Needless to say, we here at Exsus are just a little bit fond of travel – and for us, part of exploring a new place is to dive headfirst into the local cuisine. It can be risky, we admit (fried locusts and crickets in Thailand, anyone?) but for the most part it’s as much of a must-do as visiting a museum or picking up souvenirs at a local market.
And one of the best ways to get a taste of the local fare is street food – something that may have been viewed as too intimidating to sample in the past, it has seen a revolution of super-sized standards in the past couple of years as the foodie bubble expands, with a desire to taste as many new flavours and combinations as possible.
Here are a few of our favourite street foods:
Banh Mi
Seen on the streets of London as much as those of Saigon now thanks to the rise of Vietnamese eateries, banh mi is a fine example of a sandwich. Although banh mi really translaters to refer to just the bread, even there the name has become synonymous with French-style baguette filled with coriander, pickled carrots, mayonnaise, cucumber and typically, pork belly, though substitutes exist in many forms, from tofu to pate.
Sample some more of Vietnam's culinary delights on this foodie holiday.
Empanadas
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Empanadas exist far and wide, in many different forms but their roots trace back to Portugal where a cookbook lists a recipe for these parcels of heaven as far back as 1520. Essentially just pastry folded around a filling and then baked or fried, they can be found extensively throughout South America – we like those from Bolivia, where they come crimped at the top in the style of our beloved pasty, and can come filled with cheese and dusted with icing sugar for an afternoon treat.
Take a foodie foray to Bolivia to sample empanadas and other delicious street food.
Pad thai
The quintessential street food for many, pad thai (meaning “fried Thai style”) is made up of stir fried rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, garlic, chilli and a host of other ingredients at the chef’s discretion, and is often served topped with a slice of fresh lime and some chopped peanuts. It's practically staple fare for backpackers in Thailand and is unbeatable - especially when served straight from a stall at the side of the road, produced from a swirl of irresistible smells and steam.
Travel to Thailand to taste pad thai and other examples of the delicious cuisine on offer.
Churros
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A hot, deep-fried doughnut-style batter served with a velvety, thick dark chocolate sauce – enough said. Serving as a mid-morning breakfast for many of the locals, this Spanish delight was thought to be cooked up by shepherds high in the mountains who would make them over the fire. Expect to see late-night booths open where everyone flocks after a few cervezas – beats a kebab in our books.
Uncover Spain's churros, tapas and thriving food scene on a luxury tailor-made holiday there.
