when I was tired; however, it was just a little too rich when I wanted to have a few more.

Recommendation: Simply must be tried by any visitor, even if you are not a chocoholic like me!