Street Eats on Holiday
Gourmet this, a la carte that. It’s all well and good, but gastro heaven doesn’t have to mean a galaxy of Michelin stars. Sometimes the best bites can be snapped up at the side of the street.
Scicilys Arancini
The pavement gap-pluggers of choice here are ‘arancini’. To give you an idea of their nutritional value, they’re also called bombetti – fat bombs. They’re balls of rice stuffed with bolognaise, rolled in breadcrumbs and dropped in the deep fat fryer. If you fancy something sweet instead, go for a ‘cornetto’. Perhaps not what you were thinking, a cornetto is a croissant-like pastry, often filled with ice-cream. There’s a knack to eating one so you don’t end up wearing half of it down your front
Spains Churros
Just let your nose lead you – the smell of fresh ‘churros’ is unmistakable. Essentially, they’re doughnuts. Strips of piped dough are fried until crunchy before being showered in sugar. Interestingly, it’s their shape that landed them their name – they resemble the horns of the Churro sheep reared in Spain. They’re packed full of molar-dissolving sweetness, even more so when dipped in the locals’ drink of choice – gloopy hot chocolate.
Belgium for Frites
One of the great things about street food? It’s cheap as chips. And that’s particularly apt for Belgium’s best-loved snack. A euro buys you a cone of hot, crispy ‘frites’ that’ll transform the way you view the humble potato. Ketchup is a no-no, though. Instead, go for a dollop of mayo or a side-order of ‘moules’ (muscles). Carts often have to battle the aroma of fresh waffles coming from competing street kitchens. Go the whole hog and get yourself one of those, too.
Frances Sweet and Savoury Crêpes
Wander down any boulevard in Paris and you’ll see tourists transfixed as a puddle of batter is raked, flipped and folded into a golden triangle of gorgeousness. Et voilà – a cheap and hearty snack. The ultimate ‘crêpe’ is hotly debated in France – some insist it’s all about savoury, with ham and cheese making the shortlist. Others argue sweet makes for the biggest treat, with banana and chocolate sauce among the favourites.
Thailand for Pad Thai
Everywhere you go in Thailand you’ll see someone crouched over a hot plate, whipping up a culinary storm. One of the most popular meals on wheels is ‘pad thai’ – a delicious concoction of noodles, egg, beansprouts, shrimp, and peanuts. It’s a steal, too – a carton costs about 50p. A word of advice when perusing Thai street menus – you may want to steer clear of ‘maeng daa’. Locals crunch through these giant water beetles like we would a packet of Walkers.
Adriano Comegna writes for First Choice holidays, a leading UK travel operator specialising in last minute holidays.