Various meals across Europe
Discussion
Its quite interesting how food can vary slightly as you go from one country to another in Europe, I always try to have the national/famous dish when I visit a new country.
Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
We used to do big Europe holidays when our kids were young, towing a Caravan . We did Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany , Belgium , Luxembourg and some others . This was year 2000 onwards for about 10 years .
When we started you could budget £100 a day with fuel , tolls and campsite and an evening meal out all four of us , with picnic type lunch . By the time the kids were too big to go it was about £200--£250 a day .
Its nice to see now our kids taking holidays in places we went as a family , my son off tomorrow to Italy by car with his girlfriend.
Now we take holidays just the two of us and the price is quite high , we don't want to go if we are going to watch the money so we generally have a nice hotel and eat fairly well . Less than a week in Seville last month as an example £2400 for 5 nights all in .
What we remember well and still feel now is the quality of the food and produce in Europe, as soon as you leave the UK is far far better than what can be readily bought here . Its like the UK has an acceptance of low quality mediocrity and pays the price for poor food, service and attention to detail .
Next trip northern France, as soon as all the summer holidays are over , we already know the food , wine and quality, will be far better than here but we also know , we will drive, and each day will cost around £350-£400 , to have a nice time not penny pinching .
As an aside, we are looking at Villas next year for the whole family 6 adults and two kids , somewhere nice in Italy . We will rent it for 3 weeks and the kids will come in for 7 days at a time . Somewhere really nice near restaurants and with its own pool appears to be about £10K ! Wow
When we started you could budget £100 a day with fuel , tolls and campsite and an evening meal out all four of us , with picnic type lunch . By the time the kids were too big to go it was about £200--£250 a day .
Its nice to see now our kids taking holidays in places we went as a family , my son off tomorrow to Italy by car with his girlfriend.
Now we take holidays just the two of us and the price is quite high , we don't want to go if we are going to watch the money so we generally have a nice hotel and eat fairly well . Less than a week in Seville last month as an example £2400 for 5 nights all in .
What we remember well and still feel now is the quality of the food and produce in Europe, as soon as you leave the UK is far far better than what can be readily bought here . Its like the UK has an acceptance of low quality mediocrity and pays the price for poor food, service and attention to detail .
Next trip northern France, as soon as all the summer holidays are over , we already know the food , wine and quality, will be far better than here but we also know , we will drive, and each day will cost around £350-£400 , to have a nice time not penny pinching .
As an aside, we are looking at Villas next year for the whole family 6 adults and two kids , somewhere nice in Italy . We will rent it for 3 weeks and the kids will come in for 7 days at a time . Somewhere really nice near restaurants and with its own pool appears to be about £10K ! Wow
cliffords said:
We used to do big Europe holidays when our kids were young, towing a Caravan . We did Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany , Belgium , Luxembourg and some others . This was year 2000 onwards for about 10 years .
When we started you could budget £100 a day with fuel , tolls and campsite and an evening meal out all four of us , with picnic type lunch . By the time the kids were too big to go it was about £200--£250 a day .
Its nice to see now our kids taking holidays in places we went as a family , my son off tomorrow to Italy by car with his girlfriend.
Now we take holidays just the two of us and the price is quite high , we don't want to go if we are going to watch the money so we generally have a nice hotel and eat fairly well . Less than a week in Seville last month as an example £2400 for 5 nights all in .
What we remember well and still feel now is the quality of the food and produce in Europe, as soon as you leave the UK is far far better than what can be readily bought here . Its like the UK has an acceptance of low quality mediocrity and pays the price for poor food, service and attention to detail .
Next trip northern France, as soon as all the summer holidays are over , we already know the food , wine and quality, will be far better than here but we also know , we will drive, and each day will cost around £350-£400 , to have a nice time not penny pinching .
As an aside, we are looking at Villas next year for the whole family 6 adults and two kids , somewhere nice in Italy . We will rent it for 3 weeks and the kids will come in for 7 days at a time . Somewhere really nice near restaurants and with its own pool appears to be about £10K ! Wow
That sounds like really good fun, I absolutely love France and I agree that the standards of produce and meals is better quality and value than the UK.When we started you could budget £100 a day with fuel , tolls and campsite and an evening meal out all four of us , with picnic type lunch . By the time the kids were too big to go it was about £200--£250 a day .
Its nice to see now our kids taking holidays in places we went as a family , my son off tomorrow to Italy by car with his girlfriend.
Now we take holidays just the two of us and the price is quite high , we don't want to go if we are going to watch the money so we generally have a nice hotel and eat fairly well . Less than a week in Seville last month as an example £2400 for 5 nights all in .
What we remember well and still feel now is the quality of the food and produce in Europe, as soon as you leave the UK is far far better than what can be readily bought here . Its like the UK has an acceptance of low quality mediocrity and pays the price for poor food, service and attention to detail .
Next trip northern France, as soon as all the summer holidays are over , we already know the food , wine and quality, will be far better than here but we also know , we will drive, and each day will cost around £350-£400 , to have a nice time not penny pinching .
As an aside, we are looking at Villas next year for the whole family 6 adults and two kids , somewhere nice in Italy . We will rent it for 3 weeks and the kids will come in for 7 days at a time . Somewhere really nice near restaurants and with its own pool appears to be about £10K ! Wow
Jimjimhim said:
cliffords said:
It's quite apparent that most of it looks better presented and more appetising than the rubbish generally served in the UK.
Did you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on hereDid you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
Jimjimhim said:
cliffords said:
It's quite apparent that most of it looks better presented and more appetising than the rubbish generally served in the UK.
Did you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on hereDid you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
Some of that looks really good,
I've always wanted to eat proper food at a proper table on a train with a view, that would have been a highlight. Not really something you can do in the UK outside of the Orient Express and some random closed line experiences though, much more common in Europe I'd imagine?
I've always wanted to eat proper food at a proper table on a train with a view, that would have been a highlight. Not really something you can do in the UK outside of the Orient Express and some random closed line experiences though, much more common in Europe I'd imagine?
Jimjimhim said:
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on here
It's genuinely true though. Have spent a lot of time in Greece and a lesser amount of time in Germany, Austria, Switzerland- felt the food was always better quality for the price. Went away in July to Sicily after not travelling for a few years and it was especially evident there, incredible multi-course meals for €40 between two of us. Easily spend 2-3x that in the UK for similar quality.Jimjimhim said:
cliffords said:
It's quite apparent that most of it looks better presented and more appetising than the rubbish generally served in the UK.
Did you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on hereDid you find prices varied much by county and in comparison to the UK.
Gastons_Revenge said:
Jimjimhim said:
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on here
It's genuinely true though. Have spent a lot of time in Greece and a lesser amount of time in Germany, Austria, Switzerland- felt the food was always better quality for the price. Went away in July to Sicily after not travelling for a few years and it was especially evident there, incredible multi-course meals for €40 between two of us. Easily spend 2-3x that in the UK for similar quality.borcy said:
Gastons_Revenge said:
Jimjimhim said:
This is 1 of those "grass is greener" comments that are so common on here
It's genuinely true though. Have spent a lot of time in Greece and a lesser amount of time in Germany, Austria, Switzerland- felt the food was always better quality for the price. Went away in July to Sicily after not travelling for a few years and it was especially evident there, incredible multi-course meals for €40 between two of us. Easily spend 2-3x that in the UK for similar quality.
RichFN2 said:
Its quite interesting how food can vary slightly as you go from one country to another in Europe, I always try to have the national/famous dish when I visit a new country.
Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
What Dutch food did you try out of interest. I like stamppot, nice hearty dish. You are right though, Dutch food is not known as a culinary delight. It is good for snack food when having a beer, such as fries and bitterballen. The Indonesian food here is pretty good, kind of like their version of going for an Indian. Whilst there is a good variety of different types of restaurants in Amsterdam, I'm often disappointed and the prices are higher, coupled with small portions. Whereas go to Germany and you get very generous portions and I love a nice schnitzel.Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
TIGA84 said:
Some of that looks really good,
I've always wanted to eat proper food at a proper table on a train with a view, that would have been a highlight. Not really something you can do in the UK outside of the Orient Express and some random closed line experiences though, much more common in Europe I'd imagine?
I was on a work trip with my boss/mate in Germany years ago, and we caught a train from Munich to Nuremberg for a trade show. On the way home that evening we sat in the dining car, had steak and chips cooked to order and a nice bottle of red between us. I remember looking at the speedo on the wood panelled wall sitting on 160km/h as we tucked in and thinking this is infinitely better than the dried sandwich I'd probably be eating on a British train. TBH the train was nicer than our hotel rooms.I've always wanted to eat proper food at a proper table on a train with a view, that would have been a highlight. Not really something you can do in the UK outside of the Orient Express and some random closed line experiences though, much more common in Europe I'd imagine?
NSNO said:
RichFN2 said:
Its quite interesting how food can vary slightly as you go from one country to another in Europe, I always try to have the national/famous dish when I visit a new country.
Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
What Dutch food did you try out of interest. I like stamppot, nice hearty dish. You are right though, Dutch food is not known as a culinary delight. It is good for snack food when having a beer, such as fries and bitterballen. The Indonesian food here is pretty good, kind of like their version of going for an Indian. Whilst there is a good variety of different types of restaurants in Amsterdam, I'm often disappointed and the prices are higher, coupled with small portions. Whereas go to Germany and you get very generous portions and I love a nice schnitzel.Dutch food so far has been the most boring so far, nothing horrible just a little bland and familiar (thankfully a great food scene in Amsterdam)
Albania has been the biggest surprise so far. Balkan style grilled meats with locally grown veg and salad, fresh seafood, lots of Italian dishes with some Greek food thrown in. The national dishes are limited but very tasty (rich meat stews backed in cheese & yoghurt)
(except the raw herring!) I did consider mentioning Germany but I found their food to be just that little bit more distanced from traditional English food and the beer is absolutely amazing...And yes the international food scene in Amsterdam is very good, we were near Leidseplein which has some fantastic options.
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