1. Escargot (France)
The escargot is the epitome of French cuisine. Also known as edible shells, it is the most popular dish in France. While an appetizer of snails may not sound very appealing, we encourage you to give it a try.
The snails are then cooked in butter with parsley and garlic (amongst other spices) before they are returned to their shells for serving. The snails are expensive because they’re considered a French delicacy. However, the locals still enjoy them! The French are said to eat around 40,000 tons of snails each year!
Many historians believe that empty snail shells found during archaeological excavations could indicate that escargot was served on the dinner table as early as the prehistoric period! Escargot became popular in Europe because they are easy to cultivate and a great source of protein. Snails were popular not only in France but also in Italy. Romans were also fond of eating snails, but they reserved them for the elite.
2. Fish and Chips (England)
Fish and chips are a quintessential English dish. Britain’s beaches are beautiful, and this dish is best enjoyed there.
The fish is usually deep-fried and served with thicker chips. For our American friends, this is a thicker version of fries, not the potato chips that come in a pack. The most common accompaniments are mushy beans, curry sauce and gravy.
Fish and chips are believed to have first appeared in Britain around 1860. At one time, 35,000 shops were dedicated to serving this local dish. Fish and chips was one of the few foods that were not rationed during World War II. Winston Churchill described the combination as “the good companions”.
3. Herring (Netherlands)
Raw herring is probably the most famous Dutch delicacy. It is no surprise to anyone that the Dutch eat a lot of fish.
In the Middle Ages the Dutch started to smoke and salt herring. You may be familiar with a similar process when making Peruvian Ceviche. The fish could then be exported to Europe and eventually to the New World. Over the years, the preservation process has been refined and vinegar added along with other herbs and spices. This type of brine is still the most common in the Netherlands.
Herring is served as a snack. It can be eaten plain, or with pickles and onions. Locals say that the best way of eating herring is by holding it up over your mouth and grabbing it at the tail. You then eat upwards.