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Best and worst countries for food?

(124 Posts)
GagaJo Sun 05-Feb-23 20:52:18

In your experience, where has been the best country for food?

And also the worst?

For me, the best has been Spain. Probably because I almost exclusively ate what the locals eat. Fresh fruit and veg, a lot of spicy meat, and even a glass of red with the deliciously home-cooked school lunch. Fabulous tapas in our local cafe. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the paella. A bit over rated in my opinion.

I also had some incredible food in China, but that was because my Chinese flat mate was an amazing cook. Even at Western food. I showed her once how to bake and she was off. Freshly baked bread for breakfast! I was sooooo spoiled. And great Chinese delicacies too.

The worst has to have been Switzerland. Which surprised me, because I love cheese. But on the whole, I found it very bland and unimpressive.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 05-Feb-23 21:07:00

Gagajo totally agree about Spanish food, our family home was in Spain for over 10 years. Once you go a few roads back from the tourist route the produce and dishes are exemplary.

We travelled round Thailand with our Thai friend and ate some spectacular tasting dishes.

We have visited many USA states and always found the food underwhelming. Austria, France, Switzerland and all other skiing holidays have been disappointing food wise as I veer towards salads and fresh vegetables.

Deedaa Sun 05-Feb-23 21:13:53

Italy for me every time. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. France is more problematic because they seem very fond of topping a perfectly good dish with a raw egg!

DD tells me some of the food in Romania is pretty bad, and when she went to Japan looking for vegetarian meals she found that even the vegetables were cooked in fish sauce which she loathes.

Fleurpepper Sun 05-Feb-23 21:18:52

Most countries ae hugely varied, with very different food traditions. France is, for instance. Same for the USA, and many others. Switzerland comprises several languages and very different cultures too. Very difficult to generalise on a very limited geographical basis.

Norah Sun 05-Feb-23 21:20:47

Deedaa

Italy for me every time. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. France is more problematic because they seem very fond of topping a perfectly good dish with a raw egg!

DD tells me some of the food in Romania is pretty bad, and when she went to Japan looking for vegetarian meals she found that even the vegetables were cooked in fish sauce which she loathes.

Italy is best, to me. Followed by Germany, Austria, Switzerland.

We also love Greek food, what's not to love in Greece?

France is worst to us, over hyped, and not particularly good. Except that place in Laguoile, the cook cooks well.

TillyTrotter Sun 05-Feb-23 21:23:33

Greek food is my favourite especially Moussaka, and worst country for food that is heavy and has too much emphasis on lumps of meat is Northern Germany. Pork knuckle, sauerkraut cabbage and dampfnudeln. Yuk! IMO.

Sago Sun 05-Feb-23 21:24:20

Always Italy.

AussieGran59 Sun 05-Feb-23 21:36:53

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 05-Feb-23 21:53:45

AussieGran59 my family have always really enjoyed Morton Bay Bugs whenever we have been to Australia. It’s possibly to buy them here but not sure they would travel well.

Bixiboo Sun 05-Feb-23 21:59:14

Greek food is my favourite, the worst I’ve had was in Slovenia.

BlueBelle Sun 05-Feb-23 22:28:42

Best …..Street food in Malaysia
Worst …Spanish

Yammy Sun 05-Feb-23 22:45:53

Italy first ,second and third.

Blossoming Sun 05-Feb-23 22:48:36

It’s a tough choice but it has to be France for me, I loved working there. The worst was USSR, I have no idea if it’s improved since the fall of the Soviet Union.

LadyGracie Sun 05-Feb-23 22:48:42

Definitely Italy

nanna8 Sun 05-Feb-23 22:53:51

Italy but I like Vietnamese food a lot,too. So fresh with the lovely salad and coriander.

Worst,hate to say it, but British, though last time we went in 2019 it was much better.

maddyone Sun 05-Feb-23 23:03:46

Italy and Greece are the best. America worst by a very long way. Having just returned from New Zealand have to say I was somewhat underwhelmed by the food.

Mitzigem Sun 05-Feb-23 23:35:30

I loved the food in Vietnam, Ireland , Sri Lanka and definitely in sanfranciso where I was amazed at the variety of restaurants there . Not impressed with French breakfasts . Certainly loved full English breakfasts .

SparklyGrandma Sun 05-Feb-23 23:44:10

Caribbean food, especially a potato and Chanda roti - then Italian, Greek, Vietnamese.

Maggiemaybe Sun 05-Feb-23 23:47:01

China takes the top spot for me, with Hungary possibly the worst. To be fair we’d no Hungarian and hadn’t a clue what we’d ordered. grin

We went to Leningrad in 1972, Blossoming, and the food was beyond atrocious (fatty meatballs nearly every day for a month, and DH ended up with food poisoning). When we went back to it as St Petersburg in 2019, everything had changed out of all recognition, including the food, and we had some very decent restaurant meals.

Normandygirl Sun 05-Feb-23 23:50:44

Best: Italy and France

Worst: America and Germany.

Kalu Mon 06-Feb-23 00:01:57

We had many outstanding meals when we lived in France including motorway services and restaurants catering for local labourers to seven course meals. Delicious meals in Italy, Switzerland,Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Tunisia and the Caribbean. Not so good in Spain and the worst was Portugal, swordfish and sardines, very bland.

kittylester Mon 06-Feb-23 07:15:34

I love Italian food and found Japanese food very disappointing.

Blondiescot Mon 06-Feb-23 07:33:21

Turkey top for me - people who've never been automatically think of takeaway doner kebabs in this country, and it's nothing like that. Very under-rated - there's such a wide variety of dishes from different parts of the country. We only eat Turkish food when we're there - and we eat at the little places the locals go to.
Most over-rated - to be honest, I've enjoyed the food almost everywhere we've been, but if pushed, I'd have to say Spain.

JaneJudge Mon 06-Feb-23 07:35:00

I love Spanish food too

JaneJudge Mon 06-Feb-23 07:35:42

We have two amazing local Turkish restaurants that are so clean and fresh