10 China
Over a third of this world’s population eats the immensely popular
Chinese cuisine. Chinese fast food restaurants have mushroomed all over
the world, though most of them serve acceptable dishes. If you were to
visit China to experience the food directly, you’ll find that everything
from cockroaches, to snakes, to endangered species of animals is used
in Chinese cuisine.
9 Italy
Italy, the home of pasta, pizza, antipasti and sausages; many foodie
aficionados swear by this country’s cuisine. The Italian cuisine follows
a four-course meal structure, starting with antipasti, which comprises
of thin slices of crisp bread eaten with a variety of sauces, meats and
vegetables. This is followed by the main dish which can be either rice
or pasta, followed by the second course which is usually meat, followed
by the dessert.
8 France
France is all about fancy wines, cheese and baguettes. French bread
is very popular and so are French soups and other French cuisine started
evolving around the Middle Ages. With their usual flair and elegance,
the French people have elevated their cuisine to ‘haute cuisine’; any
banquet worth its name in European circles will employ French dishes to
be fashionable. French cuisine matches different wines with dishes, a
practice that’s been adopted by other cuisines.
7 Mexico
Mexican cuisine came about when the food preferences of the Spanish
conquistadores married those of the Native American Indians, the Mayans,
Aztecs and others and French cuisine. Mexican food promises you every
possible flavor; spicy, sour, sweet. The notable thing about Mexican
food is that it adapts to roadside stalls and to great halls
beautifully. Scan the menu for dishes made out of insects, worms, spider
monkey, iguana and rattlesnake before you order!
6 Morocco
All the variety, taste, uniqueness and mystery of the Middle East are
encapsulated within the Moroccan cuisine. Moroccan foods reflect
Mediterranean tastes and are generally healthy. Moroccans use khus khus
and homemade flat breads as their carbohydrate base, and cook various
tagines, or thick stews with which to eat them. These stews are cooked
in tagine pots, which are narrow at the bottom and broad at the top.
5 Greece
Greek cuisine is largely influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisine.
You’ll find an abundant use of olive oil and fresh Mediterranean herbs
such as dried mint, oregano and parsley. Most of the dishes you find at
restaurants are not cooked at home, because Greeks prefer eating out a
lot. Greek fast food comprises of thick, flat Greek bread, on which
onions, parsley and lemon juice are poured over a freshly cooked kebab.
4 Spain
Spain is all about passionate living and passionate eating. A variety
of foods are prepared in Spain, exhibiting the simplest to the most
complex flavors. Spain uses rice as a base for its main dishes, usually
marrying rice with vegetables, meat, seafood and spices. The Spanish
paella is world famous for its flavorful combination of rice and other
ingredients. Spanish cuisine does use a lot of oil, probably more than
other Central and Western European cuisines.
3 Japan
The mention of Japanese cuisine instantly brings delicately prepared
and presented sushi, with its gourmet wasabi sauce to mind. Japan does
not mix too many flavors and spices, preferring to enjoy the gourmand
pleasures of simple food, prepared simply. The Japanese cuisine is
famous for using seasonal and fresh products of the best quality. Tofu,
white rice, noodles, soybeans, and raw fish play prominent roles in
Japanese cuisine.
2 Thailand
Thai people marry fresh veggies, fruits and meat together in a
variety of creatively presented dishes. So you’ll find fresh salads made
of fruit, veggies and meat all cut to the same shape and size,
differentiated only by their taste and looks. The salad might be
presented in a carved pumpkin shell, coconut shell, or a very
aesthetically prepared platter. Fresh herbs, lemon grass, lime juice,
tamarind, and fresh coriander are used liberally in Thai food. Fish
sauces, noodles and shrimp paste are included in many dishes.
1 India
Indian cuisine has crossed all geographical lines and now you’ll find
even South Indian restaurants in the US. Previously, people outside of
India were only familiar with Punjabi cooking, but now there are
specialty Rajasthani, Kashmiri and Keralite restaurants as well. Indian
cuisine is probably the most diverse cuisine in the world, with every
region of India having its own unique dishes and methods of preparation.
Indian cuisines are usually very spicy.
