10 Foods & Drinks You Haven’t Heard Of But Really Need To Try

If you’re heading to Italy, you’ll likely think of pizza and pasta, and if travelling to France, cheese and wine will almost certainly come to mind. There are many popular dishes and drinks associated with countries around the world, but so many great foods are still largely unknown.

Belle About Town caught up with renowned travel writer Erik Wolf, recognised as the founder of the modern food tourism industry and the World Food Travel Association. He shared his shortlist of obscure favourite foods with us!

TXAKOLI (Basque Country, Spain)

You may associate Spain with paella, but the country’s regions have their own delights to offer. Txakoli is a lightly effervescent white wine from the Basque Country. Its high acidity and low alcohol content make it light and refreshing and a stunning accompaniment to so many meals. Of course, the Basque Country is world-renowned for its food. I love to go hopping between the various pinxtos bars in San Sebastian, usually with a glass of tinto (red wine) or some nights drinking just txakoli. And for real fun, to say “Cheers” in Basque Country, they use the word “Txotx!” So, you can say Txotx with your Txakoli. Actually, Txotx is used when drinking Basque cider, but as an outsider, the Basque will appreciate your enthusiasm to wrestle with their admittedly difficult language even if you use the term for the wrong beverage. Love the Basque region, language and people.

FANESCA (Ecuador)

Fanesca is an Ecuadorian soup served at Easter. If you are in North America or the UK, you might call it a fish and bean chowder. And a soup that tastes this good has to have a little cream in it. The flavour is absolutely heavenly. Hot tip: find a version that has potatoes in it. There are more than 700 different types of potatoes in this world of hidden foods, and I guarantee if they use it in this soup, the type of potato will be entirely new to you. Think buttery. Arrive hungry.

AJI DE GALLINA (Peru)

This is a chicken dish made with yellow chilies, turmeric, white bread, walnuts, egg, and the hard-to-find Peruvian black olives, which I think are probably the best in the world. I’ve only ever had versions of this dish that I liked in Peru. Attempts to create it elsewhere have unfortunately always failed, even with Peruvian chefs. There is just something about trying to replicate the recipe with ingredients outside of Peru – it just doesn’t work. To try the real thing, you must travel to Peru.

KUMARA FRIES (New Zealand)

If you like sweet potato fries, then kumara fries will be no stranger to you. Kumara is a kind of sweet potato. Add oil and fry. Sprinkle with salt and voila! No magic there. But what makes them so tasty is that vegetables in New Zealand actually taste really, really good. Whether it is the terroir or the use of primarily organic growing practices, you have not had sweet potato fries like these. And bonus. Did you know that kumaras are related to the morning glory flower? In fact, some cultivars of the same plant grow the flowers ornamentally. Tasty and beautiful.

OPEN-FACED SHRIMP SANDWICH (Sweden)

Sweden is perhaps best known for meatballs with lingonberries—thanks largely to the influence of furniture brand IKEA in helping to promote Swedish foods—yet I have always preferred Sweden’s open-faced shrimp sandwich. Small shrimps in mayonnaise on usually buttered rye bread, dill of course, and garnish. The nice thing about these sandwiches is that they are laden with shrimp. Not just a couple, but a heaping mound. Skip the meatballs. Shrimp lovers enjoy!

KUDU STEAK (South Africa)

Since the time I lived in South Africa, when I regularly enjoyed kudu steak, I have reduced my meat consumption drastically. Still, the kudu was an amazing piece of meat that I remember to this day. Think filet mignon with absolutely no fat on it and you’ll get the idea. A lovely meat flavour, and not gamey at all. Serve with a South African pinotage reduction and you will be one happy customer.

FRUIT LIQUEURS (Finland)

When I was younger and lived in Denmark, I had the opportunity to visit Finland where I discovered these amazingly flavourful cordial beverages. I remembered specifically the Lapponia brand (now owned by Pernod Ricard), with their cloudberry, gooseberry and lingonberry flavours. If you want choice, then try the cranberry, blueberry, sea buckthorn, and brambleberry flavours too. Yes, they are sweet, but the flavours pack a wonderful punch in your mouth! And yes, they use real fruit. A great gift to bring back home.

TOAST WITH KAYA (Singapore)

You can find this throughout southeast Asia, but I was introduced to it when I lived in Singapore. Served at breakfast, you order a coffee with condensed milk (Vietnamese-style) and the toast with the kaya is served on top of the coffee. In true stroopwafel fashion, the heat from the coffee melts the kaya, or coconut egg jam. It is kind of like a coconut cream spread. Breakfast and dessert all at once – clever!

ROYAL BORSCHT BROTH (Poland)

You’ve heard of borscht for sure. It is usually pretty thick and intensely beet-y. As much as I love soups, it is not usually on my list of favourites, so when I was in Poland and this soup was served to me, I became defensive. Then at the prompting of my local contacts, they suggested I simply try it. It was more like a borscht broth, and it was wonderful. Not thick and overpowering, but with a delicate beet flavour. It was delicious. My local friends explained that it was in the Polish royal court that this lighter broth-style borscht was served. I could not stop thinking about how all my friends and family would never stop teasing me going forward, since I had made it plainly known that I had distaste for the taste of beets.

SEARED TUNA SASHIMI WITH SESAME OIL (South Korea)

I enjoyed this dish with colleagues in Daegu, during one of my many trips to this country of friendly people. I do not speak Korean and my colleagues did not speak much English. Nevertheless, we were able to communicate, simply with food. This dish was brought out and I have to say, I made a bit of a pig of myself, but it was so delicious! Flavourful tuna just lightly seared, then dipped with the famous Korean metal chopsticks, into Korean toasted sesame oil. They kept bringing out more dishes of it, and I am embarrassed to say that I ate every last bite!