Everyone loves food! It gives me the best comfort when I’m stressed. My go-to is always Vietnamese food, but I also want to try new dishes from other cultures. Individually, we grow up eating the food of our cultures. It becomes a part of who each of us is. But on a larger scale, food is an essential part of the culture. It may also be used as an expression of cultural identity. That’s why I want to try as many new dishes as possible while here because food is the best way to get introduced to different cultures. These five delicacies I’m about to share are the top five best foods I’ve tasted in Europe.
1. Dutch Ice-Cream – Amsterdam, Netherland
As a significant producer of dairy products, it’s hardly surprising that the Dutch create excellent ice cream. This ice cream is from Van der Linde, located on a small busy street near the Central Station. It only serves one type of ice cream: Vanilla. But it’s good! It’s so good that they don’t need to experiment with new flavors. A long line of people was waiting for one when I came, and I was lucky enough to get one after only 10 minutes. I had no idea this place existed till I came and spotted the long line:). The cream wasn’t too cold or icy, just the perfect melt in your mouth. Soft, light, and not too sweet, goes along with a whipped cream-like texture. Highly recommend trying one since they have all types of sizes, from small to large, in a cone or cup!
2. Stroopwafel – Amsterdam, Netherland
Stroopwafels are Dutch waffles with a small layer of caramel syrup in between. These Dutch waffles go well with a hot beverage such as milk. When you put the waffle on top of your mug, the heat from the cup melts the caramel syrup inside the waffle, making it warm and softer. It was too bad that I didn’t have any milk, but it’s still delicious. I’m holding a little waffle in the photo, but larger ones are also available, along with other flavors like oreo, hazelnut, marshmallow, or m&m. The combination was great for a cold day, with a hint of sweetness from the syrup and chocolate and speculaas spice from the crushed powder from the biscuit of the same name.
3. Käse-Sahne Torte – Nuremberg, Germany
It was a rainy Sunday in Nuremberg, and I was wandering around the old quarter when it started pouring. My shoes were soaking wet, so I stopped by a coffee shop to wait for the rain to be over. We don’t cancel the plan in Germany just because of the rain. It rains all the time, especially this time of the year:). This café has a lovely view of the city cathedral and is warm, so I stayed for more than two hours. I ordered some chamomile tea and Käse-Sahne-Torte. I chose this one out of the wide selection because I like cheese and almonds, and it has both. I expected it to be creamy and heavy like New York Cheesecake, but it was jiggling when they served it to me. It reminded me of Dutch Ice-Cream since it’s soft, light, and doesn’t sweet, which is a big bonus because I’m not a big fan of overly sweet desserts anymore. The sponge is somewhat sweeter to balance out the cream, and the almond flakes add a nutty flavor. It’s elevated to a whole new level when served with tea. What could be more enjoyable than eating this delectable dessert inside a cozy coffee shop while watching the rain fall through the window?
4. Mozartkugeln – Salzburg, Austria
Mozart chocolate contains chocolate-covered marzipan, nougat, and pistachios. As the name Mozartkugeln (Kugeln means balls) suggests, they are round. The popular Mozart balls are wrapped in red and gold foil, and you will not only find them in the old town of Salzburg but in every market in Austria. Mozartkugeln was designed to mark the 100th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a brilliant musician born in Salzburg. It tastes like regular chocolate but with a subtle nutty flavor from the pistachio. It goes well with coffee or tea, although I prefer tea.
5. Käsekraner – Salzburg, Austria
Lastly, the cheese sausage from the Sunday Market. I got to Salzburg at noon and was super hungry. I stopped at the first vendor, where many people were gathering around ordering sausages. That is almost usually a good sign. I got myself a plate of Käsekraner, which I had no idea what it was, but I knew it had cheese from the name. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I don’t think it disappointed me. It has the traditional sausage flavor, plus some cheesy flavor. And the man gave me bread to eat with it because it was pretty salty. Most German dishes are relatively salty, so those who prefer low-sodium food may miss out on some German dishes.
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