Memorable foreign food you can't get at home.

[John Galt III]

Nothing quite like a half a roasted hanchen and a plate of pommes frites, and maybe some Resina or Ouzo, at a roadside cafe on a Greek island, as you are encased by stunning blue sky above, ocean beyond, and white sand below.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG It's not a foreign food, and folks in New York State are welcome to laugh. A Genesee Cream Ale would be a real treat. You might find it out here, every couple of years, with luck. Last 6 pack I found was $9.99, I used to buy it for $0.99. MRG

Hah! I remember having a Genesee back in the 70's. I occasionally brew a Cream Ale. Nice light, fresh tasting beer.

-ERD50

[FUEGO]

Great foods that we could almost certainly find here at the right price (if we don't mind driving 15-20 minutes):

Empanadas. We ate these almost once per day in Buenos Aires. A little cafe across from our hotel sold these delicious little treats. We would get a dozen (they're cheaper that way!), polish off most of them for dinner, and then have the survivors for breakfast or lunch or dinner the next day. We have replicated them at home and they come pretty close, but the dough isn't quite right. I know there are a few empanada places around town, but they are pretty expensive (4x the price in Buenos Aires) and quite a drive. I guess it's better than a 5000+ mile flight to the other side of the globe.

Mole Poblano. Had some unbelievable mole poblano in Puebla, MX (it's home). I've had it elsewhere in Mexico and a couple of times stateside and it wasn't quite as good. Maybe I'll pick up some mole poblano at the latino grocery next time I visit. Mmmmm...

I guess my access to good Laotian/Thai/Cambodian food makes up for a lack of mole and empanadas. DW's family cooks some mean cuisine. They'll also cook up some interesting treats ("Pop Pop eats anything" as my kids say). Turtle, raccoon, squirrel, snake. Tastes like chicken (dark meat), deer, rabbit, chicken, respectively.

[audreyh1]

Come visit the Valley! We have an Argentinian empanada chain, AND mole poblano is pretty common menu item at the Mexican restaurants (probably doesn't match Puebla though). So you don't have to travel 5000 miles.

[Lucantes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NanoSour From my prior military days, I have fond memories of Turkish Chicken Tava and Shawarma from Saudi Arabia. You can find Shawarma in the states, but never found one as good as the ones in Saudi. Maybe cause they are too overloaded here. You know, bigger is better theory. As far as treats go. I do miss bonbons that I would pick up during frequent trips to the UK.

My wife and I have Saudi Shawarma's almost every Thursday evening after work (Thursday eve here is like Friday in the USA as we are off work on Fridays and Saturdays), we love em!

Have tried some in other places but I agree they never seem to taste as good, can't imagine we will find good ones in Cocoa Beach when we retire in 2017!

[crtreedude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mn54 I just received a few bottles of lizano salsa from costa rica. Can not get it in the U.S. It is used on everything in Costa Rica like ketchup in the states.

Yes you can.

Lizano Salsa (23.7 fl oz) Costa Rica Sauce: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food

Lizano ships to the USA.

[crtreedude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG It's not a foreign food, and folks in New York State are welcome to laugh. A Genesee Cream Ale would be a real treat. You might find it out here, every couple of years, with luck. Last 6 pack I found was $9.99, I used to buy it for $0.99. MRG

Argh.... you got to be kidding me, but then again, I was a teenager in Monroe County, I suspect you know why the stuff makes me want to throw up!

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Come visit the Valley! We have an Argentinian empanada chain, AND mole poblano is pretty common menu item at the Mexican restaurants (probably doesn't match Puebla though). So you don't have to travel 5000 miles.

We have at least 3 empanada places in town, but they are a bit of a drive. One of the empanada places is owned by a family in our neighborhood and their kid goes to school with our kids (we haven't received a friends and family discount yet, though).

Most of the local Mexican places have mole poblano too, but it isn't as good in my experience (so I stopped getting it).

We are lucky to have a large Latin American immigrant population so there are tons of authentic Mexican, centroamericano and S American restaurants in the neighborhood and within a mile or two. And there are probably 10 latino grocery stores within 2 miles too, so ingredients aren't hard to come by.

[John Galt III]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG It's not a foreign food, and folks in New York State are welcome to laugh. A Genesee Cream Ale would be a real treat. You might find it out here, every couple of years, with luck. Last 6 pack I found was $9.99, I used to buy it for $0.99. MRG

You made my day, MRG. I can get GCA here for $12.89 a 30 pack !
Ice or regular. Thank you.