Regional cuisine is a great way to get a feel for the culture of the location to which you are traveling. And what’s the best part of the meal? Dessert. Check out this list of foreign desserts you shouldn’t skip while traveling:
Baklava (Turkey and nearby) – Made from phyllo dough that has been brushed with butter, this flaky dessert is also soaked with honey.
Alfajores (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, other Latin American countries, via Spain) – Cookies reminiscent of shortbread or cake sandwiched with dulce de leche (milk caramel). Sometimes coated with meringue, white or dark chocolate, or covered with shredded coconut.
Semla (Sweden and similar in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia) – A seasonal dessert available between Christmas and Easter, these bun-like pastries have their insides hollowed and filled with milk and almond paste and topped with whipped cream.
Sfogliatelle/Cannoli (Italy) – Sfogliatelle is a pastry shaped like a clam, stuffed with cream or ricotta filling that can be infused with orange or lemon flavor.
Taiyaki (Japan) – Kind of like a fish-shaped waffle, and filled with a sweet red bean paste.
Churros (Latin America, Spain) – Loops with a crunchy texture, topped with confectioners’ sugar and served with thick hot chocolate, in which you are to dunk the churros.
Sopaipillas/Picarones (Chile, Peru) – Fried dough that you dip in a solid brown sugar derived from sugar cane.
Galub Jamun (South East Asia) – Little balls of dough made of a flour and condensed milk mixture, that has been fried and dipped in a sugar syrup flavored with cardamom, rosewater or saffron.
Koeksisters (South Africa via Cape Malay) – Fried and dunked in a cold simple syrup to avoid them getting mushy.
Tres Leches Cake (Mexico, other countries in Central and South America) – Condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream are the “tres leches” in this cake.
Suspiro Limeño (Peru) - Evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks and sugar make a pudding, which is then topped with meringue.
Sernik (Poland) – The Polish version of a cheesecake.
Tangyuan/ Yuanxiao (China, Taiwan) – Balls of dough made from rice flour and hot water, and filled with sesame paste, adzuki bean paste or other sweet fillings.
Brigadeiro (Brazil) – Balls of fudgey caramel, rolled in chocolate sprinkles.
Khao Niaw Ma Muang [mango and sticky rice] (Thailand) – Rice is cooked in coconut milk and served with fresh mango.
For the person who has everything, and cash to spare - here is a list of the most expensive, yet ordinary, dishes in the world. Yes, the hot dog seems cheap in comparison to the other dishes, but would you ever think of spending the better part of 20 bucks on a hot dog? Didn’t think so.
Most Expensive Hamburger: Wall Street Burger Shoppe in New York - $175
Most Expensive Chocolate Brownie: DB Bistro Moderne in New York - $1,000
Most Expensive Sandwich: Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, Berkshire - £100
Most Expensive Cheese: Moose House in Bjursholm, Sweden - $500/lb.
Most Expensive Pizza: Nino’s Bellissima in New York - $1,000
Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae: Serendipity 3 in New York - $1,000
Most Expensive Hot Dog: Brooklyn Diner USA in New York - $17.95
Most Expensive Chocolate: Knipschildt Chocolates in Norwalk, Connecticut - $2,600/lb or $250/ea
Most Expensive Nut: Macadamia nut from Hawaii - $15-16/lb.
Most Expensive Pie: Fence Gate Inn near Burnley, Lancashire - £1,000 per slice
Most Expensive Dessert: Wine3 at The Fortress in Galle, Sri Lanka - $14,500
PLAY
