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Foreign foods

posted 5 years ago by sslssg (27637)
88 replies | jump to latest

What's a foreign food to your country that you love, but you can't get unless you can find them at a specialty import store? I love trying new foods in restaurants, but it's still using local ingredients for the Canadian pallet.
For me;

South Africa; Biltong and Iron Brew
USA; Chicken in a Biskit and Grits
UK; Percy Pigs
Austria; Zotter's

Number 1 on my list used to be Magnum Ice Cream, and while flavours differ and some countries are lucky enough to have pints (which were soooo good) at least I can now get them.

[–] ColumboKate (5308) 5 years ago

Iron bru is Scottish 😺

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Not Irn-Bru, I'm talking about Iron Brew. Very different, as I learned the hard way in Scotland.

[–] ColumboKate (5308) 5 years ago

Apologies for the mistake. What's iron brew ?

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

I don't even really know how to describe the flavour. The closest thing that I can compare it to is Dr Pepper, but it's really not like Dr Pepper at all.

[–] ColumboKate (5308) 5 years ago

Lol. Well I hope you find some to enjoy soon enough 🤞

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

I am able to find them here, but they are like 3 dollars a can and not guaranteed not to be flat.

But thank you!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

They've not long changed the recipe for Irn-Bru. It's not as good as before. 👎

[–] Frogarama (12942) 5 years ago

Nicely aged balsamic vinegar, like 12 years minimum.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33814) 5 years ago

My wife buys Indo-Mie by the case load from the Asian shops here; it’s like the national snack in Indonesia and very popular all over Asia.

Whilst she’s in the shop, she always buys a random treat from Japan or Korea and it’s like a lucky dip when she comes home, as we’ve got no idea what we’re about to eat.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

That sounds awesome.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33814) 5 years ago

Food is a massive part of Indonesian culture (where my wife comes from).

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Food has become one of my favourite parts of travelling. We try to seek out authentic food where ever we are, which can sometimes be difficult, and sometimes not be fun on the tummy, but I love those experiences.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33814) 5 years ago

Agreed! What’s the point in travelling if you don’t try the local cuisine?

[–] Padeen (6459) 5 years ago

I can't believe I forgot to mention my favorite seasoning! Shichimi Togarashi - Japanese Mixed Chili Pepper. Ingredients include red chili pepper, orange peel, sesame seeds, Japanese pepper, ginger and seaweed

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Oh wow, that sounds amazing.

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Vietnamese pho .... and cold spring rolls ... oh, my god, that is the best food in the world.

For dessert, Gelatto from Gelatto Classico ... the best ice cream ever!

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Can you not get those where you are?

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Oh, yeah, but I have to drive for 20 minutes to get to the best Vietnamese place, but the gelatto is just over a mile away.

I also like good Mediterranean food, kabobs, Persian rice, pita bread, hummus, lentil soup, etc.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

There is a school of thought that the very best US cooking is Pennsylvania Deutsch (Dutch, in the vernacular) cooking. Can anyone speak to that?

How about comments on N’w Orleans Cajun cooking? Chicago’s ribs? I can tell you that New England seafood is the freshest and simplest North Atlantic grub on the globe, and that Roger Berkowitz’s Legal Sea Food chain is the best place to find it.

I have no fiduciary relationship with Legal Sea Food. I just eat there.

We also make a pretty darn good New England boiled dinner, Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls, both of which originated at our Parker House Hotel.

Then there’s The Copley Plaza Hotel’s Blue Martini, which originated when a clumsy barman spilled some Curasao into a perfectly good gin martini, and the Locke-Ober double-sized Martini served in a shot glass the size of a Buick at Yvonne’s the restaurant that superseded Locke-Ober. But now we’re not talking about nourishment. We discussing refreshment.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Oooh, I think that there are those in our Maritime provinces that will disagree with you on North Atlantic grub. 🤓

Do you have any foods that you love but you can't find?

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Where do you live, my friend? I need to know that before I can reply; but you may have a point.

Not for nothing, but I would cuff almost anyone else to the kerb
with no courtesy. Except that you are a lady, so I would restrain my course self.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

I'm western Canada.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

So your seafood is Pacific, no?

Please forgive my ignorance.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

The Maritime provinces are on the east coast. I just meant that you claimed that New England had the freshest and simplest, and I know people in that part of my country that claim that their's is the best.

I'm land locked, so anytime I'm near a coast and get fresh seafood it's the best. :)

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6917) 5 years ago

There's this spread called Speculaas or Speculoos from the Netherlands. It tastes exactly how it is described - a cookie butter, much like peanut butter, but made from cookies. It's the kind of food you can eat right out of the jar if you have a sweet tooth, as all my teeth appear to be. It's beyond delicious, but impossible to find where I am (Melbourne, Australia). If anyone knows where to get it in person, hit me up.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

Don't know where to find it, but I would like to.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6917) 5 years ago

Same haha. I know you can buy it on Amazon or online in general. It's not exactly cheap, from what I can recall, but it's kind of worth it at least for a first try.

[–] sslssg (27637) 5 years ago

I've noticed that I many of the items I find on Amazon like that do not ship to where I am. 😢 I'm not sure if it's my countries importing rules or just costs. I will definitely check it out though.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6917) 5 years ago

How annoying. For me, it's that shipping costs are way to high to even dream of buying half the things I want. I don't want to pay $50 shipping for a $3 jar of food.