Introduction
If you’re visiting Europe this year, be sure to try some of the cuisines from each country. I’ve researched all the major European countries and compiled a guide on what they’re known for in terms of gastronomy.
Gastronomy is not just about food, but also about the art of eating.
The act of eating is an intimate social activity that brings people together and helps them connect with one another. It’s no wonder that gastronomy has been celebrated for centuries as a way to showcase local ingredients and traditions!
In this culinary journey across Europe, we’ll explore some of the continent’s most famous dishes while learning about their cultural significance along the way–from Italy’s classic pizza recipe to France’s iconic croissants (and everything in between).
This year, UNESCO chose to recognize gastronomy as an intangible cultural heritage.
This is the first time that this has happened and it’s a big deal for the culinary community.
The term “gastronomy” refers to the art of eating and encompasses everything from preparation and presentation of food, cooking techniques and traditions–everything that goes into making your meal enjoyable. It also includes elements such as table manners (which may differ depending on where you are in Europe) or even how people interact with each other while eating together at home or in restaurants.
In the western European countries, seafood is typically considered a luxury.
You may be surprised to learn that seafood is not as common in the west as it is in other parts of the world, especially Asia. In fact, many Europeans consider seafood to be a luxury item and only eat it on special occasions. However, there are some exceptions:
- In France and Spain (as well as other Mediterranean countries), seafood is eaten regularly because it’s readily available from their coastal waters and also inexpensive compared to meat options like beef or chicken. In fact, many people eat fish at least once per week!
- England has its own version of this–they love their “fish & chips” which consists of battered cod fried until crispy then served alongside fries (or chips).
Most tourists go to France or Italy to “taste” the food there.
France is famous for its wine, cheese and bread. The country also has many Michelin-starred restaurants that are considered by many as some of the best in the world. One of them, called L’Arpege, serves a 10-course menu with ingredients like truffles and foie gras; you’d need about $600 USD per person just for this one dish!
Italy is known worldwide as having some of the best pizza places (including Naples) as well as pasta dishes like spaghetti bolognese (meat sauce over spaghetti noodles). Gelato is another favorite dessert among Italians–it’s basically ice cream made with milk instead of cream so it tends to be lighter than American ice cream but still tastes delicious!
While the British are known for their love of tea, they actually drink less tea than Americans do coffee.
In fact, when it comes to beverages overall, the British drink more alcohol and water than Americans do.
The most popular alcoholic beverage in Europe is beer.
Beer is also the most popular alcoholic beverage in the United States, and it’s even more popular than wine or liquor! Beer has been enjoyed by people all over the world for thousands of years, but there are some differences between European and American styles of brewing.
The majority of Europeans don’t like spicy food very much!
This is because most European countries don’t have a tradition for spicy dishes and therefore don’t eat them regularly. If we look at the history of each country, we can understand why this is so:
In Italy and France, there are no native spices or herbs that would give their food any real kick; instead they use strong flavors like garlic or anchovies to add zest to their meals. In Germany and Austria–where meatloaf (or “Fleischkuechle”) is king–the cuisine usually only includes subtle seasoning at best (and sometimes none at all). Meanwhile in Scandinavian countries such as Norway or Sweden where seafood reigns supreme on menus across cities like Stockholm and Oslo respectively it’s hard not find yourself eating something fried with shrimp sauce before long!
There’s nothing like a European holiday to have you try new foods and flavors
The continent’s cuisine is a diverse mix of cuisines from different countries that share many commonalities, especially when it comes to health, freshness, quality and affordability.
For example:
- All over Europe you’ll find local markets selling fresh produce directly from farmers or fishermen–some even have stalls specializing in specific ingredients like olives or cheese! If you’re looking for something specific (say figs) at your local market then just ask – most vendors will be happy to help point out where their goods are sold so you can buy them there instead of paying more elsewhere later on down the line when they’ve been shipped across continents before reaching their final destination (and therefore losing some flavor along the way).
- You’ll also notice that most restaurants serve meals made up mostly of vegetables rather than meat; this is because Europeans eat less meat per person than Americans do (about 14 gms/day compared annually compared with 50 gms/day). This means there’s less demand for raising livestock locally so prices tend towards being lower than back home where there may be more competition between sellers resulting in higher prices per pound etcetera.”
Conclusion
If you’re looking to explore European gastronomy, there are plenty of ways to do so. You can go on a food tour in one of the countries or even just try out a few new dishes at home! It’s important not only for tourists but also locals who want something different from their usual meals.
