Europe

Kifli or Kifla is a sweet pastry snack that originates from Eastern Europe and is popular throughout Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia. It is also eaten in Austria where it is known as kipferl, Denmark and Sweden where it is known as giffel and in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, …

Speculoos are spiced biscuits from Belgium, that are flat and often shaped into traditional images such as ships, farmhouses, or elephants. They originate from the County of Flanders (a territory that is in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands). Traditionally speculoos are enjoyed at weddings, fairs, and the feast of St. Nicolas – however nowadays they …

Kruidnoten are traditional Dutch spiced cookies. Its ingredients consist of flour, butter, sugar, spices, milk and baking soda or baking powder. The wet and dry ingredients are mixed separately then combined to form a dough. The dough is divided, shaped and baked until golden. Variations of kruidnoten include chocolate or yogurt covered, glazed and almond …

Knockwurst is a German sausage made from a blend of ground pork and beef seasoned with spices like garlic, pepper and nutmeg, and encased in natural hog casings. It is typically made by blending ground pork and beef with seasonings and then stuffing the meat into casings which are twisted or tied into sausages. The …

Briam is a Greek oven-baked dish made with a range of seasonal vegetables, including zucchini, potatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions, seasoned with olive oil and herbs. Briam is a versatile dish enjoyed during the Summer and early Fall when vegetables are at their peak. It’s often prepared for family gatherings, picnics, and outdoor …

Brudet is a fish stew from Croatia made with a tomato-based sauce and a combination of different fish and shellfish. It is flavored with onions, garlic, herbs, wine or vinegar. The ingredients are added to the pot in sequence, layering the ingredients as the time is right and then letting them all cook together in …

Magdalenas are a type of sponge cake from Spain. They contain the usual cake ingredients such as flour, eggs, sugar and baking powder but what makes them unique is the addition of olive oil combined with lemon flavor. The wet ingredients and dry ingredients are sorted separately then combined. The batter is chilled in the …

Braunschweiger, a variety of liverwurst, is a traditional German sausage made from liver. It is smooth, smoked, and can be spread onto bread or used as a filling in a sandwich. Braunschweiger will always contain only pork liver, while other types of liverwurst use a variety of different livers such as beef or chicken or …

Chocolate Caliente is a hot chocolate drink from Spain made using milk, sugar, cornstarch and high quality dark chocolate. The cornstarch and sugar are mixed into the milk until they dissolve. Once both have dissolved, the milk is heated up, the chocolate is added and stirred until it is completely melted. Its usually served as …

Fabada Asturiana is a Spanish stew made with white runner beans, and Spanish pork such as chorizo, blood sausage and ham hock.  This hearty dish is usually served as a starter, but may also be served as a main course, accompanied by pieces of bread to dip into the stew. Usually a glass of red …

Panna Cotta is an Italian cream-based dessert. It is made with heavy cream, half and half or whole milk, sugar, gelatin and vanilla. The ingredients are heated up together just until the sugar and gelatin dissolve then they are poured into individual molds and chilled for a few hours until firm. When ready to serve …

Schweinebraten is a traditional German dish of roasted pork. Classic recipes often include a large cut of pork, vegetables, broth, a marinade and a gravy. The pork is marinaded for several hours before it is seared or fried. The vegetables are placed into a roasting pan along with the broth and the pork is slow …

Pite Me Mish, also known as Byrek Me Mish, is a traditional Albanian savory pie made with a mixture of minced meat, onions, paprika, and herbs encased in layers of filo pastry. Pite Me Mish is considered one of Albania’s staple dishes. Pite Me Mish is created by simmering the minced meat, onions, and herbs …

A bisque is a classic French soup. It is different from many soups because of its thickened creamy consistency. It contains typical soup ingredients such as vegetables, herbs and spices plus shellfish. The cream is added near the end of the cooking time. Some bisques contain alcohol like brandy, cognac or wine. While the word …

Pizza Capricciosa is a style of Italian pizza which is an ordinary pizza dough with a margherita sauce base which is topped with mozzeralla cheese, mushrooms, ham, artichokes and black olives. It is drizzled generously with oil before baking. ‘Capricciosa’ is the Italian word for capricious, meaning random or changeable, therefore the toppings on Pizza …

Paris-Brest is a French circular pastry dish made with choux pastry, filled with praline cream and garnished with slivered almonds.  Paris-Brest is enjoyed throughout the year in France, and can be found in pastry shops around the country. It is often served with a café au lait in the afternoon or as a dessert after …

Kopytka are Polish potato dumplings made by mashing potatoes, making them into a dough to shape and boiling.  This dish is enjoyed year-round, often served as a main course with a variety of toppings or sauces, such as breadcrumbs, onions, bacon, gravy or mushroom sauce. The word Kopytka translates to little hooves, referring to the shape.  …

Mămăligă is a cornmeal porridge, popular in Romania, that is baked into a loaf and sliced like bread. This dish can be served as a side dish, forming a sturdy base for stews made with mutton, pork or chicken. It’s also a commonly served with cheese, sour cream, fried eggs or pickled vegetables. Mămăligă is …