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I had an idea for a post last night in one of the many, many sleepless moments after the baby wakes me up and before I can find my way back to sleep again.
I had a job for which I traveled fairly extensively for several years, and I thought I would try to detail the kinds of foods I ate as a vegan in the different countries I visited. I usually would tack on a vacation to my business trips, so this includes those travels (and some I did on my own) as well.
To be fair to the countries listed, this may not be currently accurate since some of my travels were as far back as 9 years ago, but it could be a fun exercise for my memory. So here goes.
Disclaimer -- As a vegan I often had to go "off the grid" so-to-speak and eat other types of cuisine than those of the country I was visiting.
Portugal
(multiple cities):
Cheap, cheap delicious espresso and beer and wine. And Port! Most of my trip was spent imbibing.
As for food, not a lot of options here, though I do remember eating at a decent cafeteria-style vegetarian restaurant in Lisbon, in which I learned the word for soy (soya or soija?).
Great bread, olive oil and tomatoes. A couple of places had some fun veggie appetizers swimming in olive oil but I can't recall what they were. Was probably in espresso/beer/wine-induced haze.
When I needed more veggies (which was on most days), I stopped in a Chinese restaurant. In fact, I probably have visited a Chinese restaurant in almost all these countries. I suppose the Chinese have migrated all over the world, bringing their veggie-laden cuisine with them.
Spain (multiple cities):
Delightful, awesome, succulent olives EVERYWHERE. Huge ones I called "turkey olives," which is about how much I know about olives, I guess. Nice.
Remember ordering a lot of "vino tinto."
Tapas bars were usually a place to find food -- I remember a spinach and chickpea tapas dish that was fairly prevalent. One time in Seville I got some sort of toasted sandwich that I asked them to hold the cheese or whatever, which ended up just delicious. Mainly bread, tomato and olive oil, and the woman looked at me like I was absolutely nuts for leaving out the "best" part. Her tapas bar was really cool, very old-fashioned, it seemed, with a bar and stools like an old soda shop and just set up on the street, like a little kiosk. I remember a lot of garlic and olive-oil soaked mushrooms I think?
Decent falafel in Barcelona, actually. Oh yeah, and more Chinese food.
Italy (multiple, tasty cities):
Wow, the capital of cuisine, period. New York City is really a culinary haven but Italy, you have the Big Fat ol' Apple beat. Everything you put in your mouth here just tastes amazing. Oh stop with your dirty little mind...
Seriously though, from fried veggies, to fresh veggies sauteed in olive oil, to mushrooms, to pizza without cheese that is not something you order "special" like here -- it's all divine. I won't even get into the wine. Or the bread. Or just how the people here enjoy life and food, lingering for hours with family and friends over food and beverage and music. Loved it. Hope to go back one day.
And yes, I did partake of their Chinese food and I remember enjoying some sort of fried salty Nori dish? With rice it was really tasty!
Had limonchello on the island of Capri (supposedly their specialty?) and would pass on that if I could. Way too sweet -- like melted lemon sorbet in a shot glass.
The Netherlands (specifically, Amsterdam):
Great granola and dried fruits at breakfast. I admit that's all I can remember of Dutch cuisine.
But Indonesian food abounds here! They invented tempeh (right?) so it was pretty easy to find some great vegan fare. I remember being grossed out at a red pickled egg dish my co-workers were eating while I was still jetlagged.
I had one of the best falafel sandwiches I ever had, go figure.
I don't remember if there were any vegan "brownies" but I bet there are these days...
Australia (multiple cities):
Vegemite!!! On toast!!! Lots of toast with jam and/or Vegemite. Isn't this actually MSG? Too lazy to find out. I wonder if it's truly veggie since I bet "natural flavors" are involved. Anyway, I loved it. And the name sounds...super. Go Vegemite!
Many packaged cookies and sweet bars were baked with margarine and thus technically vegan -- bad for you but good when you're desperate for something sweet. Which I often am. OK, always am.
Oh! And they have those pies, not sure what they are called, but little pies that are filled with things, like veggies, that you dip in ketchup that was just yummier out of these cute little packets and I think some hot sauce, too.
I believe I remember veggie burgers at a few places. Veggie stir-frys.
Lots of tea and coffee.
England (multiple cities):
In London, lots of Indian food and decent veggie options. I remember eating broiled? mushroom and tomatoes at some bed-and-breakfasts which were pretty yummy. I think in Canterbury, specifically.
Scotland (Edinburgh):
Chinese, bro! I think I remember potatoes but I really can't remember what else? What a wonderful city though -- beautiful people.
France (multiple cities):
Yum - espresso. Some okay salads. Divine bread, and tomatoes and olive oil (the usual). I think I didn't do too well here. I think some garlicky mushroom side dishes? Lots o' butter and cream to be avoided.
Yup, more Chinese.
Belgium (Brussels):
Pommes Frites! Supposedly better sopped in clam juice but I'll pass, thanks.
I remember some great dark chocolate filled with hazelnuts and such.
Japan (Tokyo airport):
OK I was only at the airport but I would LOVE to visit one day. Had a funny buckwheat soba dish. I say funny because it was in a 2-level plate that had a certain way you were supposed to dispense the soy sauce-based sauce onto it that I totally failed at. Oh, and all their dishes were in the showcase made of plastic and shellac-ed or whatever! So Japanese...
Switzerland (I suppose Geneva Airport?):
Only at the airport also but had some great dark chocolate of course!
Singapore (its own capital city - didja know?):
I spent most of my time at the hotel and in the malls connected to in by underground tunnel (common in sticky Singapore). At the hotel, they catered to many nationalities and the food there was really yummy - they had congi, great miso soup and Japanese pickles, and beans and toast. Also an Italian food restaurant. Pretty well done, too. Go figure.
Singaporean cuisine is not very specific I think -- Chinese and Indonesian pretty much -- I remember good tofu dishes, a stuffed eggplant thingy, and YUM coconut juice in a coconut when on the town. There were a lot of vegetarian places, even with mock meats.
India (various cities):
This goes without saying. I could go on and on and on about India and its many gifts to vegetarians. Eating homemade food from the (Indian) families' gardens in the himalayas were one of my greatest pleasures, ever. Did you know in India they drink water AFTER the meal is over? Ice cold water is a no-no, too. Room temperature is the norm. Doesn't shock the organs. And you're really supposed to eat with your hands. Correction: hand. Left hand is a no-no. Should be reserved for your...bathroom usage only. I actually saw someone get offended by someone using their left hand to eat. And nodding your head "no" means yes. Sort of. But I digress.
Nepalese/Himalayan cuisine is damn yummy, too.
Some highlights elsewhere were a super fried okra and paprika dish, and a fun common breakfast of potato curry with Puri (puffed, fried bread). Divine mangoes for brekkie, too. And lots of young coconut juice -- which is crack as far as I'm concerned. I would seriously mainline that sh&t.
Sorry I can't come up with the actual terms for everything right now. Dumb, dumb American...
Costa Rica (multiple cities):
I remember a lovely vegetarian rice and beans plate with sublime avocadoes and plantains. Love plantains.
Dominican Republic (Punta Cana):
Yucca and other starchy veggies, beans and rice dishes, fantastic fresh fruits and veggies. Watermelon and canteloupe juice are just the best, best, best.
I'll post more/edit if I can think of anything else.
