The geography of food and drink AWAY FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY / STATE / REGION

[bassybill]

Name countries other than your own where you have had the best experiences with particular foodstuffs and drinks.

I'll start us off. Feel free to agree or disagree, add alternatives, tell stories, anything really, as long as you don't try and boost your own country. If you've got something special, someone else will mention it for you sooner or later. Okay...

Steak - USA
Beer - Belgium
Bread - France
Pizza - USA
Fish for breakfast - Scotland (I'm counting my country as England rather than UK here, so this may be seen as a rule violation)

[fitbass3p]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Pizza - USA

That's rather....vague. There's at least 4 major schools of American thought on pizza. Whereabouts did you have this "best" pizza you speak of?

[PSPookie]

France has some outstanding cheese.

[larryl]

I had some amazing smoked salmon in a town in scotland called Peebles

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by fitbass3p

That's rather....vague. There's at least 4 major schools of American thought on pizza. Whereabouts did you have this "best" pizza you speak of?

A place called Vezzo's in NYC on Lex. The best pizza I've ever had because it was the thinnest, crispiest (me like) and tastiest in my own experience. Deep pan fans would hate it, probably, but I'm not claiming any universal rules here, of course. Just personal favourites is what I'm after.

Just curious - what are the "4 major schools of American thought"?

[kesslari]

Beer - Germany.
Chile Rellenos - Mexico.
Beans - Italy and Honduras.
Risotto - Italy.

One problem with this for us Yanks - the US is extremely large, with various specific regional foods. Cheesteaks in Philly, Pizza in Chicago or NY, Fried Chicken in Atlanta, BBQ in various places (each with their own strong regional preferences)...
And because of the distances involved, it's harder for us to border hop.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by larryl

I had some amazing smoked salmon in a town in scotland called Peebles

Hmmm - I can see a Scotland/fish theme developing here that I approve of very much.

BTW, I've been to Peebles! Can't remember much about the food though.

[Relic]

Bread - France
Beer - Belgium/Germany/Czech Republic (it's a 3-way tie)
Sausage - Poland
Steak - France
Women - also France

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by kesslari

One problem with this for us Yanks - the US is extremely large, with various specific regional foods. Cheesteaks in Philly, Pizza in Chicago or NY, Fried Chicken in Atlanta, BBQ in various places (each with their own strong regional preferences)...
And because of the distances involved, it's harder for us to border hop.

Yeah, I thought about that. The distances involved means less Americans get to travel outside their own country compared to us Europeans, because it involves hopping continents rather than just getting on a ferry for an hour.

But that's cool. If someone wants to suggest a region in the US away from their own (for example, someone in the Mid West wants to nominate San Francisco for Chinese food), I'll relax the "rules" a bit.

I'll see if I can edit the thread title slightly. (Okay - done. "Country" now reads "Country / State / Region")

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Relic

Bread - France
Beer - Belgium/Germany/Czech Republic (it's a 3-way tie)
Sausage - Poland
Steak - France
Women - also France

These all sound reasonable except one. My own experience even leads me to believe you about the women. But I'm having a hard time believing the best steak you ever had was in France. What's the story?

[baba]

Beer - Belgium, Czech, and England
Mexican food - Mexico
Pizza - Italy
Wine - Italy and France
Seafood - Italy

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by baba

Beer - Belgium, Czech, and England
Mexican food - Mexico
Pizza - Italy
Wine - Italy and France
Seafood - Italy

Hey, hey - I knew England would get a mention for beer!

But wait. What country are you from?

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Oh man, I had a whole list typed up, then I realized you said country other than my own.

-Mike

Mike - go for region or state, then. Just no Seattle specials!

[Deacon_Blues]

A couple of surprises here I think..:

Beer - Germany
Pizza - Belgium, India close second (in a 5-star hotel)
Seafood - UK (wales)
Beef - Canada (never been to the USA)
Meatballs - Ikea ..ok, Sweden
Duck - India
Hot dogs with mashed potatoes - Sweden
Sausage - Germany
Ribs - Canada (I finally found out what the hype was all about )
Smørrebrød - Denmark (these are great!)

I wish I could go to Italy and France for some culinary experiences some day.

[bassybill]

^^^^ WALES for seafood? I'm stunned!

Please tell more.

[Happynoj]

I love pizza. I have eaten pizza all over the world. I've eaten pizza in Italy, home of pizza. But the best pizza I've ever eaten was in Berlin (Germany). It was amazing. It had walnuts on it.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Mike - go for region or state, then. Just no Seattle specials!

Excellent, thanks...here we go...

Italian beef sandwich - Kankakee, IL
Pizza - Pittsburgh, PA
Beer - wherever they make Yuengling
Mexican - Riverside, CA
Gumbo\jumbalaya - New Orleans, LA
Maple syrup and pancakes - Rutland, VT
Fried chicken - LaPlace, LA
BBQ - Aspen, CO

OK, now I need to go eat something for lunch.

-Mike

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Excellent, thanks...here we go...

Italian beef sandwich - Kankakee, IL
Pizza - Pittsburgh, PA
Beer - wherever they make Yuengling
Mexican - Riverside, CA
Gumbo\jumbalaya - New Orleans, LA
Maple syrup and pancakes - Rutland, VT
Fried chicken - LaPlace, LA
BBQ - Aspen, CO

OK, now I need to go eat something for lunch.

-Mike

New Orleans is one of the places I'd love to visit, just for the food. I love that sort of half soup / half stew, "let's cook whatever we have and make it tasty" vibe.

[bmc]

Indian - England
Italian - outstanding in Italy, Manhattan, North Vancouver.
Pizza - Montreal
BBQ Chicken - Sherbrooke and Decarie
Ribs - Rendez Vous in Memphis
Chicken - Gus's in Memphis.
Steak - Alberta beef where ever you can find it.
Bread and cheese - across the border in France (4 miles away)
Wine - France, Italy, Spain
Riistafel - Amsterdam
Middle Eastern - Beirut
Thai - Eat Thai in London off of Oxford Street.
Chinese - Vancouver. NOT CHINA.
Sushi - Vancouver
Smoked Meat - Montreal
Bagels - Montreal
Hot Dogs - Anywhere in Quebec
Poutine - Anywhere in Quebec
French Fries - Alfred, Ontario
Clam Chowder - Troll's in Horseshoe Bay
Fish and Chips - Chess's in St.John's Newfoundland

[bassybill]

^^^ I just KNEW England would get a mention for Indian food! None better anywhere, I believe.