I'm in Germany and people rave about their bread but I live in Mannheim and it's like... Okay? I don't have a bakery here that I like more than the ones in New York (specifically) or France (seemingly anywhere) or Vietnam or Japan.

Maybe it's because I haven't found how to use them properly but there just doesn't seem to be a large amount of diversity. Like I'd expect fresh made hamburger buns, the Bahn mi bread, like a good sub situation, fresh rye bread, idk. Also for a country to have good bread I need to be able to walk into any corner bakery and be satisfied 4/5 times.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Borscht can be both, depending on the skill of the cook

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I'm Belgian. Avoid Leffe, this is a quite bland "Belgian beer". The classic Trappist beers are always a good choice (Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, etc.), but don't sleep on the new microbreweries, their beers can be quite innovative and refreshing

A few

[–] [email protected] 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder how deep in my bubble I am as I'm reminded that 3 Fonteinen and Cantillon actually aren't the best known Belgian breweries

[–] [email protected] 2 points 16 hours ago

There was a stretch if time in the late aughts where I found a store that had aged Cantillon on the shelf at the going rate. I was buying Rose de Gambrinus with 5 years on it on a regular basis. So many great old beers that store didn't know they had. The only bad bottle was a Strange Ghost which tasted like rancid Parmesan.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

As a Czech I would also suggest to go for smaller brewery, because of our tax system the beer is just negligibly more expensive than from big brewerys.

I will be in Belgium hopefully in about 3 months and because I will bike there I will have a lot of time for tasting. Also I will like to visit some beer festival, if the timing will be right.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

And cervela with samurai sauce is a hidden gem!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

Kässpätzle are definitely a hidden gem.

On the other hand Sauerkraut is probably overrated. I like it but it's not as commonly eaten as you may think.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

You should eat some bigos.

But every mom and grandma will do it their own way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

swedish meatballs are overrated.

don't sleep on a really good Janssons Frestelse though. that and small-batch pickled herring with weird herbs in it.

isterband is also good but that's probably a more pan-european thing.

also, i will always use moments like this to bring up the culinary sleep paralysis demon that is the calskrove.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Tortilla de patata is overrated, IMO. About hidden gems, idk.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Tortilla de patata is great actually! Don't be too hard on your cuisine. 😺

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

I don't like it! Croquetas are wayyy better, but I don't consider them a "hidden" gem :b

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Beck's is definitely overrated. I don't know how it's become so popular.

On the other hand, Labskaus is damn delicious, I need to make a vegan variant one day. Labskaus and kale with potatoes and meat variety is what I really miss since turning vegan.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Overrated? I don't know. But have you tried the mighty kapsalon?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Kapsalon is overrated. Döner Kebab is the much better option.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 16 hours ago

You can get a kapsalon with döner

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Shepherds pie!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Beef Wellington