6 of My Favorite Travel Foods in 6 Different Countries

With semester coming to a close and summer around the corner, that little itch to travel is scratching the back of my brain. While I don't see myself doing any significant travel soon, I find myself thinking of all the different foods that I've consumed in my travels. So I wanted to share some of my favorite travel food memories today.

1. Iceland: Grilled Beef Grilled Flatbread

The inspiration for this blog came when I was catching up with a friend and she asked me about my trip to Iceland. She asked what was the best thing I ate, and what the best thing I did. And that question took me back to this flatbread, which was probably such a simple menu item, but it was packed with some of the richest flavor I have ever experienced on a flatbread. The meat was tender, and the truffle aioli so fragrant and rich as it provided a blanket for the beef. The flatbread was perfectly crisp, and I found that the arugula added to the melody of flavors. It was such a culinary experience that I shared it with my fiancé, and it made him regret his decision. I don't even remember what he ordered.

2. Japan: Continental Breakfast Buffet

Is it cheating to say a whole buffet? Maybe, but I couldn't help myself, because the Hyatt Regency in Yokohama puts every hotel breakfast I've ever had to shame. There was so much variety that I got to experience for the first time, from pumpkin salad to miso mackerel. If you want to stick to American classics like sausages and cereal, they had that too, but why miss out on breakfast sushi and dim sum? Even once I was full, I wanted to keep eating just so I could try everything. Every bite was worth it. Moreover, the location was ideal for exploring.

3. Taiwan: Candy-Coated Fruit

As someone with a self-proclaimed sugar addiction, my eyes were glued to this the moment I saw them. From across the way, I watched as the lady skewered fruit onto a stick and dipped it in a piping hot pot of candy, making it look like gold before putting it on display. The candy coating is thin enough to crack and dissolve in your mouth. My only gripe with this is that a tomato was included with the skewer, which I could have lived without for the rest of my life. But apparently, it is a common trend there, along with candy-coated skewers.

4. Vietnam: Stuffed Squids with Pork

When it comes to Vietnamese food, I feel like I will always be a harsh critic, because I will always think about how Grandma Sau's version is better. So one of the few ways to impress me with Vietnamese food is to present me with something she wouldn't often make. In this case, stuffed squids with pork. It probably sounds weird, but something about filling the pork inside the squid manages to keep it from being dry. Moreover, the flavors of the pork marry well with the chewy texture of the squid for a unique experience, in flavor and texture.

5. Singapore: McDonald's French Fries with Curry Sauce

My small gripe that we had when we visited Singapore is that we were on a cruise and paid for an excursion titled, "A taste of Singapore." Let me tell you that it was the smallest taste ever, because we got a tea sandwich and a coffee before being dropped off at the airport. I don't think it was worth it, but what made up for it was that Singapore has a huge airport, which included a McDonalds.

Maybe this is lame, but I was excited to see the different offerings they had. I didn't think I would like the curry sauce, because I don't love curry, but the flavor was addicting enough that I am still thinking about it. Maybe it was just because I didn't get to taste as many things as I would've liked, but the McDonald's had the best taste of Singapore that I was able to experience.

Sau's Favorite Travel Food in France: Coconut Ice Cream

It has been almost a decade since I've been to France, but I still remember the coconut ice cream there like it was yesterday. And let me tell you that once I had a bite, I made sure to have a serving every single day I was there. It was so creamy and light, with the perfect balance of coconut flavor that didn't taste artificial. Even as we traveled to different parts of France, I made sure to get ice cream everywhere we went. Now it's been so long that it makes me think of a dreamy cloud.