This article originally appeared in the October issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
I believe that food forges community across cultures. Sitting
down with friends or family to enjoy a meal in a new place creates connection
not only with one another, but also with the country and customs that brought
that food to your plate.
That’s why USTOA is
celebrating international cuisine with Global Kitchen, a video series and
cookbook that take you on a culinary journey around the world.
The four-part series serves as a directory to each country’s hidden
street-food gems, with top chefs and local guides in Malta, Poland, Finland and Québec
showing you their favorite local eats. Once you’re
finished touring the world via video, flip through our Global Kitchen Cookbook,
which features recipes from 13 different countries.
Our video journey begins on the island of Malta, where
Mediterranean, Provençal and North African influences meld to create delicacies
such as flaky pastizzi pastries,
simmering rabbit stew and bigilla, a creamy bean dip served with
crackers.
Then, prepare to snack your way through Poland with sugary pączki
doughnuts, pizza-like zapiekanka and pierogi
(of course). Warsaw’s thriving street-food
scene and iconic night market will have you indulging in all the country has to
offer.
In Finland, discover
the cities of Helsinki and Turku, where you’ll find
buttery, porridge-filled Karelian pies; freshly foraged mushrooms; and Turku
pulla buns filled with rich, caramel
cream.
Québec, meanwhile, offers a culinary
blend: French and Eastern European traditions meld with the province’s distinctive terroir to produce smoked meat sandwiches,
chewy bagels and gourmet poutine with squeaky cheese curds.
I sincerely hope you join in on the fun from home — wherever that
may be — and also explore our Global Kitchen cookbook, where you can immerse
yourself in each destination by trying a new recipe.
My recommendation? Immerse yourself in the fresh flavors of Laos
with Mekong fish larb, or try your hand at a cornerstone of Moroccan cuisine:
vegetable tagine. Wow your friends and family with a bowl of Thailand’s bold and bright tom yum goong, a spicy and sour prawn soup. Relish
the rustic charm of Vietnam with bánh xèo, a crispy pancake with a savory filling.
Bon appétit!
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