As a home-cook and foodie I love taking inspiration from as many cultures as I can when I cook. One of my personal goals is to make at least 1 dish from every country and every major city around the world, and I've been compiling a list of my favorite dishes from each country to research and create versions of my own. I have tried and created many dishes from well-known countries, but I would love to know more about the culture and cuisine of places that are less talked about or less well represented.
So what are your favorite dishes and cuisines from your local city or country? Or local dishes you know of from other places? Or maybe you have your own list of your favorites?
My addition: Garbage Plates from Rochester NY. They sound strange at first but have become one of my comfort foods. When they are done well, they hit the spot like no other. As for a lesser known dish I absolutely love Roti Canai which is a type of curry and bread from Malaysia.
My list so far:
Japan: Spicy Miso Ramen
South Korea: Curry Tteokbokki
China : Lo Mein
Taiwan: Mongolian Beef
Thailand: Pad Thai
Malaysia: Roti Canai
Singapore: Singapore Street Noodles
India: Lamb Marsala
Syria: Maqluba
Libya: Couscous Bil-bosla
Turkey: Gozleme
Greece: Lamb over Rice
Russia: Stroganoff
Italy: Carbonara
Germany: Rahmshnitzel
Belgium: Liege Waffle
France: Croque Monsieur
UK: Lamb Tikka Masala
Sweden: Kottbullar
Iceland: Pylsur
Canada: Poutine
US: Garbage Plate
Mexico: Carne Asada Tacos
El Savador: Charamuscas
Trinidad: Dahl
Jamaca: Peanut Punch
Guyana: Pepper Pot
Gumbo or red fish courtbouillion from south LA (Cajun food). Also boudin and cracklins.
My dad was old New Orleans and oh my God the restaurants there are so good that when my brother was in school there he literally never cooked, never learned to cook, at all. They have such a ridiculous tradition of hospitality, absolutely top notch food, drink, and service.
Gumbo I make once in a while and it can make people cry, it's so good, that can certainly be one of the most delicious things ever if you take your time with it, but my best memory of food there is the soft shell crab po boy with the legs hanging out of the sandwich.
For sure. There was a place in Baton Rouge that had great fried soft shell crab poboys. So many good things to eat down in LA. I’m in the Fingerlakes region of NY now and miss all of the good food from LA.