Food Award: Favorite Foods Around the World

My best friend Julia of A Girl with a Stethoscope nominated me for the Lactose Free Lizzie Food Award!  What does this mean?  That I have to write a post about one of my favorite things: Food.  Anything about food.  So I'm going to write about five of my favorite food discoveries from around the world.

Lunch time in Sardinia

Italy: Gnocchi

Gnocchi is a potato filled ball looking pasta.  If it wasn't so calorie dense I would probably find a way to eat it twice a week!  It can be served with any kind of sauce, but I prefer it in pesto {pesto and gelato are tied for my second favorite food coming out of Italy}.

Octopus, Calamari, Ají, Patatas Bravas

Spain: Tapas

Yes, tapas can mean a number of things that come in small portions.  But hello, this mean that you can eat a lot of different good things, instead of filling up on only one good thing.  One of my all-time favorites is Patatas Bravas from the Costa Brava - potatoes drizzled in a pink, spicy, mayo sauce.

Chicken & Olives

Morocco: Chicken Tagine

To me, chicken is no filet mignon.  Its sort of bland, sort of dry, but when cooked the way it is in Morocco, it becomes the most flavorful and tender meat.  I have never had a love for chicken more than I did when eating it in Morocco. 

Little Perfections

Portugal: Pastel de Belém

These little Belem pastries from Pasteis de Belem in Lisbon are famous throughout the country and are now gaining popularity around the world.  They are small creamy custard pastries, sprinkled with cinnamon and powder sugar.  One of my favorite desserts.

Greasy & Delicious

Dominican Republic: Platano Maduro

Its a difficult personal battle for me every time I see plantains at the supermarket, because if I buy them, I will eat too many of them.  Its usually eaten as a side dish, but served in the States as a dessert with a scoop of ice cream.  Its very easy to make - try it at home.

Now that I've listed my top 5, the winner of my 

favorite-food-discoveries-from-around-the-world goes to...

MOROCCO 

I was pleasantly surprised with my gastronomic adventures in Morocco.  Never had I tasted food with so much flavor; I'm convinced its because of the Tagine pot - the North African style crock pot.  Some other foods I indulged in while there:

A Colorful Salad

Tomato Chutney

Piping Hot Mint Tea

Now that my turn is over,
I nominate the following 3 bloggers for this award:

Mia of GlocalGirl 

Because she's always making me hungry with her pics from across the pond.

Marisa of Shades of Monet 

Because maybe she'll post her Bailey's banana bread recipe..

Jessica of Strawberry Besos 

Because she taught me how to chop garlic without the lingering garlic smell.