Know The Origin Of The Most-Popular Foods

Have you ever wonder where your favourite foods came from? You’d be surprised to discover the origins behind some of the most popular foods in the world.

Introducing the most-popular foods by country seemed like a great topic for me to write about today. We love to write about food and drink. We love to celebrate the good stuff.

Here I thought I would explore something that lies extremely close to my heart and stomach!

Think of the many times you’ve traveled or gone on vacation. You’ll notice that your food experience has had an impact on your overall travel experience. Many people have made their destination choices based on food interests. (Just like me 😊) Every region has its signature dish. Our foods like lifestyle are affected by our traditions and culture.

What is the most famous food from different countries around the world? What are the must eats and must-drinks? Which country has the best food? What do you think? Here’s a list for you guys. Let’s start!

Fair warning: This article is best read when not on an empty stomach.

Turkish Coffee, Turkey

Turkish coffee is perhaps its best-known and most recognisable. Coffee was first introduced to the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. It was an instant hit. From that point on, the Ottomans controlled coffee trading routes and were responsible for spreading coffee throughout the Empire. This explains why countries and territories previously conquered by the Ottomans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, have their own coffee traditions that are closely related to Turkish coffee.

To make Turkish coffee, roasted beans are ground to a super-fine power and brewed slowly with water and sugar until a foam forms on the top. Turkish coffee pots, or cezve, are integral to the ritual. Miniature bronze pots for one or larger cezve that hold enough coffee for a large group are presented to the drinker on an intricate coffee tray. Sugar cubes and a square of Turkish delight is usually served on the side.

Beer Culture, Belgium

Beer is big in Belgium and has been brewed in the country for centuries. Containing water, barley, hops and yeast, beer was originally made by monks and nuns in the Middle Ages as a replacement for water. (Drinking water was often unclean and made people ill, so a brew of weak beer was preferable, even for children.)

Today, there are over 1500 different types of Belgian beer with a variety of flavours, colours and alcohol percentages.

Beef Stroganoff, Russia

The recipe originated in 17th century Russia and gets its name from Count Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov, a diplomat from the Russian Stroganov family. The count was born in Paris so he would hire French cooks, but he would ask them to add some Russian flair to their dishes as well.

French Fries, Belgium

Though some claim French fries have French origins, National Geographic says the first French fries came from Belgium, where fishermen near the River Meuse began frying potatoes during the long winter months when there wasn’t enough fish to fry.

American soldiers first learned about the dish during World War I by way of French-speaking Belgian soldiers, which is why Americans dubbed them “French.”

Carpaccio, Italy

Carpaccio can be made out of raw fish, vegetables, beef, and many other types of food. But the original and truest version is made of thinly sliced or pounded pieces of raw meat.

It was initially introduced to the world in the 1950s by Giuseppe Cipriani, the owner of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy.

Buffalo Wings, U.S.

Why are they called Buffalo wings if they’re made of chicken, you ask? It’s because of their place of origin. These wings first appeared at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, in 1964.

Hambuger, Germany

In the 1880s, German emigrants brought the dish with them to the U.S. from Hamburg, where many ships to America set sail. In 1904, the dish was featured at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in its current sandwich form.

Soon, they appeared on menus across America, where they were described as “Hamburg-style American fillet” to entice German customers. Eventually, the name got shortened to plain old “hamburgers.”

Plov, Azerbaijan

Otherwise known as pilaf, plov is a classic dish found in Azerbaijan. It’s a saffron rice dish that features dried fruits and prunes, onions and herbs, and meat such as lamb. As a traditional dish of the country, you can find more than 40 different plov recipes.

Stroopwafel, Netherlands

Netherlands’ waffle is quite different from Belgium’s variety. Thin and crunchy instead, like a wafer cookie, the stroopwafel is filled with syrup that comes in all kinds of sweet flavors, from caramel and honey to chocolate.

Paella, Spain

Paella, a rice-based dish, is a must-order when in Spain. It comes in a variety of styles, including vegetable, meat, seafood or mixed and is most closely associated with Valencia, a port city on the east coast of Spain. It is believed to have derived its name from the Latin word “patella,” meaning “pan.”

Borsch, Ukraine

This beet stew may be served hot or cold, depending on what ingredients accompany the beets. Some versions of borsch contain only vegetables, while others use meat on the bone such as beef shank, short ribs or oxtail. Top either with a dollop of sour cream and dill.

(Margherita) Pizza, Italy

The modern pizza dates back 1889 in Naples, Italy. To honor the visit of Queen Margherita di Savoia, a baker named Raffaele Esposito created a special flat bread dish inspired by the newly designed Italian flag colors of red, white, and green. Esposito decorated the top of his flat bread using three ingredients: green basil, white mozzarella, and red tomato. Thus, the Margherita Pizza was born.

Sushi, Japan

Sushi is also one of the most popular foods in the world. Tokyo is considered the world’s sushi capital, and it’s definitely a must to try when you visit Tokyo, or Japan for that matter. Also, it used to be only for the royals and rich people. But in recent times, sushi was also made available for regular people.

Spring Rolls, China

Spring rolls are traditional Chinese snacks consisting of thin sheets of dough that are filled with various ingredients, then deep-fried in hot oil. Some of the more common ingredients for the filling include shredded pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and cabbage.

These flavorful snacks are commonly served as an appetizer, accompanied by numerous dips, tea, or coffee. Originally, spring rolls were called spring dish, symbolizing the beginning of Spring.

Fish and Chips, England

This loved national dish consists of a freshly fried, hot, white fish fillet and large, sliced and fried potatoes. Cod, haddock, and flounder are the most common types of fish that is fried for the dish, and the customers can choose which type of fish they want, with cod being the most popular choice.

The fillets get dipped in a batter made from eggs, milk, and flour, and are then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings along with the potatoes. The origins of this dish go back to the 17th century.

Undoubtedly It’s difficult to imagine a world without them. Many of these foods stem from unexpected countries and cultures. So the next time you’re enjoying one of these popular foods, take a minute to appreciate their history. They came a long way to reach your plate Foodies. Now that you know about the origins of these popular foods, something tells us you’ll appreciate them that much more.

So much love ❤

Your Foodie.