Trying new types of food is one of the greatest things about travelling. You get to really immerse yourself in the country you are visiting. Discovering new ingredients, spices and even textures, you can appreciate a country more if you know more about their local foods and specialties. If you visit one of these 8 Francophone countries, make sure you try AT LEAST these 40 specialties they do better than anyone in the world!
You can’t stop and eat at a fast food joint like Mcdonalds or Burger King when you’re in a different country. It is important to get out of your comfort zone and try things! Savouring a delicious croissant in France is a must, as well as sipping on fresh mint tea in Morocco. Here are some of the best foods you need to try if you visit France, Réunion, Canada, Senegal, Switzerland, Morocco, Haiti or Belgium! Enjoy and bon appetit!
Yummy Specialties to Try in France
French onion soup
French onion soup is a delicious thing to eat during cold winter months or after a day of skiing in the French, Italian or Swiss Alps! The soup consists of onions (tons and tons of onions), tasty beef broth, gooey gruyère cheese, and crunchy croutons (or stale baguette)! The mix of the onions, savoury cheese and soggy bread makes this one of the top French dishes of all time.
Coq au vin
Coq au vin is another fall and winter meal. Like a stew, this dish has chicken, red wine, bacon, Cognac, broth, mushrooms, onions, etc. It is one of those meals that feel like a giant hug since it is warm and comforting. Of course, this is not a meal you have any day! Save this for a special occasion like a birthday or holiday!
Crème brûlée
This is one of the most famous French desserts of all time. Crème brûlée consists of a rich and gooey custard with a hard crunchy and caramelized top layer. It doesn’t have too many ingredients in it: 35% cream, sugar, eggs and vanilla. If you feel like showing off your cooking skill to your friends and family, impress them with this sweet treat!
Croissant
Croissants are world famous. They are flaky, buttery and light. It is safe to say that the French have perfected breakfast. Croissants are a little difficult to make but you can easily find them in bakeries and supermarkets. As long as they are fresh and made with real butter they should be pretty yummy!
Pot-au-feu
A similar dish to Coq au vin, Pot-au-feu is a beef based stew. This stew includes onions, celery, carrots, beef shanks, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, potatoes, etc. This is a total comfort meal you should make at home or have at the restaurant on a nice crisp fall evening. The mix of all the flavours creates a one of a kind taste that will melt all your worries away.
Food Specialties to Try in La Réunion
Samosas
You might think it’s strange that samosas are part of this list since samosas are known to be a typical Indian delicacy but India is not the only country to make these delicious warm and fried pockets of goodness. If you are lucky enough to visit Réunion, make sure you have some samosas.
Sauce crevette
Sauce crevette is a typical curry dish in Réunion that is made in restaurants by famous chefs, in homes and in shelters. It consists of prawns (but they also make this curry with beef, chicken or sausages), tomatoes, onions, garlic, spices, etc. This is a great meal to have during the summer, especially if you grill the prawns.
Porc boucané
Porc boucané is another one of those typical Réunion meals that you need to try. Porc boucané is pork smoked over a wood fire. If you’re a die-hard fan of meaty dishes, make sure you grab a plate of this dish during a typical Réunion barbecue with your new island friends.
Achards
Fan of relish? If you are, you need to try some achards which is a kind of spicy relish. The réunionnais cut various vegetables (usually carrots, green beans and cabbage) into julienne style slices which are then blanched and marinated in a vinegar, oil, ginger, chilli and turmeric sauce that usually accompanies curries.
Galette de manioc
Pancakes are delicious whether they are sweet or savoury. The people of Réunion make a delicious sweet pancake called Galette de manioc. This sweet pancake is made with manioc, a woody shrub from South America, vanilla, and some sugar. Simple, simple, simple! You’ll want to stay on the island for the rest of your life after you try this fried deliciousness.
Specialties to Try in Canada
Poutine
Who doesn’t love fries? What about melty cheese? And what about brown sauce? If you said yes to all three, you’ll totally enjoy poutine. Known in Québec as a bar food or hangover food, poutine is, of course, not a meal you would have for a Sunday dinner with your in-laws or for your wedding anniversary dinner. But it’s one of the biggest specialties in Québec and Canada!
Pouding chômeur
A lot of Canadian food is linked to the hard past of the immigrants who came from France. Pouding chômeur translates to poor man’s pudding. It consists of a cake with a caramel and sugar thick sauce that accumulates at the bottom. Delicious warm with ice cream or refrigerated, try having only one portion of his excellent dessert.
Bagels
There has been a war between New York bagels and Montreal bagels since the beginning of their existence except it is impossible to compare the two since they are so different. Bagels from Montreal are smaller, denser, sweeter and are wood-fired baked. With cream cheese and smoked salmon, peanut butter or plain, these are always a good idea.
Tourtière
Tourtière is another one of those famous “poor man meals”. This savoury meat pie has ground beef, veal or pork mixed with various spices in a flaky pie which is then baked. This might be hard to find in a normal restaurant but you can make this at home pretty easily!
Smoked meat sandwich
Meat lovers will love Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches. These sandwiches consist of fresh rye bread, tangy mustard, pickles and a stack of thinly cut smoked meat. You can find this sandwich in some of the most famous delis in Canada like Schwartz’s, Lester’s and Dunn’s.
Delicious Specialties to Try in Senegal
Mafe
Mafe is one of the most iconic African dishes. It is a beef or lamb stew thickened with ground peanuts, with onions, carrots, tomato paste, various herbs served on a bed of rice or couscous. This is a great meal to make if you’re in a hurry since you can add all the ingredients in one pot. The sweet and salty aspects of this stew will convince you to add this to your weekly meal rotation.
Thiebou jen
This is Senegal’s national dish so you can’t get more of a traditional Senegalese dish than this. Made with a whole fish (usually thioff or grouper), onions, bell peppers, cabbage, yeet, turnip, eggplant, butternut squash, okra pods, and more! This tasty dish is packed with flavour and extremely consistent. Served with rice, most Senegalese families make this meal weekly. If you visit the country, it is a real must try!
Yassa
Yassa is a spicy fish or chicken dish filled with onions and lemon. This dish is a specialty in the Casamance region and is served with rice or couscous and vegetables. This is the kind of dish families love to make since it is easy and delicious. The tangy lemon, caramelized onions and tender chicken create a succulent meal.
Salatu niebe
Salatu niebe is made with black-eyed peas, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, lime and more. This salad (salatu niebe in English means black-eyed peas salad) is fresh and full of delicious nutrients. This salad became famous and world-renowned because of the famous Senegalese chef Pierre Thiam who included this recipe in his cooking book. Perfect on a hot and sunny summer day, enjoy this bean salad.
Banana fritters
Who doesn’t love fried food? Banana fritters are one of the most delicious desserts out there. The fried beignets are light but full of taste. You can easily find these in restaurants or food stands all over the country. Of course, we suggest you only eat a few or else you might become addicted to their incredible taste.
Cheesy Specialties to Try in Switzerland
Cheese fondue
Cheese fondue is one of Switzerland’s most famous specialties. Packed with different kinds of cheeses, white wine, and broth, cheese fondue is a great meal for après-ski or for a cozy date night in with your significant other. This rich and quite sophisticated dish is found everywhere in Switzerland and is very easy to make at home.
Rösti
Röstis are a fried potato dish that is typical in Switzerland. The dish consists of potatoes, butter, scallions, salt and pepper. Even though this dish has humble beginnings (it was commonly eaten by Swiss farmers), the whole country eats it at breakfast and truly enjoy it.
Zopf
Zopf is a very typical Swiss bread you can find in any bakery in Switzerland. The bread’s ingredients are white flour, milk, eggs, butter and yeast. The bread gets a beautiful dark top layer because the dough is brushed with melted butter before being baked. Try to get one of these after they’ve been freshly baked!
Raclette
Raclette is another cheesy dish the Swiss concocted. Consisting of a melty cheese that you heat on a hot raclette grill and then add the melty cheese to bread with potatoes, small pickles, pickled onions and dried meat. If you love cheese, you’ll adore this dish especially since it is so easy to make when you have people over to your home.
Chocolate
Well, you can’t talk about Switzerland without talking about chocolate! Lindt! Toblerone! Milka! Cailler! The list never ends. Yes, you can find most of these chocolate bar brands all over the world but if you go to Switzerland, try finding a local chocolate bar you can boast about to your friends and family back home.
Specialties to Try in Morocco
Couscous
Couscous is the most Moroccan dish you can find in all the country. Couscous is used with everything whether it is a meat dish or vegetables. It is very easy to find couscous in Morocco or at home wherever you live in the world. Whether you make a cold couscous and veggie salad or add a beef or lamb stew, you will love the addition of this wheat pasta.
Tagine
You have to try tagine when going to Morocco! This dish is cooked in the earthenware pot of the same name that has a top that looks like a pointy triangle hat. You can find tagine anywhere in this country, from homes to upscale restaurants and local markets, this dish is served hot and usually with bread.
B’stilla
B’stilla is a delicious savoury pie served in Morocco. This pie is comprised of pigeon meat, almonds, eggs (that are spiced in saffron spice), cinnamon and fresh coriander. The filling is covered with a paper-thin pasty and Moroccans sprinkle some icing sugar on top with a little bit of cinnamon. The mix of sweet and savoury will truly impress you!
Mint Tea
Mint tea might seem like a strange thing to have in another country but you absolutely need to try a typical mint tea in Morocco. The tea is always sweetened with sugar that is directly chipped from the sugar cone. On a cool evening in the Moroccan desert, you’ll absolutely enjoy having a cup of this delicious and hot drink in your hands.
Baba Ganoush
Baba ganoush is one of the greatest dips ever created. Made with roasted eggplants, olive oil, cumin, paprika, lemon juice, cloves and parsley, this is the perfect dip for veggies or fresh pita bread. You can easily find some in grocery stores and many restaurants serve it as an appetizer. The fresher it is, the better it tastes!
Specialties to Try in Haiti
Poulet Aux Noix
This chicken dish filled with cashew nuts and a tomato-based sauce is a specialty in Northern Haiti, especially in Cap-Haïtien. This hearty dish will keep you satisfied and full for a few hours. You’ll love the mix of the tender chicken and the crunchy nuts.
Mayi Moulen Kole ak Legim
Mayi Moulen Kole ak Legim is a type of stew. It consists of cornmeal with beans and vegetables. You can easily find this kind of dish in street markets or outdoor stalls. This is a great hearty meal to have if you’re scared of getting hungry. Fun fact: Legim in Haitian means vegetable!
Pwason Boukannen
Pwason Boukannen (or grilled fish) is a perfect Haitian dish to have. Make sure you go to one of the restaurants or stalls right next to the ocean to get the freshest fish possible. This dish consists of grilled fish with a few onions because honestly, the freshness of the fish is what makes the dish. Enjoy it with a nice cold beer while you watch the sun go down, you won’t regret it.
Dous Makos
If you have a sweet tooth, this is the dish for you. Dous Makos is fudge made with milk and sugar that is boiled in log-fired cauldrons. This delicious delicacy is the signature dish of the town of Petit-Goave. You can grab a piece of this Haitian fudge in numerous food stalls on the streets. Its colourful stripes: beige, brown and pink are as enjoyable as the yummy taste.
Griyo
Griyo is one of the most famous Haitian dishes. Consisting of fried pork, it is usually served with a spicy vinegar cabbage salad. These smalls bits of pork are perfect to enjoy in the street with a cold beer or you can find some in most restaurants if you prefer eating them sitting down. Do not visit Haiti without trying griyo.
Food Specialties to Try in Belgium
Moules-frites
Moules-frites is one of the great specialties to enjoy while in Belgium. This country has a million different kinds of sauces for your mussels. Whether you choose a creamy rich sauce or a wine and tomato one, you’ll find the best mix for your taste buds. And, you can’t forget the best part of this meal! The delicious Belgian fries!
Waffles
What is more typical than Belgian waffles? From street vendors to high-end restaurants, you can find Belgian waffles everywhere in Belgium. If you are wondering what the difference between North American and Belgian waffles are, well, it’s all in the batter. Belgian waffles have a lighter batter and the waffle itself is crispier. This dish is a must-try.
French fries
Speaking of fries, Belgians know how to make delicious fries. What makes them so special you ask? Well, they are fried twice so they are extra crispy! You can find fries vendors all over the country (and the fries come in a cone with a nice mayonnaise) or we promise you’ll find delicious ones in restaurants too.
Carbonade flamande
Every country has its own type of stew and it’s no exception with Belgium. The carbonade flamande consists of beef or pork, onions, beer (of course the Belgians add beer to their stews), thyme, mustard and mushrooms. This comforting meal is great in the wintertime and it pairs well with some crispy fries.
Chocolate
Switzerland is not the only European country to make delicious and famous chocolate. Belgium also makes mouth-watering chocolate and their production dates back to the 17th century. The Belgians are known for their chocolate specialties like pralines, truffles, eggs and animals figurines made in chocolate. You need to indulge in at least one piece of chocolate if you visit this country.
Which one of these world specialties would you try first?
