Eating my way around the world

[purplerabbits]

I've had this idea going round my head for a while where I eat some food from every country in the world, for some definition of 'from' which includes recipes, takeaway, restaurants meal and sometimes single items depending how much I struggle with some countries. The definition of 'country' may also need to be a bit flexible, but since I don't actually know how to get food from most of the disputed territories I know about (except Palestine) I won't be stressing over it...

I know this is a silly idea, and I am unlikely to finish the list, but so far I have had Canadian style poutine from BRGR, which I wasn't sure I would like, but did, and a Malaysian takeaway last night from a little cafe in Gorgie Road who also happen to do some traditional Mongolian dishes so I may be back. I liked the prawn thing with coconut, chilli and I think thai basil. It was served with an 'egg sauce' which was basically flavoured mayonnaise. I also got a curry which was too hot for me but I will finish today anyway.

Some countries are going to be hard to do (what is traditional food from the Vatican?) and others I've already eaten a lot of so I might not seek them out specially, but I look forward to this challenge.

Countries I know for sure I have already eaten 'from' at some point in life
Europe

• UK, including specifically Scottish and Welsh foods, but not Northern Ireland so I may have to visit there...
• Ireland, soda bread, colcannon, Irish stew, plus I was actually there on holiday when I was a child.
• Spain - also I am hopefully going there this year
• Portugal - been there and also can buy traditional pastries right near my house
• Germany - I have loved many German sausages (fner) and visited Berlin several times
• Poland - I have a Polish supermarket right near me
• France - mais oui
• Italian - I've been to Venice, which may be the only place in Italy with terrible food, but also eaten plenty of Italian in restaurants
• The Netherlands - I have been there and eaten many fast foods, often while stoned out of my skull
• Belgium - I have been there and eaten not very memorable food and very memorable chocolates
• Sweden - if Ikea meatballs count
• Norway - Gjetost is one of my favourite cheeses, not sure what else I've had from there
• Denmark - Danish blue cheese and Danish bacon, but I'm sure there is more to explore
• Hungary - I have had 70s style Hungarian goulash, but want to seek out something more authentic
• Greece - many meze snacks and a bazillion olives
• Switzerland - does homemade fondue count?

Asia

• Chinese, because obviously
• India, same
• Pakistan and Bangladesh - I have definitely had these when ordering 'Indian' but I want to do them again and consciously recognise the difference. Same with Nepal
• Thailand, including a salad with chilli oil which is hard to forget

Americas

• Canada - mostly maple syrup and that poutine
• USA - mainly burgers, obviously
• Mexico - at least in a UK interpretation
• Brazil - there used to be a Brazilian cafe that served avocado milkshake which I loved
• Caribbean - but I don't know enough to separate it into nations, which I want to

Africa - apart from Morocco this is mostly a culinary blank to be honest, there used to be a South African restaurant I ate at, and I think I've had Ethiopian style bread, but will revisit this

Australasia
Er, I've had very tasty authentic pavlova made by a lovely New Zealander, and I had a regrettable kangaroo burger from an Australian bar that one time, but otherwise not sure...